Rome: Israel announced during discussions in Rome on Thursday that it would not proceed with further withdrawals from southern Lebanon until the Lebanese army fully established control over two initial "pilot zones." This announcement was made by a Lebanese presidential source amidst ongoing tensions in the region.
According to France24.com, the talks in Rome come at a time when the ceasefire between Israel and the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah is increasingly unstable. The Israeli military recently issued an evacuation warning to residents of the southern Lebanese village of Mansouri, marking the first such warning in weeks. This move was followed by "precise strikes" in southern Lebanon, which Israel described as a response to "a blatant violation of the ceasefire" that had been largely holding since June 20.
Meanwhile, developments in the broader Middle East indicate ongoing diplomatic and military tensions. On Wednesday, Iran announced that it was in the "final stage" of drafting an agreement with Oman over the Strait of Hormuz. Concurrently, US President Donald Trump hinted that a deal could be announced within the week. Additionally, US Vice President JD Vance acknowledged the complexities of the American efforts to end the war in Iran, describing the situation as "messy" and acknowledging that progress would take time.
Further complicating the regional situation, Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen claimed to have fired ballistic missiles at a Saudi oil tanker near the Saudi port of Yanbu. However, this claim has not been substantiated by evidence, and there has been no immediate comment from Saudi authorities.
