Lebanese president and former army general
Lebanon has deployed its army to Zawtar al‑Gharbiya as part of a US‑brokered framework that ties phased Israeli withdrawals to Lebanese army control and verified removal of Hezbollah arms. Israel has continued strikes and presence near some villages, residents report damage, and the US is coordinating pilot‑zone implementation.
President Trump has signed an executive order directing federal health officials to cut the federal recommended childhood vaccine list, to split the combined MMR vaccine into separate measles, mumps and rubella doses once single‑disease products are available, and to space routine immunisations across separate medical visits. Public health groups and drugmakers have said the changes lack scientific support and will increase missed vaccinations during a major U.S. measles outbreak.
Unified Syrian and Lebanese security concerns frame talks on potential cross-border operations. While Washington presses for pressure points, Damascus faces internal and regional costs. A range of options is considered, from border controls to limited troop movements, with Iran’s retaliation potential guiding calculations.
Israeli forces have ordered the evacuation of Mansouri and carried out strikes that injured at least eight people, displacing families who are waiting on the towns outskirts to learn whether they can return. Residents and local officials say Israel has demolished homes and burned farmland, and negotiators in Rome have not secured a withdrawal from southern Lebanon.
Lebanon has passed legislation abolishing the death penalty and replacing it with life imprisonment with aggravated hard labour. Parliament has also approved a separate general amnesty law that will reduce some long sentences and free inmates detained more than 12 prison years while awaiting trial; the measures respond to severe prison overcrowding and political pressures.
Lebanon and Israel are pursuing a US-brokered framework to disarm Hezbollah, withdraw Israeli forces, and deploy the Lebanese army in pilot zones. Negotiations mark a renewed push despite ongoing clashes and demolitions in southern Lebanon. UN and international players watch closely as talks proceed toward potential regional stabilization.
Israel has stated it will maintain a long-term security presence in southern Lebanon as part of the U.S.-brokered framework to disarm Hezbollah and gradually withdraw Israeli forces. The Lebanese army will deploy in pilot zones, while negotiations in Rome aim to advance the agreement.
Lebanon and Israel are engaged in direct talks mediated by the US, after Hezbollah-triggered conflict escalations. A framework signed in June calls for Hezbollah disarmament and a staged Israeli withdrawal from south Lebanon, with Greece and Athens’ arms deal cited as regional context. Lebanon seeks renewed UNIFIL support as violence persists.
Israeli airstrikes in south Lebanon have killed civilians and damaged infrastructure, including a hospital and homes in Nabatieh, Kfar Rumman and Nabatieh al-Fawqa, despite a US-brokered truce. The fighting has displaced hundreds of thousands and renewed calls for Hezbollah disarmament and Israeli withdrawal.
Lebanon and Israel have released five detainees amid ongoing US-brokered talks. The transfers, facilitated by the ICRC, come as Beirut and Tel Aviv pursue a broader framework to restore sovereignty and ease hostilities. Israeli operations in southern Lebanon continue alongside the prisoner deals.
The Houthis have seized the Yemeni coast on the Red Sea, expanding control over a vital waterway, while Iraqi groups are blamed for disrupting Saudi oil exports. The US has restricted tanker movements through the Hormuz Strait to protect ships, and neighbouring Gulf states discuss safer routes in Oman amid ongoing tensions.
Leaders and senior officials gather in Paris for US-mediated talks on disarming Hezbollah in southern Lebanon and replacing UNIFIL with a multinational force. The discussions come as Israel maintains a military footprint in Lebanon and faces ongoing strikes by Hezbollah, while Lebanon seeks to strengthen its army’s authority and sovereignty. A donor conference for Lebanese forces is expected later this year or early 2027.
Ceasefire efforts have paused direct fighting, but Israeli strikes and Hezbollah activity continue in southern Lebanon, leaving hundreds of thousands displaced. In Nabatiyeh and Mansouri, residents fear renewed Israeli ground offensives as tunnels and infrastructure are targeted.
The UN mission in southern Lebanon has begun preparations for a post-UNIFIL security order as the 2026 mandate nears its end. Paris-hosted discussions, French-Italian proposals for a multinational follow-on force, and US-backed frameworks aim to prevent a power vacuum as the Lebanese army and security forces assume greater regional duties.
UNIFIL faces a year-end withdrawal as Lebanon strengthens its army deployments in the south. Israeli strikes, Lebanese army positions, and Deir Mimas clashes shape a rapidly evolving security picture amid international talks on a donor conference and future peacekeeping arrangements.
Lebanon faces a delicate test as its government seeks to reassert state authority north of the Litani, amid Israeli incursions and Hezbollah’s entrenched influence. Leaders call for disarmament of Hezbollah while navigating regional tensions and international pressure, with reconstruction and sovereignty on the line.
The European Union has established the European Union Support Mission in Lebanon (EUSM Lebanon) to train and advise the Lebanese Armed Forces and Internal Security Forces as UNIFIL winds down. The mission will run for an initial three years, with two components—military and civilian—focused on border security, maritime operations, cybercrime, anti-smuggling and sovereignty, while not replacing UN peacekeepers.
UNIFIL’s mandate in southern Lebanon is due to expire at end-2026. Lebanon has pressed for a one-year extension; France, Italy and EU partners are weighing a successor arrangement as tensions linger along the Blue Line. The UN and Lebanon stress the need for continued monitoring, humanitarian support and stability as the drawdown proceeds.
Lebanese authorities have intercepted a vehicle carrying hundreds of kilograms of explosives. Hezbollah says the explosives belong to the group and were intended for use against Israeli forces, while Lebanon vows to pursue those responsible and press for accountability.
The United States is pressing Lebanon to amend or repeal the 1955 Boycott of Israel law as Lebanon and Israel resume U.S.-brokered talks. Lebanese authorities have dismissed claims of ambassadorial contact that could breach the law, while Washington urges a focus on Hezbollah and broader reforms as negotiations continue.
Qatar has pledged ongoing support for Lebanon’s army and outlined a plan with TotalEnergies to develop a solar power plant, funded and implemented by Qatar without cost to Lebanon. The move accompanies talks on southern Lebanon’s security and reconstruction, amid Israel-Hezbollah tensions and displacement from the region’s ongoing conflict.
Arab League Secretary-General has visited southern Lebanon with a pledge to support Lebanon’s state institutions and army, urging international action to end Israeli attacks and enable displaced residents to return. The visit follows renewed Israeli strikes and ongoing displacement, with UN agencies reporting hundreds of thousands displaced or affected in water, electricity and infrastructure.
Lebanese authorities have detained two suspected Hezbollah members accused of transporting more than half a ton of explosives. Hezbollah says the explosives form part of its capabilities against Israel. Officials vow to enforce the law and extend state authority as incidents trigger regional tensions.
International talks amid the planned expiry of UNIFIL’s mandate have intensified efforts to secure the south of Lebanon. Israel maintains a border presence, while Lebanon seeks disarmament of Hezbollah and a stable security framework. France and Qatar are coordinating with Beirut and Washington to prevent a security vacuum as the region braces for changes on the ground.
Explosives linked to Hezbollah have been seized in the Bekaa region, with Lebanese authorities probing two suspects. The incident has intensified pressure between Beirut and Washington over Hezbollah’s disarmament, while U.S. officials urge Lebanon not to return the materials.
Gunmen attacked a Greek Orthodox church in Hamoud, Karak, during a funeral, killing eight or nine people and injuring dozens. Jordanian authorities describe the attack as extremist terrorism. The government has ordered security forces to pursue attackers as national mourning is observed and communities pledge unity across Muslims and Christians.
Lebanon, Qatar, Turkiye and other partners are expanding ports, defense links, and trade councils, with the aim of diversifying logistics and defense networks across the Middle East and Central Asia. The stories describe IMEC port integration plans for Lebanon and the Badr defense framework linking Qatar, Turkiye, Pakistan and Indonesia, plus a Kyrgyz-Qatar chamber collaboration.
Israel has signaled it will push for a withdrawal from southern Lebanon while urging disarmament of Hezbollah. US-mediated talks on a framework to end fighting have stalled, with Lebanon and Israel trading warnings over possible renewed hostilities. The situation remains tense as both sides press for security guarantees and regional stability.
G7 foreign ministers have warned against a security void in Lebanon as UNIFIL’s mandate expires at year’s end, backing a swift move toward a new security architecture. Discussions include possible civilian or multi-national configurations, with Italy expressing cost concerns and U.S. emphasis on verifiable compliance.