Israeli strikes hit Beirut's southern suburbs, army surrounds Gaza's Jabalia

The Israeli military's Arabic-language spokesperson issued new evacuation alerts on Sunday for residents of around 25 areas in southern Lebanon, calling on them to head immediately to the north of the Awali River.

A blast was heard in a factory in the Syrian city of Homs, the state news agency reported on Sunday, adding that the cause is still being investigated.

The Israeli military said Sunday it deployed more troops to defend southern communities and areas bordering Gaza, ahead of the anniversary of its war on the enclave on October 7.

"The IDF's (army) Gaza Division has been reinforced with several platoons, with forces stationed to defend both the communities and the border area," the military said.

"The soldiers are fully equipped to defend the region in coordination with local security forces," it said in a statement.

Inside Gaza, the military said three divisions were working to "dismantle terrorist infrastructure and degrade Hamas's capabilities".

"The Southern Command remains at a heightened state of vigilance and readiness for the coming days," commanding officer Major General Yaron Finkelman was quoted as saying.

Earlier, the military said its forces had surrounded the area of Jabalia in central Gaza where Hamas was trying to rebuild its operational capabilities.

Lebanon on Sunday said the country would be postponing the start of the school year as Israel escalates its air strikes against Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.

Education Minister Abbas Halabi said the new start date for more than one million students would be November 4, because of "security risks".

The health ministry in Gaza said on Sunday an Israeli strike on a mosque-turned-shelter in central Deir al-Balah killed 26 people, while Israel's military claimed to target Hamas.

"The number of martyrs brought to hospitals as a result of the occupation's targeting of displaced people in the Ibn Rushd school and Al Aqsa Martyrs mosque reached 26, with several more wounded," the health ministry said in a statement.

The Gaza civil defence agency had earlier said 21 people had been killed in the pre-dawn strike in central Gaza's Deir El-Balah area.

 At least 41,870 Palestinians have been killed and 97,166 others injured in Israel's military offensive on Gaza since Oct. 7, Gaza's health ministry said on Sunday.

At least 23 killed in Israeli strikes across Lebanon on Saturday, the country's health ministry said.

Israeli forces have detained at least 15 Palestinians in the West Bank during the last 24 hours, including a journalist and former prisoners, Palestinian media said.

The Palestinian Prisoners' Society (PPS) and the Commission for Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs said in a joint statement that the detentions occurred across several areas, including Hebron, Bethlehem, Tulkarem, and Tubas.

The Israeli military said Sunday its forces surrounded the Jabalia area of northern Gaza in response to indications Hamas was rebuilding despite nearly a year of strikes and fighting.

"The troops of the 401st Brigade and the 460th Brigade have successfully encircled the area and are currently continuing to operate in the area," the military said in a statement.

It cited intelligence suggesting the "presence of terrorists and terror infrastructure in the area of Jabaliaa... as well as efforts by Hamas to rebuild its operational capabilities in the area".

"Prior to and during the operation, the IAF (air force) struck dozens of military targets in the area to assist IDF (army) ground troops," the military said, adding targets hit were weapons storage facilities, underground infrastructure sites and other militant infrastructure sites.

Gaza civil defence spokesman Mahmud Bassal said multiple strikes rocked Jabaliya overnight, with many casualties.

Israeli forces regularly bombarded Jabaliya since the Gaza war began, displacing most residents.

Iran's Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad landed on Kharg island, the oil ministry's news website Shana reported on Sunday, amid concerns that Israel could target Iran's largest oil terminal there.

An Israeli military spokesman said on Saturday that Israel would retaliate, following last week's missile attack by Tehran, "when the time is right."

Following Iran's attack, Axios cited Israeli officials as saying that Iran's oil facilities could be hit in response. US President Joe Biden said on Friday that he did not think Israel had yet concluded how to respond.

"Paknejad arrived this morning in order to visit the oil facilities and meet operational staff located on Kharg island," Shana reported, adding that the oil terminal there has the capacity to store 23 million barrels of crude.

Lebanon's acting PM, Najib Mikati, calls for 'pressure on Israel' for ceasefire in Lebanon.