Middle East Eye

Israel and Iran announced a mutual halt to direct attacks on June 8, following a night of ballistic missile exchanges and Israeli airstrikes on Iranian air defense and petrochemical targets. US President Trump pressed both sides to de-escalate. Israel stressed operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon will continue. Houthi rebels declared a renewed Red Sea blockade and fired missiles at Israel.

Hezbollah formally rejected the US-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, leading Prime Minister Netanyahu to withhold a cabinet vote on the deal. The IDF continued strikes in southern Lebanon, targeting Hezbollah infrastructure and personnel, while a Palestinian teen was killed in the West Bank. In Gaza, at least 12 were killed in Israeli strikes, and the US State Department reiterated Level 4 travel advisories for the region.

Hamas confirmed the death of its military chief Mohammed Odeh in an Israeli strike, while the IDF ordered the evacuation of Tyre, southern Lebanon's largest city, and struck over 150 Hezbollah targets. US-Iran negotiations stalled, with the White House denying reports of a draft deal, and Iran claiming the Strait of Hormuz could reopen within a month if terms are agreed. A fire at a kosher supermarket in London's Golders Green was blamed on an electrical fault.