Trump calls on Israel not to strike Iran, says nuclear deal 'fairly close' | LIVE

That concludes our live coverage for today, thanks for joining us. We'll be back tomorrow morning with more news updates and analysis. Goodnight.

One killed in Israeli strike on Nabatieh al-Fawqa

One person has been declared dead in the Israeli drone strike that targeted a moped an hour ago on a road in Nabatieh district connecting Nabatieh al-Fawqa and Kfar Tebnit. We had reported one person injured and transported to the hospital. According to our count, this brings the total number of people killed in Lebanon by Israel since it agreed to a cease-fire with Hezbollah to at least 176 people.

Witkoff warned senators that Iran could inflict mass casualty response to Israeli attack

American envoy Steve Witkoff warned top Senate Republicans last week that Iran could unleash an attack with mass casualties if Israel bombs their nuclear facilities, Axios reports, citing a U.S. official and a source with direct knowledge of the comments.

Retaliation from Iran, should Israel strike it in the event that U.S.-Iran nuclear talks fails this weekend, could overwhelm Israel's defenses and cause heavy damage, Witkoff reportedly said.

Israeli officials have said the Israeli army is on high alert and that Netanyahu is waiting for a green light from Trump to make his move against Iran. During a closed-door briefing on Iran with a group of Republican senators last week, Witkoff warned that military strikes by Israel are on the table if no agreement is reached.

Israeli drone strikes moped in southern Lebanon

An Israeli drone struck a moped with a missile as it was traveling on the road between Nabatieh al-Fawqa and Kfar Tebnit, in Nabatieh district, our correspondent in the South reports. Ambulances rushed to the scene and one person was taken to hospital with injuries. Israeli drones continue to fly over the region. This is the second time today the Israeli army has struck southern Lebanon, in violation of the cease-fire agreement brought into effect in November.

Israel says no change to home front command

Amid reports claiming that Israel is ready to carry out an attack on Iran in the coming days, the Israeli army's Home Front Command says there are no changes to guidelines for civilians, Times of Israel reports.

“Following the rumors in the media and on [social] networks, the Home Front Command wishes to make it clear that there is no change in guidelines for the public,” the army said in a statement.

Several reports over the last day have said U.S. officials think Israel could be preparing to strike Iran in the coming days, even as U.S. and Iranian representatives are set to continue talks this Sunday in Oman on the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program.

However, the U.S. ambassador to Jerusalem has stressed he doesn’t believe Israel would strike without a green light from Trump, who today reiterated his call for Israel to hold off on such an attack as nuclear negotiations continue.

Israel expands no-go zone in Gaza, pushing Palestinians west

The Israeli army has issued another evacuation notice for southern Gaza, expanding an already vast no-go zone in the besieged territory that pushes Gaza's approximately two million inhabitants into an increasingly shrinking space.

According to a statement released by its Arabic-speaking spokesperson directed at those in the targeted neighborhoods, the Israeli army is "operating with great force in the areas where you are located to destroy the capabilities of the terror organizations." The statement orders Palestinians to move west toward the sea.

Trump says nuclear deal is close and Israel shouldn't strike Iran

U.S. President Donald Trump called on ally Israel not to strike Iran, saying that a deal remained close on Tehran's nuclear program, AFP reports. "We are fairly close to a pretty good agreement," Trump told reporters, saying of Israel: "I don't want them going in, because I think it would blow it."

Trump added that he would "love to avoid a conflict" with Iran, but warned more concessions are needed before a deal can be reached, Haaretz reports.

Iran has to "give us some things they're not willing to give us right now," Trump said during a bill signing ceremony at the White House. "It's very simple, not complicated. Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon," he continued, and appeared to suggest an Israeli attack on Iran's nuclear facilities "could very well happen."

When asked if he is trying to talk Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu out of attacking Iran, the president said the U.S. has had "very good discussions" with Iran, and that he opposes an Israeli attack as long as he thinks an agreement could be reached. "It would blow it. It might help it, actually. But it could also blow it."

Responding to evacuation preparations by U.S. institutions in the Middle East, Trump said, "We have a lot of American people in this area, and I said, 'we've gotta tell them to get out because something could happen soon.' I don't wanna be the one who didn't give any warning, and missiles fly into their buildings. It's possible."

Sources say Israel considering Iran attack in coming days

ABC News is reporting, citing three sources familiar with the situation, that Israel is considering taking military action against Iran in the coming days.

According to the report, the sources were not aware of a specific U.S. role in an Israeli strike on Iran, though it is possible the U.S. could play a logistical role and share intelligence with Israel that could be used for such a strike.

The U.S. and Iran are scheduled to meet in Oman on Sunday for the sixth round of nuclear negotiations. Israel, Iran and the U.S. have been exchanging heated rhetoric and escalating threats in the last 24 hours,  

Iran at 'highest level of military readiness,' says senior official

A senior Iranian security official told the country's semi-official Tasnim news agency that Iran is "currently at its highest level of military readiness."

"If the United States or the Zionist regime [Israel] attempts any act of aggression, they will be caught by surprise,” the anonymous official is quoted as saying.

He added that recent moves by the  U.S. to pull out diplomats and military families from regional embassies and restrict the movements of remaining personnel is not being perceived as a threat. “What the Americans are doing is not a message of threat to Iran, but rather a reaction to Iran’s threats against their interests,” he said.

South Lebanon: Israeli army blows up poultry farm in Aita al-Shaab

At dawn this morning, Israseli soldiers penetrated the outskirts of the village of Aita al-Shaab, in Bint Jbeil district, and blew up a poultry farm, before withdrawing again. The village sits opposite the al-Raheb Israeli military post. Israeli soldiers infiltrated Lebanese territory three times on Wednesday and the army continues to occupy five posts in Lebanon along the Blue Line, in violation of the cease-fire agreement.

Egypt deports dozens, detains more than 200, planning march to Gaza to protest Israeli blockade

Egyptian authorities have deported dozens of foreign nationals who arrived in Egypt to take part in the pro-Palestinian Global March to Gaza, with dozens more facing deportation, the organizers and airport and security sources told Reuters. Middle East Eye also reports that more than 200 people who had arrived in Cairo to participate in the march were detained and questioned by Egyptian authorities.

According to the march organizers, some 4000 people from over 40 countries had booked flights to Cairo, with many already arriving ahead of the planned march, an international initiative intended to exert pressure for an end to an Israeli blockade of the Palestinian enclave and draw attention to the humanitarian crisis there.

Organizers said people from 80 countries were set to begin the march to Egypt's Rafah Crossing with Gaza, and confirmed some had been deported or were detained at the airport. Three airport sources told Reuters at least 73 foreign nationals had been deported on a flight to Istanbul on Thursday after authorities said they violated entry protocols, and that about 100 more were at the airport awaiting deportation.

Read the full report here. 👈

(Credit: Muntasser Abdallah.)

Witnesses saw a Lebanese Army convoy transporting military vehicles, possibly seized from Hezbollah, crossing Saida en route to Beirut, according to our correspondent in southern Lebanon.

⚡Israeli army issues new evacuation orders for Gaza City as death toll rises

The Israeli army on Thursday ordered residents of Gaza City to evacuate several neighborhoods, which it identified as "combat zones" in the northern part of the Palestinian territory.

Israeli soldiers "are operating in the area where you are located," a military spokesperson said, displaying a map marking several neighborhoods in red, including Gaza's Old City. "For your safety, evacuate immediately to known shelters in the west of Gaza City," the spokesperson added.

Israeli airstrikes have killed at least 52 Palestinians since the start of the day, according to medical sources cited by Al Jazeera. Among the dead were six people who were hospitalized at Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City after Israeli airstrikes targeted those waiting in line for food aid, killing at least 26, the same sources reported.

According to our correspondent, the motorcyclist targeted by the Israeli drone strike in Deir Seriane (Marjayoun) is a paramedic with the al-Rissala Scouts, affiliated with the Amal movement.

An Israeli drone fired a rocket at a motorcycle in Deir Seriane (Marjayoun), southern Lebanon, leaving one person seriously injured and hospitalized, according to our correspondent.

Iran's third enrichment facility ready for operation, says nuclear chief

According to Reuters, Iran's nuclear chief Mohammad Eslami has stated that a third enrichment facility, announced as a countermeasure to a U.N. nuclear watchdog resolution, has been constructed and is ready to begin operations once the necessary machinery is installed.

Explosion sounds heard in the eastern Bekaa region, according to our correspondent.

The sounds are coming from the Lebanese Army's firing range in Taybeh (Baalbek), where a unit from the Army's engineering regiment is detonating unexploded Israeli-origin munitions left in the Bekaa Valley.

⚡Iran warns Israel of unprecedented retaliation

Iran has warned that any Israeli aggression will be met with a response that is "more forceful and destructive" than previous retaliations, Revolutionary Guards commander Hossein Salami said on Thursday, according to Reuters. This follows Iran's claim that it was alerted to a potential Israeli attack.

The two countries exchanged fire twice last year, marking the first direct confrontations between these longstanding regional adversaries

Gaza: At least 103 Palestinians killed by Israeli army in the past 24 hours, says Health Ministry

The Gaza Health Ministry reported that at least 103 people were killed and 427 wounded in the past 24 hours due to Israeli airstrikes across the Palestinian enclave. Many of the injured are trapped under rubble and cannot be reached.

The Ministry also stated that since Wednesday morning, 21 people were killed and over 294 injured while waiting for aid at distribution centers run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), supported by Israel and the U.S.

Since the start of the Israeli offensive on Gaza, approximately 55,207 Palestinians have been killed and 127,821 wounded in the enclave.

Washington restricts diplomatic staff movement in Israel

The United States has announced a restriction on the movements of its diplomatic staff in Israel. The U.S. Embassy stated that employees must limit their travel to Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and Beer Sheva "for security reasons due to the Iranian threat." This comes amid reports that Israel is "ready" to launch a military operation against Iran, prompting Washington to evacuate its personnel from Iraq on Thursday.

Israel urges international 'decisive response' to Iran's nuclear violations

Israel's Foreign Ministry has called for a "decisive response" from the international community after the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) adopted a resolution condemning Iran for "violating" its nuclear obligations. The ministry criticized Iran for obstructing IAEA inspections and hiding suspected undeclared sites, warning that such actions threaten global non-proliferation efforts and pose an imminent risk to regional and international security.

UNIFIL spokesperson calls for Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon

UNIFIL spokesperson Andrea Tenenti confirmed that they continue to support the Lebanese Army, urging Israel to withdraw from southern Lebanon. He stated that the security situation in southern Lebanon remains fragile and called on Israel to stop its violations. He also pointed out that some parties are affecting the movements of UNIFIL in the south, emphasizing that Resolution 1701 allows UNIFIL to operate without the Lebanese Army.

Tenenti added that some residents of southern Lebanon do not fully understand the role of UNIFIL. He also dismissed rumors about an agreement between the U.S. and Israel to end their mission in southern Lebanon, labeling such reports as mere speculation.

Lebanese Defense Minister Michel Murr, speaking from Naqoura, reaffirmed the importance of renewing UNIFIL's mandate without any amendments, expressing hope that efforts would succeed in this regard.

Iranian Armed Forces conduct military drills focused on 'enemy movements'

The Iranian armed forces have launched military exercises, with a focus on "enemy movements," according to an Iranian state media report cited by Reuters.

U.S. State Department restricts travel for American personnel amid rising tensions with Iran

The U.S. State Department has imposed travel restrictions on American government employees and their families, limiting their movements to the areas of Greater Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and Beer-Sheva until further notice, according to Reuters. This move comes amid escalating tensions between Israel and Iran, coinciding with ongoing nuclear negotiations between Washington and Tehran. The restriction is part of a broader precautionary measure in response to the heightened security concerns in the region.

⚡Iran announces retaliatory measures in response to IAEA resolution

Iran has announced retaliatory measures in response to a resolution by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which declared Tehran in violation of its non-proliferation obligations, according to a statement broadcasted on state television and reported by Reuters.

In response, Tehran has announced the opening of a new enrichment site and the enhancement of its centrifuges. These actions mark a significant escalation amid rising tensions over Iran's nuclear program.

Our correspondent in southern Lebanon also reported a video showing a unit of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) clearing a road in Rab al-Thalathine, in the Marjayoun district.

While tensions persist between the residents of southern Lebanon, an area of UNIFIL operations, and the peacekeeping force, pressures are mounting ahead of the renewal of its mandate. Lebanese officials have collectively expressed their support for UNIFIL, warning against any decision to act against the force.

🖇️Read more here.

Lebanese Army clears earth mound erected by Israeli army, UNIFIL clears road amid tensions

A unit of the Lebanese Army has cleared an earth mound erected by the Israeli army to block a road in the heights of Sadane, facing the Israeli position of Rousseissat al-Alam, in the Kfar Shouba region (Hasbaya district), according to our correspondent.

Mossad and Israeli minister of strategic affairs to meet Witkoff ahead of nuclear talks

Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer and Mossad Chief David Barnea will meet with U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff ahead of the upcoming nuclear talks between the United States and Iran scheduled for Sunday in Oman, Israeli media reported on Thursday, according to Reuters.

Gaza: At least 42 Palestinians killed by Israeli army in the morning, according to medical sources

Israeli airstrikes across the Gaza Strip since Thursday morning have killed at least 42 people in the enclave, according to medical sources speaking to Al Jazeera. Of those, 24 were killed while awaiting emergency medical care.

Additionally, a source from Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, located in the southern part of the enclave, told Al Jazeera that Israeli strikes on the city killed at least 12 people in the morning.

⚡Iran: UN nuclear watchdog finds Iran in violation of nuclear obligations, Iran announces new uranium enrichment facility

The UN nuclear watchdog’s Board of Governors formally concluded on Thursday that Iran is not complying with its nuclear obligations for the first time in twenty years — a decision that could escalate tensions and trigger a process to reinstate UN sanctions against Tehran later this year, according to the Associated Press (AP).

In the draft resolution reviewed by the AP, the Board of Governors renewed its call for Iran to provide "prompt" responses as part of a long-standing investigation into uranium traces found at several sites Tehran has not declared as nuclear facilities.

Nineteen member countries of the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which represents the agency’s member states, voted in favor of the resolution, according to diplomats who spoke on condition of anonymity to describe the results of a closed-door vote. Russia, China, and Burkina Faso opposed it, eleven countries abstained, and two did not vote.

In response to the IAEA’s vote against it, Iran announced it would establish a new uranium enrichment facility, as reported by the Washington Post. The facility will be built "in a secure location," and "other measures are also planned and will be announced later."

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to convene the security cabinet on Thursday to update ministers on the progress made in negotiations for a potential cease-fire agreement with Hamas.

⚡Palestinian Telecommunications Ministry announced on Thursday that phone and internet networks had been cut off across the Gaza Strip due to an "attack on the last remaining main fiber optic line still in service" in the enclave.

"This dangerous escalation against telecommunications infrastructure threatens to completely sever the Gaza Strip from the outside world," the ministry said in a statement. The ministry, which is affiliated with the Palestinian Authority based in Ramallah, accused Israel of being responsible for the attack.

⚡The Israeli military announced on Thursday that it had arrested members of Hamas in the countryside south of Damascus, in the town of Beit Jinn, just a few kilometers east of the border with the occupied Golan Heights.

The military also stated that its forces in the region had located and seized weapons, including firearms, magazines, and ammunition, according to Haaretz.

Additionally, the Syrian television channel al-Ekhbaria reported that one Syrian was killed by Israeli forces and that seven other individuals were arrested.

⚡ A senior Iranian official stated that the country had been alerted by a 'friendly country in the region' about a possible Israeli attack, according to Reuters.

Iran will not renounce its right to uranium enrichment due to the growing tensions in the region, the official told Reuters on Thursday. The official also confirmed that a "friendly" country in the region had warned Tehran about a potential military strike, AFP reported.

The official added that the rising tensions were aimed at "influencing Tehran to change its stance on its nuclear rights," as new talks with the U.S. are scheduled for Sunday in Oman.

When asked about the reasons behind the departure of U.S. personnel deployed in the Middle East as he arrived at the Kennedy Center in Washington, U.S. President Donald Trump replied to journalists: "Well, you’ll have to figure that out yourself," according to a message on X from Sam Dagher, a Bloomberg journalist.

As the next round of negotiations between Iran and the U.S. approaches, many American media outlets are discussing the potential military consequences if the talks fail.

NBC News reported that Israel is considering military action against Iran, likely without U.S. support, citing sources familiar with the matter. These sources claimed they were "unaware of any planned U.S. involvement in such an action." CBS News had earlier reported that several sources confirmed U.S. officials were informed that Israel is "fully prepared" to launch a military operation against Iran, though no official comments have been made by Israeli officials or the White House spokesperson.

Additionally, The New York Times reported that high-ranking Iranian military and government officials have already met to discuss a plan of action in the event of such an attack.

⚡ A senior Iranian official stated that Iran had been alerted by a "friendly country in the region" about a possible Israeli attack, according to Reuters.

Gaza Humanitarian Foundation targeted by Hamas, employees killed

The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), supported by the U.S. and Israel, stated that at least five of its Palestinian employees were killed in a Hamas attack on Wednesday night. This comes amid a deadly episode during its operations.

While the Palestinian territory faces a severe humanitarian crisis after 20 months of devastating war triggered by Hamas's attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, Gaza's Civil Defense announced that Israeli forces opened fire on people seeking humanitarian aid on Wednesday morning, resulting in 31 deaths and approximately 200 injuries.

A few hours later, the GHF condemned a "deliberate and heinous attack" on its operations. "Last night, around 22:00 Gaza time (19:00 GMT), a bus carrying over twenty GHF team members was violently attacked by Hamas," the organization stated, adding that all the employees in the vehicle were Palestinian. "We are still assessing the situation, but we know it's terrible: at least five dead, several injured, and we fear that some of our team members have been taken hostage," it lamented.

The GHF has been operating in the Palestinian territory since late May, where it claims to have distributed over one million meals.

Israeli pressure amid international calls for cease-fire in Gaza

Israel is facing increased international pressure to end its war in Gaza, as the population faces the threat of famine due to restrictions on aid, according to the U.N.

Twelve international activists, including Greta Thunberg, were aboard a boat from Italy attempting to "break the Israeli blockade" but were intercepted by the Israeli navy on June 1. The four remaining French activists, including the radical-left MEP Rima Hassan, were expected to be expelled Thursday and Friday, according to French diplomacy.

More than 55,104 Palestinians, mostly civilians, have been killed in Israel's retaliatory offensive in Gaza, according to the Hamas Health Ministry, data which the U.N. has verified.

Israel pressures Egypt to block Palestinian provocations

On Wednesday, Israel pressed Egypt to block "pro-Palestinian provocations" near the Gaza Strip and secured an agreement from its neighbor to require "pre-authorization" for any actions by foreign militants on its territory. This request is aimed at a convoy of Tunisian, Algerian, Moroccan, and Mauritanian activists heading toward Gaza and an international march scheduled for June 19 by activists from 44 countries at the Israeli-Egyptian border.

U.S. embassy in Iraq preparing for evacuation amid rising security risks

The U.S. embassy in Iraq is preparing for an ordered evacuation due to escalating security risks in the region, according to an Iraqi security official and an American source on Wednesday.

Iran’s Minister of Defense, Aziz Nasirzadeh, earlier stated that Tehran would target U.S. bases in the region if nuclear talks fail or if there is a conflict with Washington.

Israeli military faces casualties due to unexploded ordnance

In Lebanon, the army reported that an officer and two soldiers were slightly injured by the explosion of unexploded Israeli munitions while attempting to remove them for destruction in the Ainata region of Bint Jbeil, South Lebanon.

During the night from Wednesday to Thursday, an Israeli drone dropped five bombs on a livestock farm in the border village of Ramieh (Bint Jbeil district), killing several cattle, according to our correspondent.

In the Bekaa region, an Israeli plane flew at a medium altitude over villages west of Baalbeck, according to our correspondant.

Israeli military opens fire on Palestinians waiting for humanitarian aid

The Israeli military once again opened fire on Palestinians waiting near a humanitarian aid distribution center in the Netzarim corridor area in central Gaza on Thursday morning, Al Jazeera reported. According to a medical source from al-Awda Hospital in Nusseirat, Israeli forces killed at least 13 people and injured around 200 others during this attack.

The day before, the Gaza Ministry of Health reported that 57 people were killed by Israel while attempting to receive aid on Wednesday alone.

Additionally, three Palestinians were killed in an Israeli drone strike targeting a tent sheltering displaced persons in the al-Mawassi humanitarian zone near Khan Younis in southern Gaza. Other individuals were also wounded.

Lebanese President meets Army Commander over security situation

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun met with Army Commander Rodolphe Haykal this morning to discuss the security situation in the country, the presidency reported on X. The meeting focused on the latest developments in Southern Lebanon and the ongoing Israeli assaults, over six months after the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon.

U.S. Special Envoy to meet Iranian Foreign Minister in Muscat

U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff will meet Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Muscat on Sunday to discuss Iran's response to a recent American proposal, an American official said on Wednesday evening, according to Reuters. This announcement follows confirmation from the U.S. State Department that non-essential American personnel in Middle Eastern missions are being relocated due to "increased regional tensions."

Oman's Foreign Minister also confirmed on X the sixth round of nuclear negotiations between Iran and the U.S. will take place in Muscat on Sunday, June 15, as stated by Badr Albusaidi.

Israel 'ready' to attack Iran, U.S. officials say, while Iran prepares retaliatory strikes

Israel is reportedly "fully ready" to attack Iran, according to U.S. officials cited by the New York Times, while Iran is preparing retaliatory strikes, including targeting American interests in Iraq.

Foreign energy companies continue operations in Iraq despite the withdrawal of American personnel

Foreign energy companies are continuing to operate normally in Iraq, a senior Iraqi official told Reuters on Thursday. This comes after U.S. President Donald Trump stated on Tuesday that American personnel were being moved out of the Middle East due to the "dangerous" nature of the region.

The Iraqi Ministry of Oil has not received any notifications from operators regarding staff reductions, added the official, who oversees operations in the country's southern oil fields.

On Wednesday, sources told Reuters that the United States was preparing to evacuate its embassy in Iraq due to increased security risks in the region.

☕Good morning and welcome to today's live news coverage of Lebanon and the Middle East.

Catch up on what you missed yesterday and what to look out for today by reading our Morning Brief.