US-Israel-Iran War Ceasefire News: Kuwait claims attack by Iran, its proxies; Saudi Arabia says vital pipeline recently damaged

Israel Iran War: Trump says he told Netanyahu to scale back strikes on Lebanon

Donald Trump confirmed the conversation in an interview with NBC News on Thursday, saying that Israel was “scaling back” its operations in Lebanon.

“I spoke with Bibi and he’s going to low-key it. I just think we have to be sort of a little more low-key,” Trump said.

Iran War: Iran Guards deny launching attacks on Persian Gulf states

Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard in a statement carried by Iran's state-run IRNA news agency denied launching attacks on Persian Gulf states after Kuwait's announcement.

“If these reports published by the media are true, without a doubt it is the work of the Zionist enemy or America,” the Revolutionary Guard said.

Iran War: Israel military issues evacuation order for Beirut's southern suburbs

Israel's military on Thursday warned residents of Beirut's southern suburbs, long a stronghold of Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, of imminent strikes and called for them to evacuate.

"The Israel Defense Forces continue to operate and strike the military infrastructure belonging to the terrorist organisation Hezbollah across various areas of the southern suburbs," the military's Arabic-language spokesman Avichay Adraee said on X.

"The IDF does not intend to harm you and is acting only against Hezbollah operatives and military targets. Therefore, for your safety, you must evacuate immediately."

An AFP correspondent later saw people flee the area.

The warning came a day after Israel carried out its largest wave of strikes since the start of its war with Hezbollah on March 2, killing more than 200 people.

While Israel regularly issues evacuation warnings before bombing Beirut's southern suburbs, Thursday's announcement also included the outskirts of Lebanon's only international airport.

The World Health Organization (WHO) called Thursday on Israel to cancel the evacuation order it issued for the southern suburbs of Lebanon's capital, Beirut, where there are two hospitals.

WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the Jnah district included the Rafik Hariri University Hospital and Al Zahraa Hospital, with some 450 patients, of whom 450 were in intensive care.

US Iran War: Kuwait says Iran and its proxies attacked it; Saudi Arabia says vital pipeline recently damaged

Kuwait accused Iran and its proxies of launching drone attacks targeting it on Thursday despite the two-week ceasefire in the Iran war, as Saudi Arabia said recent attacks damaged a key pipeline in the kingdom.

The statement from Kuwait’s foreign ministry, carried by the state-run KUNA news agency, put new pressure on the ceasefire ahead of planned talks Saturday between the United States and Iran in Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan.

Kuwait’s foreign ministry said the drone attacks “targeted some vital Kuwaiti facilities" Thursday night.

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia’s state-run Saudi Press Agency, quoting an anonymous official, acknowledged a recent attack in the war that damaged its crucial East-West pipeline. That pipeline carries oil out to the Red Sea and avoids the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran maintains a chokehold on despite the pause in the fighting.

Iran War: Iran's supreme leader says does not seek war in written message

Iran's new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei said in his latest written message the Islamic republic did not want war with the United States and Israel, but would protect its rights as a nation, state television reported Thursday.

"We did not seek war and we do not want it," he said in the message read out on state TV, weeks after his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed on February 28, the first day of the war.

"But we will not renounce our legitimate rights under any circumstances, and in this respect, we consider the entire resistance front as a whole," he added, in an apparent reference to Lebanon where Israel is fighting with Tehran's ally Hezbollah.

Iran this week agreed to a fragile two-week ceasefire with the United States that could lead to peace negotiations after threats of annihilation from US President Donald Trump.

Khamenei told Iranians that they must "not imagine that taking to the streets is no longer necessary" despite the announcement of the ceasefire.

"Your voices in public squares are undoubtedly influential in the outcome of the negotiations," he said, according to the message broadcast on state TV.

Likely wounded in the strike that killed his father, Mojtaba Khamenei, has still not been seen in public since his leadership appointment.

He has issued written declarations, most of them read out by presenters on state television.

Iran War: Netanyahu authorizes direct talks with Lebanon in potential boost to ceasefire efforts

In a potential boost to Middle East ceasefire efforts, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday that he authorized direct negotiations with Lebanon “as soon as possible” aimed at disarming Iranian-backed Hezbollah militants and establishing relations between the neighbours.

Israel and Lebanon have technically been at war since Israel was established in 1948, and Netanyahu later stressed that there was no ceasefire between them. In a video statement, he said Israel will keep striking Hezbollah until security is restored in northern Israel.

There was no immediate response from Lebanon. But Israel-Lebanon negotiations were expected to begin next week at the State Department in Washington, according to a U.S. official and a person familiar with the plans, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the delicacy of the matter.

The prospect of talks appeared to bolster the tentative ceasefire in the Iran war that has staggered under the weight of Israel’s bombardment of Beirut, Tehran’s continued chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz and uncertainty over whether talks can find common ground.

However later Thursday, U.S. President Donald Trump appeared to cast doubt on the effectiveness of the ceasefire, writing on his social media platform: “Iran is doing a very poor job, dishonorable some would say, of allowing Oil to go through the Strait of Hormuz.”

“That is not the agreement we have!” Trump wrote.

Netanyahu's authorization of negotiations with Lebanon came amid disagreement over whether the ceasefire deal included a pause in fighting between Israel and Hezbollah, and a day after Israel pounded Beirut with airstrikes, the deadliest day in Lebanon since the war began Feb. 28.

Iran War: Former Iran FM Kamal Kharrazi dies from wounds sustained in US-Israeli attack

Kamal Kharrazi, head of the Strategic Council on Foreign Relations and former Iranian foreign minister, has died after succumbing to injuries sustained in an attack earlier this week, Iranian state media reported.

Kharrazi was reportedly injured in a strike that targeted his residence in Tehran. He passed away on Thursday night. His wife had also died in the same attack earlier this week, Press TV stated.

Kharrazi was a senior figure in Iran's political establishment. Kharrazi held several key positions following the Islamic Revolution. He served as Iran's foreign minister from August 1997 to August 2005 and was also a member of the Expediency Discernment Council.

He was heading the Strategic Council on Foreign Relations, an advisory body established in 2006 that reports directly to Iran's supreme leadership and provides strategic guidance on foreign policy and international affairs.

Ali Khamenei and several senior Iranian officials and military commanders were killed in the West Asia conflict, which began on February 28. As of now, both sides have reached a temporary ceasefire and agreed to hold further negotiations in Islamabad.

US Iran War: Israel rebukes Pakistan as ceasefire hangs by thread

Israel on Thursday put Pakistan defence minister Khwaja Asif in his place, strongly objecting to the latter's statement and questioning Pakistan's neutrality as a mediator in US-Iran negotiations.

In a statement, Israel's Prime Minister's Office rebuked Khwaja Asif, stating that his "call for Israel's annihilation is outrageous" and slammed Pakistan's government over its conduct.

"Pakistan Defence Minister's call for Israel's annihilation is outrageous. This is not a statement that can be tolerated from any government, especially not from one that claims to be a neutral arbiter for peace," Israel's Prime Minister's Office said.

This comes after Khwaja Asif, in a post on X, called Israel "evil and a curse for humanity" accusing it of committing "genocide" in Lebanon while peace negotiations are underway.

"Israel is evil and a curse for humanity, while peace talks are underway in Islamabad, genocide is being committed in Lebanon. Innocent citizens are being killed by Israel, first Gaza, then Iran and now Lebanon, bloodletting continues unabated," he said.

"I hope and pray people who created this cancerous state on Palestinian land to get rid of European jews burn in hell," he added.

Iran War: That is not the agreement we have!: Trump slams Iran on oil flow

US President Donald Trump posted another message on social media, criticising Iran’s handling of oil transit through the Strait of Hormuz.

“Iran is doing a very poor job, dishonourable some would say, of allowing oil to go through the Strait of Hormuz,” Trump said.

“That is not the agreement we have!” he added.

US Iran War: Israeli air strikes hit southern Lebanon towns

Two Israeli air strikes have hit southern Lebanon, according to reports from our colleagues on the ground.

The first struck the town of Bazouriyeh, while the second targeted areas near Hannaouiyah.

Pakistan's call for Israel’s annihilation is outrageous: Netanyahu

US Iran war: 'They better stop now,' Trump warns Iran over Hormuz tanker fees

Donald Trump posted on Truth Social "There are reports that Iran is charging fees to tankers going through the Hormuz Strait — They better not be and, if they are, they better stop now!"

'Oil will start flowing, with or without the help of Iran': Donald Trump

Donald Trump said, "The Wall Street Journal, one of the worst and most inaccurate “Editorial Boards” in the World, stated that I “declared premature victory in Iran.” Actually, it is a Victory, and there’s nothing “premature” about it! Because of me, IRAN WILL NEVER HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON and, very quickly, you’ll see Oil start flowing, with or without the help of Iran and, to me, it makes no difference, either way. The Wall Street Journal will, as usual, live to eat their words. They are always quick to criticize, but never to admit when they’re wrong, which is most of the time!"

US-Iran War: Kuwait reports 'material damage' after drone interception

After Kuwait said its air defences intercepted drones that entered its airspace, the Kuwait News Agency reported that a National Guard site was targeted.

The paramilitary facility, part of the Kuwait Armed Forces, sustained “material damage” in the incident.

Timeline of decades of conflict between Israel and Hezbollah

The ongoing war between Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah is far from the first conflict between them. The two have an enmity that goes back more than four decades, with outbursts of fighting or outright war punctuated by periods of tense calm.

Here is a timeline of some significant events in the hostilities between the two:

1982: Israel invades Lebanon in an offensive against the Palestinian Liberation Organization and allied groups. Hezbollah is formed, with Iranian backing and based on the Iran's Islamic Revolution model, to fight Israel’s ensuing occupation of southern Lebanon. It launches a guerilla war against Israel.

1992: Hezbollah leader Abbas Mousawi is killed by an Israeli helicopter attack. His successor is Hassan Nasrallah, who will lead the group for the next three decades.

1996: Israel launches an offensive aiming to push Hezbollah north of the Litani River, some 30 km (20 miles) from the border. Israeli artillery shelling on a United Nations compound housing hundreds of displaced people in Qana kills at least 100 civilians and wounds scores more.

2000: After a long war of attrition, Israel withdraws its forces from southern Lebanon, which is heralded around the Arab world as a major victory for Hezbollah.

2006: Hezbollah fighters ambush an Israeli patrol, killing three Israeli soldiers and taking two hostage in a cross-border raid, sparking a monthlong war between Hezbollah and Israel that ends in a draw. Israeli bombardment razes villages and residential blocks in southern Lebanon and Beirut's southern suburbs, a scorched-earth approach that is dubbed the “Dahiyeh Doctrine.”

2008: Imad Mughniyeh, Hezbollah’s military chief, is killed when a bomb planted in his car exploded in Damascus. The assassination is blamed on Israel.

2012: Hezbollah enters the Syrian civil war in support of then-President Bashar Assad. In the years that follow, Israel begins periodically carrying out airstrikes in Syria targeting Iranian and Hezbollah facilities and officials or weapons shipments that it said were bound for Hezbollah. Israel still avoided carrying out strikes on Hezbollah on Lebanese territory during this period.

OCT. 8, 2023: One day after the Hamas-led attack in southern Israel sparks the war in Gaza, Hezbollah fires missiles across the border. Israel responds with airstrikes and shelling and the two enter into a low-level conflict that initially remains mainly confined to the border area.

SEPT. 17, 2024: Israel launches an attack in Lebanon using remotely-triggered explosive-laden pagers issued to Hezbollah fighters and civilian employees. A day later, a similar attack targets walkie-talkies. The attacks kill dozens of people and maim thousands, most of them Hezbollah members but also including women and children.

SEPT. 27, 2024: Hassan Nasrallah is killed in a series of massive airstrikes in Beirut's southern suburbs.

NOV. 27, 2024: A U.S.-brokered ceasefire nominally ends the Israel-Hezbollah war. Israel continues to carry out regular strikes in Lebanon that it says aim to stop Hezbollah from rebuilding.

MARCH 2, 2025: Two days after Israel and the U.S. attacked Iran, triggering a wide-reaching war in the Middle East, Hezbollah launches missiles toward Israel. It says the salvo is in retaliation for the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and for “repeated Israeli aggressions” in Lebanon.

Iran US News: Low-flying Israeli drones over Beirut spark fear of fresh strikes

An Israeli surveillance drone continues to fly low and loud over Beirut — often a precursor to strikes — leaving residents increasingly anxious and frustrated.

Israel has issued fresh evacuation threats across Lebanon, once again targeting Beirut’s southern suburbs. Air strikes have continued unabated nationwide, alongside signs of an expanding ground offensive near the town of Bint Jbeil.

Israeli forces have been attempting to encircle the strategically significant town, seeking control by capturing surrounding hilltops and nearby villages.

Iran war ceasefire: UK PM Starmer slams Israel’s Lebanon strikes during ceasefire

UK PM Keir Starmer said Israel’s continued strikes on Lebanon during a ceasefire are “wrong” and “should stop” as a matter of principle.

He noted it is “hard” to determine whether the attacks breach the ceasefire due to lack of access to the agreement’s details, but stressed: “They’re wrong. That shouldn’t be happening.”

Starmer made the remarks while visiting the Gulf region, where he is holding talks with regional leaders.

US-Iran War: 'MAGA is about winning and strength in not allowing Iran to have Nuclear Weapons,' says Donald Trump

Donald Trump posted on Truth Social: "I know why Tucker Carlson, Megyn Kelly, Candace Owens, and Alex Jones have all been fighting me for years, especially by the fact that they think it is wonderful for Iran, the Number One State Sponsor of Terror, to have a Nuclear Weapon — Because they have one thing in common, Low IQs. They’re stupid people, they know it, their families know it, and everyone else knows it, too! Look at their past, look at their record. They don’t have what it takes, and they never did! They’ve all been thrown off Television, lost their Shows, and aren’t even invited on TV because nobody cares about them, they’re NUT JOBS, TROUBLEMAKERS, and will say anything necessary for some “free” and cheap publicity. Now they think they get some “clicks” because they have Third Rate Podcasts, but nobody’s talking about them, and their views are the opposite of MAGA — Or I wouldn’t have won the Presidential Election in a LANDSLIDE. MAGA agrees with me, and just gave CNN a 100% Approval Rating of “TRUMP,” not Hand Flailing Fools like Tucker Carlson, who couldn’t even finish College, he was a broken man when he got fired from Fox, and he’s never been the same — Perhaps he should see a good psychiatrist! Or Megyn Kelly, who nastily asked me the now famous, “Only Rosie O’Donnell,” question, or “Crazy” Candace Owens, who accuses the Highly Respected First Lady of France of being a man, when she is not, and will hopefully win lots of money in the ongoing lawsuit. Actually, to me, the First Lady of France is a far more beautiful woman than Candace, in fact, it’s not even close! Or Bankrupt Alex Jones, who says some of the dumbest things, and lost his entire fortune, as he should have, for his horrendous attack on the families of the Sandy Hook shooting victims, ridiculously claiming it was a hoax. These so-called “pundits” are LOSERS, and they always will be! Now Fake News CNN, The Failing New York Times, and all of the other Radical Left “News” Organizations, are “hailing” them, and giving them “positive” press for the first time in their lives. They’re not “MAGA,” they’re losers, just trying to latch on to MAGA."

He added, "As President, I could get them on my side anytime I want to, but when they call, I don’t return their calls because I’m too busy on World and Country Affairs and, after a few times, they go “nasty,” just like Marjorie “Traitor” Brown, but I no longer care about that stuff, I only care about doing right for our Country. MAGA is about WINNING and STRENGTH in not allowing Iran to have Nuclear Weapons. MAGA is about MAKING AMERICA GREAT AGAIN, and these people have no idea how to do that, BUT I DO, because THE UNITED STATES IS NOW THE “HOTTEST” COUNTRY ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD! President DONALD J. TRUMP"

Iran war ceasefire: Syria condemns Israeli strikes on Lebanon

Syrian foreign minister Asaad al-Shaibani on Thursday condemned Israel's strikes on Lebanon, calling on the international community to support its neighbour.
"We condemn all the bombing currently taking place in Lebanon by the Israeli entity," Shaibani said, speaking from Ankara with his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan.

In statements carried by Syria's official SANA agency, Shaibani added that Damascus supports the Iran war truce, adding that they "hope that we will reach a permanent stability that removes the danger from the entire region".

His statements come a day after Israel launched its largest attack on Lebanon since Iran-backed Hezbollah dragged the small country into the Middle East war, killing more than 300 people and wounding more than 1,100 on Wednesday, according to authorities.

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam on Thursday asked his Pakistani counterpart Shehbaz Sharif, who mediated between the US and Iran, to confirm his country is included in the truce.

Shaibani called on the international community to "support Lebanon at this critical moment and to keep the spectre of war away from it", while expressing his country's support for Beirut's efforts to disarm Hezbollah "through national means, away from any external interference".

US Iran ceasefire: Ceasefire at risk over Israel's attacks in Lebanon, possible mines in Strait of Hormuz

Semiofficial news agencies in Iran published a chart Thursday suggesting the country's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard put sea mines into the Strait of Hormuz during the war, as uncertainty hangs over a two-week ceasefire and further negotiations are expected in Pakistan.

The shaky ceasefire has been largely holding between the US, Israel and Iran, although Tehran and Washington have offered vastly different explanations of the initial terms.

Israel insists the agreement does not apply to their war against Iran-backed Hezbollah militants in Lebanon and have escalated deadly strikes there, leading Iran to claim it is violating the deal.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres “unequivocally” condemned Israeli strikes in Lebanon that killed and injured hundreds on Wednesday after the ceasefire was announced.

Sirens sounded in northern Israel early Thursday as Hezbollah claimed it was attacking with rocket fire.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump said on social media that his surge of warships and troops will remain around Iran “until such time as the REAL AGREEMENT reached is fully complied with”.

He also insisted Iran would not be able to build nuclear weapons and “the Strait of Hormuz WILL BE OPEN and SAFE".

Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz again on Wednesday in response to Israeli attacks against Hezbollah in Lebanon.

There is no ceasefire in Lebanon: Israeli PM Netanyahu

Iran war ceasefire: Netanyahu authorises direct talks with Lebanon 'as soon as possible'

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday that he has authorised direct negotiations with Lebanon “as soon as possible,” as a tentative ceasefire in the Iran war staggered under the weight of Israel's bombardment of Beirut.

Netanyahu said he gave the order in response to requests from Lebanon and that talks would focus on disarming Hezbollah and establishing peaceful relations between the neighbouring countries. He welcomed a call by Lebanon's prime minister to demilitarise Beirut.

There was no immediate response from Lebanon.

The ceasefire was also hampered by Tehran's continued chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz and uncertainty over whether planned peace talks can find common ground.

Iran and the US — which both declared victory after the ceasefire announcement — appeared to apply pressure. Semiofficial news agencies in Iran suggested forces have mined the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial waterway for oil that Tehran has closed. President Donald Trump, meanwhile, warned that US forces would hit Iran harder than before if it did not fulfil the agreement.

And there was disagreement over whether the ceasefire deal included a pause in fighting between Israel and Hezbollah. Israel on Wednesday pounded Beirut with airstrikes, resulting in the deadliest day in Lebanon since the war began on Feb. 28.

Iran war ceasefire: Iranians pay tribute to slain supreme leader weeks after killing

Thousands of Iranians rallied Thursday in a tribute to former supreme leader Ali Khamenei, killed on the first day of the war with the United States and Israel, expressing criticism of talks expected in Pakistan this week.

Holding portraits of their deceased leader and waving the national flags of the Islamic republic, supporters of Khamenei took part in rallies across the country after he died in the US-Israeli attack on February 28.

The 40-day mourning period following a death is an important rite of passage for Muslims.

"The killing of our beloved leader was truly cowardly," Maryam Esmaeili, a 33-year-old private-sector employee, told AFP, adding that the US and Israel "crossed our red line".

The most notable gatherings took place in the capital Tehran, where strikes have ceased since a fragile ceasefire came into effect on Tuesday night, as well as the northwest city of Urmia and northeast Gorgan.

Khamenei was 86 years old, having led the Islamic republic for more than 36 years.

His son Mojtaba, who succeeded him in early March, was not present on Thursday. He was wounded in a strike, according to Iranian officials, and has yet to appear in public since his appointment.

Iran war news: Iran's supreme leader says people should not leave streets despite 'negotiations with enemy'

'Resolute in taking revenge': Iranian Khamenei ahead of US-Iran talks, says will control Hormuz strait

Iran’s supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei said Iran is not seeking war but will not forfeit its rights, while warning that the country remains resolute in avenging its late leader and “martyrs.”

He added that Tehran is still awaiting an “appropriate reaction” from its southern neighbours to “show you our brotherhood,” even as he struck a defiant tone on regional tensions.

The supreme leader further signaled a shift in strategy over the Strait of Hormuz, saying Iran would will take management of strait of hormuz into a new phase.

Israel-Lebanon truce talks likely next week in US; Hezbollah rejects direct negotiations

Israel war news: Israeli strikes in Lebanon on Wednesday killed more than 300, says ministry

Lebanon's health ministry said that Israeli strikes across the country a day before killed more than 300 people and wounded at least 1,150. In a statement, the ministry said "the Israeli enemy's airstrikes yesterday, Wednesday, resulted in a preliminary toll of 303 martyrs and 1,150 wounded", adding that the cumulative toll since the start of the war between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah on March 2 rose to 1,888 dead and 6,092 wounded.

It warned the death toll could rise further as search efforts were ongoing, as well as DNA testing of bodies transferred to hospitals, AFP reported.

Israel war news: Austria demands Israel stop attacking civilian targets in Lebanon

Austria’s foreign ministry urged Israel to halt its attacks on civilian targets in Lebanon and stressed that Austrian personnel serving in a United Nations peacekeeping mission must be ensured protection. Notably, Austria has been among Israel’s strongest political allies within the European Union in recent years. Responding to a Reuters query, the ministry called for an immediate end to military operations targeting civilian infrastructure in Lebanon.

Iran war news: US Democrats fail in bid to curb Trump's Iran war powers

US President Donald Trump's Republicans blocked an attempt by the opposition Democrats to curb his authority to wage war in Iran, amid mounting frustration in Congress over his handling of the Middle East conflict.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries sought to pass a war powers resolution by "unanimous consent" -- a procedure that bypasses the need to hold a recorded vote, provided no one objects -- but was stopped, as expected, by the Republican majority's presiding officer.

The maneuver, staged during a short procedural session while lawmakers remain out of Washington, was largely symbolic but underscored growing Democratic anger over a conflict that has not been formally authorized by lawmakers.

Israel war news: Netanyahu says Israel wants to start peace talks with Lebanon 'as soon as possible'

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said Israel is ready to begin direct peace negotiations with Lebanon “as soon as possible”. “In light of Lebanon's repeated requests to open direct negotiations with Israel, I instructed the cabinet yesterday to start direct negotiations with Lebanon as soon as possible,” Netanyahu said in a statement.

He added that the proposed talks would focus on disarming Hezbollah and working towards establishing peaceful relations between the two countries. There was no immediate response from the Lebanese government to Netanyahu’s remarks.

Iran war news: Pakistan promises foolproof security to visiting US delegation for talks in Islamabad

Pakistan told the US that it will provide foolproof security to its visiting delegation ahead of the talks with Iran for a possible peaceful end to the West Asia conflict. Pakistan’s interior minister Mohsin Naqvi was talking to US Chargé d'affaires Natalie Baker, who called on him to discuss the preparation for the upcoming talks.

Pakistan is set to host in-person talks between the US and Iran after a two-week ceasefire was announced between the two countries, bringing a pause to the hostilities which broke out on February 28.

According to a statement by the Interior Ministry on X, Naqvi and Baker discussed in detail about the preparation of the talks.

The minister stated that the US Vice President JD Vance, US Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner were “our special guests”.

“A comprehensive plan has been prepared to provide foolproof security to all foreign guests in every respect,” the minister was quoted as saying.

The US envoy appreciated Pakistan’s diplomatic role during the meeting.

In a related development, a 30-member advance team from the US has already arrived in Islamabad to review security arrangements.

A hotel located within the Red Zone was also reserved for the delegations and vacated on government instructions, with heightened security deployed in and around the premises, sources told Dawn.

The newspaper reported that a series of meetings has also been held in the twin cities on Wednesday to review security arrangements and devise strategies for the coming days.

The sources further said that the Red Zone would remain completely sealed during the stay of the delegates in the capital. Some entry points to the capital will also be closed, said the sources.

VVIP protocol under the Blue Book will be extended to the delegations during their movement, stay and meetings, as per sources.

The Red Zone houses several key buildings, hotels, foreign missions and official residences of key figures. All state-run rescue departments and hospitals have been put on high alert. They have been asked to remain on standby and ensure the availability of staff and essential supplies, the sources added.

Iran war news: Israeli campaign in Lebanon 'could cause peace process to fail,' says Merz

The continued Israeli military campaign in Lebanon could jeopardise peace talks expected between the United States and Iran over the war in the Middle East, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said.

"We view the situation in southern Lebanon with particular concern," Merz said. "The severity with which Israel is waging war there could cause the peace process as a whole to fail, and that must not be allowed to happen."

President Donald Trump has claimed victory in the Middle East war after agreeing a two-week truce to allow talks between US and Iranian negotiators.

But calls have grown for the fragile agreement to be expanded to cover Lebanon amid the continued Israeli offensive in the country.

Lebanon was drawn into the war after Hezbollah launched rocket fire on Israel to avenge the death of Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Israel then invaded and staged air raids across Lebanon in a campaign that has killed more than 1,500 people, according to Lebanese authorities.

Merz said Germany wants to see "a swift end to a military escalation that is increasingly destabilising the Middle East".

"Secondly, we want this war –- which has become a transatlantic stress test –- not to place any further strain on relations between the United States and its European NATO partners," he said.

"Thirdly, we want free navigation in the Strait of Hormuz to be restored quickly and stably."

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Thursday issued a sharp warning over Israel’s military actions in Lebanon, saying Tehran remains ready to respond and that continued strikes risk derailing ongoing diplomatic efforts.

“Our hands remain on the trigger,” Pezeshkian said, as he condemned Israel’s operations as a breach of the ceasefire framework and cautioned that such actions could undermine negotiations.

In a post on X, Pezeshkian said, “Israel’s renewed incursion into Lebanon is a blatant violation of the initial ceasefire agreement. This is a dangerous sign of deceit and a lack of commitment to potential agreements. The continuation of these actions will render negotiations meaningless.”

Iran war: No visible slowdown in hostilities in Lebanon

Continuous sounds of fighter jets and drones have been reported across southern Lebanon through the night and into the day. At least 17 people were killed in two separate strikes over the past 12 hours, one in the Al-Zrariyeh area of Sidon and another in Abbasiya near Tyre. Most of the victims were reported to be women and children, AL Jazeera reported.

Strikes have been reported throughout the southern front, around Bint Jbeil and further north into Marjayoun and the western Bekaa Valley. Hezbollah says it has launched rockets into northern Israel in response, triggering alarm bells in communities there.

Key infrastructure has also come under sustained attack. A major bridge linking Tyre to other parts of the country was heavily damaged in overnight strikes. While partial repairs have restored limited traffic, several bridges over the Litani River, crucial for connectivity between north and south have been destroyed or severely damaged.

Local officials say movement in and out of southern Lebanon remains extremely difficult, raising concerns over access to essential services and evacuation routes. There are also reports that medical teams operating in conflict zones continue to come under fire, further complicating relief efforts.

With continued strikes targeting infrastructure and no visible slowdown in hostilities, conditions for civilians in the region are rapidly deteriorating.

'Coming hours very critical’: Iran sets conditions ahead of US talks amid escalating Lebanon fighting

Iran’s deputy foreign minister Saeed Khatibzadeh has warned that the “coming hours are very critical” as Tehran prepares for fresh talks with the United States in Islamabad, even as violence intensifies across Lebanon.

Confirming that an Iranian delegation will travel for the negotiations, Khatibzadeh stressed that any agreement would hinge on Washington restraining Israel’s military actions. He said the US must stop Israeli strikes on Lebanon, adding that any lasting peace framework in the region must include Lebanon.

Israel war news: Pakistan PM slams Israel's 'aggression' against Lebanon

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned Israel's "ongoing aggression against Lebanon" on Thursday, ahead of expected US-Iran talks in Islamabad. "The prime minister said that Pakistan was engaged in sincere efforts for regional peace and it was in this spirit that the peace talks between Iran and the US were being convened," Sharif's office said in a statement.

US-Iran war: Pakistan says appreciates 'restraint' ahead of US-Iran talks

Shehbaz Sharif and army chief Asim Munir said they “appreciate the restraint shown by all sides” ahead of Islamabad hosting expected talks between United States and Iran.

"The two leaders expressed satisfaction over the de-escalation achieved so far and stressed upon the need for maintaining peace and ceasefire by all parties," the office of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said, following his meeting with Field Marshal Asim Munir.

Israel war news: Israel military issues evacuation order for Beirut's southern suburbs

"The Israel Defense Forces continue to operate and strike the military infrastructure belonging to the terrorist organisation Hezbollah across various areas of the southern suburbs. The IDF does not intend to harm you and is acting only against Hezbollah operatives and military targets. Therefore, for your safety, you must evacuate immediately," the military's Arabic-language spokesman Avichay Adraee said on X.

Iran war news: Iran warns of violation of ceasefire deal, says response will be 'decisive, immediate, regret-inducing'

Iran issued a stern warning against any violation of the ongoing ceasefire arrangement between the Islamic Republic and US-Israeli coalition forces aimed at halting the hostilities in West Asia for two weeks, stating that any breach would trigger a swift and strong response, as reported by Iranian state media ISNA.

According to ISNA, the spokesperson for the Iranian Army said that the Iranian government, in full coordination with the armed forces, remains on high alert to counter any potential aggression or breach of commitments as part of the ceasefire agreement.

Warning of serious consequences, the official added that "any aggression or potential violation will be met with a decisive, immediate, and regret-inducing response."

"The government, in full coordination with the armed forces, is at a high state of readiness to confront any breach of commitment or violation of the ceasefire; any aggression or potential violation will be met with a decisive, immediate, and regret-inducing response," the spokesperson said, as quoted by ISNA.

This comes amid a fragile two-week ceasefire aimed at halting hostilities in West Asia between Iran and US-Israel coalition forces, with high-stakes talks scheduled to take place in Islamabad between the concerned parties to negotiate a comprehensive and lasting end to the conflict.

As part of the proposed deal, US President Donald Trump pushed for Tehran to completely give up its nuclear programme, including uranium enrichment, a demand that Iran firmly rejected, reiterating its long-standing position.

The ceasefire agreement also hangs in the balance, as Tehran stated that the truce also includes a halt to Israeli military operations in Lebanon.

'None of these people understand anything': Trump hits out at 'disappointing' Nato in a cryptic post

Iran war news: China denies reports of support to Iran's military during war with US

China's defence ministry denied reports that Chinese firms provided satellite imagery and semiconductor chip manufacturing equipment to the Iranian military in the midst of the US-Israeli war against Iran.

China firmly opposes the dissemination of speculative and insinuating disinformation targeting China by relevant parties, Defence Ministry spokesperson Zhang Xiaogang said.

He was responding to questions on reports stating that Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC) had provided chip manufacturing equipment to the Iranian military, and a Chinese commercial satellite company had released images of US military bases in the Middle East.

Zhang said China firmly rejected remarks by US officials who claimed they were aware of actions taken by China and Russia to help Iran and would respond if necessary.

"China's position on the Iran issue is above-board and straightforward. We have always upheld an objective and impartial stance," Zhang said, noting that China has consistently worked to promote peace talks and "never added fuel to the fire".

"Who is saying one thing and doing another, and who is creating wars and conflicts around the world? The international community sees this very clearly," he was quoted as saying by the state-run China Daily.

Iran rejected US President Donald Trump's peace proposal claiming that the States had violated three key clauses of the plan even before the negotiations started. Terming the ceasefire "unreasonable", it said that Iran held a "deep historical distrust" towards America, citing repeated violations of all forms of commitments.

The three violations include non-compliance of first clause regarding ceasefire in Lebanon, entry of an intruding drone into Iran airspace and denial of Iran's right to enrichment.

"The deep historical distrust we hold toward the United States stems from its repeated violations of all forms of commitments a pattern that has regrettably been repeated once again. As the President of the United States has clearly stated in his Truth, the Islamic Republic of Iran's 10-Point Proposal is a "workable basis on which to negotiate" and the main framework for these talks. However, 3 clauses of this proposal have been violated so far," said a statement shared by Iranian Parliament Speaker MB Ghalibaf.

Hormuz chokehold: Iran to cap ship traffic at 15 vessels a day under ceasefire

Iran will allow no more than 15 vessels per day to pass through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz under the current ceasefire arrangement, according to a Reuters report citing a senior Iranian source.

'Fingers remain on trigger': Iran's Pezeshkian warns Israel’s Lebanon incursion as ceasefire breach

Iran war news: Netanyahu vows to strike Hezbollah with 'force, precision and determination'

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has affirmed that Israel will persist in its military operations against Hezbollah, following a series of intense and lethal strikes across Lebanon.

In a statement shared via his personal account on X, the Prime Minister emphasised the continued scale of the offensive, noting that the military is "continuing to strike Hezbollah with force, precision, and determination."

The remarks come as Israel intensifies its campaign to degrade the group's capabilities, with Netanyahu underscoring the motivation behind the ongoing air strikes. "Our message is clear: anyone who acts against Israeli civilians - we will strike them," he asserted, linking the military action directly to the protection of the public.

Maintaining a firm stance on the scope of the operation, the Prime Minister made it clear that geographical boundaries would not limit the air campaign. He stated that the military "will continue to hit Hezbollah wherever necessary," suggesting that the operations will remain expansive.

Netanyahu further clarified that the ultimate objective of the strikes is to ensure the safe return of displaced citizens to the border regions. He added that the offensive will persist "until we fully restore security to the residents of the north" of Israel.

However, Israel's continued operation in Lebanon has threatened the temporary ceasefire, with Iran accusing the US-Israel side of violating the agreement. In response to these developments, Tehran has threatened to leave the negotiation talks set to take place in Islamabad this weekend.

Iran war news: EU slams Hormuz toll idea

The European Union has said that freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz must be guaranteed without “any payment or toll whatsoever”, after Iran proposed charging ships to pass through the key Gulf waterway.

Iran war news: Iran's death toll crosses 3,000, says forensic chief

Iran’s death toll from the ongoing conflict has exceeded 3,000, according to forensic chief Abbas Masjedi Arani. He said that US-Israeli attacks during the war have killed more than 3,000 people across the country, underscoring the scale of the casualties.

Iran war news: Lebanon says 203 killed, over 1,000 wounded in Israeli strikes

Lebanon’s health minister Rakan Nassereddine said the death toll from Israeli air strikes on Beirut and other parts of the country on Wednesday has risen to 203, with more than 1,000 people injured.

Speaking ahead of a cabinet meeting, he said, "The death toll stands at 203 martyrs and more than 1,000 wounded in the aggression against Lebanon on Wednesday," Al Jazeera reported.

Earlier figures released by the health ministry had reported 182 deaths and 890 injuries, indicating a sharp rise in casualties as rescue and assessment efforts continued.

Iran war news: Iran's nuclear agency chief says its right to enrich uranium is necessary' for US talks

The chief of Iran's nuclear agency said Thursday that protecting Tehran's right to enrich uranium is “necessary” for any ceasefire talks with the United States.

Mohammad Eslami, who leads the Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran, told the Associated Press in Tehran, Iran, during commemorations for the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

“It is a part of the necessary (things) that nobody speaks about,” Eslami said, referring to the US refusal to acknowledge enrichment as one part of Iran's 10-point plan for a permanent ceasefire.

The US and Iran are due to meet in Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan, for talks this weekend.

'Ceasefire unreasonable': Iran rejects Trump's peace proposal, claims violation of 3 key clauses