US military operations in Yemen killed 153 civilians in 3 air strikes in 2025, says Pentagon
U.S. military operations in 2025 killed 153 civilians and injured 243 in Yemen, a U.S. official said on Tuesday, citing Pentagon estimates. This figure compares with a Pentagon estimate that two civilians were killed and two injured during U.S. military operations in 2024.
A Pentagon report submitted to Congress and published by U.S. media outlets states that all civilian casualties recorded in 2025 resulted from three U.S. strikes in Yemen. According to the report, U.S. Central Command assessed that these strikes had "more likely than not" caused harm to civilians.
Pakistani Home Minister visits Iran to discuss regional security
The Pakistani Home Minister is visiting Iran to discuss regional security, stability, and other developments, the Foreign Ministry announced on Wednesday.
“He is discussing bilateral relations, security, regional security and stability, as well as constructive engagement between parties in the region and regional developments,” Tahir Andrabi, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told reporters in Islamabad. The government is working to mediate an end to the ongoing war in the Middle East.
Pakistan condemns Houthi attack that killed three of its nationals
On Wednesday, Pakistan condemned an attack carried out by Houthi rebels on a ship in the Red Sea, which claimed the lives of three of its citizens.
The Yemeni coastguard had reported on Tuesday that an attack by the Iran-backed rebels on a vessel had left six people dead, including Pakistanis and an Indonesian national. The Houthis have not yet issued any official comment on the incident. “I have learnt with deep concern of this unfortunate incident,” wrote Pakistan’s Foreign Minister, Ishaq Dar, on X, confirming that three Pakistanis had been killed and another injured in the attack. “Pakistan strongly condemns the Houthi attack on a non-combatant commercial vessel,” he added.
Pakistan is bound by a defense pact with Saudi Arabia — which was extended last week to include Turkey — and is acting as a mediator between Iran and the United States in the search for a resolution to the hostilities.
Israeli attacks on Gaza: Death toll rises
At least two Palestinians have been injured in new Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip over the past 24 hours, and one body was retrieved from the rubble of previous attacks, according to the enclave’s Health Ministry.
Israel has killed at least 1,259 Palestinians and injured 4,148 others since last October’s “cease-fire,” the ministry said in a statement on Telegram.
Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza has killed at least 73,388 Palestinians and injured 174,259 since October 2023, it added.
US says new round of Israel-Lebanon talks in September in Rome
The United States will sponsor a new round of talks between Israel and Lebanon in early September in Rome, a State Department official announced Tuesday.
"The political track will reconvene in Rome in early September, and conversations will continue in Beirut, Jerusalem, and Washington in the interim," the official said on condition of anonymity. "We feel good about the trajectory."
The United States has been sponsoring talks between Israel and Lebanon aimed at putting an end to hostilities between them, with Beirut seeking Israel's phased withdrawal from the South.
Read more on this story here.
Israeli army blows up buildings in Zawtar Sharqieh
The Israeli army blew up several buildings in Zawtar Sharqieh, including the municipal building, Sheikh Naim Public School, a kindergarten, a dispensary and another building, the head of Zawtar Sharqieh municipality told L’Orient Today Wednesday.
The demolitions came after the municipality appealed to Lebanese officials to save what remained of the town, he said, adding that Israel was “destroying what remains of the town’s infrastructure and institutions.”
“Unfortunately, we do not see any serious action to save the town and the South. Everyone remains silent as if they are partners in this destruction,” he said.
In a separate statement, Zawtar Sharqieh’s municipal and elected councils, residents and community representatives condemned the destruction, saying it targeted the town’s civilian and educational infrastructure.
“For what crime are children’s dreams being destroyed?” the statement said, describing the demolitions as “an urban and environmental destruction and a complete disregard for human values.”
“Destroying buildings will not break the will to remain,” the statement said, calling on Lebanese authorities and international and U.N. organizations to take “immediate and effective action” to stop what it described as systematic destruction.
Israeli strikes,explosions, and setting fire to homes continues in southern Lebanon
According to a resident of the town of Kafra (Bint Jbeil), an Israeli drone strike at dawn targeted a site used as an Ashura gathering place near Rammal Supermarket on the Kafra-al-Assi road. The site was hit directly, causing a fire inside. No injuries were reported as no one was present at the location.
A massive explosion carried out by the Israeli army in the town of Zawtar Sharqieh (Nabatieh) was heard across the Nabatieh and Marjayoun areas, our correspondent in the South reported.
The Israeli army set fire to homes in the town of Haddatha (Bint Jbeil).
An Israeli force consisting of a D9 bulldozer and a Merkava tank reportedly advanced toward the eastern outskirts of Kfar Shuba (Hasbaya), in the Ruwaisa Mohammad Jumaa area.
An Israeli drone dropped explosive materials on the Aita al-Jabal (Bint Jbeil) forest.
An Israeli drone reportedly dropped a sound bomb on the town of Mansouri (Sour).
Aoun welcomes Lieutenant-General Joseph Clearfield and Michel Issa
President Joseph Aoun welcomed Lieutenant-General Joseph Clearfield, who heads the U.S.-led cease-fire monitoring mechanism, this morning at the Presidential Palace in Baabda, accompanied by the U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon, Michel Issa.
“The meeting focused on measures to implement the framework agreement reached following the Lebanese-American-Israeli negotiations in Washington, in light of the discussions held by General Clearfield in Israel last week,” according to the Presidency statement published on X.
Traffic in the Strait of Hormuz at its lowest level in a week
The number of ships tracked in the Strait of Hormuz fell to eight on Tuesday, its lowest level in a week, according to maritime data, with shipowners avoiding this strategic waterway due to ongoing dangers, reports Reuters.
The United States and Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis have reported separate attacks, whilst the prospects of an end to the war with Iran appeared to be receding. Tehran has stated that the strait will remain closed until Washington accepts its conditions.
The number of vessels recorded on Tuesday – eight – is below the average of around 12 recorded over the last ten days and represents the lowest daily figure since Aug. 5, according to data from Kpler. Just one vessel, a bulk carrier carrying coal, exited the strait, whilst the others were still passing through.
All seven vessels entering the strait took the Iranian route.
Separate data from LSEG show 11 passages on Tuesday, compared with 14 the previous day.
Before Iran closed this sea route following the start of the U.S.-Israeli attacks on Feb. 28, between 130 and 140 ships typically passed through the strait.
In the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, at the southern tip of the Red Sea, 30 ships were recorded on Tuesday.
Israel fires white phosphorus munitions at the Ali Taher heights
Since Thursday evening, Israel has continued its attacks on the strategic Ali Taher heights in the Nabatieh district of southern Lebanon, reports our correspondent in southern Lebanon, who describes another night marked by a significant escalation in various parts of southern Lebanon.
Israeli artillery fired white phosphorus munitions at this site at 7 a.m. this morning. The artillery had already pounded the area at around 11 pm, then again at 1 am.
Wadi Houjeir, Doha, Kfar Roummane, as well as the area between Tallousa and Bani Hayyan (Marjayoun), were also shelled overnight. Machine-gun fire was also heard there.
On Thursday, after 10 p.m., the Israeli air force carried out a strike on the Ain al-Tfoura area, on the outskirts of Qantara towards Wadi Houjeir (Marjayoun).
Further explosions took place, including two major ones in an entire residential neighborhood in Haddatha (Bint Jbeil). The blasts were heard as far away as Sour and Nabatieh.
Machine-gun fire was also directed towards Haddatha, whilst Israeli military vehicles were moving through Beit Yahoun (Bint Jbeil).
After midnight, the Israeli army carried out another demolition in Beit Yahoun (Bint Jbeil), and then on the outskirts of Qantara (Marjayoun). The explosions were heard across much of southern Lebanon, as far as the villages in the Zahrani region. Machine-gun fire was also reported in Mansouri, in the district of Sour.
Finally, at dawn, around 4 a.m. and then 5 a.m., two loud explosions in the distance were heard as far away as the town of Saida.
Hello and welcome to our live blog
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of events taking place in Lebanon, Syria, Palestine, and the broader region.
Read our Morning Brief here, and catch up on yesterday's blog here.
Already have an account? Login here
You have reached your article limit
Stay informed this summer.
Subscribe for $0.5/month for 3 months.
This article is only available to L’Orient Today subscribers.
Already have an account? Login here
