The Lebanese agency refuted claims of an Israeli airstrike in the Shiyyah area of the southern suburb, attributing the heavy smoke in the area to a building collapse, not an airstrike. However, correspondents from “Al Arabiya” and “Al Hadath” reported that the Israeli military intercepted a drone heading towards an Israeli gas field and noted rockets being fired towards Safed and Upper Galilee in Israel, confirming a rocket had fallen near Safed.
Earlier, the Israeli military announced that the Air Force had targeted dozens of Hezbollah locations in Lebanon’s Beqaa region, with a concentration of Israeli tanks near the Israeli-Lebanese border. The Lebanese agency also reported an Israeli strike on the Jdeidet Yabous border crossing between Syria and Lebanon, indicating Hezbollah targets included buildings housing dozens of rocket launch platforms and weapon storage.
Israeli airstrikes also targeted various locations in southern Lebanon, including military buildings used by Hezbollah against Israel. For the first time since the escalation began, an Israeli airstrike targeted the Kola area in Beirut, hitting a residential apartment housing members of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, including political bureau member Mohammed Abdel Aal, military sector head Emad Odeh, and their associate Abdul Rahman Abdel Aal. The PFLP confirmed the death of these three leaders due to the Israeli bombing in Beirut.
The Lebanese Public Health Ministry reported 132 fatalities and over 350 injuries from the Israeli airstrikes. Meanwhile, Hezbollah continued to shell Israeli positions, with no confirmed date or location for the funeral of its secretary-general, Hassan Nasrallah, yet announced. The Israeli Broadcasting Corporation reported that most of Hezbollah’s firepower had been destroyed, highlighting Hezbollah’s failure to launch significant fire towards Israel despite the assassination of Nasrallah and substantial attacks by the Israeli military.
On the diplomatic front, Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati affirmed the nation’s ongoing diplomatic efforts and readiness of the Lebanese army to implement Resolution 1701. Former Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora, in an exclusive interview with “Al Arabiya” and “Al Hadath,” emphasized that the Lebanese government, not Hezbollah, should fully assume responsibility in the country.
Conversely, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that Israel is working to change the strategic reality in the Middle East, suggesting that a shift in the balance of power could foster new alliances in the region. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant reiterated that Tel Aviv has no interest in expanding the war, warning that anyone targeting Israel would pay a heavy price. Concurrently, U.S. President Joe Biden emphasized the importance of avoiding war in the Middle East as achievable.
