Lebanese army is at the center of Lebanon’s security dynamics as it coordinates with UNIFIL, faces regional pressure, and seeks to bring arms under state control amid ongoing south Lebanon tensions.
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.
Lebanon says it will pursue legal action over Israeli actions in southern Lebanon as negotiations in Rome aim to move forward on the June framework. Human rights figures warn of potential war crimes amid continued demolitions and displacement.
Lebanon’s President and Turkey’s leader have discussed ways to expand Ankara’s role in security for southern Lebanon as UNIFIL’s mandate ends. While Erdogan signals interest in contributing to a post-UNIFIL framework, observers caution that Israel may oppose Ankara’s involvement. The talks come amid broader regional tensions and stalled diplomacy.
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.
The seventh round of talks mediated by the United States between Lebanon and Israel has stretched into a third day in Rome. Negotiators are debating prisoner releases and, controversially, the transfer of remains of Lebanese Jews buried in Beirut and Sidon. Israel ties progress to resolving long-standing disappearances and to uncovering the fate of Ron Arad. Beirut says it cannot locate such records, complicating what was meant to be a humanitarian issue.
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.
Ceasefire negotiations in Gaza have stalled as Israeli air strikes resume, killing civilians and police officials. Mediators from the US, Egypt, and Qatar are pressing for a second phase of the ceasefire, including Hamas disarmament and Israeli withdrawal. Health authorities report multiple casualties from coastal Gaza strikes, underscoring fragile hopes for a durable halt to hostilities.
Lebanon has passed a landmark amnesty law in a show-of-hands vote, replacing death sentences with long prison terms and reducing others. The law aims to ease prison overcrowding but faces opposition from families of soldiers and some factions. Repeal of the death penalty follows years of debate and sectarian 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.
The Israeli military has continued strikes against Hamas in Gaza, killing two senior militants and destroying weapons facilities; Israeli forces report ongoing firefights along the Yellow Line and in central Gaza as they aim to prevent Hamas from rebuilding its capabilities. Kites and mutual border tensions persist as the ceasefire framework faces renewed stress.
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.
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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.
Israeli strikes hit multiple Lebanese towns including Arab Salim and Nabatieh al-Fawqa, killing several civilians and injuring others. Israel maintains a self-declared security zone in southern Lebanon and has stated the strikes are in response to Hezbollah actions. Ceasefire tensions persist as clashes continue and regional leaders call for de-escalation.
Israeli strikes have continued in Gaza, targeting Hamas infrastructure and operatives while warning civilians to evacuate. Reports indicate casualties including civilians and Hamas fighters, with the Gaza war entering a new phase since the 2025 ceasefire. International efforts to broker a lasting peace remain stalled.
Israel has demolished more than 2km of Hezbollah tunnel infrastructure beneath the Ali al‑Taher ridge in southern Lebanon, using over 1,000 tonnes of explosives and creating a blast that registered as a 4.1‑magnitude tremor. The Israeli military says it has established operational control above and below ground and will hold a security zone while continuing strikes when necessary.
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.
The latest from the Lebanon-Israel security talks brokered by the United States: Lebanese and Israeli ambassadors are meeting in Washington to discuss disarmament, south Lebanon redeployment, and pilot-zone deployment as part of a broader framework. The discussions follow delays and a tense border situation amid clashes and regional strikes.
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.
Hundreds of inmates at Roumieh prison have been on hunger strike since September 12 to protest the suspension of Lebanon’s amnesty law. Authorities monitor health as the Constitutional Council prepares to rule next month on the law’s status; overcrowding and lengthy pre-trial detention remain acute problems.
The New Arab reports that a Syrian national, known as Al-Daameesh, has been detained in Batroun after allegedly preparing an IS-aligned attack during the pope’s 2025 Lebanon visit. Authorities say he previously served with Nusra Front and IS, with the cell’s dismantling attributed to security measures around the pope’s trip.
A Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv has diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, after an altercation on the flight deck. The airline has said all passengers are safe and accounted for. Israeli officials have said a pilot stabbed the co-pilot and tried to sabotage the aircraft; Israeli warplanes monitored the diversion and passengers restrained the assailant.
The Lebanese army says a blast in Nabatieh Al-Fawqa wounded a soldier and three civilians during an escort operation to inspect properties. Initial reports of an Israeli strike have given way to the army's conclusion that a suspicious object caused the blast. The broader conflict involving Hezbollah and Israel continues to influence the region, with US-brokered talks and pilot zones shaping the security landscape.
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.
Two men have been killed during the olive harvest in south Lebanon: one by Israeli shelling and the other by a war-remnant explosion. Local authorities warn residents to avoid olive groves until decontamination is complete, as sporadic attacks and ongoing fighting continue to affect the region.
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.
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.
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.
Lebanese farmers are returning to olive groves along the southern border despite ongoing clashes with Israel. The Lebanese Army accompanies harvests as drone surveillance and past bombardments shape this season, with thousands of hectares burned and access limited since 2023. Local families say the harvest remains vital to income and sustenance, even as the danger persists.