The IDF will conduct an exercise near the area of the Dead Sea in order to maintain the readiness of forces in the area, the military announced Wednesday morning.The exercise will take place around noon and is expected to last until nighttime.The IDF also said that civilians in the area should expect to hear and feel military activity in the area and not be alarmed.

The IDF released a video of its fighter jets attacking a Hezbollah weapons depot in the Baalbek region of Lebanon on Wednesday.In the video, there are multiple explosions after the initial strike, which the military noted indicate the presence of explosives hidden in the residential area.The video shows "further proof of Hezbollah's modus operandi in which it stores explosives and dangerous chemical substances in civilian villages," the IDF said.

A Saudi-funded humanitarian agency pledged on Wednesday to boost the kingdom's funding to the UN Palestinian refugee agency (UNRWA) by $40 million, according to a statement.The donation by the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief), which is dedicated to Gaza, comes as UNRWA faces a severe funding crunch after the United States and Britain paused support following Israel's accusations that a dozen of its 13,000 staff in Gaza took part in the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on the country.A UN-backed report warned on Monday that northern Gaza faced imminent famine and as global pressure mounts on Israel to allow more humanitarian aid into the enclave of 2.3 million people.Canada, Australia, and Sweden have recently restored funding to UNRWA, while several Gulf countries, in addition to Saudi Arabia have increased funding.But that still may not be enough. "The US is our largest, largest donor so no amount of compensation by other donors, as generous as they are, can actually fill the gap that is left by the US," said Tamara al-Rifai, an UNRWA spokesperson.Saudi Arabia previously announced a $2 million contribution to UNRWA in October, while KSrelief provided $15 million to the agency in November.

Walla reported on Wednesday that the Biden administration is expected to present several alternative options to an operation in Rafah to the Israeli delegation arriving in America next week.At this time, the Israeli delegation to America will include Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, National Security Council head Tzachi Hanegbi, and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.