It seems that southern Lebanon is a victim of escalating tensions as the blessed month of Ramadan approaches amid difficult living conditions experienced by the Lebanese people and the prevailing vacuum in the country.

The sounds of Israeli airstrikes have not ceased in the Lebanese border villages, while in return, Hezbollah responded to Tel Aviv's attacks by targeting its sites and gatherings.

From Dar al-Fatwa, caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati expressed his wish for elections to be held as soon as possible, preferably today rather than tomorrow, as elections are necessary for the proper functioning of constitutional institutions and the initiation of the required reform process.

In Bneshii, where the leader of the Marada Movement, Suleiman Franjieh, received the new US Ambassador to Lebanon, Lisa Johnson, it was an opportunity to discuss the general political situation and current developments.

Regionally, the war in Gaza entered its 157th day, with Israeli shelling continuing from the northern to the southern parts of the Strip, while the population is experiencing an unprecedented humanitarian crisis.

The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates warned that Israel is deliberately thwarting any efforts to protect civilians and deliver aid, counting on international normalization amid scenes of massacre.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that Tel Aviv and Washington agree on the main objectives of the operation in the Gaza Strip, but there are differences in views between the US and Israeli authorities on the details.

In a precedent described as "dangerous," for the first time since 1967, Israeli forces surrounded the Syrian ridge adjacent to the Al-Aqsa Mosque in the Bab al-Asbat area with barbed wire on the first days of Ramadan.

The Israeli army also announced that one of its helicopters was damaged during a ground transfer operation, with three officers injured.

Additionally, the Joint Operations Command in the UAE Ministry of Defense announced the execution of the eighth humanitarian aid drop on the first days of Ramadan.

Moving to Tehran, the Iranian Foreign Ministry stated that the US airlifting of aid to Gaza is a ridiculous show.

Internationally, the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service reported that Washington aims, through its controlled non-governmental organizations, to reduce participation in the Russian presidential elections to cast doubt on their credibility.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed shock at the continuation of the war in Gaza during Ramadan, calling for the cessation of hostilities and the release of hostages held by Hamas during the Muslim fasting month.

On another note, the South African government expressed astonishment at a message sent by the main opposition party to the United States requesting observers to "ensure the fairness" of the upcoming general elections scheduled for the end of May.

Furthermore, Politico reported, citing a French diplomat, that French President Emmanuel Macron postponed his visit to Ukraine amid disagreements with allies following his statements about sending Western forces to Ukraine. Additionally, several French government institutions were subjected to "unprecedentedly intense" cyberattacks, claimed by hackers supportive of Russia.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg announced that he does not support French President Emmanuel Macron's statement regarding the deployment of Western forces to Ukraine.