Lebanon

IDF officials said troops from the 91st Division are continuing operations in the security zone in southern Lebanon, where they say they have been locating Hezbollah weapons and infrastructure. In the latest activity, forces uncovered an underground shaft, a rocket storage site, explosives, and additional weapons.

Beginning tomorrow, Iran will launch a week of funeral events for Ali Khamenei. He is set to be buried next week in Mashhad. So far, there is no confirmation that his son, Mojtaba Khamenei, will take part in the ceremonies. At the same time, Iran is escalating its threats against Israel and the U.S.

Marking 20 years since the Second Lebanon War, Israel held the state memorial ceremony for those who fell in the war. In his remarks, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said: "Not only is Israel not weak like a spider’s web, as Nasrallah said — Israel is strong like strands of steel."

The U.S. reportedly drafted a demands document and asked Israel to commit to it in order to move forward with a governing alternative to Hamas — even without the group being disarmed. A senior American representative also reportedly met with top Hamas officials.

Defense Minister Israel Katz said Israel is preparing for the possibility that fighting with Iran could flare up again: "If Iran fires missiles at Israel, Israel will strike Iran with force — it could happen within two days."

The Israeli government approved a 45-day extension of the special emergency situation on the home front, citing continued security uncertainty involving Lebanon and the Hezbollah terror group. The decision is based on security officials’ assessment that the threat to civilians has not yet been removed.

Nabih Berri, speaker of Lebanon’s parliament and a representative of the Amal movement, a Hezbollah ally, spoke out against the agreement between the Lebanese government and Israel. The head of U.S. Central Command is expected to arrive in Lebanon to monitor the deployment of the Lebanese army in areas vacated by the IDF.

According to a report in The Wall Street Journal, talks between the U.S. and Iran that were supposed to take place in Switzerland with mediating countries present have been put on hold בעקבות the latest escalation between the two countries.

Capt. David Hazut, 21, of Ashkelon, a platoon commander in Golani Brigade’s 12th Battalion, was killed in combat with a terrorist in southern Lebanon. Another soldier was lightly wounded in the incident. The terrorist managed to flee the scene.

Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem said his organization opposes the agreement between Israel and Lebanon. Hezbollah threatened to continue “the resistance,” and the Houthis called to “bring down the puppet government in Lebanon.” Defense Minister ישראל Katz said: “There is no IDF withdrawal whatsoever.”

Just before *Shabbat*, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that understandings had been reached with the Lebanese government and that a framework agreement had been signed between the two countries. The IDF will gradually transfer responsibility in certain areas to the Lebanese army, while Israel will retain freedom of action until Hezbollah is disarmed.

Israel won recognition for its security zone, but the fine print may decide whether Hezbollah is trapped, or rebuilt

Esmail Qaani, commander of Iran’s Quds Force in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, issued a threat against Israel on social media and called on it to withdraw from Lebanon: "This land is a field of resistance and steadfastness, not a playground for occupiers."

The final day of talks between Israel and Lebanon opened under the shadow of an American report claiming the IDF had partially withdrawn from southern Lebanon. Officials in both Jerusalem and Beirut rejected the claim, even as Washington urged the Lebanese army to move into the area.

Adm. Brad Cooper, head of U.S. Central Command, is expected in Israel tomorrow for security talks focused on Iran and Lebanon. At the same time, Washington is advancing a framework under which the Lebanese army would be required to prove control over areas cleared of Hezbollah.

Israeli concern grows after Trump floated a Syrian role against Hezbollah, while Shin Bet says Hamas figures in Turkey directed attacks in Judea and Samaria

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio addressed the talks between Israel and Lebanon. Responding to claims from both Israel and the Lebanese government that the agreement between Iran and the United States harms them both, Rubio said: "The Lebanon file is separate from the Iran file."

The Iranian delegation said it is not prepared to continue the talks in Switzerland, after U.S. President Donald Trump said in an interview back home: "Iran must immediately stop its proxy in Lebanon from stirring up trouble. If they do not, we will hit Iran very hard."

After two days of intensive talks between the United States and Iran, Vice President J.D. Vance gave a statement to the press and expressed satisfaction with the progress made in the discussions. According to him, progress was recorded on several key issues.

Several diplomatic tracks now focus on Israeli withdrawal, Lebanese Army deployment, monitoring mechanisms and a possible Syrian role, while leaving Hezbollah’s weapons unresolved