Gulf

Prime Minister Netanyahu will travel to Washington on Monday for a Tuesday meeting with President Trump, as Iran’s foreign minister rejected a ceasefire until demands on the Strait of Hormuz are met. Kuwait and Bahrain launched their first direct strikes on Iranian drone and missile depots, while Saudi Arabia struck Houthi targets in Hodeidah. The US embassy in Jerusalem warned Americans to prepare for possible flight cancellations due to regional tensions.

The IDF struck and killed seven Hezbollah operatives transporting weapons in southern Lebanon, while four Israeli soldiers were wounded in a separate clash. US-mediated Israel-Lebanon talks were extended, with Hezbollah demanding an unconditional Israeli withdrawal. The IAEA chief confirmed initial talks with Iran on nuclear site access, and the US is reportedly considering relocating Gulf military bases to Israel after Iranian strikes caused greater damage than acknowledged.

Prime Minister Netanyahu finished his final testimony in his corruption trial after 98 sessions, while the IDF struck two armed Hezbollah operatives in southern Lebanon and dismantled four Hamas rocket launchers in Gaza. Defense Minister Katz declared Israel would not withdraw from Lebanon even under U.S. pressure, as U.S. Secretary of State Rubio toured Gulf states to reassure allies on the Iran deal. The IAEA backed U.S. claims on inspections, but Iran’s deputy FM reiterated access to nuclear sites requires a final agreement.