The IDF has once again bombed Beirut this evening after Israeli warplanes flew over Beirut airspace earlier today. The strike reportedly targeted a Hezbollah commander “who had recently directed Hamas operatives and assisted them.” At least three people were killed, with another seven injured, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry.

According to Israeli news media, unnamed Israeli security officials believe that resuming hostilities in southern Lebanon and reestablishing a buffer zone is necessary to prevent further attacks following the recent incident in Kiryat Shmona.

With sectarian violence ongoing in western Syria, SOHR reported that 12 civilians, mainly from the Alawite religious minority, were killed today. In one of the incidents identified today in Tartus, the perpetrators gathered and set out from a military base controlled by the HTS-led government.

Today, Washington welcomed the formation of an interim government in Damascus. Still, it asserted that the sanctions regime on Syria would not be relaxed unless and until they saw progress on its demand to “renounce and suppress terrorism, exclude foreign terrorist fighters from any official roles (and) prevent Iran and its proxies from exploiting Syrian territory.”

NPR reported that the Syrian interim government attempted to shutter the bars of Damascus this week. Bar owners reported that the move came without warning or reason, following worries that the Islamist government may crack down on alcohol. However, apparently, due to ensuing social media outcry, the government quickly reversed its decision and lifted the closures on all 60 licensed bars in the city.

The IDF has issued an evacuation order for Rafah and the surrounding area, possibly indicating intentions for renewed ground operations. Following the effective deterioration of the ceasefire this month, ground operations partially restarted when the IDF retook the Netzarim Corridor that divides northern and southern Gaza.

In reaction to the Trump Administration’s recent threats to bomb Iran, if they do not concede to talks on the nuclear file, Iranian Supreme Leader Khamenei stated today, “The enmity from the US and Israel has always been there. They threaten to attack us, which we don’t think is very probable, but if they commit any mischief they will surely receive a strong reciprocal blow. And if they are thinking of causing sedition inside the country as in past years, the Iranian people themselves will deal with them.” One of Khamenei’s advisors gave another grave threat: “We are not moving towards (nuclear) weapons, but if you do something wrong in the Iranian nuclear issue, you will force Iran to move towards that because it has to defend itself.”