Al-Akhbar English

Netanyahu: "We will erect a fence on our eastern border (with Jordan) and ensure that there will be no infiltration", in coordination with neighboring countries.

Lebanese National News Agency: Military retirees set tires on fire on the road leading to the Lebanese Grand Serail during a Cabinet session.

Israeli airstrike targets Houla, South Lebanon.

The Gaza Civil Defense reported that ten Palestinians, including women and children, were killed in an Israeli airstrike on a school housing displaced people in Al-Nuseirat camp, central Gaza. Some displaced individuals remain trapped under the rubble. The Gaza Government Media Office confirmed that the targeted UNRWA Al-Jaouni School was sheltering over 5,000 displaced people at the time of the attack.

Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati called for speeding up the election of a president, warning that the current vacancy could lead to a constitutional crisis. During a cabinet session, he praised the Finance Ministry for submitting the budget on time for the second year in a row and highlighted upcoming decisions on public sector pay raises, including for current and retired civilians and military personnel.
Mikati expressed surprise over protests outside the Grand Serail, explaining that temporary social assistance is being given to public employees until parliament passes the budget.
On the situation in southern Lebanon, Mikati said 140,000 people have been displaced, with the Emergency Committee, led by Minister Nasser Yassin, providing relief. He condemned Israel's ongoing attacks on civilians and aid workers and noted Lebanon's plan to file another complaint with the UN Security Council, despite past complaints being neglected.
Mikati also urged action against steep increases in school and university fees and called on the Minister of Education and other authorities to address price hikes to ease citizens' financial burdens.

Israeli shelling targets the outskirts of Oum Touteh, Marwahin, and Boustan in South Lebanon.

Lebanese Sovereignty at Stake: British Forces Deployment Memorandum Under Review

In his article today, Firas Shoufi sheds light on the intensifying debate within Lebanese institutions over a UK-proposed memorandum of understanding (MoU) that would authorize the deployment of British forces on Lebanese soil. According to the article, the MoU explicitly outlines the “responsibilities and general principles” for deploying British armed forces beyond training purposes. The UK initially justified this as a precautionary measure for evacuating citizens in case of war, citing past failures in Afghanistan and Sudan. However, official Lebanese sources confirm that the request predates the current conflict. Shoufi reveals that two versions of the MoU were received, one prior to October 7 and another in July, which raises further questions about the UK’s intentions.
The Lebanese Foreign Ministry flagged the draft as an infringement on sovereignty and is awaiting the Lebanese Army’s assessment. The author also notes the lack of clarity on the discussions that led to the draft MoU, which would grant Britain access to Lebanese infrastructure and the freedom to deploy troops, warships, and aircraft at will. He argues that instead of seeking military deployment in Lebanon, Britain should focus on applying diplomatic pressure on Israel to protect its citizens. Moreover, providing aid during crises does not require a formal memorandum. Signing this document, he warns, could set a dangerous precedent, likely opening the door for other nations to push for similar agreements and further compromising Lebanon’s sovereignty. Despite the seriousness of the issue and its long-term implications, Shoufi criticizes the Lebanese media for their conspicuous silence on the matter.

Full article by Firas Shoufi can be found in Arabic here: https://al-akhbar.com/Politics/386781/

Hezbollah announces targeting Zaoura outpost with Katyusha rockets.

Israeli drone targets a motorcycle on the road to Biyyadah, South Lebanon.

US Treasury Department: Washington imposes new sanctions related to Hezbollah.

The Israeli army confirmed that a soldier in an emergency unit was critically injured by an anti-tank missile fired from Lebanon at Dan settlement, occupied Upper Galilee.

Lebanon's Minister of Energy and Water, Walid Fayyad, has launched a new tender for the construction of an 8-megawatt solar power plant using photovoltaic technology. This project will be funded by the Ministry's budget and will be connected to the national grid of Electricité du Liban (EDL).
The plant will be built on the Beirut River and is set to be the largest solar energy project in Lebanon so far. The Ministry is focused on expanding the solar energy sector in the country.
The Ministry invites specialized solar energy companies to participate in this project. It has improved the contract’s financial terms, allowing payment to be adjusted according to the exchange rate on the payment date. This change helps protect contractors from fluctuations in currency values.
Bids can be submitted within 45 days from today. For more details, the tender documents (in Arabic) can be downloaded from this link: https://www.ppa.gov.lb/bids/view/3478»

Israeli media: Dozens of rockets were fired from Lebanon toward the Galilee in the last hour.

Government Media Office in Gaza: The occupation forces have committed a massacre by bombing UNRWA's Al-Jaouni School in the Nuseirat refugee camp.

Hezbollah targets the newly established base of the 146th Division in Abirim settlement, occupied Western Galilee.

Russian Foreign Ministry: The Russia-China partnership is not aimed at any third country, but they could "combine their capabilities" in response to aggression.

UNRWA: About 530,000 children in Gaza have been vaccinated against polio. The vaccination campaign is ongoing in the northern Gaza Strip.

Palestinian Red Crescent: Israeli forces detain an ambulance crew in Tulkarm refugee camp, with communication lost.