The Israeli military announced it killed Hussein Mahmud Marshad al-Jawhari, a senior member of Iran's Quds Force, in a strike in Lebanon, accusing him of planning attacks against Israel. This comes amid ongoing tensions following a recent war between Israel and Iran, which involved strikes on military and nuclear sites and retaliatory attacks. Iran, which does not recognize Israel, has long accused it of sabotage and supports militant groups in the region, including Hezbollah and Hamas. In a related development, Pope Leo XIV used his first Christmas homily to condemn the devastation left by wars, highlighting the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and urging compassion for displaced civilians.