Middle East crisis

Iran War
Iran's Leader: US Humiliated and Wants to Sow Division

In a written statement read out in Iran's pro-regime media, Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei says the US has suffered "a clear and profound humiliation on the battlefield and in the streets". This is reported by several news agencies.

"Since Iran managed to repel the enemy, which was defeated on the battlefield, they are now trying to undermine the resilience of the Iranian people and sow division", Khamenei continues in the statement.

The ceasefire that formally prevails in the war is reportedly being broken almost daily.

Israel-Hezbollah
UN soldier killed in Lebanon

A UN peacekeeper in southern Lebanon is dead and two more soldiers are injured after their base was hit by shells last night, several news agencies report. It is not clear where the shelling came from.

Despite Israel and Lebanon saying they have agreed to a continued ceasefire, there are many indications that the fighting will continue, writes AFP. Israel has shelled targets in southern Lebanon during the morning and according to Defense Minister Israel Katz, it also has “freedom of action, with US support, to strike in Beirut in response to fire on Israeli communities”.

Hezbollah also does not seem to plan to lay down its arms, and said earlier this week that it will not accept “a unilateral ceasefire”.

Israel and Lebanon extend ceasefire

Israel and Lebanon have reached an agreement to extend the ceasefire between the countries, several media outlets report. The agreement was negotiated with the help of American mediators.

As part of the agreement, new security zones will be established around Lebanon “urgently”, according to a joint statement - The zones will be controlled by the Lebanese military and the Iran-backed terrorist group Hezbollah will be prohibited from operating in the area. Israel is also demanding that Hezbollah stop attacking and withdraw from its strongholds in southern Lebanon.

The announcement of the ceasefire comes as fighting in Lebanon has escalated in recent days. Many are skeptical that the agreement will actually hold, as attacks continued even after the countries decided to end the fighting earlier this year.