Mossad

Lebanon’s parliament voted to abolish the death penalty, becoming the first Arab state to do so. A Syrian court sentenced ousted President Bashar al-Assad to death in absentia for war crimes. Iran denied rumors about Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei’s health. Israeli artillery struck southern Lebanon, and the IDF reported targeting a Hamas sniper in Gaza. Former Mossad chief Yossi Cohen said Israeli spies toured Iran’s Fordow nuclear site many times.

Iran issued sweeping new conditions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, including a full US military withdrawal and compensation, while the IRGC insisted the waterway’s status is separate from Oman-mediated talks. Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan signed a collective-defense pact in Mecca, with Turkey indicating Egypt may join. Mossad’s new chief dismissed two senior officials, drawing internal accusations of serving Netanyahu’s interests. Israeli forces conducted demolitions in southern Lebanon, and a fire at Saudi Arabia’s Jazan refinery was brought under control.

Mossad chief Roman Gofman dismissed the heads of the Intelligence Directorate and Iran Division after a failed plan to topple Iran’s regime. Iran and Oman are finalizing a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, though Iran is demanding sanctions relief in exchange for toll-free transit. Two IDF reservists were killed and four wounded by an IED in southern Lebanon, prompting Israeli strikes on Hezbollah infrastructure. In the West Bank, a settler was indicted for the killing of Palestinian activist Awdah Hathaleen, and settlers attacked a community in Masafer Yatta, burning homes.

Mossad thwarted an Iranian plot to infiltrate a foreign cell to assassinate senior Israeli officials. The US Senate rejected a resolution to limit President Trump's war powers on Iran, while the House passed a similar measure. Brent crude surged past $100 after Houthi strikes on Saudi tankers. Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir led thousands of settlers into the Al-Aqsa compound, drawing condemnation. The IRGC claimed a retaliatory strike on the US electronic warfare unit at Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar.

President Trump declared the US the 'guardian' of the Strait of Hormuz and announced a 20% toll on all cargo traversing the waterway, as US forces struck an Iranian naval base and submarine maintenance facility. The UK proscribed the IRGC as a terrorist organization over an antisemitic arson campaign, and Yemen's Saudi-backed government bombed Sanaa airport to block an Iranian plane. The IDF killed a Hamas weapons smuggler in southern Gaza, and the UN accused Hamas of obstructing aid distribution.

Prime Minister Netanyahu directed the IDF to expand control of Gaza to 70%, well beyond the terms of the existing truce, as Israeli strikes killed at least 14 in southern Lebanon. The US and Iran reached a tentative 60-day ceasefire memorandum of understanding, pending President Trump's approval, while CENTCOM denied Iranian claims of downing a US aircraft. Israel cut ties with UN Secretary-General Guterres after the UN added the IDF to a conflict-related sexual violence blacklist.

Israeli airstrikes on vehicles in southern Lebanon killed at least 12 people, including a woman and her two children, according to Lebanon’s Health Ministry. The IDF said it struck Hezbollah weapons depots, rocket launchers, and infrastructure. Hezbollah claimed an ambush and a loitering-glider hit on an Israeli tank. UNIFIL accused Hezbollah of drone attacks that damaged its headquarters. President Trump arrived in Beijing for a two-day summit with Xi Jinping, with Iran, trade, and Taiwan on the agenda. Iran warned it will block US weapons transiting the Strait of Hormuz. Reports revealed that Mossad and Shin Bet chiefs secretly visited the UAE during the Iran war to coordinate.