On November 10, Lebanon’s Health Ministry reported that an Israeli airstrike killed 53 people, including seven children, in the village of Almat, located about 30 kilometers north of Beirut in the predominantly Christian Jbeil region. The attack leveled a house, and rescuers were seen using bare hands and equipment to pull bodies from the debris, with body parts also recovered for identification.

Almat, a Shiite Muslim-majority village, lies outside of Israel’s typical areas of bombing, which include southern Beirut and parts of south Lebanon, regions that Israel has heavily targeted since September in its campaign against the political group. At the scene, Hezbollah lawmaker Raed Berro denied Israeli claims that the site was used to shelter Hezbollah personnel or weapons, stating that only civilians, including children and the elderly, were under the rubble.

On the same day, Salim Jamil Ayyash, a Hezbollah commander wanted by the United States, was killed in an Israeli airstrike. Unconfirmed social media reports indicate that Ayyash died near Al Qusayr in northwestern Syria. Ayyash, who carries a 10 million US bounty, was sentenced in absentia to life by a UN-backed court in 2020 for his role in the 2005 assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri in Beirut.

The news of his death has ignited intense debate on social media, with Hezbollah supporters defending Ayyash and condemning the attack, while others celebrated his death, viewing it as retribution for Hariri’s assassination. Many opponents voiced relief, calling it a form of overdue justice for the former Prime Minister’s killing, while Ayyash’s defenders argued that he was a martyr in the conflict against Israel.

In Lebanon

Ground invasion: On Sunday, the Israeli Public Broadcasting Authority reported that Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi has authorized an expansion of the Israeli army’s ground operations in southern Lebanon. This decision signals a strategic shift, intensifying Israel’s military activities in the region.

Despite ongoing ceasefire negotiations, the Israeli army previously indicated that it was approaching the conclusion of its ground invasion in Lebanon.

Possible ceasefire: Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer made a secret visit to Russia last week, reportedly as part of efforts to secure a ceasefire on Israel’s northern front with Lebanon. According to The Times of Israel, Russia, given its influence in Syria and its diplomatic role, could be instrumental in brokering a ceasefire to end the conflict.

In October, Russia’s Foreign Ministry strongly condemned the violence in the Middle East, accusing Western countries of exacerbating the war and of hypocrisy in their support for Israel, which has resulted in the deaths of thousands of civilians in Lebanon.

Ceasefire terms: An Israeli report disclosed details of a ceasefire agreement in Lebanon, which includes a requirement for Hezbollah to withdraw north of the Litani River and remain away from the border. The report indicates that Israel would receive US and Russian assurances to prevent Hezbollah from rearming, with the Lebanese Army tasked with dismantling any remaining Hezbollah infrastructure along the border.

The agreement also outlines an Israeli military withdrawal from southern Lebanon to the international border, while allowing Israel the right to respond to any future border violations. Additionally, Syria would be responsible for preventing the transfer of weapons from its territory into Lebanon under the terms of the agreement.

More deaths: Lebanese authorities reported that Israeli airstrikes over the past day have killed at least 40 people, including several children, following intense bombardment of southern Beirut’s suburbs on Friday night. In the coastal city of Tyre, at least seven people were killed late Friday, according to Lebanon’s Health Ministry. Despite previous evacuation orders in parts of Tyre, the Israeli military did not issue any warnings on social media prior to the latest strikes.

The Health Ministry confirmed that two children were among the dead. Rescue operations are ongoing, with body parts retrieved from the rubble set for DNA testing to confirm identities. In nearby towns, strikes on Saturday killed 13 people, including seven medics from Hezbollah and Amal-affiliated rescue groups. An additional 20 people were reported killed in Israeli strikes across the eastern plains near Baalbek, the ministry added.

In The Region

Qatar backs away: Qatar announced that it has paused its mediation efforts between Hamas and Israel, citing a lack of “willingness and seriousness” from the parties to end the Gaza conflict. Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman, Majed al-Ansari, stated on X that the country had informed relevant parties of this decision 10 days ago.

Earlier, The Associated Press reported that the Hamas political office in Qatar was seen as ineffective. However, al-Ansari clarified that this report was inaccurate, explaining that the office in Doha serves as a communication channel between involved parties.

A senior Hamas official acknowledged Qatar’s decision to suspend mediation but said they had not been asked to leave the country. Meanwhile, a US official in Washington, DC, confirmed that President Joe Biden’s administration had informed Qatar two weeks ago that the Hamas office in Doha was no longer serving a useful purpose and recommended expelling the delegation.

Holland intervenes: Dutch police arrested over 100 pro-Palestinian protesters in Amsterdam on Sunday for defying a protest ban imposed after clashes between Israeli football fans and locals. The ban was upheld by the Amsterdam District Court following violence involving Maccabi Tel Aviv fans. Despite the ban, hundreds gathered in Dam Square, chanting for an end to Israel’s war on Gaza. Police in riot gear intervened aggressively, surprising even tourists in the area.

Syria targeted: An Israeli airstrike on a residential building in the Sayeda Zainab district, south of Damascus, killed seven civilians, including women and children, and injured 20 others, according to Syria’s defense ministry. This marks the second such attack in less than a week. Sayeda Zainab, a Hezbollah stronghold and site of a prominent Shiite shrine, has been targeted in previous Israeli strikes. Last week, Israel confirmed that it had struck Hezbollah intelligence assets in the area. No immediate comment was made by Israel regarding the latest attack.

Arab Summit: Arab and Muslim leaders are set to gather in Saudi Arabia for a summit focused on the ongoing wars in Gaza and Lebanon, as reported by Saudi state media.

The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced the summit in late October, following the first meeting of an “international alliance” advocating for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

On Sunday evening, the Saudi state-run Al Ekhbariya news channel showed footage of Nigerian President Bola Tinubu and Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati arriving in Riyadh for the summit.

What We Are Reading

A state of many loyalties and competing visions: Political psychologist Ramzi Abu Ismail writes about Lebanon’s ongoing struggle with its identity and sovereignty, exacerbated by shifting global priorities. He highlights a recent Israeli raid in Batroun as a catalyst for renewed debates over Lebanon’s defense and independence, underscoring the nation’s vulnerability. Abu Ismail argues that Lebanon’s identity crisis is not just a matter of internal divisions but also of a country struggling to assert itself amidst the influence of larger regional powers. He questions whether Lebanon can forge a unified vision or if it will continue to be a battleground for competing interests.

Saving pets in war-torn zones hit by Israeli strikes: Journalist Rodayna Raydan highlights the significant challenges faced by animal rescuers in Lebanon, who are working to save animals trapped in war-torn zones. Many families forced to flee the violence have had to leave their pets behind, leaving these animals vulnerable to hunger, injury, and death. Caught in the midst of explosions and chaos, they urgently need rescue, yet with limited resources and increasing dangers, their survival relies on human compassion and support amidst the broader displacement crisis caused by the war.

Can Lebanon sustain reconstruction and relief: Journalist Maan Barazy discusses Lebanon’s growing reliance on domestic debt for reconstruction and relief efforts as the Israel-Lebanon war enters its second year. With financing needs projected to remain high, the country’s economy is expected to contract further due to the war’s toll. Barazy questions whether Lebanon can rely on international donors or will need to tap international markets, particularly in light of potential fluctuations in Eurobond prices.

Beyond the illusion of numbers: Journalist Valeria Rando writes about the tragic and overwhelming toll of the ongoing conflict, emphasizing the futility of counting casualties in such brutal circumstances. She reflects on the senselessness of relying on precise numbers – such as the 2,986 deaths and 13,402 injuries in Lebanon – when these figures fail to capture the deeper, incomprehensible destruction. Rando highlights the personal tragedies hidden behind the statistics, including the devastating loss of life in Khiam, where 21 missing individuals were confirmed dead, their bodies retrieved from rubble after the Israeli ground offensive. The numbers, she argues, mask an even greater catastrophe: the loss of hope and humanity amidst the chaos of war.