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Trump slams Iran's role in Strait of Hormuz amid ceasefire tensions
US President Donald Trump accused Iran of mismanaging oil transit through the Strait of Hormuz, calling its efforts "a very poor job" and questioning the terms of the existing agreement. His remarks underscore the shaky nature of the regional ceasefire, with conflicting reports about its scope and enforcement.
Israel and Lebanon to begin direct negotiations
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced plans for direct talks with Lebanon, focusing on disarming Hezbollah and establishing peaceful relations. The US State Department confirmed it will host a meeting in Washington next week to discuss ceasefire negotiations between the two nations.
However, Netanyahu clarified in an address to northern Israel residents that "there is no ceasefire in Lebanon," despite Lebanese officials' calls for a truce before talks begin.
Strikes ease temporarily as hospitals face evacuation crisis
Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon, which targeted Hezbollah rocket launch sites on Thursday, appeared to taper off overnight. Trump later stated that Israel would "scale back" its operations to support peace efforts, following a phone call with Netanyahu.
New evacuation warnings were issued for Beirut's southern suburbs, including the Jnah area, home to two major hospitals. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned on X that no alternative medical facilities were available for the 450 patients-including 40 in intensive care-making evacuations "operationally unfeasible."
Lebanon's health ministry reported 1,150 injuries and 303 deaths from Wednesday's strikes, while the WHO noted that a Ministry of Public Health building sheltering 5,000 people also fell within the evacuation zone.
Ceasefire confusion fuels escalation
Disagreements over the ceasefire's terms triggered fresh violence. Iranian officials and Pakistani mediators claimed Lebanon was included in the truce, while US and Israeli officials denied this. In response to Israel's strikes-the heaviest in six weeks-Iran accused Israel of violating the agreement, halted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, and threatened retaliation.
Trump weighed in on Truth Social, warning Iran against charging fees to tankers in the strait, which handles 20% of global oil and LNG traffic. "They better not be, and if they are, they better stop now," he wrote.
Lebanon's government struggles to assert control
Israel's military continues to occupy parts of southern Lebanon, where villages have been destroyed in recent days. The lack of a temporary ceasefire raises doubts about the productivity of upcoming talks.
Lebanon's government, which will negotiate with Israel, holds limited influence over Hezbollah-a separate, Iran-backed entity despite its political representation. Though the government banned Hezbollah's military activities in March, the group has continued operations.
On Thursday, Lebanon's cabinet ordered security forces to restrict weapons in Beirut to state institutions. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam stated, "The army and security forces are requested to immediately begin reinforcing the full imposition of state authority over Beirut Governorate." Netanyahu's office welcomed the move, framing negotiations as a path to "disarming Hezbollah and establishing peace."
Decades-long conflict escalates further
The latest surge in hostilities began when Hezbollah fired rockets into Israel in retaliation for the killing of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and ongoing Israeli strikes in Lebanon, despite a November 2024 ceasefire.
Lebanon's health ministry reports over 1,800 deaths-including at least 130 children-though it does not distinguish between combatants and civilians. Israel claims to have killed around 1,100 Hezbollah fighters. More than 1.2 million people, or one-fifth of Lebanon's population, have been displaced, primarily from Shia Muslim communities.
