The US anti-missile system sent to Israel is “in place”; Hochstein expected in Beirut: what you need to know this Monday

Here’s what you need to know this Monday morning

1. Amos Hochstein expected in Beirut.
2. Serial Israeli strikes against security agenciesal-Qard al-Hassan last night. Deadly strike on Baalbeck this morning.
3. Three Lebanese soldiers killed by Israeli fire on Sunday.
4. Hezbollah accepted the terms of the 1701, according to Mikati.
5. UNIFIL accuses Israel of having “deliberately demolished an observation tower”.

This morning, on the ground

A strike on Baalbek this morning killed at least six people this morning, according to our correspondent.

Since this morning, several barrages of rockets have also been fired from South Lebanon, according to security sources cited by our correspondent.

The Israeli army, for its part, announced in a press release that it had targeted a “group of Hezbollah terrorists” who fired rockets into northern Israel, and said it had destroyed “dozens of rocket launchers” in the southern Lebanon during the night, reports Haaretz. Israeli artillery also repeatedly shelled Khiam (caza of Marjeyoun) this morning, an Israeli drone targeted the outskirts of the town of Ansar, caza of Nabatiyé. Shortly after, the air force carried out raids on the towns of Yater (Bint Jbeil) and Siddiqine (Tyr), while drones bombed Malkiyé (Tyr). Shortly before 8 a.m., two raids targeted the towns of Toul and Kfar Joz, in the vicinity of Nabatiyé.

Israeli strikes against al-Qard al-Hassan agencies

The Israeli army carried out airstrikes across Lebanon on Sunday evening against agencies of the al-Qard al-Hassan organization, a financial company it accuses of financing Hezbollah. Founded in 1983 and registered as a non-governmental organization since 1987, al-Qard al-Hassan collects non-interest-bearing deposits in accordance with the principles of Islamic finance, in dollars or pounds, and grants other microcredits.

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During the night, at least twelve Israeli strikes targeted subsidiaries of al-Qard al-Hassan in the southern suburbs of Beirut, notably in the neighborhoods of Haret Hreik, Tahouitat el-Ghadir, Hay el-Sellom, Ghobeyri , Bourj Brajné and Mreijé, as well as to the south of the capital, in Choueifate. At least two of these air raids took place on land very close to Beirut International Airport. Bombings targeting the organization were also carried out in Bekaa, Baalbeck, Ali el-Nahri and Hermel. In South Lebanon, strikes targeted this foundation in Aaqibiyé, between Saïda and Tyre, Houmine el-Faouqa and Nabatiyé. The majority of these air raids took place after Israeli calls for the population to evacuate the area around the offices of this organization, under American sanctions.

The financial association published, shortly after the first strikes, a statement on social networks affirming that it had already taken measures to protect citizens’ deposits. Israeli officials, quoted in the Wall Street Journal, said that “the objective of the strikes against the agencies of the al-Qard al-Hassan foundation is to reduce trust between Hezbollah and the Lebanese people.”

And also: dynamiting of houses and Lebanese soldiers killed

Sunday was also marked by violent strikes on 50 localities in South Lebanon and the Bekaa, after a dawn bombardment of the southern suburbs of Beirut, where the Israeli army announced having hit a ” command center” of Hezbollah and killed three officials.

The Israeli army exploded the Lebanese village of Ramiyé, in the Bint Jbeil caza in South Lebanon, reports our correspondent in the region. The Israeli army exploded residential buildings in several border villages during the night, notably in a neighborhood in Meis el-Jabal (caza de Marjeyoun) where a school was destroyed. A cemetery was razed to the ground in Blida, a village in the same caza. houses were also dynamited in Adaïssé, Markaba and Rab el-Talatine.

This is not the first time that Israel has carried out this type of operation. On Wednesday, his army blew up the entire village of Mhaybib, in the caza of Marjeyoun. In Yaroun, a mosque and a Melkite church were bombed a few days ago.

Israel “destroys” Hezbollah positions “in all the villages along the border” between the two countries, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said on Sunday. “Not only are we defeating the enemy, we are destroying them in all the villages along the border, sites that Hezbollah wanted to use as bases for attacks against Israel,” he said during the meeting. ‘a visit to northern Israel.

Hezbollah accepted terms of 1701, says Mikati

Outgoing Prime Minister Nagib Mikati told Al-Arabiya on Sunday evening that Hezbollah accepted the terms of Resolution 1701 and that the Lebanese army should advance its positions south of the Litani. “There is no other solution than diplomacy,” he added. “I have a plan that I am working on to save Lebanon, and there is an American desire for a ceasefire before the elections,” indicated, for his part, the head of Parliament, Nabih Berry, further denying that “Iran is obstructing” this plan.

Hochstein in Beirut

American envoy Amos Hochstein is expected in Beirut, while American Secretary of State Antony Blinken is expected to visit Israel on Tuesday. Nabih Berry, who estimated that Hochstein’s visit would take place on Monday, described it, on Al-Arabiya, as the last opportunity for the United States to reach a diplomatic resolution to the conflict.

UNIFIL accuses Israel of having “deliberately demolished an observation tower”

UNIFIL indicated, in a statement published on its Telegram account, that an Israeli army “bulldozer” “deliberately demolished an observation tower and the perimeter fence of a UN position in Marwahin », in the caza of Tire, during the day of Sunday. “Once again, we remind the Israeli army and all actors (in the ongoing conflict) that they have the obligation to guarantee the security of UN personnel and assets and to respect the inviolability UN premises at any time. Once again, we note that the violation of a UN position and the damage to UN property constitutes a flagrant violation of international law and Security Council Resolution 1701. It also endangers the safety of our peacekeepers in violation of international humanitarian law. »

The Israeli army has repeatedly asked UNIFIL “to vacate its positions along the Blue Line and has deliberately damaged UN positions.” Despite the pressure placed on the mission and on our troop-contributing countries, peacekeepers remain in all positions. We will continue to carry out our assigned tasks of monitoring and reporting. »

Hezbollah fighter executed by reservist

One of the Hezbollah fighters captured by the Israeli army in southern Lebanon was reportedly executed during interrogation by a reservist soldier, according to Israeli media, including Israel Hayom and Channel 14. On Saturday, the Israeli army had announced that it had launched an internal investigation into the “death” of a prisoner kidnapped during fighting in southern Lebanon. According to the Jerusalem Post, his capture took place during clashes with the Golani Brigade in a tunnel dug by the Shiite party.

The Israeli army claimed to have captured 10 Hezbollah fighters since the start of its ground operations in South Lebanon in early October.

Tension continues to rise between Paris and Tel Aviv

The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Israel Katz, announced that the Israeli government would take legal action against French President Emmanuel Macron following the announcement on October 15 of the banning of Israeli companies from the Euronaval exhibition to be held in Paris from November 4 to 7. This announcement provoked the ire of the Israeli government in a context of growing diplomatic tensions between Paris and Tel Aviv, in particular since the remarks made by Emmanuel Macron on October 5 concerning the need to stop arms deliveries to the Jewish state in the context of its war in Gaza. Last June, 74 Israeli companies scheduled to exhibit at the Eurosatory defense exhibition had already been canceled “by decision of the French government authorities”.

The Thaad system is “in place”

The US military urgently sent its advanced anti-missile system to Israel and it is now “in place”, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said, quoted by Reuters. Mr. Austin declined to say whether the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system was operational. But he added: “We have the capacity to put it into service very quickly and we are in line with our expectations,” the agency continues.

To Gaza

The Hamas government’s Health Ministry announced a new toll of 42,603 ​​killed in the Palestinian territory since the start of the war with Israel more than a year ago, reports AFP.

At least 84 people have been killed in the last 24 hours, he said in a statement which does not include the toll of a nighttime strike on an area of ​​Beit Lahia which left several dozen dead, adding that 99,795 People had been injured in the Gaza Strip since the start of the war on October 7, 2023.

Palestinians are experiencing “indescribable horrors” in the north of the Gaza Strip, the interim head of the UN for humanitarian aid, Joyce Msuya, denounced on Saturday. “Appalling news from northern Gaza, where Palestinians continue to suffer unspeakable horrors under siege by Israeli forces,” Msuya said on the social network X. “These atrocities must stop,” she urged.