Overview

• On July 8, an Israeli airstrike near Tripoli killed three people and injured 13, Lebanon’s Health Ministry said.
• The military claimed it eliminated Hamas commander Mehran Mustafa Ba’jur, though a Hamas source disputed any senior target was hit.
• It was the first strike in northern Lebanon since the November 2024 truce with Hezbollah.
• The raid coincided with Gaza ceasefire talks in Qatar after Israeli forces suffered recent losses in the Strip.
• A U.S.-brokered ceasefire has curbed major combat but not deterred Israel’s periodic precision strikes against Hamas and Hezbollah positions in Lebanon.