Israeli strike kills one and injures two in Khan Younis An Israeli drone strike on Gaza's Khan Younis area killed one person and wounded two others in Nasser hospital, according to a hospital spokesperson.
Israeli shelling strikes Khan Younis and Bureij refugee camp, Wafa reports Israeli forces launched attacks across the Gaza Strip, according to the Palestinian news agency Wafa. The agency, citing local sources, said artillery fire struck eastern and southern parts of Khan Younis amid heavy gunfire from Israeli military vehicles positioned near the city. Wafa also reported intense shelling in the eastern areas of the Bureij Refugee Camp, causing panic among residents.
Morning update Good morning Middle East Eye readers, Tensions around the Strait of Hormuz are rising again after Iran announced plans to introduce tolls for shipping through the strategic waterway, while Donald Trump warned Tehran it faces a “very bad time” if a peace deal is not reached soon. Despite renewed diplomatic efforts and mediation attempts led by Pakistan, military activity continues across Lebanon and the Gulf, with fears growing that the region could move closer to another major escalation.
Israel reports drone and rocket attacks from Hezbollah The Israeli military said a “suspicious aerial target” was identified after sirens sounded in the Misgav Am area of northern Israel. In a statement posted on X, the military said the aircraft fell near Israeli troops operating in southern Lebanon and that no casualties were reported. The military also said Hezbollah launched rockets and explosive drones overnight toward Israeli forces in southern Lebanon.
Hezbollah reports rocket attack on Israeli troops near Hadatha Hezbollah said its fighters detonated explosive devices targeting Israeli military bulldozers advancing between the southern Lebanese towns of Rashaf and Hadatha. The group said one booby trap struck a third Israeli bulldozer attempting to move toward Hadatha, while another explosive device targeted a fourth bulldozer on the same route. Hezbollah also said its fighters launched rockets at a gathering of Israeli soldiers and military vehicles on the outskirts of Hadatha in southern Lebanon.
Russian envoy warns US and Israel against renewed strikes on Iran Russian envoy Mikhail Ulyanov criticised reports that the United States and Israel are preparing for a possible resumption of strikes on Iran. Responding to a New York Times report on X, Ulyanov said that if the reports were accurate, it would suggest Washington and Israel “have not learned lessons from their past strategic mistakes”. The newspaper reported that US President Donald Trump has not made a final decision, although several military options have reportedly been discussed.
Israel says military at highest readiness level for possible Iran war Yedioth Ahronoth reported that Israeli officials believe the military is at its highest level of readiness for a possible resumption of fighting with Iran. According to the report, Israeli and United States officials are continuing coordination at senior levels as both sides prepare for the possibility of renewed conflict. The report said Israeli assessments suggest Iran has restored part of its missile capabilities and remains unwilling to abandon its nuclear programme in exchange for sanctions relief demanded by US President Donald Trump.
Iran warns it is ready for renewed war if talks fail Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said Iran remains prepared to resume direct military confrontation with the United States if negotiations fail to produce what Tehran considers acceptable outcomes. In comments posted amid continued diplomatic tensions, Araghchi also argued that the war involving the US and Israel was having growing economic consequences inside the United States. Writing on X alongside an image showing rising US Treasury yields, Araghchi said: “Americans are told that they must absorb rocketing costs of war of choice on Iran.
Israeli strikes intensify across southern Lebanon despite ceasefire More than 30 Israeli attacks were reported across southern Lebanon, including air strikes near the coastal city of Tyre and artillery shelling in several border towns. Strikes were reported in Al-Mansouri, while shelling also targeted Qlailah, Hanine and Majdal Zoun. Further east in the Nabatieh region, additional strikes and artillery fire were reported in Yohmor and Arnoun.
UK deploys anti-drone system on RAF jets in Middle East The United Kingdom said it has deployed a new “low-cost anti-drone system” on Royal Air Force fighter jets operating in the Middle East. In a statement, the British government said the Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System, or APKWS, would be fitted to RAF Eurofighter Typhoon jets to destroy targets “precisely and at a fraction of the price of missiles currently used”. The deployment comes after months of regional attacks in which Iran launched drones and missiles at Gulf countries, targeting energy infrastructure and military sites as part of the broader conflict in the region.
Hezbollah launches drone swarm at Israeli military target Hezbollah said it launched a “swarm of attack drones” targeting an Israeli military site in northern Israel and carried out more than a dozen additional attacks against Israeli forces. There were no immediate reports of casualties from the drone strike. Earlier, the Israeli military said an officer was killed in southern Lebanon after an explosive-laden Hezbollah drone detonated near troops.
Iran condemns Israeli killing of Hamas commander and his family in Gaza Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Iran condemned Israel’s killing of Izz al-Din al-Haddad, a commander in Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, describing the attack as a “terrorist act”. The statement followed an Israeli strike on the Remal neighbourhood of Gaza City on Friday that Hamas said killed al-Haddad along with civilians, including his wife and daughter. Iran’s foreign ministry said the attack reflected Israel’s “desperation” and continuing violations in the Gaza Strip, adding that such actions would not weaken Palestinian resistance.
USS Gerald R Ford returns after longest deployment since Vietnam The USS Gerald R. Ford, the world’s largest aircraft carrier, returned to Virginia on Saturday after an 11-month deployment, the longest for a US carrier since the Vietnam War era. The warship, accompanied by the destroyers USS Bainbridge and USS Mahan, docked at Naval Station Norfolk with about 5,000 sailors returning home after months supporting US operations linked to Iran and Venezuela.
UN chief welcomes Lebanon ceasefire extension amid ongoing attacks UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has welcomed the extension of the ceasefire in Lebanon following the latest round of US-mediated talks in Washington, DC. “The secretary-general welcomes the announcement of a 45-day extension of the cessation of hostilities, which followed talks between Israel and Lebanon facilitated by the United States,” his office said in a statement. “He reaffirms the support of the United Nations to all efforts to end hostilities and alleviate the suffering of communities on both sides of the Blue Line.
Israeli strikes in Gaza kill 11, wound more than 60 Israeli air strikes on Gaza City and northern areas of the Gaza Strip have killed at least 11 Palestinians and injured more than 60 others over the past 24 hours. The figures come from hospital sources in Gaza speaking to Al Jazeera Arabic.
Israeli soldier killed in south Lebanon, military says Israel’s military said a soldier was killed during combat operations in southern Lebanon on Saturday, raising its total losses to 21 personnel since its war on Lebanon began in early March.
Israeli strikes in Lebanon kill 18, wound 124 in 24 hours Lebanon’s Health Ministry said Israeli attacks killed 18 people and wounded 124 others over the past 24 hours, as bombardment continues across the country.
Israeli settlers attack shops in Jerusalem’s Old City Israeli settlers attacked shops in the Old City of occupied Jerusalem on Saturday evening, targeting commercial properties in a busy area. The Jerusalem Governorate said settlers stormed stores along al-Wad Street and vandalised their contents.
Israeli strike in Gaza City kills two, wounds three Israeli warplanes struck a vehicle near al-Wahda Tower, west of Gaza City, on Saturday evening, killing two people and wounding three others, Wafa reported. The latest attack comes as the overall toll in Gaza continues to rise. At least 72,757 people have been killed and 172,645 wounded since 7 October, 2023.
Israeli strikes in south Lebanon kill couple, hit multiple towns Israeli warplanes carried out an air strike on the al-Saha neighbourhood in the town of Haboush in southern Lebanon, destroying a home and killing a young man, Muhammad Hassan Jammoul, and his wife, Sakina Muhammad Abbas Makki, Lebanon’s official National News Agency reported. The attacks came despite Israel and Lebanon agreeing to extend a “ceasefire” by another 45 days on Friday. Lebanon’s Health Ministry said 2,969 people have been killed and 9,112 wounded since March 2, when fighting between Israel and Hezbollah resumed.
