Middle East Crisis

Israel-Hezbollah
Hezbollah Leader: Israel Must Leave Lebanon

Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem calls on Israel to leave Lebanon “unconditionally” in a televised speech. Al Jazeera reports.

He also rejects Israel’s line that their presence in Lebanon is necessary to defend themselves against Hezbollah’s rocket attacks.

– Israel is not in Lebanon because of the rockets, they are here to try to occupy and swallow the entire country.

Israel and Hezbollah have been in conflict for decades. The fighting flared up again earlier this year when the organization, which is classified as a terrorist organization by the EU and the US, fired on Israel in response to attacks on Iran. 

Strait of Hormuz
Sources: Attack drones used in attack in Hormuz

An attack drone is said to have been used in the attack on a cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz, CNN reports. According to American sources in several media outlets, Iran is behind the attack. Iran has neither confirmed nor denied that this is the case.

The Singapore-flagged ship Ever Lovely is said to have suffered material damage but remained seaworthy after being hit by the drone. The crew is said to be unharmed.

The International Maritime Organization, IMO, has temporarily paused the evacuation of ships that have been stuck near the Strait of Hormuz since the start of the war due to the shelling.