🌳 Army advances south

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Lebanese Army Uncovers Second Hezbollah Tunnel as U.S. Praises Security Progress

• The Lebanese Army discovered another underground tunnel belonging to Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, marking the second such find in two months as security operations intensify across the region.
• U.S. Central Command Admiral Brad Cooper praised the Lebanese Army's professional work in dismantling tunnels used to store ammunition, rockets, and attack drones, calling it a crucial step toward regional peace and stability.
• The tunnel discovery demonstrates continued support from international partners as Lebanon implements security commitments, with the army conducting comprehensive weapon confiscation operations throughout the south.

Why it matters: These tunnel discoveries demonstrate Lebanon's commitment to enforcing sovereignty south of the Litani while building international confidence in the army's capabilities during this critical transition period.

PM Salam Concludes Southern Lebanon Tour with Reconstruction Promises

• Prime Minister Nawaf Salam wrapped up his second day touring southern Lebanon, visiting Kfarqila, Marjaayoun, Kfarshuba, and Nabatieh, where he announced immediate infrastructure reconstruction programs focusing on roads, electricity, and water networks.
• Salam emphasized state authority returning to the south permanently, not just for visits, announcing that reconstruction will begin with infrastructure repairs designed to restore basic services quickly to affected communities.
• The PM's southern tour aims to demonstrate government commitment to rebuilding devastated areas, with focus on restoring essential services and supporting agricultural cooperatives that form the backbone of the regional economy.

The bigger picture: Salam's hands-on southern approach signals a fundamental shift toward direct state presence and investment in areas historically neglected or controlled by non-state actors.

Transport Unions Hold Emergency Meeting Over Syrian Border Restrictions

• Lebanese transport unions and federations are convening at 10 AM today at the General Directorate of Land and Maritime Transport in Starco to discuss new Syrian restrictions on Lebanese trucks.
• The emergency session includes the Director General of Land and Maritime Transport and a representative from the Agriculture Minister to address negative impacts on the transport sector and national economy.
• Following the meeting, unions will hold a press conference at 2 PM at the Lebanese-Syrian border in Masnaa area to announce their official position on the Syrian government's new procedures.

What to watch: How Lebanon navigates this transport dispute could set the tone for broader economic relations with Syria's new government as both countries rebuild post-conflict ties.

QUICK HITS

• Labor Minister flies to Morocco: Dr. Mohamed Haider departed Beirut leading a delegation to participate in the 6th Global Conference on eliminating child labor, hosted by Morocco and the International Labor Organization from February 11-13.
• Hospital board urgently needed: Tannourine Municipality appeals to President Aoun, PM Salam, and Health Minister to expedite appointing a new board for Tannourine Hospital to implement reforms and serve patients, staff, and medical personnel.
• Sound bomb hits border town: An Israeli drone dropped a sound bomb on Aita al-Shaab in Bint Jbeil district this morning, while Israeli forces targeted Halta heights with two mortar shells from Tal al-Samaqa.
• Syria transfers prisoners back: Syrian Justice Minister Mazher Weis announced an agreement to transfer Syrian detainees from Lebanese prisons back to Syria, describing it as the result of diplomatic cooperation reflecting maturing relations between the two countries.
• Political resistance message delivered: National Liberal Movement leader MP Gebran Bassil emphasized their struggle is for existence and protecting Lebanese decision-making freedom, stating the importance isn't who secures parliamentary seats but who preserves identity and existence.

INTERNATIONAL

Trump Administration Voices Opposition to Israeli West Bank Control Plans

• A White House official reiterated President Trump's opposition to Israeli annexation of the West Bank after Israel's security cabinet approved measures allowing Jewish Israelis to buy West Bank land directly and extending Israeli control over Palestinian Authority areas.
• The measures, announced Sunday by Defense Minister Israel Katz and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, include transferring building permit authority in Hebron from Palestinian to Israeli control and strengthening Israeli oversight of Rachel's Tomb and Cave of the Patriarchs.
• More than 500,000 Israelis live in illegal settlements across the West Bank, where approximately 3 million Palestinians reside, with the territory forming the largest part of any future Palestinian state.

Zooming out: The timing of these announcements, just days before Netanyahu's Washington visit, tests Trump's stated commitment to Middle East peace against domestic Israeli political pressures.

Nicaragua Blocks Cuban Migration Route Under U.S. Pressure

• Nicaragua ended visa-free entry for Cuban citizens, cutting off a popular migration route to the United States that had generated significant revenue through upward of $1,000 in fees per migrant.
• The Ortega-Murillo government's decision follows Trump administration pressure, with experts noting at least 100,000 passengers from Haiti and Cuba arrived via charter flights to Nicaragua in recent years en route to the U.S.-Mexico border.
• The move coincides with Cuba's severe fuel crisis triggered by Trump sanctions, forcing Air Canada to suspend flights to the island as Cuban officials warn airlines of fuel shortages for aircraft refueling.

What to watch: Whether other Central American countries follow Nicaragua's lead in restricting migration flows could reshape regional population movements and diplomatic relationships across the Americas.

Ukraine Forces Hold Northern Pokrovsk as Russia Presses Strategic Offensive

• Ukrainian forces still control the northern part of Pokrovsk, a strategic railway hub with a pre-war population of 60,000, while defending nearby Myrnohrad against Russian infantry attempting to capture both cities.
• Ukrainian open-source researchers described current fighting as "the last battles" for the two cities, with Russian forces trying to complete their months-long campaign to seize the entire Donetsk region.
• The battlefield update comes as Russian aerial attacks killed 6 people including a 10-year-old boy and his 41-year-old mother in Bohodukhiv, while international aid continues flowing to winter-stricken Ukrainians.

The bigger picture: Pokrovsk's potential fall would give Moscow its most significant territorial gain since Avdiivka in 2024 and provide a platform for advancing toward remaining Ukrainian-controlled cities.

GHER HEK

• BBC crowns Beirut restaurant: Manaret Beirut earned recognition from BBC Good Food Middle East as offering the best Middle Eastern dining experience in the region, just one year after opening its doors in the capital.
• Montreal Marada honors ambassador: Marada Montreal participated in Bishop Paul-Marwan Tabet's reception honoring Ambassador Bashir Touk, Lebanon's envoy to Canada, during his Montreal visit, with representatives from Lebanese parties, spiritual families, and municipalities attending.
• Mother of Cats needs help: Diana Abadi, known as Beirut's "Mother of Cats," cares for 50-70 abandoned felines in her southern suburbs shop and home, but rising rent costs from $250 to $800 monthly threaten her shelter.
• Valentine's sticker shock arrives: Lebanese celebrate Valentine's Day with red roses costing $5-10 each, chocolate boxes starting at $15, and concert tickets ranging from $25-450 per person, making February 14th an expensive affair for couples.

Thanks for reading—see you tomorrow.