Israel bombs southern Lebanon overnight as market and mosque destroyed
Southern Lebanon was under intense bombardment by the Israeli military overnight and into dawn, with rescue crews searching for survivors and battling fires as strikes hit a major commercial market in Nabatiyeh city.
Israeli attacks also “completely destroyed” a mosque in the town of Kfar Tebnit, according to Lebanon’s National News Agency.
The IDF says it attacked “dozens” of Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon overnight, including launchers and ammunition depots, adding that military forces had attacked “about 200 terrorist targets” in the past day.
Hezbollah said in a Telegram post this morning that it was fighting Israeli forces trying to move into Ramiya village in southern Lebanon.
The Lebanese Red Cross said four volunteers were “slightly injured” by an air strike as ambulance teams were sent to Sirbine in southern Lebanon.
Secret Hamas documents reveal October 7 planning
Secret Hamas documents provide a detailed record of planning for the October 7 attacks as well as efforts to recruit Hezbollah and Iran to join the assault, as reported by the New York Times.
The documents, released by the Israeli military and obtained and verified by the New York Times, consist of minutes of secret meetings of the militant group and attended by its leader, Yahya Sinwar.
The NYT reports that Hamas referred to the attacks as “The Big Project,” and hinted at the operation as early as January 2022. Hamas avoided minor clashes or escalations with Israeli forces to “hide our intentions,” according to the Hamas documents, in order to maximize the surprise of the Oct. 7 attack.
The report says that Hamas dispatched a top official to Lebanon in July 2023, where he met with a senior Iranian commander Mohammed Said Izadi and requested help for the assault.
According to the report, both Hezbollah and Iran were supportive in principle but needed time to “prepare the environment,” conveying a message that Hamas took to mean that they would need to carry out the attack alone.
Austin expresses “deep concerns” about UN attacks with Israeli counterpart
Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin expressed his “deep concern” about Israeli fire on UN peacekeeping positions, in a call with his Israeli counterpart Yoav Gallant last night.
Five UN peacekeepers have been wounded in southern Lebanon in the past three days, four of them due to Israeli fire.
According to a readout of their conversation, Austin “strongly emphasized” the importance of ensuring the safety of UN and Lebanese forces, and reiterated the need to find a diplomatic solution. Two Lebanese soldiers were killed in an Israeli airstrike last week.
Austin also said that steps must be taken to address the “dire humanitarian situation in Gaza,” while reaffirming the US’ “ironclad” commitment to Israel’s security.
Patients evacuated from hospital in northern Gaza in 12 hour mission
The Palestine Red Crescent Society said it evacuated patients from Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza in a “complex mission” that lasted 12 hours.
The hospital has been under siege by Israel for days. Israeli forces ordered staff and patients to evacuate the hospital, threatening them with arrest if they do not comply, according to the enclave’s health ministry.
IDF declares closed military zone in northern Israel
The IDF declared a closed military zone in northern Israel a short while ago.
“Following a situational assessment, the areas of Zar’it, Shomera, Shtula, Netu’a, and Even Menachem in northern Israel will be declared a closed military zone as of 20:00 today (Saturday),” the IDF said in a statement. “Entry to this area is prohibited.”
The IDF did not elaborate on the reasons for today’s action near the country’s border with Lebanon, where tensions between Israel and Hezbollah have been escalating.
Almost half of health care centers in Lebanon closed due to ‘escalation of violence,’ WHO says
Around 100 out of 207 health care centers in Lebanon are now closed due to the “escalation of violence,” according to World Health Organization Director General Tedros Ghebreyesus.
“The attacks on health workers and facilities, which have caused almost 100 deaths, must stop,” Ghebreyesus wrote on X. “The number of people injured is increasing. “The health system is struggling to cope due to limited human and resource capacity.”
Five hospitals have shut down due to structural damage following airstrikes, he said.
“We call for the urgent protection of patients and health workers. “We call for peace,” Ghebreyesus wrote.
