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Israeli Military Operations Paving Way for Battle in South Lebanon

Smoke rises as Israeli forces demolish homes in Zawtar al-Sharqiyeh, southern Lebanon, Sunday, Aug. 23, 2026. (AP)
Smoke rises as Israeli forces demolish homes in Zawtar al-Sharqiyeh, southern Lebanon, Sunday, Aug. 23, 2026. (AP)
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Israeli Military Operations Paving Way for Battle in South Lebanon

Smoke rises as Israeli forces demolish homes in Zawtar al-Sharqiyeh, southern Lebanon, Sunday, Aug. 23, 2026. (AP)
Smoke rises as Israeli forces demolish homes in Zawtar al-Sharqiyeh, southern Lebanon, Sunday, Aug. 23, 2026. (AP)

Israeli incursions and raids on southern Lebanon are paving the way for a military battle as the army has been striking heights overlooking villages and towns it is occupying. Israel has also been targeting roads and routes that run deeper into Lebanese territory, notably around Bint Jbeil city, security sources told Asharq Al-Awsat.

The operations and raids are focusing on the Ali al-Taher heights in the eastern sector that Israel has been trying to capture for ten weeks. In the central sector, it has been focusing on routes leading to Bint Jbeil and, closer to the coast, it has been carrying out similar incursions and detonations in the towns of Majdal Zoun and al-Mansouri.

The security sources said the operations appear to be paving the way for a military battle. The attacks are targeting all the hills surrounding Ali al-Taher, especially the al-Dabsha and al-Tahra that were occupied by Israel before it withdrew from the South in 2000.

The sources explained that focusing attacks on the hills and destroying houses around Ali al-Taher means that the troops are trying to isolate the entire strategic area from its surroundings.

For the past week, Israeli raids struck under-constructions houses and villas in the Dawhet Kfar Rumman and Nabatieh al-Fawqa areas, located north and southwest of Ali al-Taher respectively. It also continued to blow up houses in Kfar Tebnint that is located directly west of Ali al-Taher.

Israel has also struck Ali al-Taher itself with artillery and phosphorous bombs.

Lebanese media on Sunday said Israel used artillery to hit Mayfadoun and airstrikes hit Nabatieh al-Fawqa and Dawhet Kfar Rumman.

In the central sector, Israeli troops carried out incursions into four unoccupied towns: Beit Yahoun, Baraachit, Hadatha and Aita al-Jabal, all of which lead to Bint Jbeil, which is occupied by Israel.

The sources said a potential military battle in the future will not be limited to Ali al-Taher, but encompass the central sector.

The incursions are covering an area stretching some five kilometers from Baraachit to Hadatha in an attempt to create a buffer zone close to Ali al-Taher and capture areas that overlooking nearby valleys.

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Arab World

Egypt Seeks Regional, International Support for Political Solution in Sudan

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi meets with Sudanese Sovereign Council Chairman Abdel Fattah al-Burhan in New Alamein. (Egyptian Presidency) 
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi meets with Sudanese Sovereign Council Chairman Abdel Fattah al-Burhan in New Alamein. (Egyptian Presidency) 
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Egypt Seeks Regional, International Support for Political Solution in Sudan

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi meets with Sudanese Sovereign Council Chairman Abdel Fattah al-Burhan in New Alamein. (Egyptian Presidency) 
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi meets with Sudanese Sovereign Council Chairman Abdel Fattah al-Burhan in New Alamein. (Egyptian Presidency) 

Egypt is seeking stronger regional and international efforts to advance a political solution to the war in Sudan, saying an end to the conflict is essential to easing the suffering of the Sudanese people and restoring stability.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi reiterated that position during talks with General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, chairman of Sudan’s Transitional Sovereign Council, on the sidelines of the 8th African Union Mid-Year Coordination Meeting.

Al-Sisi stressed the need to “exert all efforts at the regional and international levels to advance a political solution to the internal war,” while reaffirming his country’s longstanding support for Sudan and its people, according to the Egyptian presidency.

Since fighting erupted in mid-April 2023, Cairo has backed Sudan’s legitimate state institutions, foremost among them the army, while pressing for an end to the war and an inclusive political process bringing together the various components of Sudanese society.

During the meeting, al-Sisi pledged to continue Egypt’s regional and international efforts to promote a political settlement that could end the fighting and alleviate the humanitarian crisis. Such a solution, he noted, would allow Sudan to regain security and stability and begin the process of reconstruction and development.

Egypt has been involved in several diplomatic initiatives since the war began. It backed the Jeddah talks between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and, in July 2023, hosted a summit of Sudan’s neighboring countries aimed at advancing political solutions to the crisis.

A year later, Cairo hosted Sudanese political forces for talks aimed at developing a road map for an intra-Sudanese dialogue and overcoming the country’s internal divisions.

Al-Burhan, for his part, praised Egypt’s support for Sudan, including its political and humanitarian assistance and its hosting of large numbers of Sudanese forced to flee the war.

About 1.2 million Sudanese have fled to Egyptian cities because of the conflict, according to official figures, joining thousands of others who had already been living in the country for years.

Turning to prospects for a political settlement, al-Burhan stressed that Sudan’s legitimate state institutions should not be equated with “rebel militias or parallel entities,” and praised Egypt’s “clear and consistent” position on the issue.

Egypt considers the RSF an “armed militia” and has repeatedly rejected accusations that it is intervening in Sudan’s internal conflict.

The talks also covered bilateral ties, with al-Sisi reaffirming Egypt’s commitment to supporting Sudanese citizens in various fields and expanding cooperation between the two countries to serve their shared interests and development goals.

Cooperation on Sudan’s eventual reconstruction has also featured in recent bilateral discussions.

A joint statement issued after talks between Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly and his Sudanese counterpart Kamil Idris in February said Cairo had welcomed Khartoum’s request to draw on Egyptian expertise in establishing a new administrative city.

The project would be modeled on Egypt’s experience in the field and form part of efforts to support Sudan’s reconstruction, the statement said.

Arab World

Israeli Army Takes Logistical Steps to Entrench Presence in South Lebanon

Israeli soldiers on an operational mission in a village in South Lebanon (Israeli military) 
Israeli soldiers on an operational mission in a village in South Lebanon (Israeli military) 
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Israeli Army Takes Logistical Steps to Entrench Presence in South Lebanon

Israeli soldiers on an operational mission in a village in South Lebanon (Israeli military) 
Israeli soldiers on an operational mission in a village in South Lebanon (Israeli military) 

The Israeli army is taking logistical steps to prepare for a prolonged presence in South Lebanon, fortifying positions and improving road networks while expanding scorched areas north of what it calls the “Yellow Line.”

Israeli strikes have also extended deeper into Lebanon, reaching Wadi Zibqin in the western sector and the vicinity of Mayfadoun in the east, in what local sources described as an expansion of depopulated areas through gunfire, artillery shelling, airstrikes and drone activity.

The expansion comes amid operational challenges reported by Israeli media, particularly fiber-optic-guided explosive drones. Ynet reported that the Israeli military has yet to find a comprehensive solution to the threat and is testing various systems, focusing on protection, early detection and warning.

Long-term preparations

The measures offer no indication that Israeli forces intend to withdraw from South Lebanon in the foreseeable future.

Ynet reported that the military was fortifying positions and improving access roads even after the 55th Reserve Paratroopers Brigade completed its mission and handed over its positions to replacement forces.

The brigade completed about 100 days of mobilization, including 80 days of operations in Lebanon, concentrated between the border and what the Israeli military calls the “Yellow Line,” reaching depths of about 12 kilometers (7.5 miles).

Forces from the Bislamach Brigade and the Gefen Battalion of the officers’ course are replacing the 55th Brigade, conducting drills and improving positions that provide observation and fire control over areas farther inside Lebanon.

Israeli security officials cited by Ynet indicated that troops would spend the winter in protected compounds inside villages. Buildings were equipped over the summer with generators, air conditioning, and sanitary facilities, while access routes were prepared in advance.

The report also cited concerns that limiting operations to securing the deployment line could erode readiness and increase the risk of attacks on Israeli forces in South Lebanon.

Second line of villages

Alongside fixed military positions established by the Israeli army since May, now numbering 17, according to southern Lebanese security sources who spoke to Asharq Al-Awsat, Israeli forces are expanding their fire zone toward a second line of villages bordering the “Yellow Line,” with the aim of turning them into depopulated, hazardous areas.

Local sources reported intensified gunfire and artillery shelling in recent days, accompanied by persistent drone flights. The attacks have reached the outskirts of Wadi Zibqin and Mayfadoun, southeast of Nabatieh, where residents remain, and some displaced people have returned over the past three months.

Lebanon’s official National News Agency reported an Israeli airstrike on Kfar Tibnit after artillery shelling between Arnoun and Kfar Tibnit. Israeli artillery also struck near the public school in Mayfadoun and Dawhat Kfar Roummane, as well as the outskirts of Haris and Haddatha.

A Merkava tank fired several shells at Houla, while Israeli fire targeted the outskirts of Shaqra and Kounine woodland. A series of strikes hit Kfar Tibnit and Wadi al-Hujair, with explosions heard in Sidon and surrounding areas.

In the western sector, Israeli artillery intermittently shelled Mansouri from Bayyada and Tayr Harfa, south of Tyre, with fire extending to Wadi Hassan near Majdal Zoun. Israeli forces also carried out a powerful explosion in Mansouri that was heard as far as Mount Lebanon, following another blast near Baraachit in the Bint Jbeil district. A suspicious object left from previous Israeli attacks also exploded on the outskirts of Srifa.

Soldiers injured

Separately, the Israeli military announced Sunday that a soldier was seriously wounded and an officer moderately injured Friday in Majdal Zoun after a grenade was improperly thrown.

Eight other Israeli soldiers were injured Friday in a separate incident in South Lebanon involving a collision between two vehicles.

 

 

Arab World

Yemeni Army Continues Strikes Against Houthis

Yemeni Armed Forces Spokesperson Majid Al-Nazili (SABA)
Yemeni Armed Forces Spokesperson Majid Al-Nazili (SABA)
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Yemeni Army Continues Strikes Against Houthis

Yemeni Armed Forces Spokesperson Majid Al-Nazili (SABA)
Yemeni Armed Forces Spokesperson Majid Al-Nazili (SABA)

Yemeni army spokesman Colonel Majid Al-Nazili said the Yemeni armed forces carried out 1,122 operations targeting the Houthi militias as part of a campaign to “liberate” the country, restore state institutions and end the Houthi coup.

In a statement posted on X he said that the armed forces were “continuing military operations across various fronts and battlefields in line with approved plans.”

He added that the Yemeni army carried out 1,122 precision strikes against Houthi targets, including weapons positions, fortifications, supply routes, reinforcements and command-and-control centers, across the Saada, Jawf, Taiz and coastal fronts.

He said the strikes involved fighter jets, drones, artillery, missiles, rocket launchers and snipers.

According to field figures, the operations resulted in the neutralization of 1,747 militia members and the destruction or disabling of 364 military vehicles, equipment, and transport and supply assets.

He said the armed forces would continue military operations to liberate state territory, restore state institutions, assert national sovereignty, and fulfil their assigned missions.