United News of Bangladesh

Hezbollah is likely to demand firm guarantees that Israeli forces will withdraw from southern Lebanon before committing to any ceasefire arrangement, according to a regional expert. Randa Slim, Middle East programme director at the Stimson Center, said previous ceasefire agreements between Israel and Lebanon have not been fully implemented. “Even the last one that has been mediated by Mr Trump himself has not been implemented,” Slim told Al Jazeera. She said Israel has continued to insist on maintaining operational freedom in southern Lebanon. “Israel has demanded and insisted on having the freedom of manoeuvring in the south of Lebanon, targeting Hezbollah assets, targeting Hezbollah officials,” she said. According to Slim, Hezbollah is expected to seek assurances that Israel will honour any withdrawal commitments under a future ceasefire agreement. “Hezbollah… in response to this ceasefire announcement, will say: What’s going to be the guarantee if we leave the south, that Israel will withdraw from the south of Lebanon? “What’s the guarantee that they will respect the sovereignty of Lebanon and not attack us in the southern suburbs of Beirut or somewhere else?” she said. Her comments come amid ongoing discussions over efforts to reinforce a ceasefire arrangement between Israel and Lebanon. #From Al Jazeera

A statement issued by the US State Department said Israel and Lebanon have agreed to implement a ceasefire following US-led negotiations. According to the statement, the ceasefire depends on the complete halt of Hezbollah attacks and the withdrawal of all Hezbollah fighters from areas south of the Litani River. However, the agreement does not establish a new ceasefire. Rather, it reaffirms adherence to an existing truce that was extended in May for an additional 45 days after an earlier ceasefire arrangement. One of the key outcomes of the talks is the creation of pilot zones in southern Lebanon, where the Lebanese Armed Forces would take sole responsibility for security and prevent the presence of any non-state armed groups. US diplomats had expressed optimism ahead of the latest round of negotiations. Earlier on Wednesday, a State Department official indicated that while the discussions began slowly, significant progress was made over the course of the day. Throughout the process, US officials have stressed that the continuation of dialogue itself represents an important achievement, regardless of the pace of progress. #From Al Jazeera

A senior Iranian official has warned that Tehran will not allow the United States to “overreach” in ongoing negotiations or in any ceasefire process, while vowing a strong response to any future attacks. Mohsen Rezaee, a member of Iran’s Expediency Discernment Council and former commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), said any aggression against Iran would be met with a forceful military response. “The response to every shot and aggression will be a barrage of missiles and drones,” Rezaee wrote in a post on X. “History will not turn back, and the aggressor will be swiftly punished.” Rezaee also stressed that Iran would not permit Washington to exert excessive influence in either diplomatic negotiations or efforts related to a ceasefire. “Neither in negotiations nor in the ceasefire process will we allow America to overreach,” he added. The remarks come amid heightened regional tensions and continuing diplomatic efforts involving Iran, the United States and other regional actors. Rezaee’s comments reflect Tehran’s firm stance on safeguarding its interests while warning against any perceived external pressure or military escalation. Source: Al Jazeera

The US military said it carried out what it described as “self-defense” strikes on Iran’s Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz, while Iran launched missiles towards Kuwait and Bahrain, according to a statement from the US military’s Central Command (CENTCOM). In a post shared on X, CENTCOM said US forces also “successfully defeated multiple Iranian ballistic missiles and drones”. The command said the strikes were launched after Iran “launched several ballistic missiles towards regional neighbours” and that the missiles “all failed to hit their intended targets”. “Two Iranian missiles fired at Kuwait fell short or broke apart en route, and three missiles launched at Bahrain were immediately intercepted by US and Bahrain air defense forces,” CENTCOM said. Air raid sirens were heard earlier in both Bahrain and Kuwait amid the heightened tensions in the region. Meanwhile, Iran’s Mehr News Agency reported that explosions were heard in Qeshm city, adding that authorities were investigating the incident.

Hezbollah on Tuesday said it carried out 13 separate attacks on Israeli forces in southern Lebanon, targeting troop concentrations, military vehicles and command centres as fighting continued in the border region. In a statement, the Iran-backed group said its fighters used rockets, artillery shells, guided missiles and attack drones in operations aimed at Israeli positions and advancing troops across several areas of southern Lebanon. According to Hezbollah, its fighters targeted a number of Israeli Merkava tanks and detonated an explosive device against a military vehicle in the Haddatha and al-Balou’ areas. The group claimed the attack forced Israeli troops to stop their advance and retreat under the cover of Israeli air strikes. Hezbollah also said it launched attacks on Israeli forces stationed near the historic Beaufort Castle and in the town of Biyyada. The group claimed that guided missiles and rocket barrages hit an Israeli command post and armoured units in those locations. The claims could not be independently verified. Israeli authorities did not immediately comment on the reported attacks. #From Al Jazeera

Iran’s Parliament Speaker and chief negotiator in talks with the United States, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, has warned that Tehran could halt its dialogue with Washington if Israel continues its military operations in Lebanon. In a statement posted on X following a phone conversation with Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri on Monday, Ghalibaf said he had stressed Iran’s position regarding the ongoing conflict. He said that if what he described as the “crimes of the Zionist regime” in Lebanon continue, Iran would not only suspend the negotiation process but would also take a firm stand against Israel. Ghalibaf reaffirmed Iran’s support for Lebanon and the resistance movement, expressing solidarity between the Iranian and Lebanese people. His remarks came amid heightened tensions in the region as Israeli military operations in Lebanon continue and diplomatic efforts involving Iran and the United States remain under way. Source: Al Jazeera

US President Donald Trump on Monday has said he urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to pull Israeli troops back from Lebanon’s capital Beirut and also held talks with Hezbollah representatives, claiming the group had agreed to stop firing at Israeli forces. In response, Netanyahu told Trump that Israel would continue strikes on Beirut if Hezbollah keeps launching attacks against Israeli cities and civilians, according to a statement from the Israeli prime minister’s office. The statement added that Israeli military operations in southern Lebanon would proceed as planned. Meanwhile, Iran’s chief negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, warned that Tehran could take a tougher stance if Israeli attacks on Lebanon continue. During talks with Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, Ghalibaf said Iran would not only suspend its negotiation process with the United States but could also enter into direct confrontation with Israel if the conflict escalates further. Despite the warning from Tehran, Trump said negotiations between the United States and Iran were continuing rapidly. On the ground, hostilities persisted in Lebanon. The country’s National News Agency reported ongoing Israeli air strikes in southern Lebanon late Monday, with reports of casualties. According to Lebanon’s Health Ministry, Israeli military operations in Lebanon since March have killed 3,433 people and injured 10,395 others. Source: Al Jazeera

During a visit to Pakistan’s capital, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas praised Islamabad for helping prevent a “return to full-blown war on several occasions”. “There is now a 10-year diplomatic opening to extend the ceasefire and reopen the Strait of Hormuz,” Kallas said at a joint press conference with Pakistan’s foreign minister. She also reiterated earlier remarks that any agreement must be followed by deeper talks on Iran’s nuclear programme. “I see a concrete role for the EU in helping to make any eventual agreement durable.” #From Al Jazeera

Trump said he does not care if negotiations with Iran come to an end. “I don’t care if they’re over, honestly. I really don’t care. I couldn’t care less,” he told CNBC. Trump also said he is not concerned about rising oil prices. “I think the oil will be dropping like a rock in the very near distance.” #From Al Jazeera

The US military’s Central Command (CENTCOM) said it has redirected 121 commercial vessels and “disabled” five others as part of its ongoing blockade of Iranian ports. Recent updates from CENTCOM showed that US forces redirected three vessels in the past day and 13 over the past week.  #From Al Jazeera