Death toll in Gaza nears 73,000 The death toll during Israel's over two-year genocidal campaign has reached 72,993, according to Palestinian Ministry of Health in the besieged enclave. Over 173,230 have been wounded during the same period. Thousands more are missing and presumed dead under the rubble.
Maritime body says tanker struck off the coast of Oman A tanker was struck by an unknown projectile 6 nautical miles off the coast of Oman, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported. The incident occured on Friday, where the vessel's port bow off was hit. No environmental impact was reported, with crew noted to be safe.
Israeli strike in Nabatieh kills one An Israeli air strike that targeted the southern Lebanese town of Kfar Reman, Nabatieh, killed at least one civilian. Nearby attacks were also reported, including in Nabatieh al-Fawqa.
Israel strikes south Lebanon following expulsion orders The Israeli army struck several towns in southern Lebanon after it issued expulsion orders for 20 locations, including the city of Nabatieh. The state-run National News Agency said Israeli air strikes hit several areas covered by the order, including Nabatieh and nearby villages of Rihan and Sujud. The Israeli army ordered residents to leave their homes "immediately and move to the north of the Zahrani River", around 45 kilometres from the southern border with Israel.
Norway: International law is worth defending, even when allies break it Submitted by Sondos Asem on Wed, 06/10/2026 - 15:47 In Oslo, Andreas Kravik argues the battered global order can still be salvaged, but only if states are willing to confront their friends as readily as their enemies Norway's deputy foreign minister Andreas Kravik speaks to Middle East Eye in Oslo (MEE/Hossam Sarhan) Off International law should be defended even when the country's closest allies are the ones breaking it, said Norway's deputy foreign minister as Oslo reiterated its condemnation of the US-Israeli war on Iran as illegal. In an interview with Middle East Eye's Expert Witness podcast in Oslo, four months into the devastating war, Andreas Kravik said the war on Iran , launched on 28 February, had no basis in law. "In our interpretation of the law, it is not a legal operation," Kravik said.
Morning update Good morning Middle East Eye readers, The United States and Iran say a peace agreement to end more than three months of war is closer than ever, but both sides stress that no final deal has been signed. Diplomatic momentum is building ahead of a possible signing ceremony in Geneva, while fighting and military activity continue in Lebanon despite expectations of a broader regional de-escalation. Here are the key updates from the past few hours: Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said a memorandum of understanding with the United States has “never been closer” but cautioned against speculation before final approval.
One killed in Israeli strike in southern Lebanon, report says One person was killed in the municipality of Maarakeh in Lebanon’s Tyre district following an Israeli attack, according to Lebanon’s National News Agency. The report also said that Israeli attacks at dawn demolished homes and government buildings in southern Lebanon’s Bint Jbeil. Earlier, the Israeli military said air raid sirens were activated in the northern town of Metula after the detection of what it described as a “hostile aircraft infiltration”.
Iranian commander says victory over Israel will soon be evident Major General Ali Abdollahi said the world would soon witness “the echo of Iran’s victory and the triumph of the resistance” over what he described as an aggressive enemy, Press TV reported. In a message to a ceremony marking the first anniversary of the death of Major General Gholamali Rashid and his son, Amin Abbas Rashid, Abdollahi said the loss had been painful but had also demonstrated Iran’s deterrent capabilities and national strength. “The weak and predatory enemy imagined that by physically assassinating Iran’s military masterminds, it could create a breach in Iran’s defensive will,” Abdollahi said.
Video: Iran says MoU will end war on all fronts, including Lebanon Speaking on state broadcaster IRIB, Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs Abbas Araghchi says a memorandum of understanding with the US has not yet been signed, but that the proposed agreement would announce an end to the war on all fronts, including in Lebanon. Araghchi said the MoU also covers the Strait of Hormuz and the lifting of the US naval blockade against Iran. Araghchi said negotiators had changed the text of the MoU several times.
Report: Israel warns of retaliation if Iran responds to Lebanon strikes Israeli officials have indicated that Israel would respond if Iran retaliates following any future Israeli strikes in Lebanon, according to a report by Yedioth Ahronoth. The newspaper said Israeli officials believe a reported understanding between Washington and Tehran includes a cessation of hostilities across multiple fronts, including a ceasefire in Lebanon. According to the report, Israeli sources said that if Hezbollah attacks northern Israeli communities, Israel would strike Beirut’s southern suburbs and assess Iran’s response.
Video: UN observes heavy Israeli troop movement near southern Lebanon UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said peacekeepers in southern Lebanon continue to observe extensive Israeli military activity, including “high-density armoured movements, large-scale engineering and demolition works and sustained logistical traffic” in areas near the border. Dujarric said the UN peacekeeping mission, Unifil, also recorded intensive air activity involving fighter aircraft and drones. Of 531 trajectories monitored on Thursday, 526 originated from Israeli positions south of the Blue Line and within Unifil's area of operations, while five were believed to have been launched by Hezbollah, with one crossing the UN-demarcated frontier, he said.
Israeli bombs emergency response facility in Lebanon, paramedics reported wounded Two paramedics were injured on Friday in an Israeli air strike on the southern Lebanese town of Selaa in the Tyre district, according to Lebanon’s National News Agency. The agency reported that the strike targeted a Civil Defence–Islamic Health Authority facility in the town, wounding two emergency workers. There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military, and the extent of the damage to the facility was not immediately clear.
Report claims US constructing military base near Gaza fence Newspaper Israel Hayom reported that the US military has begun constructing a large base near the perimeter fence surrounding the Gaza Strip, close to the Reim military base in southern Israel. According to the report, the facility is intended to serve as a military and civilian headquarters for international organisations and personnel operating in the area. The newspaper said the base could be used to support implementation of what it described as the “Trump plan” and would replace a multinational headquarters previously located in Kiryat Gat.
Military operations and clashes reported in several West Bank towns Israeli forces carried out military operations in several towns across the occupied West Bank on Friday, according to the Palestinian news agency Wafa. In Bethlehem, troops reportedly entered the city through nearby Beit Jala and deployed in several neighbourhoods. Wafa said Israeli forces also fired tear gas and sound bombs at civilians visiting an outdoor tourist site between the al-Khader and Artas areas, leaving several people suffering from tear gas inhalation.
India raises US vessel attacks with Rubio after sailors killed Indian foreign minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said he spoke by telephone with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio about "unjustified" attacks on vessels carrying Indian crew members off the coast of Oman, including one incident that killed three Indian sailors. The call came after the US embassy's chief of mission in India was summoned for the second time in two days to protest the attacks. New Delhi has expressed growing concern over the safety of Indian seafarers and maritime interests in the region following a series of strikes on commercial vessels operating near the Gulf of Oman.
US says it shot down multiple Iranian drones over Strait of Hormuz The US military said it shot down multiple Iranian one-way attack drones that were launched over several hours and allegedly targeted commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz. In a statement posted on X, US Central Command (Centcom) said American forces had intercepted all of the drones. “US forces have downed all of them in recent hours as traffic flow through the strait continues unimpeded,” Centcom said.
Tehran describes memorandum as path to formalising battlefield gains Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said diplomacy with the United States is intended to consolidate what he described as Iran’s victory in the recent conflict, outlining a proposed memorandum of understanding that he said was nearing completion. “Iran has been the winner of this war, and the people of Iran are the true winners of this arena,” Araghchi said in a televised interview, adding that “after such a victory, it is necessary to consolidate it through an agreement or understanding”. He said the proposed 14-point memorandum remained subject to revision and final approval.
UN observes heavy Israeli troop and air movements near border UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said peacekeepers in southern Lebanon continue to observe extensive Israeli military activity, including “high-density armoured movements, large-scale engineering and demolition works and sustained logistical traffic” in areas near the border. Dujarric said the UN peacekeeping mission, Unifil, also recorded intensive air activity involving fighter aircraft and drones. Of 531 trajectories monitored on Thursday, 526 originated from Israeli positions south of the Blue Line and within Unifil's area of operations, while five were believed to have been launched by Hezbollah, with one crossing the UN-demarcated frontier, he said.
US officials say Hormuz oil flows reaching half of pre-war levels The US Navy is escorting dozens of vessels through the Strait of Hormuz each night, carrying millions of barrels of oil, senior US officials said on Friday. US Energy Secretary Chris Wright said vessels under US protection were carrying about seven million barrels of oil per day through the Strait of Hormuz - a substantial amount, roughly half of what was transiting the waterway before the US-Israeli war on Iran began on 28 February. “Flows today are approaching half of the gap, and they’re rising,” Wright told the Bloomberg Energy Security Executive Briefing in Houston, Texas.
Iranian foreign minister says Strait of Hormuz will not return to pre-war status Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says the Strait of Hormuz has become one of Tehran’s “most important deterrent tools”, warning that the strategic waterway will not return to its pre-war status. Araghchi said the administration of the Strait of Hormuz would no longer operate as it did before the war, adding that the waterway falls “under the sovereignty of Iran and Oman”. He said vessels had passed through the strait freely for years, but that arrangement would now change, with Tehran set to charge for services.
