Times of Israel

Iran’s military command declared the Strait of Hormuz closed again, citing US and Israeli breaches of the US-Iran memorandum of understanding, as Israeli airstrikes killed at least 27–83 people in southern Lebanon overnight despite a renewed ceasefire. Hezbollah launched over 50 projectiles at Israeli forces, and the IDF said it would respond forcefully to violations. US Vice President Vance said talks with Iran were progressing and he would travel to Switzerland, while Pakistan’s interior minister arrived in Tehran to mediate.

Israel and Hezbollah renewed a ceasefire brokered by the US and Qatar through Tehran after a night of fighting that killed four IDF soldiers and 47 Lebanese. The IDF will remain in southern Lebanon while US-Iran MoU implementation faces hurdles, including a still-closed Strait of Hormuz and Iranian demands for US restraint on Israel. Gaza peace plan talks in Cairo made slow progress on disarmament and security, while Norway moved to ban trade with Israeli settlements.

A ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah began at 16:00 local time (13:00 UTC) after a night of intense fighting that killed four IDF soldiers and wounded five others in southern Lebanon. The IDF struck over 150 Hezbollah targets in response, while the US conveyed to Iran that Israel would not escalate further. The US-Iran memorandum of understanding faces new strain as Iran canceled participation in Switzerland talks, and the Hormuz Strait remains closed.

An IDF tank battalion commander and three soldiers were killed in a Hezbollah anti-tank ambush in Kfar Tebnit, southern Lebanon, overnight, marking the deadliest single incident for Israeli forces in the current campaign. The IDF launched extensive airstrikes across southern Lebanon in response, while planned US-Iran talks in Switzerland were canceled after Iran suspended its delegation, citing Israeli strikes. President Trump demanded a complete ceasefire, and Vice President Vance delayed his departure for the talks.

President Trump warned the US would resume bombing Iran if the MOU fails, while Hezbollah explosive drones wounded five IDF soldiers in southern Lebanon. The US-Iran memorandum of understanding is set for signing Friday in Switzerland, though its text remains undisclosed. The IDF killed two Hamas October 7 infiltrators in Gaza and confirmed earlier strikes eliminated a hostage-holder and a PIJ commander. In the West Bank, Israeli forces blocked roads near Hebron and settlers burned a mosque. The Strait of Hormuz remains closed despite diplomatic progress.

Bloomberg published the full text of the US-Iran memorandum of understanding, revealing limited Iranian commitments and extensive US concessions. Israel-Lebanon ceasefire talks are reportedly close to yielding a lasting deal, while Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya headquarters warned of a harsh response if Israeli strikes on Lebanon continue. The IDF conducted airstrikes in southern Lebanon, and Iran has been launching drones at ships in the Strait of Hormuz nightly since the deal was signed.

President Trump described the Lebanon war as a “minor conflict” and suggested Syria handle Hezbollah, while the Israeli Air Force chief confirmed a major strike on Iran was called off one hour before departure on June 8. The US-Iran memorandum of understanding is set for signing in Geneva on Friday, with both sides preparing for immediate follow-on talks. Hezbollah rocket attacks on Israeli troops in southern Lebanon continued, and Israeli drone strikes near Nabatieh killed four, according to Lebanese media.

Prime Minister Netanyahu publicly defied the US-Iran memorandum of understanding, insisting Israeli forces will maintain a permanent security zone in southern Lebanon, Syria, and Gaza. The IDF reported multiple Hezbollah attacks on troops in south Lebanon, including rockets, anti-tank missiles, and mortars, with no Israeli injuries. The US-Iran deal, signed electronically on Saturday and set for formal signing Friday in Geneva, has drawn mixed reactions internationally and on Capitol Hill, while oil prices fell and stock markets rose on hopes of normalized energy supplies.

Israel has publicly rejected the US-Iran memorandum of understanding, with Defense Minister Israel Katz declaring the IDF will remain indefinitely in security zones in Lebanon, Syria, and Gaza. The deal, set for formal signing on Friday in Switzerland, includes a comprehensive ceasefire on all fronts, including Lebanon, and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. International reactions have been largely positive, but Israel faces isolation as tensions with Washington escalate.

The US and Iran have reached a peace deal, mediated by Pakistan, with a formal signing set for Friday in Switzerland. The agreement includes an immediate and permanent cessation of military operations on all fronts, including Lebanon, and the lifting of the US naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. Despite the deal, Israeli forces continued operations in southern Lebanon, with drone strikes and artillery fire reported, and a Hezbollah drone was intercepted over northern Israel. Tensions between President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu escalated, with Trump calling Netanyahu a 'very difficult guy' and criticizing the IDF's Beirut strike.

The IDF struck a Hezbollah command center in Beirut’s Dahiyeh district after three Hezbollah drones hit northern Israel. President Trump condemned the strike, saying it “should not have happened,” but insisted the US-Iran deal remains close. Iran threatened retaliation, and the IRGC warned a response would come before dawn. The IDF is preparing for potential Iranian fire.

President Trump announced that a US-Iran memorandum of understanding will be signed on Sunday, contradicting Tehran's denial of a weekend signing. Two Hezbollah drones struck an Israeli military zone near the Lebanon border without causing injuries, while the IDF continued operations in southern Lebanon, striking over 70 Hezbollah sites in the past 24 hours. Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid criticized the emerging deal as failing to achieve any of Israel's war goals.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry said a US-Iran memorandum of understanding will not be signed on Sunday, contradicting Pakistani and US signals that a deal was imminent. Hezbollah announced a “new phase” of operations to liberate all of south Lebanon, and the IDF struck over 70 Hezbollah sites in the past day. CENTCOM intercepted Iranian drones targeting ships in the Strait of Hormuz.

A US-Iran memorandum of understanding is in final consensus stages, with Tehran downplaying Trump's timeline for a weekend signing. CENTCOM intercepted Iranian drones targeting ships in the Strait of Hormuz. An IDF evacuation order was issued for 20 villages in south Lebanon, and a Hezbollah drone was downed over Metula. Four UK activists were jailed for a violent raid on an Israeli defense factory.

The United States launched a second consecutive night of airstrikes on Iranian air defense, surveillance, and communication targets, while Iran announced the full closure of the Strait of Hormuz and retaliated with missile and drone strikes on US bases in Kuwait and Bahrain. President Trump threatened further attacks if Iran does not agree to a deal, as the IDF reported a suspicious aerial target near Misgav Am and strikes in Lebanon's Beqaa Valley.

Israel and Iran announced a mutual halt to direct attacks on June 8 after US President Trump warned Prime Minister Netanyahu that Israel would be 'on its own' if it continued strikes. The IDF intercepted a Houthi drone over Eilat and continued operations in southern Lebanon, where strikes killed at least 14 people. The ICC suspended its chief prosecutor over sexual misconduct allegations.

Iran launched a ballistic missile barrage at central and southern Israel overnight, the first such attack since the April truce, prompting Israeli retaliatory strikes on military and petrochemical targets across Iran. US President Trump urged Prime Minister Netanyahu not to retaliate, saying a diplomatic deal with Tehran was close. The Home Front Command canceled school nationwide and ordered hospitals underground. The Houthis declared a naval blockade on Israel-linked vessels in the Red Sea.

Two IDF soldiers were killed in separate incidents in southern Lebanon, while Hezbollah launched rockets at northern Israel for the first time since Wednesday. The Pentagon raised its counterintelligence threat assessment for Israel to the highest level. In the West Bank, a Palestinian car-ramming lightly injured a settler after settlers blocked a road and threw stones. France and allies are coordinating sanctions over settler violence.

A seven-month-old Palestinian baby was killed and his parents wounded when IDF troops fired on their vehicle in Hebron. Hezbollah rejected the US-brokered ceasefire, launching rockets and surface-to-air missiles at northern Israel, while the IDF killed two Hezbollah operatives in southern Lebanon. France opened a war crimes probe into Israel's treatment of flotilla activists, and Ireland banned Israeli ministers Smotrich and Ben Gvir.

Hezbollah formally rejected the US-brokered ceasefire with Israel, even as Lebanon said its army would deploy to pilot zones anyway. A UNIFIL peacekeeper was killed and two wounded by mortar fire in southern Lebanon, which the IDF attributed to Hezbollah. The US House passed a symbolic war powers resolution to limit Trump’s military actions in Iran, drawing a sharp rebuke from the president. The IAEA called on Iran to explain enriched uranium stockpiles and restore inspector access.

Iran launched ballistic missiles and drones at Kuwait and Bahrain, killing one and wounding 63 at Kuwait’s airport, while the US struck Iran’s Qeshm Island in self-defense. President Trump confirmed calling Netanyahu ‘f***ing crazy’ over Lebanon fighting. Hezbollah continued rocket and drone attacks on northern Israel, and the IDF struck targets in southern Lebanon, killing a Lebanese soldier. The fourth round of Israel-Lebanon talks continued in Washington.

Iran launched ballistic missiles and drones at Kuwait and Bahrain, striking Kuwait’s international airport and wounding several people, while the US conducted self-defense strikes on Iran’s Qeshm Island. US and partner forces intercepted multiple projectiles, and the IRGC claimed retaliatory strikes on US bases in Kuwait. Hezbollah carried out 13 attacks on Israeli forces in southern Lebanon, wounding four soldiers, as Israel-Lebanon talks continued in Washington. The IAEA confirmed a drone attack on the UAE’s Barakah nuclear plant, calling it of “extreme gravity.”

President Trump forced a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah after an expletive-laden call with PM Netanyahu, halting planned strikes on Beirut. Hezbollah continued rocket and drone attacks despite the truce, killing an IDF medical officer and wounding seven soldiers. Iran’s parliament speaker warned talks with the US would halt if Israeli attacks on Lebanon continued. The Knesset advanced a bill to dissolve, moving toward early elections.

The IDF captured the strategic Beaufort Castle and advanced past the Litani River, ordering evacuations south of the Zahrani River as Hezbollah fired rockets at northern Israel. President Trump requested amendments to a draft US-Iran ceasefire deal, focusing on uranium stockpile terms, while Iran insisted on securing its rights before any agreement.

An IDF soldier was killed and four wounded by a Hezbollah explosive drone in southern Lebanon, while Israeli forces captured the strategic Beaufort Castle and advanced within 5 km of Nabatieh. Hezbollah launched rocket barrages at Kiryat Shmona and other northern Israeli communities, prompting school closures. The US struck a ship breaching the blockade near Iran, and the US-Iran deal remains unresolved with new US demands.

Hezbollah fired multiple rocket salvos at northern Israel overnight, with one projectile striking a shopping center in Kiryat Shmona and causing damage but no injuries. The IDF intercepted several rockets and issued new evacuation warnings for seven villages in southern Lebanon, while Israeli airstrikes and drone strikes continued across the south. The US-Iran deal remains unresolved after a White House Situation Room meeting ended without a decision, and Iran denied any final understanding has been reached.

The IRGC launched a retaliatory attack on a US base in Kuwait following overnight American strikes near Bandar Abbas, Iran. An IDF soldier was killed and two reservists wounded in a Hezbollah explosive drone attack on a military zone near the Lebanese border. The IDF began striking Hezbollah infrastructure in Tyre after ordering evacuations. The UN added Israel to its blacklist of perpetrators of sexual violence in conflict zones, prompting Israel to reportedly cut ties with UN Secretary-General Guterres. The US reimposed sanctions on UN rapporteur Francesca Albanese.

Israel confirmed the killing of Hamas's new military chief Mohammed Odeh in a Gaza strike, while intensifying airstrikes in Lebanon that killed at least 31 people. Hezbollah launched over 15 drones at Israel and threatened to topple the Lebanese government. US-Iran negotiations continued with Secretary of State Rubio saying a deal could take 'a few days,' even as Iran condemned recent US strikes as a ceasefire violation.

The US conducted self-defense strikes on Iranian mine-laying boats and missile sites near Bandar Abbas, while Israel expanded ground operations beyond the security zone in southern Lebanon and intensified airstrikes that killed at least 12 in Mashghara. Iran condemned the US strikes as a 'gross violation' of the ceasefire, and Hezbollah launched multiple drone and rocket attacks on Israeli positions. US-Iran talks in Qatar continue, with Secretary Rubio stating a deal could come in days.

A Hezbollah explosive drone killed an IDF soldier and seriously wounded another in southern Lebanon, while the US and Iran continued to negotiate a ceasefire deal that Israeli officials warn ignores Israel's security interests. The British navy is preparing to clear mines from the Strait of Hormuz once a deal is signed, though a US official says no mines have been found. Northern Israeli mayors say the emerging deal would be a 'death blow' if Hezbollah remains intact.

President Trump announced a US-Iran ceasefire deal is ‘largely negotiated,’ while a Hezbollah explosive drone detonated in northern Israel without injuries and the IDF dismantled a 100-meter Hezbollah tunnel in southern Lebanon. Israel expressed deep concerns over the emerging deal’s nuclear terms, and Bahrain sentenced nine to life for IRGC-linked terror plots.

Hezbollah launched coordinated quadcopter strikes on Israeli Iron Dome platforms in the western Galilee, while the IDF struck Hezbollah sites in Beqaa and Tyre overnight. The US and Iran are reportedly close to a 60-day ceasefire extension, with Pakistan’s army chief mediating in Tehran. France banned Israeli Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir over his treatment of Gaza flotilla activists, and an IRGC-linked operative was extradited to the US for plotting to assassinate Ivanka Trump.

Hezbollah drone attacks wounded 10 Israeli soldiers in southern Lebanon, including a brigade commander and a combat photographer, as the Knesset overwhelmingly advanced a bill to dissolve parliament. Iran confirmed it is reviewing a US proposal delivered via Pakistan, while President Trump said talks are in 'final stages' and warned of renewed strikes if no deal is reached. The US lifted sanctions on UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese, and settler violence flared in the West Bank.

President Trump postponed a planned military strike on Iran for the second time in 36 hours, citing Gulf mediation and 'serious negotiations,' while Brent crude held above $110. Israeli Finance Minister Smotrich announced the ICC prosecutor had secretly requested his arrest warrant and retaliated by ordering the demolition of a West Bank Bedouin village. Hezbollah explosive drones struck Israeli territory near the Lebanon border, lightly wounding two, as the IDF struck over 25 Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon. Iran warned it would open 'new fronts' if attacked again, and air defenses activated over multiple Iranian cities.

Iran submitted a new 14-point proposal via Pakistan, which a senior US official dismissed as containing only 'cosmetic improvements.' The IDF killed a senior Palestinian Islamic Jihad commander in Baalbek, Lebanon, and intercepted a Gaza-bound flotilla off Cyprus. Hezbollah launched rockets and drones at Israeli forces in southern Lebanon, triggering sirens in northern Israel.

Prime Minister Netanyahu’s corruption trial was postponed for security reasons as the IDF struck over 30 Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon, killing several operatives. Settler activists repeatedly crossed illegally into Syria, and a new death penalty law for West Bank Palestinians came into effect. President Trump warned Iran that 'the clock is ticking' amid stalled talks.

An IDF platoon commander was killed by a Hezbollah explosive drone in southern Lebanon, the seventh Israeli soldier killed since the ceasefire began. The IDF struck over 100 Hezbollah targets over the weekend, while Hezbollah launched rockets and drones at Israeli forces. President Trump posted an AI-generated image warning of ‘calm before the storm’ amid reports that renewed US-Israel strikes on Iran could resume. Iran announced plans to unveil a toll mechanism for the Strait of Hormuz.

The IDF launched a wave of airstrikes on Hezbollah infrastructure in southern Lebanon for the first time since a 45-day ceasefire extension was announced, killing two operatives at a rocket launch site. Hamas Gaza chief Izz al-Din al-Haddad was confirmed killed in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City. The US and Israel are preparing for a possible renewal of strikes on Iran as early as next week, while Iran’s foreign minister signaled US willingness to continue negotiations.

Hezbollah launched explosive drones at northern Israel and rockets at IDF troops in southern Lebanon, while the IDF struck Hezbollah infrastructure in Tyre and destroyed a rocket launcher used in an overnight barrage on Kiryat Shmona. Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich called for the full annexation of the West Bank and the elimination of the Area A/B/C division. Iran’s foreign minister expressed distrust of the US at a BRICS meeting in India, and the UAE announced the acceleration of a second oil pipeline to bypass the Strait of Hormuz by 2027.

An IDF soldier was killed by Hezbollah mortar fire in southern Lebanon, and Hezbollah launched rockets at the Galilee, as President Trump warned that the “decimation” of Iran’s military “will continue” and said his patience with Tehran is running out. Trump and Xi Jinping discussed reopening the Strait of Hormuz but reached no firm deal. CENTCOM’s commander told Congress that Iran’s military is severely degraded but still able to strike. Netanyahu said Israel now holds 60% of Gaza territory, and a new activist flotilla departed Turkey for Gaza.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office confirmed a secret wartime visit to the UAE, which Abu Dhabi denied, as President Trump met with Xi Jinping in Beijing amid tensions over Iran. Hezbollah launched multiple attacks on Israeli forces in southern Lebanon, and IDF officers warned that Jewish terror accounts for up to 80% of incidents in the West Bank. Saudi Arabia reportedly struck Iran-backed militias in Iraq during the war.

Israeli airstrikes on vehicles in southern Lebanon killed at least 12 people, including a woman and her two children, according to Lebanon’s Health Ministry. The IDF said it struck Hezbollah weapons depots, rocket launchers, and infrastructure. Hezbollah claimed an ambush and a loitering-glider hit on an Israeli tank. UNIFIL accused Hezbollah of drone attacks that damaged its headquarters. President Trump arrived in Beijing for a two-day summit with Xi Jinping, with Iran, trade, and Taiwan on the agenda. Iran warned it will block US weapons transiting the Strait of Hormuz. Reports revealed that Mossad and Shin Bet chiefs secretly visited the UAE during the Iran war to coordinate.

President Trump declared the US will “finish the job” against Iran “peacefully or otherwise,” as Hezbollah launched rockets and drones at IDF troops in southern Lebanon. Reports reveal Saudi Arabia conducted covert retaliatory strikes on Iran in late March, while Iran sets five preconditions for resuming nuclear talks with Washington.

US President Donald Trump is seriously considering resuming major combat operations against Iran, frustrated by stalled negotiations and Tehran’s continued uranium enrichment. In Lebanon, the IDF completed a weeklong raid north of the Litani River, while Hezbollah launched multiple drone and glider attacks on Israeli forces. Kuwait announced it had stopped an armed IRGC team from infiltrating Bubiyan Island. The Knesset passed a law establishing a special tribunal with death penalty powers for October 7 detainees. Israel confirmed it sent Iron Dome batteries to the UAE.

US President Donald Trump is seriously considering resuming combat operations against Iran after rejecting Tehran’s latest ceasefire proposal as “unacceptable,” while reports reveal the UAE secretly struck an Iranian oil refinery during the war. In Lebanon, an Israeli airstrike killed six civilians in Kafr Dounine, and Hezbollah claimed a guided-missile hit on an IDF Merkava tank. The Knesset passed a law establishing a special tribunal and allowing the death penalty for October 7 perpetrators, and EU foreign ministers approved sanctions on violent Israeli settlers and Hamas leaders after Hungary lifted its veto.

US President Donald Trump rejected Iran’s latest ceasefire response as ‘totally unacceptable,’ while an IDF reservist was killed by a Hezbollah explosive drone near the Lebanon border. Prime Minister Netanyahu said the war with Iran is ‘not over’ until enriched uranium is removed, and the UK and France are hosting a multinational defense ministers’ meeting on securing the Strait of Hormuz.

The IDF struck over 85 Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon, killing at least 12, while Hezbollah explosive drones wounded three Israeli reservists near the border. Bahrain arrested 41 people over alleged IRGC links, and Iran demanded IRGC-linked officials be allowed to attend the World Cup. The US and Iran remain locked in a Hormuz standoff, with Russia reportedly sending drone parts to Iran via the Caspian Sea.

The IDF struck over 85 Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon and issued evacuation warnings for nine villages, while the US expects Iran's response to a ceasefire proposal. Hezbollah drone attacks wounded three Israeli soldiers, and settler violence escalated in the West Bank. The US imposed new sanctions on entities aiding Iran's drone program, and a Russia-Ukraine ceasefire was announced.

US and Iranian forces exchanged fire in the Strait of Hormuz late Thursday, with the US striking Qeshm port and Bandar Abbas after Iran attacked US Navy destroyers. President Trump called the US strikes a 'love tap' and insisted the ceasefire remains in effect, while Iran accused the US of violating the truce. Hezbollah launched rockets and explosive drones at northern Israel, wounding three soldiers, and the IDF struck a Hezbollah rocket launcher in southern Lebanon.

The IDF confirmed it killed Hezbollah Radwan Force commander Ahmed Ali Balout in a precise strike on Beirut’s Dahieh suburb, while Hezbollah launched rockets and explosive drones at Israeli troops in southern Lebanon. Iran is reviewing a US proposal to end the war, and President Trump paused the Hormuz escort operation after Saudi Arabia denied airspace access. In Gaza, the son of Hamas’s chief negotiator was killed in an IDF strike.

President Trump suspended Project Freedom naval escorts in the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, citing “great progress” toward a US-Iran agreement, while Hezbollah explosive drones wounded three Israeli soldiers in southern Lebanon and the IDF struck 25 Hezbollah targets. A Washington Post satellite analysis revealed Iranian strikes have damaged or destroyed at least 228 US military assets across 15 Middle East bases, far exceeding official US acknowledgments. A joint World Bank-UN-EU report priced Gaza reconstruction at $71 billion.

Iran launched cruise missiles and drones at the United Arab Emirates on Monday, striking a petroleum facility in Fujairah and triggering air defense alerts in Dubai, in a major ceasefire violation. The US said two American-flagged merchant vessels transited the Strait of Hormuz under Navy escort as part of 'Project Freedom,' while Iran claimed it fired warning shots at US destroyers and hit a warship with missiles, a claim CENTCOM denied. Israel elevated its military alertness to the maximum level and convened its expanded security cabinet for Wednesday.

Hezbollah rockets targeted Avivim in northern Israel on Sunday, with no casualties reported, as the IDF continued operations in southern Lebanon, killing two Hezbollah gunmen and seizing weapons caches. Israel approved the purchase of two additional squadrons of F-35I and F-15IA fighter jets, doubling fleet sizes. President Trump reviewed Iran's 14-point peace proposal but expressed skepticism, while the US announced the withdrawal of 5,000 troops from Germany amid a deepening rift with Europe over the Iran war. A cargo ship was attacked near the Strait of Hormuz, and Iran's Foreign Minister discussed ending the war with his German counterpart.

Israel is preparing for a potential resumption of hostilities with Iran, as CENTCOM commander Adm. Brad Cooper and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Cain briefed President Trump on new operational strike plans. The briefing came hours before the War Powers Resolution deadline, with the administration claiming hostilities have 'terminated' amid the ceasefire. Meanwhile, Iran is reportedly digging out buried missiles and weapons in anticipation of a truce collapse, and Hezbollah continues to amass explosive drones, posing a persistent threat to Israeli forces in southern Lebanon.

CENTCOM chief Adm. Brad Cooper is set to brief President Trump on new military options against Iran, including 'short and powerful' strikes and seizing parts of the Strait of Hormuz, as Hezbollah wounded 12 IDF soldiers in a drone attack on northern Israel. Iran's supreme leader declared a 'new chapter' for the Strait of Hormuz, while the IAEA said Iran's highly enriched uranium likely remains buried at Isfahan. The IDF issued evacuation threats to nine southern Lebanon towns and killed five Hezbollah operatives in airstrikes.

President Trump told Iran to 'just give up' and vowed to maintain the naval blockade until a nuclear deal is reached, as Brent crude surged past $117 per barrel and the UAE confirmed its exit from OPEC effective May 1. The IDF intercepted a Gaza-bound flotilla in international waters near Crete, while Hezbollah continued loitering-glider attacks on Israeli armor in southern Lebanon and the IDF struck over 30 Hezbollah sites. In London, police declared the stabbing of two Jewish men a terrorist incident, with an Iran-linked group claiming responsibility.

President Trump threatened Iran to 'get smart soon' and is reportedly preparing for an extended naval blockade, while Hezbollah launched rockets at the Galilee and claimed drone strikes on IDF tanks in Qantara. The IDF killed a senior Hamas intelligence operative in Gaza, and the UAE's OPEC exit continued to reshape energy markets.

The UAE announced it will leave OPEC effective May 1, fracturing the oil cartel amid the Hormuz crisis, while the IDF demolished two vast Hezbollah attack tunnels in southern Lebanon built with direct Iranian guidance. Hezbollah launched coordinated drone strikes on IDF positions, and Lebanese Army soldiers were injured in an Israeli airstrike during a rescue operation.

An IDF soldier was severely wounded and another lightly injured in a Hezbollah explosive drone attack in southern Lebanon, amid a US rejection of Iran's proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz without addressing its nuclear program.

The IDF launched airstrikes on Hezbollah infrastructure in the Beqaa Valley and southern Lebanon for the first time in three weeks, while Hezbollah leader Sheikh Naim Qassem rejected negotiations and vowed to continue confrontation. Iran's foreign minister arrived in Moscow for talks as Tehran reportedly proposed a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and end the war.

An IDF soldier was killed and six others wounded when a Hezbollah explosive-laden drone struck near troops evacuating casualties in Taybeh, southern Lebanon. The attack, which targeted a disabled Merkava tank, prompted Israeli artillery and airstrikes that killed 14 civilians according to Lebanese health authorities, while the IDF Home Front Command tightened gathering restrictions in northern Israel.

Hezbollah shot down an Israeli Hermes 450 drone over Tyre and attacked IDF troops in Al-Qantara with loitering gliders, marking the most significant kinetic escalation since the ceasefire extension. The US authorized its Navy to target Iranian fast boats in the Strait of Hormuz as Iran's foreign minister prepared to visit Pakistan for talks.

Trump announced a three-week extension of the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire following White House talks between Israeli and Lebanese delegations, even as Hezbollah fired a rocket salvo at the northern Israeli community of Shtula — its sixth claimed operation of the day — minutes before the extension was declared. The IDF intercepted the rockets and struck the launcher and a second loaded launcher in Lebanon.

President Trump publicly ordered the US Navy to shoot and kill any vessel mining the Strait of Hormuz, while Israeli Defense Minister Katz declared Israel is prepared to resume war against Iran and is awaiting a US 'green light' to strike Iranian energy infrastructure and the new supreme leader. Iran's top nuclear negotiator Ghalibaf resigned from the negotiating team amid reported IRGC interference, further complicating ceasefire diplomacy.

Hezbollah fired an anti-tank guided missile at IDF forces in southern Lebanon — confirmed by the IDF as a ceasefire violation — while Iran's parliament speaker Ghalibaf declared the Strait of Hormuz will not reopen as long as the US is 'blockading ports,' hardening Tehran's position beyond the fee-charging posture reported in the prior SITREP. Israel-Lebanon ceasefire talks are underway in Washington with the truce set to expire in approximately three days.

Since the prior SITREP, the IDF has confirmed launching an interceptor at a suspicious aerial target over southern Lebanon — corroborating earlier Hezbollah claims of a drone attack near Al-Qantara — while Lebanese President Aoun and regional figures have condemned the IDF strike that killed journalist Amal Khalil in Al-Tiri. Iran's senior officials are publicly conditioning Strait of Hormuz reopening on ceasefire compliance, and a Saudi envoy has arrived in Beirut.

Since the prior SITREP, Iran's IRGC has seized two MSC container ships near the Strait of Hormuz — the first such seizures since the war began — releasing video of the operation, while the White House has stated the seizures do not violate the ceasefire. Separately, the IDF struck a building in south Lebanon, killing journalist Amal Khalil who worked for a pro-Hezbollah publication.

Since the prior SITREP, the US Navy has expanded its interdiction of Iranian oil tankers into Asian waters, citing a mine threat in the Strait of Hormuz that the Pentagon estimates could take up to six months to clear. Separately, IDF assessments confirm Iran retains hundreds of ballistic missile launchers and approximately 1,000 missiles largely intact despite US-Israeli strikes.

Since the prior SITREP, Iran's IRGC seized two container ships in the Strait of Hormuz — the first such seizures since the start of the war with the US and Israel — while a third vessel was targeted but not captured. The White House stated the seizures do not violate the existing truce, as the ships were neither US nor Israeli-flagged.

Since the prior SITREP, three material developments have emerged: the US House Armed Services Committee was briefed that Iran may have placed 20+ mines in or around the Strait of Hormuz requiring up to six months to clear; Hezbollah conducted loitering munition and missile attacks on IDF positions in southern Lebanon; and a Palestinian man was shot dead during a settler attack on a West Bank town near Ramallah.

Since the prior SITREP, Lebanese journalist Amal Khalil has been confirmed killed — not merely trapped — in the IDF strike at al-Tiri, southern Lebanon, with her body recovered after hours of search. Separately, US Navy Secretary John Phelan has departed the Trump administration immediately, amid ongoing maritime tensions with Iran.

Since the prior SITREP, a second French UNIFIL soldier has died of wounds sustained in last week's Hezbollah attack on UN peacekeepers, and an IDF strike in southern Lebanon wounded journalists at the at-Tiri/Tayri site — with the Papal Ambassador's convoy, UNIFIL, the Lebanese Army, and the Red Cross now present at the scene. The White House has clarified that Trump set no specific deadline for the Iran ceasefire extension, and CENTCOM confirmed it ordered 29 vessels to turn back in the past 24 hours under the Iran naval blockade.

Since the prior SITREP, a second French UNIFIL soldier (Cpl. Anicet Girardin) has died of wounds sustained in last week's Hezbollah attack on UN peacekeepers, raising the diplomatic stakes with France and NATO. Simultaneously, the IDF confirmed striking Hezbollah vehicles that crossed the Forward Defense Line near Tayri, killing two fighters, while Al-Manar reported a Hezbollah missile fired at IDF forces in Maroun Al-Ras — unconfirmed by independent sources.

Since the prior SITREP, Iran has executed a former nuclear agency employee convicted of spying for Israel, and Trump announced that eight women protesters facing execution in Iran will be spared. Separately, dozens of Israeli settler activists breached the Syrian border before being escorted out by the IDF, while Lebanon's ceasefire talks Thursday carry a new Israeli demand to repeal the anti-normalisation law.

Since the prior SITREP, the IRGC has conducted the most significant kinetic maritime escalation of the current cycle: seizing two vessels and firing on at least one additional ship in the Strait of Hormuz, with Iran explicitly framing the action as retaliation for the US capture of the Touska. Simultaneously, Hezbollah launched a drone at IDF troops in southern Lebanon — intercepted by Israeli air defenses — marking a fresh ceasefire violation.

Trump announced an open-ended ceasefire extension hours before the Wednesday deadline, conditioned on Iran producing a 'unified proposal,' while explicitly maintaining the naval blockade of Hormuz. Simultaneously, Hezbollah launched rockets and drones at an IDF position in Kfar Giladi — the first confirmed kinetic exchange on the Lebanon front since the prior SITREP — and the US issued fresh sanctions on 14 Iran-linked arms entities.

Iranian Parliament Speaker Ghalibaf has publicly threatened to 'reveal new cards on the battlefield' and rejected negotiations under threat, materially hardening Tehran's posture since the prior SITREP's tentative signal of Islamabad attendance. Trump has confirmed the Hormuz blockade remains in force, Hormuz transits have collapsed to three vessels in 12 hours, and Pakistan-brokered talks are described as hanging by a thread.

Since the prior SITREP, a cluster of covert Iranian operations has come into focus: 40 Israelis were detained at Moscow's airport in an apparent Russia-Iran alignment signal, a foiled IRGC assassination network in Azerbaijan reportedly resulted in senior IRGC commanders being killed, and the UAE dismantled an Iran-linked cell while the US charged an Iranian national with arms trafficking to Sudan. On the diplomatic track, Iranian sources now indicate Tehran will attend Islamabad talks, a partial reversal from the prior 'no decision' posture.