Shafaq News- Tehran

Iran will manage the Strait of Hormuz on its own if Oman does not agreeto a joint framework with Tehran, the country's Foreign Ministry stated onMonday.

During a press briefing, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister KazemGharibabadi noted that Tehran views Oman as willing to engage on the issue buthas yet to align on a shared mechanism.

"Technical teams from both countries are expected to begin talks inthe coming days," he added, stressing that Iran maintains a central rolein determining transit routes through the maritime gateway while rejectingproposals for alternative passage systems.

Earlier on Monday, France and Oman reiterated their support for the UN Conventionon the Law of the Sea, describing it as the governing legal framework formaritime zones, including the Strait of Hormuz and the Arabian Sea. They alsomaintained that Hormuz must remain open and backed unrestricted freedom ofnavigation.

Iran has begun the practical implementation of a mechanism to collecttransit fees from ships passing through the Strait, a move the United Stateshas firmly rejected. US President Donald Trump previously threatened to"blow up" Oman if it attempts to control the maritime corridor incooperation with Tehran, arguing that the waterway must remain open to all andunder the control of no single party.

Read more: No exit but Hormuz: Iraq's economic vulnerability exposed

Shafaq News- Damascus

Dozens of Syrians rallied outside the Justice Palace in Damascus on Monday, demanding enforcement of Article 49 of the constitutional declaration to criminalize glorifying the ousted Al-Assad regime or justifying its crimes.

Shafaq News correspondent said civil coordinations and activists joined the protest, held under the banner “Criminalizing Assadism,” near Al-Hamidiyah Souq.

Security forces deployed around the site as participants raised banners reading “Criminalizing Assadism is our demand.” According to organizers, the rally sought legislation based on Article 49. The March 13 constitutional declaration places the article under transitional justice, alongside measures to establish a transitional justice commission, define accountability mechanisms, secure the right to truth, and provide justice for victims and survivors.

In post-2003 Iraq, the constitution also banned any entity or program that adopts, glorifies, promotes, or justifies the Saddamist Baath and its symbols. Baghdad later passed Law No. 32 of 2016, banning the Baath Party from political, cultural, intellectual, or social activity under any name or through any means.

In May, Iraq’s Karkh Criminal Court sentenced four people to six years in prison for promoting the banned Baath Party, according to the Supreme Judicial Council.

Shafaq News- Middle East

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said on Monday that he had agreed with the commander of US Central Command (CENTCOM), Admiral Brad Cooper, that Israeli forces would not withdraw from security zones in Lebanon, Syria, or Gaza.

Katz stressed that there would be no further Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon beyond the two initial pilot zones, Froun and Zawtar al-Shaqiya, until Hezbollah is fully disarmed. He also described linking the Iranian and Lebanese files as being "in the American interest," arguing that without such a linkage, "Hezbollah would have collapsed."

“Israel had adopted an alternative strategy after the US-imposed constraints,” Katz noted, saying the military would deepen the "Yellow Line" security zone in southern Lebanon, and expressing skepticism that Lebanese army troops would move against Hezbollah; therefore, “Israel's military presence in Lebanon would be long-term."

On Friday, Lebanon and Israel signed a US-brokered framework agreement providing for a phased Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon in exchange for the Lebanese army's deployment and the disarmament of armed groups. Hezbollah, the Amal Movement, and other political factions rejected the deal as a threat to Lebanese sovereignty. Israeli officials have insisted no withdrawal will take place before Hezbollah disarms, while leaked details of a reported secret security annex suggest Israeli forces would retain operational freedom in southern Lebanon without a fixed withdrawal timetable. The Lebanese army is expected to begin deploying to the first two pilot zones under US supervision as implementation of the agreement gets underway.

Read more: South Lebanon framework: What we know so far

Shafaq News- Beirut

Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri on Monday criticized the US-brokered framework agreement between Lebanon and Israel, warning it could “deepen internal divisions” and drag Lebanese factions into confrontation.

Speaking to Lebanon's Al-Akhbar newspaper, Berri said the agreement "will not pass and will not be implemented." He argued that ongoing US-Iran negotiations offered the only realistic path to securing an Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory, warning that separating the Lebanese file from the broader US-Iran diplomatic track would only “prolong Israel's military presence.”

Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef Raji, for his part, stated that the government's priorities remain securing a full Israeli withdrawal, deploying the Lebanese army across the south, and completing the state's plan to place all weapons under its exclusive control.

On Friday, Lebanon and Israel signed a US-brokered framework agreement providing for a phased Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon in exchange for the Lebanese army's deployment and the disarmament of armed groups, but Hezbollah, the Amal Movement, and other political factions rejected the deal as a threat to Lebanese sovereignty. Israeli officials have insisted no withdrawal will take place before Hezbollah disarms, while leaked details of a reported secret security annex suggest Israeli forces would retain operational freedom in southern Lebanon without a fixed withdrawal timetable. The Lebanese army is expected to begin deploying to the first two pilot zones under US supervision as implementation of the agreement gets underway.

Read more: South Lebanon framework: What we know so far

Shafaq News-Gaza/ West Bank (Updated at 13:13)

ThreePalestinians, including a child, were killed in an Israeli drone strike on Deiral-Balah in central Gaza on Monday, as Israeli forces carried out raids andsettlers launched attacks across the occupied West Bank, according toPalestinian media.

The Gaza Health Ministry said that hospitals received four people killedand eight others wounded in Israeli strikes over the past 24 hours.

عاجل| مصادر محلية: استشهاد طفل جراء قصف طيران الاحتلال على شارع البركة بمدينة دير البلح وسط قطاع غزة pic.twitter.com/LO4FItvhA7

— شبكة قدس الإخبارية (@qudsn) June 29, 2026

Gaza

Euro-MedHuman Rights Monitor argued that the violence in Gaza continues “quieter,slower, but just as deliberate,” adding that the enclave is beingsystematically denied the chance to recover. "An ongoing genocide does notend when it becomes less visible. It ends when the killing stops, whenaccountability begins, and when people are allowed to live.”

The world says the genocide in #Gaza is over. On the ground, it continues, quieter, slower, but just as deliberate. What once happened loudly now happens quietly, deliberately, and every day. People are still being killed.Destruction continues at a slower pace, but with the… pic.twitter.com/ibq2ibFlvP

— Euro-Med Monitor (@EuroMedHR) June 28, 2026

UNRWA warned that humanitarian needs across the strip remain immense, withsafe drinking water, medicines, and food in short supply, while extensivedamage to infrastructure continues to affect daily life.

Across #Gaza, humanitarian needs remain immense.Safe drinking water, medicines and food are in short supply, while massive damage to the Gaza infrastructure continues to severely affect the lives of the refugee communities.UNRWA helps meet the needs on the ground, providing… pic.twitter.com/hxbbFWFk6q

— UNRWA (@UNRWA) June 28, 2026

ThePalestinian Health Ministry put the toll since the ceasefire took effect onOctober 11, 2025, at 1,038 killed, 3,329 wounded, and 786 bodies recovered,bringing the cumulative toll since October 7, 2023, to 73,051 deaths and173,437 injuries.

West Bank

Israeliforces raided areas north of Tulkarm and several other governorates, searchedhomes, and damaged their contents. Military bulldozers continued land-clearingoperations in Al-Jabariyat, overlooking the Jenin refugee camp, while troopsdestroyed murals bearing images of Palestinians killed in the conflict south of Al-Khalil (Hebron).

Settlersreleased cattle onto farmland east of Nablus, carried out excavation work inAl-Khalil to expand a settlement outpost, assaulted a security guard in Nablus,rebuilt the Beit Einot Hill outpost in Al-Khalil days after its demolition, andattempted to burn vehicles in Jerusalem before residents intervened.

مستوطنون ينفذون أعمال حفريات في أراضي المواطنين في بيرين شرق الخليل في إطار توسيع بؤرة استيطانية pic.twitter.com/szCbIIBDQR

— شبكة قدس الإخبارية (@qudsn) June 29, 2026

Data fromthe Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics indicates that at least 1,168Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank since October 2023, including210 children.

TheColonization and Wall Resistance Commission said settler attacks have exceeded2,567 since the start of 2026. In May alone, Israeli forces and settlerscarried out 1,659 attacks, while settlers attempted to establish 12 new colonialoutposts and Israeli authorities seized 283 dunums of Palestinian land.

Shafaq News- Daraa

Israeli forces attacked the village of Abideen inSyria's southern Daraa province and pushed ground troops across the frontier, damaging homes and farmland and forcing residents to flee to neighboring towns.

According to the Syrian state news agency (SANA), the raid came from al-Jazira, an Israeli military postjust inside Syrian territory. As armored vehicles advanced, residents blockedthe roads into Abideen with stones to keep them out; Israeli troops respondedwith gunfire and illumination flares over the Yarmouk basin before withdrawing.Hours earlier, soldiers had briefly occupied a nearby hill, pitching tentsbefore abandoning the position. Israeli warplanes and helicopters continued tocircle over Daraa and the neighboring Quneitra province through the day.

Syria's Foreign Ministry condemned the operation as aviolation of the country's sovereignty and a breach of the 1974 Agreement onDisengagement of Forces, the UN-brokered truce that has separated Syrian andIsraeli troops along the occupied Golan Heights since the 1973 Arab-Israeliwar. It warned that the repeated incursions risk wider escalation and called onthe United Nations to enforce the agreement.

Israeli forces have steadily expanded their presenceacross southern Syria since the fall of President Bashar al-Assad in December2024, moving into a buffer zone that had separated the two sides for half acentury. SANA reported that Israeli troops have established nine forwardpositions inside Syrian territory, on Mount Hermon and in villages includingal-Hamidiyah and al-Adnaniyah, and dug a fortified trench known as "SofaaLine 53" along the old separation line, cutting farmers off from theirland.

The ministry also pointed to earlier abuses inQuneitra, including the detention of 47 Syrians and the demolition of 16 homesin the village of al-Hamidiyah after residents were forced out.

Read more: Is normalization with Israel on the horizon?

Shafaq News- Beirut (Updated at 9:24)

Hezbollah accused Israel of carrying out a series ofceasefire violations across southern Lebanon, warning that it reserves theright to defend the country and its people.

The group, in a statement, detailed multiple Israelioperations in a single day, citing airstrikes on residential buildings inNabatieh and Mayfadoun, a drone strike on open ground in Froun, detonation ofbuildings in al-Taybeh and Hadatha, and “stun grenades” used near civilians inBurj Qalawiyah and Braasheet.

Local media corroborated the reported Israeli actions.Hezbollah said it is tracking and documenting the violations, calling them"a flagrant breach of the ceasefire Israel had committed to."

Israeli attacks on Lebanon have killed 4,247 people andwounded 12,195 since March 2, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry.

On Friday, Beirut and Tel Aviv signed a frameworkagreement in Washington following a fifth round of negotiations. The deal setsout a phased Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon, beginning with two pilotzones —areas designated for initial deployment by the Lebanese army once armedgroups disarm. Hezbollah, the Amal Movement, and other parliamentary blocsrejected the agreement as unbalanced and a threat to Lebanese sovereignty.

Israel raised its security alert level following thesigning, bracing for a possible attack by Iran. The Israeli news site Walla,citing Israeli military sources, reported that the agreement had alarmed bothHezbollah and Tehran, in part because it provides for the group's disarmament,its removal from southern Lebanon, and the normalization of Lebanese-Israeli relations.According to those sources, Iran has signaled its displeasure by escalatingtensions with the United States and raising the prospect of disrupting theStrait of Hormuz, while Israel says it is preparing for all scenarios,including a direct strike.

Israeli media published leaked portions of “a secretsecurity annex” to the agreement, kept confidential at Lebanon's request. TheTimes of Israel, citing an informed official, reported the annex grants theIsraeli military full freedom of movement within the security zone and confirmsthere will be no automatic withdrawal. Channel 12 reported that Israeliwithdrawal is tied to field assessment rather than a fixed timetable, acondition it said the Lebanese government accepted. It also reported thatexpanding the pilot zones would require Israeli approval, with full deploymentexpected to take several weeks, and that the annex grants the Israeli militaryfreedom of action within the security perimeter to act against what Israelconsiders emerging and direct threats.

An Israeli military source told Haaretz the Israeliarmy has not yet received orders to withdraw from any area in Lebanon. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense MinisterIsrael Katz have stated that no Israeli withdrawal will occur unless Hezbollahdisarms.

The Lebanesearmy, according to Channel 12, is expected to deploy in the coming hours to thefirst two pilot zones assigned by Israel in the towns of Zawtar al-Gharbiyahand Froun, under the direct supervision of the US Central Command chief AdmiralBrad Cooper, who is expected to arrive in Lebanon from Israel within hours. Froun is not currently occupied by Israel.

Read more: South Lebanon framework: What we know so far

📌 ميفدون pic.twitter.com/W4Tmr6SvFR

— Al Jadeed News (@ALJADEEDNEWS) June 28, 2026

Shafaq News- Beirut (Updated at 22:32)

Israeli forces carried out freshstrikes and military operations across southern Lebanon on Sunday, according tolocal media, despite a US-mediated framework agreement outlining a phasedIsraeli withdrawal from the area.

In the Nabatiyeh district, anIsraeli drone dropped a sound bomb over Nabatiyeh al-Fawqa after striking thetown. Bint Jbeil witnessed a drone strike on an open area in Froun, which MayorHassan Bazzi described as the first ceasefire violation inside the town sincethe agreement took effect, saying it endangered civilians and spread fear amongresidents. Another drone dropped two sound bombs near a house in Baraachit,while a sound bomb in Burj Qallawiyeh wounded two people, according toLebanon's Health Ministry.

Warplanes targeted the outskirts ofDeir Seryan and Taybeh in Marjaayoun, while troops in Khiam detonatedexplosives, burned homes, and advanced with military vehicles inside the town.

Israeli forces also fired clustermunitions toward the outskirts of Shebaa and Shwaya in Hasbaya, asreconnaissance aircraft flew over Tyre and nearby areas, warplanes conductedlow-altitude flights and a simulated raid over the Hermel highlands, and adrone was reported over Beirut's southern suburbs.

The Health Ministry said thecumulative toll from the Israeli offensive between March 2 and June 28 hadreached 4,247 dead and 12,195 wounded, including women and children.

The framework agreement, signed inWashington on Friday after a fifth round of negotiations, sets out a phasedIsraeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon. It begins with two pilot zones to betransferred to the Lebanese army after armed groups are disarmed and theirinfrastructure dismantled. Lebanon's two main Shia parties, Hezbollah and theAmal Movement, along with other groups and parliamentary blocs, rejected the trilateral framework, describing it asunbalanced and a threat to Lebanese sovereignty.

Despite the deal, the Israeli armycontinues its operations in southern Lebanon, with Israeli PM BenjaminNetanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz stressing that no withdrawal will bemade unless Hezbollah disarms.

Read more: South Lebanon framework: What we know so far

Shafaq News- Beirut (Updated at 17:44)

An Israeli army officer was killed, and a soldier was wounded on Sunday in an exchange of fire with a Hezbollah fighter in southern Lebanon, marking the first reported deadly confrontation since Lebanon and Israel signed a US-brokered framework agreement earlier this week.

The Israeli military said the officer was killed during a firefight in the village of Deir Siryan of the Marjayoun district, where a soldier was also wounded. Hezbollah-affiliated media confirmed the incident, adding that the Israeli troops withdrew from the area.

הודעת דובר צה"ל בנושא שמו של חלל צה״ל אשר הודעה נמסרה למשפחתו: https://t.co/aHOey3smPQבאירוע בו נפל סרן דוד חזות ז״ל, נפצע לוחם צה"ל באורח קל.הלוחם פונה לקבלת טיפול רפואי בבית חולים ומשפחתו עודכנה.מצורף קישור לאתר צה"ל, בו מפורסמים ומתעדכנים פרטיהם ותמונותיהם של החללים:…

— דובר צה״ל אפי דפרין - Effie Defrin (@IDFSpokesperson) June 28, 2026

Lebanon and Israel signed a US-mediated framework agreement in Washington that, for the first time, sets out a phased path toward an eventual Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon, while tying any pullback to the disarmament of Hezbollah. The accord, formally a trilateral document, was signed by the two countries' ambassadors and a US official and announced by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who called it the "beginning of the beginning." Hezbollah, the Iran-backed Lebanese armed movement at the center of the conflict, was not involved and has rejected the talks.

Read more: South Lebanon framework: What we know so far

Despite the agreement, the Israeli army continues its operations in southern Lebanon, with Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz stressing that no withdrawal will be made unless Hezbollah disarms.

The country’s Ministry of Public Health put the cumulative casualty toll at 4,247 people killed and 12,195 wounded between March 2 and June 28. At least 37 Israeli soldiers have been killed, and some 60,000 residents of northern Israel were displaced in the earlier phase of the conflict.

Read more: Beirut’s southern suburb empties overnight

Shafaq News- Kuwait City/ Manama

Kuwait and Bahrain, on Sunday,condemned renewed Iranian missile and drone attacks on their territories asviolations of their sovereignty after the latest exchange of strikes betweenthe United States and Iran.

Kuwait's Foreign Ministry described theassaults as a direct threat to the country's security, stability, and thesafety of citizens and residents, as well as a breach of international law andthe UN Charter.

بيان صادر عن وزارة الخارجيةالأحد 28 يونيو 2026تعرب وزارة الخارجية عن إدانة دولة الكويت واستنكارها وبأشد العبارات، تكرار الاعتداءات الإيرانية الآثمة على دولة الكويت، والتي كان آخرها فجر اليوم، في انتهاكٍ صارخٍ لسيادتها، وتهديدٍ مباشرٍ لأمنها واستقرارها وسلامة مواطنيها والمقيمين… pic.twitter.com/bKvPgXf6rw

— وزارة الخارجية (@MOFAKuwait) June 28, 2026

Bahrain's Foreign Ministry said thestrikes breached Iran's commitments under the Islamabad Memorandum ofUnderstanding, signed on June 17, 2026, which called for a permanent halt tomilitary operations and respect for the sovereignty of regional states. Theministry urged the UN Security Council to convene an emergency session to holdthose responsible accountable, warning that the attacks threatened thecollective security of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).

مملكة البحرين تدعو إلى تحرك دولي لوقف العدوان الإيراني المتكررhttps://t.co/17OAyBRA6w pic.twitter.com/lJOWcqeXXu

— وزارة الخارجية 🇧🇭 (@bahdiplomatic) June 28, 2026

Earlier today, US Central Command(CENTCOM) announced that US Navy and Air Force aircraft struck 10 Iranianmilitary targets in and near the Strait of Hormuz, including missile and dronestorage sites and coastal radar facilities, in response to Iran's drone attackon the M/T Kiku. President Donald Trump said Iran violated the ceasefireagreement and warned that further Iranian breaches could prompt the US to “militarily complete the job thatwe very successfully started.”

Kuwait's military later said its airdefenses intercepted "hostile" missiles and drones withoutidentifying their source, while local media reported that Ali Al-Salem AirBase, which hosts US forces, had been targeted. Bahraini media also reportedmissile and drone attacks targeting Sheikh Isa Air Base.

The Islamic Revolutionary GuardCorps (IRGC) claimed responsibility for the operation, saying it had targetedeight US military infrastructure sites at Kuwait's Ali Al-Salem Air Base and the US FifthFleet headquarters in Bahrain’s Salman Port in response to the Americanstrikes. It accused Washington of violating the Islamabad memorandum and cautionedthat any further breach would halt all processes under the agreement.

Iran's Foreign Ministry separatelycondemned the US strikes on monitoring and surveillance facilities along thecountry's southern coast, calling them violations of the UN Charter. Itreaffirmed Tehran's determination to defend the country's sovereignty andterritorial integrity against what it called US military aggression.

The latest exchange followed similarattacks a day earlier, when the IRGC said it had struck US military positions inthe Middle East after American airstrikes on Iran's southern coast. Bahrainsubsequently denounced an Iranian drone attack on its territory as a"flagrant violation" of its sovereignty.

Shafaq News- Kuwait City/ Manama

Kuwait’s air defenses intercepted “hostile” missiles and drones on Sunday, the Kuwaiti Army stated.

The army did not immediately identify the source of the attacks or report casualties. Kuwaiti media reported that ballistic missiles targeted Ali Al-Salem Air Base, which hosts US forces.

تتصدى حالياً الدفاعات الجوية الكويتية لهجمات صاروخية وطائرات مسيرة معادية.تنوه رئاسة الأركان العامة للجيش أن أصوات الانفجارات إن سمعت فهي نتيجة اعتراض منظومات الدفاع الجوي للهجمات المعادية.يرجى من الجميع التقيد بتعليمات الأمن والسلامة الصادرة عن الجهات المختصة.… pic.twitter.com/A65ETW44zq

— KUWAIT ARMY - الجيش الكويتي (@KuwaitArmyGHQ) June 28, 2026

Bahraini media, meanwhile, reported missile and drone attacks targeting Sheikh Isa Air Base in southern Bahrain, though authorities also did not report casualties or damage.

Earlier on Saturday, the United States struck sites in southern Iran, accusing Tehran of targeting commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz after an Iranian one-way drone allegedly hit the tanker M/T Kiku and another attack targeted the M/V Ever Lovely.

Shafaq News- Middle East

Thousands of Israelis demonstrated against the policies ofPrime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government, calling for early elections,Israeli media outlets reported on Saturday.

One of the largest rallies took place in central Tel Aviv,where supporters of left-wing parties and other opposition groups gathered toprotest what they described as the government's failures across multiplefronts. Demonstrators opposed the continued expansion of Israelisettlements in the occupied West Bank.

Protesters called for the formation of an independentcommission to investigate the Israeli authorities' failure to prevent the Hamasattack on October 7, 2023. They also argued that the security lapse led Israelinto a series of conflicts that have continued across the region for more thantwo and a half years.

Netanyahu, who is facing domesticpressure, has repeatedly sought delays in his long-running corruption trial.The proceedings, which began in 2020, involve charges of bribery, fraud, andbreach of trust in three separate investigations known as Cases 1000, 2000, and4000.

Shafaq News- Middle East

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Saturdaythat additional agreements with the Lebanese government were expected soon aspart of what he described as a broader effort to "change the face of theregion."

Speaking at a press conference, Netanyahu presented therecently signed US-mediated framework accord as a step toward ending theconflict with Lebanon through security arrangements addressing Hezbollah'sweapons, arguing that Beirut's decision to sign the deal sent a message to Iranand the Lebanese group to "get out of Lebanon and leave it alone."

Washington and Beirut, Netanyahu added, had acceptedIsrael's continued presence in a "security zone" in southern Lebanon,where operations against Hezbollah's infrastructure would continue because"there is still much work to be done." The military had also beeninstructed to retain operational freedom against any threats originating fromLebanese territory.

The framework agreement, signed in Washington on Fridayafter a fifth round of negotiations, sets out a phased Israeli withdrawal fromsouthern Lebanon. It begins with two pilot zones to be transferred to theLebanese army after armed groups are disarmed and their infrastructuredismantled. Lebanon's two main Shia parties, Hezbollah and the Amal Movement, along with other groups and parliamentary blocs,rejected the trilateral framework, describing it as unbalanced and a threat toLebanese sovereignty.

Read more: South Lebanon framework: What we know so far

Shafaq News- Beirut (Updated on June 29, at 16:38)

Lebanon's two main Shia parties,Hezbollah and Amal Movement, rejected the trilateral framework between theUnited States, Israel, and Lebanon, describing the US-brokered deal asunbalanced and a threat to Lebanese sovereignty.

In a statement from its politicalbureau, Amal said the framework entrenched terms favoring Israel at the expenseof Lebanon's national interest and carried political and sovereign risks. Theparty reaffirmed its rejection of direct negotiations with Israel and itscommitment to international resolutions, arguing the text could not serve asthe basis for a just settlement that protects Lebanon's rights andinstitutions.

Amal tied any acceptable deal to afixed set of conditions: a full Israeli withdrawal to internationallyrecognized borders, the deployment of the Lebanese army across the south, thereturn of displaced residents, and the launch of reconstruction.

The party also called for continued“indirect negotiations” to settle outstanding issues and for the release ofdetainees under the mechanism set in the November 2024 ceasefire arrangement.

Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, whoheads Amal, issued a brief warning earlier in the day, saying, "My peoplein Lebanon, all of Lebanon, this is strife," and the agreement "will not pass and will not be implemented." 

Hezbollah Secretary-General NaimQassem called the agreement non-existent and a humiliating surrender ofsovereignty. “Any attempt to tie an Israeli withdrawal from South Lebanon tothe disarmament of Hezbollah crossed every red line.”

Together, Amal and Hezbollah hold 30of parliament's 128 seats and represent the bulk of Lebanon's Shia community.The framework they rejected, signed in Washington on June 26, commits Lebanonto disarming non-state groups and restoring state control over all itsterritory, while providing for a phased Israeli withdrawal tied to verifiedprogress.

Opposition extended beyond the Shiaparties. The Syrian Social Nationalist Party likened the framework to the 1983May 17 agreement with Israel, which Lebanon later annulled, and called on thegovernment to withdraw from it.

Druze leader Walid Jumblatt, formerhead of the Progressive Socialist Party, noted that the agreement was"trilateral in form but unilateral in substance," pointing to thecomplete absence of any mention of the armistice arrangement.

The FreePatriotic Movement (FPM), a Christian party led by Gibran Bassil and the largestChristian bloc in parliament with 16 seats, warned that several of theFramework’s provisions leave Lebanese sovereign rights exposed. The partysaid the agreement failed to mention an Israeli withdrawal from occupiedLebanese territory in clear and explicit terms and set no timetable for one. Italso ignored the Armistice Agreement. A clause committing Lebanon to halthostile or adversarial measures in international political and legal forumsdrew particular concern.

FPM also cautioned that distancing Lebanon from regional axes should not lead tothe country being used to send messages or sabotage regional understandings,including the memorandum between the United States and Iran, which it saidwould raise the risk of renewed military confrontation.

The IslamicGroup in Lebanon (Al-Jama’a al-Islamiya), a Lebanese Sunni movement with one seat in the parliament, said themeasure of any agreement is the preservation of full sovereignty and aguaranteed Israeli withdrawal from all occupied territory, setting out a seriesof conditions in response to the framework deal, including halting attacks, securingthe release of prisoners, and ensuring “a safe and dignified “return forresidents to their land.

“Anydiscussion of confining weapons to the state and extending state authority mustnot take place under the pressure of occupation or threat,” the group said. Itwarned against tying an Israeli withdrawal to security conditions, orinterpreting any clause in a way that restricts Lebanon's right to defenditself.

Lebanon's Muslim Scholars Gathering (Tajammu' al-Ulama al-Muslimeen),which bringstogether a group of Sunni and Shiite scholars, denounced the proposed framework,claiming it grants Israel the right to remain on and occupy Lebanese territory.The group said it remains committed to the Iran-US MoU. It also accused theLebanese authorities of allying with Israel to eliminate the “resistance,”describing such a move as "treason" that warrants the government'sremoval through constitutional mechanisms.

The agreement drew backing from thetop of the Lebanese state. President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salamhave presented it as a step toward restoring sovereignty and placing allweapons under state control.

The Lebanese Forces party, which has 19 parliamentary seats, praised theproposed framework as "the most important political step" taken bythe Lebanese state in half a century. Samir Geagea, the party’s head, said thedeal would secure Israel's withdrawal, enable displaced residents to returnhome, and would also resolve the long-standing issue of armed groups operatingoutside state authority, particularly Hezbollah, which he accused ofmonopolizing decisions on war and peace in line with foreign interests ratherthan Lebanon's national interest.

Kataeb Partyleader Samy Gemayel, son of former president Amine Gemayel —who, as president,oversaw the 1983 May 17 Agreement— welcomed the agreement, crediting theLebanese negotiating team and praising the US sponsorship of the deal. The party has 4 parliamentary seats.

On Friday night, Hezbollahsupporters rode motorcycles through several Beirut districts in protest, andsome blocked roads with burning tires in protest of the agreement. The Lebanesearmy command said it respected peaceful expression but would not permit anybreach of security, urging citizens to act responsibly as calls for furtherdemonstrations circulated.

IsraeliPrime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said additional agreements with the Lebaneseauthorities were expected soon as part of his broader objective of"changing the face of the region."

“TheLebanese government's decision to sign an agreement with Israel is to tell Iranand Hezbollah: Get out of Lebanon and leave it alone," he stressed, noting that he had instructed the Israeli military to maintain freedomof movement to counter any perceived threats from Lebanon and destroy Hezbollah.

Israel's Defense Minister, IsraelKatz, said Israeli forces would not redeploy or withdraw from south Lebanonbefore Hezbollah is disarmed across the country, and that Israel would preserveits freedom to act against any threat to its troops and northern communities.

About the Agreement

The Framework was signed inWashington on June 26, and includes:

-Israel and Lebanon, with US backingunder President Donald Trump, declare a shared aim of ending their conflict,securing both states' sovereignty, and establishing peaceful neighborlyrelations.

-Both affirm each state's right toexist in peace and declare their intent to conclusively end the conflict,address its root causes, and formally terminate any state of war between them.

-The Framework follows multiplerounds of direct talks, builds on prior agreements, and commits both sides toresolving outstanding issues through direct bilateral negotiations with USmediation.

-The two governments commit to areciprocal, conditioned process: the Lebanese army (LAF) restores sovereignauthority over all Lebanese territory, pending the verified disarmament ofnon-state armed groups, which allows the Israeli army to progressively redeployout of Lebanon. Details are to be set in a separate Security Annex.

-The LAF will gradually assumesecurity control in agreed pilot zones, the mechanism for phased, verifiedIsraeli army withdrawals, and LAF deployments. Two initial zones have beenagreed upon by the Israeli army and LAF; further zones require mutual consent.Once disarmament in a zone is confirmed, reconstruction begins, and civiliansmay return under exclusive state control.

-Lebanon reaffirms an"irreversible" commitment to full territorial sovereignty, torebuilding the state's monopoly on force, and to the complete, verifieddisarmament of all non-state armed groups, and requests international andparticularly Arab support under US leadership.

-Israel states its military actionsstem solely from the threat posed by non-state groups, particularly Hezbollah,says ending that threat removes any future need for the Israeli army action orpresence, and declares it has no territorial ambitions in Lebanon.

-Lebanon affirms its security forcesalone are responsible for national defense and that the state alone holds theauthority to make war and peace, rejecting any claim by a state or non-stateactor to use force on its behalf without explicit authorization, and deemingany such role illegal.

-Both governments affirm theirinherent right to self-defense under the UN Charter, that no third party mayexercise it on their behalf, and commit to forming a military coordinationgroup with US participation to oversee implementation.

-Both name a secure, rebuilt Lebanonunder full state sovereignty, free of any non-state armed threat, as the goal,and identify LAF deployment in the south, civilian return, and the security ofIsrael's northern communities as essential to lasting stability.

-Lebanon commits to aperformance-based program to build LAF capacity and disarm non-state groups,with any new US assistance strictly conditioned on verifiable milestones,transparency, demonstrated results, and ongoing oversight.

Separately, the US pledges to rallyinternational partners to support Lebanon's reconstruction, infrastructurerepair, and economic recovery, including humanitarian aid, recovery programs,and investment initiatives.

-Lebanon and the US commit toblocking funds to any entity linked to non-state armed groups and to pursuinglegal measures against them; Lebanon explicitly pledges to keep reconstructionfunds from reaching such groups.

-On signing, the two sides will formworking groups to draft a full comprehensive peace and security agreement andimmediately open complementary tracks of direct, US-facilitated engagement,pledging good faith until a lasting peace is reached.

-Both commit to halting hostileactions in international political and legal forums and to working toward thereturn of remains and the release of detainees.

Hours after the agreement waspublished, the Israeli public broadcaster (Kan), citing sources, said theagreement with Lebanon includes a secret security annex whose provisions havenot been disclosed.

Read more: South Lebanon framework: What we know so far

Shafaq News- Beirut (Updated at 21:48)

Israel will withdraw from two “pilot zones” in southern Lebanon, withthe first pullout expected from the villages of Zawtar al-Gharbiya and Froun as part of the agreement signed in Washington, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Saturday.

Frounmunicipal council said its town is not occupied and lies outside the YellowLine —an Israeli-cleared demarcation inside southern Lebanon carved throughextensive bulldozing, tree removal, and the opening of exposed ground runningparallel to the border— rejecting its inclusion in the pilot zones,

The signed Lebanese-Israeliframework agreement outlined a phased Israeli pullout from southern Lebanon,conditioned on Hezbollah’s disarmament. Under the plan, implementation beginswith two pilot zones —one south of the Litani River and another to its north—which will be transferred to the Lebanese army after armed groups are disarmedand their infrastructure fully dismantled, while Israeli forces remain inposition during the process.

Read more: Lebanon's main Shia parties reject US-brokered framework

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz, however, underlined that the armywould not withdraw from southern Lebanon and would continue maintainingpositions within the "security zone," including the Al-Shaqif area.

“No redeployment nor Israeli withdrawal before Hezbollah isdisarmed throughout Lebanon,” he added, noting that Tel Aviv will preserve“freedom of action” to thwart any threat against its soldiers and residents ofnorthern Israeli communities.

On the ground, Lebanese media reported six Israeli strikeson the town of Nabatiyeh al-Fawqa, which left one civilian dead and two otherswounded. The country's Ministry of Health placed the overall toll from theIsraeli offensive since March 2 at 4,230 fatalities and 12,179 wounded.

مراسل الجديد: غارة إسرائيلية على محيط بلدة النبطية الفوقا

— Al Jadeed News (@ALJADEEDNEWS) June 27, 2026

Israeli forces also fired three stun grenades toward the town ofBaraachit in the Bint Jbeil District, while troops conducted sweepingoperations in the direction of Boyout al-Siyyad in the Tyre District.

Read more: South Lebanon framework: What we know so far

Shafaq News- Damascus

Syria's Kurdish factions will not be involved in any potentialconfrontation between Damascus and Lebanon's Hezbollah, Aldar Khalil, a memberof the Democratic Union Party (PYD), indicated on Saturday, stressing thattheir mission remains limited to defending their areas.

In remarks to the Syrian Kurdish broadcaster Ronahi TV, Khalil explainedthat Kurdish brigades are currently participating in military training with theSyrian army under the January 29 agreement, which underscores continuedmilitary and security coordination, along with provisions related to bordercrossings, airports, and oil.

Earlier this week, US President Donald Trump voiced frustration withIsrael's performance against Hezbollah and praised Syria’s transitionalPresident Ahmed al-Sharaa, predicting that Damascus would do "a goodjob" against the Lebanese group.

Al-Sharaa, however, maintained that Syria does not intend to becomeinvolved in any escalation with Lebanon, describing Damascus' goal as pursuinga solution that serves both countries, preserves stability and coexistence, andcreates opportunities for economic and development cooperation.

Shafaq News- Beirut

Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem on Saturdaycriticized the recently signed Lebanon–Israel framework agreement, describingits terms as “free concessions” aligned with US and Israeli demands rather thanbalanced negotiations.

In a statement, Qassem argued that the talks are takingplace amid deep political divisions in Lebanon and run contrary to thecountry’s constitution, which designates Israel as an enemy and criminalizesany form of engagement with it.

Accusing the Lebanese authorities of sidelining the group,he condemned the March 2 government decision that outlawed Hezbollah, callingit a turning point that served Israeli objectives.

On the US–Iran Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), Qassemmaintained that the arrangement prioritized ending the Israeli war on Lebanon,stressing that Tehran has repeatedly suspended the framework after Israelrefused to comply.

“The MoU included guarantees over Lebanon’s sovereignty andterritorial integrity,” he stated, warning that the Lebanese–Israeli frameworkcould entrench Israel’s presence in the south for an extended period, whilepotentially paving the way for annexation and preventing displaced residentsfrom returning to their villages.

He further rejected any link between Israeli withdrawal andthe disarmament of Hezbollah nationwide, calling such a linkage “highlydangerous,” and cautioned that it could expose Lebanon to sustained externalpressure tied to implementation conditions.

On Friday, Lebanon and Israel signed a US-mediated frameworkagreement in Washington following a fifth round of negotiations, outlining aphased Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon conditioned on Hezbollah’sdisarmament. The process begins with two pilot zones —one south of the LitaniRiver and another to its north— to be transferred to the Lebanese army afterarmed groups are disarmed and their infrastructure dismantled, while Israeliforces remain in place during implementation.

The framework runs alongside a separate US–Iran memorandumof understanding signed on June 17, committing both sides to end hostilities onall fronts, including Lebanon, and respect Lebanese sovereignty. While Tehranhas described a ceasefire in Lebanon as one of its red lines, Beirut hasmaintained that the two tracks remain separate and that Lebanon alonenegotiates with Israel. Hezbollah, which was not involved in the negotiations,has categorically rejected the framework, arguing that its obligations underthe November 2024 ceasefire are limited to areas south of the Litani River.

Read more: South Lebanon framework: What we know so far

Shafaq News- Riyadh

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) condemned Iran's recentattacks on Bahrain on Saturday, calling them "treacherous strikes" that targetedcivilian infrastructure.

GCC Secretary-General Jassim Al-Budaiwi accused Tehran ofundermining initiatives aimed at containing the regional crisis and obstructingefforts to achieve security and stability across the region.

HE GCCSG Condemns in Strongest Terms Treacherous Iranian Attacks on Kingdom of Bahrain Targeting Civilian Infrastructure and Objects. https://t.co/kg6XI65g4K#GCC#Bahrain

— مجلس التعاون (@GCCSG) June 27, 2026

In separate statements, the foreign ministries of the UnitedArab Emirates and Kuwait also condemned Iran's “aggressive attacks” on Bahrain,saying the strikes pose a threat to regional security and stability.

Earlier, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) saidit had targeted “US military sites in the region” without identifying theirlocations. In a statement, the IRGC noted that the operations were carried outas part of “Iran's right to self-defense and response to US attacks.”

Shafaq News- Tehran

Ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz must obtain priorauthorization from Iranian authorities, the country's State Television reported on Saturday,indicating that several vessels currently stranded in the gateway are seekingtheir permits.

Citing an Iranian official, the broadcaster noted that Tehran’snavigation rules for Hormuz remain fully in force, requiring all vessels tocoordinate with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy beforeentering or leaving the passage.

Tehran has repeatedly insisted that ships comply with its navigationprocedures, suggesting it could impose fees on vessels using the route. TheUnited States and several Gulf countries reject that position, maintaining thatthe maritime corridor is an international waterway despite its location withinthe territorial waters of Iran and Oman.

Earlier this week, the United States accused Tehran of a drone attack ona commercial vessel transiting the Strait of Hormuz, a claim Iran rejected. US Central Command (CENTCOM) also carried out strikes against Iranianmilitary sites following the incident.

The IRGC later charged Washington with breaching Article 5 of thememorandum of understanding recently signed in Islamabad, which assigns Iranresponsibility for coordinating navigation through Hormuz, while targeting USmilitary positions in the Middle East in retaliation.

Shafaq News- Beirut

Israeli forces on Saturday releasedsix people detained for several hours in southern Lebanon, as Israeli militaryoperations continued a day after Beirut and Tel Aviv signed a US-mediatedframework agreement aimed at paving the way for an Israeli withdrawal from thecountry's south.

Lebanon's National News Agency (NNA)reported that the six —three Lebanese residents and three Syrian workers— weredetained while working on farmland in Ain Arab town in the Marjaayoun district.

Meanwhile, the NNA reported freshIsraeli military activity, including a drone strike in Nabatieh al-Fawqa, anIsraeli advance toward the outskirts of Kfar Shuba, and the firing of a soundbomb toward the area around Kfar Tibnit.

On Friday, Lebanon and Israel signedthe agreement in Washington following a fifth round of US-mediatednegotiations, linking any pullback to the disarmament of Hezbollah.

Read more: South Lebanon framework: What we know so far

Israeli Army Radio reported that themilitary would reduce its presence in southern Lebanon by withdrawing part ofits combat brigades and restoring their readiness. It also reiterated PrimeMinister Benjamin Netanyahu's position that Israeli forces would not leaveLebanon before Hezbollah is disarmed.

The latest detentions add to agrowing number of people taken alive by Israeli forces since the renewedmilitary operation began on March 2, 2026. Beirut-based rights organization TheLegal Agenda said it had verified eight such incidents in less than threemonths, involving people seized from homes, battlefront areas, farmland, orwhile seeking medical treatment, bringing the number of people remaining inIsraeli custody after being taken from Lebanon since September 2024 to at least30, while the fate of 37 others remains unknown.

Abbas Qabalan, a member of theCommittee of Families of Lebanese Detainees in Israeli Prisons, told reportersthere was no clear information about the fate of Lebanese detainees held byIsrael and called for the establishment of an official body to oversee theissue and maintain communication with their families.

Shafaq News- Manama

Bahrain on Saturday condemned anIranian drone attack on its territory as a "flagrant violation" ofthe country’s sovereignty after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)announced strikes on US military positions across the Middle East.

The Foreign Ministry said thealleged assault breached the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, signed onJune 17, 2026, under which Iran had committed to permanently halt militaryoperations and respect the sovereignty of regional states.

The ministry also referred to UNSecurity Council Resolution 2817 (2026), which Bahrain said it had submitted onbehalf of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and Jordan and received thebacking of 136 countries.

بيان وزارة الخارجيةhttps://t.co/SCA4OirXVi pic.twitter.com/dwwwojbi6r

— وزارة الخارجية 🇧🇭 (@bahdiplomatic) June 27, 2026

Earlier today, the IRGC noted thatthe strikes targeted US military positions in response to US airstrikes onIran's southern coast, accusing Washington of violating Article 5 of theIslamabad memorandum, which Tehran said assigned Iran responsibility forcoordinating navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. Iran's Foreign Ministryasserted that the operation was carried out under the country's right toself-defense under Article 51 of the UN Charter and stressed the need forcountries on the southern shore of the Persian Gulf to adhere to the principleof good neighborliness and prevent their territory or facilities from beingused for attacks against Iran.

A recent joint statement issued inManama by the US Secretary of State and GCC foreign ministers urged Iran toaddress “threats to regional security,” including its ballistic missile anddrone programs and support for regional proxy groups. Iran's Foreign Ministryrejected the allegations against its peaceful nuclear program as "arepetition of a big lie fabricated by Israel and the United States," andcalled on the GCC states to cooperate with Tehran on establishing anuclear-weapon-free zone in West Asia rather than portraying its nuclearactivities as a regional threat.

Shafaq News- Hasakah

Tucked away in the countryside of Syria's northeastern Hasakah province, the village of Jinwar has become one of the country's most distinctive social experiments, offering women a community where they manage daily life, work, and local governance collectively.

Established in 2018 near the town of Al-Darbasiyah, Jinwar was created in response to the social and economic fallout of Syria's conflict, particularly for women who lost husbands or family providers or were displaced by years of war.

Built largely from natural materials, the village includes homes, farmland, educational facilities, a health center, and small production workshops. Residents rely on farming, livestock breeding, and cooperative businesses to generate income and promote self-sufficiency. "I found an opportunity to build a more stable life for myself and my children after difficult circumstances," one resident told Shafaq News. "We work together in agriculture and small businesses, and we also learn Kurdish, which helps us meet part of our daily needs."

She said the village had given her financial independence and renewed self-confidence despite rising living costs and economic hardships.

Project organizers say Jinwar's primary goal is to provide a safe and stable environment where women can rebuild their lives while participating directly in managing community affairs, education, and economic activities. Over the past several years, the village has attracted international media attention as an uncommon model of women-led communal living in the Middle East.

The project, however, remains a subject of debate; supporters view it as a successful example of women's empowerment, while critics argue that long-term solutions should focus on integrating women into wider society rather than creating separate communities.

Shafaq News- Tehran

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on Saturday announcedtargeting US military positions in the Middle East in response to US airstrikeson Iran's southern coast.

The IRGC accused Washington of breaching Article 5 of thememorandum of understanding signed in Islamabad, which it said assigns Iranresponsibility for coordinating navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. Itwarned that any further violations would prompt a broader response.

Earlier today, US Central Command (CENTCOM) stated that it pounded Iranian military sites in response to a drone attack on a ship transiting theStrait of Hormuz.

Shafaq News- Washington/ Beirut (Updated at 23:00)

Lebanon and Israel reached a US-mediated framework agreement after talks in Washington, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on Friday, calling it “the beginning of the beginning” though “a long road” remains ahead.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that Israel would allow the Lebanese army to begin taking control of two “pilot” areas in southern Lebanon, one outside the security belt and another in an expanded area the Israeli military does not want to hold, but said Israeli forces would remain there until Hezbollah is “disarmed.”

The framework is a “major achievement” for Israel and a “strong blow” to Iran, Netanyahu claimed.

The far-right premier, wanted by the International Criminal Court over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza, also said Israel would not allow Lebanese residents or Hezbollah to return to the security belt.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun hailed the framework as “the first step” toward restoring the state’s full sovereignty, with the agreement paving the way for displaced residents to return to their homes under a Lebanese state with “exclusive sovereignty over its land and people.”

Hezbollah MP Hassan Fadlallah, meanwhile, rejected the framework, warning that direct negotiations with Israel undermine Lebanese sovereignty and risk internal divisions.

Fadlallah, a member of Hezbollah’s Loyalty to the Resistance bloc, stated that the Lebanese government lacked the constitutional and political authority to impose the Washington agreement, describing it as a “gift” to Israel that would have no effect on the ground. He warned that Hezbollah would oppose any attempt to implement the deal and “hold more firmly to [its] weapons.”

Shafaq News- Middle East

The Israeli military said on Friday that its forceskilled seven Hezbollah members in southern Lebanon, alleging they weretransporting weapons near troops operating in the area.

Army spokesperson Avichay Adraee claimed the groupapproached Israeli forces while moving weapons to a building in the Al-Manzalaharea of Nabatieh Al-Fawqa, prompting an Israeli Air Force strike. The site, headded, served as an observation post and other military purposes, and thefighters were preparing to target Israeli troops.

🔸هاجم سلاح الجو في وقت سابق من اليوم وقضى على سبعة عناصر من حزب الله الإرهابي كانوا ينقلون وسائل قتالية بالقرب من المنطقة الأمنية التي تعمل فيها قوات جيش الدفاع في جنوب لبنان.🔸لقد قام الارهابيون بنقل الوسائل القتالية إلى داخل مبنى في منطقة المنزلة كان يُستخدم كنقطة قتال… pic.twitter.com/t9DNXfvMgf

— افيخاي ادرعي (@AvichayAdraee) June 26, 2026

Lebanese media earlier reported that warplanes carriedout two airstrikes on the outskirts of the Nabatieh Al-Fawqa district. Israeliforces also detained four people near the Majidiyah-Mari-Ain Arab junction insouthern Lebanon.