The day began with Hezbollah leader Qassem's ultimatum for the government to resign if it fails to defend Lebanon, drawing US condemnation. By mid-morning, Israeli strikes intensified on southern Lebanon, with evacuation warnings for Tyre and surrounding areas. In the afternoon, the Israeli finance minister threatened to destroy ten buildings in Beirut for every Hezbollah drone, and far-right ministers urged escalation. By evening, Netanyahu ordered a major escalation to 'crush Hezbollah,' prompting mass displacement from Beirut's southern suburbs. A senior US official hinted Washington backs the escalation. Meanwhile, a leaked draft of the US-Iran deal mentioned Lebanon, but Iran warned an agreement is not imminent.
