Netanyahu never would have considered extending Israel’s protection to the Syrian Druze. That he is doing so now underscores how much has changed.

Hassan Nasrallah was killed in an Israeli air strike in September 2024, and Israel continued attacks on Lebanon in the hours ahead of his funeral despite a ceasefire deal in place.

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam vowed that his administration would make every effort to force the Israeli military to retreat from southern Lebanon.

Israel has carried out multiple strikes in Lebanon since the ceasefire deal went into effect. Read more at straitstimes.com.

Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem warned Israel on Sunday that if it does not withdraw its forces from Lebanon by Feb. 18, “we will know how to deal with it. “Israel must fully withdraw on February 18, it has no excuse,” the Hezbollah chief said in a televised address cited by France 24.

Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei vowed "resistance" against Israel as Tehran-backed Hezbollah held a funeral Sunday in Beirut for its leader Hassan Nasrallah, killed in an Israeli strike last year.

The Israeli military said it would remain in what it called “five strategic points” in southern Lebanon. Lebanese officials have called for Israel’s full withdrawal.

The announcement raised the specter of renewed fighting in southern Lebanon between Israel and Hezbollah, the Lebanese militia.