ceasefire
BBC sees destroyed villages in Israeli-occupied southern Lebanon
The BBC has been given rare access to the part of southern Lebanon that is under Israeli occupation, as part of a humanitarian convoy of the Order of Malta distributing aid to Christian villages that have been isolated because of the war. The mission happened on Thursday, a day before the announcement of a new ceasefire in the conflict between Israel and the Shia Muslim armed group Hezbollah. The team saw the Israeli military presence but was not allowed to film much of the journey. Israel says it has no intention of withdrawing its troops from Lebanon, and that its plan is to create a security zone along the border, Hezbollah-free, to protect its northern communities from the group's rockets and drones. In the occupied areas, mainly Shia villages have been completely destroyed by Israeli air strikes or demolitions.
Israeli attacks on southern Lebanon kill three despite US-Iran deal
What is Lebanon's Beaufort Castle? Why is Israel attacking Nabatieh? Israeli air attacks on southern Lebanon have killed at least three people, Lebanese state media has reported, a day after the United States and Iran signed an interim agreement that called for an end to their war on all fronts, including Lebanon. Lebanon's National News Agency (NNA) reported on Thursday that an Israeli drone attack hit a car near the town of Kfar Tebnit, killing two people. NNA also reported that a strike carried out by an Israeli drone in the town of Beit Yahoun in the Nabatieh governorate wounded two people.
Iranian-Americans protest against Iran team at World Cup
Calls to remove Iran's clerical regime sounded outside Iran's opening match at the World Cup. Iranian-Americans gathered in Los Angeles to protest the presence of Iran's team, which they believe is linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Iran striker Mehdi Taremi told reporters this week that US-Iran political tension "undermines the joy" of the World Cup. You can read the match report on the game here. Watch: What does the US-Iran deal to end war mean for Lebanon and Israel?
What does the US-Iran deal mean for Lebanon and Israel?
Watch: What does the US-Iran deal to end war mean for Lebanon and Israel? A deal has been agreed between the US and Iran to end the war they are in. The deal includes an end to military operations in Lebanon, but Israel says it forces will remain in the country indefinitely. As some Beirut residents attempt to return to their homes after previously fleeing, the BBC's international editor Jeremy Bowen takes a look at what the agreed deal might mean for those involved. Travelling with a humanitarian convoy, BBC's Hugo Bachega has been given rare access to a part of Lebanon under Israeli occupation.
Learning from Ukraine, Hezbollah is now using fibre-optic drones to hit Israel
Fibre-optic drones have become Hezbollah's primary weapon against Israeli soldiers and civilians, along both sides of the Lebanese border, and are now seen as the biggest threat there, as fighting continues six weeks into a supposed ceasefire. One Israeli soldier was killed and two others injured in a drone attack near the Israeli border community of Shomera on Wednesday. Of the 11 Israeli soldiers and one civilian defence contractor killed since the ceasefire came into force, eight have been killed by fibre-optic drones. Most of the attacks have targeted Israeli forces, which are currently occupying a large area of southern Lebanon, but Hezbollah is also increasingly attacking Israeli communities across the border, according to the Alma Research Center, an Israeli think tank which monitors the conflict. It has recorded more than 100 drone attacks against communities inside Israel since the ceasefire began in April.
US strikes Iran targets for second time in three days
The US military has carried out new strikes on Iran, targeting a military site in Bandar Abbas, a strategic port city. US Central Command (Centcom) said its forces also shot down four Iranian one-way attack drones that posed a threat around the Strait of Hormuz. The site in Bandar Abbas was struck as it was about to launch a fifth drone, Centcom said. Iranian media reported that explosions were heard to the east of the city. The strikes come amid a fragile ceasefire between the US and Iran, and protracted negotiations to end the three-month war that has choked traffic in the Strait of Hormuz and shot up global energy prices.
Israel strikes Tyre after ordering evacuation of south Lebanon city
The Israeli military has said it is carrying out air strikes on Hezbollah targets in Tyre in southern Lebanon, after ordering the evacuation of the entire city. The military told residents that it was compelled to act forcefully in Tyre because the Iran-backed armed group was violating a US-brokered ceasefire that began five weeks ago. Earlier on Wednesday, Lebanese media reported a wave of Israeli strikes across the south and the eastern Bekaa Valley, with four people killed in the towns of Choukine and Nabatieh. Hezbollah, which has itself accused Israel of breaching the ceasefire, said it was battling Israeli troops north of the Litani river, about 30km (19 miles) from the border. It came a day after Israel's prime minister announced an expansion of its ground operation following Hezbollah drone attacks on troops occupying part of southern Lebanon and on civilians in northern Israel.
Eleven killed in Lebanon village as Israel intensifies strikes
Israel has launched an intensive wave of strikes across swathes of southern and eastern Lebanon, after vowing to step up its military action against Hezbollah. The Israeli military said it hit more than 100 Hezbollah infrastructure sites and fighters during what was one of the heaviest nights of bombardment since a US-brokered ceasefire began in mid-April. Strikes in the Bekaa Valley village of Mashghara killed 11 people, including two children, Lebanon's health ministry said. The military said it hit sites where terrorist activity was identified. It came after Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had given the instruction to press the pedal even harder in targeting Hezbollah.
Netanyahu says Israel will intensify strikes against Hezbollah
The Israeli military says it has begun a wave of strikes across Lebanon following an announcement by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that his country will intensify its attacks on Hezbollah. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it had launched strikes against Hezbollah sites in the Bekaa Valley in the east of Lebanon and additional areas across the country. It followed a video statement on Monday evening in which Netanyahu said Israel was at war with Hezbollah and that he had given the military instructions to deal them a crushing blow. Earlier this month Lebanon and Israel agreed to extend a 45-day ceasefire, though some fighting has continued. There will be fears in Beirut that these latest Israeli attacks will widen to include Lebanon's capital city.
UAE reports drone strike near Abu Dhabi nuclear power plant
The United Arab Emirates is investigating the source of a drone strike which triggered a fire near a nuclear power station, officials have said. The country's defence ministry said three drones had entered the UAE from the western border direction on Sunday. While two were intercepted, the third drone struck an electrical generator outside the inner perimeter of the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant in Abu Dhabi. No injuries were reported and there was no impact on radiological safety levels, local authorities said. The country's defence ministry said in a statement that investigations were under way to determine the source of the attacks.