Smoke billows from an Israeli strike on Nabatieh, Lebanon May 26, 2026 (Reuters)

UPDATE 1828 GMT:

The Israel Defense Forces has issued an evacuation order for all residents of southern Lebanon to move north of the Zahrani River.

“All areas south of the river are considered combat zones,” the IDF said.

UPDATE 1431 GMT:

The Israel Defense Forces has issued a warning for people in city of Tyre and surrounding areas in southern Lebanon, including several camps housing thousands of Palestinian refugees and displaced Lebanese, to flee their homes ahead of potential airstrikes.

People have been commanded to move north of the Zahrani River about 25 miles away.

Rescue workers are searching through rubble in nearby Burj al-Shemali, where 15 people were killed and the village devastated on Tuesday.

UPDATE 1320 GMT:

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards reports that 23 vessels crossed the Strait of Hormuz with its permission in the past 24 hours.

On Tuesday, the Guards said 25 ships passed the Strait in coordination with its navy.

UPDATE 1309 GMT:

Iranian State TV claims a revised draft of the framework deal restores commercial shipping through the Strait ⁠of Hormuz to ⁠pre-war levels within a month, while the ⁠US ⁠not only lifts a ‌naval blockade of Iranian ports but withdraws ⁠military forces from the vicinity of Iran.

America has committed to withdrawing its military forces from Iran’s surrounding environment, whether this includes forces deployed to the region or forces stationed at bases requires negotiation.

Iran will manage shipping through the Strait in coordination with Oman. Officials said the framework is not yet final and Tehran will not move forward without “tangible verification”.

The final deal would be confirmed by a UN Security Council resolution.

The White House responded, “This report from Iranian controlled media is not true and the MOU [Memorandum of Understanding] they ’released’ is a complete fabrication. Nobody should believe what Iranian state media is putting out.”

UPDATE 1301 GMT:

A Lebanese soldier was killed on Tuesday by an Israeli airstrike near his post in Bekaa in the east of the country.

The retrieval of the victim’s body was delayed due to the attacks in the area.

UPDATE 0922 GMT:

The Israel Defense Forces has issued an evacuation warning ahead of more airstrikes on the city of Nabatieh in southern Lebanon.

Residents of the city, which was bombed on Tuesday, were instructed to evacuate north of the nearby Zahrani River.

“In light of the Hezbollah terror organization’s violations of the ceasefire agreement, the IDF is forced to act against it with force and does not intend to harm you,” said IDF spokesman Col. Avichay Adraee.

Israel has issued about 50 forced displacement orders for Lebanese towns and villages over the past 24 hours.

ORIGINAL ENTRY: Setting aside a nominal six-week ceasefire, Israel has expanded its ground assault, airstrikes, and occupation inside Lebanon.

After a Security Council Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Tuesday evening that Israel is “intensifying” military operations. The Israel Defense Forces are operating with “large forces”.

A military official confirmed that Israeli troops have moved beyond the “yellow line”, Israel’s 10-km (6-mile) deep zone of occupation inside southern Lebanon.

The Israeli Air Force carried out more than 120 airstrikes across the south and in the Beqaa Valley in eastern Lebanon overnight and throughout Tuesday.

At least 31 people were slain and 40 wounded. One strike in the Mashghara area of the Beqaa Valley killed 12, including several members of a family. Among the victims were two girls and a woman. Another 15 people, including a child, were wounded.

A “senior Israeli official” said, “There is approval for targeted assassinations in Beirut if an operational opportunity presents itself.”

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich added that for every Hezbollah drone attack launched against Israeli forces or territory, 10 buildings in Beirut should be destroyed.

“Control of Strategically Dominant Positions”

Netanyahu said:

We are intensifying our operations in Lebanon. The IDF is operating with significant forces on the ground and taking control of strategically dominant positions. We are reinforcing the security buffer zone in order to protect the communities of northern Israel.

At the same time, we are carrying out a major national effort to advance creative and innovative solutions against explosive drones.

“Senior Israeli officials” clarified, “We have freedom of action in southern Lebanon – less so in Beirut. We do not want to be perceived as undermining President Donald Trump’s agreement with Iran.”

The officials said the Trump Administration approved the Israeli plans, but warned Jerusalem “not to bring down buildings in Beirut”. US Ambassador Mike Huckabee updated the White House on Monday night.

Israel Defense Forces officials said the army is carrying out “targeted intelligence-based raids” north of the Litani River, 30 km (19 miles) inside Lebanon, focusing on areas where Hezbollah maintains infrastructure and operational footholds.

Troops reportedly clashed with Hezbollah fighters north of the Litani on Tuesday. Hezbollah said it targeted Israeli forces advancing toward the southern Lebanese town of Zawtar al-Sharqiya with explosive drones, rockets and artillery. The group also said it launched several rocket, artillery and exploding drone attacks on Israeli troops and vehicles mobilizing along the river toward the Nabatieh village of Yohmor al-Shaqif.

Hezbollah also fired several drones at northern Israel on Tuesday. No injuries were reported in the strikes.

An IDF official said Israel has found itself “defenseless” against the drone threat posed by Hezbollah, with the group increasingly deploying first-person view drones guided by fiber-optic cables, largely immune to electronic jamming.

Israel Kills Hamas Military Chief in Gaza

Israel carried out more airstrikes on the unoccupied area of Gaza on Tuesday evening, killing the Hamas military chief Mohammed Odeh.

Gazan civil defense agency reported at least six people were killed and 20 wounded in the strike in the Rimal neighborhood of western Gaza City. Media outlets said Odeh was killed alongside his wife and sons.

Odeh’s predecessor Izz al-Din al-Haddad was assassinated by an Israeli strike 11 days ago.

Israeli Defense Israel Katz cheered on social media:

The fourth commander of the Hamas terror organization’s military wing in Gaza was eliminated yesterday and sent to meet his partners in the depths of hell….

We pledged to eliminate everyone who led the October 7 massacre, and that is what we will do. They are all marked for death, everywhere.

US-Israel Wars, Day 90: Israel Expands Ground Assault Inside Lebanon