The Times reports on a Hezbollah attack yesterday which wounded two Israeli soldiers in the Har Dov border region with Lebanon. An explosive device was detonated targeting an IDF patrol. A second explosion soon followed but caused no damage or injuries. Israel responded by shelling Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon. Yesterday’s incident follows an attempted infiltration into Israel from Lebanon two days previously.

The Evening Standard says that Egyptian troops killed 16 members of the Jihadist Al-Qaeda affiliate group Ansar Beit al-Maqdis during a raid on their positions in the Sinai region which borders Israel. The group has been engaged in a long-running battle with Egyptian forces ever since the fall of the Muslim Brotherhood last year. Ansar Beit al-Maqdis has also infrequently targeted Israel by firing missiles at the southern city of Eilat.

The online editions of the Guardian and Telegraph say that the Syrian government has admitted to a United Nations official that it is operating four previously undeclared chemical weapons factories. Syria has until now complied with international inspectors to hand over its declared chemical stockpile, but the reports say that additional facilities exist. Both reports emphasise fears that such chemical capability could fall into the hands of ISIS.

The Times online says that Iran has increased its support of the Assad regime in Syria by providing it with further weapons including drones and that Tehran has sent 2,000 Revolutionary Guards to support Assad’s military efforts.

In Iran itself, the Telegraph online reports that the mother of a 25-year-old British woman detained for defying gender segregation laws by attempting to attend a men’s volleyball match, has launched a sit-in protest outside the prison where her daughter has been held for 100 days.

Meanwhile, the Financial Times, Independent i, Times and Daily Mail all report that Israeli soft drinks company SodaStream has warned of faltering sales, especially in the key American market. The potential fall in profits is reportedly due to a falling demand for soda in the United States as health awareness increases. SodaStream made headlines earlier this year when actress Scarlett Johansson maintained her endorsement of the brand despite opposition over the company’s West Bank factory.

In the Israeli media, the top story is yesterday’s attack by Hezbollah on Israeli forces on Har Dov. It is the top item in Yediot Ahronot, Maariv, Haaretz and Israel Hayom which leads with the headline “[Hezbollah leader Hassan] Nasrallah is testing Israel.” Although the incident was the first occasion since 2006 in which Hezbollah openly admitted to attacking Israeli troops, the prevailing commentary from the likes of Yediot Ahronot’s Alex Fishman and Maariv’s Yossi Melman is that Hezbollah is not looking to provoke a conflict with Israel. However, Fishman warns that “incidents can often quickly spiral out of control.”

Israel Radio news reports that the cabinet last night approved the budget prepared by Finance Minister Yair Lapid. Hatnuah’s Environment Minister, Amir Peretz was the sole minister to vote against the budget, which has been drawn up in controversial circumstances. It has taken several weeks for Lapid and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to resolve deep differences over budgetary priorities. Israel Radio news also says that the Bank of Israel yesterday published a position paper which was deeply critical of the budget.

Meanwhile, Haaretz reports that Netanyahu has backed Interior Minister Gideon Saar’s proposal to introduce a new law which would allow the state to continue detaining illegal African migrants. The High Court of Justice recently ordered the closure of the Holot facility on constitutional grounds. However, Yediot Ahronot says that Justice Minister Tzipi Livni helped persuade Netanyahu not to support Saar’s suggestion of legislation which would weaken the authority of the High Court.