Israeli strikes targeted Thursday Kfartebnit and al-Qantara in southern Lebanon while artillery shelled al-Mansouri, Wadi Zebqine, and Mazraat Bouyout al-Siyyad.

Israeli forces meanwhile carried out detonations in Bani Hayyan and Markaba and advanced toward al-Hebbarieh.

Cabinet will meet at 3:00 PM today, Thursday, at the Presidential Palace. The agenda includes a request from the Ministry of Justice to refer the case of explosives seized by Lebanese authorities last week to the Judicial Council.

The explosives belonged to Hezbollah, and the group stated they were intended for use against Israeli forces in southern Lebanon.

Minister of Justice Adel Nassar has said that the investigation into the file of Hezbollah's explosives shipment "is ongoing and expanding,” in line with “the commitments of President Joseph Aoun, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and the Ministry of Justice that there is no ceiling on the investigations, and no political interference to influence them."

In an interview with Asharq al-Awsat newspaper, Nassar pointed out that the request to refer the file to the Judicial Council "will be a path independent of the current judicial investigations and procedures, in which we have full confidence," emphasizing "our full trust in the judges handling the investigations, namely Public Prosecutor Judge Ahmad Rami Al-Hajj and Government Commissioner to the Military Court Judge Claude Ghanem."

The San Francisco chapter of SEAL (Social and Economic Action for Lebanon) once again turned out for Lebanon on Sunday, October 18, 2026, raising close to $800,000 for Lebanese farmers at its annual benefit gala at the Four Seasons Hotel in Palo Alto.

The nonprofit has worked from the U.S. East Coast for more than a quarter century, and this year marked its fifth consecutive gala in California. More than 200 guests and donors filled the ballroom, hosted by Roula Tamer, chair of SEAL’s board of directors, alongside fellow board members and the event committee.

Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri believes Lebanon is in dire need of unity. In remarks published Thursday in al-Joumhouria, he called on the Lebanese people to unite and avoid provocative or sectarian speech.

Berri said the situation in the country is "delicate" and demands a great deal of awareness, wisdom, and genuine partnership among all domestic components.

U.S.-sponsored military meetings between Lebanon and Israel began yesterday in Tampa, Florida, and will continue today under U.S. auspices.

The aim is to discuss the necessary practical steps to implement security arrangements, at a time when disagreements persist over several issues -- most notably the mechanisms for monitoring commitments and the entity that will be tasked with verifying their implementation.

Cabinet will hold a session at 3:00 PM Thursday at the Presidential Palace to discuss a number of vital issues covering financial, judicial and administrative matters.

The agenda also includes a request from the Ministry of Justice to refer the case of explosives seized in Dahr al-Baidar, as well as those seized in the al-Qasr area, to the Judicial Council – the country’s highest criminal court that deals with national security issues.

Speaker Nabih Berri has stressed that "stability and protecting the country are everyone's responsibility," calling on "all parties" to stop everything that would increase tension and deepen internal divisions.

Commenting on recent sectarian tensions, he told al-Akhbar newspaper: "Is it reasonable for matters to reach the point of preventing a Lebanese from buying property in a Lebanese region because of his sectarian background?"

President Joseph Aoun warned Wednesday that “the trajectory of wars always differs from what both sides expect,” cautioning that “war can only end through negotiation and dialogue, whereas its continuation leads to further destruction, casualties and bloodshed.”

"The primary objective of negotiations is to achieve the Israeli withdrawal from the occupied territories, secure the release of captives, ensure the return of displaced persons, rebuild, and deploy the army across all Lebanese territory. There is no disagreement in Lebanon regarding these goals; rather, the difference lies in the approach and method of achieving them,” the president said during a meeting in Baabda with a delegation from the Synod of the Greek Orthodox Church, led by Patriarch John X Yazigi.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that Israel is “committed” to bringing down the Iranian regime, which will in turn topple Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Speaking at the newly-built Tel Hai University in Kiryat Shmona, next to the Lebanese border, Netanyahu said while the Israeli army has made major progress in pushing back Hezbollah, he is “committed to finishing the job.”