Following the deadly Israeli attack in Lebanon on Tuesday and Wednesday, Lebanese and Israeli circles awaited the address of Hezbollah's Secretary-General, Hassan Nasrallah. He characterized the assault as a significant and unprecedented aggression that would face severe consequences and just retribution, both from expected and unexpected directions. He emphasized that the severe reckoning would manifest in what is to be seen rather than heard, maintaining confidentiality on specifics. He warned that the foolish, narcissistic leadership of the enemy would lead their entity into a deep abyss.

Additionally, Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and Prime Minister Najib Mikati received phone calls from French President Emmanuel Macron, who conveyed France's supportive stance to help Lebanon navigate its current challenges, urging all parties to exercise restraint and avoid escalation.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Health in the caretaker government, Firas al-Abyad, reported a total of 37 martyrs and 2,931 injuries from the two days of the Israeli security breach.

Regionally, Israeli political leadership approved operations to facilitate the return of residents in the north to their homes. Concurrently, the Chief of Staff of the Israeli Army approved operational plans for the northern front.

At the same time, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant, in a phone conversation with his American counterpart Lloyd Austin, asserted that the prospects for a solution along the Lebanese border are diminishing. He stated that Israel "will act by any necessary means to secure the release of hostages held in Gaza and to destroy Hamas."

On another front, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman emphasized that his country would not establish relations with Israel without the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital. In a speech inaugurating the new session of the Saudi Shura Council, he reaffirmed his country's commitment to enhancing security and peace by pursuing political solutions to crises in Yemen, Sudan, Libya, and other international issues, including the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Internationally, the U.S. Department of Defense expressed concern over the potential outbreak of ground warfare in Lebanon.

For its part, the Chinese Foreign Ministry expressed worries that events in Lebanon could escalate regional tensions, calling for the preservation of stability in the region.

Economically, gold prices stabilized in early Thursday trading after reaching a record high in the previous session following the Federal Reserve's significant interest rate cuts.