Lebanon stories

Sep 10, 2026

Israel destroys major Hezbollah underground complex in southern Lebanon with 1,100 tonnes of explosives

Israel's military demolished a large underground tunnel complex operated by Hezbollah beneath the Ali al-Taher ridge in southern Lebanon, using over 1,100 tonnes of explosives in a massive operation. The explosion, which destroyed more than a mile of tunnels, was significant enough to trigger seismic activity and reportedly completes the destruction of Hezbollah's last major defensive line in the region.

Sep 10, 20266 sources

Sep 7, 2026

Israeli airstrikes on southern Lebanon village kill at least 12 people, including children

Israel's air force carried out two airstrikes early Monday on the village of Kfar Rumman in southern Lebanon, killing at least 12 people and wounding others. The casualties included women and children, with Lebanon's Health Ministry reporting that one strike destroyed a three-storey residential building.

Sep 7, 20267 sources

Sep 3, 2026

Israel releases five Lebanese detainees in Red Cross-mediated handover

Israel has released five Lebanese citizens held during the Israel-Hezbollah conflict that began in 2024, with the International Committee of the Red Cross mediating their handover to Lebanon. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun praised the release and thanked US President Donald Trump for his efforts, though the release came hours after Israeli forces reportedly abducted three more people from a Lebanese border village.

Sep 3, 20264 sources

Israel claims control of strategic Ali Taher ridge in southern Lebanon

Israel announced it has seized the Ali Taher ridge in southern Lebanon from Hezbollah, clearing tunnels beneath the strategically located hill approximately 10 kilometers from the border. Hezbollah dismissed the claim as an electoral ploy by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, while Israel expanded bombing campaigns beyond its declared security zone.

Sep 3, 20265 sources

Aug 31, 2026

Iran warns US it will retaliate if Israel attacks Hezbollah positions in south Lebanon

Iran has warned the United States it would respond forcefully to any Israeli offensive on a mountainous ridge in southern Lebanon where Iranian military personnel are positioned alongside Hezbollah fighters. The message, delivered last month, underscores Iran's direct involvement in the ground fighting and comes as Lebanon seeks international help for a ceasefire.

Aug 31, 20265 sources

Aug 22, 2026

Hezbollah chief rejects Lebanon-Israel deal, refuses disarmament amid implementation struggles

Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem rejected the June framework agreement between Lebanon and Israel calling for the group's disarmament and Israeli withdrawal from south Lebanon, declaring it 'illegitimate' and refusing to 'surrender.' The rejection comes as implementation falters, with Israeli sources citing the Lebanese government's reluctance to search for Hezbollah weapons in private homes.

Aug 22, 20268 sources

Aug 21, 2026

Israel uses phosphorus shells in attacks on southern Lebanon despite truce

Israeli forces deployed phosphorus shells and conducted airstrikes and heavy artillery fire across multiple areas of southern Lebanon overnight and early Saturday, according to Lebanese state media. The attacks occurred despite an existing truce, with extensive destruction reported in several towns.

Aug 21, 20263 sources

Aug 20, 2026

US hits Hezbollah with fresh sanctions, emphasizing ties to Iranian government

The United States issued new sanctions targeting Lebanon's Hezbollah on Thursday, including re-designating the group over actions taken on behalf of the Iranian government.

Aug 20, 20261 source

Aug 17, 2026

Netanyahu shifts campaign focus to Turkey as Israeli election polls show Likud trailing

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is pivoting his re-election campaign to anti-Turkey rhetoric, including airstrikes on Turkish-linked targets in Syria and campaign billboards comparing NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani to Iranian and Hezbollah leaders. The shift comes as polls show Likud losing ground and after US pressure curtailed attacks on Iran and Lebanon.

Aug 17, 20264 sources

Aug 16, 2026

Lebanon seeks international pressure on Israel over framework agreement implementation

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun urged Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to pressure Israel to implement a framework agreement between Beirut and Tel Aviv, amid growing concerns over a potential security vacuum in southern Lebanon. The diplomatic push comes as Hezbollah official Nawaf Moussawi stated that force may be necessary to compel Israeli withdrawal from the region.

Aug 16, 20264 sources

Canadian official condemns Israel's 'unlawful invasion' of Lebanon, announces new aid

Canada's Secretary of State for International Development Randeep Sarai visited Beirut to announce new humanitarian aid for Lebanon while condemning what he called Israel's 'unlawful invasion,' amid escalating Israeli attacks in southern Lebanon despite a June ceasefire.

Aug 16, 20265 sources

Aug 15, 2026

Israeli airstrikes kill 11 in southern Lebanon in deadliest attack since June ceasefire

Israeli airstrikes on southern Lebanon killed at least 11 people, including three children, and injured 19 others on August 15, marking the deadliest toll since a truce between Israel and Hezbollah took effect in June. Israel acknowledged civilian casualties but accused Hezbollah of housing families in a military compound, while Lebanon's Prime Minister condemned the strikes.

Aug 15, 20265 sources

Aug 13, 2026

Israel ties Lebanon withdrawal to Hezbollah disarmament after US criticism

Israel's defense minister clarified that Israeli forces will not withdraw from southern Lebanon until Hezbollah is disarmed, walking back earlier remarks suggesting indefinite occupation that drew US rebuke. The dispute highlights ongoing tensions over the fragile Lebanon agreement, with Lebanon denying it agreed to a verification mechanism for Hezbollah's disarmament.

Aug 13, 20265 sources

Aug 8, 2026

Israeli forces infiltrate Lebanese army-controlled village, injure soldiers in violation of ceasefire agreement

Israeli troops entered Zawtar al-Gharbiyah, a village under Lebanese army control per a US-sponsored agreement, and built an earth barrier overnight. Multiple Lebanese soldiers were wounded in separate incidents, including three injured while defusing unexploded ordnance and one targeted in a strike on a military bulldozer in Tyre district.

Aug 8, 20266 sources

Aug 7, 2026

Israel and US veto France from Hezbollah disarmament verification role as Lebanon withdrawal talks stall

Israel and the United States have blocked France from participating in verification of Hezbollah's disarmament under a US-brokered Lebanon deal, while Israel refuses to withdraw from additional areas of southern Lebanon until Lebanese army control is established in initial pilot zones.

Aug 7, 20264 sources

Aug 6, 2026

Two Israeli soldiers killed in Lebanon explosion, prompting retaliatory strikes as Rome peace talks continue

Israel launched major retaliatory strikes on southern Lebanon after two reserve soldiers were killed and four seriously wounded in an IED explosion, marking the first Israeli military deaths since a June ceasefire with Hezbollah. The violence occurred as Israeli-Lebanese negotiations continued in Rome.

Aug 6, 20268 sources

Aug 4, 2026

Seventh round of U.S.-mediated Israel-Lebanon talks begins in Rome, halted early after Israeli objections

The seventh round of U.S.-facilitated negotiations between Israel and Lebanon began Tuesday in Rome, focusing on establishing pilot zones for Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon and Hezbollah disarmament. However, talks ended early on the second day after Israel's ambassador halted negotiations, citing what sources described as Beirut's 'repeated misleading leaks.'

Aug 4, 20269 sources

Jul 30, 2026

Turkey seeks to join new Lebanon security initiative as UN mission concludes

Turkey has expressed interest in participating in a new security arrangement for Lebanon following the anticipated end of the United Nations mission in the country.

Jul 30, 20261 source

Jul 29, 2026

US-brokered Israel-Hezbollah withdrawal plan in southern Lebanon faces slow implementation

A U.S.-mediated agreement designed to facilitate Israel's gradual withdrawal from occupied areas of southern Lebanon in exchange for Hezbollah's disarmament is experiencing significant delays in its initial implementation phase.

Jul 29, 20261 source

Jul 27, 2026

Netanyahu visits Washington amid strained U.S.-Israel relations and Iran war concerns

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived in Washington for meetings with President Trump, marking a departure from their previously warm relationship as he faces a cooled American reception and seeks support on Iran policy after making limited concessions in Gaza and Lebanon.

Jul 27, 20265 sources

Jul 21, 2026

Lebanese President Aoun meets Trump at White House to discuss Hezbollah disarmament plan

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun met with U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday, presenting a plan to disarm Iran-backed Hezbollah and secure Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon. The meeting marks the first White House visit by a Lebanese head of state in nearly 20 years.

Jul 21, 20269 sources

Jul 8, 2026

Israel continues strikes in Lebanon despite ceasefire, killing civilians as Amnesty calls for War Crimes Probe

Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon have killed multiple civilians including a school principal and her mother, prompting Amnesty International to demand a war crimes investigation. The attacks continue despite a ceasefire agreement, with Lebanon now demanding Israel fulfill withdrawal commitments before participating in further negotiations.

Jul 8, 20263 sources

Jun 28, 2026

Trump proposes Syria take on Hezbollah instead of Israel, raising regional alarm

President Donald Trump has shocked regional actors by proposing that Syria, rather than Israel, should fight the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah in Lebanon. The proposal comes as the White House has grown dissatisfied with Israel's ongoing war with Hezbollah.

Jun 28, 20262 sources

Israel destroys Hezbollah tunnel in southern Lebanon as defense minister vows no withdrawal until Lebanese army dismantles militant infrastructure

The IDF demolished a 200-meter tunnel used by Hezbollah in the southern Lebanese town of Majdal Zoun, while Defense Minister Israel Katz stated Israel will maintain its presence in southern Lebanon until the Lebanese army dismantles Hezbollah's military infrastructure.

Jun 28, 20263 sources

Jun 25, 2026

US Secretary of State Rubio meets with the Gulf Cooperation Council in Bahrain to discuss Iran agreement and regional security

Secretary of State Marco Rubio convened with Gulf Cooperation Council foreign ministers in Manama on June 25, 2026, to discuss a broader Iran agreement including curbs on missiles and proxies, while reaffirming US-Gulf partnerships and addressing regional issues in Syria, Lebanon, and Gaza.

Jun 25, 20264 sources

Jun 23, 2026

Israeli forces kill two in southern Lebanon as fragile ceasefire with Hezbollah shows signs of strain

Israeli troops shot dead two people in southern Lebanon in separate incidents involving armed Hezbollah operatives approaching IDF positions, testing a ceasefire that has seen reduced but not eliminated hostilities. The incidents come as northern Israeli communities remain largely deserted despite the lull in fighting.

Jun 23, 20264 sources

Jun 22, 2026

U.S. and Iran hold talks in Switzerland on ending Israel-Hezbollah war as northern Israel remains tense

U.S. Vice President JD Vance met with Iranian officials in Switzerland to negotiate a permanent end to the war between the U.S., Israel and Hezbollah that began in late February 2026, while Lebanon discusses deconfliction mechanisms and northern Israeli communities remain largely deserted.

Jun 22, 20263 sources

Israeli leaders declare IDF will maintain indefinite presence in southern Lebanon despite diplomatic complications

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have stated that Israeli forces will not withdraw from southern Lebanon, with Katz explicitly rejecting any potential American demands for withdrawal. The stance is complicating ongoing Iran peace negotiations.

Jun 22, 20263 sources

Israel maintains fragile Lebanon ceasefire amid concerns over U.S.-Iran deal and troop withdrawal

Israel and Hezbollah are holding to a tense ceasefire with Israeli troops restricted to defensive positions in Lebanon, while Israeli officials express concern that new U.S.-Iran understandings reached in Switzerland are legitimizing Iranian influence and constraining Israel's operational freedom in the region.

Jun 22, 20265 sources

Jun 21, 2026

U.S. and Iran reach preliminary deal to end Lebanon War, begin nuclear talks

The United States and Iran have agreed to a ceasefire and 'road map' for negotiations following nearly four months of conflict, with Pakistan and Qatar mediating talks in Switzerland. The agreement includes partial lifting of U.S. sanctions on Iranian oil but leaves unresolved questions about Iran's nuclear program.

Jun 21, 20268 sources

Jun 20, 2026

US-Iran peace talks in Switzerland disrupted as Trump threats prompt Iranian walkout

High-level negotiations in Switzerland aimed at ending the Iran-US conflict faced immediate turmoil as Iranian negotiators walked out in protest of President Trump's threats to bomb Iran, even as Vice President Vance offered diplomatic overtures. The talks, which involve efforts to resolve the Lebanon war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, are expected to continue at lower levels despite the tense start.

Jun 20, 20267 sources

Jun 19, 2026

Israel-Hezbollah Ceasefire Reached After Strikes Threaten U.S.-Iran Peace Deal

Israel and Hezbollah agreed to halt fighting in southern Lebanon following deadly Israeli strikes that forced cancellation of U.S.-Iran peace implementation talks. The escalation threatened to derail a tentative interim peace agreement between Washington and Tehran.

Jun 19, 20266 sources

Jun 17, 2026

Israel continues strikes on southern Lebanon despite US-Iran ceasefire deal and Trump criticism

Israeli forces carried out air attacks in southern Lebanon killing at least three people, even as the US and Iran signed a ceasefire agreement and President Trump criticized Israel's military operations in the country. Trump also reversed his earlier position on Iran's ballistic missiles, calling it 'unfair' to deny Tehran such weapons.

Jun 17, 20263 sources

Jun 16, 2026

Gulf states navigate new Middle East order as US-Iran deal emerges amid Israeli territorial expansion

Gulf states are adapting to a shifting regional landscape following a US-Iranian memorandum of understanding, while expressing concern over funding Iran's $300 billion reconstruction and Israel's significant territorial expansion into Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria since 2023.

Jun 16, 20264 sources

Trump publicly rebukes Netanyahu over Lebanon strikes amid Iran peace negotiations

President Donald Trump criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the G7 summit in France, urging him to use a 'softer touch' in Lebanon and be 'more responsible' with military operations against Hezbollah. The rebuke comes as Trump pursues a peace agreement with Iran, with the White House confirming he has signed an initial memorandum of understanding with Tehran.

Jun 16, 20267 sources

Jun 15, 2026

Trump proposes Syria replace Israel in fighting Hezbollah, says he spoke with Syrian leader

President Donald Trump suggested that Syria should take over Israel's military campaign against Hezbollah in Lebanon, claiming Damascus would do a "better job." Trump confirmed he had spoken with Syria's leader about combating the Iran-backed group, criticizing Israel's operation as too prolonged and deadly.

Jun 15, 20267 sources

U.S. and Iran sign ceasefire agreement ending war, as Lebanese residents begin returning home

The United States and Iran have signed an interim ceasefire agreement ending their war, with the deal covering issues including the Strait of Hormuz and Lebanon. Lebanese families are beginning to return to damaged towns in southern Lebanon as the fragile truce takes hold, though President Trump has threatened to resume attacks if Iran fails to honor commitments.

Jun 15, 20266 sources