Aoun discusses creation of a 'deconfliction cell' for Lebanon with Vance, Al-Thani; Switzerland announces 'immediate resumption' of technical talks between Washington, Tehran | LIVE

Ben Gvir: Lebanon should be Israel's playground

Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said this morning in an interview with Kan News' This Morning program that "Lebanon should be the State of Israel's playground."

"Every terrorist stronghold must be targeted. If terrorists are hiding among the civilian population, my only concern is protecting our soldiers. Even with a reduced force, we can achieve results if Lebanon is our area of operations," he added.

Iran-U.S. talks: Switzerland announces 'immediate resumption' of technical discussions

Iran-U.S. talks: Switzerland announces 'immediate resumption' of technical discussions

Thirteen bodies recovered from rubble in Nabatieh and Marjayoun on Sunday

Lebanese Civil Defense rescuers in south Lebanon on June 21, 2026. (Credit: Photo taken from the organization's Facebook account.)

The Lebanese Civil Defense announced that it had recovered the bodies of 13 people from beneath the rubble of buildings in the Nabatieh region, as well as in Debbine and Blat in the Marjayoun district.

In a statement, the agency said it is continuing operations to reopen roads in these areas and clear debris.

Iranian delegation returns to Tehran after '18 hours of intensive talks' in Switzerland

The Iranian delegation that took part in talks with the United States in Switzerland on Sunday, under the mediation of Pakistan and Qatar, is returning to Tehran “after 18 hours of intensive discussions,” according to the Iranian news agency IRNA.

The Iranian team, led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and including Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, “left the building where the talks were held after around 18 hours of intensive discussions and consultations,” IRNA reported.

The agency added that “technical discussions” will continue throughout the week in Switzerland.

'De-confliction cell' for Lebanon: Aoun receives call from Vance, Kushner and Al-Thani

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun held a phone conversation this morning with U.S. officials and the Qatari mediator to discuss the cease-fire between Hezbollah and Israel in Lebanon, as well as the possibility of establishing a mechanism to ensure compliance with the cessation of hostilities. The mechanism, described as a “de-confliction cell,” was first announced in a joint statement issued after negotiations held Sunday in Switzerland between Iran and the United States.

According to the Lebanese presidency’s X account, Aoun spoke by phone with U.S. Vice President JD Vance, senior adviser to the U.S. president Jared Kushner, and Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani.

“The discussions focused on strengthening the cease-fire in Lebanon, halting the Israeli military escalation, and the steps that should be taken in this regard, including the possibility of establishing a deconfliction cell,” Baabda said.

Second night of cautious calm in southern Lebanon, according to our correspondent

Our correspondent reported a second night of calm in south Lebanon since the outbreak of hostilities on March 2, with no military operations or cease-fire violations reported on the ground. Residents are cautiously returning to their villages in the former combat zones, while municipal councils continue to issue messages urging people to exercise caution and postpone any hasty returns until the cease-fire is firmly established.

Most of those returning are primarily seeking to assess the condition of their homes, as the level of destruction in dozens of villages is extensive.

On the ground, rescue teams from various organizations are continuing their search for victims whose bodies remain trapped beneath the rubble in areas that were inaccessible during the fighting.

A 'deconfliction cell' created to ensure the end of conflict on Lebanese front

According to the joint statement, a "deconfliction cell" will be established, bringing together the parties involved in the conflict in Lebanon, the Lebanese state, and the mediators, in order to "ensure compliance with the cessation of military operations in Lebanon."

'Major progress' between Americans and Iranians in Switzerland to end war in Lebanon

Iranian and American officials have agreed on mechanisms aimed at ending the fighting in Lebanon and securing the Strait of Hormuz, Pakistani and Qatari mediators announced this morning following the first round of negotiations in Switzerland aimed at ending the war in the Middle East.

Meeting in a luxury hotel in Bürgenstock in the Swiss Alps, the Iranian and American delegations made "encouraging progress," the Pakistani and Qatari governments said in a joint statement. They "agreed on a roadmap to reach a final agreement within 60 days, laying the groundwork for the immediate start of further technical discussions" for the remainder of the week.

"The Pakistani and Qatari mediation has achieved major progress toward ending the war in Lebanon," Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who is part of Iran's delegation in Switzerland, wrote on X. "Exports of oil and petrochemical products are no longer restricted, the blockade has been lifted, some frozen assets have been released, and a major reconstruction and development plan for Iran has been launched," he added, listing points contained in the memorandum of understanding signed on June 17 by Washington and Tehran.

Read more here.

Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of developments in Lebanon and the Middle East, where talks between the United States and Iran in Switzerland have made "major progress" on the conflict between Hezbollah and Israel, as well as on the Israeli military and the Strait of Hormuz. This diplomatic breakthrough is accompanied by a calm that appears to be holding on the ground in southern Lebanon.

You can catch up on yesterday's news in our live coverage here, and in our Morning Brief here.