23 stories for 2026-03-23
Israeli forces struck a main bridge over the Litani River in southern Lebanon and issued orders for the destruction of homes near the border. Israel is expanding ground and air operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon, raising concerns about a potential large-scale ground invasion.
Hezbollah targeted Israeli soldiers at positions in southern Lebanon and attacked convoys of occupation forces in Maroun al-Ras and al-Zaatara in the occupied Golan Heights. The group also shelled the Kiryat Shmona settlement.
Lebanese-American communications are underway to achieve a ceasefire in an open-ended conflict with an uncertain endpoint. Israeli ground operations are intensifying in Lebanon, with violent clashes continuing in the south. The Lebanese Prime Minister has stated he will not yield to what he characterizes as blackmail, though he is not calling for direct confrontation.
The Israeli military announced it killed a commander of the special forces unit "Radwan Force," an elite unit affiliated with Hezbollah, along with other members of the group in southern Lebanon.
Most residents of Christian villages in southern Lebanon remain in their homes under American and papal guarantees, conditional on Hezbollah elements not relocating there.
Municipal authorities in Lebanon have requested measures to protect displaced persons and local residents. The reports indicate concerns about housing and shelter availability for displaced populations in areas including Sidon.
Israel has stated aims to erase border villages, with references to operations in Rafah and Beit Hanoun, and has cut off Sour from the rest of Lebanon.
Updated casualty figures from Lebanon indicate 1,029 deaths and 2,786 wounded, according to Megaphone News reporting.
The Palestinian Red Crescent reported that two men were shot by Israeli occupation forces in Tulkarm in the northern West Bank. One man, aged 53, was shot in the neck and chest; the other, aged 54, was shot in the foot. Both received live ammunition injuries from Israeli forces.
Iranian missile and drone attacks targeted multiple locations across central Israel, resulting in scores of injuries. Gulf air defenses responded to intercept further attacks. Israeli officials reported 15 people injured in the strikes on Sunday.
Israeli settlers carried out attacks on Palestinian villages in the occupied West Bank, damaging property and targeting people. The violence followed the death of an 18-year-old settler who was reportedly hit by a vehicle driven by a Palestinian. Four Palestinians were killed in Gaza during the same period.
Children from Gaza are being denied access to cancer treatment in the West Bank due to identity document restrictions. At least one child with leukemia has been prevented from receiving medical care because of his origin.
Israeli extremists have conducted extensive attacks across more than 20 locations in the West Bank, reportedly in retaliation for Iranian strikes.
Egypt has expressed significant concern about an escalating pattern of violent acts carried out by settlers in the West Bank.
Following ongoing Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon, tens of thousands of Syrian refugees have begun returning to Syria via land crossings since early March. The returns occur despite Syria facing widespread destruction and severe economic crisis, with 90% of the population living below the poverty line.
Hundreds of Syrians gathered in Damascus on Sunday in a silent protest against government restrictions on the sale and serving of alcoholic beverages in restaurants and nighttime venues. Protesters characterized the measure as an infringement on personal freedoms.
Kurdish officials reported incidents of abuse and desecration of the Kurdish flag in northern Syria during Newroz celebrations.
The family of Libyan activist and lawyer Al-Mahdi Abu Al-Qasim Abdullah and several human rights workers have called on authorities in western Libya to reveal his whereabouts. The family expressed concerns about his safety and potential mistreatment in detention.
Libyan politicians and monitors say the spread of false information reflects the expansion of conflict beyond traditional political and military spheres. The phenomenon is being used as a tool in ongoing rivalries.
Iraq's Prime Minister Muhammad Shia al-Sudani has ended dialogue efforts with armed factions following an attack on the Iraqi intelligence service headquarters. The PM characterized the group responsible for the strike as a "terrorist group," signaling a breakdown in negotiations between the government and armed militia groups.
Houthi authorities and fees have prevented Yemenis from shopping for Eid celebrations and restricted them from visiting recreational sites or engaging in basic holiday observances, according to reporting.
A child was killed and three civilians wounded in the past 24 hours from US and Israeli strikes across Iran, according to the Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA). HRANA reports the total civilian death toll has reached 1,407 since the war began, with at least 214 children killed since February 28, and more than 200 attacks documented across 15 provinces in the past day.
Conflict in the Middle East is causing widespread displacement, airstrikes, and humanitarian crises affecting multiple countries in the region and beyond. In Lebanon, thousands are fleeing their homes while others remain in the streets. In Egypt, fuel shortages driven by the conflict are raising prices and affecting citizens' livelihoods. The World Health Organization has warned that the situation in the Middle East has reached a critical phase.