Southern Border

Where things stand

South Lebanon is witnessing ongoing field escalation: reports on Friday, 13 November 2026, said Israeli artillery shelling targeted several towns and valleys including Majdal Zoun, Buyut al-Siyad, Wadi Zabqin, Mansouri, Wadi Salouqi, the outskirts of Haris and Haddatha, Zawtar al-Sharqiya, Kfar Tibnit and Majdal Selm, along with heavy machine-gun sweeping toward Zawtar al-Sharqiya, Mayfadoun and Wadi al-Hujayr, with no immediate information on damage or casualties. In parallel, a joint Qatari-Turkish statement condemned "Israeli violations of Lebanon's sovereignty," expressed solidarity with its government and people, and warned against any security vacuum in the south. International discussion is focused on the phase after UNIFIL's mission ends at the end of the year: diplomatic sources said French involvement in that phase has become "inevitable," and US Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz is due in Beirut early next week carrying the US formula for the south's future, amid talk of a substitute force or verification committee combining Resolution 1701 and the "framework agreement." Meanwhile, Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem rejected disarmament of the group and called on the government to back away from the "framework agreement," while European sources warned Israel might resume and expand operations to Tyre, Sidon and areas north of the Awali River, and press reports spoke of high anxiety in Beirut over the absence of international or regional assurances.

• Israeli artillery shelling on Friday, 13 November 2026, targeted towns and valleys in the south, including Majdal Zoun, Buyut al-Siyad, Wadi Zabqin, Mansouri, Wadi Salouqi, the outskirts of Haris and Haddatha, Zawtar al-Sharqiya and Kfar Tibnit, with no details on damage or casualties.
• A joint Qatari-Turkish statement condemned "Israeli violations of Lebanon's sovereignty," affirmed full solidarity with the Lebanese government and people, and warned against any security vacuum in southern Lebanon.
• Diplomatic sources said French involvement in the post-UNIFIL phase has become "inevitable," while attention is on a visit to Beirut early next week by US Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz.
• Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem declared rejection of "confining, controlling, preventing or disarming" the group's weapons and called on the government to back away from the "framework agreement," saying there is "no longer any need for negotiations."
• European sources warned, as reported, that Israel might resume military operations and expand them to Tyre, Sidon and areas north of the Awali River, while press sources reported high anxiety in Beirut over the lack of international or regional assurances.