Key facts
- Hezbollah claimed a drone attack on an Israeli military position in Hula, Lebanon.
- Hezbollah released footage of downing an Israeli Heron 1 drone over Lebanon.
- Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon have killed civilians.
- Lebanon fears exclusion from a potential US-Iran peace deal.
- US President Donald Trump announced a potential deal with Iran to end the war.
- Iran and the US differ on the timeline for signing the deal.
Hezbollah claimed responsibility for a drone attack targeting an Israeli military position in Hula, southern Lebanon, amid ongoing Israeli airstrikes in the region. The group also released footage purporting to show the downing of an Israeli Heron 1 drone over the Bekaa Valley.
Despite these escalations, reports indicate that the United States and Iran are nearing a peace deal to end the wider conflict. US President Donald Trump announced that an agreement could be signed as early as Sunday, with Iran confirming the potential for signing in the "coming days" but differing on the exact timeline. Trump stated that the Strait of Hormuz would be reopened to all once the deal is signed and that the US would eventually secure Iran's nuclear material.
Iran's Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, outlined that the proposed agreement includes 14 points, with the first being the lifting of US blockades on Iranian ports. The Memorandum of Understanding reportedly calls for an end to hostilities across all fronts, including Lebanon, and the release of frozen Iranian assets. Discussions on nuclear issues and the removal of US sanctions are slated for a second phase.
However, concerns are mounting in Lebanon that the country may be excluded from the US-Iran deal, mirroring past instances where Israel continued strikes in Lebanon despite broader ceasefire agreements. Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has threatened severe retaliation for any attacks originating from Lebanon. Reports indicate that Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon have continued, resulting in civilian casualties, even as diplomatic efforts progress.
Meanwhile, an Israeli strike in southern Gaza killed two people, according to Palestinian authorities, highlighting the continued conflict in the region. Separately, reports suggest Somaliland's president is expected to visit Israel, a move seen as securing a strategic foothold for Israel in the Red Sea region.