Southern Lebanon witnessed continued Israeli escalation, with Israeli forces carrying out explosions in the town of Khiam and the town of Talousa and two explosions in the town of Bani Hayyan, while artillery shelling targeted the outskirts of Zawtar al-Sharqiya - Mifdoun, with no details on casualties or damage. In parallel, security and political reports indicated that Hezbollah is rearranging its military priorities and focusing on fortifying its remaining defensive positions north of the Litani River, especially between Iqlim al-Tuffah and Jabal al-Rihan, without being in a position that allows it to shift to attack, amid indications that it will not engage in an uncalculated confrontation in the absence of political cover from Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri. As information spoke of the party rebuilding its military capabilities with Iranian funding, Rabih El-Haber said Hezbollah had received more advanced weapons and drones. The file of the explosives shipment seized by the Internal Security Forces while being transported from the Bekaa toward Beirut, Hezbollah's ownership of it and its allocation to the war in the south also came to the fore, amid demands to refer the file to the Judicial Council and hold accountable those who took military decisions outside state institutions.
On the political and diplomatic front, Foreign Minister Youssef Rajji warned against a new war, and President Joseph Aoun discussed the future of UNIFIL with Ireland, while Bassil proposed forming a force in southern Lebanon with 'real' powers. Rajji met the ambassadors of Gulf states and affirmed Lebanon's solidarity with the Gulf Cooperation Council states, as reports spoke of a clear Gulf message from Beirut supporting Lebanon's sovereignty. Domestically, demands to confine weapons to the state escalated, with MP Elias Hankash saying that sovereignty is not a slogan and state-building is not a deferred option, accusing Hezbollah of implicating Lebanon in a confrontation that has nothing to do with it, while 'Lebanon Strong' announced its rejection of betting on election results in Israel and the United States. In the background, reports warned that the electricity crisis and the explosives file threaten the government's stability, amid a lack of confidence in Hezbollah's pledge.
The debate shifted to the legitimacy of the 'tripartite framework' with Israel, after former Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblatt affirmed that Parliament and the Council of Ministers were not consulted before signing the framework, in response to criticism attributed to a US State Department spokesperson. According to US statements, the framework is based on reciprocal and gradual steps including an Israeli withdrawal in exchange for Hezbollah's disarmament and the deployment of the Lebanese Army in pilot areas, with Washington rejecting linking the withdrawal to the US-Iranian track. In this context, Rabih El-Haber said the situation is 'total calm' until November and that the ceasefire ends on November 4, warning of frightening messages including threats to penetrate deeper areas, and indicating that Hezbollah will participate in the war alongside Iran against Israel if the decision is taken, and that the US decision will become more unfettered from ceasefire calculations after the November 4 elections.
On the security and regional level, a report warned that the security chaos in Syria is bringing the danger of terrorism back to Lebanon, while Lebanese remained stranded at the Nasib crossing after its closure, against the backdrop of an armed attack on a funeral at the Church of St. George for the Greek Orthodox in the village of Hamoud in Karak Governorate, southern Jordan, which resulted in nine dead and dozens wounded, and the Jordanian authorities announced the arrest of three suspects. A low-pressure system caused severe traffic congestion and numerous skidding accidents, and rainwater flooded the streets of Zahle. Economically, Minister of Economy and Trade Amer Al-Bassat is preparing to visit Iraq on November 8 and 9 to address export obstacles and activate the free trade agreement signed in 2002, amid questions about Lebanon's position in the IMEC corridor given the weakness of ports and customs. In sports, Lebanon's beach volleyball team, composed of Hadi Shabib and Jad Abi Karam, won the title of the second round of the Arab Championship in the United Arab Emirates after defeating Bahrain 2-0. Reports also addressed the visit of the son of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to Lebanon, describing it as 'humanitarian' but carrying political dimensions, with Tripoli seen as Ankara's gateway to the Sunni arena.