Key facts
- Adm. Brad Cooper, top U.S. military commander in the Middle East, visited the USS Lincoln in the Arabian Sea.
- The USS Lincoln has been supporting U.S. operations in the Middle East for over 240 days.
- Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon killed at least 11 people, targeting two Hezbollah commanders.
- A Hamas delegation is in Cairo for Gaza ceasefire talks with Egyptian officials.
- Qatar denied Iran's claim that it is holding three Iranian pilots who went missing in March.
Adm. Brad Cooper, the top U.S. military commander in the Middle East, concluded a 10-day tour of the region by visiting the USS Lincoln in the Arabian Sea. The aircraft carrier has been deployed for over 240 days, raising concerns about service members' well-being and supply issues. Cooper's tour included visits to Bahrain, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.
In southern Lebanon, Israeli strikes on Saturday killed at least 11 people, including two Hezbollah commanders. Israel stated the strikes targeted commanders responsible for attacks against Israeli forces, while Lebanon's Health Ministry reported civilian casualties. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asserted that Hezbollah violated a truce by attacking Israeli soldiers, prompting a response against Hezbollah headquarters.
A Hamas delegation is in Cairo for ceasefire-related talks with Egyptian officials, aiming to advance a roadmap that includes Hamas disarmament and Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected a plan that involves withdrawal until Hamas is disarmed, a condition Hamas resists. Negotiators Jared Kushner, Nickolay Mladenov, and Tony Blair are scheduled to visit the region this week.
Separately, Qatar has denied Iran's claim that it is holding three Iranian pilots who went missing in March. Iran's Armed Forces General Staff stated Qatar had not allowed contact with the pilots, while Qatar's foreign ministry spokesperson indicated search teams found the remains of one pilot after their jets were downed.