Trump warns of 'very tough' action if Iran deal fails | LIVE

Netanyahu signs first deportation orders under new law

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Tuesday that he had signed deportation orders for two Palestinians convicted of terrorism after attacking Israelis.

The move is the first application of a 2023 law allowing the revocation of citizenship or residency for those who received payments from the Palestinian Authority as “rewards” for attacks that led to their convictions.

“I signed this morning the revocation of citizenship and the expulsion of two Israeli terrorists who carried out stabbing and shooting attacks against Israeli civilians and were rewarded for their criminal acts by the Palestinian Authority,” Netanyahu said, adding, “Many more expulsions will follow.”

Trump warns of 'very tough' action if Iran deal fails

U.S. President Donald Trump said Washington would be forced to take “something very tough” if no agreement is reached with Iran, according to an interview with Israel’s Channel 12 published on Tuesday and cited by Reuters.

“Either we reach a deal or we’ll have to do something very tough,” Trump was quoted as saying.

The president has also said he is considering deploying a second U.S. aircraft carrier to the Middle East, Reuters reported, as tensions rise between Washington and Tehran over Iran’s nuclear program and its recent crackdown on protesters.

Yanouh mourns three killed in Israeli strike, including a child

The village of Yanouh in Lebanon’s Sour district held funerals on Tuesday for three residents killed a day earlier in an Israeli drone strike, among them a three-year-old child.

The apparent target of the attack was Ahmad Salameh, while the other victims — Hassan Jaber, a member of the Internal Security Forces’ intelligence service, and his son Ali — were near the vehicle that was hit.

A photo of young Ali circulated widely on social media, triggering an outpouring of grief and anger. Several officials from the Amal Movement and Hezbollah attended the funerals.

Iran warns against Israel’s 'destabilizing role' ahead of Trump–Netanyahu talks

Iran’s top security official, Ali Larijani, urged the Trump administration to prevent Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from undermining ongoing diplomacy between Washington and Tehran.

In a post on X , Larijani said the United States must stay alert to what he called the “destructive role” played by Israeli officials.

Netanyahu said he plans to discuss the “principles” guiding U.S.–Iran nuclear talks during his meeting with President Donald Trump at the White House on Wednesday.

The Israeli leader has long pressed Washington to take a tougher line on Iran, including calls for possible military action.

Trump opposes West Bank annexation, urges stability

President Donald Trump opposes Israel annexing the West Bank, emphasizing that a stable West Bank is key to Israel’s security and regional peace, a U.S. official said.

The Israeli security cabinet recently approved measures allowing Jewish Israelis to buy West Bank land and expand control over Palestinian Authority areas, ahead of Prime Minister Netanyahu’s visit to Washington.

The move drew international condemnation from key Muslim-majority countries, the EU, and the U.N., which warned it is a “step in the wrong direction.”

Iron Dome missile defense system company could begin privatization in 2026

Israeli defense company Rafael Advanced Defense Systems could begin its privatization as early as late 2026, the Iron Dome missile defense maker's chairman told Reuters on Tuesday, Reuters reported.

"We are already working on it," Rafael's Chairman Yuval Steinitz told Reuters in an interview.

Rafael, which created Israel's Iron Dome missile defense system as well as a new Iron Beam anti-missile laser, is valued at about $10 billion.

Top Iranian adviser visits mediator in Oman as Iran and US prepare for talks

A top adviser to Iran's Supreme Leader discussed ways to reach a "balanced and just" agreement with the United States during talks in Oman on Tuesday, as Washington and Tehran prepare to resume negotiations aimed at averting a new conflict, Reuters reported.

Oman facilitated talks between Iran and the U.S. last week, which a spokesperson for Iran's foreign ministry said had allowed Tehran to gauge Washington's seriousness and showed enough consensus for diplomacy to continue.

Oman's state news agency said Larijani and Omani Sultan Haitham bin Tariq discussed ways to reach a "balanced and just" agreement between Iran and the U.S., stressing the importance of returning to dialogue to bridge differences and promote regional and global peace and security.

Iranian state media said the meeting lasted nearly three hours.

The date and venue of the next round of U.S.-Iran talks have yet to be announced.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to use a meeting with Trump in Washington on Wednesday to push for any U.S.-Iran deal to include limitations on Tehran's missiles.

Qassem says resistance crucial to Lebanon’s future

Hezbollah’s Deputy Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem reaffirmed on Tuesday that resistance in Lebanon is “guaranteed by the Constitution” and essential for the country’s future.

Speaking about Lebanon’s security and regional dynamics, Qassem said, “We fight in Lebanon to defend both Lebanon and Palestine, because our enemy is singular. If the Lebanese State wants to build its future, it needs the resistance as support, because it has the experience, faith, and will.”

He stressed that “no one can prevent resistance in Lebanon, as it is protected by the Constitution,” and warned that the region remains under “American-Israeli hegemony.” However, he added, Lebanon will not be used as a stage “to realize Zionist ambitions,” and “as long as we resist, they will not succeed.”

More on this 👉here.

Israel targeted Aitaroun, Naqoura

An Israeli aircraft dropped a sound grenade toward a shepherd at the outskirts of the town of Aitaroun (Bint Jbeil), causing a shrapnel injury to his thigh, in addition to injuring over 30 sheep from his flock, our correspondent reported.

A number of artillery shells targeted the Mutayt area on the outskirts of Aitaroun, causing fires to break out, and artillery fire targeted the Shiyar area between the towns of Aitaroun and Blida (Marjayoun).

Separately, Israeli artillery fire targeted the outskirts of Naqoura (Sour), according to our correspondent.

Rafah border crossing reopens

The Rafah border crossing in southern Gaza has reopened, allowing a new group of patients and their family members to leave Gaza, and the return of those stranded in Egypt, Wafa reported.

The Palestinian Wafa news agency reported that the seventh batch of Palestinians – 50 people, including 19 patients and 31 family members – departed through the Rafah crossing after being processed at the Palestinian Red Crescent Society headquarters in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, in the presence of representatives from the World Health Organization.

Local authorities in Gaza said earlier that only 397 people crossed the Rafah border crossing with Egypt between Feb. 2 and 9 since Israel partially reopened the terminal under strict restrictions.

This is “out of an expected 1,600 travellers, reflecting roughly 25 percent Israeli compliance with agreed arrangements”, Gaza’s Government Media Office said in a statement.

Learn more about the challenges at the Rafah border crossing in Ghadir Hamadi and Gabriel Blondel’s report 👉here.

Israel violated Gaza ‘cease-fire’ 1,620 times

Israeli forces have violated the “cease-fire” agreement 1,620 times in Gaza, killing at least 573 people and wounding 1,553 since it came in effect in October last year, Gaza’s Government Media Office says.

It added that 292 of those victims were children, women and the elderly.

Only 31,178 aid, commercial and fuel trucks have entered Gaza in contrast to the 72,000 that was part of the agreement.

German envoys condemn Israeli push to deepen control over West Bank

Steffen Seibert, the German ambassador to Israel, says the Israeli security cabinet’s recent measures to exert greater control over the occupied West Bank “contravene Israel‘s obligation under International Law”.

Anke Schlimm, the German representative in Ramallah, also said the Israeli push “to allow private land purchases and transfer parts of the administration in the West Bank violates international law and represents a further obstacle to a two-state solution”.

“The West Bank is an integral part of a future Palestinian state,” she wrote on X.

UNRWA head criticizes Israeli crackdown on reporters and aid workers entering Gaza

Philippe Lazzarini, head of the U.N. Agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), has condemned Israel’s ban on foreign journalists entering Gaza and restrictions on humanitarian aid groups and their workers.

“These Israeli policies aim at further dehumanizing Palestinians by denying their suffering & their existence,” Lazzarini wrote on X. “Lifting the information embargo is long overdue.”

Israeli forces kill Palestinian in southern Gaza

Israel shot and killed Palestinian Youssef Nasser al-Rifi north of Khan Yunis, medical sources told the Palestinian news agency Wafa.

According to these sources, the incident occurred in an area not under Israeli army control.

Earlier in the day, Israel shot and killed three Palestinians in central Gaza.

Israeli high-schoolers protesting anti-Palestinian crime in Israel attacked

Israeli high school students were attacked while taking part in nationwide protests against crime in the Arab community. Protesters said police officers who arrived at the scene did not arrest the attackers, even after being shown footage of the attack, Haaretz reported.

According to student accounts, the school's vice principal, Eliezer Landau, was summoned for questioning at the police station.

Nahar, a student, told Haaretz that the attacker came from a nearby construction site and began swearing at them. "He hit me with punches and kicks, grabbed the megaphone, and hurled it at the other students," he said. "The school secretary who was present confronted him, and he threatened to rape and kill her."

Another student, Liri, added: "The attacker is at a construction site nearby, and it's easy to reach him. Instead, they summoned our vice principal for allowing us to hold the protest at all."

Hezbollah announces funeral for member killed Sunday

Hezbollah announced that the funeral of its killed member Abdallah Khalil Nasser will be held on Wednesday at 3:30 pm in Aita al-Shaab (Bint Jbeil).

Nasser was killed by Israeli gunfire in Aita al-Shaab on Sunday, according to our correspondent.

Larijani held talks with Sultan of Oman

The secretary of Iran's highest security body, Ali Larijani, held talks with the Sultan of Oman, Haitham bin Tariq, whose country hosted recent talks between Tehran and Washington, according to the Omani News Agency (ONA).

They discussed "the latest developments in the negotiations between Iran and the United States and ways to reach a balanced and fair agreement between the two sides," the agency said.

They also "stressed the importance of returning to the table for discussions and negotiations in order to bring the two sides closer together and resolve differences through peaceful means," it added.

Larijani is also expected to meet with Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi.

Netanyahu will discuss with Tump negotiations between the United States and Iran 'above all else'

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced that he will discuss negotiations between the United States and Iran "above all else" with U.S. President Donald Trump during a meeting scheduled for Wednesday in Washington.

"During this visit, we will discuss a range of issues: Gaza, the region, but of course, first and foremost, the negotiations with Iran. I will present our views on the principles of the negotiations to the president," Netanyahu said before leaving for the United States.

UN will withdraw most of its peacekeeping forces from Lebanon by mid-2027, according to spokesperson

The U.N. intends to withdraw most of its peacekeeping forces deployed in Lebanon, whose mandate expires at the end of the year, by mid-2027, its spokesperson told AFP on Tuesday.

The peacekeepers have been acting as a buffer between Israel and Lebanon since March 1978, but they will have to leave by Dec. 31, in accordance with a resolution passed last August under pressure from the United States and Israel.

The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) "plans to reduce and withdraw all its military personnel by mid-2027," Kandice Ardiel said.

After the end of its mandate on Dec. 31, 2026, "we will begin the process of repatriating personnel and equipment and transferring our positions to the Lebanese authorities," she added.

The spokesperson specified that after UNIFIL's operations cease, it will have limited missions, including "protecting U.N. personnel and property" and protecting the departure of its members.

Centcom welcomes Army discovery of Hezbollah tunnel

The U.S. Central Command (Centcom) has welcomed the discovery and dismantling by the Lebanese Army of a Hezbollah tunnel in southern Lebanon, in accordance with the cease-fire agreement reached with Israel that calls for the disarmament of the party.

"Congratulations to the Lebanese Armed Forces for recently discovering a massive underground Hezbollah tunnel, for the second time in two months," wrote the head of U.S. military command for the Middle East, Gen. Brad Cooper, on his X account Monday.

Read more here.

In numbers: Human cost of Israel’s war on Gaza

The Palestinian Health Ministry says that, since the start of Israel’s war on Gaza in October 2023, Israel has killed at least 72,032 people and wounded at least 171,661.

A number of victims remain under the rubble and in the streets, as ambulance and civil defense teams have been unable to reach them.

In addition, since the ceasefire was agreed last October, Israeli attacks have killed 581 people and wounded 1,553.

Israel has allowed only 397 Palestinians to travel through the Rafah crossing

The Gaza Government Media Office says only 397 people out of a scheduled 1,600 have passed through Rafah crossing since Feb. 2.

The figure includes 225 who traveled out of Gaza and 172 who entered the enclave.

Despite claims, Netanyahu was aware of Hamas attack plan as early as 2018

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu received the detailed Hamas attack plan that was carried out on October 7 as early as April 2018, Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronoth reported Tuesday morning.

This comes despite Netanyahu denying since the outbreak of the war that he had been briefed on the plan's details — or even on its existence.

A source familiar with the matter told the newspaper that Netanyahu was exposed to the plan, known as "Jericho Wall," again later that year, when the Shin Bet presented a review of it to the National Security Council.

It was also reported that in 2022, Netanyahu received a briefing from a Southern Command study day in which the plan was mentioned by name.

Two people killed by Israeli attack in central Gaza

An Israeli strike killed two Palestinians on Salah al-Din Street in central Gaza, according to a source at al-Aqsa Hospital, reported by Al Jazeera.

Indonesia preparing to deploy up to 8,000 soldiers to Gaza, FT reports

Indonesia is preparing to deploy up to 8,000 troops to Gaza in support of U.S. President Donald Trump's proposed plan, potentially becoming the first country to commit soldiers publicly to the mission, the Financial Times reported.

The Indonesian military has begun training troops for possible deployment to Gaza and other conflict zones, army chief of staff General Maruli Simanjuntak said Monday. "Could be one brigade, probably 5,000 to 8,000. But it's all still being negotiated, not certain. So there's no certainty on the number until now," he added.

Iran open to possible 'dilution' of its uranium stockpile

Faced with concerns over its nuclear program, the Islamic Republic said Monday it was open to a possible "dilution" of its stockpile of highly enriched uranium — provided that "all sanctions" against the country are lifted.

Despite the resumption of talks on Friday in Oman, the tone remains firm and there is "deep mistrust" towards the United States, warned Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, according to AFP.

However, during telephone conversations with his counterparts in Turkey, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia, he said that the talks were "a good start," according to state television.

Israeli army launches stun grenades and gunfire on areas in southern Lebanon

Israeli army drones launched four stun grenades this morning on the town of Aita al-Shaab (Bint Jbeil), according to our correspondent in southern Lebanon.

In addition, Israeli artillery fired two missiles at the heights of Halta (Hasbaya). Israeli army fire using medium-sized automatic weapons targeted the outskirts of the town of Dhaira (Sour).

In the town of Taybeh (Marjayoun), residents discovered graffiti on the walls of the town hall this morning, our correspondent reports. "We want to be housed without favoritism, you bunch of thieves," it reads, in reference to delays in reconstruction in southern Lebanon.

On the eve of Netanyahu's visit to Washington, Iran warns against 'destructive influences'

Iran on Tuesday called on the United States to resist "destructive influences" that could derail the resumption of talks between the two countries, according to the Foreign Ministry, a day before the Israeli prime minister's visit to Washington.

"Our partner in the negotiations is [the U.S.]. It is up to [the U.S.] to decide to act independently of the pressures and destructive influences that are harming the region," ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei told reporters.

Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to meet with Donald Trump in Washington on Wednesday to try to convince him to take a harder line with Tehran on Iran's missile program and Israel's security.

Iran security chief visits Oman after talks with US

Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, arrived in Oman on Tuesday, the location for recent nuclear talks between Tehran and Washington, according to the IRNA news agency.

Larijani will hold talks with Haitham bin Tariq, the Sultan of Oman, and Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad al-Busaidi, the agency reported. They will discuss the latest regional and international developments as well as economic cooperation between Iran and Oman.

The visit comes after Iran and the United States resumed dialogue in Oman on Friday for the first time since the 12-day Iran-Israel war last June, which the U.S. took part in towards the end.

Both sides welcomed the positive atmosphere, even though "deep mistrust remains," according to Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.

Iran wants discussions to focus on its nuclear program, insisting on its right to enrich uranium for civilian purposes, while Israel is pressuring the U.S. to widen the scope of discussions to cover Iran's ballistic missile program as well.

White House official says Trump opposes Israeli annexation of West Bank

A new Israeli settlement near the town of Beita, near Nablus, in the Israeli‑occupied West Bank, Feb. 9, 2026. (Ammar Awad/Reuters)

A White House official on Monday reiterated U.S. President Donald Trump's opposition toward Israel annexing the West Bank, reported Reuters.

"A stable West Bank keeps Israel secure and is in line with this administration’s goal to achieve peace in the region," the official said.

Hello and welcome to our live blog

We will be providing rolling coverage of events taking place in Lebanon, Palestine, Syria, and the rest of the region, with a particular focus on Israel's continued violations of the cease-fires in Gaza and Lebanon, and on ongoing talks in Oman related to Iran's nuclear enrichment program.

Read our Morning Brief here.