Netanyahu tells Trump selling F-35s to Turkey would 'destroy' Middle East balance; Araghchi reiterates no agreement will be reached before Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon | LIVE

Qatar summons Iran deputy ambassador over LNG tanker attack

Qatar announced Tuesday that it had summoned Iran's deputy ambassador in Doha to lodge a formal protest following an attack on one of the emirate's LNG tankers transiting off the coast of Oman, which Doha had earlier blamed on Iran.

In a statement, Qatar's Foreign Ministry said it had delivered a diplomatic note to the "deputy ambassador," calling on Tehran to "immediately cease all practices that undermine regional security, refrain from endangering the safety of international navigation and global energy supplies," and demanding "without delay an explanation for this attack."

Netanyahu says selling F-35s to Turkey would 'destroy the balance' in the Middle East

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in an interview with U.S. network CNN that selling F-35 fighter jets to Turkey would “destroy the balance of power” in the Middle East, after Donald Trump said he was considering such a sale.

Selling F-35s to Ankara “would destroy the balance of power in the Middle East because Turkey has aggressive aspirations,” the Israeli leader said.

The U.S. president had earlier said in Ankara that he would consider the possible sale of this type of fighter jet to Turkey, alongside Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

Israeli machine-gun fire reported near Nabatieh Fawqa

The Israeli army fired machine guns at the outskirts of Nabatieh Fawqa toward Mayfadoun, in the Nabatieh district, according to our correspondent in the South.

The Israeli army is carrying out explosions in Deir Siryan

(Credit: Muntasser Abdallah/L'Orient Today)

The Israeli army is carrying out explosions in Deir Siryan (Marjayoun), our correspondent in the South reported.

Joumblatt says 'framework agreement is a unilateral agreement imposed by Israel'

Former Progressive Socialist Party (PSP) leader Walid Joumblatt said that "the framework agreement [with Israel] is a unilateral agreement imposed by Israel on a Lebanese team, both inside and outside the country, that has limited expertise in law and diplomacy," according to remarks reported by the state-run National News Agency (NNA).

He stressed that "peace with Israel is impossible." Speaking during a meeting of the Druze community's sectarian council, he said: "This treaty is imposed. It makes no mention of an Israeli withdrawal, and this is what happens when the country's fate is entrusted to groups that lack experience in international politics and whose only concern is power."

He added: "I call on the Lebanese state, if it has the means, to prepare new shelters in southern Lebanon, even though this proposal has been rejected and continues to be rejected."

The U.S.-sponsored Lebanon-Israel framework agreement, signed in Washington, aims to end the conflict and establish sovereign relations between the two countries. It provides a roadmap for the gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon, contingent upon the Lebanese Army disarming Hezbollah.

France to return more than 50 million euros seized from Assad family to Syria, Macron says

French President Emmanuel Macron announced that France would return to the Syrian people more than 50 million euros in assets seized by French courts from the Assad family's ill-gotten wealth.

On the sidelines of Macron's visit to Damascus, France and Syria signed a comprehensive partnership and concluded several agreements, including a letter of intent regarding the return of confiscated assets belonging to Rifaat al-Assad, uncle of ousted President Bashar al-Assad.

"More than 50 million euros resulting from the seizure of assets acquired illegally by the family of the former dictator ... will be returned to the Syrian people to finance concrete development projects in the country," the French head of state said during a joint press conference with his Syrian counterpart, Ahmad al-Sharaa.

The document signed by the foreign ministers of the two countries mentions a sum of 51 million euros.

Sharaa: 'Syria’s stability is inseparable from Lebanon’s, and vice versa'

Speaking about Lebanon, Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa said during a joint press conference with Emmanuel Macron that Syria and France shared their support for Lebanese sovereignty and state institutions.

"Syria’s stability is inseparable from Lebanon’s, and vice versa," he said, adding that Damascus was working to secure the shared border with Lebanon while supporting the Lebanese state and its legitimate institutions, allowing them to strengthen their authority and effectively address the challenges facing the country.

He also condemned the continued Israeli violations in southern Syria, saying they "undermine the security and stability of the entire region," and reaffirmed the need for Israel to withdraw from the occupied territories.

According to him, lasting regional stability requires Israel to respect the 1974 disengagement agreement and withdraw from the areas it has occupied since Dec. 8, following the fall of the Assad regime.

Israeli forces had crossed the 1974 cease-fire line between the occupied Golan Heights and Syria, entering the demilitarized zone monitored by the United Nations. They have since established nine permanent bases on the heights.

Sharaa calls for Israeli withdrawal from occupied territories in Syria

Addressing regional issues, Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa condemned the continued Israeli violations in southern Syria, according to remarks reported by Sana.

"We condemn the continued Israeli violations that undermine the security and stability of the entire region, and we reaffirm the need for Israel to withdraw from the territories it has occupied in southern Syria."

The president said that lasting stability in the region required Israel to respect the 1974 disengagement agreement and withdraw from the areas it has occupied since Dec. 8.

Lebanon must eliminate Hezbollah's 'threat' in the South, Berlin says

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, during a visit to Jerusalem on Tuesday, urged the Lebanese authorities to put an end to the control exercised by the Iran-backed armed group Hezbollah over southern Lebanon.

"It is crucial that Lebanon now demonstrates determination on its part, asserts itself and ensures that Hezbollah no longer exercises any real control in the south of the country," Wadephul said during a joint press conference with his Israeli counterpart.

"No threat of any kind must emanate from Lebanese territory against Israel," he added.

Wadephul, who has backed Israel's ground offensive in Lebanon, described the ongoing U.S.-mediated talks between Israel and Lebanon, which are due to resume in Rome next week, as "a historic step."

Israeli military vehicles spotted moving at the foot of Ali Taher hills

Israeli military vehicles were spotted moving at the foot of the strategic Ali Taher hills in southern Lebanon, according to our correspondent.

Meanwhile, an Israeli drone dropped a stun grenade over the town of Nabatieh Fawqa (both located in the Nabatieh district).

Araghchi says no Tehran-Washington deal before Israel withdraws from Lebanon, as he receives Ali al-Khatib

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that "negotiations with the United States will not resume until the first part of the framework agreement relating to Lebanon has been implemented," adding that "no final agreement will be reached before Israeli forces withdraw from Lebanese territory."

He made the remarks during a meeting in Tehran with Sheikh Ali al-Khatib, vice president of the Supreme Islamic Shiite Council, who was leading a delegation close to Hezbollah that had come to offer condolences following the death of Iran's former supreme leader, Ali Khamenei.

According to Iran's top diplomat, the framework agreement comprises "five parts," the first of which concerns "Lebanon, respect for its national sovereignty and its territorial integrity."

"There will be no resumption of negotiations and no agreement until this part has been implemented and the cease-fire and the end of the war have been achieved," he insisted.

Araghchi also said that Tehran had consistently maintained throughout the negotiations that it "would not abandon its friends in Lebanon."

"We were constantly asked, 'What is your connection to Lebanon?' We replied that we would not abandon the Lebanese people, who made immense sacrifices during this war," he said, adding that Iran had "repeatedly stated that any agreement must include Lebanon."

Salam offers condolences to Esperanza Ghandour's family, residents of Nabatieh, calls for cease-fire to be respected, Israel's immediate withdrawal

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam offered his "sincerest condolences to the family of the late educator Esperanza Ghandour, as well as to the residents of Nabatieh and the local educational community, following her death in a condemned Israeli airstrike," Lebanon's state-run National News Agency (NNA) reported.

He said: "On this painful occasion, I reiterate the need to uphold the cease-fire and begin Israel's full withdrawal from Lebanese territory as soon as possible. Our priority will remain supporting the resilience of our people in the South, ensuring their safe and dignified return, and working to restore life to its schools, institutions and public infrastructure."

Another tanker struck by unidentified projectile in the Strait of Hormuz, UKMTO says

A tanker was struck by an unidentified projectile while transiting the Strait of Hormuz and is believed to have sustained structural damage, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said Tuesday. No casualties or environmental impact have been reported, according to Reuters.

The incident comes after two vessels were struck overnight Monday into Tuesday in the strait, including a Qatari oil tanker, which Doha blamed on Iran.

Trump vows to remove CAATSA sanctions during Erdogan talks

Trump said that he would lift sanctions during his meeting with Erdogan.

“We’re going to be taking the sanctions off,” Trump told reporters ‌‌when asked about the measures imposed under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA).

In 2020, Washington imposed CAATSA sanctions on Turkey over its acquisition of Russian S-400 air defense systems. It ⁠⁠also removed Ankara from the F-35 ⁠⁠fighter jet program, a move Turkey called unjust and illegal.

Trump calls Turkey a ‘great’ US ally

Trump continues his praise of Turkey, calling it a “great ally” of the U.S.

The U.S. president said Turkey knows Iran “very well,” noting that it has been “very instrumental” in helping deal with the situation in the region.

“They could have gotten into the fight – I hear some people saying about their relationship with Israel,” added Trump.

“They are a very powerful military nation, they didn’t do that. Maybe they didn’t do that because of me. But they could have gotten into the fight on the other side.”

Sharaa calls on France to play an active role in 'halting' Israeli escalation

Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa called on France to play an "active role" in putting an end to what he described as Israel's "systematic aggression" in Syria since the fall of the former regime, during a joint press conference with French President Emmanuel Macron.

For his part, Macron said that neighboring countries' "incursions," "interference" and "strikes" were "not acceptable."

Trump says ‘very disappointed’ with NATO over Iran

The U.S. president says he was “very disappointed” by the response of NATO allies in Europe to his war with Iran after arriving in Turkey for the alliance’s summit.

“I was very disappointed with NATO,” Trump told journalists as he met Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

“We didn’t need any help at all, and in a way, I was testing people, I was testing to see whether or not they’d be there, because I’ve long said that we helped them, but I’m not sure that they’d be there for us.”

Funeral of 3 women killed in a Israeli drone strike in Nabatieh Fawqah on Monday

Mourners attend the funeral of the three women killed in a Israeli drone strike in Nabatieh Fawqah, southern Lebanon on Monday. (Credit: AFP)

Qatar foreign ministry holds Iran 'fully responsible' for two ‌tankers struck in Strait of Hormuz

Qatar's foreign ministry called on Iran to immediately cease "all practices that undermine regional security or threaten the safety of international navigation" after two ‌tankers were hit in the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, holding Iran "fully responsible," Reuters reported.

The Qatari liquefied natural gas tanker Al Rekayyat reported being struck overnight and was at risk of exploding after a fire broke out in its engine room, sources told Reuters. The crew was declared safe and ⁠were being evacuated.

A Saudi-flagged crude oil tanker, believed to be the supertanker Wedyan, was also damaged off Oman's coast, maritime security sources said. The cause was not immediately clear.

Trump on selling F-35s to Turkey: 'Something we will certainly consider'

U.S. Donald Trump said that the United States is considering selling F-35s to Turkey, speaking at the NATO summit in Ankara alongside Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Israel announces new round of talks with Lebanon to be held in Rome

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar confirmed Tuesday that a new round of talks between Israel and Lebanon will soon take place in Rome, with Italian authorities indicating the meetings are expected to be held on July 15–16.

“Less than two weeks ago, Israel, Lebanon and the United States reached a historic framework agreement. These discussions will continue next week in Rome,” Saar said, adding that Israel has “no territorial ambitions in Lebanon.”

Khamenei’s coffin begins journey to Iraq after funeral in Iran

The funeral ceremonies for Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei concluded Tuesday in the holy city of Qom, according to Iran’s Tasnim news agency, before continuing in Iraq, which is also home to a large Shiite population.

In what was staged as a show of strength and unity, six months after authorities suppressed mass protests over economic hardship and rising living costs, millions of people paid tribute to the leader in Tehran on Monday.

Large crowds also gathered in Qom, chanting “Death to America,” a slogan regularly heard at official rallies in the Islamic Republic.

The coffins of Khamenei and his relatives — killed alongside him on Feb. 28, the first day of joint Israeli-U.S. strikes on Iran — are expected to arrive in Iraq on Tuesday evening. According to Iranian authorities, those killed included one of his daughters, a son-in-law, a daughter-in-law and his 14-month-old granddaughter.

Israel, Lebanon to hold talks in Rome in mid-July

Israeli and Lebanese ambassadors are due to hold direct talks in Rome this month, Italy's foreign ministry said Tuesday, after several rounds of discussions in Washington aimed at de-escalation.

"We welcome with pleasure the announcement that the next round of talks between Israel and Lebanon mediated by the U.S. will take place in Rome," Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said on X.

A ministry spokesman said the talks would take place at the ambassador level on July 15 and 16.

This round of talks will be the sixth since spring between the two, which do not have diplomatic relations and are technically in a state of war.

German Foreign Minister: Hezbollah is the source of Lebanon's problems

German Foreign Minister Jochen Wadephul said at a joint press conference with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar that "Hezbollah is the source of Lebanon's problems," according to Ynet.

He added: "The settlements are a threat to peace. More humanitarian aid must urgently be brought into Gaza."

Situation in south Lebanon

An Israeli drone dropped four stun grenades over Haddatha, according to our correspondent.

Artillery fire targeted the town of Beit Yahoun.

The Israeli army carried out a blast in Kounin.

Israeli flag raised on Ali Taher hill in south Lebanon

An Israeli flag was raised on Ali Taher hill in south Lebanon, according to images obtained by our correspondent.

The images date back about a week and were taken by photojournalist Ali Omeis. It remains unclear whether the Israeli flag is still flying at the site.

Earlier reports indicated the presence of Israeli forces near the hill. Based on available information, there is currently no confirmation that Israeli forces entered Hezbollah facilities in the area. Informed sources said the facilities had previously been targeted by Israeli airstrikes, which reportedly blocked or caused the collapse of their entrances. Their current condition is therefore difficult to assess, including whether they have been fully evacuated or if anyone remains inside.

Regarding the flag, sources contacted by our correspondent cited two main possibilities. The first is that an Israeli infantry unit reached the site and raised the flag. The second is that the flag was placed there by an Israeli drone or aircraft.

Israeli artillery fires phosphorus shells near Shebaa

Israeli artillery shelled the outskirts of Shebaa with phosphorus munitions, according to our correspondent.

Explosive devices detonate near Macron's hotel in Damascus

A series of explosive devices detonated near the hotel where French President Emmanuel Macron is staying in Damascus, according to a security source. No immediate information was available on casualties or whether the hotel itself was affected.

Araghchi: Final agreement talks won't begin under threats

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned that negotiations with the United States on a final agreement "will not begin as long as the threats continue," urging Washington to "respect its signature" under Article 13 of the memorandum of understanding.

Relatively calm night in south Lebanon

South Lebanon experienced a relatively calm night, interrupted only by Israeli sweeping fire targeting Houla, while Israeli drones continued flying over towns and villages across the region.

Projectile strikes tanker near Strait of Hormuz

A tanker sailing off Oman near the Strait of Hormuz was struck by an unidentified projectile, causing a fire but no casualties or environmental damage, the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said, as Axios reported that Iran fired at least two missiles at commercial vessels.

Massive crowds gather in Qom for Khamenei funeral

Huge crowds gathered in the holy city of Qom on the fourth day of funeral ceremonies for former Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, whose body is lying in state at Jamkaran Mosque after he was killed in Israeli-U.S. strikes on Feb. 28.

Welcome to our live coverage

Welcome to our live coverage of Lebanon, where the Israeli army continues daily attacks and the destruction of villages in the occupied "buffer zone" despite the cease-fire in effect since June 20, while we also follow developments in Iran during Khamenei's funeral procession.

Catch up on what you missed yesterday and what to keep an eye out for today by reading our 👉Morning Brief.