Bezalel Smotrich

BRICS leaders adopted a joint declaration urging maximum restraint in the Middle East and backing a Gaza ceasefire and two-state solution, while Iran-backed Iraqi militias denied responsibility for the attack that shut Saudi Arabia's East-West pipeline. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun visited Nabatieh and said no new negotiations with Israel are underway, as explosions continued in southern Lebanon.

The US military destroyed five Iranian oil tankers after attempted missile attacks on a Navy warship, prompting IRGC claims of retaliatory strikes on the Al-Azraq airbase in Jordan and multiple vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. Jordan intercepted 18 of 20 ballistic missiles. Netanyahu announced he will sue Haaretz over its report that the UAE warned him before Oct. 7. Israeli artillery and controlled explosions continued in southern Lebanon.

Houthi missile and drone strikes on Saudi energy facilities wounded 73 people, including women and children, and halted operations at some sites. Israeli ministers called for recognizing Argentina's Falklands claim and expelling the UK ambassador ahead of expected British settlement trade restrictions. A new Haaretz investigation says UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed explicitly warned Netanyahu of Hamas plans days before October 7, which Netanyahu's office denies.

Houthi forces launched ballistic missile and drone attacks on Yemen’s al-Makha port, killing at least seven and wounding 30, while the US signaled a shift toward economic pressure on Iran. Iran appointed IRGC veteran Mohsen Rezaei as Supreme National Security Council secretary, hardening its stance on Hormuz. Israel-Lebanon talks face a reported pause, with Hezbollah condemning an Israeli map it says exposes expansionist aims. In Gaza, Israel rejected a US-backed peace plan, and the Board of Peace envoy said Israel would only withdraw from areas declared free of weapons and tunnels.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu formally rejected the US-backed Board of Peace 15-point Gaza plan, vowing no IDF withdrawal until Hamas is genuinely disarmed. Iran ruled out resuming direct talks with the US, citing breaches of the Islamabad MoU, while Houthi forces claimed a drone attack on Saudi Aramco’s Jizan refinery. In southern Lebanon, the IDF demolished a Hezbollah tunnel shaft and uncovered weapons caches, and Israeli forces advanced into Daraa and Quneitra countryside in Syria.

The US paused its bombing campaign on Iran for a second night, while diplomatic channels opened amid concerns over interceptor stockpile depletion. Houthi forces escalated attacks on Saudi Aramco facilities, and Iran condemned a Ukrainian strike on an Iranian commercial vessel in the Caspian Sea. In the West Bank, settler violence flared with attacks on Palestinian homes and vehicles, and a drone crashed near the home of Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir. The IDF continued raids across the territory, and a ramming attack was reported at the Mitzpe Yericho junction.

The US paused its 13-night bombing campaign on Iran for the first time, while President Trump joked about a fourth term at the White House Correspondents' Dinner. The IDF continued West Bank raids after a deadly clash near Tell, and Israeli forces conducted demolitions in southern Lebanon. Iran accused the US of war crimes over attacks on rescue vessels, and Saudi-led coalition strikes hit Hodeidah.

Iran launched ballistic missiles at the Jordanian city of Aqaba; US air defenses intercepted three, while a fourth landed in an open area. Israel fired Iron Dome interceptors at falling fragments near Eilat, with no damage or injuries. The attack came as the US completed an eighth night of strikes on Iran and Iran retaliated with drone and missile attacks on Kuwait and Bahrain, causing a fire at a Kuwaiti power plant. Israeli ministers joined a far-right march toward Gaza calling for resettlement, and the IDF declared the area a closed military zone.

Unclaimed airstrikes struck southern Iran, raising the possibility of Gulf state involvement, while Israeli drones targeted a vehicle in Kfar Rumman, southern Lebanon. The IDF announced the killing of three Hamas commanders in Gaza, including a Nukhba cell commander who participated in the October 7 attack. Israel reportedly warned the US of a new Iranian plot to assassinate President Trump. Palestinian legislative elections were announced, and four Arab Israelis were indicted for plotting a mass terror attack in Beersheba.

The funeral procession for Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei continued in Tehran on July 6, drawing massive crowds and calls for revenge. Hamas announced the dissolution of its Gaza government to allow a technocratic panel, while the IDF struck a vehicle in southern Lebanon, killing four people it said posed a threat. Prime Minister Netanyahu stated his ties with President Trump are 'fine' and argued against providing F-35 jets to Turkey.

Funeral ceremonies for Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei continued in Tehran with foreign dignitaries, while Iran moved to deepen defense ties with Pakistan and strategic cooperation with Russia. The IDF struck Hezbollah infrastructure in southern Lebanon after a soldier was wounded in a clash. In the West Bank, settler violence against Palestinian farmers was reported. Netanyahu and Trump agreed to meet soon in Washington.

US and Iranian negotiators opened technical talks in Doha to implement the bilateral MoU, while Israel signaled it will not withdraw from southern Lebanon until Hezbollah is disarmed. Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi warned that any threat against Iran’s leadership would be met with an “immediate and decisive response.” In Gaza, Israeli strikes killed a Palestinian goalkeeper and injured civilians in Gaza City.

Finance Minister Smotrich urged the establishment of three Israeli settlements in northern Gaza, while US-Iran indirect talks in Doha faced confusion over the format. The IDF killed a Hamas battalion commander in Rafah and a PIJ commander who held hostages. Iran prepared for Khamenei’s funeral with over 30 countries attending. The Iron Dome system was upgraded based on lessons from the Iran war.

Finance Minister Smotrich urged the establishment of three Israeli settlements in northern Gaza, while the US and Iran prepared for talks in Doha amid conflicting signals. The full security annex of the Israel-Lebanon deal was published, conditioning IDF withdrawal on Hezbollah disarmament. Iraq ordered pro-Iran militias to dissolve by September 30. The Knesset is expected to recognize the Armenian Genocide.

The IDF named a fourth soldier killed in a Hezbollah attack on a tank in southern Lebanon as US Vice President JD Vance arrived in Switzerland for talks with Iran. The negotiations, aimed at salvaging a fragile memorandum of understanding, are overshadowed by ongoing Israeli operations in Lebanon and Iran’s continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz. In Gaza, the IDF killed an Al Jazeera cameraman it said was a Hamas sniper, while two Hamas financiers were confirmed killed in an earlier strike.

An IDF tank battalion commander and three soldiers were killed in a Hezbollah anti-tank ambush in Kfar Tebnit, southern Lebanon, overnight, marking the deadliest single incident for Israeli forces in the current campaign. The IDF launched extensive airstrikes across southern Lebanon in response, while planned US-Iran talks in Switzerland were canceled after Iran suspended its delegation, citing Israeli strikes. President Trump demanded a complete ceasefire, and Vice President Vance delayed his departure for the talks.

The US-Iran memorandum of understanding entered its 60-day implementation window, with the IAEA offering technical assistance and Hormuz traffic yet to resume. Israel and Iran hardened positions on Lebanon withdrawal, risking the deal, while Foreign Minister Sa'ar severed contact with EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas over an alleged apartheid comparison. Three Hezbollah operatives were treated at an Israeli hospital, and the IDF published an updated map of its security zone in southern Lebanon.

Bloomberg published the full text of the US-Iran memorandum of understanding, revealing limited Iranian commitments and extensive US concessions. Israel-Lebanon ceasefire talks are reportedly close to yielding a lasting deal, while Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya headquarters warned of a harsh response if Israeli strikes on Lebanon continue. The IDF conducted airstrikes in southern Lebanon, and Iran has been launching drones at ships in the Strait of Hormuz nightly since the deal was signed.

President Trump described the Lebanon war as a “minor conflict” and suggested Syria handle Hezbollah, while the Israeli Air Force chief confirmed a major strike on Iran was called off one hour before departure on June 8. The US-Iran memorandum of understanding is set for signing in Geneva on Friday, with both sides preparing for immediate follow-on talks. Hezbollah rocket attacks on Israeli troops in southern Lebanon continued, and Israeli drone strikes near Nabatieh killed four, according to Lebanese media.

President Trump announced that a US-Iran memorandum of understanding will be signed on Sunday, contradicting Tehran's denial of a weekend signing. Two Hezbollah drones struck an Israeli military zone near the Lebanon border without causing injuries, while the IDF continued operations in southern Lebanon, striking over 70 Hezbollah sites in the past 24 hours. Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid criticized the emerging deal as failing to achieve any of Israel's war goals.

The United States launched a second consecutive night of airstrikes on Iranian air defense, surveillance, and communication targets, while Iran announced the full closure of the Strait of Hormuz and retaliated with missile and drone strikes on US bases in Kuwait and Bahrain. President Trump threatened further attacks if Iran does not agree to a deal, as the IDF reported a suspicious aerial target near Misgav Am and strikes in Lebanon's Beqaa Valley.

An armed infiltrator in Hezbollah uniform was shot dead by IDF troops after crossing the Lebanon border near Ramim Ridge and opening fire. Israel issued a sweeping evacuation warning for the city of Tyre, including the Christian quarter for the first time, and carried out strikes that killed at least eight. A US Army Apache helicopter crashed near the Strait of Hormuz; both pilots were rescued. Six countries announced new sanctions targeting Israeli settler networks in the West Bank, and France banned Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich.

A seven-month-old Palestinian baby was killed and his parents wounded when IDF troops fired on their vehicle in Hebron. Hezbollah rejected the US-brokered ceasefire, launching rockets and surface-to-air missiles at northern Israel, while the IDF killed two Hezbollah operatives in southern Lebanon. France opened a war crimes probe into Israel's treatment of flotilla activists, and Ireland banned Israeli ministers Smotrich and Ben Gvir.

Hezbollah formally rejected the US-brokered ceasefire with Israel, even as Lebanon said its army would deploy to pilot zones anyway. A UNIFIL peacekeeper was killed and two wounded by mortar fire in southern Lebanon, which the IDF attributed to Hezbollah. The US House passed a symbolic war powers resolution to limit Trump’s military actions in Iran, drawing a sharp rebuke from the president. The IAEA called on Iran to explain enriched uranium stockpiles and restore inspector access.

Iran launched ballistic missiles and drones at Kuwait and Bahrain, killing one and wounding 63 at Kuwait’s airport, while the US struck Iran’s Qeshm Island in self-defense. President Trump confirmed calling Netanyahu ‘f***ing crazy’ over Lebanon fighting. Hezbollah continued rocket and drone attacks on northern Israel, and the IDF struck targets in southern Lebanon, killing a Lebanese soldier. The fourth round of Israel-Lebanon talks continued in Washington.

US forces struck Iranian missile sites and mine-laying boats near Bandar Abbas in self-defense, while Prime Minister Netanyahu ordered the IDF to intensify strikes against Hezbollah after a surge in drone attacks. US-Iran talks continue in Qatar, but Tehran warns that an Israeli strike on Beirut would jeopardize negotiations.

Hezbollah explosive drones killed an IDF soldier and seriously wounded another in southern Lebanon, as President Trump declared it 'mandatory' for six Muslim nations to join the Abraham Accords as part of an Iran deal. The US and Iran voiced cautious optimism but tempered expectations of an imminent breakthrough, while Israeli opposition leaders accused Netanyahu of being sidelined.

An IDF reservist was killed and a brigade commander wounded in separate Hezbollah attacks in southern Lebanon. The US Senate advanced a war powers resolution to limit President Trump’s authority to strike Iran, while Vice President Vance warned the US is 'locked and loaded' if talks fail. Israel is reportedly preparing for a possible renewal of the Iran war, and Trump said Tehran has days to make a deal. Chinese President Xi told Russia’s Putin that Middle East hostilities are 'inadvisable.'

President Trump postponed a planned military strike on Iran for the second time in 36 hours, citing Gulf mediation and 'serious negotiations,' while Brent crude held above $110. Israeli Finance Minister Smotrich announced the ICC prosecutor had secretly requested his arrest warrant and retaliated by ordering the demolition of a West Bank Bedouin village. Hezbollah explosive drones struck Israeli territory near the Lebanon border, lightly wounding two, as the IDF struck over 25 Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon. Iran warned it would open 'new fronts' if attacked again, and air defenses activated over multiple Iranian cities.

President Trump postponed a planned military strike on Iran at the request of Gulf Arab leaders, citing 'serious negotiations.' Lebanon's death toll surpassed 3,000 amid continued Israeli airstrikes and Hezbollah attacks. The IDF intercepted a Hezbollah drone over southern Lebanon. Hamas appointed Mohammed Odeh as its new Gaza leader.

Hezbollah launched explosive drones at northern Israel and rockets at IDF troops in southern Lebanon, while the IDF struck Hezbollah infrastructure in Tyre and destroyed a rocket launcher used in an overnight barrage on Kiryat Shmona. Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich called for the full annexation of the West Bank and the elimination of the Area A/B/C division. Iran’s foreign minister expressed distrust of the US at a BRICS meeting in India, and the UAE announced the acceleration of a second oil pipeline to bypass the Strait of Hormuz by 2027.

US President Donald Trump is seriously considering resuming combat operations against Iran after rejecting Tehran’s latest ceasefire proposal as “unacceptable,” while reports reveal the UAE secretly struck an Iranian oil refinery during the war. In Lebanon, an Israeli airstrike killed six civilians in Kafr Dounine, and Hezbollah claimed a guided-missile hit on an IDF Merkava tank. The Knesset passed a law establishing a special tribunal and allowing the death penalty for October 7 perpetrators, and EU foreign ministers approved sanctions on violent Israeli settlers and Hamas leaders after Hungary lifted its veto.

The IDF struck over 85 Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon and issued evacuation warnings for nine villages, while the US expects Iran's response to a ceasefire proposal. Hezbollah drone attacks wounded three Israeli soldiers, and settler violence escalated in the West Bank. The US imposed new sanctions on entities aiding Iran's drone program, and a Russia-Ukraine ceasefire was announced.

US and Iranian forces exchanged fire in the Strait of Hormuz late Thursday, with the US striking Qeshm port and Bandar Abbas after Iran attacked US Navy destroyers. President Trump called the US strikes a 'love tap' and insisted the ceasefire remains in effect, while Iran accused the US of violating the truce. The UAE reported intercepting a separate missile and drone attack early Friday. In Lebanon, the IDF confirmed killing Hezbollah Radwan commander Ahmed Ali Balout, and Hezbollah launched rockets and mortars at Israeli troops. Gaza ceasefire talks remain stalled over Hamas disarmament.

Iran launched a second day of missile and drone attacks on the UAE on Tuesday, striking a Fujairah oil facility and wounding three, while the US and Israel are reportedly coordinating potential new strikes on Iranian energy sites and senior officials. The US-led Project Freedom escort operation transited two destroyers through the Strait of Hormuz under fire, and Defense Secretary Hegseth said the ceasefire is “not over” despite Iran’s attacks. Hezbollah escalated with drone and missile attacks on IDF positions in southern Lebanon, and the IDF eliminated a Nukhba commander who participated in the October 7 Nova festival massacre.