Middle East crisis live: Witkoff and Kushner head to Pakistan for talks; Israel strikes Lebanon despite ceasefire
Summary
The Israel Defense Forces launched airstrikes against locations in southern Lebanon targeting Hezbollah rocket launchers, despite a ceasefire extended by President Trump. Meanwhile, US envoys are traveling to Pakistan to attempt new talks with Iran, although Iran refuses direct negotiation with the US, and Palestinians are holding local elections in the West Bank and Gaza.Key Facts
- The Israel Defense Forces struck three villages in southern Lebanon: Deir al-Zahrani, Kfar Reman, and al-Sama’iya.
- A temporary ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon was extended by three weeks by President Trump but has been weakly observed with ongoing attacks.
- US representatives are heading to Islamabad, Pakistan, hoping to start new peace talks with Iran.
- Iran’s foreign minister arrived in Islamabad ahead of these talks but has rejected direct talks with US officials.
- Palestinians in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and Gaza are voting in municipal elections for the first time since the Gaza war.
- Most Palestinian electoral candidates support President Mahmud Abbas’s Fatah party or are independents; Hamas is not participating.
- A US-Kuwaiti journalist detained in Kuwait related to posts on the Iran war was released and left Kuwait after being acquitted.
- The US has shifted its Iran strategy from military action to economic pressure but faces concerns from European allies about lack of a clear plan and shared consequences.
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