First 'pilot zone' in Lebanon to be launched in coming days, US official says | LIVE

Explosions heard in several areas of southern Iran

Several explosions were heard in southern parts of Iran including Bushehr, where one of Iran's nuclear plants is located, Konarak and Choghadak, Iran's Mehr news agency reported on Thursday.

A first 'pilot zone' in Lebanon to be launched in the coming days, US official says

The first "pilot zone" in Lebanon, in which the Lebanese Army will take control of an area currently occupied by Israeli forces, will be launched "within days," while additional zones are being mapped and planned, a U.S. official said Thursday, according to Reuters.

According to our information, Beirut has demanded that Israel withdraw from two "pilot zones" in southern Lebanon before taking part in the new round of talks scheduled for July 15 and 16. Froun, in the Bint Jbeil district, and Zawtar Gharbieh, in the Nabatieh district, were initially identified by Israeli media as the first localities to be included in the gradual Israeli military withdrawal from south Lebanon under the framework agreement reached between Beirut and Tel Aviv under U.S. auspices on June 26.

’Reduction in violence allowed UNIFIL to increase operational activities,’ UNIFIL says

“The recent reduction in violence has allowed UNIFIL to gradually increase its operational activities across south Lebanon. As families begin returning to their villages, peacekeepers are expanding their presence to help consolidate the relative stability achieved in recent weeks,” UNIFIL said in a statement.

“Peacekeepers continue monitoring developments and engaging with the parties, and supporting local communities wherever possible, including by helping repair damaged roads and other infrastructure. This supports recovery while improving access for our own operational activities,” the statement said.

UNIFIL said that although the level of violence since June has decreased, the situation remains critical.

Israeli army chief says he is 'closely monitoring developments in Iran and Lebanon' and is 'ready to act immediately'

Israeli military Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir said he is "closely monitoring developments in Iran and Lebanon" and that the military is "ready to act immediately," as the memorandum of understanding signed in mid-June between the United States and Iran appears increasingly fragile.

He made the remarks during an awards ceremony honoring soldiers, according to a post by the Israeli military on X. "We will respond with force to anyone who seeks to harm us," he warned.

"Over the past few weeks, hundreds of Air Force aircraft have been kept on alert for immediate takeoff. Behind these hundreds of aircraft stand tens of thousands of people: technicians, air traffic controllers, inspectors, administrative and logistics personnel, as well as planners at headquarters and command teams," Zamir also said.

Israel says it is ready to strike Iran 'a third time if necessary'

The Israeli military is prepared to strike Iran "a third time if necessary," Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said Thursday during a military ceremony.

"The military is prepared and on alert for a resumption of hostilities, in order to reestablish air superiority and strike again ... in Iran to eliminate the threats, including a third time if necessary," he said, according to AFP.

A cedar reserve beneath Beaufort Castle threatened by Israeli operations, according to Arnoun’s mayor

Fawaz Qatbay, Arnoun's mayor, expressed “concern” to our south Lebanon correspondent that the Israeli army may be carrying out clearing operations in the Arnoun nature reserve, located at the foot of Beaufort Castle, which the army has taken control of in the Nabatieh district.

Established more than 20 years ago, this cedar reserve is one of the village’s main environmental and symbolic landmarks.

Qatbay said he observed Israeli machinery and bulldozers in the area today carrying out earthmoving work. He nevertheless considered that it was still too early to assess the extent of the damage or determine whether the works would affect the entire reserve or only part of it, for military reasons. According to him, the situation should become clearer in the coming hours. He added, however, that he had received photographs showing the beginning of the earthmoving operations, although they did not allow the scale of the works to be accurately assessed.

The reserve is home to 220 cedar trees, each named after a Lebanese Army soldier killed during the 2007 Nahr al-Bared camp clashes, which pitted the army against the jihadist group Fatah al-Islam for a month, giving the site a strong national and symbolic significance. It covers nearly 6 hectares and also includes a football field as well as groves of olive trees, eucalyptus trees and walnut trees.

Qatbay finally called on relevant authorities to “intervene quickly and take the necessary steps to halt these works before they cause significant damage to the reserve, given its environmental and national importance for the residents of Arnoun and the region.”

Iranian, Omani, Turkish FMs discuss Hormuz, stress need for diplomacy

⁠Iranian ‌Foreign Minister ‌Abbas Araghchi held ⁠separate phone calls ⁠with his Omani and Turkish counterparts on Thursday and ‌discussed the latest ‌developments in the region, particularly in the Strait of Hormuz, the Iranian foreign ⁠ministry said, according to Reuters.

The parties stressed the ‌need ⁠to use ‌diplomatic channels to prevent escalation, a ⁠ministry statement said.

Jordan intercepts missiles as Tehran claims responsibility for attack

Jordan intercepted several Iranian missiles that entered its airspace, the kingdom's military said on Thursday, in an attack claimed by Iran's Revolutionary Guards in retaliation for the latest U.S. strikes, AFP reported.

The Guards said in a statement carried by state media and cited by AFP that their air force had "struck the enemy's military command center and Al-Azraq air base in Jordan with 10 ballistic missiles."

"If the terrorist U.S. army repeats its aggression, the other American bases in the region will not be safe from our heavy fire," they warned.

Earlier in the afternoon, sirens sounded in Amman, Jordan's capital. Shortly afterward, the Jordanian military said in a statement from one of its senior officials that its air defense systems had intercepted "eight missiles launched from Iran."

"The interception resulted in the fall of numerous missile fragments, causing neither casualties nor damage," the official said.

"The Jordanian Armed Forces are monitoring the current developments in the region and remain on alert to protect the kingdom's airspace and defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity. They will not tolerate any violation of Jordanian airspace by any party," he added.

Israel says it destroyed '2 additional tunnels' in Majdal Zoun village which had been divided in 2 by demolition

The Israeli army said it had destroyed "two additional tunnels," with a combined length of "around 200 meters" and a depth of "around 20 meters" in Majdal Zoun, a village in the Sour district overlooking southern Lebanon, according to its Arabic-language spokesperson, Avichay Adraee on X.

It said it had also "discovered dozens of weapons" there, as well as "a weapons depot containing mortar shells, launchers and RPG rockets."

"The forces of the 91st Division continue their operations in the 'terrorist village' of Majdal Zoun, located within the 'security zone' [name given by the Israeli army to the occupied area in southern Lebanon, which covers 620 square kilometers], in order to eliminate threats against the State of Israel," Adraee wrote.

Ten days ago, the village was "split in two" by a large-scale Israeli demolition, according to a local resident. The crater caused by the explosion was visible from neighboring villages.

Israeli attacks in Lebanon kill 4,321 people

In its latest official report published Tuesday afternoon, the Health Ministry said that Israeli attacks in Lebanon have killed 4,321 people and injured another 12,204 since the resumption of the war on March 2.

One more person was killed and one injured since the last toll on Tuesday.

Iran says it fired 10 ballistic missiles at Jordan's Azraq military base

Iran fired 10 ballistic missiles at Jordan's Azraq military base, Iranian state television reported, as cited by Reuters.

According to the same outlet, Iran's Revolutionary Guard warned that U.S. bases in the region would be targeted if American "aggressions" were repeated.

Explosions were heard in Bandar Abbas, southern Iran

The Iranian news agency Mehr reports that new explosions were heard in Bandar Abbas, an Iranian port city located on the Strait of Hormuz.

The United States launched new airstrikes against Iran, and Tehran retaliated by targeting Middle Eastern countries allied with the United States, in an exchange of fire that threatens a provisional agreement intended to end the war.

US strikes kill 3 members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in Iran

Three members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps were killed in U.S. airstrikes in Iran, the Mizan news agency reported.

Revolutionary Guard says Hormuz transit at 50% of prewar levels, blames US attacks for shipping disruption

Iran's Revolutionary Guard Navy said Thursday that U.S. attacks on Iran and U.S. intervention in redirecting shipping through the Strait of Hormuz were disrupting the strategic waterway's gradual reopening and jeopardizing the interests of countries that rely on it, Reuters reported.

The Revolutionary Guard said transit capacity under Iran's supervision had recovered to about 50% of prewar levels over the past two weeks and that traffic was being expanded only for vessels granted permission to use routes designated by Iran.

The force warned that any further U.S. intervention would draw a "crushing response."

Mitri warns against 'downplaying' Israeli settler entry into south Lebanon

Deputy Prime Minister Tarek Mitri warned against downplaying the significance of a group of Israelis entering southern Lebanon, saying such moves, even if they appear limited, could carry signs that require attention and should not be dismissed.

In a post on X, Mitri wrote that "for the second time, a number of members of the settler group Uri Tzafon have entered southern Lebanon."

He noted that the group was "small and marginal, and that it withdrew following an order from the Israeli army," but said that did not diminish the importance of the incident.

He added: "Settlement in the West Bank, after its occupation, began at the hands of Gush Emunim. In its early days, it was a small group that faced some obstacles and restrictions," suggesting that settlement projects can begin with limited steps before expanding later.

Separately, the Israeli army said it had detained Israeli civilians who attempted to cross into Syrian territory, condemning the incident and emphasizing that "such actions constitute a criminal offense that endangers civilians."

"The [Israeli army] emphasizes that such incidents disrupt [Israeli army] operational activities and the security in the area, and divert the attention of commanders and soldiers from their mission," the army said.

A group of Israelis from a movement calling for settlement in Syria said they crossed into Syrian territory and remained there overnight into Thursday after crossing through Mount Hermon in northern Israel.

The Pioneers of the Bashan movement, named after a biblical-era region in present-day Jordan and Syria, described the crossing as a "major step toward civilian settlement" and "permanent control" in Syria. The group said it had informed Israeli army troops in advance that it planned to enter Syrian territory but did not disclose its exact location.

UAE condemns Iranian missile, drone attacks targeting Bahrain, Kuwait

The United Arab Emirates strongly condemned renewed Iranian missile and drone attacks targeting Bahrain and Kuwait.

In a statement carried by the Emirates News Agency, or WAM, the Foreign Affairs Ministry said the "aggressive attacks constitute a flagrant violation of the sovereignty of the Kingdom of Bahrain and the State of Kuwait and pose a threat to their security and stability."

The Ministry reaffirmed the UAE's full solidarity with Bahrain and Kuwait and its support for all measures aimed at safeguarding their security and stability.

Jordan intercepts 8 Iranian missiles; no casualties reported

Jordan intercepted eight Iranian missiles in its airspace after sirens sounded across the country, the armed forces said.

Falling shrapnel caused no casualties or material damage, the military added.

Israel deal shows negotiations are 'exclusively Lebanese,' Rajji says

Foreign Minister Youssef Rajji said the framework agreement signed between Lebanon and Israel under U.S. auspices demonstrates that such decisions are a matter for the Lebanese state alone.

Speaking during a visit to Cyprus, Rajji said the deal "has demonstrated to everyone, first and foremost Iran, that negotiations are an exclusively Lebanese responsibility, to be decided by no one other than the Lebanese state."

As part of the interim deal with the United States, Iran insisted on Israel's withdrawal from southern Lebanon and an end to its months-long attacks.

Lebanon's Western-backed government and Hezbollah have exchanged angry words, and the group's supporters have blocked major roads in protest. One Hezbollah MP said the country would plunge into civil war if the government tried to force the group's disarmament, as demanded by Israel.

Bridge on China-Iran rail corridor hit by US strike

U.S. air strikes on Iran have hit the Aq Taqeh Khan railway bridge in the northern province of Golestan, according to the Fars News Agency.

This bridge links key trade routes between Tehran and Iran’s biggest trading partner, China. The route was also used for cargo shipments to Russia during the U.S. blockade on Iran’s ports.

Fars said bridge repairs will be completed quickly. The route across the bridge passes through Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan and on to China.

Jordanian military on high alert, government spokesperson says

Jordan's state-run news agency, citing a government spokesperson, confirmed that sirens sounded in Jordan on Thursday after "a missile launch was detected in Jordanian airspace."

The spokesperson added that the Jordanian armed forces "were on high alert and ready to respond to any threat to the kingdom's security," Reuters reported.

Sirens sound in Jordan after suspected Iranian projectile fired

Sirens sounded in Jordan after a suspected Iranian projectile was fired, Reuters reported. Iran has targeted several countries in the region since tensions with Washington escalated.

US projectile reportedly hits Bushehr nuclear power plant perimeter

Iranian state media reported that the perimeter of the Bushehr nuclear power plant was hit by a U.S. projectile, according to Reuters.

Israeli drone hits Mansouri with two stun grenades

An Israeli drone dropped two stun grenades over the town of Mansouri, in the Sour district, our correspondent in southern Lebanon reported.

Bushehr governor denies nuclear power plant was targeted

The governor of Bushehr, Iran, Mohammad Mozaffari, said the city was attacked again by the United States this morning but denied reports that the nuclear power plant had been targeted.

According to Iranian media, Mozaffari also said reports of a U.S. attack on Kharg Island — located off the Iranian coast in Bushehr province and processing 90% of Iran's crude oil exports — were inaccurate.

"No incidents have been reported at either location," Mozaffari said, according to ISNA.

Lebanese Army, UN peacekeepers escorting repairs to water supply network in Wadi Slouki

A Lebanese Army patrol, accompanied by U.N. peacekeepers and several technicians, traveled to the Wadi Slouki area, at the junction of the towns of Houla and Majdal Selm, both in Marjayoun district, and Shaqra, in Bint Jbeil district, to repair the water supply network that supplies Shaqra from the artesian well in the valley, our correspondent in the South reported.

Meanwhile, Israeli military vehicles were spotted and monitored as they passed through the town of Haddatha, in Bint Jbeil district.

Explosions Heard in Buchehr, Iran

Several explosions were heard in the province of Buchehr, Iran, on Thursday morning, according to the semi-official Mehr News agency, as reported by Reuters. The agency notes that one of Iran's nuclear sites is located in this province.

Video: Israel detonates houses in Bint Jbeil district

Video by Muntasser Abdallah

Israeli army demolishes homes in Houla

The Israeli army demolished residential buildings in Houla, Marjayoun district, according to our correspondent in southern Lebanon.

One wounded in latest Iranian attack on Kuwait

One person was wounded in the latest Iranian attack on Kuwait on Thursday, the Kuwaiti military said, according to Reuters.

The military said the damage occurred after interceptor missiles were launched to counter Iranian missiles and drones.

Israeli forces demolish homes in Haddatha, drones fly over Saida

An explosion caused by Israeli forces demolishing several houses in Haddatha, Bint Jbeil district, on July 9, 2026. (Credit: Muntasser Abdallah/L'Orient-Le Jour)

Israeli forces detonated explosives in several houses in the village of Haddatha in the Bint Jbeil district shortly before noon, causing a massive explosion visible from a distance, according to our correspondent in the South.

Israeli drones also flew at low altitude over Saida this morning, according to our correspondent.

Iran denounces US attacks on civilian infrastructure as ‘flagrant war crime’

Iran denounced U.S. strikes on railway bridges as a “flagrant war crime.”

In a statement, Iran’s Foreign Ministry said it “condemns in the strongest terms” the U.S. attacks that targeted “southern coastal provinces in several locations,” as well as “two bridges in the eastern provinces on the railway line to the holy city of Mashhad,” where Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s funeral is taking place Thursday.

The Ministry said the strikes “undoubtedly constitute a flagrant war crime” and expressed Iran’s “determination” to “defend its territorial integrity, sovereignty, and national security.”

Khamenei's coffin arrives in Mashhad ahead of burial

The coffin of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei arrived by plane in Mashhad, northeastern Iran, where the late supreme leader is to be buried later Thursday, the official IRNA news agency reported.

After six days of funeral ceremonies in Iran and Iraq, Khamenei's remains will be interred at the Imam Reza Shrine, the country's holiest Shiite site, in his hometown, where millions of mourners are expected to gather.

Explosions heard in Manama after airstrike sirens activated

Explosions were heard in Manama, Bahrain's capital, after air raid sirens were activated for the second time, hours after overnight Iranian attacks, an AFP journalist reported.

“Air raid sirens have been activated. Citizens and residents are urged to remain calm and proceed to the nearest safe location,” Bahrain's Interior Ministry said in a post on X.

Aoun tells Issa pressure must be put on Israel to uphold framework agreement

President Joseph Aoun told U.S. Ambassador Michel Issa that pressure must be put on Israel to “consolidate the ceasefire” in southern Lebanon, end its military operations and respect the provisions of the framework agreement.

Aoun also called on Israel to “cease bombing and demolition operations” in the occupied towns and villages of southern Lebanon.

Issa says no vacuum should be created during Israeli withdrawal from ‘pilot zones’

U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa said after meeting President Joseph Aoun at the Baabda Presidential Palace that Israel’s withdrawal from the “pilot zones” identified in negotiations between Beirut and Tel Aviv must not leave a “vacuum.”

Under the June 20 framework agreement, the Lebanese army is to deploy in the zones, located around Froun in Bint Jbeil and Zawtar north of the Litani River, while Israel withdraws and Hezbollah infrastructure is dismantled.

Issa said “preparations are underway” to implement the agreement and that a U.S. military delegation would arrive “in Beirut in the coming days” to coordinate the process on the ground. He said the start date for implementation would be set after coordination meetings with the U.S. military.

On the negotiations scheduled for Rome on July 14 and 15, Issa said the location was chosen for “purely technical reasons related to the travel” of the delegations. He said the meeting would be “organizational and operational in nature” and should lead to the creation of “specialized working groups,” with further sessions to follow “in Rome or other capitals.”

Issa added that Aoun’s expected visit to Washington at the end of the month “reflects President Trump’s interest in Lebanon and his desire to promote security and stability there, as well as to end the suffering of the Lebanese people.”

Qatar urges Iran, US to prioritize diplomacy after escalation

Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani told Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi that Iran and the United States must commit to diplomacy following the latest escalation.

According to Reuters, Sheikh Mohammed also said Washington and Tehran should implement the signed memorandum of understanding aimed at ending the war.

Iran says US strikes killed 14, wounded 78 over past 2 days

Iran's Health Ministry said 14 people were killed and 78 wounded in U.S. airstrikes over the past two days.

"While the cease-fire was in effect, the United States targeted five Iranian provinces" on Wednesday and Thursday, Health Ministry spokesperson Hossein Kermanpour said. He added that 47 of the wounded remain hospitalized.

Katz says Israeli ‘buffer zone’ in south Lebanon will be cleared of residents, Hezbollah infrastructure

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said Israeli forces “will continue to remain” in the area controlled by the Israeli army in Lebanon “until Hezbollah is disarmed.”

The region, which covers approximately 620 square kilometers and includes dozens of villages, “will be cleared of its inhabitants,” and all Hezbollah infrastructure, “both above and below ground,” will be demolished, Katz added.

Responding to comments by U.S. President Donald Trump, who said he believed Israel would withdraw from southern Lebanon, Katz said: “We did not ask anyone’s permission to enter Lebanon, and we do not need anyone’s permission to remain here.”

He added that Israel has established a “solid security zone” in the area, stretching from the coastline in the west to Beaufort Castle and “to the foothills of Mount Hermon in the east.”

Iranian military says targeted US interests in region

The Iranian military said it targeted U.S. interests in the region using drones, according to Iranian state media cited by Reuters.

The military claimed it targeted Patriot missile systems in Kuwait, a satellite antenna in Qatar and a U.S. military fuel depot in Bahrain.

US strikes stem from Iran's violation of commitments, Barrot says

The latest U.S. strikes are the result of Iran's violation "of its own commitments," French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said.

"It is Iran which, by attacking ships sailing in Omani waters, has violated its own commitments, as well as international law," Barrot told TF1 when asked about the legitimacy of the overnight U.S. strikes.

"Iran has violated the agreement reached with the United States" last month, he said, adding that "this type of maneuver must absolutely stop so that these crucial negotiations can continue under the best possible conditions" and calling for "calm."

Three killed by US airstrike near Ahvaz, Iranian media reports

A U.S. airstrike in western Iran killed three people and wounded several others, the state news agency IRNA reported, citing a local official.

Valiollah Hayati, deputy governor of Khuzestan province, said the attack targeted the outskirts of the city of Ahvaz, according to IRNA.

Iran suspends Tehran-Mashhad rail link after US airstrikes

The rail link between Tehran and Mashhad was suspended following U.S. airstrikes, Iranian state television reported, hours before the burial of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in the northeastern city.

Iran's state railway attributed the disruption to "a criminal attack by the American-Israeli enemy" on the line and said repair teams had been dispatched. State television added that road transportation was being arranged for stranded passengers.

Israeli strikes target multiple areas in south Lebanon overnight

Israeli forces carried out a large-scale bombing raid around 1 a.m. in the village of Haddatha in the Bint Jbeil district, according to our correspondent in southern Lebanon.

In separate attacks, an Israeli drone dropped two sonic bombs on Buyut al-Sayyed in the Sour district, while the Israeli army also struck houses in Khiam, Marjayoun, this morning.

Trump claims Iran wants deal

U.S. President Donald Trump said Iran "called a little while ago," and that they wanted "to make a deal so badly," according to Reuters.

Iran to bury Ayatollah Khamenei after 6 days of funeral ceremonies

Iran will bury Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Thursday in his hometown of Mashhad, concluding six days of funeral ceremonies that saw the late supreme leader's body transported to key Shiite sites in Iran and neighboring Iraq.

Khamenei, who was killed Feb. 28 at age 86 in an airstrike on the first day of the war launched by the United States and Israel, will be buried at the Imam Reza Shrine, according to the official IRNA news agency.

Authorities expect millions of mourners to attend the funeral, which the Iranian regime has presented as a demonstration of strength and unity amid renewed tensions with the United States.

Explosions heard in Bahrain after airstrike sirens activated

Several explosions were heard overnight in Bahrain after authorities activated airstrike sirens, according to an AFP journalist.

Kuwait says military repelled 'hostile' drone, missile attacks

Kuwait's military said early Thursday it repelled "hostile missile and drone attacks" after Iran's Revolutionary Guard vowed to retaliate against U.S. airstrikes on the Islamic Republic.

"The army's general staff specifies that the explosions heard resulted from the interception of hostile projectiles by air defense systems," the armed forces said in a statement posted on X, without specifying the origin of the attacks.

Iran says Strait of Hormuz will only reopen on 'Iranian terms'

Iran's chief negotiator in talks with the United States, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, said the Strait of Hormuz would only reopen on "Iranian terms" following the latest exchange of airstrikes between the two countries.

"The United States still hasn't grasped that intimidation and disregard for its commitments will no longer go unpunished," Ghalibaf said in a statement posted on X.

"Let's be clear: if you strike, you will be struck," he added, saying the Strait of Hormuz "will only be opened on Iranian terms and not under pressure from American threats."

IRGC says it struck US bases in Kuwait, Bahrain

Iran's Revolutionary Guard said Thursday they struck U.S. bases in Kuwait and Bahrain in retaliation for U.S. airstrikes in Iran and threatened to expand their attacks to other countries in the region.

In a statement broadcast by state television IRIB, the Revolutionary Guard said it launched drone and missile attacks on "infrastructure and facilities" at the U.S. bases of Arifjan and Ali Al-Salem in Kuwait and Jufray and Sheikh Isa in Bahrain.

It also warned it would extend its retaliation to other bases in the region if the United States carried out further strikes.

US military says it carried out new strikes on 90 sites in Iran

The U.S. military struck some 90 "military targets" in Iran, including air defense systems, in its latest series of strikes, U.S. Central Command announced last night.

"The United States completed a new series of strikes against Iran on July 8 to further degrade Iran's ability to target commercial shipping and innocent civilian mariners in the Strait of Hormuz," CENTCOM said in a statement released on X.

Catch up on yesterday's developments in our Morning Brief

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Good morning, We are now launching our live coverage of news from the region for today.

We are now launching our live coverage of the news from the Middle East, where, for the second night in a row, the United States launched attacks against Iran, which retaliated by firing on Gulf states, primarily Bahrain and Kuwait.

We will also be following the situation in Lebanon, where the Israeli army continues to occupy several 100 square kilometers along the border and conduct strikes in the South.