The British and Canadian Ambassadors to Lebanon co-hosted a reception in Beirut to mark Lebanese Media Martyrs’ Day and World Press Freedom Day. They paid tribute to journalists who have lost their lives reporting on the devastating conflict, and to those who continue to report under challenging and dangerous conditions.

The event was attended by Minister of Information Dr Paul Morcos, former Minister of Information Ziad Makari, Lebanese and foreign journalists, Media Freedom Coalition Ambassadors, with Finland as co-chair this year, MPs and NGOs. The attendees marked the gathering with a moment of silence for all the journalists who died in the conflict.

Israeli strikes targeted Thursday the southern city of Nabatieh and other villages and towns in south Lebanon, while Hezbollah claimed attacks on Israeli troops and equipment in al-Bayyada and Deir Seryan.

Strikes targeted overnight into Thursday al-Majadel, Debbine, Mayfadoun, Habboush, Yater, Dweir, Bouyout al-Siyyed, Kfar Roumman, Harees, Reshknanay, and Erzi, while shelling targeted Aita al-Shaab, Ramia, Shaqra, Baraashit, Ghandourieh, Kfour, Deir Zahrani, Sreefa, Froun, Qalaway, Burj Qalaway, Zebqine and Wadi al-Hjeir.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the military struck Beirut's southern suburbs on Wednesday, targeting a top Hezbollah commander.

"The Israeli army has struck in Beirut to target the commander of Hezbollah's Radwan force, in an attempt to neutralize him," a joint statement issued by Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz said.

U.S. President Donald Trump expressed optimism about striking a deal with Iran, which could include Iran exporting its highly enriched uranium to the United States, in a phone call Wednesday with PBS News.

Trump said he feels the U.S. is closing in on a deal, "but I felt that way before with them, so we'll see what happens."

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said Wednesday that "talking about any potential meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is still premature."

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said that peace between ‌Israel and Lebanon is "achievable" and that "the problem is not Israel or Lebanon" but Hezbollah.

Rubio told reporters on Tuesday at the White House that he thinks "a peace deal between Lebanon and Israel ​is imminently achievable and should be".

U.S. President Donald Trump said early Wednesday that he has paused the so-called "Project Freedom" to see whether a deal can be signed with Iran, after "great progress" was made toward "a complete and final agreement."

President Joseph Aoun affirmed Tuesday that his actions are in the interest of "all Lebanese, not just a specific group," and that the path of negotiations is "the only remaining option after all other solutions, including war, have been exhausted."

Free Patriotic Movement chief Jebran Bassil met Tuesday in Ain el-Tineh with Speaker Nabih Berri.

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea on Tuesday responded to Hezbollah's repeated announcements that it is not concerned with any direct negotiations between Lebanon and Israel and subsequently by their outcome.