Welcome to the Guardian’s ongoing live updates regarding the unfolding situation in the Middle East.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz announced that military operations will persist in southern Lebanon, just hours after a ceasefire agreement, backed by the United States, was reached between Israel and Lebanon to halt ongoing hostilities.
Katz emphasized that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) would not retreat from southern Lebanon, including the area surrounding Beaufort Castle, and indicated that the hundreds of thousands displaced from their homes would not be permitted to return. “At this stage, the IDF will continue its fire and ground operations, maintain its presence within the security zone in Lebanon up to the yellow line—including the Beaufort area—and will not allow the return of the populace while dismantling terrorist infrastructure,” he stated.
He further noted that the IDF has the “freedom of action, with support from the United States, to conduct strikes in Beirut in retaliation for any attacks on Israeli communities and territory.”
This morning, the IDF issued a warning indicating that combat will persist in southern Lebanon and advised civilians to avoid traveling south of the Zahrani River.
According to Lebanon’s National News Agency, multiple individuals sustained injuries due to Israeli airstrikes in the southern regions of Tyre and Nabatieh, which have been subjected to numerous attacks in recent weeks.
This development followed the conclusion of a fourth round of negotiations in Washington, which resulted in a conditional ceasefire agreement between the Israeli and Lebanese governments. The truce hinges on a complete halt of hostilities by the Hezbollah militia and aims to establish several “pilot” security zones in Lebanon that would be off-limits to fighters affiliated with the Iran-backed group.
The agreement stipulates “the removal of all Hezbollah operatives” from regions south of the Litani River, as detailed in a joint statement issued by the US, Israel, and Lebanon.
It remains uncertain how the Lebanese security zones will be enforced, though the agreement mandates that the Lebanese army assume full control of these areas.
Hezbollah has not yet responded to the ceasefire. The group, which is not participating in the negotiations, has expressed firm opposition to any resultant agreements, with a spokesperson stating that they will “not accept a partial ceasefire.”
In related news, oil prices surged by nearly 2% following attacks on Kuwait that tested the fragile ceasefire. The international airport in Kuwait halted flights after an Iranian drone and missile assault caused damage to airport facilities and diplomatic missions, resulting in one fatality and over 60 injuries, according to local authorities and state media. Kuwait Airways and Jazeera Airways have since resumed operations.
The Iranian Revolutionary Guard claimed they did not target Kuwait’s airport and attributed the damage to US interceptor missiles that misfired, as reported by Iranian state media. However, the US military refuted this claim, asserting that the Iranian drones were aimed directly at the airport.
Earlier reports from Iranian media indicated that the Revolutionary Guard had attacked the US Fifth Fleet headquarters in Bahrain, a US airbase, and a naval vessel. US Central Command denied any attacks on its bases and confirmed it had conducted new “defensive strikes” in southern Iran.
Iranian officials indicated that negotiations with the US remain ongoing, although no significant progress has been achieved, as stated by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi in an interview with Lebanese broadcaster Al Mayadeen on Wednesday.
Donald Trump previously suggested that a deal might be reached soon, stating, “I hear the negotiation itself is going very well actually,” and indicated that it could materialize over the weekend. He mentioned that Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is involved in the ongoing discussions.
Oil prices experienced a decline following the announcement of the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire, with the primary crude contracts falling over 1% after having approached $100 earlier this week.
In Gaza, recent Israeli strikes overnight have resulted in the deaths of at least nine individuals, including members of the same family, according to Palestinian health officials.
The fatalities occurred across at least four different strikes in Gaza City, as reported by al-Shifa hospital, which received the deceased. Five family members were among those killed in a strike northeast of the city, with the hospital also noting that 15 others were injured in the attacks. The IDF has not yet responded to inquiries regarding these strikes.
The Israeli military has conducted numerous airstrikes and often opens fire on individuals near IDF-occupied territories, leading to over 936 deaths since a nominal ceasefire began in October, according to the Gaza health ministry.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun stated that the US-mediated ceasefire reached last night between Lebanon and Israel could be enacted within 24 hours, pending approval from all relevant parties, as reported by Reuters.
His comments seem to reference Hezbollah, which has not yet issued any statements regarding the ceasefire and has previously voiced its opposition to the Israel-Lebanon negotiations.
Iran’s Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, issued a written statement calling for national unity, accusing the US and Israel of attempting to create discord among Iranians.
In a message reported by state media, he claimed that the US and Israel have “suffered defeat” and experienced a “decisive blow,” cautioning the Iranian populace about the enemies “sowing seeds of doubt, despair, fear, suspicion, and disagreement” within the country.
This statement coincided with the 37th anniversary of the death of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic revolution, and notably did not mention Donald Trump, despite the US president expressing a desire to “meet” the Iranian supreme leader “at some point.”
Khamenei has not been publicly seen since the onset of the war in February. US officials allege that he has either been incapacitated or seriously injured as a result of a bombing on the war’s first day, which also took the life of his father, Ali Khamenei.
