Israeli Strike on South Lebanon Kills One

Firefighters and first responders gather at the scene of an Israeli airstrike that targeted a building in the southern Lebanese town of Toul on May 22, 2025. (Photo by Mahmoud ZAYYAT / AFP)
Firefighters and first responders gather at the scene of an Israeli airstrike that targeted a building in the southern Lebanese town of Toul on May 22, 2025. (Photo by Mahmoud ZAYYAT / AFP)
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Israeli Strike on South Lebanon Kills One

Firefighters and first responders gather at the scene of an Israeli airstrike that targeted a building in the southern Lebanese town of Toul on May 22, 2025. (Photo by Mahmoud ZAYYAT / AFP)
Firefighters and first responders gather at the scene of an Israeli airstrike that targeted a building in the southern Lebanese town of Toul on May 22, 2025. (Photo by Mahmoud ZAYYAT / AFP)

Lebanese official media said an Israeli strike killed one person in the south on Saturday despite a six-month-old ceasefire, as Israel said it targeted a Hezbollah member.

The state-run National News Agency (NNA) said a man was killed when an Israeli drone targeted his car as he was heading to pray at a mosque in Deir al-Zahrani, about 20 kilometers (12 miles) from the Israeli border.

Israel has continued to bomb Lebanon despite the November 27 truce that sought to halt more than a year of hostilities with Hezbollah, including two months of open war.

The Israeli army said the strike killed a regional commander "of Hezbollah's rocket array".

It charged that during the conflict, the operative "advanced numerous projectile attacks... and was involved recently in efforts to reestablish Hezbollah's terrorist infrastructure" in south Lebanon.

Under the terms of the ceasefire, Hezbollah fighters were to pull back north of the Litani River, some 30 kilometers (20 miles) from the border, and dismantle military infrastructure to its south.

Israel was to withdraw all forces from Lebanon but it has kept troops in five areas it deems "strategic".

The Lebanese army has deployed in the south and has been dismantling Hezbollah infrastructure.



Iraq Condemns Any ‘Aggression, Targeting’ of Gulf States, Jordan

An Iraqi soldier stands guard at the site of a destroyed healthcare center in the Habbaniyah military base, which was targeted by in an airstrike killing seven security personnel and wounding 13 others, in Habbaniyah, west of Baghdad on March 26, 2026. (AFP)
An Iraqi soldier stands guard at the site of a destroyed healthcare center in the Habbaniyah military base, which was targeted by in an airstrike killing seven security personnel and wounding 13 others, in Habbaniyah, west of Baghdad on March 26, 2026. (AFP)
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Iraq Condemns Any ‘Aggression, Targeting’ of Gulf States, Jordan

An Iraqi soldier stands guard at the site of a destroyed healthcare center in the Habbaniyah military base, which was targeted by in an airstrike killing seven security personnel and wounding 13 others, in Habbaniyah, west of Baghdad on March 26, 2026. (AFP)
An Iraqi soldier stands guard at the site of a destroyed healthcare center in the Habbaniyah military base, which was targeted by in an airstrike killing seven security personnel and wounding 13 others, in Habbaniyah, west of Baghdad on March 26, 2026. (AFP)

Iraq on Thursday condemned the targeting of the Gulf states and Jordan, a day after these countries issued a joint statement demanding Baghdad act to prevent attacks from its territory.

The Iraqi foreign ministry "affirms the government's categorical condemnation of any aggression or targeting of the Gulf countries and the Kingdom of Jordan", it said in a statement, adding it was prepared to "work jointly to address them (attacks) responsibly and swiftly".

Iraq was committed to taking the "necessary measures to manage the security challenges", it added.

On Wednesday, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Jordan issued a joint statement demanding that Baghdad act immediately to prevent attacks from its territory by Iran-backed armed groups.

Iraq has been drawn into the war sparked by US and Israeli strikes against Iran on February 28.

Pro-Tehran Iraqi groups have said they have targeted US interests in the country, as well as the wider region.

Kuwait and Jordan have both said they have been targeted by Iraqi armed factions.

A shadowy group called Saraya Awliyaa al-Dam (Guardians of the Blood Brigades), which claims to be part of the Tehran-backed Islamic Resistance in Iraq, has claimed attacks on the two countries.

On Wednesday, reacting to the joint statement, the group said attacks "by the Islamic Resistance strictly target the American presence" in the Gulf nations and Jordan.


Rubio Holds Call with Iraqi Kurdish Leader, State Department Says

 US Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrives at Paris-Le Bourget Airport, in Le Bourget, France, early Friday, March 27, 2026, to take part in the G7 foreign ministers' meeting. (AP)
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrives at Paris-Le Bourget Airport, in Le Bourget, France, early Friday, March 27, 2026, to take part in the G7 foreign ministers' meeting. (AP)
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Rubio Holds Call with Iraqi Kurdish Leader, State Department Says

 US Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrives at Paris-Le Bourget Airport, in Le Bourget, France, early Friday, March 27, 2026, to take part in the G7 foreign ministers' meeting. (AP)
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrives at Paris-Le Bourget Airport, in Le Bourget, France, early Friday, March 27, 2026, to take part in the G7 foreign ministers' meeting. (AP)

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with Kurdistan Regional Government Prime Minister Masrour Barzani on Thursday, the State Department said, adding he expressed "gratitude" to KRG for enabling oil from Iraq, including from Iraq's Kurdistan, to reach global markets.

"The secretary also expressed his gratitude to the Kurdistan Regional Government for enabling oil from Iraq, ‌including from the Iraq ‌Kurdistan Region, to reach global ‌markets," ⁠the State Department said ⁠in a statement.

The Iran war has raised oil prices and shaken global markets.

The State Department said Rubio "offered his condolences to the families of the Peshmerga killed in an Iranian missile attack on March 24 and wished a ⁠speedy recovery to those injured."

At least six ‌Kurdish Peshmerga fighters ‌were killed and 30 wounded in a rocket attack ‌on their base north of Erbil in Iraqi ‌Kurdistan, a Peshmerga statement said on Tuesday.

The Peshmerga statement said Iran carried out a "treacherous attack," adding that six Iranian ballistic missiles struck a Peshmerga ‌military headquarters north of Erbil early on Tuesday.

The Iran war began on ⁠February 28 ⁠when the US and Israel attacked Iran. Tehran subsequently responded by launching its own attacks on Israel and Gulf states with US bases. Joint US-Israeli strikes in Iran and Israeli attacks in Lebanon have killed thousands.

US President Donald Trump has offered shifting goals and timelines for the war, ranging from overthrowing Iran's government to destroying its military and missile capabilities.


Blasts Heard as Lebanese State Media Says Israel Strikes Beirut Suburbs

The rubble of a damaged building after an Israeli strike in the Chiyah area, a southern suburb of Beirut, Lebanon, 25 March 2026. (EPA)
The rubble of a damaged building after an Israeli strike in the Chiyah area, a southern suburb of Beirut, Lebanon, 25 March 2026. (EPA)
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Blasts Heard as Lebanese State Media Says Israel Strikes Beirut Suburbs

The rubble of a damaged building after an Israeli strike in the Chiyah area, a southern suburb of Beirut, Lebanon, 25 March 2026. (EPA)
The rubble of a damaged building after an Israeli strike in the Chiyah area, a southern suburb of Beirut, Lebanon, 25 March 2026. (EPA)

Lebanese media reported an Israeli strike hit Beirut's southern suburbs early Friday, as AFP correspondents heard several explosions from the Hezbollah stronghold that Israel has repeatedly struck since war erupted this month.

AFPTV footage showed smoke billowing from the area after the raid.

Lebanon's official National News Agency reported that "enemy aircraft" carried out a raid on Tahouitet al-Ghadir in the southern suburbs at dawn.

Israel has previously issued sweeping evacuation warnings for the area, but provided no specific warning in advance of Friday's strike.

The usually densely populated area has largely emptied of residents since the hostilities erupted, and it was unclear whether there were any casualties.

Hours later, Israeli military spokesman Avichay Adraee called on residents of Sejoud village in southern Lebanon to evacuate to the north of Zahrani river, warning of an imminent attack against Hezbollah.

Lebanon was drawn into the Middle East war on March 2 when Tehran-backed Hezbollah began firing rockets into Israel to avenge the killing of Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei.

Israel has since been bombing Lebanon, mainly in areas where Hezbollah has long held sway, and has sent in ground troops in a push to establish a buffer zone in south Lebanon.

Hezbollah said its fighters kept up its attacks on Israeli troops in south Lebanon early Friday.

On Thursday, official Lebanese media reported deadly Israeli raids in the country's south, and Hezbollah claimed more than 90 attacks on Israeli targets inside Lebanon and across the border.

Also Thursday, Israel's military said two soldiers were killed in south Lebanon, while Israeli emergency services said a rocket fired from Lebanon killed a man in northern Israel's Nahariya area.

Israeli strikes since March 2 have killed at least 1,116 people including 121 children, according to Lebanese authorities, while more than one million people have been displaced.