Military option 'inevitable' if Iran nuclear talks drag on, says Netanyahu
The military option is “inevitable” against Iran if talks on its nuclear program drag on, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a video released on Tuesday.
With Trump, “we agree that Iran must not have nuclear weapons,” Netanyahu, who met the U.S. president at the White House on Monday, says in the video, reported by AFP. “That can be done by an agreement, but only: we go in, we blow up the facilities, we dismantle all the equipment, under American supervision with American implementation, that would be good,” he added, but "the second option, if that's not the case, is [for the Iranians] to drag out the talks, and then the military option becomes inevitable."
Saudi Foreign Minister in Washington
Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhane arrived in the U.S. on Tuesday for an official visit ahead of U.S. President Donald Trump's expected trip to Saudi Arabia later this spring, a source close to the Saudi royal palace told Reuters.
Bin Farhane is due to discuss the situation in Gaza and the status of the Houthis in Yemen during his meetings with U.S. government officials, according to the source, who added that the visit had been planned before the announcement of new U.S. tariffs last week.
In the press
A damaged, uninhabited residential building in the Kafaat neighborhood in Beirut's southern suburbs collapsed during construction work, according to a video broadcast by Al-Jadeed.
The Union of Municipalities of the southern suburbs could not be immediately reached.
A neighboring resident told L'Orient Today that buildings damaged by Israeli strikes are regularly knocked down by municipalities or end up collapsing on their own, without leaving any casualties.
OCHA chief Martin Griffiths speaks out
In an interview with Al-Jazeera, Martin Griffiths, the head of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), described the lack of international condemnation of Israel's actions as a "startling reality."
Griffiths, who is set to step down from his position in June due to health reasons, spoke on the absence of global pressure on Israel to halt its ongoing actions in Gaza, which he referred to as genocide.
Gaza Death Toll
At least 58 Palestinians have been killed and 213 injured in Israeli airstrikes across the Gaza Strip in the last 24 hours, according to the Health Ministry in Gaza.
Many victims remain trapped under rubble or stranded on roads, unable to be reached by ambulances and Civil Defence teams, the ministry's statement revealed.
Since the ceasefire was broken on March 18, Israel has killed 1,449 people and injured 3,647 others, the ministry added.
South Lebanon
An Israeli missile, that failed to detonate during the war between Hezbollah and Israel, finally exploded in Kfar Tebnit, a village located southeast of Nabatieh, damaging a house, reports our correspondent from the region.
Israeli forces detain 38 Palestinians in West Bank amid military surges
Israeli forces have detained at least 38 Palestinians across the occupied West Bank, as reported by the Palestinian Prisoners' Media Office (ASRA). This latest wave of arrests coincides with an escalation in Israeli military operations throughout the region.
The arrests were spread across various areas, with 18 individuals taken in Tubas, nine in Bethlehem, six in Nablus, three in Ramallah, and two in Hebron.
Two injured in Israeli gun fire at Mais al-Jabal
Two people injured in Mais al-Jabal, in the Marjeyoun district, after Israeli army machine gun fire targeted the border village. The shots were directed at individuals in the Kroum abou al-Aala area, east of the village, during an inspection tour by the South Lebanon Council, who were checking the condition of houses destroyed or damaged during the war. One of the injured was directly shot, while the other was lightly wounded by stone shrapnel.
Lebanese Army finds two old rockets south of Sour
Lebanese Army found two rusted, old rockets in al-Qlailah, south of Sour, according to reports from our correspondent. These were not rockets that had been fired and intercepted by the army, the projectiles found were not prepared for launch.
Woman injured in Israeli strike in Sour succumbs to injuries
Nawal Safi Awad, who was injured on March 22 in an Israeli strike on Sour, south Lebanon, has succumbed to her injuries, according to reports from our correspondent in south Lebanon. The Israeli air force struck Sour twice following unclaimed rocket fire from Lebanon towards Israel.
Israeli drone dropped a stun grenade near a van located close to fishing port of Ras Naqoura
On the southernmost coast of Lebanon, according to reports from our correspondent. Ambulances were dispatched to the scene, but so far, it appears that the attack did not result in any injuries.
Israeli strike on journalists in Khan Younis: Ahmad Mansour has succumbed to his injuries
A media outlet affiliated with Hamas has confirmed the killing of its journalist, Ahmad Mansour, in an Israeli airstrike on Khan Younis, in the south Gaza.
"Ahmad Mansour, a journalist for the Palestine Today news agency, was killed by an Israeli bombing of a journalists' tent located near Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis," the agency, which is linked to the Hamas, stated in a press release. Images of Mansour, burned alive in the tent after it was struck and set ablaze, circulated on social media platforms on Monday.
Israeli overflights in South Lebanon
After a violent day yesterday, last night in South Lebanon remained relatively calm, with only low-altitude drone overflights observed over the Sour region. This morning, drones were reported to be above Nabatieh, according to our correspondent in South Lebanon.
Araghchi to hold "indirect" talks with Witkoff on Saturday
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is set to hold "indirect" talks with U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff on Saturday in Oman, as reported by the local Tasnim agency on Tuesday.
Araghchi confirmed the "indirect talks" with the U.S. envoy in a message to a Tasnim journalist, though the agency did not provide further details. This announcement follows U.S. President Donald Trump's statement that "direct" talks with Iran had begun and would continue on Saturday.
Trump announces 'direct' talks with Iran on nuclear program
Donald Trump surprised many last night by announcing that Washington is holding "direct" talks with Iran over its nuclear program during a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
"We are having direct discussions with Iran. They started, they will continue on Saturday, and we will have a very big meeting," said the U.S. President. He added that the upcoming meeting on Saturday, the location of which is unknown, would be "at a very high level" and possibly "at the highest level" of importance.
Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi confirmed that "high-level indirect discussions" between the U.S. and Iran will take place on Saturday in Oman. "This is both an opportunity and a test. The ball is in the American court," Araghchi wrote on X, after President Trump stated that the U.S. is holding "direct" talks with Tehran on its nuclear program.
Trump confident in resolving 'problem' between Israel and Turkey
Donald Trump expressed confidence yesterday that he could resolve the "problem" between Israel and Turkey over Syria. Citing his good relationship with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who, according to Trump, has "effectively taken control" of the country.
"I have good relations with a man named Erdogan. Have you heard of him? I happen to like him, and he likes me," Trump said to the press in the Oval Office after meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. "I told the Prime Minister, 'If you have a problem with Turkey, I really think I can solve it,'" he added.
Netanyahu had previously stated that he did not want Syria to be used by anyone, including Turkey, as a base for attacks on Israel.
Israeli airstrikes in Gaza: civil defense reports 19 deaths since Monday evening
The Civil Defense of the Gaza Strip announced that 19 people have been killed in Israeli airstrikes since Monday evening on the Palestinian coastal territory.
Nine people, including five children, were killed before midnight in an airstrike on a house in Deir al-Balah (central Gaza). At dawn, another ten people were killed in two separate strikes, one in Gaza City and the other in Beit Lahia (northern Gaza), according to Mahmoud Bassal, spokesperson for the civil defense organization.
Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of the situation in Lebanon and the Middle East. South Lebanon is still bombarded daily by the Israeli army. In Gaza, Israel is intensifying its air and ground offensives, we will also follow developments in Israel, the occupied West Bank, Yemen, and Syria.
Macron Expected in al-Arich, Egypt’s 'Outpost' for Gaza aid blocked by Israel
Emmanuel Macron is set to visit al-Arich today, Egypt’s 'outpost' for humanitarian support to Gaza, to call for the aid blocked by Israel to be let through. Israel resumed military operations against the Palestinian enclave after two months of cease-fire. This rare visit by a European leader to the Gaza border area, accompanied by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, comes amid heightened tensions.
On March 23, 15 people were killed by Israeli gunfire on ambulances in Rafah, a crossing point between Egypt and Gaza, 50 km from al-Arich, according to the U.N. and the Palestinian Red Crescent. The tragedy has sparked international outrage, and the Israeli army chief ordered a "more thorough investigation" on Monday.
Deadly day in South Lebanon on Monday
Yesterday, a series of violent airstrikes conducted by Israeli combat helicopters and drones, resulted in at least three deaths: a Hezbollah official killed in Taybeh and two Syrians killed in Khiam.
Military option 'inevitable' if Iran nuclear talks drag on, says Netanyahu
The military option is “inevitable” against Iran if talks on its nuclear program drag on, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a video released on Tuesday.
With Trump, “we agree that Iran must not have nuclear weapons,” Netanyahu, who met the U.S. president at the White House on Monday, says in the video, reported by AFP. “That can be done by an agreement, but only: we go in, we blow up the facilities, we dismantle all the equipment, under American supervision with American implementation, that would be good,” he added, but "the second option, if that's not the case, is [for the Iranians] to drag out the talks, and then the military option becomes inevitable."
Saudi Foreign Minister in Washington
Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhane arrived in the U.S. on Tuesday for an official visit ahead of U.S. President Donald Trump's expected trip to Saudi Arabia later this spring, a source close to the Saudi royal palace told Reuters.
Bin Farhane is due to discuss the situation in Gaza and the status of the Houthis in Yemen during his meetings with U.S. government officials, according to the source, who added that the visit had been planned before the announcement of new U.S. tariffs last week.
In the press
A damaged, uninhabited residential building in the Kafaat neighborhood in Beirut's southern suburbs collapsed during construction work, according to a video broadcast by Al-Jadeed.
The Union of Municipalities of the southern suburbs could not be immediately reached.
A neighboring resident told L'Orient Today that buildings damaged by Israeli strikes are regularly knocked down by municipalities or end up collapsing on their own, without leaving any casualties.
OCHA chief Martin Griffiths speaks out
In an interview with Al-Jazeera, Martin Griffiths, the head of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), described the lack of international condemnation of Israel's actions as a "startling reality."
Griffiths, who is set to step down from his position in June due to health reasons, spoke on the absence of global pressure on Israel to halt its ongoing actions in Gaza, which he referred to as genocide.
Gaza Death Toll
At least 58 Palestinians have been killed and 213 injured in Israeli airstrikes across the Gaza Strip in the last 24 hours, according to the Health Ministry in Gaza.
Many victims remain trapped under rubble or stranded on roads, unable to be reached by ambulances and Civil Defence teams, the ministry's statement revealed.
Since the ceasefire was broken on March 18, Israel has killed 1,449 people and injured 3,647 others, the ministry added.
South Lebanon
An Israeli missile, that failed to detonate during the war between Hezbollah and Israel, finally exploded in Kfar Tebnit, a village located southeast of Nabatieh, damaging a house, reports our correspondent from the region.
Israeli forces detain 38 Palestinians in West Bank amid military surges
Israeli forces have detained at least 38 Palestinians across the occupied West Bank, as reported by the Palestinian Prisoners' Media Office (ASRA). This latest wave of arrests coincides with an escalation in Israeli military operations throughout the region.
The arrests were spread across various areas, with 18 individuals taken in Tubas, nine in Bethlehem, six in Nablus, three in Ramallah, and two in Hebron.
Two injured in Israeli gun fire at Mais al-Jabal
Two people injured in Mais al-Jabal, in the Marjeyoun district, after Israeli army machine gun fire targeted the border village. The shots were directed at individuals in the Kroum abou al-Aala area, east of the village, during an inspection tour by the South Lebanon Council, who were checking the condition of houses destroyed or damaged during the war. One of the injured was directly shot, while the other was lightly wounded by stone shrapnel.
Lebanese Army finds two old rockets south of Sour
Lebanese Army found two rusted, old rockets in al-Qlailah, south of Sour, according to reports from our correspondent. These were not rockets that had been fired and intercepted by the army, the projectiles found were not prepared for launch.
Woman injured in Israeli strike in Sour succumbs to injuries
Nawal Safi Awad, who was injured on March 22 in an Israeli strike on Sour, south Lebanon, has succumbed to her injuries, according to reports from our correspondent in south Lebanon. The Israeli air force struck Sour twice following unclaimed rocket fire from Lebanon towards Israel.
Israeli drone dropped a stun grenade near a van located close to fishing port of Ras Naqoura
On the southernmost coast of Lebanon, according to reports from our correspondent. Ambulances were dispatched to the scene, but so far, it appears that the attack did not result in any injuries.
Israeli strike on journalists in Khan Younis: Ahmad Mansour has succumbed to his injuries
A media outlet affiliated with Hamas has confirmed the killing of its journalist, Ahmad Mansour, in an Israeli airstrike on Khan Younis, in the south Gaza.
"Ahmad Mansour, a journalist for the Palestine Today news agency, was killed by an Israeli bombing of a journalists' tent located near Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis," the agency, which is linked to the Hamas, stated in a press release. Images of Mansour, burned alive in the tent after it was struck and set ablaze, circulated on social media platforms on Monday.
Israeli overflights in South Lebanon
After a violent day yesterday, last night in South Lebanon remained relatively calm, with only low-altitude drone overflights observed over the Sour region. This morning, drones were reported to be above Nabatieh, according to our correspondent in South Lebanon.
Araghchi to hold "indirect" talks with Witkoff on Saturday
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is set to hold "indirect" talks with U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff on Saturday in Oman, as reported by the local Tasnim agency on Tuesday.
Araghchi confirmed the "indirect talks" with the U.S. envoy in a message to a Tasnim journalist, though the agency did not provide further details. This announcement follows U.S. President Donald Trump's statement that "direct" talks with Iran had begun and would continue on Saturday.
Trump announces 'direct' talks with Iran on nuclear program
Donald Trump surprised many last night by announcing that Washington is holding "direct" talks with Iran over its nuclear program during a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
"We are having direct discussions with Iran. They started, they will continue on Saturday, and we will have a very big meeting," said the U.S. President. He added that the upcoming meeting on Saturday, the location of which is unknown, would be "at a very high level" and possibly "at the highest level" of importance.
Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi confirmed that "high-level indirect discussions" between the U.S. and Iran will take place on Saturday in Oman. "This is both an opportunity and a test. The ball is in the American court," Araghchi wrote on X, after President Trump stated that the U.S. is holding "direct" talks with Tehran on its nuclear program.
Trump confident in resolving 'problem' between Israel and Turkey
Donald Trump expressed confidence yesterday that he could resolve the "problem" between Israel and Turkey over Syria. Citing his good relationship with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who, according to Trump, has "effectively taken control" of the country.
"I have good relations with a man named Erdogan. Have you heard of him? I happen to like him, and he likes me," Trump said to the press in the Oval Office after meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. "I told the Prime Minister, 'If you have a problem with Turkey, I really think I can solve it,'" he added.
Netanyahu had previously stated that he did not want Syria to be used by anyone, including Turkey, as a base for attacks on Israel.
Israeli airstrikes in Gaza: civil defense reports 19 deaths since Monday evening
The Civil Defense of the Gaza Strip announced that 19 people have been killed in Israeli airstrikes since Monday evening on the Palestinian coastal territory.
Nine people, including five children, were killed before midnight in an airstrike on a house in Deir al-Balah (central Gaza). At dawn, another ten people were killed in two separate strikes, one in Gaza City and the other in Beit Lahia (northern Gaza), according to Mahmoud Bassal, spokesperson for the civil defense organization.
Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of the situation in Lebanon and the Middle East. South Lebanon is still bombarded daily by the Israeli army. In Gaza, Israel is intensifying its air and ground offensives, we will also follow developments in Israel, the occupied West Bank, Yemen, and Syria.
Macron Expected in al-Arich, Egypt’s 'Outpost' for Gaza aid blocked by Israel
Emmanuel Macron is set to visit al-Arich today, Egypt’s 'outpost' for humanitarian support to Gaza, to call for the aid blocked by Israel to be let through. Israel resumed military operations against the Palestinian enclave after two months of cease-fire. This rare visit by a European leader to the Gaza border area, accompanied by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, comes amid heightened tensions.
On March 23, 15 people were killed by Israeli gunfire on ambulances in Rafah, a crossing point between Egypt and Gaza, 50 km from al-Arich, according to the U.N. and the Palestinian Red Crescent. The tragedy has sparked international outrage, and the Israeli army chief ordered a "more thorough investigation" on Monday.
Deadly day in South Lebanon on Monday
Yesterday, a series of violent airstrikes conducted by Israeli combat helicopters and drones, resulted in at least three deaths: a Hezbollah official killed in Taybeh and two Syrians killed in Khiam.
You have reached your article limit
Get unlimited access for just $1
Read all our reports, analyses, videos, special series, and much more!
This article is only available to L’Orient Today subscribers.
Already have an account? Login here
