Israel strikes Jezzine, Hasbaya districts; Israeli army claims it's targeting Hezbollah sites | LIVE

Nuclear: Iran hopes for 'seriousness,' 'responsibility' from US at talks in Oman

Iran, which will hold nuclear talks with the United States in Oman on Friday, said Thursday it hopes Washington will demonstrate "seriousness," as U.S. President Donald Trump continues to threaten military action.

"We [the Iranian government] have a responsibility to seize all diplomatic opportunities to ... preserve peace and stability in the region," wrote Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei on X, adding that he hopes "the American side will also participate responsibly, realistically, and seriously" in the talks.

Iran: Araghchi to travel to Muscat for nuclear talks with US

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has departed for the Omani capital, Muscat, to participate in nuclear talks with the United States on Friday, the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson announced.

Iran will participate in these discussions "with authority and with the aim of reaching a just, mutually acceptable, and dignified agreement on the nuclear issue," the spokesperson added.

According to our diplomatic sources, the talks will be direct, led by Witkoff and Araghchi.

Israeli army claims it bombed 'tunnels used to store Hezbollah weapons'

After conducting a series of strikes in the districts of Jezzine and Hasbaya, as well as in the Hermel region, the Israeli army claimed to have bombed "tunnels used to store Hezbollah weapons in several areas of southern Israel."

The Arabic-language spokesperson for the Israeli army, Avichay Adraee, stated that "following the strikes, secondary explosions were observed, indicating the presence of weapons at the sites."

New strikes on Bekaa Valley

After carrying out three airstrikes on the Zighrin and Shirbin heights in the Hermel region, the Israeli army bombed the Budai hills twice, reports our correspondent in the Bekaa Valley.

New Israeli raids on Mahmoudieh

Israeli aircraft carried out new raids on Mahmoudieh (Jezzine district), the detonations of the missiles were heard as far away as the city of Nabatieh, reports our correspondent, who cites local sources.

New Israeli strike in Jezzine district

Israeli warplanes carried out a strike on the area between Khallet Khazem and Qatraneh, in the Jezzine district, reports our correspondent in southern Lebanon.

Hezbollah's parliamentary bloc reiterates 'total solidarity' with Iran

The Hezbollah parliamentary bloc reaffirmed its "total solidarity" with Iran in the face of "aggressive American threats."

It stated that "Iran's firm and resilient stance will enable it to withstand any potential aggression," adding that "the world has become accustomed to seeing the Islamic Republic of Iran offer all peoples and governments an example to follow in preserving national sovereignty and thwarting the plots of its enemies."

Israeli raids in the Hermel region

The Israeli Air Force has carried out several raids on the mountain slopes of the towns of Shirbin and Zighrin, in the Hermel region, according to our correspondent in the Bekaa Valley.

Israeli army claims to be targeting Hezbollah sites

"The Israeli army is attacking Hezbollah targets in several areas of Lebanon," announced Ella Waouia, the Arabic-language spokesperson for the Israeli army, on X.

She was appointed on Tuesday to replace Avichay Adraee in this position.

Israeli army is conducting strikes in Jezzine, Hasbaya districts

Israeli aircraft have repeatedly bombed the Mahmoudieh area in the Jezzine district and have also carried out strikes on Wadi Borghoz in the Hasbaya district, reports our correspondent in the region.

US officials arrive in Doha ahead of talks with Iran

A White House official told Al Jazeera that Jared Kushner, U.S. President Donald Trump's son-in-law and a key figure in his Middle East policy, as well as Steve Witkoff, Trump's special envoy, have arrived in the Qatari capital ahead of talks scheduled between U.S. and Iranian officials in Oman, planned for Friday morning.

US-Iran meeting is 'waste of oxygen': Former US official

John Bolton, former national security advisor during U.S. President Donald Trump’s first term, believes there is “virtually no chance” of reaching an agreement between Washington and Tehran, calling the ongoing talks a “waste of oxygen.”

“There is simply no room for agreement between Iran and the United States. This was entirely predictable, and I get the impression that both sides are just going through the motions. It’s not clear at this stage what line Donald Trump will take, but I don’t think these negotiations will lead to anything,” Bolton told Al Jazeera.

Known for his particularly hardline stance toward Iran, Bolton, who has recently made numerous media appearances calling for a U.S. strike against Tehran, believes that Trump’s credibility is “at stake.”

He recalled that the U.S. president had repeatedly stated that Iran had crossed a "red line" in its crackdown on the protests, suggesting that a lack of military response would weaken its position.

"But he doesn't necessarily have a clear strategic objective. I think the objective should be, and Trump has now said so, the overthrow of the regime. We'll see what he decides to do," he added.

Israeli drones fly over Beirut and its southern suburbs

Israeli army drones have been flying over Beirut and its southern suburbs at low altitude since this morning.

US, Iran to discuss nuclear issues, ballistic missiles, regional allies in Oman on Friday

Iran has agreed to discuss its nuclear program, its ballistic missile program, and its regional allies with the United States during talks scheduled for Friday in Oman, the New York Times reports, citing three Iranian officials and an Arab source.

These talks aim to lay the groundwork for a nuclear agreement.

Originally planned for Turkey, they were moved at Tehran's request, which sought a venue change to Oman and a limit on the number of participants.

Washington accepted this modification and the exclusion of regional actors from the discussions.

Germany's Merz urges Iran to 'truly enter talks' with US

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, on a tour of Gulf countries, urged Tehran to engage in “genuine” talks with the United States, on the eve of discussions expected between Tehran and Washington in Oman, AFP reported.

His remarks come amid heightened tensions, with U.S. President Donald Trump threatening military action against Iran if Tehran does not accept a series of U.S. demands, particularly on the nuclear file.

Merz urged Iran's leadership to "truly enter talks" on Thursday, the eve of their planned negotiations with U.S. envoys, saying there was a "great fear of military escalation in the region."

Merz added that Iran had to "stop its nuclear programme" and avoid "further military threats" to Israel and other countries in the region.

"Talks will therefore be intensified in the next hours," Merz said, adding that Germany was "co-ordinating closely" with the U.S.

An Iran-US conflict would spread across the region, Iran’s army spokesman warns

Mohammad Akriminia, the Iranian army spokesman, warned that U.S. military bases in the Middle East would be in Tehran’s sights in the event of a war between Iran and the U.S., and that such a conflict would spread across the entire region.

Quoted by the semi-official Mehr News agency, Akriminia said the integration of 1,000 strategic drones into various branches of Iran’s armed forces — approved last week — reflects “the armed forces’ state of full readiness to defend the country.” Referring to other “defensive systems that have been modernized and are fully operational,” he said Tehran remains prepared for any scenario, whether war or diplomacy.

Akriminia added that if the U.S. were to carry out an operation against Iran, the conflict “would extend across the entire region, including U.S. military bases from the occupied territories to the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman.” “We have easy access to U.S. bases, which increases their vulnerability,” he said.

Rafah reopening: 25 more Palestinians return to Gaza, 13 patients await evacuation

After its gradual reopening on Monday, the Rafah crossing linking the southern Gaza Strip to Egypt saw 25 more Palestinians return early Thursday, following the dozen people who crossed back in the first 24 hours after the partial lifting of the blockade.

“It was a journey marked by horror, humiliation and oppression,” said Hoda Abu Abed, 56, speaking to Reuters by phone from the tent where her family is living in Khan Younis, in southern Gaza.

Her trip from Egypt, which began on Monday and ended at 3 a.m. on Thursday, involved crossing the border post and the area beyond the “Yellow Line,” controlled by the Israeli army and its allied Palestinian militia led by Abu Shabab. She said the journey was marked by long delays and the confiscation of gifts, including toys for the family’s children.

A few hours later, 13 Palestinian patients accompanied by family members were transferred from Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis to the crossing, where they are waiting to be allowed to cross the border to receive medical treatment abroad, the World Health Organization (WHO) said.

Iran seizes 2 foreign tankers in the Gulf, according to Iranian media

The Revolutionary Guards in Iran seized two foreign tankers in the Gulf, according to the Tasnim news agency.

"More than one million liters of smuggled fuel were found on board of the two vessels," Tasnim reported, and a total of "15 foreign crew members were referred to the judiciary."

Iran 'fully prepared' to face any foreign threat, says Khamenei adviser

In a letter addressed to Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem, a senior adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader stated that the country is “fully prepared to face any foreign threat,” according to the Iranian news agency IRNA. The letter, sent by Ali Akbar Velayati to the head of the Shiite party, conveyed condolences for the death of Hassan Nasrallah’s father, who led the movement for 30 years before being killed in massive Israeli strikes in September 2024.

“Iran, as a key pillar of the resistance, and with no intention of aggression toward others, is fully prepared to confront any threat and any foreign enemy, particularly the United States and Israel,” Velayati wrote.

Southern Lebanon: After Israeli fire, the municipality of Rashaya al-Foukhar denounces the presence of 'armed hunters' on its lands

The municipality of Rashaya al-Foukhar (Hasbaya district) condemned the presence of hunters from outside the village on its lands, whose presence has prompted Israeli artillery fire targeting the locality.

In a statement, the municipality said that these artillery shells struck the village’s vineyards for the second time in less than a month, causing partial damage to a solar panel field that helps operate an irrigation network. According to the municipality, these bombardments are linked to the presence of armed hunters from neighboring localities, whom it accuses of violating hunting bans and municipal regulations by entering the area. It warned that their activities expose Rashaya al-Foukhar and surrounding villages to danger and to Israeli fire whenever armed hunters are spotted.

The municipality called on the Lebanese army and security forces to intercept these violators at checkpoints, prevent them from accessing the village’s wooded areas, and confiscate their weapons and equipment.

Fighting the Islamic State group, a 'top priority' for France, declares Barrot from Damascus

Fighting the Islamic State group, a 'top priority' for France, says Jean-Noël Barrot, the French Minister of Foreign Affairs, in Damascus, according to AFP.

Erdogan says Syria deal between Damascus and SDF eases pressure on Turkey-PKK peace process

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said an agreement between the Syrian government and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in northeastern Syria has helped reduce pressure on a peace process between the Turkish state and PKK militants at home, Reuters reported.

Speaking to journalists on his return from visits to Saudi Arabia and Egypt, Erdogan said that the SDF’s adherence to the agreement would strengthen the climate for peace in Syria and help achieve stability. Turkey has been engaged for several months in a peace process with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), an outlawed militant group, and says the SDF — which Ankara also considers a terrorist organization — must dissolve and disarm, just like the PKK.

Jean-Noël Barrot received by Syrian counterpart Asaad al-Shaibani

On the first stop of a regional tour, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot landed in Damascus and was received by his Syrian counterpart, Asaad al-Shaibani, who thanked him for France’s role in lifting sanctions on Syria and repositioning Damascus on the international stage.

Barrot is expected to discuss with him ways to prevent a resurgence of the Islamic State (IS) group, ahead of a Western anti-jihadist coalition meeting Monday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, AFP reported.

The visit comes as France reevaluates its anti-jihadist strategy and expresses concern over a potential conflict between the United States and Iran.

French foreign minister arrives in Damascus, first stop on regional tour

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot arrived in Damascus on Thursday, the first leg of a regional tour during which France aims to play a role in sensitive issues, including the fight against jihadist groups and the Kurdish question.

Barrot is due to meet his Syrian counterpart, Asaad al-Shaibani, as the country only just emerged from a flare-up of tensions between the government and the Kurdish minority in the north.

The French minister, who is making his second visit to Syria since an Islamist coalition took power in December 2024, will later travel to Iraq and then to Lebanon.

CENTCOM says it carried out multiple strikes against IS targets in Syria between Jan. 27 and Feb. 2

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said late on Wednesday that it had carried out five strikes in recent days against several Islamic State group targets in Syria, including weapons depots containing precision-guided munitions. The strikes were conducted between Jan. 27 and Feb. 2, it added.

Death toll from Israeli strikes on Gaza on Wednesday rises to 24

Gaza health authorities said Israeli airstrikes on the enclave killed 24 people on Wednesday, while the Israeli military said the attacks followed hostile fire that seriously wounded one of its officers, Reuters reported. According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, three of the victims were children.

Despite a U.S.-brokered truce that entered its second phase last month, violence continues in the Gaza Strip, with Israel and Hamas accusing each other of violating the agreement. The latest Israeli strikes came after Israel partially reopened the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt, the only access point to the Palestinian territory not controlled by Israel.

Iran-US talks set for Friday at 10 a.m. in Muscat after renewed tensions

Plans to resume nuclear talks between the United States and Iran, scheduled for Friday, are back on track after several Middle Eastern leaders urgently pressured the Trump administration on Wednesday afternoon not to carry out its threats to withdraw from the negotiations, two U.S. officials told Axios.

The talks will take place in Oman, as Iran had demanded, despite Washington’s initial refusal to deviate from the original plan, which called for a meeting in Istanbul.

The negotiations are expected to begin at 10 a.m., according to Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who expressed his gratitude to “our Omani brothers for having made all the necessary arrangements.”

On the U.S. side, it was not specified what issues would be on the agenda, the Israeli daily Haaretz reported, as Washington and Tehran remain divided, with Iran seeking to limit the discussions strictly to the nuclear file.

Southern Lebanon: Israeli overflights and artillery fire

Israeli aircraft carried out multiple overflights of several localities in southern Lebanon on Tuesday morning, following a night marked by artillery fire near Ramieh in the Bint Jbeil district, according to our correspondent.

Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of the Middle East.

We will be following the evolving tensions between the United States and Iran, as well as the situation in southern Lebanon and Gaza, which continue to be bombarded by Israel despite cease-fires.

Catch up on our Morning Brief here.