Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah’s funeral is set to take place in Iran as Israeli military operations intensify against the group. Reports indicate heightened secrecy surrounding the event due to fears of further Israeli attacks. The bombing has claimed over 1,000 lives in Lebanon, displacing hundreds of thousands. Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei will lead Friday prayers for the first time in nearly five years, adding significance to the occasion. Nasrallah's burial site remains unclear, with suggestions of a potential grave next to Imam Hussein in Iraq. Hezbollah contemplates a temporary burial due to ongoing conflict.

Israel's military has ordered evacuations in over 20 towns in southern Lebanon while continuing its airstrikes on Hezbollah. On Thursday, 27 were reported dead in Lebanon, and at least 18 Palestinians died in the West Bank due to Israeli attacks. The IDF confirmed the killing of a key Hamas figure in Tulkarm and stated that its operations aim to protect Israeli citizens from ongoing Hezbollah rocket fire. Since mid-September, reports indicate at least 1,276 deaths from the conflict. As tensions rise, President Biden expressed concerns over a potential all-out war with Iran.

Hindu American groups flew an airline banner over New York, calling for urgent global intervention to stop violence against Hindus in Bangladesh. The banner circled the Statue of Liberty, drawing attention to the ongoing attacks targeting the Hindu community. With Bangladesh’s Hindu population dropping from 20% in 1971 to 8.9% today, recent reports highlight over 250 attacks since August 2024. Activist Sitangshu Guha stated, “Hindus in Bangladesh are on the verge of extinction. If Bangladesh becomes Hindu-free, it will become Afghanistan 2.0.” Calls for UN action and economic boycotts of Bangladeshi garments are intensifying.

At least 18 Palestinians were killed in an Israeli airstrike on Tulkarm refugee camp in the West Bank, while Israeli attacks on Hezbollah in Lebanon continued. Explosions rocked Beirut’s southern suburbs, with airstrikes near the city’s airport. Israel claims it targeted Hezbollah positions, killing 27 people, and urged evacuations of over 20 Lebanese towns. Hezbollah retaliated by launching rockets into northern Israel, which intercepted most projectiles. The conflict escalated further following Hezbollah’s rocket attacks in response to the Israel-Hamas war, with 1,276 people reportedly killed in Lebanon since mid-September.

Israeli air strikes targeted Hezbollah positions near Beirut’s international airport, causing large explosions and smoke plumes. The strikes also hit southern Lebanon, where two Lebanese soldiers were killed in separate incidents. The Israeli military ordered evacuations of 20 more towns north of the Litani river. Hezbollah reported repelling Israeli advances and launching rockets into northern Israel. The ongoing conflict has displaced over one million people and killed 1,300 across Lebanon. The IDF stated they had struck 200 Hezbollah targets overnight, including a building housing three Hezbollah commanders.

U.S. President Joe Biden refused to publicly negotiate the American position on Israel potentially striking Iran’s oil facilities. The comment follows Tehran’s recent missile attack, to which Israel is reportedly considering a significant retaliation. While Washington has expressed support for ensuring Iran faces consequences, Biden emphasized keeping discussions confidential. He declined to predict the potential rise in global oil prices, stating, "If a hurricane hits, prices are going to go up. I don't know; who knows." Biden also mentioned that he had not spoken to Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu recently due to a lack of urgent developments.              

An Israeli airstrike in Beirut reportedly targeted senior Hezbollah official Hashem Safieddine, seen as the likely successor of Hassan Nasrallah, who was previously killed. Safieddine, designated a terrorist by the US in 2017, holds significant political influence in Hezbollah and is Nasrallah’s cousin. The airstrikes, described as some of the heaviest, also killed Mohammed Anisi, another senior Hezbollah figure. Explosions in Beirut’s southern suburbs caused several casualties and widespread damage. Both Israel and Hezbollah have not officially commented on the attack or the reported death of Safieddine.

Israel's military announced the elimination of Khider al Shaebia, a Hezbollah commander linked to a deadly July attack on a football pitch in the Golan Heights that claimed 12 young lives. This action followed airstrikes targeting Hezbollah positions deep within Lebanon. In retaliation, the Lebanese army reportedly fired back at Israeli forces for the first time since the conflict escalated a year ago. The army confirmed it returned fire after an Israeli strike killed a soldier during a rescue mission. Tensions remain high as both sides navigate the ongoing violence.

Israeli military operations in the Gaza Strip intensified overnight, resulting in at least 51 deaths and 82 injuries, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. Strikes targeted various sites, including an orphanage run by the al-Amal Institute, where many displaced civilians, primarily women and children, were sheltering. The Israeli military claimed these buildings were being used by Hamas for operations. In total, airstrikes hit multiple schools across Gaza, prompting condemnation from international observers. The French Foreign Ministry criticized the repeated targeting of civilian infrastructure amid ongoing conflict in the region, where explosive attacks occur every three hours on average.

Lebanon is reeling from the aftermath of Israeli attacks, with over 1,000 people dead, 6,000 injured, and 1 million displaced, according to the Lebanese government. The Israel Defense Forces launched targeted raids against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, aiming to neutralize threats near the Israeli border. Diplomatic efforts to prevent the conflict from escalating have faltered, with 95 people killed on Monday in Israeli airstrikes. Hezbollah’s deputy leader Naim Qassem vowed to continue resistance, stating, “We will win as we won in 2006.” The US and UK have urged political solutions to the crisis.