Lebanese Shia cleric and Hezbollah secretary-general since Oct 2024
Since mid-April's US-brokered ceasefire, Israel has continued air and drone strikes across southern and eastern Lebanon and near Beirut while Hezbollah has been firing explosive drones and rockets at Israeli forces. Lebanese authorities have reported rising civilian casualties and infrastructure damage as US-facilitated Israel–Lebanon talks proceed in Washington (25 May 2026).
The United States and Iran have described a framework to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and dispose of Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium. Negotiations are unfolding in stages, with a 60-day window for finalizing remaining nuclear terms, while broader issues are staged for later rounds.
Israel has escalated its offensive in southern Lebanon, with airstrikes killing dozens, mass displacement orders, and threats of further heavy retaliation. The clash polarises regional diplomacy as Washington seeks to broker a broader deal with Iran, while Lebanon and Hezbollah resist Israeli occupation and pursue withdrawal. A cabinet dispute in Jerusalem signals divergence over response tactics, even as the conflict widens.
The Israel-Hezbollah conflict has intensified with Israeli strikes across southern and eastern Lebanon amid a renewed ceasefire and negotiations in Washington. Hezbollah is engaging with drone and rocket attacks, while evacuation warnings and civilian displacement increase in Nabatieh and other towns. The United States and Iran are pursuing a broader deal as clashes continue near the Lebanon border.
The ceasefire that began on 16 April has been strained as Israeli air and ground operations expand across southern and eastern Lebanon. Civil casualties and damage continue to mount, with dozens killed or injured in the latest round of strikes. Negotiations mediated by the US, Pakistan, and Qatar are under renewed focus as regional tensions rise.
A US-mediated Israel–Lebanon ceasefire has been announced contingent on a complete halt to Hezbollah fire and the removal of its operatives from southern Lebanon. Lebanese and Israeli officials have agreed pilot zones to be held by the Lebanese army, but Hezbollah has rejected the arrangement and cross-border attacks have continued.
Ceasefire negotiations in the Lebanon-Israel front have stalled after Hezbollah rejects a US-backed pact, insisting on Israel's withdrawal. The flare-up has displaced over a million people and kept northern Israel on alert as regional powers push for de-escalation.
The United States has struck Iranian coastal radar sites after four Iranian drones were believed to target regional maritime traffic. Iran has retaliated with missiles aimed at Kuwait and Bahrain, with several intercepted by U.S. forces. The conflict expands alongside Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon as indirect talks for a ceasefire stall.
Clashes between Israeli forces and Hezbollah have resumed in southern Lebanon since 20 June. Israel has struck positions around Nabatieh and the Beqaa Valley; Lebanese officials report dozens killed. Negotiations in Washington over a ceasefire and a US‑Iran memorandum are continuing while both sides blame the other for violations.
[Synopsis]
Israeli forces have carried out strikes and patrol operations in southern Lebanon since a US‑brokered framework was signed, killing and wounding civilians and soldiers and prompting Hezbollah to warn of retaliation. Washington and Tehran have pushed ceasefire mechanisms and talks, but Israel is keeping troops in a south Lebanese security zone while Lebanon resists disarming Hezbollah.
The IAEA has called for a robust verification system and full access to Iran's nuclear sites as part of ongoing talks to end the regional war, following a resumed dialogue between Tehran and Washington and a push for inspections to proceed alongside a broader ceasefire.
Lebanon and Israel are moving forward with a US-backed trilateral framework aimed at ending hostilities and restoring Lebanese sovereignty. The deal envisions pilot zones for Lebanese forces to deploy as Israeli withdraws, with US support and Hizballah disarmament as a central goal. Officials warn the path ahead remains fragile amid ongoing resistance from Hizballah and regional tensions.
The latest reporting shows Iran and the United States engaging in limited discussions in Doha over the implementation of a cease-fire memorandum and the release of frozen assets, while clashes in the Strait of Hormuz continue to raise concerns about a broader deal. Oil markets edge higher as talks proceed.
Israel maintains a security zone in southern Lebanon while pressuring Hezbollah to disarm. Netanyahu says Israel will stay until the threat is eliminated, amid a new framework with Lebanon and ongoing US talks with Iran. The situation has hardened, with Israeli forces showing a long-term posture and Hezbollah resisting demilitarisation.
The Times of Israel, Axios, Al Jazeera and other outlets report on a forthcoming White House meeting between Netanyahu and Trump, as they reaffirm shared goals on Iran. Trump has publicly asserted control over talks while Netanyahu emphasizes a strong US-Israel alliance. A NATO summit and ongoing ceasefire negotiations frame the context for possible joint actions and strategy.
Displacements in Lebanon have begun to ease as returns surge following a ceasefire framework signed with the United States. Authorities report hundreds of thousands returning home, though Israeli activity and Hezbollah’s stance cast doubt on long-term stability. Officials say safety remains uneven across southern Lebanon amid ongoing Israeli presence in a security zone.
Hundreds of thousands fill Tehran for the funeral of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as violence continues around Iran’s war with the United States and Israel. Iran’s leadership appears intact as new faces step forward, while the leadership’s line calls for revenge amid ongoing negotiations with the United States. The funeral coincides with demonstrations and threats directed at U.S. President Trump and Israel’s Netanyahu.
The US and Iran have exchanged fresh strikes this weekend and on Monday, reversing a recent interim ceasefire and re‑opening doubt over control of the Strait of Hormuz. President Donald Trump has declared the ceasefire "over," ordered further strikes and revoked a temporary oil waiver. Oil has jumped into the high $70s–$80s and global markets have fallen.
Hezbollah deputy leader Naim Qassem has criticised Lebanon’s participation in US-mediated talks with Israel in Rome and has rejected a June framework that ties Israeli withdrawals to verified disarmament and Lebanese army deployments in pilot zones. Technical teams have met in Rome while Israeli strikes, demolitions and clashes in southern Lebanon are continuing and Beirut is pressing Washington for verification guarantees.
Unified Syrian and Lebanese security concerns frame talks on potential cross-border operations. While Washington presses for pressure points, Damascus faces internal and regional costs. A range of options is considered, from border controls to limited troop movements, with Iran’s retaliation potential guiding calculations.
Israeli warplanes have struck southern Lebanon overnight, killing at least seven people in Ansar and at least four in Deir al‑Zahrani, Lebanon's health ministry and state news agency have reported. The Israeli military has said it targeted Hezbollah infrastructure in response to actions against its soldiers; Hezbollah has warned of retaliation.
President Donald Trump has said he will "pretty soon" declare the Strait of Hormuz to be US territory after defeating Iran, and has touted a US naval blockade. Iran has rejected the claim, saying the strait "will only be closed and opened under Iran's command" and has refused to resume talks while the waterway remains blocked. Mediators continue quiet contact.