Israel expanded its geographical targets in Lebanon, using more lethal weapons, especially phosphorus shells, launched on several southern towns.
The Israeli army shelled the outskirts of the towns: Naqoura, Jabal Al-Labouna, Alma Al-Sha'b, Tyre Harfa, Dahiye, Hula, and Maroun Al-Ras. Its reconnaissance aircraft flew over villages in the western and central sectors, reaching the outskirts of the city of Tyre, amid the continued firing of flares over border villages adjacent to the Blue Line.

Hezbollah responded, targeting the Risha Pond site, around the Dahiye site, causing confirmed and direct injuries.

In his second appearance this week, Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah affirmed, "We are facing a historic opportunity now for the complete liberation of every inch of our land and for establishing an equation preventing the enemy from violating our country's sovereignty."

Following the instructions of Prime Minister Najib Mikati, Acting Foreign Minister Abdullah Bou Habib instructed Lebanon's permanent representative to the United Nations to file a complaint on January 4, 2024, with the UN Security Council following Israel's attack on a residential area in the southern suburbs of Beirut.

Prime Minister Najib Mikati received a phone call from Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, emphasizing the "need for the international community to move immediately to stop Israeli violations of international law."

In an interview with "Al-Yosuf" magazine, Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri said, "Lebanon currently faces present and postponed challenges. The first is to end the vacuum in the presidency, and thus our call for dialogue and the direction towards electing a new president for the republic. As for the postponed challenges, we begin to face them after electing the president, with the economic crisis at the forefront."

The European Union announced that its High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Josep Borrell, will begin a two-day visit to Lebanon today, attempting to ease tensions between Israel and Hezbollah.

Regionally, Israel's war on the Gaza Strip entered its 91st day, with continued Israeli clashes and shelling in various northern and southern areas of the sector, amid a humanitarian and health catastrophe.

The Israeli army announced an increase in its wounded to 2,324, while the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza reported an increase in the death toll from Israeli shelling on the sector to 22,600, and the injured to 57,910 since October 7 last year.

The Palestinian presidency affirmed its steadfastness and clarity, stating that the priority is to stop the Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people. The Palestinian Foreign Ministry considered the humanitarian disaster in Rafah city, amidst calls for aid and assistance, testing the remaining credibility of the international community, the Security Council, and all international institutions.

Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid considered the leaks from the cabinet last night as a stigma and additional evidence of the danger of this government, calling for a change in the government and its head. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, during his meeting with Amos Hochstein, senior adviser to the US president, said, "Israel is committed to making a fundamental change on its border with Lebanon, allowing the residents of the north to return to their homes and enjoy security and a sense of security."

Israeli media revealed that a meeting of top government ministers to discuss plans for managing Gaza after the war ended in a sharp and angry quarrel between ministers and army officers.

Iraq took its first official step regarding the US presence in the country. Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi announced the formation of a bilateral committee to schedule the withdrawal of international coalition forces from Iraq, emphasizing that "no party has the right to infringe on Iraq's sovereignty."

During a speech at the funeral of the victims of the attack on the Iranian city of Kerman, President Ebrahim Raisi said that the Iranian armed forces are the ones holding the initiative and choose the appropriate time and place to respond, indicating that the "end of the Quds Flood operation will be the end of the Zionist entity."

Internationally, according to "Axios" sources, tensions in the White House are increasing between Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre and Strategic Communications Coordinator John Kirby.

US State Department Advisor Derek Chollet and Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Barbara Leaf headed to Jordan and Israel to reaffirm Washington's commitment to preventing the expansion of the conflict in the region.

Authorities in the US state of Iowa announced that a teenager opened fire on his classmates on the first day of the new school year, resulting in the death of a sixth-grade student and injuring 5 others.

Meanwhile, British military sources revealed the withdrawal of two Type 23 frigates, "HMS Westminster" and "HMS Argyll," belonging to the Royal Navy, from service due to military recruitment problems in the country.