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A curated weekday guide to major news and developments over the past 24 hours. Here’s today’s news:
ISRAEL-HEZBOLLAH CONFLICT
Israeli troops have launched a ground invasion of southern Lebanon, in what the military calls a “limited, localized, and targeted” operation against Hezbollah. Israeli officials said there will be “no long-term occupation of southern Lebanon” and that the ground invasion aims to remove “immediate threats” from along the border, including Hezbollah’s ability to infiltrate northern Israel, though they declined to specify the duration. BBC News reports; Jeremy Diamond reports for CNN.
Lebanon’s Prime Minister Najib Mikati said his country is facing “one of its most dangerous phases” and that around one million Lebanese civilians have been displaced. BBC News reports
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the Iranian public in a video released yesterday, suggesting that regime change was looming. “When Iran is finally free, and that moment will come a lot sooner than people think — everything will be different,” Netanyahu said, adding, “The people of Iran should know Israel stands with you.” Csongor Körömi reports for POLITICO.
The U.N. peacekeeping force in Lebanon, UNIFIL, said today that the Israeli military had notified it of Israel’s intention to undertake its operation in Lebanon. The Guardian reports.
Israeli airstrikes killed three people and injured nine others in Damascus, Syrian state media reported today. BBC News reports.
ISRAEL-HEZBOLLAH CONFLICT — U.S. RESPONSE
During a call yesterday with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin “agreed on the necessity of dismantling attack infrastructure along the border,” according to a Pentagon statement.
Senior White House officials privately told Israel that Washington would support its decision to increase military pressure against Hezbollah, even as the Biden administration publicly urged the Israeli government in recent weeks to de-escalate tensions, according to U.S. and Israeli officials. Erin Banco and Nahal Toosi report for POLITICO.
The Pentagon will deploy a few thousand additional U.S. troops and more warplanes to the Middle East, defense officials said yesterday. Sources say that the Biden administration is bracing for retaliatory action from Tehran’s network of militias and armed groups. Dan Lamothe reports for the Washington Post.
ISRAEL-HEZBOLLAH CONFLICT — REGIONAL RESPONSE
Qatar and the United Arab Emirates have expressed solidarity with Lebanon after Israeli forces crossed the border overnight. Separately, Turkey said Israel’s offensive was an illegal attempt at occupation that violated Lebanese territorial integrity. Niha Masih reports for the Washington Post; The Guardian reports.
ISRAEL-HEZBOLLAH CONFLICT — INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE
The U.K. government has chartered a commercial flight out of Lebanon to assist British nationals trying to flee the fighting, Foreign Secretary David Lammy has announced. Ruth Comerford and Patrick Johnson report for BBC News.
ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR
Israeli airstrikes today killed at least 21 people in Gaza, according to local medics. Palestinian health officials said at least 13 people were killed in two Israeli strikes on the Nuseirat refugee camp. Nidal Al-Mughrabi reports for Reuters.
The U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, said a top Hamas commander killed in Lebanon yesterday was one of its employees who had been suspended since allegations of his ties to Hamas emerged in March. UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini has denied knowing the employee was a Hamas commander. Jamey Keaten reports for AP News; Emma Farge reports for Reuters.
ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR — U.S. AND REGIONAL RESPONSE
The United States will give nearly $336 million in “humanitarian assistance to support Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank,” USAID announced.
Saudi Arabia has pledged funding for the Palestinian Authority, signaling renewed Saudi backing for Palestinian statehood that could help mend relations between Riyadh and the body that administers the West Bank. Adam Rasgon and Aaron Boxerman report for the New York Times.
RUSSIA-UKRAINE WAR
Russia will increase its defense spending by 25%, the highest level on record, according to draft budget documents published yesterday. Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin has reportedly ordered the conscription of 133,000 servicemen in Russia’s autumn draft. Pjotr Sauer reports for the Guardian; Lidia Kelly reports for Reuters.
After concluding his high-stakes diplomatic trip to the United States last weekend, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy returned to Kyiv, amid Russia’s airstrikes on major cities and advance on the key eastern Ukrainian stronghold of Sumy. Constant Méheut reports for the New York Times.
HOUTHI ATTACKS
A drone boat loaded with explosives struck a ship in the Red Sea today, the British military and private security officials said, the latest suspected attack by Yemen’s Houthis. Jon Gambrell reports for AP News.
U.S. FOREIGN RELATIONS
A Russian fighter jet nearly sideswiped a U.S. F-16 in an “unsafe, unprofessional” move last week, the head of North American Aerospace Defense Command said in a statement yesterday. Audrey Decker reports for Defense One.
The Biden administration has opted out of seeking a second consecutive term on the U.N. Human Rights Council, the State Department said yesterday. Matthew Lee reports for AP News.
U.S. DOMESTIC DEVELOPMENTS
Asylum restrictions that sharply curbed border crossings into the United States will be expanded, the Department of Homeland Security said yesterday. The new measures, set to take effect today, are seen to represent the Biden-Harris administration’s pivot toward a more punitive approach at the southern U.S. border. Nick Miroff reports for the Washington Post.
A trial begins today on a lawsuit filed by Democrats challenging two new rules passed by the Georgia State Election Board relating to county certification of election results. Kate Brumback reports for AP News.
New York Mayor Eric Adams’ top aide Tim Pearson resigned from his post yesterday, in the fifth high-level departure amid a sprawling federal corruption probe into the Democratic mayor’s inner circle. Sally Goldenberg, Joe Anuta and Jeff Coltin report for POLITICO.
The Kentucky lawman accused of fatally shooting a judge in chambers stepped down as sheriff of Letcher County yesterday. Bruce Schreiner reports for AP News.
TRUMP ASSASSINATION ATTEMPTS
The man charged with attempting to assassinate former President Trump at his Florida golf course pleaded not guilty yesterday during a brief appearance in federal court. Lori Rozsa and Mark Berman report for the Washington Post.
GLOBAL DEVELOPMENTS
Lithuania yesterday referred Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, members of his government, security officials, and military officers to the International Criminal Court, “accusing them of committing crimes against humanity by forcing their own people to flee the country.” AP News reports.
NATO’s Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg stepped down today, handing over the reins to former Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte. Lorne Cook reports for AP News.
Japan’s parliament formally elected Shigeru Ishiba, the newly chosen head of Japan’s governing Liberal Democratic Party, as the country’s new prime minister today. Mari Yamaguchi reports for AP News.