Iran Diplomacy

Lebanon and Israel reported positive progress on border demarcation and prisoner issues after the seventh round of talks, while agreeing on a shortlist of countries to verify Hezbollah disarmament. Houthi forces launched fresh attacks in Yemen's Marib and Hadramout, killing at least five, and threatened further escalation. A Hezbollah explosive drone struck near Israeli troops in southern Lebanon without causing casualties.

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.