The future of the U.N. peacekeeping mission in Lebanon has split the United States and its European allies with implications for security in the Middle East.

Airstrikes come as Hezbollah threatens civil war if Lebanon tries to disarm it; Lebanese PM says threats unacceptable, Beirut will do whatever is necessary for peace and stability

Relations between Beirut and Damascus remain tense — as they have been for decades past, a time during which Syria failed to treat its smaller neighbor as a sovereign nation.

Israeli drones on Thursday dropped warning leaflets over the southern Lebanese town of Shebaa, cautioning residents to stay away from designated areas near the border, local media said. The leaflets highlighted an area in red and urged locals not to approach it, Lebanon’s state news agency NNA reported.

A statement issued by the countries says the Israeli PM’s remarks constitutes a direct threat to Arab national security.

According to the latest reports, Israeli war jets carried out a series of raids on open areas in Al-Jarmaq, Borghoz, Al-Mahmoudiyeh, and Al-Qatrani in South Lebanon as well as three raids on Zalaya in Western Bekaa.

Israeli warplanes launched several airstrikes Friday evening on the northern outskirts of Kfar Tibnit and Nabatieh in southern Lebanon, in a new breach of a ceasefire in place since late 2024, Lebanese media said.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun rejected Wednesday "any interference" in his country's internal affairs, including the carrying of weapons by any groups.

Lebanese leaders firmly rejected any efforts at foreign interference during a visit by Iran's security chief Wednesday, with the prime minister saying Beirut would "tolerate neither tutelage nor diktat" after Tehran voiced opposition to plans to disarm Hezbollah.