Prime Minister Nawaf Salam announced a decisive directive to halt Hezbollah’s military operations. Security agencies have been tasked with preventing any military activities or rocket launches originating from Lebanese territory. Furthermore, authorities are instructed to apprehend all individuals responsible for such actions.
In response to rocket fire from Lebanon targeting the Haifa area, the IDF launched retaliatory strikes across Lebanon, marking the opening of a new front. This escalation followed Hezbollah’s claim of responsibility for the rocket attack, which they stated was in retaliation for the assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader. Concurrently, the IDF initiated a new wave of strikes against Iranian regime targets within Tehran, indicating a significant intensification of the conflict. Lebanese media reported civilians fleeing southern Lebanon ahead of the Israeli airstrikes, which also extended to areas including Beirut and the Beqaa Valley.
Following a joint US-Israeli military offensive against Iran and subsequent Israeli airstrikes on Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon, the Iran-backed group called for the region to unite against these actions. While condemning the “American-Israeli hostilities,” Hezbollah stopped short of pledging retaliation, recalling its non-involvement in a prior conflict. Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam reiterated Lebanon’s refusal to be drawn into war and stressed national interests above all else, with the Lebanese President also prioritizing the nation’s safety from external conflicts. UN and US officials urged all parties to protect Lebanon from regional developments, even as Beirut’s airport remained open amidst flight cancellations.
Lebanon has accused Israel of a “health crime” following allegations of aerial spraying of a cancer-linked herbicide, glyphosate, over southern farmlands. This action is said to threaten food security, damage vegetation and soil fertility, and pose risks to the entire food chain, according to Lebanese ministries of agriculture and the environment. Such alleged tactics are viewed as part of a broader campaign of ecocide aimed at rendering southern Lebanon uninhabitable, following previous accusations of environmental destruction involving white phosphorus and incendiary bombs. The use of glyphosate compounds, especially over land already stressed by previous bombardments, further endangers insect communities and pollinators, compounding the long-term, cumulative environmental harm inflicted upon the region.
The US has requested Lebanon return an undetonated GBU-39 bomb, a Boeing-manufactured glide bomb capable of traveling up to 110 km, due to concerns it could fall into the hands of Russia or China. This request follows the discovery of the unexploded bomb. The US fears the technology could be reverse-engineered by rival nations.
The United States is focusing on Lebanon to diminish Iranian funding to Hezbollah and encourage the group’s disarmament. Despite Western sanctions, Iran has funneled approximately $1 billion to Hezbollah this year, according to the US Treasury Department’s top sanctions official, John Hurley. The US aims to eliminate Iranian influence through financial pressure, as evidenced by sanctions on individuals involved in funding Hezbollah. This strategy is part of a broader “maximum pressure” campaign against Iran’s regional influence.
Hannibal Gadhafi, son of the late Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi, was released from Lebanese custody on Monday after paying a $900,000 bail. This release followed a reduction in bail and the lifting of a travel ban, stemming from his 2015 detention related to the disappearance of Lebanese cleric Moussa al-Sadr. The bail was reportedly paid by a Libyan delegation, and Gadhafi’s defense team withdrew a case against the Lebanese state. Gadhafi had been held in Lebanon for ten years, accused of withholding information about al-Sadr, who disappeared in Libya in 1978.
According to AP News, conflicting reports have emerged regarding an incident involving an Israeli drone in southern Lebanon. The Israeli army stated the drone, conducting routine reconnaissance, was downed near UNIFIL peacekeepers, adding that a hand grenade was thrown by Israeli forces after the drone was shot down. Conversely, UNIFIL reported the drone flew over a patrol “in an aggressive manner”, prompting defensive measures, followed by a dropped grenade and tank fire from Israel. This event occurred as tensions escalate amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.
During an interview with TIME magazine, former President Trump claimed involvement in the 2024 pager attacks in Lebanon, which were orchestrated by Israeli operatives and resulted in numerous casualties. While initially attributing his comments to a misunderstanding, the White House later confirmed Trump’s support for the attacks, which targeted Hezbollah and caused widespread devastation. This admission, however, was quickly followed by criticism from the White House regarding the attack on Qatar last month. The former president’s statement has raised questions about his cognitive abilities, especially following other recent instances of confusion in his public appearances.
An Israeli drone strike in southern Lebanon resulted in the deaths of five people, including three children and their father, who were US citizens. The Israeli military claimed the target was a Hezbollah terrorist operating among civilians, acknowledging civilian casualties and stating a review of the incident would be conducted. Lebanese officials, including President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, condemned the attack, with Aoun calling on international pressure to halt Israeli actions, and Salam stating the attack was meant to intimidate people returning to their villages. This incident comes amidst a complex situation where the US-brokered ceasefire has not been fully effective, with Israel still occupying some Lebanese territory, and Hezbollah claiming that ongoing strikes justify their refusal to disarm.
John Q. Hosedrinker