Hormuz Tensions

President Trump considered a return to full-scale war against Iran but ultimately chose diplomatic engagement, while Prime Minister Netanyahu declared that Israel's pursuit of 'total victory' against Iran and its proxies 'never ends.' In Lebanon, the IDF killed a Hezbollah operative near Manzleh, and Netanyahu visited southern Lebanon, vowing no withdrawal until Hezbollah is removed. The IDF also eliminated four Hamas operatives in Gaza and dismantled rocket-launching tunnel shafts. In the West Bank, Israeli forces raided and closed a Nablus charity, and a former detainee was abducted. A hijacking false alarm prompted IDF jets to scramble, and a 20-year-old was arrested for the murder of a rabbi in Netanya.

The IDF struck a Hezbollah target in Beirut for the first time in three weeks, killing at least 14 people in intensified operations across Lebanon. The US and Iran reportedly agreed on a 60-day ceasefire memorandum of understanding, pending President Trump's approval, even as both sides exchanged fire near the Strait of Hormuz. The UN is expected to blacklist Israel over sexual violence in conflict zones, prompting Israel to sever ties with Secretary-General Guterres.