Key facts
- Benjamin Netanyahu visited southern Lebanon and stated Israel will not withdraw until the Hezbollah threat is removed.
- A U.S.-mediated security agreement involves Israel handing over two areas to the Lebanese army.
- A study warns Hezbollah's explosive drones pose a significant threat to Israel's defense systems.
- Hundreds of thousands of displaced Lebanese have returned to southern Lebanon due to a lull in fighting.
- Many Lebanese remain displaced due to destroyed or uninhabitable homes.
- Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich called for Jewish settlements in Gaza.
- Hamas condemned international inaction after an Israeli airstrike killed a girl in Gaza.
- Turkiye and Arab nations condemned Israeli attacks in Syria.
- The UAE lifted its travel ban to Lebanon effective June 29, 2026.
- Israeli drones and warplanes targeted towns in southern Lebanon, with no casualties reported.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made a visit to southern Lebanon, a region he described as occupied, stating that Israel will not withdraw as long as the Iran-backed Hezbollah poses a threat. This visit follows a security agreement mediated by the United States, which involves Israel handing over two areas to the Lebanese army. Concurrently, a study from Reichman University's Institute for Counter-Terrorism Policy highlights the growing threat of Hezbollah's explosive drones, which are increasingly challenging Israel's defense systems due to their low cost and difficulty in detection, mirroring tactics from the Ukraine war.
Amidst these developments, hundreds of thousands of Lebanese citizens displaced by conflict have begun returning to southern Lebanon, prompted by a temporary decrease in fighting between Israel and Hezbollah. However, a significant number remain unable to return to their homes, which are either destroyed or uninhabitable. Authorities are still assessing the full extent of the displacement. In a separate development, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has called for the re-establishment of Jewish settlements in the Gaza Strip, asserting that the Israeli military currently controls approximately 70% of the territory and that preparations for three settlements are complete, awaiting government approval. Hamas has condemned what it terms "international silence" following an Israeli airstrike in Gaza that resulted in the death of a Palestinian girl and other casualties. The group criticized Arab governments and the Palestinian Authority for their perceived inaction amidst ongoing violence and alleged war crimes. Further regional condemnation comes from Turkiye and several Arab nations, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, and the UAE, who have denounced Israel's recent incursions and attacks in Syria's southern provinces. These actions are characterized as violations of Syrian sovereignty and international law, with concerns that they could escalate regional instability. In a related move, the UAE has lifted its ban on citizens traveling to Lebanon, effective June 29, 2026, a ban that was initially imposed in April due to regional conflict and concerns over Iran's influence.
Israeli drones and warplanes recently targeted several towns in southern Lebanon, including Hadatha, Braachit, and Deir Seryan, according to Lebanese state media. No casualties were reported in these specific incidents. The situation remains tense, with ongoing cross-border exchanges and broader regional implications.