Aoun struck a defiant tone, condemning Hezbollah’s rocket attacks into northern Israel that triggered the latest conflict, while also criticizing Iran for backing and arming the group. He described both as violations of Lebanese sovereignty and reiterated his commitment to disarm non-state actors operating within the country.

“There will be no concessions to any principle, no infringement of the sovereignty of this country,” Aoun said, adding that Lebanon would base its decisions on national consensus rather than external influence.

The president also responded directly to Hezbollah’s criticism of Beirut’s decision to engage in direct talks with Israel, rejecting claims that Lebanon lacked leverage and asserting the government’s authority to pursue its own diplomatic path.

At the same time, Aoun called on Israel to halt attacks, withdraw its forces, release detainees and facilitate the return of displaced civilians. The 10-day ceasefire, brokered by the United States, has largely held after more than a month of hostilities, though Hezbollah is not formally part of the agreement.

Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel’s campaign against Hezbollah was not yet complete, while the group indicated its response would depend on developments on the ground, underscoring the fragility of the truce.

The conflict displaced more than one million people across Lebanon, with thousands of families now beginning to return to their homes as conditions stabilize. Roads leading to southern regions have been congested with vehicles carrying belongings salvaged during the fighting.

Aoun framed the moment as a turning point for Lebanon, emphasizing the need to rebuild and avoid further escalation after a conflict that has strained the country’s political and social fabric.

The Department of Foreign Affairs said the woman died on Sunday “alongside her Israeli husband and elderly parents-in-law” when the home was hit. Israeli rescue services reported recovering four bodies from the rubble following the strike, which was attributed to an Iranian missile attack.

Local media identified the Filipino victim by her given name, Lucille-Jean, stating that she and her family were pulled from the collapsed residence after hours of rescue operations.

The Philippine embassy in Tel Aviv has notified the victim’s relatives and is coordinating assistance, including efforts to repatriate her remains despite ongoing travel disruptions in the region.

The death marks the second confirmed Filipino fatality since hostilities escalated following U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran in late February. Mary Ann Velasquez De Vera, a 32-year-old caregiver, was killed on March 1 while attempting to bring her elderly ward to a bomb shelter.

The conflict has placed an estimated two million Filipinos living and working across the Middle East at risk, many of whom are employed as domestic workers or in maritime roles. The Philippines relies heavily on remittances sent home by overseas workers, making the situation a growing concern for authorities in Manila.

Thousands of Filipino seafarers remain stranded amid heightened risks in the Strait of Hormuz, where shipping activity has been severely disrupted. Philippine officials said Iran had pledged to allow safe passage for Filipino vessels and crew, though no clear timeline has been provided.

Meanwhile, Donald Trump reiterated warnings that the United States could target Iranian infrastructure if tensions continue to escalate, as diplomatic efforts to secure a ceasefire remain unresolved.

The Israeli military said it targeted positions in the Lebanese capital following overnight operations that included the destruction of a bridge linking Sohmor and Mashghara over the Litani River, a route it said was used to transfer reinforcements.

An AFP journalist reported hearing two explosions in Beirut early Saturday, with smoke seen rising from one of the strike locations. Local media said Israeli warplanes hit areas in the southern suburbs, a Hezbollah stronghold that has been repeatedly targeted in recent days.

Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency confirmed the bridge strike, while local reports indicated a second crossing was also hit. Israeli forces have previously targeted multiple bridges along the Litani River, an area roughly 30 km north of the Israeli border where Israel has signaled it seeks to maintain security control.

The escalation follows Hezbollah’s entry into the broader regional conflict on March 2, when the group launched rockets at Israel after a U.S.-Israeli strike killed Iran’s supreme leader.Lebanon’s health ministry said two people were killed and 15 wounded in Sohmor after an Israeli strike hit as worshippers were leaving a mosque following Friday prayers.

Separately, the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon reported that three peacekeepers were wounded in an explosion at one of its positions in southern Lebanon, the third such incident in recent days. The origin of the blast remains unclear, with Israel accusing Hezbollah of launching a rocket that struck the site.

According to Lebanese authorities, more than 1,300 people have been killed since the latest round of hostilities began. Israel’s military says it has struck over 3,500 targets across Lebanon in the past month, while Hezbollah reports carrying out more than 1,300 operations against Israeli positions.

Residents in Beirut’s southern suburbs continued daily life amid the strikes, with religious observances taking place despite the ongoing bombardment.

The conflict has also taken a toll on UN peacekeeping forces, with multiple fatalities reported in recent days. The United Nations says 97 personnel have been killed in violence since the mission was established in 1978.

The ministry said in a post on X that the strike targeted infrastructure linked to electricity generation and water desalination, without providing further details on the timing or scale of the attack.

Authorities said the assault caused damage to a service building within the plant complex, though the extent of disruption to power and water output was not immediately clear.

No additional casualties were reported in the initial statement.

The incident comes amid escalating hostilities involving Iran and its regional adversaries, with attacks increasingly affecting critical infrastructure across the Gulf.

Kuwait, a key energy producer, has not been a primary battlefield but remains vulnerable due to its strategic facilities.

Officials did not provide further operational details or attribute responsibility beyond identifying the attack as Iranian.

The victim, believed to be around 60 years old, died in Tel Aviv following a missile impact, according to Magen David Adom, which added that two others sustained minor injuries.

The Israel Defense Forces said it had identified missiles launched from Iran toward Israeli territory, with air defense systems activated to intercept the threat.Search and rescue teams were deployed to multiple impact sites in central Israel, the military said, while witnesses reported seeing missile trails over Jerusalem.

Explosions were also heard in Jericho in the occupied West Bank.Emergency responders were seen at the scene in Tel Aviv, where a main road was partially sealed off following the strike.

Israeli authorities said earlier that at least 18 civilians had been killed since the start of the conflict, including 13 Israelis, four minors, a Filipino caregiver and a Thai national, in missile attacks attributed to Iran.

The military warned that additional missile launches were detected as Saturday approached, indicating the continuation of hostilities.Iran signals retaliationIranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said earlier that Tehran would impose a “heavy price” for Israeli actions, following reported strikes on major Iranian steel facilities and nuclear sites.

The exchange of attacks marks an intensification of the conflict between the two countries, with both sides continuing cross-border strikes amid mounting civilian casualties.

Lebanon’s official National News Agency, citing the health ministry, said four people were killed in a strike on the town of Adloun, while two others died in an airstrike on an apartment in the Mieh Mieh Palestinian refugee camp near Sidon that also wounded four people.

Earlier, three people were reported killed and 18 wounded in a separate strike on the town of Habboush.There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military on the reported strikes. However, Israel had earlier warned of imminent attacks on Beirut’s southern suburbs, a stronghold of Hezbollah that has faced repeated bombardment.

The latest strikes come as Israel intensifies operations against Hezbollah, which began launching rockets on March 2, drawing Lebanon deeper into a broader regional war triggered by U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran.Israeli military spokesperson Avichay Adraee said in a statement that forces were targeting Hezbollah’s “military infrastructure” across Beirut’s southern suburbs “with increasing force,” urging civilians to evacuate immediately for their safety.

Lebanese authorities say the Israeli campaign has killed at least 1,072 people and displaced more than one million since the escalation began, underscoring the humanitarian toll of the conflict.Israel has indicated it may seek to establish control over territory up to the Litani River, approximately 30 km from the border, reviving concerns of a prolonged ground presence in southern Lebanon.

Israel previously occupied the region for nearly two decades until 2000.Cross-border impactIn northern Israel, ongoing rocket fire from Lebanon has disrupted civilian life, with air raid sirens sending residents into shelters.

Israeli authorities reported that a woman was killed on Tuesday in one such attack.The exchange of strikes highlights the intensifying cross-border hostilities, with no immediate signs of de-escalation.