Israeli MFA, ex chief of staff of the IDF, Gabi Ashkenazi hosted a security political briefing on the northern border with Lebanon to 12 ambassadors of the UN Security Council, in the light of the Security Council’s discussion of the issue of extending the work of UNIFIL. (1/2) https://t.co/elxcxWpEjw

- Ashkenazi accused Hezbollah of storing weapons inside the port of Beirut, which resulted in an explosion.

- "UNIFIL has not fulfilled its mandate, Hezbollah is still found along the border" Ashkenazi said. (2/2)

- Ministry of health: The official number of victims from the port explosion is officially 171, with 30-40 still missing.

1,500 of the 6,000 injuries required critical surgeries, while about 150 are still in ICU. https://t.co/DyPbHVWlpY

- Ashkenazi: "Resolution 1701 is supposed to create a reality that will prevent Hezbollah and its Iranian masters from turning southern Lebanon into a site of terrorism and the establishment of murderous capabilities, thus preventing the door to another military confrontation... https://t.co/LhKGUjt3Kj

...between Israel and Hezbollah.

Israel supports a mandate that will strengthen UNIFIL's ability to carry out its missions effectively.

Note: Pictures from today's visit. https://t.co/F4djJHXVZy

- Judicial sources denied information about the expiration of the period of arrest of Badri Daher, which is the 48-hour period as stipulated by law.

"The case is pending the appointment of a judicial investigator, there is no possibility for Daher to be released." https://t.co/lSt7FobQuL

Netanyahu in a telephone conversation with President Macron: "If Hezbollah believes that it can solve the crisis in Lebanon by creating a crisis with Israel, it will be a big mistake"

Note: Hezbullah is due to retaliate against Israel, after the Damascus incident weeks ago https://t.co/NgNZ10NI0u

Netanyahu to Macron:

"After the Beirut bombing, Hezbollah’s weapons must be removed from the populated areas"

Note: This is an unfounded Israeli claim that was debunked by the Lebanese MFA years ago when they took foreign ambassadors to visit those sites. https://t.co/ZLDYzOfMtf

During today, most political parties are meeting with each other setting conditions and demanding certain seats in the new government.

Currently the name of Nawaf Salam is being mentioned, but this is no different than last time.

🔁 RT Asad Abukhalil @asadabukhalil: What is significant about this report is that since the US had a “contractor” inspecting the Port, it refutes the Mossad and Liz Sly’s claims that Hizbullah stored arms. If US found arms, the world would have known as early as 2016.
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/10/world/middleeast/beirut-explosion-us-contractor.html

The Ministry of Health: 309 new cases of COVID-19 were recorded, bringing the total number to 7,121 cases and 5 new deaths.

This is the highest recorded number since the first case was recorded on 21 February 2020.

Updated death toll for today is 7.

US Ambassador to the United Nations Kelly Craft: "The Lebanese government must ensure that Hezbollah does not acquire new weapons."

Kelly Craft: "We support a transparent investigation into the Beirut Port explosion disaster." https://t.co/dioFWq6bo9

@Running2020Wild It's already there. https://t.co/kRC31o2zaf

Kann, Israel:

Assessment in Israel:

In the wake of tensions with Hezbollah and the situation in Lebanon, France may agree to demand that UNIFIL be granted greater powers such as expanding the areas in which UNIFIL can patrol, and shorter warning time before entering properties. https://t.co/3lcRuNpeMT