Report in Lebanon: The country's president is working to replace UNIFIL

The newspaper "Al-Akhbar," affiliated with Hezbollah, reported this morning that Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Najib Mikati are working to promote a military cooperation agreement with the European Union. The goal of the move is to deploy a European military force in Lebanon instead of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), whose mandate is expected to end at the end of the year.

According to the newspaper, Aoun and Mikati are seeking to promote the agreement with the European Union, with assessments in Lebanon suggesting that the president believes the move will not require legislation in parliament or government approval.

The report notes that Aoun is relying on the support of the USA, which prefers to limit European participation to specific countries such as Italy. The newspaper also reported that Aoun's visit to Rome, where he met with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, dealt with this issue.

If the move proceeds, it would be a significant change in the format of the international presence in southern Lebanon following the end of the UNIFIL mandate. The European force is intended to replace the existing international force.

IDF activity in the Ali al-Tahir area

At the same time, the Lebanese newspaper "Nidaa Al-Watan" reported this morning, citing security sources, that Israel recently carried out covert operations in the Ali al-Tahir ridge area and its surroundings. According to the sources, several Hezbollah and Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps members were killed in the operations.

It was further claimed that the operations expanded north of the Litani River, with the aim of paving the way toward Mount Rihan, which is located beyond the Ali al-Tahir ridge. The sources added that Hezbollah continues to suffer losses, alongside efforts to strike its supply lines in the ridge area.