Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-11-10 at 15:07

HEADLINES Israel strikes Hezbollah fronts across Lebanon Israel draws borders for 13 settlements Gaza diplomacy eyes multinational security force The time is now 10:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report. Good morning. This is the 10:00 a.m. update on the Middle East and related developments, viewed through the lens of security, diplomacy, and regional dynamics shaping the year ahead. Israel and the Hezbollah front in Lebanon remain a focal point of activity. The Israeli Air Force has conducted coordinated strikes across multiple regions of Lebanon, targeting Hezbollah infrastructure in the Bekaa Valley, Nabatieh, and the Hermel region, with drone footage showing aircraft over Beirut’s southern suburbs. Lebanese authorities and regional observers reported the elimination of a field commander as part of ongoing efforts to degrade Hezbollah’s operational capabilities. In parallel, defense officials describe continued efforts to disrupt rocket launch sites and other military assets along the Lebanon frontier, as part of a broader strategy to deter retaliation and maintain pressure on militant networks. In parallel, Israel is advancing domestic governance related to settlement expansion. The Israel Defense Forces Central Command chief signed a directive delineating the boundaries of thirteen recently approved Jewish communities in Samaria and the Jordan Valley. The measure defines municipal borders as a step toward formalizing the settlements and enabling development, with the interior ministry expected to issue an official settlement symbol in a subsequent phase that would formalize the communities in the eyes of Israeli law and administration. On the Gaza front, diplomatic and strategic calculations continue to unfold. Prime Minister Netanyahu has held discussions with US envoy Jared Kushner about disarming Hamas, demilitarizing Gaza, and ensuring the group cannot regain control. Israel has indicated sympathy for a broader international approach that could include a multinational security presence and greater normalization of border arrangements, while also pressing for safeguards that protect Israeli security interests and civilian safety. Egypt has recently been granted permission to participate in certain operations inside Gaza, a development viewed by Israeli officials and allies as a means to bolster enforcement and humanitarian coordination, though the specifics of any deployment remain under discussion among regional actors and international partners. Regional powers are taking different positions as the Gaza issue persists. The United Arab Emirates has signaled reluctance about participating in a Gaza international force, a stance that complicates plans for a broad-based stabilization framework. Turkey has signaled readiness to contribute troops for a peacekeeping role in Gaza, with reports indicating preparations for a contingent of at least two thousand troops. Saudi Arabia has been engaging in diplomacy aimed at securing US backing for a two-state solution and urging Tehran to return to the negotiating table, signaling a broader realignment of regional diplomacy around once-illuminated pathways to peace. In Europe and beyond, political and media developments intersect with the Middle East. In Paris, a court in France ordered the temporary release of Nicolas Sarkozy pending an appeal in the Libyan funding case, a move that keeps the former president in a legal limbo while maintaining his presumed innocence during the appeal process. In the United Kingdom, the BBC acknowledged a legal threat from President Trump over an edited speech in a documentary aired before the election, a case highlighting the broader contests over media portrayal and political messaging. Washington continues to emphasize a unified western approach to reconstruction, governance, and security in Gaza, while seeking to coordinate with regional partners on humanitarian access and stabilization measures. On the diplomatic and security front inside Israel, questions about governance and accountability continue to loom. In a separate development, a high-profile corruption probe involving the Histadrut union has extended custody for its chairman, Arnon Bar-David, and related associates. Police allege a bribery network linked to the management of government contracts and appointments, asserting that the Histadrut operated with the reach and influence of a private enterprise. The investigation has drawn into question the intersections of political power and organizational leadership, with a court ordering continued custody to ensure the integrity of the questioning process and safeguard ongoing inquiries. Alongside this, a journalistically charged moment arose when Islamist Knesset member Mansour Abbas left a television interview after being asked whether he supports the elimination of Hamas, highlighting the ongoing domestic debate over Hamas’s role and the security implications of popu