Summary
- Lebanese military sources also said recent developments showed “the opposite of a pullback.” The U.S.-backed “pilot zone” proposal under discussion in Washington would see Israeli forces transfer some territory to the Lebanese army, with the aim of dismantling Hezbollah’s weapons and restoring displaced families to their homes.
- Secretary of State Marco Rubio concluded a three-day tour of Gulf states, assuring allies that any agreement with Iran would safeguard their security.
- The overlapping disputes highlight the fragility of the U.S.-Iran framework deal and the deep divisions it has exposed across the Middle East, with Israel resisting withdrawal, Gulf states pressing for security guarantees, and Iran asserting control over Hormuz.
Iran’s Quds Force commander Esmaeil Qaani warned Thursday that Israel must withdraw from all Lebanese territory or face “humiliation and failure,” according to state media. His remarks came amid conflicting reports over whether Israel had pulled back troops from parts of southern Lebanon in what a U.S. official described as a gesture of good faith.
Israeli and Lebanese officials denied any withdrawal, insisting that Israeli forces continue to enforce their buffer zone. A senior Israeli defense official said the military would not retreat from southern Lebanon. Lebanese military sources also said recent developments showed “the opposite of a pullback.”
The U.S.-backed “pilot zone” proposal under discussion in Washington would see Israeli forces transfer some territory to the Lebanese army, with the aim of dismantling Hezbollah’s weapons and restoring displaced families to their homes. Iran has made Lebanon central to its own negotiations with Washington, demanding a ceasefire there as part of any broader deal.
Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio concluded a three-day tour of Gulf states, assuring allies that any agreement with Iran would safeguard their security. Speaking in Bahrain, home to the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet, Rubio said Washington sought “an enduring peace” that would not undermine Gulf prosperity. Gulf leaders remain wary that concessions to Tehran could reshape the region’s security balance.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corps also rejected Oman’s announcement of new shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz, calling them unsafe without Iranian coordination. The IRGC warned it would act against vessels failing to comply with its requirements.
In a separate dispute, Iran accused NATO of complicity in the U.S.-Israeli war after NATO chief Mark Rutte said hundreds of American planes had launched from bases in Italy to support operations against Iran. Tehran’s foreign ministry condemned the remarks as “a clear and damning admission” of unlawful aggression. Italy distanced itself, saying only logistical flights had been authorized.
U.S. President Donald Trump reiterated that any final agreement with Iran allowing shipping fees in the Strait of Hormuz would be “unacceptable.” He argued that permitting charges would set a precedent for other nations. Trump also clashed with Republicans in Congress, cancelling a housing bill signing ceremony to demand passage of his SAVE America Act on voting restrictions.
The overlapping disputes highlight the fragility of the U.S.-Iran framework deal and the deep divisions it has exposed across the Middle East, with Israel resisting withdrawal, Gulf states pressing for security guarantees, and Iran asserting control over Hormuz.
