Key facts
- UN Chief Antonio Guterres condemned Israel's strike on southern Beirut.
- Israel claimed to target Hezbollah infrastructure in Beirut's Dahiyeh suburb.
- Lebanese state media reported civilian casualties from the Beirut strike.
- US and Iran are nearing a potential peace deal, but differ on signing timelines.
- Hezbollah claimed drone attacks on Israeli positions and downed an Israeli drone.
- Israel issued displacement orders for 29 towns in southern Lebanon.
- Israeli settlers attempted to set a mosque on fire and torched vehicles in the West Bank.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned Israel's strike on southern Beirut, describing it as a critical moment for ongoing US-Iran peace deal negotiations. The attack, which Israel claimed targeted Hezbollah infrastructure in the densely populated Dahiyeh suburb, occurred hours after Hezbollah launched drones into northern Israel. Lebanese state media reported at least two killed and four injured in the Beirut strike.
Hezbollah had previously claimed responsibility for drone attacks on Israeli military positions and announced the downing of an Israeli Heron 1 drone over Lebanon's Bekaa Valley. The Israeli military reported suspected aerial targets near the Lebanese border, with one instance later verified as a false alarm. Despite these exchanges, US President Donald Trump suggested a US-Iran deal could be signed soon, though Iran disputed the timeline, stating "coming days." Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth indicated that the strikes would not disrupt the deal's completion.
Israel has also issued forced displacement orders for residents of 29 towns in southern Lebanon, with some analysts suggesting this could signal an impending military advance. In separate incidents, Israeli settlers reportedly attempted to set a mosque on fire and torched Palestinian vehicles in the occupied West Bank. The UN chief's condemnation highlighted the precarious situation, linking Lebanon's security to the broader US-Iran diplomatic efforts.