UK sanctions 2 Israeli ministers | Live

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The Israeli army's Arabic-language spokesperson announced that the army had "eliminated a member of Hezbollah and another member of the Lebanese Resistance Brigades, operating under the direction of Hezbollah, in the village of Shebaa."

According to Avichay Adraee, "the terrorists were involved in using weapons used by Hezbollah for terrorist and reconnaissance purposes against the Israeli army in the region."

As usual, the spokesperson reiterated on X that these "activities constitute a flagrant violation" of the cease-fire agreement that ended the war between Israel and Hezbollah. He also said that "the Israeli army will continue to act to eliminate any threat to the State of Israel."

The Israeli army announced Tuesday evening that warning sirens sounded in several regions of the country after a projectile was fired from Yemen, where Houthi rebels regularly launch missiles and drones towards Israel.

"Sirens sounded in several areas of Israel following a projectile launched from Yemen. Details are being examined," the army said in a statement. AFP journalists heard loud bangs in the distance over Jerusalem, similar to those of previous projectile interceptions. 

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday there has been "significant progress" toward a potential deal to release hostages held in Gaza.

"It's too early to raise hopes, but we are working around the clock at this very hour," Netanyahu said in a video released by his office.

However, senior Israeli officials told Haaretz it remains unclear whether a breakthrough was actually within reach.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said Tuesday that Israel had been informed of the United Kingdom's decision to sanction two ministers, calling the decision "outrageous," according to AFP.

"We have been informed of the U.K.'s decision to list two of our ministers on the British sanctions list. It is outrageous that elected representatives and government members are subject to such measures," Saar said at a press conference, without naming the targeted ministers.

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and his counterpart in national security, Itamar Ben Gvir, both far-right figures, condemned the decision.

U.K.-based newspaper The Times reported that Britain is expected to impose sanctions on ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich. According to the report, the sanctions would include asset freezes and ban the ministers from entering the United Kingdom, while British financial institutions would be prohibited from maintaining ties with those affected. The Times added that the sanctions imposed on the two are similar to those imposed on Russian officials connected to the war in Ukraine.

New Israeli incursion near Markaba in southern Lebanon

Following earthworks on the outskirts of Markaba, southern Lebanon, in the district of Marjayoun, Israeli soldiers withdrew from the scene. According to our correspondent in southern Lebanon, the work took place on Lebanese territory near a UNIFIL base.

UNRWA director, Philippe Lazzarini, said on Tuesday that the current aid distribution system set up by Israel and the United States "does not intend to address hunger," amid the numerous reports of civilians killed by gunfire at or near the distribution sites these last few weeks.

"Aid deliveries & distribution must be at scale and safe," Lazzarini wrote on X, adding that in Gaza, it can only be done by the U.N. and UNRWA. "We have the expertise, the knowledge and community trust," he said.

The United States and Israel are seeking to turn nuclear talks into a "strategic trap" for Iran, Iranian lawmakers said in a statement on Tuesday, days before a planned sixth round of Iran-U.S. nuclear talks, according to Reuters.

The legislators added that they believe the United States is not serious in nuclear talks with Iran, aiming only to impose its demands.

Syria: 2 killed in drone strikes in Idlib

Two people have been killed in two drone strikes of unknown origin in the Idlib region of northwest Syria, a stronghold of former Islamist rebels now in power, rescue workers said. On X, the White Helmets, a Syrian rescue organization, reported that a person on a motorcycle “was killed in a drone attack.” Another person was killed in another drone strike targeting “a car with four people on board ... on the road leading to an IDP camp in Atme, in the north of the Idlib region.”

No party has announced carrying out these attacks, but the United States, whose troops are deployed in Syria as part of an international coalition set up to fight the jihadists of the Islamic State (ISIS) group, regularly carries out strikes in this region.

Read more here.

Israeli forces withdrew from the outskirts of the town of Markaba (Marjayoun) after carrying out a bulldozing operation near the UNIFIL headquarters, our correspondent reported.

After new incident with 'individuals in civilian clothes' in Sour, UNIFIL appeals to Lebanese authorities

Once again, an incident broke out this morning between residents of southern Lebanon and a patrol of the U.N. Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), leading to the use by the peacekeepers of “non-lethal measures,” including, according to local residents, firing in the air and tear gas. Following this latest rise in tension, the U.N. force called on the Lebanese authorities to “take the necessary measures” to ensure that its peacekeepers could “carry out their mission without hindrance or threat.”

Read more here.

The Israeli army is carrying out a bulldozing operation on the outskirts of the town of Markaba (Marjayoun), under the Lebanese Army post, near the UNIFIL position, our correspondent in the South reported.

The Israeli army said on Tuesday that it fired "warning shots to distance suspects who were advancing in the area of Wadi Gaza and posed a threat to the troops," referring to an incident where Gaza's health officials reported 17 Palestinians were killed near an aid distribution site.

The military said that it designated the area as an active combat zone, adding that the number of those reported injured "does not align with the information held by the [Israeli army]."

"The warning shots were fired hundreds of meters from the aid distribution site, prior to its opening hours and toward the suspects who posed a threat to the troops," it added.

Israeli army says it intercepted 'projectile' fired from Gaza Strip

The Israeli army said it had intercepted a “projectile” fired from the Gaza Strip, where Israel has been at war with Hamas for more than 20 months.

“Following the sirens that sounded at 10:53 in the Zikim beach area, a projectile that had entered Israeli territory from the northern Gaza Strip was intercepted by the Israeli Air Force,” the army said in a statement, without giving further details of this situation, which had not occurred for weeks.

At least 17 killed at GHF aid distribution site south of Gaza City

Gaza's al-Quds Hospital said that 12 dead and 124 wounded had been brought to the hospital from an aid distribution site near the Netzarim corridor, south of Gaza City.

The Israeli army told Reuters that it was “examining the incident.” The Gaza Humanitarian Fund, responsible for these aid distributions, has yet to comment, according to Haaretz. Witnesses to the scene reported that Palestinians waiting for aid at the site were hit by gunfire and artillery fire.

3 ambulance drivers killed in Gaza City, Hamas condemns 'war crime'

Hamas condemned what it called a “war crime” after three paramedics were killed in an Israeli attack in Gaza City's al-Tuffah neighborhood.

“Targeting those helping the victims represents an unprecedented level of brutality and criminality, and reveals the occupation's efforts to stifle all means of survival and relief in Gaza,” read the statement posted on Telegram.

Israeli army encircles West Bank old town in its 'biggest operation in decades'

Palestinian sources in Nablus told Haaretz that the Israeli army has surrounded the Old City of Nablus in the occupied West Bank and laid siege to the area. The sources added that the army was conducting searches in what appears to be the largest Israeli operation in the city for more than two decades.

Health officials in Nablus reported that many Palestinians had to be treated for inhaling tear gas.

Middle East: Arab, Iranian foreign ministers to meet in Norway this week

Foreign ministers from Iran, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Oman are expected in Norway this week for an annual peace forum, the Norwegian government has announced.

Iran's Abbas Araghchi, his country's chief negotiator on the nuclear issue, Syria's Asaad al-Shaibani, Saudi Prince Faisal ben Farhan, Egypt's Badr Abelatty and Oman's Badr al-Boussaidi will take part on Wednesday and Thursday in the Oslo Forum, an annual gathering devoted to peace issues, to be held behind strict closed doors in Lørenskog, some 15 kilometers from the Norwegian capital.

In letter to Macron, MBS, Mahmoud Abbas says he favors demilitarizing Hamas, with no role in governing Gaza

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has said he is in favor of Hamas “laying down its arms” and “no longer ruling Gaza” as part of a future Palestinian state, in a series of written commitments ahead of a U.N. conference, the Elysée Palace has announced.

In a letter sent on Monday to French President Emmanuel Macron and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who will co-chair this conference on the so-called two-state solution from June 17 to 21 in New York, Abbas also says he is “ready to invite Arab and international forces to deploy as part of a stabilization/protection mission with a Security Council mandate.” “What Hamas did on Oct. 7, 2023, killing and taking civilians hostage, is unacceptable and condemnable," writes the President of the Palestinian Authority, calling on the Palestinian Islamist movement to "immediately release all hostages and detainees."

Israeli strike near Shebaa: Health Ministry confirms death of 2 people

The Lebanese Health Ministry confirmed in a brief statement that the Israeli drone strike on Shebaa killed two people.

Trump should tell Netanyahu 'enough is enough,' argues former Israeli Prime Minister Olmert

U.S. President Donald Trump should say “enough is enough,” argues former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, denouncing the "criminal" continuation of the war in Gaza for “personal interests” and advocating a two-state solution as the only guarantee of lasting peace.

The United States has more influence over the Israeli government than “all the other powers combined,” said Olmert, former Prime Minister of Israel from 2006 to 2009, believing that Trump “can make a difference,” in an interview with AFP on Monday evening. He attacked Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for having “totally failed” to protect his people during the Hamas attack on Oct. 7, 2023.

Israeli Navy strikes on port of Hodeida in Yemen

The Israeli navy has struck the port of Hodeida in western Yemen with missile boats in response to recent missile and drone strikes by Houthi rebels towards Israeli territory, according to an Israeli army statement. “This morning [Tuesday], Israeli navy missile boats struck targets belonging to the terrorist Houthi regime in the port of Hodeida ... in response to the Houthi regime's aggressive actions towards the State of Israel, including the launching of missiles and drones towards Israeli territory and citizens,” the army said in the statement.

Earlier, the Houthi rebel channel reported Israeli strikes against the port of Hodeida, the day after the Israeli army called for the evacuation of three Yemeni ports.

Madleen crew transferred to Tel Aviv airport for repatriation

The activists aboard the sailing vessel Madleen, boarded by Israel while attempting to reach the Gaza Strip, have been transferred to Tel Aviv airport for repatriation, the Israeli Foreign Ministry announced on Tuesday. The activists include Greta Thunberg and French MEP Rima Hassan.

“Those who refuse to sign the deportation papers and leave Israel will be brought before a judicial authority in accordance with Israeli law,” the ministry said on X.

New Iran-US nuclear meeting scheduled for Sunday

In this context, a new meeting between Iran and the United States on Tehran's nuclear program will take place this week, the two countries have announced. “The next round of indirect negotiations between Iran and the United States is scheduled for next Sunday in Muscat,” Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghai said in a statement.

U.S. President Donald Trump had previously announced that the meeting would take place on Thursday.

On Monday, the Iranian spokesman had announced that his country would “soon” be putting forward its own proposal for a potential nuclear deal, following the submission of an American offer that does not seem to have convinced Tehran. Talks are still stalled over the issue of Iranian uranium enrichment. “They want enrichment [of uranium], they can't have enrichment,” insisted Trump.

Trump told Netanyahu he had made Iran a 'reasonable offer,' says Israel

U.S. President Donald Trump informed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a phone call last night that Washington had passed on a “reasonable offer” to Tehran in their talks on Iran's nuclear program, according to a brief statement from Netanyahu's office.

“The prime minister ... spoke this evening with Mr. Trump,” the text said. The American president informed him “that the United States had transmitted a reasonable offer to Iran, and that it expected to receive a response in the coming days.”

New Israeli incursion at Mais al-Jabal overnight

In southern Lebanon, around 10 p.m. last night, some 20 Israeli soldiers crossed the Blue Line in the area known as Kouroum al-Mrah, near Mais al-Jabal (Marjayoun) and searched the area for over an hour, according to our correspondent.

The Israeli army has already infiltrated this area several times in recent weeks. At the end of May, it dug a long trench bordered by an earthen embankment. The berm was backfilled the following day by the Lebanese Army.

During the night, Israeli drones flew over towns and villages in the South, mainly over Bint Jbeil, according to local residents.

Father and son killed by Israeli drone strike in southern Lebanon

A father, identified as Mohammad Kanaan, and his son, Wael, were killed by an Israeli drone strike in Wadi Genaam, near Shebaa (Hasbaya district), while they were grazing their sheep, according to information from local sources by our correspondent.

The victim's second son was also wounded in the shooting. The remains and the wounded man were taken by the Lebanese Red Cross to the government hospital in Marjayoun. It took some time for rescue workers and local residents to reach the bodies due to the constant overflight of Israeli drones over the area where the three men were targeted, according to local sources.

Start with a thorough primer on yesterday's news and what to expect today:

☀️ Morning Brief ☀️

Good morning!🌅 We are launching our live coverage of the Middle East, particularly Gaza and southern Lebanon, which continues to be bombarded despite more than six months of an unstable cease-fire.

We'll also be covering the situation in Yemen, as well as the occupied West Bank and Syria.