Prime Minister Netanyahu affirmed that “we are working without respite against the attempts of Iran and its proxies to open terrorist fronts against us – in Syria, Lebanon, Gaza and in Judea and Samaria. We are also working against Iran’s efforts to develop terrorist cells and capabilities in neighbouring countries, which are not countries in conflict with us. We will not allow Iran to establish itself on our borders. We will not allow it to build precision weapons factories in Lebanon and Syria. And, of course, we will not accept Iran’s intentions to develop a nuclear arsenal. Even if an agreement is signed between the U.S. and Iran regarding the latter’s nuclear program, we will not be bound by this agreement”.

Defence Minister Yoav Gallant announced that “a few days ago, an extensive and precedent-setting operation – to expose a route for financing terror with digital currencies – was wrapped up [by Israel]. This is the first incident of this magnitude, in which an infrastructure led by Hizbollah and the Iranian Quds Force that transferred millions of dollars to be used by terror elements was thwarted”. “This time too”, he added, “there is a clear line behind the terror [financing] moves that originate in Iran. Iran is the financier, trainer and spreader of terrorism against Israel and many countries around the world, both directly and through its proxies at the borders”. Gallant further warned that “whoever finances terror, or maintains a financial relationship with terror operatives, must know that he is a target, just like anyone who directs terrorism”.

The Israeli military confirmed that an IDF drone fell in Lebanese territory during what it described as routine activity; Hizbollah claimed credit for downing the drone.

Defence Minister Yoav Gallant warned that “if Hizbollah makes a mistake and starts a war against Israel, we will hit it hard and return Lebanon to the Stone Age”. “I hear our enemies bragging about various weapon developments”, he added. “For anything like that, we have a better answer – in the air, at sea and on land, in the defensive and offensive efforts”.

A Palestinian militant group claimed that an Israeli airstrike had killed five of its members near Lebanon’s border with Syria, adding: “This crime is not isolated from the recent accelerating events on the Lebanese and Syrian fronts, and within the framework of continuous Zionist [ie, Israeli] threats targeting resistance forces inside and outside Palestine”. However, media reports cited unnamed Israeli sources denying involvement, and Lebanese sources indicating that the blast was “caused by mines or rockets detonating as they were being moved”.

The U.S. sanctioned five Syrian entities and individuals for having “secretly helped the Syrian regime under Bashar al-Assad and its Hizbollah and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Quds Force (IRGC-QF) allies maintain access to the international financial system in violation of international sanctions”.

The IDF reported downing “a drone crossing from Lebanese territory into Israeli territory”, adding that it would “continue to prevent any attempt to violate Israeli sovereignty”.

IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi assessed that Hizbollah “thinks it understands how we think. This thought brings it to dare and challenge us where it is sure it will not lead to war. I see this as a good way to create surprises if necessary”. He further highlighted that “we have good preparedness in the northern arena. A campaign in the northern arena will be difficult on the home front. We will know how to deal with it, but it will be difficult. It will be seven times harder for Lebanon, and even more so for Hizbollah”. Halevi also discussed Syria and argued: “Iran uses Syria for a potential war zone with Israel… We are not indifferent to this. I would remind Bashar Assad of one very interesting fact in an era where data is being talked about: The countries that clung to Iran became failed states. If he wants to build after the civil war, let him take that to heart”.

A senior IDF official asserted that Hizbollah’s leadership was “close to making a mistake that could plunge the region into a big war. [Hassan Nasrallah] is close to making this mistake from Lebanon or Syria”. Noting bullishness on the part of Syria’s government, he went on to assess that “all this creates a high potential for an escalation in the region and we need to be prepared that our enemies won’t understand the message we’re sending. Let them not be mistaken, we’re ready to use force and we will do whatever is possible and necessary to bring calm”.

Hizbollah Leader Hassan Nasrallah, discussing hostilities between Israel and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, stated that “we are in constant contact with the Palestinian factions’ commanders. We keep a close eye on the situation… In addition, we offer, within certain limits, feasible assistance. But, I must emphasise, when duty forces specific actions or scenarios on us, we won’t hesitate to take an action”.

The U.S. Justice Department announced the seizure of thirteen Hizbollah-linked domains.

Defence Minister Gallant warned that “over the past six months, Iran has sent aircraft to Syria on a weekly basis, delivering weapons to be used for terrorism. The Syrian regime should be aware that the IDF will respond forcefully to any attacks launched from its territory. We will not allow Iran to establish military power in Syria, or to build a ‘highway’ for the delivery of advanced weapons to Lebanon”.

During a visit to Lebanon, Iran’s foreign minister expressed to the caretaker prime minister “Iran’s support for stability of Lebanon and its support for the Lebanese government, nation, resistance and army”, insisting that “Lebanon’s problems, including the election of its president and the completion of the political process in the country, should be handled and resolved by the Lebanese themselves”. Separately, he conferred with his counterpart on bilateral relations including Iran’s readiness “to work with Lebanon toward solving its energy and electricity crisis”. He also travelled to the Israel-Lebanon border, where he opined that “Lebanon’s resistance proved that the Zionists only understand the language of force and that resistance is the most important option that has brought security, comfort and preservation of territorial integrity to Lebanon”. 

Defence Minister Gallant assessed that “we are facing a new security era in which there may be a real threat to all arenas at the same time. We operated for years under the assumption that limited conflicts could be managed, but that is a phenomenon that is disappearing. Today, there is a noticeable phenomenon of the convergence of the arenas”. “Iran”, he continued, “is the driving force in the convergence of the arenas. It transfers resources, ideology, knowledge and training to its proxies… The increasing dependence [of the proxies] on Iran leads them to step over the boundaries and become more brazen”. Gallant further highlighted that “we continue to systematically damage Iranian assets and capabilities in the region. We will not allow Iran to establish an Iranian army in Syria, we will not allow the Golan Heights to become Lebanon, and we will not allow Syrian territory to be a springboard for advanced weapons heading to Lebanon... In the first quarter of 2023 we doubled the rate of attacks in Syria. We are systematically attacking [Iranian] intelligence and military capabilities”.

The U.S. sanctioned what the Treasury Department described as “a vast international money laundering and sanctions evasion network of 52 individuals and entities... [that] facilitated the payment, shipment and delivery of cash, diamonds, previous gems, art and luxury goods for the benefit of Hizbollah financier and Specially Designated Global Terrorist Nazem Said Ahmad, who was designated on 13 December 2019, for providing material support to Hizbollah”.

Israel’s defence minister asserted that “Iran is waging a multi-front war of attrition against the State of Israel... [and] continuing its attempts to establish itself on the northern front and at the same time sending its proxies to Judea, Samaria and Gaza”. The following day, Foreign Minister Eli Cohen underscored that “the way to change Iranian behaviour is through massive economic and political pressure, in every sector of Iranian interests... [along with a] military threat against it”.

Prime Minister Netanyahu contended that “we hit the Iranians, we attacked Syria, we attacked Hizbollah and Hamas targets in Lebanon... Hamas won’t be allowed to open another front in Lebanon, and I think that message was received”. “We attacked in many different ways, and not everything was visible”, he added.

The Israeli military reported that “three rockets were launched from Syrian territory toward Israel, two of them crossed into Israeli territory”, It subsequently struck “the launchers in Syria from which [the] rockets were launched” using a UAV.

The Israeli military confirmed that at least “34 rockets… were fired from Lebanon into Israel. 25 rockets were intercepted by the IDF Aerial Defence Array, while five landed in Israeli territory. Four additional launches are under review”. Three people were reportedly injured. A military spokesperson said that “Hamas was behind the rocket attack from Lebanon. The Lebanese government is responsible for any attack from its territory. We are checking if there was any Iranian involvement in the rocket attack”. The following day, Israel conducted airstrikes targeting what the military described as “infrastructures belonging to Hamas in southern Lebanon”, asserting: “The IDF will not allow the Hamas terrorist organisation to operate from within Lebanon and hold the state of Lebanon responsible for every directed fire emanating from its territory”. The IDF also downed a drone that had entered Israel from Lebanon.

Hizbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah remarked that “Hizbollah’s silence [regarding the 13 March explosion at the Megiddo Junction in Israel] is part of the battle with the enemy… I will respond to the enemy’s threats that if Hizbollah was proven to be responsible for the Megiddo operation they will do such and such, by telling tell them: Buzz off”. He further warned Israel that “an attack on Lebanon could trigger a war in the region… The resistance in Lebanon adheres to its commitment and its decision that any attack against any person present on Lebanese territory, whether he is Lebanese, Palestinian or of another nationality, or an attack on a Lebanese region, will not get unanswered”.

The Israeli military announced that “An explosive device was detonated adjacent to the Megiddo Junction [on 13 March], severely injuring an Israeli civilian. During searches in northern Israel, security forces neutralised a terrorist armed with an explosive belt and multiple weapons in a vehicle”. The IDF further stated that “an initial inquiry suggests that the terrorist crossed from Lebanon… The possible involvement of the Hizbollah terrorist army is under review. The assumption is that due to the quick response of security forces, another terrorist attack was prevented”. Defence Minister Gallant warned that “whoever is responsible for the attack will regret it. We’ll find the right place and time and we’ll hit them”.

The U.S. sanctioned six individuals and associated entities for “facilitating financial activities for Hizbollah”. 

Hizbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah indicated that “Iran’s fuel offer is still existing, but the U.S. has been preventing Lebanon from accepting it”. He further urged “the U.S. allies in Lebanon to utilise their friendship with Washington and obtain sanctions waiver like the one obtained by Iraq”.

Foreign Minister Amirabdollahian, during a visit to Beirut, met with his Lebanese counterpart and reiterated “Iran’s support for the political process and restoration of stability in Lebanon and non-interference in the country’s internal affairs”. He further expressed “Iran’s readiness to help alleviate the sufferings of the Lebanese people pertaining to the electricity and energy crisis… help[ing] repair the power plants and build new ones in Lebanon”. He also met with other senior Lebanese officials and Hizbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.

Outgoing IDF Chief of Staff Aviv Kohavi maintained that “the scope of [Hizbollah] targets that we have today – as a result of major changes that we did in intelligence – is unprecedented… there are waves of firepower that will strike all of these targets and will cause large and unprecedented damage to Lebanon, including to national infrastructure which supports terror, such as electrical power stations and other infrastructure. Nasrallah knows this, and this is our first and most substantial solution: a strong offensive capability”. He further assessed that “there is no way to know for certain if an attack against Iran will lead Hizbollah to join the fight. It really depends on what the situation is in Lebanon, which is in a state of deterioration. It will depend on what Hizbollah’s situation will be at the time… A third Lebanon war will see a powerful attack that they have never experienced”.

Prime Minister Netanyahu, visiting IDF Northern Command, asserted that “the main enemy that we face is the terrorist regime in Iran and its proxies in Syria and Lebanon. We are determined to fight Iran’s attempts to develop a nuclear arsenal. We are determined to fight any attempt by Iran to entrench militarily in Syria on our northern border. We are determined to fight any attempt by Hizbollah to show aggression against us in Lebanon. Whoever needs a reminder about our red lines on this matter will receive it”. During the same visit, Defence Minister Gallant maintained: “the security establishment will prevent Iran from entrenching in Syria and will sever the channels by which Iranian weaponry is transferred to Lebanon and Hizbollah… In addition to maintaining quiet, we will take strong action against any attempt to attack Israeli civilians and IDF soldiers”.

The Israeli military reported intercepting “a drone crossing from Lebanon into Israeli territory… The drone most likely belongs to the Hizbollah terrorist organisation”.

The U.S. sanctioned “two individuals and two companies based in Lebanon for providing financial services to Hizbollah, along with an additional individual involved in facilitating weapons procurement for Hizbollah”. 

Hizbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah claimed that the U.S. had “prevented the Lebanese officials from purchasing Iranian fuel oil… [and] obliged Lebanon to reject an Iranian fuel donation as well”. The same day, Iranian ambassador in Beirut blamed “foreign hands” for preventing what he described as Iranian offers to assist with Lebanon’s electricity shortages.

Prime Minister Yair Lapid maintained that the maritime border agreement with Lebanon “preserves the security of communities in the north as well as the freedom of action of the IDF and the Israeli Navy’s control of the area closest to the shoreline... As the Chief of General Staff told the Government, it does not preserve our security, it enhances our security”. “This agreement staves off the possibility of a military clash with Hizbollah”, he continued. “Israel is not afraid of Hizbollah… and if we went out to battle, we would deal them a heavy blow. That being said, if it is possible to prevent war, it is the job of a responsible government to do so”. Lapid further reiterated: “At every step of the way, we made it clear to the Lebanese — that with or without an agreement, Israel will not delay by even a single day, the production [of gas] from the Karish platform, and will not give in to any threat. The Karish field is in our sovereign territory, and an attack on it is an attack on the State of Israel. We will not hesitate for a second to use force to defend our gas field”.

President Biden announced that “after months of mediation by the U.S., the Governments of Israel and Lebanon have agreed to formally end their maritime boundary dispute and establish a permanent maritime boundary between them… The agreement announced by both governments today will provide for the development of energy fields for the benefit of both countries, setting the stage for a more stable and prosperous region and harnessing vital new energy resources for the world”. Prime Minister Lapid’s office indicated that “the draft agreement meets all the security and economic principles laid out by Israel”, while Lebanon’s president asserted: “The final version of the offer is satisfactory for Lebanon and answers its demands and preserves its rights to its national wealth”.

The office of Israel’s defence minister announced that he had “directed the IDF to prepare for a scenario of escalation in the north, both offensively and defensively, given the developments in the [U.S.-mediated Israel-Lebanon] negotiations on the maritime border”. A U.S. official indicated that “we are at a critical stage in the negotiations and the gaps have narrowed. We remain committed to reaching a solution and believe a lasting compromise is possible”.

Defence Minister Benny Gantz contended that “Iran, through Hizbollah, is trying to buy Lebanon by supplying fuel, repairing the electricity system and building power plants… Lebanon’s energy dependence on Iran may eventually lead to the establishment of Iranian bases on Lebanese soil and the destabilisation of the region”. The same day, IDF Chief of Staff Aviv Kohavi asserted: “Hizbollah has recently been increasing its negative activities, in a way that creates an ever-increasing risk of escalation, and tries to endanger Israel, but in practice also Lebanon and its citizens”.

Israel’s prime minister office, referring to U.S.-mediated maritime talks with Lebanon, stated that “it is both possible and necessary to reach an agreement... Such an agreement will be greatly beneficial and strengthen regional stability”. A spokesperson further underlined: “The production of gas from the Karish rig is not connected to these negotiations, and the production of gas from the rig will commence without delay, as soon as it is possible”.

Hizbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah warned that “we won’t allow the Israeli enemy to extract oil and gas from Karish before restoring Lebanon’s legitimate rights… Hizbollah’s red line is the start of the Israeli extraction of gas in Karish”.

Israel’s defence minister addressed the maritime talks with Lebanon, saying “Israel is ready to reach a deal that will assist both countries economically and energy-wise. I believe there will be two gas rigs in the sea, one on the Israeli side and one on the Lebanese side”. He also warned that if Hizbollah’s leadership “wants to try and harm and to complicate this process, he is welcome to do so, the price is Lebanon… I hope for his sake that we won’t do this”. Relatedly, National Security Advisor Eyal Hulata asserted: “Israel wants a stable Lebanon. We want to weaken Hizbollah’s influence… We hope that the Lebanese leaedership will also work to reach an agreement and will not allow Hizbollah to increase instability. We are not deterred by Nasrallah’s threats”.

Prime Minister Yair Lapid asserted that “Israel is working to prevent Iran from establishing terrorist bases throughout the Middle East and especially in Syria… Israel will not allow Syria to be used as an axis for the transfer of weapons to terrorist organisations, and will not accept the establishment of Iranian bases or militia bases on our northern border”. The following day, Defence Minister Benny Gantz posited that Iran had built “production facilities [in Syria] for mid- and long-range precise missiles and weapons, provided to Hizbollah and Iranian proxies. In other words, it became yet another Iranian front – a factory for advanced, strategic weapons”. “These sites, particularly the underground facility at Masyaf”, Gantz added, “host significant threats to the region and to the State of Israel… Masyaf, specifically, is used to produce advanced missiles”. He also said, “the Iranians are currently working to build missile and weapon industries in Lebanon and Yemen… If this trend will not be stopped, within a decade, there will be advanced Iranian industries across the region, producing weapons and spreading terror”.

Israel’s defence minister warned that a Hizbollah attack against maritime gas facilities “could trigger a reaction… leading to several days of fighting and to a military campaign. We are strong and prepared for this scenario, but we don’t want it”.

Referring to U.S.-mediated maritime talks between Lebanon and Israel, Hizbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah warned that “whether a nuclear deal with Iran is signed or not, if the U.S. mediator does not give Lebanon what it asked for in terms of its rights, we are heading towards an escalation”. 

IRGC Commander Hossein Salami indicated that “in Lebanon, tens of thousands, even more than one hundred thousand missiles, are ready to be fired to create a hell for the Zionists [ie, Israel] at the moment of making the divine predestination happen”. On 7 August, Hizbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah warned Israel against any “miscalculation towards Lebanon”, adding: “It should not expect at all that the resistance will stand idly by in the face of a certain aggression or a certain infringement on our rights”.

Iran’s diplomatic spokesperson remarked that “we are more than ready to provide fuel to Beirut, provided an official request is made to us”.

Hizbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, referring to U.S.-mediated maritime negotiations, asserted that “when things reach a dead-end… we will reach Karish [maritime gas field], beyond Karish, and beyond, beyond Karish”, claiming: “The Americans distracted Lebanon with negotiations while Israel explored for gas and is preparing to extract it. The U.S. pressured the Lebanese state into agreeing to… the Israeli proposal for the maritime borders”. Nasrallah further warned that “no Israeli targets in the sea or land [are] out of the reach of the resistance’s precision missiles… If the extraction of oil and gas starts in September before Lebanon retains its rights, we are heading toward a confrontation”. Nasrallah also referred to “Hizbollah’s readiness to provide Iranian fuel to Lebanese power plants for free… Sadly, the Lebanese political class is not bold enough to take such a step out of fear of U.S. sanctions”.

Hizbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, discussing Karish maritime gas field, warned that “there will be no oil extraction across the Israeli entity if Lebanon does not obtain its rights… We might be heading to a war and we might not be. It is not our desire to open a front. We only want our rights and we’re escalating our rhetoric so that the Americans and Israelis submit, because the course of the collapse in Lebanon is continuing”.

Prime Minister Yair Lapid maintained that “Israel is interested in Lebanon being a stable and prosperous neighbour that is neither a platform for Hizbollah terrorism nor an Iranian tool… While we have no interest in escalation, Hizbollah’s aggression is unacceptable and is liable to lead the entire region into an unnecessary escalation, just when there is a genuine opportunity for Lebanon to develop its energy resources”. “Israel is taking action against all of Iran’s proxies in the region and beyond, and will continue to do so”, Lapid added. “Iran is the largest exporter of terrorism in the world. We will act on our own and in tandem with other countries in the region to prevent Iran from undermining regional stability”. The Prime Minister also flew over the Karish natural gas field and posited: “Israel’s natural gas reserves have the potential to contribute toward a solution for the global energy crisis. Lebanon could also benefit from developing the reserves in its economic waters, through negotiations, which should be concluded forthwith”.

The Israeli military reported downing a UAV “that likely belongs to the Hizbollah terrorist army [and] crossed from Lebanon into Israel”.

Marking the anniversaries of Hizbollah attacks against a Jewish community centre in Argentina in 1994 and Israeli tourists in Bulgaria in 2012, the U.S. referred to the attacks as “a clear example of Iran’s support of international terrorism” and reiterated its determination “to countering Hizbollah and Iran’s malign influence. The funding, training, weapons and other support Iran provides Hizbollah support complex and heinous terrorist attacks like these. The callous murder of civilians must not stand”. The State Department went on to note: “With our support, more than a dozen countries… have issued national level designations, bans or other restrictions against Hizballah. We urge more countries to take similar measures, which make it harder for the group and its backers in Tehran to threaten peace and security around the globe”.

Hizbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah asserted that their 2 July drone operation over Karish maritime gas field was “a modest beginning to where the situation could be heading… The message of the drones meant that we are serious and we are not after a psychological war… Whatever we are supposed to do, we will without any hesitation. This message was understood by the Israelis and by the Americans”. “Whether our message was understood in Lebanon or not, we don’t care about that. What is important for us is that the enemy gets the message”, he added. He went on to warn that should the U.S. not “give us our rights that are demanded by the state and if you don’t allow companies to extract [oil] God knows what we will do. We will turn over the table in the face of the world”.

Prime Minister Lapid noted that “there have been repeated attacks on Israeli gas rigs. Israel will not agree to this type of attacks on its sovereignty and everyone who does so must know they are taking an unnecessary risk to their well-being. The Government of Lebanon needs to restrain Hizbollah in the face of such attacks or we will be compelled to do so”. The same day, Defence Minister Benny Gantz contended that the 2 July incident aimed to “disrupt the negotiations that are taking place on the maritime border between Israel and Lebanon”, and called it “an attack on Lebanese citizens… [that] shows Hizbollah is an extension of the Ayatollah’s regime – operating to destabilise the region and to cause miscalculations”. On 6 July, the Israeli military reported that in late June it had intercepted “a drone belonging to Hizbollah which was heading from Lebanon towards Israel’s territorial waters… The drone was dropped a far distance from the maritime border, without posing a threat or danger to Israel”.

The Israeli military announced that it had “intercepted three hostile UAVs from Lebanon which approached the airspace over Israel’s economic waters… An initial inquiry suggests that the UAVs did not pose any imminent threat”. Hizbollah claimed that its drones had conducted “reconnaissance” operations “over Karish maritime gas filed in the disputable zone”, adding: “The mission was completed and the messages were delivered”. The following day, Prime Minister Lapid contended that “Hizbollah is continuing on the path of terrorism and is hurting Lebanon’s ability to reach an agreement on a maritime border. Israel will continue to defend itself, its citizens and its assets”.

The U.S. and other participants of the Law Enforcement Coordination Group (LECG) convened for a two-day meeting discussing “Hizbollah’s ongoing global terrorist plotting, weapons procurement and financial schemes, and outlined how Hizbollah may adapt in the future to evade law enforcement detection”. Members also conferred on “how law enforcement or financial tools can be used to disrupt Hizbollah terrorist and criminal activities, and associated networks”.

Israel’s defence minister disclosed what he described as “recent malign activities conducted by Iranian security institutions in cooperation with Hizbollah”, asserting: “They launched a cyber operation with the aim of stealing materials about UNIFIL [UN Interim Force in Lebanon] activities and deployments in the area, for Hizbollah’s use. This is yet another direct attack by Iran and Hizbollah on Lebanese citizens and Lebanon’s stability”. In a statement, UNIFIL indicated that it had “not received any direct information on the alleged incident”. Gantz further asserted that IRGC-linked units had “tried to carry out operation against international, including charities and government networks in the U.S.”, and additionally noted “research to damage ships, gas stations and industrial plants in several Western countries… under the direct instructions of Iran’s leadership”.

Najib Mikati was appointed to form a new Lebanese government.

The U.S., Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and four other members of the Terrorist Financing and Targeting Center (TFTC) announced sanctions designations against three individuals for being “part of two networks directed by and providing financial support to the IRGC-QF and its terrorist proxy Hizbollah”, and “two terrorist groups affiliated with the IRGC” active primarily in Bahrain. The designees had been previously sanctioned by the U.S.

Microsoft announced that it had “successfully detected and disabled attack activity abusing OneDrive by a previously undocumented Lebanon-based activity group”, evaluating “with moderate confidence that the observed activity was coordinated with other actors affiliated with Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS)”. “Such collaboration or direction from Tehran”, the company added, “would align with a string of revelations since late 2020 that the Government of Iran is using third parties to carry out cyber operations on their behalf, likely to enhance Iran’s plausible deniability”. Microsoft further revealed that “since February 2022, POLONIUM has been observed primarily targeting organisations in Israel with a focus on critical manufacturing, IT and Israel’s defence industry”.

The Israeli military indicated that it had “no concern of leaked information” after a crashed IDF drone was reportedly recovered by Lebanese forces. 

The U.S. designated “an international oil smuggling and money laundering network led by Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force (IRGC-QF) officials that has facilitated the sale of hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of Iranian oil for both the IRGC-QF and Hizbollah. This oil smuggling network… backed by senior levels of the Russian Federation government and state-run economic organs, has acted as a critical element of Iran’s oil revenue generation, as well as its support for proxy militant groups”. The State Department asserted that “while the U.S. continues to seek a mutual return to full implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), we will strictly enforce sanctions on Iran’s illicit oil trade. We will not hesitate to target those who provide critical support for the IRGC or Hizbollah and facilitate their access to the international financial system. We work vigorously to counter sanctions evasion and continue to strictly enforce sanctions on Iran’s illicit oil trade. Anyone purchasing oil from Iran faces the prospect of U.S. sanctions”. Iran’s diplomatic spokesperson described the move as a “sign of the U.S. government’s ill will toward the Iranian people and an extension of the disastrous ‘maximum pressure’ policy”, adding: “Iran reserves the right to counteract such measures in a proportionate and firm manner in accordance with the principles of international law”.

The IDF announced that Israeli military officials had met with Lebanese and UN officials the previous day, and “highlighted the increase of hostile forces and illegal weapons along the Blue Line”.

The U.S. designated “a Lebanese businessman and Hizbollah financial facilitator, as well as five of his associates and eight of his companies in Lebanon and Iraq”. One of the designees, according to the Treasury Department, was engaged in “the import of Iranian oil on behalf of Hizbollah”, and another, in “the import and export of food products from Lebanon, Turkey, Iran, Syria and Iraq”. The State Department asserted that “we continue to counter Hizbollah’s exploitation of businesses to fund its terrorist activities and its efforts to destabilise Lebanon and the wider region”.

Israel’s military reported downing “a Hizbollah drone [that had] crossed from Lebanon into Israeli airspace”.

Visiting Northern Command, Defence Minister Benny Gantz asserted that “Israel will continue to act against any enemy that threatens it, and prevent the transfer of advanced capabilities from Iran that endanger the citizens of Israel and harm the stability of the entire region”. He further described the objective of a month-long military exercise as “preparing for various scenarios against our enemies in the various theaters, and against Hizbollah and Hamas, which also operates from Lebanon”.

Israel announced the arrest of “three suspects who approached the northern border between Israel and Lebanon in a weapon smuggling attempt”.

Hizbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah indicated that “Hizbollah has raised its military alert” in light of the start of a month-long Israeli drill. He also warned that “if Israel prevents Lebanon from investing its offshore gas resources, Hizbollah will prevent the Zionists from carrying out similar projects”, adding: “Lebanon’s socioeconomic crisis is severe to the extent that the only way to cope with it is extracting the offshore gas… Hizbollah protects Lebanon’s offshore resources from Israeli infringement”.

Marking Quds Day, Hizbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah, referring to upcoming Israeli military drills, cautioned that “any Israeli folly will be met by harsh response. In such case… [Israel] will not hear ‘we reserve right to respond in the appropriate time and place’. We will retaliate at once”. Nasrallah also claimed that “Iran informed normalising countries that any aggression against Iran from these countries will be responded to, and this message has made it to [Israel]… Iran could strike Israel directly, and its preludes are becoming greater by the day”.

Israel’s military reported that “a projectile was launched from Lebanon into northern Israel… [falling] in an open area”, in response to which IDF Artillery forces targeted “the source of the launch”. An Israeli military spokesperson assessed that the attack was “linked to the Muslim holy month of Ramadan and the riots on the Temple Mount”, and said Israel’s reaction aimed “to make clear to all who are on the other side, whether it is Palestinian factions, Hamas, the government of Lebanon or Hizbollah that we won’t allow Israeli sovereignty to be violated”. Relatedly, Defence Minister Benny Gantz called upon “the Lebanese government [to] take responsibility for what happens on its territory”, warning: “If terrorism and violence continue, we will know to use the necessary force against the right targets”. The same day, the IDF reported firing warning shots as two individuals “attempting to smuggle two weapons and approximately 100 grenades into Israel” from Lebanon were spotted at the Blue Line.

IDF Chief of Staff Aviv Kohavi assessed that Israeli strikes “had a decisive impact on preventing the entrenchment of Iranian forces in Syria, on preventing the establishment of Hizbollah forces in the southern Golan Heights, on preventing enemy intensification with advanced weapons systems, and on the direct and immediate thwarting of threats to infiltrate Israel”.

During a visit to Lebanon, Foreign Minister Amirabdollahian underscored that “we are ready to continue our support and important trade and economic cooperation with Lebanon”. He further noted that Iran had expressed “readiness to establish two 1,000-megawatt power stations in Lebanon”, adding: “We have made other proposals to work with Lebanon to overcome the current difficult economic situation”. The following day, Amirabdollahian again emphasised Iran’s willingness to fulfil Lebanon’s “energy needs, including in the fields of electricity and gas”.

The U.S. sanctioned “two key Hizbollah financiers operating in Guinea” with the Treasury Department saying “this action is aimed at disrupting Hizbollah’s business network in West Africa”. The State Department contended that “Hizbollah has developed a global network of financiers, supporters, donors and facilitators, enabling the group to constantly threaten the security, stability and prosperity of Lebanon and the broader region… The U.S. will continue to expose individuals such as those designated today who support Hizbollah’s destabilising activities”.

The Israeli military reported that “a radio-controlled aircraft crossed into Israel from Lebanon. Sirens were sounded and aerial defense systems were activated. After a few minutes, radar contact was lost with the aircraft”. Hizbollah stated that it had dispatched the drone, which “returned safely despite all the Israeli measures and attempts to shoot it down”.

The Israeli military reported intercepting “a Hizbollah drone that crossed from Lebanon into Israeli airspace”, and in a second incident downed a drone launched by Hamas in Gaza.  

Hizbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah remarked that “we now possess the ability to transform our thousands of rockets into precision-guided missiles… We started that years ago and converted a large number of our missiles into precision-guided ones, so we do not need to bring them from Iran”. “We have been producing drones in Lebanon for a long time”, he added. Nasrallah further noted that Israel “tries throughout its aggression in Syria to prevent the reach of precision-guided weapons to the resistance in Lebanon. I tell the Israelis that what they call a ‘battle between wars’ has turned the threat into an opportunity for the resistance”.

Hizbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah asserted that “Iran itself, not its allies, will respond forcefully to any Israeli attack”.

Israel sanctioned “three Lebanese companies that Israel accuses of supplying materials to advance Hizbollah’s efforts to manufacture precision missiles”. Defence Minister Benny Gantz asserted that “Hizbollah is endangering the citizens of Lebanon and the State of Lebanon. We will continue to offer humanitarian assistance to the citizens while acting resolutely in the face of the Iranian precision [missile] project operating from the heart of Lebanon”.

Defence Minister Benny Gantz remarked that “Lebanon has unfortunately become an island of instability, and the citizens of Lebanon are not our enemies. Therefore, I offered four times this year to assist Lebanon, including last week in an application sent to the UNIFIL commander”. He further indicated that the offer had been made “in a targeted manner” to the Lebanese Armed Forces, which he argued was threatened by “the strengthening of Hizbollah with the direct support of Iran”.

A U.S. diplomatic spokesperson confirmed that the Biden administration had “notified Congress of the intent to provide additional support for the Lebanese Armed Forces”, adding: “We want to ensure that the Lebanese Armed Forces is able to carry out its duties and functions, including the ability to defend Lebanon’s territorial integrity, provide internal security and preserve stability”.

The U.S. sanctioned a “Hizbollah-affliated financial facilitator... as well as members of an international network of facilitators and companies connected to him”. The designees were linked to other individuals blacklisted three days earlier. The State Department asserted that “the sanctions evasion efforts of those designated today are a stark example of how Hizbollah abuses the international financial system to fund its acts of terrorism and illicit activities. The U.S. is committed to disrupting Hizbollah’s illicit activity, including attempts to evade sanctions through business networks”.

The U.S. blacklisted “three Hizbollah-linked financial facilitators and their Lebanon-based travel company”, asserting that “through businessmen like those designated today, Hizbollah gains access to material and financial support… to fund its acts of terrorism and attempts to destabilise Lebanon’s political institutions”. In a statement on the sanctions announcement, Secretary of State Antony Blinken asserted that “it is clear Hizbollah and its associates are more concerned with advancing their own interests and those of their patron, Iran, than the best interests of the Lebanese people”.

The Israeli military reported downing “a Hizbollah drone that crossed from Lebanon into Israel”, adding: “the IDF will continue to operate against any attempt by terrorists to violate Israeli sovereignty”.

The Saudi-led coalition presented what it described as evidence of Hizbollah training Huthi forces, with a spokesperson asserting: “The terrorist organisation Hizbollah… bears the responsibility for targeting civilians in Saudi Arabia and Yemen”. “The Iranian regime sponsors its proxies in the region to carry out destruction and devastation”, he added, further stating that “the Huthis do not have the ability to make the decision to be part of the political solution in Yemen”.

U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan assessed that “since Donald Trump made the decision to pull the U.S. out of the Iran Nuclear Deal in 2018, Hizbollah has continued to menace Lebanon and the region. Iran’s proxies in Iraq and Syria and Yemen have continued to move forward. So, not being in the nuclear deal has hardly been a solution to the proxy”. He further asserted that “nothing about the nuclear deal stops the U.S.’s capacity to deal with those proxies. And we are prepared to do so”, adding: “ultimately, an Iran with a nuclear weapon is going to be a greater menace in partnerships with its proxies than Iran without one. And so it is our determination to ensure they never get a nuclear weapon, and diplomacy is the best way forward”.

On the sideline of a military drill in northern Israel, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett asserted that “we are surrounded by security challenges and the goal is to utilise periods of relative quiet to build up strength”, adding: “we are dealing with Iran and its proxies, in Lebanon and Syria. It does not matter what occurs between Iran and the major powers. We are concerned by the fact that there is not enough firmness in the face of the Iranian violations; Israel will defend itself, by itself”. Speaking alongside Bennett, Defence Minister Benny Gantz remarked that “the world needs to take action against Iran, and Israel needs to continue to do what it needs to on all fronts in general, and on the northern front in particular”.

Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz maintained that “on an operational level, we are acting extensively. We won’t allow Hizbollah and other Iranian proxies in the area to be equipped with weaponry that will harm Israel’s [military] superiority in the region”. Relatedly, IDF Chief of Staff Aviv Kohavi, told Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee that “the IDF will continue to act to remove threats and will respond forcefully to any violation of [Israeli] sovereignty, in Gaza or in the north”, adding: “[the army] is accelerating operational planning and preparedness to deal with Iran and the military nuclear threat”.

Discussing a diplomatic rupture between Riyadh and Beirut, Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan remarked that “dealing with Lebanon and its current government is not productive and not helpful with Hizbollah’s continuing dominance of the political scene”. “Engagement [with Lebanon] at this point is not productive or useful. And it’s not really in our interest”, Farhan added. “The political scene in Lebanon continues to be dominated by Hizbollah, a terrorist group, a group that by the way, arms and supplies and trains that Huthi militia”. Subsequently, Lebanon’s foreign minister underscored that “If they just want Hizbollah’s head on a plate, we can’t give them that… Hizbollah is a component of politics in Lebanon. It has a regional armed dimension, yes, but this is beyond what we can resolve”.

The U.S. designated “two Lebanese businessmen and a member of Parliament whose actions”, according to the Treasury Department, “have contributed to the breakdown of good governance and the rule of law in Lebanon”. 

A senior U.S. diplomat announced that Washington was providing “an additional $67m in new U.S. support for the Lebanese Army”. She also contended that “what Iran is offering here on the energy front is a publicity stunt. A bunch of trucks full of dirty stuff that is not sustainable for the Lebanese people. What we are working on are short, medium and longer-term solutions to the energy issues that have long plagued this country, that are particularly acute now, and then onward toward clean energy in the future”.

Hizbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah urged the Lebanese “government to seek a waiver of sanctions in order to import fuel from Iran” and “respond to the latest offer made by the Iranian Foreign Minister to solve the electricity problem in Lebanon [by constructing power plant]”.

Iranian Foreign Minister Amirabdollahian visited Beirut and met with senior Lebanese officials. He expressed Iran’s “steadfast support for Lebanon and its readiness to provide Beirut with full support in the areas it requires, especially in the difficult economic conditions it is going through”, while voicing Iran’s willingness “to play an active role in development plans in Lebanon, particularly in power plant projects”.

Addressing reports that a third Iranian tanker carrying fuel to Lebanon had arrived in Syria, a U.S. diplomatic spokesperson indicated that “we are aware of that… broadly speaking, fuel from a country subject to extensive sanctions like Iran is not very clearly a sustainable solution to Lebanon’s energy crisis”. He further underscored that “we support efforts to find transparent and sustainable energy solutions that will address Lebanon’s acute energy and fuel shortages. This is, in our minds, Hizbollah playing a public relations game, not engaged in constructive problem solving”. The following day, during a visit to Beirut, Iranian Foreign Minister Amirabdollahian affirmed that “at any point in time if the Lebanese government asks Iran formally within the context of their brotherly ties... Iran is ready to send fuel products”.

The Israeli military confirmed that “during routine activity, an IDF drone fell within Lebanese territory. The incident is being investigated”. Hizbollah issued a statement claiming that it had downed the UAV using “suitable weaponry”.

The U.S. and Qatar sanctioned “a major Hizballah financial network based in the Arabian Peninsula”. Secretary of State Antony Blinken described the designations as “one of the most significant joint actions we have taken with a Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) partner to date”, adding: “Hizbollah seeks to abuse the international financial system by utilising global networks of financiers and front companies to support its malign activity. The U.S. will continue to cooperate with partners… to protect the U.S. and international financial systems from terrorist abuse”.

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett told the UN General Assembly that “Israel is, quite literally, surrounded by Hizbollah, Shiite militias, Islamic Jihad and Hamas... And they’re all backed by Iran. They get their funding from Iran, they get their training from Iran, and they get their weapons from Iran”. Bennett also said that “just this year, Iran made operational a new deadly terror unit — swarms of killer UAVs armed with lethal weapons that can attack any place any time… Iran plans to arm its proxies in Yemen, Iraq, Syria and Lebanon with hundreds and then thousands of these deadly drones”.

Hizbollah reported that “the second ship delivering diesel oil from the Islamic Republic [of Iran] docked in [Syria’s] Banias Port”.

A senior U.S. intelligence official assessed that “Lebanese Hizbollah maintains a high threshold for conducting attacks in the Homeland”, adding: “Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah balances his organisation’s view of the U.S. as one of its primary adversaries against the likelihood of U.S. retaliation if the group decided to conduct an attack”. Relatedly, FBI Director Christopher Wray indicated that “Hizbollah also continues to conduct intelligence collection, financial activities and procurement efforts to support its terrorist capabilities… the Government of Iran and Hizbollah each seek to establish infrastructure here, potentially for the purpose of conducting operational or contingency planning”.

Media reports indicated that a” convoy of diesel tankers brought by Hizbollah from Iran crossed the Syrian border towards Lebanon”.

The U.S. designated “Lebanon- and Kuwait-based members of a financial network that funds Hizbollah, as well as members of an international network of financial facilitators and front companies that operate in support of Hizbollah and Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force (IRGC-QF)”. According to the State Department, “together, these networks have laundered tens of millions of dollars through regional financial systems and conducted currency exchange operations and trade in gold and electronics for the benefit of both Hizbollah and the IRGC-QF”. Asserting that “Hizbollah uses revenues generated by these networks to fund terrorist activities and to perpetuate instability in Lebanon and throughout the region”, Washington warned that it would “not relent in targeting these networks, and we will continue to take actions to disrupt their activities”.

Hizbollah’s media hailed “breaking the U.S. blockade” after four convoys bearing Iranian fuel arrived in Lebanon via Syria.  

Hizbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah reported that “the first fuel ship, which the Party [ie, Hizbollah] decided to import from Iran, arrived in [Syria’s] Banias seaport… [and] finished unloading”. “The truck tankers transferring the diesel load will enter Lebanon” within days, he added, going on to assert that “some political sides wished Israel could have struck the ship and banned its arrival… the Resistance could have engaged in a naval confrontation with the Zionist enemy had this happened”.

Foreign Minister Yair Lapid contended that “there won’t be stability in Syria, or in the wider Middle East, while there is an Iranian presence… [Israel] will not sit quietly by while Iran builds terror bases on our northern border or while Iran supplies advanced weapons to terror organisations”.

IDF Chief of Staff Aviv Kohavi maintained that “a significant chunk of the boost to the defence budget” related to “greatly accelerated” planning for operations targeting Iran’s nuclear program, adding: “It’s a very complicated job, with much more intelligence, much more operational capabilities, much more armaments. We’re working on all these things”. He also indicated that the Israeli military’s priority was “minimising Iranian presence in the Middle East, with an emphasis on Syria. But these operations take place throughout the Middle East. They’re also against Hamas, against Hizbollah”. “[Israeli strikes] greatly diminished Iran’s presence and weaponry in the northern arena, certainly in comparison to what they sought”, Kohavi asserted, also noting that the IDF had been “very active in disrupting the smuggling routes of Hizbollah, of Hamas, of Iran, in all regions”.

Iranian Foreign Minister Amirabdollahian indicated that “if the government and businessmen of Lebanon need more oil, Iran is ready to sell and send it…there is no limitation for expansion of bilateral ties”.

Hizbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah revealed that “we have agreed to start loading a third vessel” of Iranian fuel, adding that “coming days will prove those doubtful about the shipments arriving with fuel wrong”. He also called on the U.S. to “go ahead and give Lebanon an exemption for Iranian gasoline”. In 1 September remarks, Lebanon’s caretaker energy minister indicated that “we did not receive a request for permission” for Iranian fuel imports.

A senior U.S. official noted that “the Israelis are quite concerned in terms of the precision-guided missile technology transfer piece to Hizbollah. And we’re quite con-cerned about that, but also quite concerned about the real potential for state collapse if... the Lebanese political elites do not get their act together, essentially, and form a new government”. 

Iran’s diplomatic spokesperson asserted that “we sell oil according to our own decisions and upon the announcement of demand from our friends… We express readiness to sell fuel to the Lebanese government if it is also willing, in addition to the fuel that has been purchased by the Shiite business people of Lebanon”. Asked about Iranian oil exports to Lebanon, a U.S. official maintained: “All of the sanctions that are in place on Iran remain in place. When it comes to petroleum, when it comes to oil, that has not changed”.

Referring to a first expected shipment of Iranian fuel to Lebanon, Hizbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah warned the U.S. and Israel against any attack on the consignment, which he characterised as “Lebanese territory”. The same day, the U.S. ambassador to Lebanon was cited as saying that “Lebanon didn’t need any Iranian tankers”.

The Israeli military revealed that the previous day, “a Hizbollah drone crossed from Lebanon into Israeli airspace… Our troops monitored and successfully downed the drone”. “We will continue to operate in order to prevent any attempt to violate Israeli sovereignty”, the IDF added.

The Israeli military revealed that the previous day, “a Hizbollah drone crossed from Lebanon into Israeli airspace… Our troops monitored and successfully downed the drone”. “We will continue to operate in order to prevent any attempt to violate Israeli sovereignty”, the IDF added.

Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz remarked that “the crisis in Lebanon is devastating. The State of Israel calls on the international community to aid Lebanon. We are also willing to provide assistance. However, we will not let the tragedy in Lebanon cross the border into Israel”. He further noted that “we are well aware of Hizbollah’s attempts to exploit the situation at the expense of the safety and livelihoods of Lebanese citizens – under the direct influence of Iran”. Gantz went on to say that “Iran is the greatest threat to global and regional peace. Israel will not stand by while Iran advances its nuclear program… This is the time for joint action”.

The U.S. announced that it had “applied the measures authorised in Section 3 of the Iran, North Korea and Syria Nonproliferation Act” against, inter alia, Kataeb Hizbollah, Asaeb Ahl al-Haq and Lebanese Hizbollah.

The Israeli military reported that Hizbollah had fired nineteen rockets toward Israel, of which ten were intercepted and six impacted in open areas; the other three landed in Lebanese territory. In response, the IDF struck “the rocket launch sites in Lebanon”, and warned that “we will not tolerate any aggression against Israeli civilians”. The U.S. condemned Hizbollah’s attack “in the strongest terms”, and called on “the Lebanese government urgently to prevent such attacks and bring the area under its control”. Hizbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah subsequently maintained that “our response was linked to the Israeli strikes that occurred in south Lebanon for the first time in fifteen years”, adding: “We wanted to tell the enemy… that any air strike by the Israeli air force on Lebanon will inevitably draw a response, though in a suitable and proportionate way”. “We are not looking for war and we do not want to head towards war, but we are ready for it”, Nasrallah added. Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett remarked that “even during the severe economic and political crisis in Lebanon, Iran and Hizbollah are entangling the citizens of Lebanon in a front against Israel. Lebanon and its army must take responsibility for what is happening in their backyard… The State of Israel will not accept firing at its territory”.

Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz contended that “Iran seeks to pose a multi-front challenge to Israel, as such [it] is building up its forces in Lebanon and Gaza, deploying militias in Syria and Iraq and maintaining its supporters in Yemen. Iran is a global and regional problem and an Israeli challenge”. “We need to continue to develop our abilities to cope with multiple fronts, for this is the future”, he added, while noting: “We know that when the Islamic Jihad faction in Gaza launches attacks against Israel, they do so with the support and urging of the Islamic Republic”. Iran’s diplomatic spokesperson subsequently warned that “any stupid action against Iran will meet a decisive response”.

The Israeli military reported that “three rockets were… fired from Lebanon toward northern Israel. Two rockets landed in Israel”. In response, the IDF conducted artillery strikes against “targets along the Lebanese border”, and underscored that “the Lebanese government is responsible for all attacks from Lebanon”. Defence Minister Benny Gantz subsequently maintained that “our actions overnight were meant to send a clear message that we will not accept such attacks. I hope we are not forced into further action”. “Lebanon is in a state of chaos caused in a large extend by the Hizbollah terror group”, he added.

Syrian state media reported Israeli airstrikes near Aleppo. The Israeli army subsequently confirmed that “two rockets were fired from Lebanon toward northern Israel”, which was followed by Israeli artillery fire into Lebanon. Prime Minister Naftali Bennett warned that “we will not allow harm to Israel’s sovereignty and security. Whoever tries to harm us will pay a painful price”. He further contended that “Lebanon is on the verge of collapse, like any country in which Iran bases itself… Its citizens were taken hostage by Khamenei and Nasrallah for the sake of Iranian interests”. “This is unfortunate, but we will not accept a spillover of the situation in Lebanon into Israel”, he added.

The Israeli military announced that “during routine activities, an IDF drone fell in Lebanese territory due to a technical malfunction”.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken characterised Lebanese Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri’s decision to step down as a “disappointing development for the Lebanese people”. “The Lebanese economy is in free-fall, and the current government is not providing basic services in a reliable fashion”, Blinken asserted. “Leaders in Beirut must urgently put aside partisan differences and form a government that serves the Lebanese people”.

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett contended that “Lebanon is on the verge of — or even I’d say in the midst of — a collapse, like every country that Iran takes over and establishes itself within… We have a joint enemy with the citizens of Lebanon: Iran and Hizbollah”. Bennett also emphasised: “We will not allow any country or terrorist organisation to threaten the State of Israel, its security, its sovereignty or its people”.

The Israeli military announced that it had “thwarted the largest smuggling attempt in the last few years on the Lebanon-Israel border”, adding: “We are examining the possibility of Hizbollah’s involvement”.

Israel’s defence minister announced that “in light of the dire economic situation in Lebanon, and considering Hizbollah’s attempts to deepen Iranian investments in the country, I have contacted UNIFIL via the IDF’s liaison officials and discussed a proposal to transfer humanitarian aid to Lebanon”. “Israel has offered assistance to Lebanon in the past”, he noted, “and even today we are ready to act, and to encourage others countries to extend helping hand to Lebanon so that it will once again flourish and to emerge from its state of crisis”.

Hizbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah asserted that “if we have to go to Iran to get gasoline and fuel oil [to address the shortage], we will, even if it causes a problem”, adding: “Everything is ready....all we need is permission to move”. The U.S. ambassador to Lebanon subsequently contended that “if you get rid of the rampant corruption in the energy and electricity sectors, half of the problem will be solved immediately… what Iran is looking for is some kind of satellite state that they can exploit to pursue their agenda”. Iran’s embassy reacted by saying: “The arrival of Iranian oil tankers in Beirut does not require an understanding with the U.S. ambassador. She should not interfere in the fraternal and brotherly relations between the two countries”.

Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz asserted that “we wish for peace and calm, but we are willing to use our full capabilities should we be required on any front, including the Lebanese front. Attempts to sabotage the quiet on our borders have not gone unnoticed, and we are opening our eyes and acting routinely, and we are prepared for extensive activities even in an emergency”. President Rivlin, too, indicated that “we know the threat is still grave... We are aware of Hizbollah’s attempts to continue to grow stronger with Iranian support and arm itself with weapons whose only purpose is to harm the State of Israel’s Homefront”. He further reiterated that “Israel will not allow Iran to establish itself in Lebanon. The State of Israel will not allow Iran to send its satellite states here, to the Middle East”.

Hizbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah described Lebanon’s fuel crisis as “humiliating, adding that government can address this predicament by one courageous decision – importing fuel from Iran”. “If the Lebanese government fails to address the fuel crisis, Hizbollah will purchase fuel from Iran”, he indicated.

Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz cautioned that “if an attack comes from the north, Lebanon will tremble… the houses in which weapons and terrorist operatives are being hidden will become rubble. Our list of targets for Lebanon is bigger and more significant than the one for Gaza, and the bill is ready to be settled if necessary”. Gantz’s remarks came after Hizbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah had warned of “a regional war” in case of any assault on Jerusalem or any Muslim holy sites.

An official from Yemen’s internationally recognised government reported that a senior Hizbollah commander had been “killed in an air strike launched by coalition aircraft on sites controlled by the Huthi militia”, adding: “His killing reflects the level of the Iranian involvement in military escalation waged by the Huthi militia on various Marib fronts”.

U.S. and Lebanese officials convened an “inaugural Defence Resourcing Conference”. The two sides underscored “the strength of the U.S.-LAF [Lebanese Armed Forces] partnership and discussed ways to deepen security cooperation”, and the State Department “renewed its commitment to the LAF by announcing $120 million in Foreign Military Financing (FMF) assistance to Lebanon for fiscal year 2021, subject to Congressional notification procedures”.

The Israeli military reported that “four rockets were… fired from Lebanon at northern Israel, one of which was intercepted by the Iron Dome. In response, IDF artillery forces are striking a number of targets in Lebanon”. “We are prepared for any scenario on any front”, the IDF added.

The Israeli military indicated that “six rockets were… fired from Lebanon toward northern Israel, all of which fell inside Lebanon. In response, our artillery forces fired toward the sources of the launches”. An Israeli military spokesperson was cited as saying that “a small Palestinian faction… was responsible”. The following day, the IDF reported intercepting “a UAV [which had] approached the Israeli border near the Jordan Valley”.

The Israeli military reported that “IDF tanks fired warning shots toward a number of rioters who crossed from Lebanon into Israeli territory. The suspects sabotaged the fence and set a fire in the area before returning to Lebanese territory”. Media reports noted one Lebanese fatality who was identified as a Hizbollah member, and President Aoun “strongly condemned the crime committed by Israeli forces”. Later in the day, the IDF indicated that “three rockets were... fired from Syria toward Israel, one of which fell in Syria”. 

The Israeli military reported that “three rockets were fired from Lebanon into the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of northern Israel”.

The U.S. sanctioned “seven individuals in connection with Hizbollah and its financial firm, Al-Qard al-Hassan (AQAH). AQAH, which was designated by OFAC in 2007, is used by Hizbollah as a cover to manage the terrorist group’s financial activities and gain access to the international financial system”.

The Israeli military reported downing “a Hizbollah drone that crossed from Lebanon into Israel… In addition, we located another Hizbollah drone that we downed a few weeks ago”. “We will continue to operate in order to prevent any attempt to violate Israeli sovereignty”, the IDF asserted.

Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz affirmed that the IDF “is ideally prepared along the northern border and definitely on the Lebanese front”, adding: “We are aware of Hizbollah’s attempts to challenge us in new ways… We will deal with any threat. If Hizbollah challenges the IDF and the State of Israel, it will suffer very, very heavy consequences and I hope they don’t do that”.

A senior U.S. diplomat met with senior Lebanese officials and reaffirmed “America’s continued support for the Lebanese people”, while urging “all parties to demonstrate flexibility and form a government that is willing and capable of implementing overdue economic and governance reforms”. He also expressed U.S. “readiness to facilitate negotiations between Lebanon and Israel on the countries’ maritime boundaries”.

The U.S. Intelligence Community’s 2021 Annual Threat Assessment maintained that “Tehran remains a threat to Israel, both directly through its missile forces and indirectly through its support of Hizbollah and other terrorist groups”. The assessment also forecast “Hizbollah, in coordination with Iran and other Iran-aligned Shiite militants, to continue developing terrorist capabilities as a deterrent, as retaliatory options and as instruments of coercion against its adversaries”, adding: “Hizbollah’s focus on reducing U.S. influence in Lebanon and the Middle East has intensified following the [2020] killing of IRGC-QF Commander Qassem Soleimani”. “Hizbollah maintains the capability to target, both directly and indirectly, U.S. interests inside Lebanon, in the region, overseas, and—to a lesser extent—in the U.S.”, the report noted.

Israeli President Reuven Rivlin asserted that “a vision of partnership and peace will be achieved only through resolute opposition to the extremist Iranian position. We will not allow an Iranian establishment in Lebanon through Hizbollah and we ask all our friends… to continue to take responsibility for Hizbollah’s terrorist activities from the Lebanese government”. Too, Israel’s military chief of staff indicated that “Hizbollah currently holds thousands of missiles and rockets that are located in the heart of a civilian population and are deliberately intended to harm Israeli citizens”. “The IDF will do everything to prevent this”, he warned. “The IDF has thousands of targets in Lebanon that grow every week and has extensive capabilities to destroy them. We will not hesitate to attack with force on the day of fire, wherever we find weapons, an enemy or state infrastructure that aids the enemy”.

In advance of a UN Security Council discussion on resolution 1701, Israel’s UN envoy wrote to the Council warning that “Hizbollah’s continued military buildup and harmful activities have the potential to lead to serious consequences including a renewal of large scale hostilities between the parties”. “Hizbollah continues to operate a multitude of military installations and positions along the Blue Line. It routinely patrols the area, collects intelligence on IDF activities and carries out attacks against Israeli civilians and soldiers”, he added, contending: “This dangerous situation poses a threat not only to Israel and its citizens, but also to the people of Lebanon, which Hizbollah uses as human shields to protect its arsenal of over 130,000 rockets and military infrastructure”.

Hizbollah asserted that the Lebanese military had “opened fire at an Israeli drone” and that its own forces had also “targeted with the suitable weapons” another Israeli UAV in Lebanese airspace.

Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif indicated that “Iran is helping the Lebanese groups reach an agreement with each other, and also no one can impose an agreement on the Lebanese people”. He added that “after the [August 2020] explosion of the port of Beirut, Iran offered to provide assistance to Lebanon, but U.S. pressure prevented it”.

Hizbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah warned Israel that “if you attack our towns and civilians, we’ll attack yours. You are an army state, so there’s no distinction whatsoever between Israeli soldiers and civilians”. “We are not seeking a confrontation or war”, he added. “But should a confrontation take place, we will engage in it... even the game of ‘a few days of fighting’ will be a dangerous game for the Israelis and would lead them to undesirable consequences”. Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz subsequently remarked: “If we have to go to battle, Lebanon will tremble and Hizbollah will be fatally wounded”. “If there are days of fighting… they will be difficult for the Israeli home front, but it will be difficult and terrible first and foremost for our enemies”, he added. “This is especially true for Hizbollah and Hamas, which are building offensive capabilities from within civilian areas and committing war crimes”.

Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz asserted that “the IDF is operating and will keep operating on the border and beyond… we will not hesitate to uproot the Iranian entrenchment near our borders, and [Hizbollah leader Hassan] Nasrallah knows well that his decision to build bunkers of ammunition and rockets and to strengthen Hizbollah’s capabilities is putting him in danger and putting the lives of Lebanese citizens in danger”. He also warned: “If a confrontation occurs on the northern front, the State of Lebanon will be the one that pays the heaviest price because [the ammunition and rockets] are in civilian areas”. 

The Israeli military reported that “anti-aircraft missiles were… fired toward an IDF UAV during routine activity over Lebanon. The aircraft was not hit and we continued our mission as planned”.

Hizbollah reported downing an Israeli drone that had entered Lebanese airspace. The Israeli military confirmed that “during operational activities by IDF troops on the Lebanese border, an IDF drone fell in Lebanese territory”.

Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz remarked that “when I tell you I know there are homes in Lebanon that have guest rooms and missile rooms, it’s not just a slogan. It’s the reality on the ground. Eventually, we will have to attack missiles that are being stored within civilian populations. This is verified intelligence, and we saw the repercussions of such reckless practice by Hizbollah in the port of Beirut”.

Israel’s military chief of staff asserted that Hizbollah and Hamas had “conceal[ed] their weapons in civilian areas on purpose”, warning that “Israel will strike every house that holds weapons in the event of a general war ‘with a deluge of strikes’”. He added: “I have already warned you in Lebanon and Gaza: Once war starts, we will let you leave the places you are in, the place you are in with missiles - and you know this”.

The Israeli military reported downing “a drone that crossed from Lebanon into Israeli airspace”, while asserting: “We will continue to operate in order to prevent any attempt to violate Israeli sovereignty”.

An IRGC commander indicated that “what you see in missile power existing in Palestine’s Gaza and Lebanon is supported by the Islamic Republic of Iran… Palestine, Lebanon, Syria and other Islamic countries enjoy pinpointing missiles to confront the Zionist regime”. “Iran will support anyone and/or any country that confronts the Zionist regime [ie, Israel]”, he underscored.

The Israeli military reported sighting “a number of suspects approaching the security fence between Israel and Lebanon. One suspect crossed a few metres into Israeli territory before retreating”. “Our troops stopped the suspects and confirmed that there were no further infiltrations”, the IDF added.

Hizbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah was cited as saying that “his group now has twice as many precision-guided missiles as it had a year ago”, and “Israel’s efforts to prevent it from acquiring them have failed”. He further emphasised that “the last few weeks of the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump are critical and must be treated with care”, while pledging revenge over the January 2020 killing of Iranian IRGC Quds Force Commander Qassem Soleimani as well as the 20 July death of a Hizbollah fighter in a suspected Israeli strike in Syria.

An Israeli military spokesperson was cited as asserting that “Israel has no intention of stopping its efforts of preventing Iran from taking hold of areas in Syria and Lebanon”, adding that “the extended array of anti-aircraft systems deployed in Syria is no obstacle for the IDF”. He further noted that “Israel knows about the current efforts being undertaken by Hizbollah and will know how to neutralise any weapon or technology of the terrorist group – by military means or otherwise”.

The U.S. State Department issued a statement on U.S.-mediated maritime negotiations between Lebanon and Israel, indicating that “despite goodwill on both sides, the parties remain far apart. The U.S. remains ready to mediate constructive discussions and urges both sides to negotiate based on the respective maritime claims both have previously deposited at the United Nations”.

Commenting on the delivery of new corvettes for the Israeli navy, a senior Israeli military official was cited as saying that “the new fleet would bolster the navy’s capacity to defend increasingly lucrative offshore natural gas assets from rivals like Lebanon’s Shiite group Hizbollah”, which he assessed “are the main objective on the Hizbollah target list for the next war”.

Israel’s Foreign Minister, Gabi Ashkenazi, hailed Slovenia’s move “to recognise all branches of Hizbollah as a terrorist organisation”, and urged “the EU and other countries to recognise all branches of Hizbollah as a terrorist organisation”. The U.S. the same day welcomed a similar move by Latvia, adding: “The simple fact is that Hizbollah is a terrorist organisation, root and branch. The U.S. continues to call on all countries to take whatever action they can to prevent its operatives, recruiters and financiers from operating on their territories”.

The U.S. State Department published a factsheet entitled “Furthering Our Relationship with Israel”, noting, inter alia, that “the U.S. stands with Israel in countering Iran’s destabilising behaviour in the region” and underscoring the fact that “the U.S. supports Israel’s right to defend itself and is a partner to Israel in the face of Iran’s continued support for designated terrorist groups such as Hizbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza”. The document further recognised “Israel’s support for our decision to trigger the snapback of UNSC sanctions on Iran”, noting that “we continue to promote implementation of the snapped-back sanctions”.

Hizbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah warned that “with a person like Trump anything is possible during the remainder of his term... the axis of resistance should be in a state of high readiness to respond twice as hard in case of any American or Israeli folly”.

The Israeli military announced it had “downed a drone belonging to Hizbollah that crossed from Lebanon into Israel”, adding that “there was no danger to the nearby communities and our forces. We maintain elevated readiness and will not tolerate any violation of Israeli sovereignty”.

Secretary Pompeo announced that “the Department of State and the Department of the Treasury sanctioned nineteen individuals and entities under the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act of 2019 and other sanctions authorities”. “The Assad regime has a choice: take irreversible steps toward a peaceful resolution of this decade-long conflict or face further crippling sanctions”, Pompeo asserted.

The U.S. designated “Gibran Bassil, the leader of the Lebanese Free Patriotic Movement and a former Lebanese cabinet official… for his role in corruption”. The State Department said the designation “build[s] on the recent counterterrorism designations under Executive Order 13224 of former Lebanese officials… who put personal interests and those of Iran-backed Hizbollah ahead of the welfare of the Lebanese people”, adding that Bassil “undermined good governance and contributed to the prevailing system of corruption and political patronage that plagues Lebanon, which has aided and abetted Hizbollah’s destabilising activities”.

Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz warned EU diplomats that “there are too many homes in Lebanon that also serve as arms depots. The Lebanese state will need to be held accountable for the activity on its soil and you should communicate this through your governments to the Lebanese government”. He further noted that “new voices are emerging from within Lebanon and we have even begun to enter dialogue on maritime borders... we can both learn from that type of process that dialogue is possible and productive. And were the Lebanese government to cease to be under the influence of Iran and Hizbollah, we could take an entirely different course toward dialogue and cooperation”.

On the sideline of a military drill along Israel’s northern border, Prime Minister Netanyahu asserted that “even during the coronavirus, our enemies are not stagnant and neither are we… I have been impressed by the vast improvement in the IDF’s offensive capabilities. Hizbollah and the state of Lebanon should take this into account. Whoever attacks us will encounter firepower and a steel fist that will destroy any enemy”.

Former Prime Minister Saad Hariri was appointed to form a new Lebanese government.

The U.S. designated “two Hizbollah officials to maintain pressure on the group and impede its ability to operate in the financial system”. The following day, on the anniversary of the 1983 Beirut barracks bombings, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo underscored “our commitment to preventing Hizbollah and its sponsor Iran from spilling more innocent blood in Lebanon or anywhere in the world. The U.S. will continue to target, disrupt and dismantle Hizbollah’s financing and operational networks, and will continue to take all actions available to starve this terrorist entity of funds and support”. He further urged “all nations to designate Hizbollah as a terrorist organisation in its entirety”.

The U.S. ambassador to the UN told the Security Council that “Iran continues to arm Hizbollah in blatant violation of Resolutions 1701 and 1559, most notably the arms embargo that this Council reaffirmed less than two months ago. Month after month, some here today turn a blind eye as Iran channels sophisticated weapons and money into Lebanon, ensuring there can never be peace”. She went on to argue that “this Council must do more to address both the incomplete implementation of Resolutions 1559 and 1701, and Hizbollah’s illicit activities”.

The U.S. and the UN issued a joint statement announcing that “representatives from the governments of Israel, Lebanon and the U.S. met... to launch discussions aimed at reaching consensus on a common Israel-Lebanon maritime boundary”. “During this initial meeting, the representatives held productive talks and reaffirmed their commitment to continue negotiations”, the statement added.

Israel and Lebanon agreed on the framework of U.S.-mediated, UN-hosted talks over their maritime border. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo hailed the announcement and said that it would be “a vital step forward that serves the interests of Lebanon and Israel, of the region and of the U.S.”. “Recognising the positive experience of the Tripartite mechanism, the U.S. also looks forward to separate expert-level talks to define unresolved issues related to the Blue Line, which offer the promise of another positive step for regional stability”, Pompeo added.

Addressing the UN General Assembly, Prime Minister Netanyahu discussed explosions at the port of Beirut and a Hizbollah arms depot, arguing that “the next explosion could take place… [in] the Beirut neighborhood of Janah” where “Hizbollah is keeping a secret arms depot”. He further addressed the people of Lebanon and said: “Israel means you no harm. But Iran does. Iran and Hizbollah have deliberately put you and your families in grave danger. And what you should make clear is that what they have done is unacceptable. You should tell them, tear these depots down… The international community must insist that Hizbollah stop using Lebanon and Lebanese civilians as human shields”. Hizbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah rejected the allegations and said: “we don’t store missiles at the port or near gas facilities. We know where to store missiles”.

Lebanese Prime Minister-Designate Mustafa Adib announced his resignation almost a month after his appointment.

The U.S. designated “two Lebanon-based companies... for being owned, controlled or directed by Hizbollah”. According to the Treasury Department, “Hizbollah leverages Arch [Consulting] and Meamar [Construction] to conceal money transfers to Hizbollah’s own accounts, further enriching Hizbollah’s leadership and supporters and depriving the Lebanese people of much-needed funds”. An individual described as “a senior Hizbollah Executive Council Official” and linked to the two companies was also sanctioned.

The Shin Bet, Israel’s internal security service, confirmed arresting an individual trying to enlist “Israeli and Palestinian civilians and residents to carry out terrorist activities in Israel”. A senior Israeli security official elaborated that the “investigation… is the product of a lengthy intelligence operation to locate those suspected of being recruited by Hizbollah. It is another step in the counterterrorism efforts carried out in the past year against [Iran’s IRGC] Quds Force and Hizbollah attempts to recruit Israeli Arabs”.

A senior U.S. official claimed that “since 2012, Hizbollah has established caches of ammonium nitrate throughout Europe by transporting first aid kits whose cold packs contain the substance… Such caches have been moved through Belgium to France, Greece, Italy, Spain and Switzerland”. “We have reason to believe that this activity is still underway”, he added, urging “more countries to designate Hizbollah in its entirety, and for the European Union to expand its 2013 designation of the so-called military wing to reach the entire organisation”. Hizbollah “is a terrorist organisation that exists to shed blood around the world, act at the behest of its masters in Tehran”, the official argued, adding that “we think there is an obvious practical effect to our sanctions”, as well as “a very strong messaging value”. A French diplomatic spokesperson subsequently indicated that “to our knowledge, there is nothing tangible to confirm such an allegation in France today”.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo asserted with respect to Lebanon that “to see what Hizbollah, under the direct control of the Islamic Republic of Iran, has done to that country saddens me greatly. And the U.S. is determined to prevent Iran from continuing to undermine sovereignty of the people of Lebanon, the sovereignty of the people of Iraq, the sovereignty, frankly, of the people of Syria who have been decimated by Iranian support for the Assad regime”. 

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo welcomed Serbia’s decision to “designate Hizbollah as a terrorist organisation in its entirety” and called it a “significant step limiting this Iranian backed terrorist group’s ability to operate in Europe… there is no doubt that the dominoes are falling on Hizbollah’s European operations, where it has continue to plot terrorist attacks, procure military technology and raise much needed funding”. Pompeo further urged “the European Union and European nations to designate or ban Hizbollah in its entirety, and recognise the reality that it is a terrorist organisation root and branch with no distinction between its so-called ‘military’ and ‘political’ wings”.

The Lebanese army reported that it had downed an Israeli drone that had entered Lebanese airspace. The Israeli military stated that an IDF drone fell in Lebanese territory during “operational activity”, noting that “there is no risk of breach of information”.

The U.S. designated two former Lebanese ministers for having delivered “material support to Hizbollah and engaged in corruption”. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin contended that “corruption has run rampant in Lebanon, and Hizbollah has exploited the political system to spread its malign influence”. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo argued that “Lebanese politicians who have provided a false veneer of political legitimacy to Hizbollah or abused their positions to direct public funds to the terrorist group are as responsible for its entrenched influence as Hizbollah’s own members or the corrupt businessmen and money launderers that have helped fund the group for decades”. “Anyone helping to advance Hizbollah’s political or economic interests is further eroding what remains of effective governance and facilitating financing for terrorism”, he added. Hizbollah reacted with a statement declaring that “it is a badge of honor for the two dear friends and all who are accused by the U.S. administration of being resistant… all what is issued by the U.S. administration is denounced and rejected”.

Mustafa Adib was appointed Lebanon’s prime minister.

Addressing Israel, Hizbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah asserted: “If you kill one of our fighters, we will kill one of your soldiers. We don’t care to retaliate by hitting machines or locations or causing material damage”.

The Israeli army reported that “during operational activity in northern Israel last night, shots were fired from Lebanon toward IDF troops. We responded with fire, and our aircraft struck Hizbollah observation posts near the border”. Defence Minister Benny Gantz asserted that “we will not allow [Hizbollah leader Hassan] Nasrallah to harm our soldiers or our country. We will respond forcefully to any incidents on our border”. Prime Minister Netanyahu said “Israel views the gunfire against our troops by Hizbollah with great severity”, and urged “Hizbollah not to test the strike force of Israel. Hizbollah is again putting Lebanon at risk because of its aggressiveness”.

Hizbollah reported that it had intercepted an Israeli UAV in southern Lebanon. The Israeli military stated that “an IDF drone fell in Lebanese territory. There is no fear of classified information leaking”.

A senior U.S. diplomat indicated that “we will not be providing that kind of long-term assistance [to Lebanon] until we see a government that’s actually capable of reform and change… We have been able to deal with governments in the past with a Hizbollah component, but the question is whether it is going to be a government that’s truly capable of reforms. Reforms are contrary to the interests of all of the status quo leaders and that very much includes Hizbollah, which is today perceived as a big part of the problem”. 

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo hailed “the guilty verdict handed down by the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) against Hizbollah operative Salim Ayyash for his role in the February 14, 2005 assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri”. He further reiterated that “Hizbollah and its members are not defenders of Lebanon as they claim to be but constitute a terrorist organisation dedicated to advancing Iran’s malign sectarian agenda… Hizbollah’s terrorist and illicit activities in Lebanon and throughout the world demonstrate that it is more concerned with its own interests and those of its patron, Iran, than what is best for Lebanon and the Lebanese people”. On a similar note, Israel’s Foreign Ministry argued that “Hizbollah has taken the Lebanese people’s future hostage on behalf of foreign interests. The world must unite against this terror organization… Hizbollah’s armament, precision guided missile project and belligerent actions across the region threaten the entire Middle East”.​

Referring to the 20 July death of a Hizbollah fighter in a suspected Israeli strike in Syria, Hizbollah Leader Hassan Nasrallah asserted that “Hizbollah will respond, but the response will be studied and measured, only [a] serious, calculated action would be taken, not media stunts”.

Speaking with his French counterpart, President Rouhani asserted that “Lebanon needs more unity among political groups and we must all help to create this unity. Lebanon today needs a strong government, and the Lebanese parliament and all parties must work together in this regard”. According to an Iranian readout, Rouhani “also welcomed the French president’s invitation from Iran to join the international action group to help resolve Lebanon’s problems”.

Lebanese Prime Minister Hassan Diab announced his cabinet’s resignation in the wake of a major 4 August explosion in Beirut’s port. “A political class is using all their dirty tricks to prevent real change”, Diab remarked. “Today we will take a step back in order to stand with the people”.

Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz contended that “while [Hizbollah leader Hassan] Nasrallah is our biggest enemy to the north, he is the biggest problem for Lebanon… We are fighting enemies that keep weapons and operate in civilian surroundings. If we don’t have a choice but to fight, it will have dire consequences”. He also remarked that “Iran is interested in opening a terror franchise in Syria, and we must prevent the opening of this franchise as much as possible. We are operating in Syria and in other places around the region all the time and with all kinds of methods, and we will continue to do so”. The following day, Prime Minister Netanyahu told the French president that “in order to prevent disasters like the one that occurred at Beirut port, the explosives and missiles that Hizbollah has hidden must be removed from all concentrations of civilian population in Lebanon”. “Hizbollah is sorely mistaken if thinks it can solve the crisis in Lebanon by creating a crisis with Israel”, he added.

Media reports citing Bahrain’s Interior Ministry indicated that the country had “foiled two attempts to smuggle explosives from Iran after seizing two cars loaded with explosive materials”, adding that “those arrested confessed to Lebanon’s Hizbollah group being behind the operation”.

The Israeli military announced that it had “identified, monitored and downed a drone which infiltrated into northern Israel along the Blue Line”.

The Israeli army announced that it had “thwarted an attempt by four terrorists to place explosives near the security fence between Israel and Syria. Our troops and aircraft fired toward the squad and a hit was identified”. Israel’s top military official on 7 August argued that the “squad was sent by Iran, which was part of the process of establishing a radical axis in Syria”. The IDF confirmed that it had responded to the incident by targeting Syrian “observation posts, intelligence collection systems, anti-aircraft artillery and command and control systems”. Syrian state media reported “material losses” from the attack. Prime Minister Netanyahu later maintained that “we hit a cell and now we hit the dispatchers. We will do what is necessary in order to defend ourselves. I suggest to all of them, including Hizbollah, to consider this”.

The White House extended by one year the national emergency with respect to Lebanon, stating that “certain ongoing activities, such as Iran’s continuing arms transfers to Hizbollah – which include increasingly sophisticated weapons systems – serve to undermine Lebanese sovereignty, contribute to political and economic instability in the region, and continue to constitute an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the U.S.”

At a session of the Supreme Defence Council, Lebanese President Michel Aoun denounced “the Israeli aggressions on south Lebanon yesterday… and considered what happened as a threat on stability in southern Lebanon”.  Meanwhile, the IDF deployed further military and intelligence support to Israel’s northern border. The same day, Prime Minister Netanyahu met with top military officials at IDF Northern Command headquarters, assessing that “everything happening now is the result of the effort by Iran and its Lebanese proxies to entrench militarily in our region. [Hizbollah leader Hassan] Nasrallah is serving this Iranian interest at Lebanon’s expense”. “We will continue to take action to thwart Iran’s military entrenchment in our region”, he added. Relatedly, Defence Minister Benny Gantz remarked that “I suggest that the countries of the region – near and far, Iran, Lebanon, Syria and anyone involved in terrorism – remember that the State of Israel has infinite capacity and we know how to use it”.

The Israeli army announced that it had “thwarted an infiltration attempt by a Hizbollah terror squad in northern Israel”. Addressing the Knesset, Prime Minister Netanyahu affirmed that Israel would “not allow Iran to entrench militarily on our border with Syria”, underscored that “Lebanon and Hizbollah will bear responsibility for any attack against us emanating from Lebanese territory” and indicated that “We are active in all arenas for the security of Israel – both close to our borders and far from them”. Hizbollah subsequently issued a statement maintaining it “did not engage in any clash, nor did it open fire during today’s incident… The scared and tense enemy unilaterally opened fire”. It further pledged an “inevitable” response to the 20 July death of a Hizbollah fighter in Syria and insisted that “today’s Israeli bombardment… will not remain unanswered”. Later in the day, Netanyahu asserted: “[Hizbollah leader Hassan] Nasrallah is embroiling Lebanon because of Iran… we view the attempt to infiltrate our territory with great severity”. “Hizbollah needs to understand that it is playing with fire. Any attack against us will be met with great strength”, he added.

The Israeli army reported that “during an Israel Defense Forces operation on the Lebanese border, an IDF drone fell in Lebanese territory”.

Prime Minister Netanyahu told his cabinet that “we are acting according to our consistent policy of not allowing Iran to entrench militarily on our northern border. Lebanon and Syria bear the responsibility for any attack against Israel emanating from their territories”. The same day, Defence Minister Benny Gantz visited the northern border and listed “removing Iranian entrenchment in Syria, blocking the transfer of advanced [weapons] and preventing the development of precision [guided missiles] anywhere in the region – in Syria or in Lebanon” as Israel’s security interests. “We don’t want any unnecessary escalations, but anyone who tests us will be met by a very high capability to take action, and I hope we won’t need to use it”, he added, while further anticipating that “there can be [security] events on the border. We are prepared for all possibilities”.

The Israeli army confirmed that “explosions were heard adjacent to the security fence from the Syrian side of Israel’s northern border. Damage to a civilian building and an Israeli vehicle was likely caused by fragments”. It subsequently also raised “readiness to defend Israel’s northern border from all enemy threats with changes to troop deployment and enhanced field intelligence activity in the area”, asserting: “we hold the Lebanese government responsible for all actions emanating from Lebanon”. Later on, the IDF announced that “earlier today, munitions were fired from Syria toward Israel. In response, our aircraft struck military targets in southern Syria belonging to the Syrian Armed Forces”, describing these as “SAF observation posts and intelligence collection systems located in SAF bases”; Syria media reported two casualties. “We hold the Syrian regime responsible and will respond to any violation of Israeli sovereignty”, the IDF warned.

Media reports indicated that a suspected Israeli strike “hit weapons depots and military positions belonging to Syrian regime forces and Iran-backed militia fighters south of Damascus”. Syrian state media reported injuries to “at least seven Syrian troops”, while Hizbollah confirmed one fatality from its ranks. On 23 July, the Israeli army announced that “in accordance with a recently-concluded situational assessment, we have decided to reinforce the Northern Command with select infantry forces”. Responding to suggestions that Israel may have sent a message to Hizbollah after the incident, Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz said: “we acted against the entrenchment of Iran in Syria. If someone involved in Iran’s activities in Syria – which we will continue to act against – this is liable to happen. We take that into account”.

The Israeli military announced that “IDF soldiers spotted and monitored a drone infiltrating Israeli airspace from Lebanon… We will continue to operate to stop any attempt to violate Israeli sovereignty”.  

Iran’s ambassador to Lebanon reportedly indicated that “Iran will support Lebanon in all the domains [electricity, medical drugs, agriculture, industry…] upon its request… [and] is ready to accept the Lebanese Pound in the trade exchanges with Beirut”. He added that he had been “meeting with the Lebanese officials to coordinate the economic cooperation”.

CENTCOM Commander Kenneth McKenzie visited Lebanon and met with senior Lebanese officials including President Aoun. During the visit, McKenzie emphasised that “we will continue to support the Lebanese armed forces as a sole armed representative of the government of the Lebanon”. He further described military cooperation between the two countries as “deep”, which would “transcend any perturbation of political things that might otherwise disturb it”.

Hizbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah discussed “Iran’s readiness to sell Lebanon oil with the Lebanese pound” and stated: “I prefer that official talks between Lebanon and Iran take place away from media, and I can guarantee such offer… heading east is one of choices to confront starvation. This choice sends a message to the U.S. that whoever wants to besiege Lebanon will fail in this policy”. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo subsequently underscored that Iranian oil “would be sanctioned product for sure, and we’ll do everything we can to make sure that Iran cannot continue to sell crude oil anywhere, including to Hizbollah… Hizbollah is a terrorist organisation and we are supportive of Lebanon as long as they get the reforms right and they are not a proxy state for Iran”. Lebanon’s energy minister on 9 July indicated that “there is no plan to negotiate with Iran at present about importing fuel and the current discussion is with Iraq”.

Israel’s ambassador to the UN called on the Security Council “to act swiftly and with great resolve to respond to the Iranian regime’s violations, by using all means necessary to extend the arms embargo on Iran beyond the current October deadline”. He argued that Iran’s “illicit arms to its proxies… freely transported throughout the Middle East and used by armed militias and terrorist groups, poses a strategic threat not only to Israel, but to the entire region”. “Through its Quds Force, Iran does not stop at the mere illicit transfer of arms to Hizbollah, but also contributes to the development of Hizbollah’s self-production capabilities”, he added. “This project, taking place on Lebanese soil, exploits the local population by using local civilians as human shield to conceal its illicit activities, thereby not only contravening multiple Security Council resolutions, but also violating international law”.

Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz argued that “Hizbollah has been building an Iranian-backed weapons arsenal and manufacturing precision-guided missiles that could reach any part of Israel. Lebanon will be held accountable should any of these missiles find a way to us”. “I expect it to practice a state of responsibility, especially as it seeks international funding”, he added. “Israel will not accept any excuses, and neither should anyone else”.

The U.S. Special Representative for Iran, Brian Hook argued that “economic pressure and diplomatic isolation works. It is the only language that this regime understands. We have seen this across the Middle East… Iran is operating in a much less permissive environment than when we took office”. Citing protests in Lebanon and Iraq, Hook contended that “the Iranian model is being rejected… Iran is a failed model”.

The U.S. ambassador to Lebanon posited that “by its actions and threats, Hizbollah destabilises the country and jeopardises the country’s economic recovery”, adding that while Hizbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah “accuses us of starving Lebanon”, this was “classic deflection blaming everything on the U.S. when we are [Lebanon’s] largest donor… [Hizbollah] siphoned off billions of dollars that should have gone into government coffers”. The ambassador further maintained that “we continue to have very serious reservations” regarding Prime Minister Diab’s independence from Hizbollah, “and we also have not yet seen what we would have hoped for from this government, in the way of concrete steps to implement reforms”. Lebanon’s Foreign Ministry subsequently summoned the ambassador, and a court issued an order “prohibit[ing] any Lebanese or foreign media outlet operating on Lebanese soil… from conducting any interview with the American Ambassador for a period of one year”.

Prime Minister Netanyahu opined that “three main challenges are before us, and we are taking action without respite against them: First, we are taking constant action against the efforts of Iran and its proxies to entrench militarily in Syria. The Iranian military must leave Syria. Second, we are taking action against the efforts of our enemies to develop precision missiles in Syria, Lebanon and other areas. Third, and most importantly, we will not allow Iran to attain nuclear weapons”. “Iran is continuing to lie to the international community in its effort to achieve a bomb”, Netanyahu argued. “I have been claiming this for years and today the International Atomic Energy Agency, the IAEA, understands this”. He further affirmed that “we regard with utmost seriousness the threats of destruction against Israel by Iranian and pro-Iranian elements… Whoever tries to attack us places himself in very great danger”.

Israel’s top military official assessed that “Iran has become the most dangerous country in the Middle East… It has made considerable progress in its nuclear program, but the nuclear [threat] is no longer the only threat”. “Iran also holds conventional weapons”, he added. “It is supporting and financing our enemies in the first circle and chiefly Hizbollah, it influences and supports Hamas and the Islamic Jihad and it is behind attempts at terror actions against Israel in a variety of dimensions and arenas, near and far”.

Hizbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah asserted that “the U.S. is using Lebanon and its economy to achieve their interests, among which are Israel’s security and the land and maritime borders”. He further affirmed that “whoever puts us between the option of withdrawing our weapons or killing us with hunger, we tell them: our weapons will remain in our hands and we will not starve, we will kill you”. Nasrallah also maintained that the “U.S.’s resort to Caesar’s Act is evidence of Syria’s victory in the military and field war, it is its last weapon… whoever calls to close [Lebanon’s] borders with Syria will later call us to open the borders with Israel”.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi, meeting with his German counterpart, assessed that “the greatest threat to regional stability is Iran. Their nuclear program and regional ambitions remain a great concern. We will not allow Iran to have nuclear weapons and we will not allow Iranian entrenchment on our borders”. Ashkenazi went on to contend that “Iran’s backing of Hizbollah’s precision-guided missiles project should bring increasing international pressure. The aim of this project is to give Hizbollah a strategic offensive capability that would directly threaten Israel and Israeli civilians. We won't tolerate it”.

CENTCOM commander Kenneth McKenzie indicated that “we worry about their [ie, Hizbollah’s] relationship to Iran, although I do not think that the Lebanese Hizbollah necessarily answers immediately when Iran calls. I do think they have a strong and powerful relationship”.  He further maintained that “the counterbalance for us is the LAF, the Lebanese Armed Forces. Not a perfect relationship and not a perfect organisation by any means, but one that we should view, aspirationally, is ultimately the expression of state security in Lebanon”. “I know that people occasionally get frustrated with the LAF and we talk about cutting on and off funding”, he added, “[but] I support continued funding to the LAF because… it's the best that we can do under very difficult circumstances”.

Israeli President Rivlin opined that “Hizbollah continues to entrench in Lebanon, gathering and arming itself with weapons to hurt Israel. We are determined to destroy these nests of terrorism, their operators and messengers”. “As long as Hizbollah is part of Lebanon, the Lebanese government is held responsible”, said Rivlin. “We will take every step to prevent war, but we will not hesitate to strike at our enemies”.

Hizbollah Leader Hassan Nasrallah argued that “Israel is aware that any attack on Lebanon will not pass without a response”, adding that “the latest Israeli attack on a car that had members of Hizbollah in it in the Syrian territories without causing casualties was not an Israeli error… Israel intended not to hurt the men in that car because it was aware that the equation today is that there would be a response on any assassination”. He further noted that “America wants to humiliate Lebanon and impose its conditions on it”… the solution for the economic crisis is to abandon U.S. satisfaction and head east [ie, China]”. Nasrallah also “ruled out [the possibility of] any war between the U.S. and Iran or between Israel and Lebanon unless the U.S. or Israel decide to make a stupid act”.

Prime Minister Netanyahu told the cabinet that “the security challenges have not stopped for a moment, neither have the threats. You certainly heard the ruler of Iran, Khamenei, threatening our destruction. Whoever threatens us with destruction will certainly not succeed, but places himself in great danger”. “Our policy is to oppose Iranian aggression in every place and to oppose Iran’s attempts to entrench in Syria”, Netanyahu added. “We are active constantly and… oppose Iran’s attempt to place or develop in Syria weapons to serve its proxies and forces that could endanger the State of Israel”. In related remarks, Defence Minister Benny Gantz indicated that “we are still keeping a close watch on the military fronts in Lebanon and Syria. The security problems that could happen in the north have not passed… We have to stretch our hand out to peace on every front – and have the military strength that can ensure we will reach peace and preserve it”.

Hizbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah assessed that “we are so close to liberate al-Quds [ie, Jerusalem] thanks to faith, steadfastness, patience and sincerity of Axis of Resistance’s powers…We, Hizbollah, pledge to stand by the oppressed people of Palestine”. In related remarks two days later, Nasrallah acknowledged that “liberation cannot be achieved in one, two or three years. It could take generations”. He also contended that “any talk of an Israeli-U.S. direct war is far away, their priority is to compose sanctions… we are heading towards a new international and regional situation where new threats might appear”.  

Hizbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah contended that the “Israeli defence minister… is talking about fake victories in Syria. The Israelis lose the war in Syria, and they have been targeting all what is related to missiles manufacturing in Syria, because they believe that missiles pose a high risk to Israel”. Nasrallah also argued that Israel had “set a fake goal for Syria” in seeking an Iranian withdrawal, on the grounds that “there have been no Iranian troops in Syria but rather there have been military advisers who train forces and coordinate Tehran’s support to Damascus”.

The U.S. convened the UN “Security Council to meet under its 2231 Format to discuss Iran’s April 22 satellite launch”, which it called “yet another example of Iran’s relentless defiance of UN Security Council Resolution 2231”. According to the U.S. mission, its representatives “highlighted Iran’s ongoing violation of the UN arms embargo in Resolution 2231, reminding Council members that Iran continues to funnel weapons to proxy forces and terrorist groups in places like Yemen, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Bahrain”. The U.S. also argued that “Iran’s continued violations of the Security Council’s arms embargo demands greater pressure from the Security Council, not less, and the U.S. will work tirelessly with a coalition of concerned nations to ensure the embargo is extended”.

A senior U.S. diplomat indicated that “Iran has been persistent in its efforts to establish this beachhead basically on Israel’s border and to bring in advanced weaponry and assets targeting Israel and moving equipment… through Syria to Hizbollah with this sort of land bridge. We see repeatedly, oftentimes with no claims of responsibility, that these assets are being hit with great regularity, just pounded, and it would make sense at a certain point that Iran would want to cut its losses and downsize its presence there just because it’s increasingly costly to them in terms of life and property”. The official added that the Iranians “would be well advised to start using some of this investment in this military infrastructure in Syria and with Hizbollah to start spending some of that money on their own people who are suffering terribly from COVID”.

A senior U.S. diplomat indicated that “Hizbollah is an enormous factor in this [Lebanese] government and it is a Hizbollah-backed government… We are not giving money to the Lebanese Ministry of Health because it is run by Hizbollah”. He further indicated the U.S. was “delivering humanitarian and food aid to suffering Lebanese and refugees” amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

Asked about reported Israeli strikes in Syria, the U.S. Special Representative for Syria, James Jeffrey, noted that “the U.S. supports Israel’s efforts to secure its self-defence. Israel is facing an existential threat from Iran, as they have said a thousand times that their mission is to destroy Israel. The Iranians are in Syria in large numbers, passing on long-range weapon systems to Hizbollah that threaten Israel”. “We give the support that is needed for effective Israeli actions to protect itself, and in protecting itself it is protecting all neighbors of Assad: Jordan, Turkey, Iraq and Lebanon”, he added. Jeffry also maintained that “our policy is that all Iranian-commanded forces have to leave Syria, along with frankly all other military forces that entered after 2011. This includes the U.S., if all of the reports are correct about the Israeli Air Force that would include the Israelis, and it would include the Turks… The Russians entered before 2011, therefore they are exempt”.

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu hailed Germany’s announcement that it had “banned all activities by the Shiite terrorist organisation Hizbollah”, and asserted that “all peace-loving countries need to condemn the terrorist organisations and not give them any direct or indirect assistance”. Foreign Minister Israel Katz called the German move “a valuable and significant step in the global fight against terrorism”, and urged “additional European countries and the European Union to adopt this necessary policy”. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo also praised the announcement and argued that “obstructing this terrorist organisation’s ability to plot terrorist attacks and to raise money will further reduce Iran’s malign behaviour and influence”. Describing Hizbollah as “a terrorist organisation dedicated to advancing Iran’s malicious agenda”, Pompeo “urge[d] other EU member states to follow suit and hold Hizbollah accountable for its terrorist activities”. Iran’s diplomatic spokesperson emphasised that “the German government’s decision has been made with complete disrespect for the Lebanese government and nation, as Hizbollah is an official and legitimate part of that country’s government and parliament”. He further argued that Berlin “must be held accountable for the negative consequences of its decision for the fight against the true terrorist groups in the region”, referring to ISIS.

An Israeli military spokesperson reported that “we found three locations where our security fence along the Blue Line was damaged tonight. After searches, [there was] no risk of penetration into Israel”. He further asserted that “we hold the Lebanese government responsible for actions from its territory”.

Citing a Hizbollah official, media reports indicated that “two missiles from an Israeli drone targeted a four-wheel-drive vehicle carrying two members of Lebanon’s Hizbollah… near the Syria-Lebanon border, but neither person was hurt”.

The United Nations Interim Force In Lebanon (UNIFIL) reported a “short standoff” between Israeli and Lebanese forces. A UNIFIL spokesperson noted that “our troops were in the middle with the aim of preventing misunderstandings and decreasing tension… Shortly after the situation went back to normal”. The spokesperson also indicated that “no breach of the Blue Line occurred”.

A senior Hizbollah official asserted that “Hizbollah is now ready to confront any Israeli war on Lebanon whenever it erupts”. He further argued that “the U.S. administration enhances the [COVID-19] pandemic outbreak by insisting on its sanctions against certain countries and pirating the medical stuffs while being sent to EU states”.

The U.S. announced “a reward of up to $10 million for information on the activities, networks, and associates of Muhammad Kawtharani”, whom it described as “a senior leader of Hizbollah’s forces in Iraq”. According to the State Department, Kawtharani had “taken over some of the political coordination of Iran-aligned paramilitary groups formerly organised by Qassem Soleimani after Soleimani’s death”.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo argued that “Hizbollah has fewer dollars today to engage in nefarious activity than they did when President Trump took office, and they will continue to have fewer dollars tomorrow until they fundamentally get the Iranian regime to change its model”. He further asserted that Iran used its resources “to take weaponry into Iraq, to underwrite Hizbollah and Lebanon and threaten Israel, all of the things that the Iranians have engaged in for so long, even in this [COVID-19] crisis the Iranian regime hasn’t ceased doing, that’s most unfortunate”. Pompeo added: “we hope that the people of Iran one day will get a regime with a change in outlook, a change which says, ‘no, we want to respect what the Iranian people truly want’”.

The U.S. State Department announced that “American citizen Amer Fakhoury, who has been in detention in Lebanon since September [2019], is returning to the U.S. where he will be reunited with his family and receive urgent medical treatment”. A senior U.S. diplomat subsequently emphasised that “Mr. Fakhoury was released by competent judicial authorities… We did not promise money, we did not promise to release prisoners, we did not promise not to designate any Lebanese officials, and we absolutely don’t talk to Hizbollah”. Hizbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah contended that “the U.S. ha[d] been for six months exerting all forms of pressures and threats against Lebanon in order to release Fakhoury”.

The U.S. Treasury Department announced it had “designated as Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGTs) three Lebanon-based officials and twelve Lebanon-based entities linked to the Martyrs Foundation, part of Hizbollah's support network”. Secretary Mnuchin asserted that “Hizbollah profits from the sale of goods vital to the Lebanese peoples' health and economy, such as pharmaceuticals and gasoline... the Trump administration stands with the Lebanese people, and we are committed to exposing and holding accountable Hizbollah's terror-funding business schemes”. 

Hizbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah assessed that “confrontation between the U.S. and the forces which reject to surrender to its will is inevitable” and stated that “all the regional peoples must be prepared for the key confrontation”. “The Israeli enemy”, he added, “has a major weakness which is the human losses; similarly, the Americans have their economic and financial situation as a point of fragility. Hizbollah hit the Israeli enemy at its weakness, so, likewise, we can concentrate on the U.S. economic interests”. Nasrallah further urged Iraqis “to respond to the U.S. crime of assassinating the two martyrs Hajj al-Muhandis and General Soleimani, preserve the Popular Mobilisation [Hashd al-Shaabi] in spite of the U.S. scheme to eradicate it, expel the U.S. forces of Iraq and strengthen the Iraqi role in the region”.

The Lebanese military announced that it had fired at an Israeli drone that entered Lebanon’s airspace, prompting the craft to withdraw.

Israeli Defence Minister Naftali Bennett assessed that “for years on end, we have fought against the Iranian tentacles in Lebanon, Syria and the Gaza Strip, but we have not focused enough on weakening Iran itself. Now we are changing the paradigm, we are now engaged in a continued effort to weaken the Iranian octopus through economic, diplomatic and intelligence measures, as well as with military means and various other approaches”. Bennett further addressed Iran and stated: “you have no business being in Syria, and so long as you continue to build terrorist bases there, we will continue to hurt you even further”.

Referring to Iran’s failed attempt to launch a satellite earlier in the day, Prime Minister Netanyahu