Heavy fighting continues between Hezbollah fighters and Israeli troops in southern Lebanon, with Israel confirming that at least eight of its soldiers have been killed in close combat.
Meanwhile, Israeli strikes on Gaza have intensified, targeting shelters, schools, and an orphanage, with dozens killed. Since October 2023, Gaza has seen 41,689 deaths and 96,625 injuries due to Israeli attacks. In contrast, at least 1,139 Israelis were killed in the Hamas-led attacks on October 7, and over 200 remain captive.
The Israeli military has warned Lebanese evacuees from southern villages not to return "until further notice," according to Avichay Adraee, the Israeli army’s Arabic spokesperson, citing continued raids for safety reasons. He also warned against any movement south, stating it could be dangerous, particularly near Hezbollah sites or equipment.
In a separate development, the UN criticized Israel’s decision to ban Secretary-General António Guterres from traveling to the country, calling it a "political statement" and part of a broader pattern of attacks on UN staff by Israel. This follows Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz’s declaration that Guterres is "persona non grata," accusing him of bias for not sufficiently condemning Hamas’s October 7 attacks. The UN spokesperson rejected these claims, noting Guterres has consistently condemned the violence.
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