Coverage of events across the Middle East region.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that lasting peace in the Middle East cannot be achieved as long as Iran-backed groups continue missile and drone attacks from Iraq. He also rejected any attempt to impose tolls on the Strait of Hormuz, calling it an international waterway under global law, as he began a Gulf tour including Kuwait and Bahrain.
Iran says it has arrested more than 3,000 people on allegations of collaborating with Israel, with authorities claiming hundreds were involved in operational or media-related activities. The judiciary said charges have been filed against more than 1,000 suspects as a broader crackdown continues under the country's tightened espionage laws.
Hezbollah Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem said the Iran-backed group will continue its "defensive operations" against Israeli forces in southern Lebanon, rejecting Israel's military presence in the area. His remarks came after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israeli troops would remain in southern Lebanon as long as necessary to protect northern Israel.
Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Headquarters announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz to maritime traffic, citing alleged US violations of a ceasefire agreement. However, US officials, including Vice President JD Vance and CENTCOM, denied any disruption, stating that the waterway remains open and commercial shipping continues normally.
At least five people were killed and 12 injured in Israeli strikes across Gaza on Saturday, including four members of the same family, according to local health authorities. One airstrike hit a residential building in Gaza City’s al-Sabra neighborhood, killing four members of the al-Safadi family, while a separate drone strike north of the city killed another person. The Israeli military did not immediately comment on the incidents.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has reportedly set up new covert cells in Iraq aimed at targeting Gulf countries hosting US military bases, according to Reuters citing Iraqi security and militia sources. The cells are said to operate independently from traditional Iran-backed networks and report directly to the IRGC. They allegedly carried out several drone attacks from southern Iraq between April and May, targeting areas in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, though the
Four Israeli soldiers, including a lieutenant colonel, were killed during combat operations in Lebanon, according to the Israeli military. The IDF did not specify the exact location or timing of the incident. In separate reports, Lebanese authorities said dozens were killed in Israeli airstrikes across southern Lebanon, as fighting between Israel and Hezbollah continued.
Heavy clashes continue in southern Lebanon between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, with reports of ongoing ground fighting along key axes and Israeli airstrikes hitting areas around Nabatieh. Casualties have been reported on both sides, though the situation remains unverified.
U.S. President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian have reportedly signed an initial ceasefire agreement aimed at extending the truce for 60 days, reopening the Strait of Hormuz, and launching nuclear talks. Pakistan has claimed a mediating role in the deal, though its full details have not yet been independently verified.
