The Israeli military has issued a renewed warning to residents in southern Lebanon, telling civilians to avoid movement across a broad stretch of border villages and surrounding areas, as tensions continue despite the cease-fire arrangement with Lebanon.
In an X post by IDF Arabic-language spokesperson Avichay Adraee, the army said its forces remain deployed in southern Lebanon "in confrontation with continued Hezbollah activity," and warned residents not to move south of a designated line of villages or approach key river areas including the Litani, Wadi al-Saluki and Wadi al-Hasbani.
⭕️نجدد تأكيدنا انه خلال فترة اتفاق وقف إطلاق النار يواصل جيش الدفاع تمركزه في مواقعه بجنوب لبنان في مواجهة النشاطات الإرهابية المستمرة لمنظمة حزب الله.
⭕️نعود ونحذر انه وحرصًا على سلامتكم وسلامة أبناء عائلاتكم وحتى إشعار آخر انتم مطالبونShow more
'you are required not to move south of the line of the villages shown and their surroundings': IDF spokesperson Avichay Adraee
The statement also said residents should not return to or pass through a long list of southern towns and villages, including Naqoura, Bint Jbeil, Aitaroun, Maroun al-Ras, Meiss al-Jabal, Blida and others across the border region.
It added that the restrictions remain in place until further notice, citing ongoing security conditions along the frontier.
Lebanese media reported that Israeli forces carried out strikes in several villages across southern Lebanon on Sunday.
According to the reports, the Israeli Air Force struck Zawtar al-Sharqiya and Yuhmor al-Shaqif, while Israeli forces also carried out demolitions in the village of Aitaroun in the Bint Jbeil area.
Smoke seen rising in southern Lebanon's Zawtar al-Sharqiyah after an IDF attack, Sunday.Smoke seen rising in southern Lebanon's Zawtar al-Sharqiyah after an IDF attack, Sunday.
Israeli military attacks killed at least four Palestinians in the Gaza Strip on Sunday, health officials in the enclave said.
Medics said an air strike carried out by Israeli forces killed one person near the central village of Al-Mughraqa, while Israeli gunfire and tank shelling killed two others near Gaza City. In another incident, health officials said that Israeli forces shot and killed a 40-year-old woman in Khan Yunis.
Palestinians mourn over a mother and her children, killed in an Israeli strike, during their funeral at Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, Saturday.Credit: Yousef Alzanoun/AP Palestinians mourn over a mother and her children, killed in an Israeli strike, during their funeral at Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, Saturday.Credit: Yousef Alzanoun/AP
The Israeli military said it was looking into the reported strikes. Separately, it reported killing several Hamas militants in strikes on Gaza since Friday.
At least 800 Palestinians have been killed since the October cease-fire deal took effect, according to local medics, while Israel says militants have killed four of its soldiers over the same period.
More than 72,500 Palestinians have been killed since the Gaza war started in October 2023, most of them civilians, according to Gaza health authorities.
Israeli forces raided the northern West Bank town of Duma, southeast of Nablus, overnight Sunday and arrested several people, according to Palestinian reports.
IDF soldiers detain a Palestinian man during raids on West Bank town of Duma, overnight Sunday.Credit: Use under Section 27A of the Copyright LawIDF soldiers detain a Palestinian man during raids on West Bank town of Duma, overnight Sunday.Credit: Use under Section 27A of the Copyright Law
The reports said that during one of the house searches, troops opened fire and wounded a man and a woman who were not among those detained. The two were evacuated for medical treatment.
Duma is a Palestinian town in the northern West Bank, southeast of Nablus.
There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi discussed regional developments and mediation efforts with Oman's Sultan Haitham bin Tariq during a meeting in Muscat on Sunday, according to Oman's state news agency.
The agency said the discussions focused on the evolving regional situation and diplomatic mediation efforts, without providing further details.
Araghchi's visit to Muscat marks the second stop of his regional tour, which also included Islamabad. He left Pakistan on Saturday without any sign of a breakthrough in talks with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and other senior officials over the U.S.–Israel war on Iran, according to Iran's Mehr news agency.
Mehr also reported that Araghchi is expected to return to Pakistan after his Oman visit and before travelling on to Moscow.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he and his wife Sara were "shocked" by what he described as an attempted assassination of U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington, expressing relief that Trump and the first lady were unharmed.
Sara and I were shocked by the attempted assassination of President @realDonaldTrump last night in Washington, DC. We are relieved that the President and the First Lady are safe and strong. We send our wishes for a full and speedy recovery to the wounded police officer and salute
Netanyahu also sent wishes for a "full and speedy recovery" to the wounded police officer and praised the U.S. Secret Service for its "swift and decisive action" in responding to the attack.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said Arrow missile production has increased threefold since he took office and defended Israel's missile defense capabilities, following what he described as "distortions" in media reporting on the program, in a post on X, Sunday.
Katz said that upon entering office, he defined Arrow production expansion as one of two top priorities in the munitions sector, and instructed all relevant defense bodies to advance it "both financially and practically," while personally overseeing implementation.
Each Arrow interceptor costs between $2 million and $3 million.Credit: Defense Ministry Each Arrow interceptor costs between $2 million and $3 million.Credit: Defense Ministry
He said production is expected to rise further under the "Shield of Israel" program, a 10-year, $100 billion defense build-up plan led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the defense establishment.
Katz said Israel is "very strong in defense and also in offense," adding that all offensive and defensive capabilities are reviewed in advance of major operations, including those against Iran, "to ensure maximum protection of the Israeli home front."
He also thanked the United States for what he described as significant assistance in home-front defense coordination ahead of military activity.
A THAAD missile defense system deployed to Israel. U.S. defense contractor Lockheed Martin was reportedly producing just 20 interceptor missiles per year last June.Credit: IDF/U.S. Army EuropeA THAAD missile defense system deployed to Israel. U.S. defense contractor Lockheed Martin was reportedly producing just 20 interceptor missiles per year last June.Credit: IDF/U.S. Army Europe
Rejecting claims of political interference in defense industry appointments, Katz called such reports "baseless," and said he has worked directly with Israel Aerospace Industries leadership and senior defense officials to advance production targets and secure budget approvals.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Tehran will not conduct "forced negotiations" under pressure and threats from the United States, according to Iran's state broadcaster, Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting.
According to the report, Pezeshkian made the comments during a phone call with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The president said the latest U.S. actions were compromising talks, according to the report.
Pezeshkian reportedly added that a breakthrough in negotiations would be difficult unless America ceased its "hostile actions and operational pressures."
Pezeshkian called on the U.S. to remove operational obstacles, including the blockade on ships traveling to and from Iran's ports, to create conditions to resolve the issues blocking further talks.
Pakistan said the PM promised Pezeshkian that Islamabad would "continue its sincere and honest endeavors to promote regional peace and security."
Had a warm and constructive telephone exchange this evening with my brother, President Masoud Pezeshkian, on the evolving regional situation.
I appreciated Iran’s continued engagement, including the high-level delegation to Islamabad led by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, whomShow more
In a post on X, Sharif said the call was "warm and constructive," and reiterated his commitment "to serve as an honest and sincere facilitator."
