Netanyahu says deal with Lebanon a ‘blow to Iran, Hezbollah’

Israeli strike in south Lebanon kills one, health ministry says

Israeli airstrikes on the southern Lebanese town of Nabatieh al-Fawqa killed at least one person and wounded two more, the health ministry said on Saturday.

The ministry’s emergency operations centre gave the toll shortly after Lebanon’s state news agency reported that Nabatieh al-Fawqa had been hit by drones and warplanes. 

After Hezbollah supporters protest, Lebanese army vows to keep peace

The Lebanese military vowed on Saturday to maintain public order, after Hezbollah supporters staged street protests against the government’s signing of an agreement with Israel.

“The army command will not allow any breach of security or threat to civil peace through actions with unpredictable consequences, road blockages, or attacks on public or private property,” the army said.

Lebanon state media reports Israeli strikes in south

Israeli forces carried out drone and air strikes in southern Lebanon on Saturday, Lebanon’s state news agency reported, a day after the countries signed a agreement to pave the way to peace talks.

According to the National News Agency (NNA), Israeli warplanes hit an unidentified target in Nabatieh al-Fawqa at around 6:30 pm (1530 GMT). Earlier in the afternoon, drones carried out four strikes on the town square and the Al-Manzala neighbourhood.

Israel defence minister says will use ‘force’ against Iran if it prevents Lebanon deal implementation

Israeli defence minister vowed on Saturday to respond with “great force” if Iran attacked Israel in an attempt to prevent the implementation of an agreement with Lebanon aimed at securing peace between the two countries.

“If Iran tries to attack Israel to prevent the implementation of the agreement, we will act against it with great force,” Israel Katz said in a video statement, adding that the agreement with Lebanon had dealt a “strategic blow to the Iranian axis”.

Israel defence minister says no troop withdrawal unless Hezbollah disarmed across Lebanon

Israel defence minister says forces told to prepare for ‘extended stay’ in Lebanon

Israel’s defence minister said on Saturday that Israeli forces had been ordered to prepare for an extended stay in the so-called security zone in southern Lebanon, after Israel and Lebanon agreed on a framework to end hostilities.

“The prime minister and I have instructed the IDF to prepare for an extended stay in the security zone,” Israel Katz said in a video statement, referring to an area up to 10 kilometres (six miles) inside the Lebanese territory.

“The important principle established in the agreement is that there will be no redeployment by Israel in southern Lebanon, no withdrawal, as long as the terrorist organisation Hezbollah is not disarmed throughout Lebanon,” he said.

Iran stats agency says year-on-year inflation hits 88.6%

The Israeli military carried out an air strike Saturday on the Nabatiyeh area of southern Lebanon, a day after the US announced a framework agreement between Israel and Lebanon.

The news comes as Tehran accused the Washington of a “blatant violation” of the peace deal after the latest American strikes on its southern defence facilities.

FRANCE 24 International affairs editor Leela Jacinto shares further insights.

Iran stats agency says year-on-year inflation hits 88.6 percent

Inflation in Iran rose sharply in June, driven by the Middle East war, reaching a peak of 88.6 percent year-on-year according to official figures released on Saturday.

According to the Statistical Centre of Iran, during the Persian month of Khordad (May 22-June 21), food prices more than doubled year-on-year. Even before the war, Iran was plagued by high inflation.

EU chief salutes Israel-Lebanon deal

EU chief Ursula von der Leyen on Saturday welcomed the US-Israel-Lebanon framework agreement as a “critical step” away from conflict in the Middle East.

“I welcome the agreement between Israel and Lebanon. This is a critical step away from escalation. Because there can be no peace in the Middle East with Lebanon in flames,” she said in a statement posted on X, thanking Washington for its mediation role.

“Key next steps are the disarmament of non-state groups and preserving Lebanese sovereignty and territorial integrity,” she stressed.

Von der Leyen added that “the EU stands ready to support this path to lasting regional stability, also with the continued delivery of much needed humanitarian aid with EUR100 million mobilised for the displaced.”

Hezbollah chief calls US-Israel-Lebanon deal ‘grave blunder’

Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem condemned the US-Israel-Lebanon framework agreement on Saturday, saying it a major mistake by Beirut and that his group deemed it null and void.

“The framework agreement in Washington is humiliating, shameful, and a surrender of sovereignty. This agreement is null and void, and the provisions of the Iranian-American memorandum of understanding must be implemented,” Qassem said in a statement, accusing Lebanese authorities of “legitimising” Israeli occupation through this “grave blunder”.

Israeli drone strike hits southern Lebanon day after security deal

An ⁠Israeli ​drone ​struck the Nabatiyeh area in southern ​Lebanon ‌on ⁠Saturday, ‌Lebanon’s state news agency ⁠said.

The reported strike came ​a ‌day after Israel and ‌Lebanon signed a ​US-brokered security arrangement aimed at ​reducing tensions ​along their ​border following ​months of cross-border hostilities with Hezbollah.

Sea route near Oman expanding to facilitate more traffic through Hormuz strait, US Navy says

A maritime body overseen by the US Navy said Saturday that a route through the Strait of Hormuz near Oman’s shores is expanding to allow for both inbound and outbound traffic.

The announcement by the Joint Maritime Information Center serves as another warning to Iran that the US is pushing to reopen the strait.

Iran has insisted ships must obey its orders and is warning it will start charging fees for transit through the strait, through which a fifth of all oil and natural gas once passed.

The US and Gulf Arab states have rejected Iran’s demands. The strait is considered around the world as an international waterway, despite being the territorial waters of Iran and Oman.

Rezaei, advisor to Iran’s supreme leader, says US has violated war-ending memorandum by creating tensions in Strait of Hormuz

Israeli drone strikes Nabatiyeh area in southern Lebanon, Lebanese state news agency reports

An ⁠Israeli ​drone ​struck the Nabatiyeh area in southern ​Lebanon ‌on ⁠Saturday, ‌Lebanon’s state news agency ⁠said.

The reported strike came ​a ‌day after Israel and ‌Lebanon signed a ​US-brokered security arrangement aimed at ​reducing tensions ​along their ​border following ​months of cross-border hostilities with Hezbollah.

Tanker reports strike by unidentified projectile in Strait of Hormuz, UKMTO says

⁠A ​tanker has ​reported being struck by an unidentified ​projectile ‌in ⁠the Strait ‌of Hormuz, the United ⁠Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations said ​on ‌Saturday.

The vessel sustained damage to ‌its bridge, ​but all crew were reported safe and ​no environmental ​damage ​had been reported ​at the time of the report, UKMTO ⁠added.

New US-Lebanon-Israel agreement signed

The Israeli and Lebanese ambassadors announced an agreement on Friday that has been described as a step toward peace after months of cross-border fighting between Israeli forces and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. The deal marks a potential breakthrough in efforts to ease tensions following months of conflict. Camille Knight reports.

Bahrain condemns Iranian drone attacks on its territorry

⁠Bahrain ⁠condemned ​what it ​said were Iranian drone attacks on its ​territory ‌on ⁠Saturday, the ‌state news agency reported, saying ⁠it reserved the full ​right to defend ‌its sovereignty and security.

Iran ‌said earlier it ​had carried out strikes against targets linked ​to U.S. ​forces in ​the region, without ​identifying the targets or saying where they were ⁠located.

Bahrain says targeted by several Iranian drones

Bahrain’s foreign ministry said Saturday that it had been targeted by several Iranian drones, accusing Tehran of sabotaging peace efforts after the United States and Iran traded strikes for the first time since signing an agreement to end the Middle East war.

The ministry expressed Bahrain’s “strongest condemnation of the targeting of its territory at dawn this Saturday by several Iranian drones, in flagrant violation of its sovereignty”, saying Iran’s attacks were “sabotaging peace efforts”.

Iran on Saturday accused the US of violating the peace deal agreed to end the conflict, after Washington launched strikes on Iranian territory and Tehran said it had responded with attacks on US targets in the Gulf.

Iran accuses US of ‘blatant violation’ of peace deal

Iran on Saturday accused the United States of a “blatant violation” of the peace deal reached between the two sides to end the Middle East war after the latest American strikes on the country.

“These brutal attacks, which targeted Iranian coastal surveillance facilities, are a blatant violation” of the memorandum of understanding to end the war, the Iranian foreign ministry said in a statement.

The US military said its forces struck Iranian missile and drone storage sites and coastal radar locations on Friday in response to an Iranian attack on a cargo ship transiting the strategic Strait of Hormuz.