Lebanon, Israel agree on shortlist of countries to verify Hezbollah disarmament | LIVE

Araghchi praises Iranian military, calls for Muslim unity

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Friday that the Iranian armed forces had demonstrated their preparedness and strength against what he called "the most expensive army in the world," and urged Muslim countries to unite and rely on their own resources against "hostile external forces," Reuters reports.

His message, posted on X, came hours after the signing in Mecca of a joint defense agreement among Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey, bringing together three Sunni U.S. partners amid a regional conflict marked by Iranian missile strikes targeting Gulf oil exporters.

Large explosion in Taybeh area, Mansouri ablaze

The intensity of Israeli attacks remained unabated in southern Lebanon, according to our correspondent. After 9 p.m., the Israeli army swept Mansouri (Sour) with machine-gun fire and relentless artillery shelling. Around 9:30 p.m., our correspondent reported a fire in the village caused by the bombardment.

A powerful explosion was also heard around the same time between the villages of Taybeh and Deir Siryan, in the Marjayoun district.

Lebanon, Israel agree on shortlist of countries to verify Hezbollah's disarmament

Lebanon and Israel have agreed on a shortlist of countries that could send troops to verify Hezbollah's disarmament as part of a U.S.-brokered agreement, a Lebanese official said Friday. The United States will select the countries from the list.

The official declined to reveal the names or number of the countries. Another Lebanese official and two foreign diplomats previously told Reuters that Israel and the United States had vetoed France's proposal.

The list was drawn up during meetings between Lebanon and Israel at the U.S. Embassy in Rome this week as part of the latest round of negotiations on implementing the June 26 agreement, which links the phased withdrawal of Israeli troops from Lebanon to Hezbollah's disarmament, to be verified by a third party.

"We have drawn up a shortlist of countries. We have determined which parts are unacceptable to each and defined the potential actors," the Lebanese official said. "It is now up to the Americans to decide, and they could choose more than one country."

Israel drops barrel bombs on Ali al-Taher

Israeli attacks resumed in the evening, according to our correspondent. An Israeli drone dropped barrel bombs on the hill of Ali al-Taher shortly before 8 p.m. Around 8:15 p.m., the Israeli army carried out a large-scale demolition in Zawtar Sharqieh, Nabatieh.

Houthis claim responsibility for attack on Saudi troops at Yemen camp

The Houthis claimed responsibility Friday for an attack on a camp of Saudi-backed government forces in central Yemen that left eight soldiers dead, according to a revised death toll provided by a military source.

"The Saudi enemy continues to mobilize its forces and push them to escalate," the rebels' military spokesman, Yahya Saree, said in a statement, adding that "these troop concentrations, as well as their depots, vehicles and military equipment, were targeted by a large number of missiles and drones" in Marib province.

Israeli machine-gun fire targets Haddatha, artillery shelling targets several towns in Nabatieh

Israeli forces again carried out heavy machine-gun fire toward the town of Haddatha (Bint Jbeil). A Merkava tank also shelled the town.

Separately, Israeli artillery shelled the outskirts of Nabatieh Fawqa, Kfar Tibnit, and Ali al-Taher area (all located in Nabatieh).

Israeli artillery shelling, explosions, sweeping operations continue targeting southern towns

• Israeli artillery shelling targeted the Sawan neighborhood in the outskirts of the town of Houla (Marjayoun).

• The Israeli army carried out a large explosion in the vicinity of the Mosque neighborhood in Zawtar Sharqieh. Israeli artillery shelling also targeted the outskirts of the town towards Mayfadoun (both located in Nabatieh).

• The Israeli army conducted extensive sweeping fire from the Sammaqa position toward the outskirts of the town of Kfar Shuba (Hasbaya).

2 killed, 14 wounded in Houthi strikes on Marib, says Yemen’s health minister

Two civilians have been killed and 14 injured in the latest Houthi attacks on the central city of Marib, says the health minister of Yemen’s internationally recognised government.

Qasim Buhaibeh added that the toll is preliminary.

Yemeni state media said earlier that the army shot down multiple Houthi drones launched towards Marib and explosions were reported.

Iranian official says Hormuz framework has been agreed with Oman, says state media

A framework of understanding with Oman regarding the Strait of Hormuz has been agreed upon, says Hassan Ghashghavi, an MP and spokesman for the Iranian Parliament’s National Security Commission.

“The general framework of the understanding with Oman has been determined and the final text and details will be announced soon,” Ghashghavi told the official IRNA news agency.

“Of course, the final decision must be made at higher levels.”

Pact with Pakistan, Turkiye will not bring security to Saudi Arabia, warns Iranian MP

Iranian MP Ebrahim Rezaei has called on Riyadh to change its policies.

He said on X: “Saudis must know that a paper agreement with Turkiye and Pakistan will not bring them security, just as years of one-sided nursing to the Americans did not bring them security.”

“Reform your policies so that you do not need to beg for security from others,” said Rezaei, who is also a member of parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Commission.

Iranian official says Hormuz framework agreed with Oman

Hassan Ghashghavi, an Iranian MP and spokesman for Parliament’s National Security Commission, said a framework agreement with Oman regarding the Strait of Hormuz has been reached, state media reported.

“The general framework of the understanding with Oman has been determined, and the final text and details will be announced soon,” Ghashghavi told official IRNA news agency.

He added that the final decision would still need to be approved at higher levels.

Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey sign joint defence pact in Jeddah

A statement by the Pakistani Foreign Ministry says that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and Pakistani Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif have held a joint defence summit in Jeddah.

It said that a joint defence deal was signed that is “guided by the longstanding historical ties among the three states, based on the enduring bonds of brotherhood and Islamic solidarity that unite them, and building upon their shared strategic interests and longstanding defence cooperation”.

The agreement reflects “the three states’ shared commitment to further strengthening their collective security and to promoting peace, security, and stability in the region and beyond, in pursuit of a secure and prosperous future,” the statement added.

It stressed: “The agreement is intended to strengthen collective deterrence against any act of aggression, and stipulates that any armed attack against any one of the three states shall be regarded as an attack against them all.”

There is no security for Saudi forces and their backers, says Houthi official

Hizam al-Assad, a member of the political bureau of the Houthi movement, has threatened Saudi Arabia’s army and its “mercenaries”.

“There is no security for the invading Saudi forces, nor for their mercenaries, nor for their camps on our land,” he said on X.

He added: “And whoever condemns the operations of our armed forces should open their country and territory to the establishment of Saudi camps, and allow the recruitment and enlistment of mercenaries from among their own people.”

“Our armed forces are compelled to reclaim our rights, lift the siege on our country, and confront every individual who obstructs our people’s path towards attaining their rights, freedom, and independence, regardless of their nationality,” he also said in a separate post.

Turkish President Erdogan arrives in Saudi Arabia for trilateral talks

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan arrived at King Abdulaziz International Airport ahead of trilateral talks with the Saudi Crown Prince and the Pakistani Prime Minister.

Upon his arrival, he was greeted by Saudi officials, as well as by the Turkish ambassador in Riyadh and the Turkish consul general in Jeddah.

Putin discussed situation in the Gulf and Ukraine with UAE president, Kremlin says

Russian President ‌Vladimir Putin discussed the ⁠situation in the ⁠Gulf and Ukraine with United Arab Emirates President Mohammed bin ‌Zayed Al ‌Nahyan during a phone call, the Kremlin said on Friday.

It said Putin had expressed his ⁠gratitude to the United Arab Emirates ‌for its ⁠role ‌in organising exchanges of prisoners of war ⁠and detainees between Russia and Ukraine

Saudi Arabia warns of imminent 2-front attacks by Iran-backed groups

Saudi Arabia expects coordinated attacks by Iraqi militias and Yemen’s Houthis targeting civilian and economic sites, including energy infrastructure, ports and airports, a senior Saudi official told Reuters.

The official said intelligence indicated drones and missiles were being moved from both fronts under the supervision of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

The warning comes as Riyadh faces rising threats amid the wider regional conflict. Saudi Arabia has accused Iran-backed groups of attacks on its territory and recently carried out strikes with U.S. Central Command against Iraqi militias it blamed for drone attacks.

The official said the threats were concerning as diplomatic efforts with Iran and other parties continued. The warning follows a Houthi attack in southern Saudi Arabia that wounded 11 civilians.

Israeli forces target Beit Yahoun, Haddatha towards Aita al-Jabal outskirts

Israeli forces carried out a sweep operation using medium machine guns toward the town of Beit Yahoun (Bint Jbeil), our correspondent in the south reported.

Separately, Israeli forces carried out a sweep operation from the town of Haddatha toward the outskirts of Aita al-Jabal (both located in Bint Jbeil.)

Lebanese soldier wounded in Mansouri

A Lebanese soldier was wounded this morning in the town of Mansouri (Sour) after an Israeli drone dropped a stun grenade on a Lebanese Army excavator that was attempting to reopen a road in the village, which was struck by Israel yesterday.

The soldier was transported to the hospital by ambulance, according to our correspondent in south Lebanon.

A video sent to our correspondent

Explosions in Kounin and artillery fire in Mais al-Jabal

The Israeli army carried out a demolition operation in the town of Kounin (Bint Jbeil district), triggering a fire in the area, according to our correspondent. Artillery fire targeted Mais al-Jabal (Marjayoun district), alongside machine-gun fire directed at the village.

Israeli strikes reported in Sour district

Israeli artillery struck the town of Mansouri in the Sour district this morning and fired a stun grenade, according to our correspondent.

Mansouri was targeted by Israeli strikes on Thursday following an evacuation warning, the first such warning since mid-June.

Artillery also struck Wadi Zibqine in the Sour district at around 5:20 a.m. Meanwhile, a low-flying drone was observed over the Saida area.

Yemen’s air defenses activated following Houthi attack

Yemeni air defenses shot down several drones launched by the Houthis in Marib, state television reported, citing Reuters.

Vessel traffic through Hormuz dwindles this week as markets watch Iran-Oman talks

Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has dwindled to 33 vessels from Monday to Thursday this week, data showed, versus 50 in the week-ago period, as markets watched talks between Iran and Oman for signs of progress in reopening the key waterway.

Four vessels transited the strait on Thursday, including a very large crude carrier, Nissos Kea, carrying about 2 million barrels of Basrah crude loaded in Iraq, Kpler data showed.

Of the rest, two were laden with liquefied petroleum gas and one was a minor bulk carrier.

Just six crude oil tankers have exited the strait this week, Kpler data showed. A total of 21 vessels have entered it so far, mostly via the Iranian route.

Several Chinese and Indian refiners have sought vessels this week to enter the strait and load crude at Iraq's Basrah Oil Terminal, attracted by steep discounts, shipping sources said.

However, no vessels have been fixed so far as shipowners are wary of entering the waterway, they said.

Iraq's state oil marketer SOMO offered discounts of close to $30 a barrel for Basrah Heavy and Basrah Medium crude to customers for August loading.

Typically, about 130 to 140 ships would transit the strait before Iran closed the waterway after the U.S.-Israeli war began on February 28.

A proposed deal between Iran and Oman to give Tehran control over ships entering the Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz is not easily workable because of U.S. sanctions and restrictive insurance clauses on payments, industry sources said.

On Thursday, 26 vessels transited the Bab al-Mandeb strait on the Red Sea, up from 19 a day before, Kpler data showed. LSEG counted 28 vessels, using a different tracking system and methodology. 

Trump says Strait of Hormuz could reopen 'soon'

U.S. President Donald Trump said Thursday that the Strait of Hormuz could reopen “soon,” saying talks over the crucial waterway were going “very well” and that he was involved in the negotiations.

Iran said Wednesday that it had reached an agreement with Oman on a new transit route through the strait. Any reopening, however, would depend on Washington, which has imposed a blockade on Iranian ports, Iranian sources told local media.

After Rome talks, Lebanon has four weeks to convince Israel or face renewed military option

Lebanon now faces two paths: continued direct negotiations with Israel, which have stalled, or further military escalation.

Despite reports of progress in the talks, developments on the ground suggest Israel is continuing to pursue military pressure while separating it from the political track.

South Lebanon: Israeli attacks continue

The Israeli army carried out a major demolition in Haddatha in the Bint Jbeil district early Friday, according to L’Orient Today correspondent. The explosion was heard in nearby villages and in Sour, while flames were visible from afar.

On Thursday evening, an Israeli Merkava tank fired five missiles at Haddatha. Several homes in the village have already been destroyed in recent days.

Israeli aircraft also struck two villages in the Sour district on Thursday, destroying buildings and injuring seven people, according to L’Orient Today’s correspondent. Israeli drones struck two villages in the Sour and Nabatieh districts, while artillery fire hit five locations in south Lebanon. Three major demolitions were also carried out in three villages.

At least 58 soldiers killed in Houthi attacks

Yemen’s Houthi rebels attacked government forces on Thursday, killing at least 58 soldiers, according to an AFP source, in the deadliest escalation in more than four years of fighting.

The Iran-backed Houthis said the attacks were retaliation for a recent buildup of Saudi-backed Yemeni forces. A military source told AFP that 58 soldiers were killed and dozens wounded, revising an earlier toll of 38 dead and 29 wounded.

Saudi, Turkish and Pakistani leaders meet in Jeddah

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is hosting Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Jeddah on Friday for a summit expected to culminate in a defense agreement.

The meeting brings together three Sunni Muslim countries that have sought to mediate the conflict between the United States and Iran. It comes as signs of progress emerge over the Strait of Hormuz, despite the lack of a major diplomatic breakthrough between Tehran and Washington.

Welcome to our live blog

Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of Middle East developments, as the United States and Iran appear to be moving closer again to a deal aimed at ending the war that began on Feb. 28.

The conflict has recently expanded to Saudi Arabia, which is facing attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels.

We will also follow developments in south Lebanon, where the Israeli army continues to occupy hundreds of square kilometers along the border. The seventh round of negotiations between Beirut and Tel Aviv in Rome ended without concrete progress.