It is 5pm in Beirut, Tel Aviv and Gaza City, 6pm in Damascus and 6.30pm in Tehran. Here are the headlines …
At least two people were killed on Monday in Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon, Lebanese authorities said, as the speaker of Lebanon’s parliament accused Israel of 54 violations of the recent ceasefire deal
Israel has denied this, with Israeli foreign minister Gideon Saar reported to have told French counterpart Jean-Noël Barrot on the phone Monday that Israel is “enforcing [ceasefire terms] in the face of Hezbollah’s violations that require an immediate response in real time,” claiming that Hezbollah operatives have been seen armed south of the Litani River
Israel’s military has issued an order prohibiting the inhabitants of dozens of villages in the south of Lebanon from returning to their homes
Iranian-backed Iraqi militias crossed into eastern Syria overnight in an attempt to shore up struggling forces loyal to Damascus, battling an insurgency that has swept much of the country’s north-west as Islamist militants seized control of Aleppo
The Iraqi militants, which include fighters from Kataib Hezbollah and Fatemiyoun groups, arrived near the eastern Syrian town of Bukamal overnight to join units already deployed within Syria in support of Damascus, according to the Associated Press
A blimp emblazoned with the message “Save them now” in a reference to hostages held by Hamas in Gaza has been flown over the Israeli prime minister’s office in Jerusalem. Relatives and loved ones of those being held captive have repeatedly criticised Benjamin Netanyahu and his government for failing to secure a deal for their release
The Hamas-led health authority in Gaza has issued updated casualty figures, in which it claims at least 44,466 Palestinians were killed and 105,358 wounded since Israel’s military offensive on Gaza began after the 7 October 2023 surprise attack inside Israel. It has not been possible for journalists to independently verify the casualty figures being issued during the conflict
Israel’s military announced it believes New York-born US-Israeli hostage Capt Omer Neutra, an IDF soldier abducted into Gaza on 7 October 2023, is dead, and was killed on the morning of the attack. His body remains held in Gaza
Israel’s far-right interior security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has said in a radio interview that he would move to a new Jewish settlement if one was built inside Gaza, saying “Occupying territory, encouraging emigration. These are solutions that can allow for a different reality in Gaza”
Israeli media reports that prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu will give testimony in his corruption trial not in Jerusalem as originally planned, but in a fortified bunker in Tel Aviv for security reasons
The president of the international criminal court, which has issued arrest warrants for senior Israeli and Hamas figures over suspected war crimes, said threats facing the institution, including possible US sanctions and Russian warrants for staff members, “jeopardise its very existence”
Tass reports that Russian president Vladimir Putin spoke by phone to Iranian counterpart Masoud Pezeshkian about the crisis in Syria.
A statement from the Kremlin press service said “The main focus is on the aggravated situation in the Syrian Arab Republic. Large-scale aggression by terrorist groups and gangs is assessed as aimed at undermining the sovereignty, political and socioeconomic stability of the Syrian state.”
Lebanon’s National News Agency reports that Israeli troops launched two artillery shells at the town of Beit Lif, and opened machine gun fire towards the town of Yaroun. Local media is also reporting an airstrike near Houla in southern Lebanon.
Two killed as Lebanon accuses Israel of multiple ceasefire violations
At least two people were killed on Monday in Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon, Lebanese authorities said, as the speaker of Lebanon’s parliament accused Israel of 54 violations of the recent ceasefire deal.
One person was killed in an Israeli air attack on the southern Lebanese town of Marjayoun, about 10 km from the UN-drawn blue line that separates Lebanon from Israel, Reuters reports, citing Lebanon’s health ministry.
In a different incident, Lebanon’s state security said an Israeli drone strike had killed a member of its force while he was on duty in Nabatieh, 12 km from the border. State security called it a “flagrant violation” of the truce.
The Lebanese army said an Israeli drone hit an army bulldozer in northeast Lebanon near the border with Syria, wounding one soldier. The National News Agency also reported a fresh Israeli incursion inside Lebanon, near the Mays al-Jabal governmental hospital which is close to Tebnin Castle.
In a statement on social media, Lebanon’s speaker of parliament Nabih Berri, who has acted on behalf of Hezbollah during ceasefire negotiations, said Israel’s actions “represent a clear violation of the articles of the ceasefire agreement” and said they have “exceeded 54 violations in Lebanon.”
Israel has denied this, saying it reserves the right to use force to prevent Hezbollah breaching the ceasefire, claiming armed operatives have been spotted south of the Litani River.
At the end of the 60 day ceasefire period, the agreement states that all Israeli forces should have withdrawn from Lebanon, and that Hezbollah should have retreated north of the Litani River, effectively leaving a buffer zone in souther Lebanon where only the Lebanese army and UN-peacekeeping forces are allowed to deploy.
Earlier Israel’s military issued an order forbidding Lebanese civilians to return to dozens of villages in the south. Tens of thousands of Lebanese and Israelis in the border areas of both countries have been forced to flee their homes by the fighting.
Updated
Here is the quote from Lebanon’s speaker of parliament Nabih Berri’s social media accounts, in which he calls for action to be taken against Israel for what he says are 54 violations of the ceasefire agreement.
He said that:
Contrary to everything promoted in the media … what the Israeli occupation forces are doing – from the aggressive actions of the demolition of houses in the Lebanese border villages with occupied Palestine [Israel] is added to by the continuation of air raids and the execution of strikes that targeted more than once the depths of the Lebanese areas, during which martyrs and wounded fell.
All these actions represent a clear violation of the articles of the ceasefire agreement … we ask the technical committee appointed to monitor the implementation of this agreement … which have exceeded 54 violations in Lebanon.
Yesterday French diplomats cited 52 violations of the ceasefire by Israel. Israel has denied this, with Israeli foreign minister Gideon Saar reported to have told French counterpart Jean-Noël Barrot on the phone today that Israel is “enforcing [ceasefire terms] in the face of Hezbollah’s violations that require an immediate response in real time,” claiming that Hezbollah operatives have been seen armed south of the Litani River.
Ruth Michaelson has this report for the Guardian
Iranian-backed Iraqi militias crossed into eastern Syria overnight in an attempt to shore up struggling forces loyal to Damascus, battling an insurgency that has swept much of the country’s north-west as Islamist militants seized control of Aleppo.
The Iraqi militants, which include fighters from Kataib Hezbollah and Fatemiyoun groups, arrived near the eastern Syrian town of Bukamal overnight to join units already deployed within Syria in support of Damascus, according to the Associated Press.
Forces loyal to the president, Bashar al-Assad, were unexpectedly swept from Syria’s second city over the weekend after an offensive spearheaded by Islamist militants from Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), who claimed swaths of new territory across northern Syria along with rebel groups backed by Turkey.
The defence ministry in Damascus said it had deployed military reinforcements to Hama and other flashpoints as they attempted to mount a counterattack, amid reports of further Syrian and Russian airstrikes on Idlib, the centre of HTS control.
Read more from Ruth Michaelson here: Iran-backed Iraqi militias join fight in Syria after militants seize Aleppo
The Israeli military said on Monday it had attacked military vehicles operating in the vicinity of military infrastructure belonging to Hezbollah in Lebanon’s Bekaa, Reuters reports.
Troops also attacked military vehicles used to transfer weapons near the border between Syria and Lebanon in Hermel, the Israeli military said in a statement, acknowledging that a Lebanese soldier was injured in one of its strikes.
Lebanon’s parliament speaker Nabih Berri asked the committee supervising the ceasefire with Israel on Monday to oblige Israel to stop ceasefire violations and withdraw from the Lebanese territories, Reuters reports, citing a statement from his office on social media.
Updated
Here are some more details from Reuters about talks between the US and UEA and the possibility of lifting sanctions on Syria. First mentioned at 12:24pm GMT.
The conversations intensified in recent months, the sources said, driven by the possible expiry on 20 December of sweeping US sanctions on Syria and by Israel’s campaign against Tehran’s regional network, including Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas in Gaza and Iranian assets in Syria.
The discussions took place before anti-Assad rebels swept into Aleppo last week in their biggest offensive in Syria for years.
According to the sources, the new rebel advance is a signal of precisely the sort of weakness in Assad’s alliance with Iran that the Emirati and US initiative aims to exploit. But if Assad embraces Iranian help for a counter-offensive, that could also complicate efforts to drive a wedge between them, the sources said.
Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araqchi visited Syria on Sunday in a show of support for Assad, and UAE President sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan spoke to Assad by phone about latest developments at the weekend.
For this story, Reuters spoke to two U.S. sources, four Syrian and Lebanese interlocutors and two foreign diplomats who said the US and UAE see a window to drive a wedge between Assad and Iran, which helped him recapture swathes of his country during the civil war that erupted in 2011.
Lebanese media have reported that Israel had suggested lifting US sanctions on Syria. But the UAE initiative with the US has not previously been reported. All of the sources spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the back-room diplomacy.
Syria’s government and the White House did not respond to questions from Reuters.
The UAE referred Reuters to its statement on bin Zayed’s call with Assad.
ICC's 'very existence' in 'jeopardy' due to US and Russian pressure, says president
The president of the international criminal court said threats facing the institution, including possible US sanctions and Russian warrants for staff members, “jeopardise its very existence”, Reuters reports.
Speaking at an annual conference of the court’s 124 members on Monday, president Judge Tomoko Akane did not name Russia or the US, but referred to them as permanent members of the UN security council.
Russia issued an arrest warrant for ICC chief Prosecutor Karim Khan two months after the court in The Hague issued a warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The United States House of Representatives in June passed a bill to sanction the court in response to Khan’s request for an arrest warrant against prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defence chief, Yoav Gallant.
“The Court has been subjected to attacks seeking to undermine its legitimacy and ability to administer justice and realise international law and fundamental rights; coercive measures, threats, pressure and acts of sabotage,” Akane said, adding that more warrants had been issued against court employees.
The ICC is also “being threatened with draconian economic sanctions from institutions of another permanent member of the Security Council as if it was a terrorist organisation. These measures would rapidly undermine the Court’s operations in all situations and cases and jeopardise its very existence,” she said.
While the US is not a member of the court, the world’s preeminent military and financial power could undermine the ICC diplomatically and politically and with financial sanctions targeting its staff.
She said the court firmly rejects any “attempt to influence (its) independence and impartiality. We resolutely dismiss efforts to politicise our function. We have and always will comply only with the law, under all circumstances.”
US and UAE discuss lifting sanctions on Syria if Assad stops arming Hezbollah, sources say
Sources have told Reuters that the US and UAE have discussed lifting sanctions on Syria if Bashar al-Assad peels away from Iran and cuts off weapons to Hezbollah.
Updated
Returning to Syria for a moment, two Iraqi security sources have told Reuters that at least 300 fighters, primarily from the Iran-backed Badr and Nujabaa groups, crossed into the country from Iraq late on Sunday using a dirt road to avoid the official border crossing.
Earlier a senior Syrian military source told the news agency “These are fresh reinforcements being sent to aid our comrades on the frontlines in the north,” adding that the fighters had crossed in small groups to avoid airstrikes.
Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araqchi said on Monday Syria’s military was capable of confronting the rebels but, referring to the regional militia groups that Tehran backs, he added “resistance groups will help and Iran will provide any support needed”.
A blimp emblazoned with the message “Save them now” in a reference to hostages held by Hamas in Gaza has been flown over the Israeli prime minister’s office in Jerusalem. Relatives and loved ones of those being held captive have repeatedly criticised Benjamin Netanyahu and his government for failing to secure a deal for their release.
The Hamas-led health authority in Gaza has issued updated casualty figures, in which it claims at least 44,466 Palestinians were killed and 105,358 wounded since Israel’s military offensive on Gaza began after the 7 October 2023 surprise attack inside Israel. It has not been possible for journalists to independently verify the casualty figures being issued during the conflict.
Here are some of the latest images from Gaza, where Palestinian media sources have said more people have been killed today by continued Israeli airstrikes.
Syrian news agency Sana is carrying a readout of a call between Syria’s president Bashar al-Assad and Iran’s president Masoud Pezeshkian.
It reports:
During the call, Assad stressed the terrorist escalation taking place reflects far-reaching aims in an attempt to divide the region according to the interests of US and the west.
[He] underlined this will absolutely not affect Syria and its army’s determination to confront and eliminate terrorism all over the Syrian territories.
In turn, Pezeshkian underscored Iran’s full rejection of all attempts to target Syria’s unity and stability, asserting that targeting its stability affects also the region’s stability.
Pezeshkian noted that the US-Zionist aims in targeting the countries and peoples of the region are clear, stressing Iran’s readiness to provide all forms of support for Syria in order to eliminate terrorism and thwart the goals of its supporters.
Turkey’s foreign minister Hakan Fidan has called on the Syrian government and opposition to compromise, and said Turkey would be willing to help facilitate discussions.
In a joint press conference with his counterpart from Iran in Ankara, Reuters reports Fidan said Turkey continues to support Syria’s territorial integrity.
Under Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s leadership, Turkey has been keen to play a mediating role in nearby conflicts, including in Ukraine, however Turkey has been accused of playing a destabilising role in northern Syria due to its campaign against Kurdish separatists.
Palestinian news agency Wafa reports that “a number of citizens were killed and injured” by an Israeli strike on a house in Jabalia in the north of the Gaza Strip.
Israel’s far-right interior security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has said in a radio interview that he would move to a new Jewish settlement if one was built inside Gaza, saying “Occupying territory, encouraging emigration. These are solutions that can allow for a different reality in Gaza.”
Tareq Abu Azzoum, reporting for Al Jazeera from Deir al-Balah in Gaza, writes:
Since morning, there have been several airstrikes in areas across Gaza. The Israeli military continues to pummel residential buildings. The latest, it struck a residential house in Beit Lahiya. Medical sources confirmed that they were unable to recover casualties from the site of the strike due to conditions.
Al Jazeera has been banned from operating inside Israel and the Israeli-occupied West Bank by Benjamin Netanyahu’s government.
Israeli media reports that Israel has told France it rejects accusations it has breached the ceasefire in Lebanon.
Israeli foreign minister Gideon Saar is reported to have told French counterpart Jean-Noël Barrot on the phone that Israel is “enforcing them in the face of Hezbollah’s violations that require an immediate response in real time,” claiming that Hezbollah operatives have been seen armed south of the Litani River.
The terms of the ceasefire, which came into force on 27 November, give Israel 60 days to remove its forces from inside Lebanon.
Kurdish YPG forces have begun pulling out of areas under their control in the north-eastern sector of Aleppo under a deal with rebel forces, Reuters understands.
Palestinian news agency Wafa reports that since last night, Israeli security forces have arrested 12 people in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. It said the arrests were made across a number of locations, including in the governantes of Hebron, Ramallah and Tubas.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has reiterated Russian support for Bashar al-Assad during his regular morning press conference.
Syria’s Sana news agency reports “joint Syrian-Russian warplanes carried out aerial strikes on terrorist sites on the outskirts of al-Safira town … leaving scores of wounded and killed among their ranks.”
Al-Safira is to the south-east of Aleppo. The claims have not been independently verified.
Israeli media reports that prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu will give testimony in his corruption trial not in Jerusalem as originally planned, but in a fortified bunker in Tel Aviv.
Netanyahu’s lawyers have sought to delay him giving testimony, arguing that conducting the war has deprived him of the opportunity to prepare his defence, and the security implications of having him appear at a known time and public location.
The Times of Israel reports “the Tel Aviv location was agreed on as the best location by the court and the Shin Bet”. Netanyahu is due to appear on 10 December. He is charged with fraud, breach of trust and bribery. He has denied all the charges, accusing them of being a political witch-hunt against him.
Tasnim news agency in Iran is reporting that foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei has warned that insecurity in Syria will not be confined to Syria but spread across the region, and cited the presence of US forces in the area as an aggravating factor in the unrest.
He is quoted as saying:
We all have come to the conclusion that any sort of insecurity in Syria won’t be limited to Syria alone. We are all aware of the fact that terrorism would not be concentrated in a single place and spreads to other areas.
Our Turkish friends are as much concerned as we are about the course of developments in Syria. It is clear that one of the reasons for … terrorism in Syria has been the occupation by the American military forces.
Israel’s military has announced that it believes hostage Capt Omer Neutra, an Israeli soldier abducted into Gaza on 7 October 2023, is dead, and was killed on the morning of the attack. His body remains held in Gaza.
Recently appointed defense minister Israel Katz has posted to social media to offer his “deepest condolences” to the Neutra family.
He described the US-Israeli, who was born in New York, as representing “the good and strong in our nation” who “sacrificed his life for the security of the state of Israel against the worst of our enemies.”
Iran’s military consultants remain in Syria at Damascus’ request, Reuters reports Iran’s foreign ministry Spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said on Monday.
In a statement Israel’s military has said that warning sirens that sounded overnight in Hanita, a kibbutz close to Lebanon, were “determined to be a false alarm”.
Israel prohibits Lebanese civilians from returning to their villages in the south
Israel has issued an order prohibiting the inhabitants of dozens of villages in the south of the country from returning to their homes.
In a message posted to social media, Israel’s Arabic language spokesperson issued a map of the prohibited area and said “The IDF does not intend to target you and therefore you are prohibited at this stage from returning to your homes from this line south until further notice.”
Under the terms of the ceasefire agreement, which came into effect on 27 November, Israel has 60 days to withdraw its forces from the country, while the Lebanese army is expected to deploy into the region.
Tens of thousands of Lebanese people and tens of thousands of Israelis on either side of the UN-drawn blue line that separates the two countries had been forced to flee their homes after over a year of near constant exchanges of fire between Hezbollah and the IDF.
Overnight Israel’s chief of staff Herzi Halevi justified continued military activity inside the Israeli-occupied West Bank, saying “We don’t wait for terrorists.”
Speaking after the IDF mounted an operation inside occupied Jenin, Halevi said in a statement:
We don’t wait for terrorists; we reach wherever necessary – until we eliminate those who threaten our security. Initiative and proactive action are the key to our successes here. The offensive and pre-emptive efforts, such as this morning’s strike, enable us to continue fighting effectively in Lebanon, Gaza, and even in more distant arenas.
Iranian news agency Tasnim is carrying a read-out of a call between Iran’s president Masoud Pezeshkian and Iraq’s prime minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani.
It reports that Pezeshkian said “As the region was moving towards relative calm following the ceasefire in Lebanon, and attention was turning to Gaza, the recent events in Syria caused serious concerns about regional security.”
It reports Pezeshkian said it was “essential for the Islamic community to unite and work together to prevent the spread of terrorism in the region,” and he suggested that Israel was attempting to spread “insecurity, discord, and conflict within Islamic countries.”
Iranian-backed militias entered Syria overnight to support Assad's army – reports
Iranian-backed militias entered Syria overnight from Iraq and were heading to northern Syria to reinforce Syrian army forces battling insurgents, two Syrian army sources have told Reuters.
“These are fresh reinforcements being sent to aid our comrades on the frontlines in the north,” a senior army source told the news agency.
Pro-Assad media in Syria, citing health minister Dr Ahmed Damiriyeh, report that ambulances and the emergency services in Aleppo have resumed their work after being out of commission for two days following attacks. The claims have not been independently verified.
Overnight Syria’s national news agency reported that the telephone network in Aleppo, which has falling to insurgent forces, “has suffered significant damage and several exchanges have gone out of service.”
Welcome and opening summary …
Welcome to our ongoing coverage of the conflict in the Middle East. Here are the headlines …
Iranian-backed militias entered Syria overnight from Iraq and were heading to northern Syria to reinforce beleaguered Syrian army forces battling insurgents
A US-backed, Kurdish-led force in Syria is seeking to evacuate Kurds in parts of Aleppo to safe areas, its chief said Monday, after pro-Turkey rebels seized a town where tens of thousands of Kurds were living
Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi travelled to the Syrian capital Damascus, where he told reporters in Iran the purpose of his visit was to convey the strength of Tehran’s backing for Syrian president Bashar al-Assad and his rule
Assad, whose regime is also backed by Moscow, has vowed to “defend [Syria’s] stability and territorial integrity in the face of all terrorists and their backers”
Turkey’s top diplomat discussed the shock rebel offensive in Syria with US secretary of state Antony Blinken, saying Ankara would support moves “to reduce tension” in the war-torn country. In a phone call, foreign minister Hakan Fidan told Blinken Turkey was “against any development that would increase instability in the region”
The international criminal court’s member states open their annual meeting Monday. The assembly of states parties, which represents the ICC’s 124 member countries, will convene its 23rd conference to elect committee members and approve the court’s budget
Israel is reportedly closely monitoring developments in the Syrian uprising, fearing that Iran may send significant forces into the country. Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a second meeting about Syria last might, amid fears Iranian troops could be deployed next to Israel’s borders and that Tehran might use it as an opportunity to deliver weapons to Hezbollah in Lebanon
Netanyahu’s wife Sara Netanyahu met with US president-elect Donald Trump on Sunday, in an event he held in his golf course in Florida
