Everything Sawti has published in connection with this country.
The Lebanese army sent reinforcements to a newly established military position on the outskirts of Deir Mimas in southern Lebanon on Friday, after an Israeli force advanced towards the site and fired stun grenades in its vicinity. Field accounts said the force approached army personnel amid tensions and military movements in the area.
Lawyer Wassim Ghawi has asked Beirut’s First Investigating Judge to release former Banque du Liban Governor Riad Salameh, citing the repayment of two loans with interest, objections to the grounds for pretrial detention, and medical reports warning of risks from keeping his client in detention.
Representatives of 17 countries are meeting in Paris to discuss the needs of the Lebanese army and Internal Security Forces as part of efforts to strengthen their deployment across Lebanon. The meeting is preceded by talks between French President Emmanuel Macron, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Jordan's King Abdullah II. The conference is expected to issue a declaration of intent containing a timetable for aid.
Lebanon’s parliament renewed confidence in Nawaf Salam’s government, with 68 of the 81 lawmakers attending the session voting in its favour, amid criticism of its performance and political fears of a vacuum. The government faces issues including negotiations with Israel, placing arms under state control and financial reforms, amid internal divisions and continuing Israeli attacks on the south.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said his country is seeking a security agreement with Israel to end the state of hostility, which could serve as a possible prelude to a later peace agreement. He linked progress to Israel’s withdrawal, the deployment of the Lebanese army, and the return of residents and prisoners, stressing that weapons would be brought under state control without internal clashes.
Lebanon's Interior Minister Ahmad al-Hajjar said his country had chosen direct negotiations with Israel, under US sponsorship, to secure the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the south, the deployment of the army and the return of residents. He made the remarks during a visit to Pakistan that included signing an agreement on prisoner exchanges and discussing security cooperation.
Paris will host a meeting on Thursday bringing together the leaders of France, Jordan and Lebanon to discuss a clear and realistic plan to strengthen the Lebanese army’s deployment in the south and support state institutions. The meeting comes ahead of an international conference to support the army, amid continuing security tensions along the Lebanon-Israel border.
Lebanon’s Public Prosecution asked the investigating judge to charge former President Michel Aoun in the Beirut port blast case, citing his prior knowledge of the presence and danger of ammonium nitrate, according to a judicial source. Investigating Judge Tarek Bitar has the authority to rule on the request and issue the indictment.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu posted videos related to Lebanon and Hezbollah, presenting control of Ali al-Taher Heights as a military achievement. Lebanese researchers say the developments have become a tool he is using to strengthen his position against rivals and influence Israeli voters ahead of the election.
Israeli forces carried out a blast in al-Qantara in southern Lebanon as Benjamin Netanyahu announced that targeting Hezbollah’s infrastructure would continue. The developments came amid intensified airstrikes after Lebanon’s Health Ministry said at least 13 people, including six children, were killed in Kfar Rumman, while a medic was killed in a separate strike.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said the army was preparing to take control of Ali al-Taher Heights in southern Lebanon, pledging to prevent Hezbollah from returning. Meanwhile, Israel’s public broadcaster reported a local and limited withdrawal from the heights, as Israeli airstrikes and shelling hit several areas in the Nabatieh district.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said the military was preparing to establish operational control over Ali al-Taher Heights in southern Lebanon to prevent Hezbollah and other groups from re-establishing their presence there. He linked any withdrawal or redeployment of Israeli forces to Hezbollah being disarmed across Lebanon.
Israeli forces detonated a tunnel network on Ali al-Taher Ridge in southern Lebanon, saying it served as a command center containing missiles, drones and other weapons. Military experts said the loss weakened Hezbollah’s defenses around Nabatieh but did not mean the collapse of its military structure.
Lebanon’s Health Ministry has referred a file on 6 cancer medicines in circulation to the Public Prosecution at the Court of Cassation to investigate their quality, effectiveness and manufacturing sources. While specialists confirmed the safety of medicines officially registered and imported, they warned of drugs entering the market through unlicensed sources and of the risks of transporting and storing them outside regulatory oversight.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said during a surprise visit to the southern Lebanese city of Nabatieh on Saturday that there are currently no negotiations with Israel. Aoun inspected the damage and heard residents’ complaints, stressing the government’s commitment to withdrawal, the return of prisoners and displaced people, and reconstruction, as Israeli raids intensified in recent days.
The next round of negotiations between Lebanon and Israel, scheduled to take place in Rome next week, has been postponed to October. A US official said the two countries’ ambassadors would meet in Washington to follow up on implementing the framework agreement, while a source familiar with the matter attributed the delay to factors that prevented key figures from participating.
The US State Department headquarters will host a meeting between the Lebanese and Israeli ambassadors next week, while talks scheduled in Rome have been postponed until October. Discussions focus on Israeli withdrawals from southern Lebanon, the deployment of the Lebanese army and a mechanism for monitoring the areas under negotiation.
Lebanese security forces detained Suleiman Hilal al-Assad and several companions near Baalbek Castle on Friday evening after finding hashish in the group’s possession. Al-Assad is subject to a Syrian request for his extradition over allegations of murder and drug trafficking, while the next steps remain subject to Lebanese judicial and security procedures.
The Israeli army released footage it said documented the destruction of a tunnel network in the Ali al-Taher Heights near Nabatieh, using more than 1100 tons of explosives. Amid the escalation, Washington said daily consultations between Lebanon and Israel were continuing and confirmed that the next round of talks would be held in Rome soon.
A European diplomatic source said the European Union is prioritizing the strengthening of state institutions and the Lebanese army over deploying a new European force in the south, as the future of the international presence is being discussed ahead of UNIFIL’s mandate expiry at the end of December 2026. An aid programme covering equipment, training and border monitoring is being prepared.
The Israeli army announced that it had completed the destruction of more than two kilometres of a tunnel network that it said belonged to Hezbollah in Ali al-Taher Heights in southern Lebanon. Israeli sources said 1100 tons of explosives had been used and dozens of bodies found inside the tunnels.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun called on ministries and state institutions to strengthen their presence in southern Lebanon and meet residents’ needs, while Prime Minister Nawaf Salam stressed the importance of deploying the army and providing prefabricated homes to facilitate citizens’ return. The calls came after an Israeli escalation that the Health Ministry said killed at least 19 people over two days.
Palestinian refugees in Lebanon are starting the school year amid concerns over the closure of UNRWA schools and the transfer of their students to other schools. Parents, students and activists warn of overcrowded classrooms, declining education quality and increased reliance on private tutoring as families face economic and service-related pressures.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun warned that any security vacuum in the south could provide a pretext for attacks undermining sovereignty, during a security meeting that discussed conditions in Nabatieh and southern areas. The meeting coincided with Israeli operations including airstrikes, shelling and explosions, while the National News Agency reported that one person was killed in a strike targeting a motorcycle.
