Lebanon News & OSINT 🇱🇧

🌲 - 🇸🇾🇱🇧 Syrian security forces seized improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and equipment belonging to a Hezbollah-affiliated cell accused of plotting an attack on the Homs oil refinery. The General Intelligence Directorate and Internal Security Forces arrested members of the cell following surveillance, thwarting the planned attack.

🌲 - 🇸🇾❌🇱🇧 Syria's Interior Ministry announced that intelligence and security forces foiled a Hezbollah plot to attack the Homs oil refinery following surveillance of the cell. Several individuals were arrested, and nine explosive devices intended for the attack were seized.

🇺🇸❌🇮🇶 🇮🇷🤝☪️ — A Shiite voter in Dearborn says he cast his ballot for Abdul El-Sayed in support of the late Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and in defiance of the Trump administration. ▶️The voter described his ballot as a statement of loyalty to Nasrallah, his Islamic identity, and his political beliefs.

🌲 - 🇮🇱🇱🇧 Several houses have been set ablaze in Zawtar al-Sharqiya, southern Lebanon.

🌲 - 🇺🇸 The Trump administration has asked the US Supreme Court to intervene in a lawsuit seeking to prevent California from counting certain mail-in ballots. 🌲 - 🇮🇷 Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) says it killed one alleged terrorist and arrested others before they could carry out operations in southern Sistan and Baluchestan Province. 🌲 - 🇺🇸 Americans head to the polls tomorrow. MTV previews its evening bulletin with details on the candidates and how the voting process works. 🌲 - 🇱🇧 MTV says it has identified “Abu Haidar” in the explosives shipment investigation, with further details expected in its evening bulletin. 🌲 - 🇱🇧🇮🇱 MTV raises questions about whether Iran and Lebanon are among the targets of Israel’s military operations, with details expected in its evening bulletin. 🌲 - 🇱🇧🇮🇱 The National News Agency reports that Israeli artillery shelling targeted the town of Hadatha in the Bint Jbeil district of southern Lebanon. 🌲 - 🇺🇦 Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says deadly strikes in southeastern Ukraine are destroying any hope of progress toward peace. 🌲 - 🇺🇦🇷🇺 Ukraine’s Emergency Service says the death toll from a Russian strike on the village of Komyshuvakha in southeastern Ukraine has risen to 24. 🌲 - 🇱🇧 MTV sources: The identity of the defendant known as “Abu Haidar” has been fully established as Abdul-Muttalib Nassar, the driver of the car that accompanied Amhaz and al-Kurdi while they were transporting the explosives. 🌲 - 🇱🇧🇮🇱 Lebanon’s National Council for Scientific Research tells MTV that 2,057 Israeli explosions have been recorded between April 17 and October 29, 2026. 🌲 - 🇺🇸🇮🇷 US President Donald Trump tells Israel’s Channel 12 that Iran wants a deal, but he has not yet made a decision on how to proceed. 🌲 - 🇺🇸🇮🇷 Trump says the United States does not want to be deceived by Iran and that Washington does not know who is making the decisions in Tehran. 🌲 - 🇮🇱 Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he is willing to discuss forming a broad-based government, which he would lead.

🌲 - 🇱🇧🇱🇧 Updated list of the Hezbollah operatives implicated in the Dahr al-Baidar explosives case: 1. Haitham Ahmad Amhaz (1981), detained, involved in transporting the explosives. 2. Ali Shawqi al-Kurdi (2001), detained in connection with the shipment. 3. Ibrahim Khodr Habib (1965), alias Sajed, sender of the explosives. 4. Bilal Fadl Sabouri, alias Zulfiqar, intended recipient. 5. Mohammad Safi Ayoub (1989), assisted with transportation and logistical arrangements. 6. Mohammad Haidar Zaiter (1998), accompanied the shipment in an escort vehicle. 7. Mohammad Abdullah Hazimeh (1983), identified as the owner of a vehicle involved in the operation. 8. Yelena Novo Bghvini Krishinova (1987), Russian national and wife of Amhaz, accused of facilitating aspects of the operation. 9. Abdul Muttalib Nassar (1974), alias Abu Haydar, drove the Kia escorting the explosives shipment in a Dodge Caravan.

🌲 - 🇱🇧🇱🇧 “Abu Haydar” has been identified as Abdul Muttalib Nassar, a Hezbollah operative in Dahr al-Baidar explosives shipment case. Nassar drove the Kia vehicle escorting Haitham Amhaz and Ali al-Kurdi as they transported the explosives in a Dodge Caravan.

🌲 - 🇱🇧🔴 The Lebanese Army arrested 7 Lebanese nationals and 99 Syrians during security operations across Lebanon. The arrests included suspects involved in shootings, smuggling and grave robbery, alongside the leader of an armed gang in Laylaki, Dahieh, accused of robberies, extortion, assaults and fraud. Weapons, ammunition and drugs were seized, while the 99 Syrians were detained for illegal entry or lacking legal documents.

🌲 - 🇮🇱🇱🇧🇱🇧 The Israeli military announced that troops from its 769th Brigade discovered weapons inside a civilian home in Khiam, southern Lebanon. The IDF also said to have dismantled an explosive drone storage facility and seized rockets, Kalashnikov rifles, ammunition, helmets, protective vests and explosive drones.

🌲 - 🇱🇧 MP Ibrahim Kanaan says the Finance and Budget Committee approved two sections of the 2027 budget covering tax collection and spending authorizations, loans, and the transfer of appropriations. Discussions then moved to programme laws, some of which were suspended while the government was given time to reassess the projects. 🌲 - 🇱🇧 MP Ibrahim Kanaan says appropriations for programme laws in the 2027 budget have been reduced to zero. 🌲 - 🇱🇧🇮🇱 Israeli artillery shelling targets the outskirts of Kounine in the Bint Jbeil district, while an Israeli tank stationed in the Al-Shreika area of Khiam fires toward agricultural land in Ebl al-Saqi. 🌲 - 🇱🇧 MP Ibrahim Kanaan says the committee rejects imposing any new fees or taxes in the 2027 budget.

🌲 - 🇮🇷🇺🇸 Iran’s Foreign Ministry: Messages continue to be exchanged with the United States, and Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi visited Doha to facilitate the process. 🌲 - 🇱🇧🇸🇾 Lebanon’s Ambassador to Syria, Henri Kastoun, tells MTV that the main focus of the Lebanese delegation’s visit to Syria is the displacement file in all its aspects. He says the visit builds on previous meetings, with the main difference being the size of the delegation. 🌲 - 🇮🇷🇺🇸 Iran’s Foreign Ministry says it does not expect a new US approach following the midterm elections. 🌲 - 🇱🇧🇸🇾 Social Affairs Minister Haneen Sayed tells MTV that coordination with Syrian authorities is essential and that her ministry is following up on the return of Syrian refugees. 🌲 - 🇱🇧🇸🇾 Labour Minister Mohammad Haidar tells MTV that Lebanon has previously regulated Syrian workers and will continue addressing the issue with the Syrian side. 🌲 - 🇱🇧🇸🇾 Education Minister Rima Karami tells MTV that Lebanon will seek common ground with Syria on education and its importance, with several topics to be raised. 🌲 - 🇨🇳🇴🇲🇺🇸🇮🇷 China’s Xinhua News Agency reports that China and Oman will work to persuade Washington and Tehran to return to the memorandum of understanding. 🌲 - 🇮🇷🇺🇸 Iran’s Foreign Ministry says Tehran is prepared to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within two days if Washington accepts its demands. 🌲 - 🇮🇷 Iran’s Foreign Ministry says its seven-step proposal has been streamlined and can now be implemented within two days. 🌲 - 🇸🇦 Saudi Civil Defense issues an early warning alert for the Jazan region, cautioning residents of a potential hazard. 🌲 - 🇸🇩 Sudan’s army says defectors from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia have surrendered to the 4th Infantry Division in Ad-Damazin. 🌲 - 🇱🇧 MTV sources: Government Commissioner to the Military Court, Judge Claude Ghanem, has referred the investigation file concerning an explosives shipment to First Military Investigative Judge Ghada Abou Alwan after filing charges against 13 suspects. 🌲 - 🇱🇧 A meeting of Parliament’s Finance and Budget Committee, chaired by MP Ibrahim Kanaan, begins to examine the 2027 state budget, with Finance Minister Yassine Jaber in attendance. 🌲 - 🇱🇧 President Joseph Aoun discusses domestic political issues and recent regional developments with Democratic Gathering MP Wael Abou Faour. 🌲 - 🇬🇧 Brent crude falls 4% to $108 per barrel, while US crude drops below $100. 🌲 - 🇦🇪 UAE Minister of Energy and Infrastructure says the country cannot predict how the war will develop but will be better prepared than before. 🌲 - 🇷🇺🇺🇦 Russia’s Defence Ministry claims its air defence systems destroyed 658 Ukrainian drones within 24 hours. 🌲 - 🇯🇴 Jordan’s King Abdullah says the country will stand firm against terrorists and will not allow anyone to undermine national unity. 🌲 - 🇯🇴 Jordan’s King Abdullah says no one will be allowed to threaten the country’s unity, adding that the blood of the Karak martyrs remains a debt owed by the nation. 🌲 - 🇸🇦 Saudi Civil Defense issues an early warning alert for the Najran region. 🌲 - 🇷🇺🇮🇷 Russia’s Foreign Ministry says indications of preparations for a new military operation against Iran are causing serious concern. 🌲 - 🇱🇧🇮🇱 Israeli bulldozers are demolishing homes in the southern Lebanese town of Zawtar al-Sharqiyah. 🌲 - 🇱🇧 Traffic Management reports heavy congestion on the Dbayeh highway toward Antelias, extending to Dora. 🌲 - 🇮🇱 Maariv reports that the Eisenkot camp is examining the possibility of forming a government with the support of 49 Knesset members, against 46 opposing members. 🌲 - 🇱🇧🇸🇾 Bilateral meetings between Lebanese ministers and their Syrian counterparts have concluded. No meeting with Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa has taken place so far.

🌲 - 🇱🇧🇯🇴🇱🇧 A Lebanese Forces delegation visited Jordanian Ambassador Walid al-Hadid to offer condolences over the victims of the attack on Saint George Greek Orthodox Church in Hammoud village, Karak Governorate. LF expressed solidarity with Jordan in confronting terrorism and religious extremism.

🌲 - 🇱🇧❗️ To clarify, some people initially mistook the smoke rising from Joura al-Balout for an Israeli airstrike. This has been double-checked and confirmed to be a warehouse fire involving fireworks, not an Israeli airstrike. Firefighting efforts are ongoing.

🌲 - 🇱🇧⚠️ reports that the smoke rising from the Joura al-Balout area is caused by a fire at a warehouse belonging to the Grace Naoum establishment, which contains fireworks. The fire is still burning, and firefighting teams are working to extinguish it.

🌲 - 🇱🇧🇱🇧 Investigators identified a Hezbollah operative known as “Abu Haydar,” the ninth charged suspect in the Hezbollah explosives case and are examining shipment instructions received through Yelena Krishinova's phone. Surveillance footage captured an escort vehicle, and confirm the shipment's destination was Msharafieh in Dahieh.

🌲 - 🇱🇧🇮🇷🇱🇧 Hezbollah has refused to guarantee that it will stay out of another war involving Iran, according to Al-Akhbar. The group has given no clear commitment to Lebanese, French, Qatari or other mediators, arguing that advance assurances "would benefit Israel and restrict its military options."

🌲 - 🇱🇧✝️ Lebanese Internal Security Forces identified and arrested two suspects within 24 hours of the vandalism of the Saints' Cemetery in Haret al-Fouar, Zgharta district. The cemetery was targeted yesterday morning, with several religious statues smashed, graves disturbed and cemetery property damaged. The two suspects, identified by their initials J.H. and A.A., are being questioned as investigations continue.