4,329 Killed in Lebanon Hostilities Since March as Attacks on Paramedics Continue

Lebanon Hostilities Continue Despite Ceasefire Announcement

Lebanon’s Ministry of Public Health has recorded at least 4,329 deaths and 12,233 injuries from hostilities since 2 March 2026. [1] This total includes 349 fatalities and 229 injuries recorded since the latest ceasefire announcement. [1] Two attacks on health care workers were reported, with an explosive device injuring two paramedics on 21 July and an airstrike injuring two paramedics on 23 July. [1] The figures come directly from the Ministry of Public Health and were highlighted in the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs flash update covering the period up to 23 July 2026. [1] The data reflect ongoing hostilities even after the ceasefire announcement, with the recent incidents involving paramedics underscoring risks to medical personnel. [1] Cumulative casualties since early March have continued to mount amid repeated violations and fresh strikes. [1]

Su-57 Crash Outside Moscow and Ukrainian Cyber Claims

A Russian Su-57 fighter jet crashed near Zvenigorod outside Moscow on 23 July during a training flight. [5] Russian officials cited technical malfunction as the preliminary cause, stating the aircraft had been on a training flight without ammunition, crashed in an uninhabited area, and that the pilot had ejected and was not in a life-threatening condition. [5] Independent groups claim the jet was downed by a Russian air-defence unit after Ukrainian hackers exploited system vulnerabilities. [5] The Defence Express website described the incident as potentially the first case of a combat aircraft being downed with the aid of a cyberattack. [5] Russian media identified the aircraft as a rare Su-57, the most advanced fighter in Russia’s air force and a fifth-generation model recently described by Putin as “the best in the world.” [5] Photographs from the area showed the aircraft on fire. [5] Russia’s defence ministry confirmed the crash without initially specifying the aircraft type. [5] Claims from some Russian bloggers pointed to actions by the Bars Moscow air-defence group, formed by reservists to defend the capital against Ukrainian drone attacks. [5] The international independent volunteer group Inform Napalm made the same claim, stating that Ukrainians had “forced” the air-defence unit to shoot down the jet through a comprehensive cognitive influence and cyber intervention. [5] Inform Napalm said it intercepted training streams, analyzed the system’s software, hardware, combat procedures, and vulnerabilities, then sent a document to the relevant branches of the Ukrainian military. [5] The group asserted that this enabled Ukrainians to influence the operations of one Bars Moscow crew and use a system created by Russians against the Russians themselves. [5] The Ukrainian military and intelligence services have not yet commented on the Su-57 crash. [5] The aircraft was flying at a low altitude shortly after take-off from the nearby Kubinka airfield. [5] Defence Express suggested it may have been a two-seat Su-57D variant that made its first test flight only in May. [5] The Oryx website reports that Russia has so far visually confirmed the loss of only one Su-57 aircraft, a damaged one in 2024. [5] Russia’s air force had only four Su-57s at the start of the full-scale invasion, with the current number estimated at 40 to 50. [5] These fighters have been deployed cautiously, approaching within 200 km of the front to launch Kh-59 and Kh-69 cruise missiles. [5]

Lebanese paramedics treat casualties amid ongoing hostilities in southern Lebanon. — Source: anadolu

Repelled Russian Mechanised Assault on Dobropillia Axis

Russia launched one of its largest mechanised assaults in nearly a year near Maiak on the Dobropillia axis. [5] Ukrainian forces stopped the attack, destroying or damaging dozens of armoured vehicles including at least nine tanks. [5] A Ukrainian soldier using the name Officer wrote that he had not seen a similar assault in almost a year. [5] The Ukrainian Phoenix unit, which stopped the attack, said it had not seen anything similar for a very long time and published a video of the assault. [5] The map shows that the assault was stopped while still in territory controlled by Russia, around five km before the start of the grey zone. [5] According to Phoenix, Russia deployed dozens of armoured vehicles, with tanks making up a large proportion. [5] Officer wrote that 80 percent of the vehicles were destroyed. [5] Ukraine’s general staff reported that Ukrainian forces destroyed or damaged 28 tanks in total that day. [5] The Phoenix border unit stated that it had destroyed nine tanks, two armoured vehicles, three Grad installations and eliminated several dozen occupiers. [5] All destroyed armoured equipment was left burning among the fields and plantations of the region. [5] Such large-scale mechanised attacks have almost disappeared because drones can see virtually everything and can easily strike large vehicles. [5] The Dobropillia direction is becoming one of the main axes where Russia wants to advance. [5]

Sudan Rejects Proposals Legitimizing RSF Control

Sudan’s senior presidential adviser stated that Khartoum will reject any peace proposal that legitimizes RSF control of civilian areas. [2] The adviser called for the group to be recognized internationally as a terrorist organization. [2] Khartoum will only accept peace proposals requiring the RSF’s complete withdrawal from civilian areas. [2] The position was conveyed in statements emphasizing that any agreement must ensure the RSF leaves civilian zones entirely. [2] The senior adviser urged the international community to designate the RSF as a terrorist group. [2]

Lebanon health ministry reports 4,329 killed in hostilities since March 2026. — Source: cnn

Israel readies West Bank Operation After Recent Killings

Israel is preparing a major military operation in the West Bank following the killing of four Palestinians and two Israelis. [3] The deaths served as the immediate trigger for the planned response. [3] Israeli authorities have stated their intention to launch the operation in the territory. [3] The sequence of events involved the reported fatalities on both sides. [3]

Zelenskyy Briefed on Ukrainian Frontline and Infrastructure Defence

Ukrainian President Zelenskyy received briefings from the new commander-in-chief and acting defence minister on the frontline situation. [4] On 24 July he received briefings from new commander-in-chief Mykhailo Drapatyi, acting defence minister Yevhenii Khmara and Brigadier General Pavlo Palisa on the situation at the line of contact and the next steps to be taken. [4] The commander-in-chief briefed Zelenskyy on the overall situation on the frontline and examined sectors and tasks that require the greatest attention and swift decisions. [4] The meeting also focused on determining Ukraine’s response to Russian attacks on critical infrastructure, including continued strikes on Ukrainian cities and hromadas in border and frontline oblasts as well as Kyiv and Kyiv Oblast, Odesa Oblast and the Black Sea shipping corridor. [4] Zelenskyy stressed that there is a clear action plan at every level, involving the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the Ministry of Defence, other government agencies, intelligence services and special services. [4] Yevhenii Khmara is preparing decisions that will ensure the prompt implementation of the requests made by corps commanders following discussions with them over the past few weeks. [4] Pavlo Palisa and the Office team will continue helping coordinate this work. [4]

What to watch next: Continued reporting on Lebanon casualty updates from the Ministry of Public Health, further details on the Su-57 incident and any Ukrainian response, developments along the Dobropillia axis, Sudan’s stance on RSF peace terms, Israeli military preparations in the West Bank, and Zelenskyy’s coordination with corps commanders on infrastructure defence.

Further Reading

• Ukraine War Map