Can Pakistan turn Iran diplomacy into economic gains?
For Pakistan, helping create space for dialogue between the U.S. and Iran was never solely about diplomacy. It was about avoiding the economic and sec...
Hezbollah said it launched rockets and drones into northern Israel on Tuesday (21 April), accusing Israeli forces of violating a ceasefire agreed last week. In a statement, Hezbollah said it targeted a position that had been used to strike southern Lebanon.
The armed group accused Israel of attacking civilians and destroying homes in breach of the ceasefire.
Earlier, the Israel Defense Forces said Hezbollah had fired several rockets towards its troops operating in southern Lebanon, calling it a “blatant violation” of the ceasefire. It was not immediately clear if both sides were referring to the same incident.
The Israeli military said it struck the launcher used in the attack and added that sirens sounded in northern Israel after a drone launched from Lebanon was intercepted.
A 10-day ceasefire, announced by U.S. President Donald Trump, came into effect last Thursday (16 April). However, Israeli troops remain deployed in a strip of land inside southern Lebanon, stretching around 5 to 10 kilometres from the border. Israel says the aim is to create a buffer zone to protect its northern communities.
Lebanese state media reported renewed Israeli demolitions in several southern villages, along with artillery fire in nearby areas.
Israel ended its presence in southern Lebanon in 2000 after more than two decades, during which Hezbollah, the Amal movement and other groups carried out attacks against its forces.
Since the latest conflict began on 2 March, Israeli strikes have killed nearly 2,300 people in Lebanon, according to Lebanese authorities.
Ahead of a new round of U.S.-mediated talks between Israel and Lebanon, senior Lebanese figures have warned that continued Israeli presence could lead to further escalation.
Nabih Berri, a close ally of Hezbollah, said any ongoing Israeli presence would be met with resistance. “If Israel maintains its occupation, whether of areas, positions, or by drawing yellow lines, it will smell the scent of resistance every day,” he told local newspaper al-Joumhouria.
The United States is expected to host a second round of ambassador-level discussions later this week. The talks are among the highest-level contacts between Israel and Lebanon in decades.
Israeli officials have said their long-term goal is to see Hezbollah disarmed. Israel Katz said, "If the Lebanese government continues not to keep its commitment (to disarm Hezbollah), the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) will do so by continuing its military activity."
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has taken a more cautious tone last Friday (17 April), saying the Lebanese armed group "will not be achieved tomorrow'' as it requires ''sustained effort, patience, and endurance, and it requires wise navigation of the diplomatic field."
Lebanon’s government has said it does not want confrontation, but has also called for Israeli forces to withdraw from its territory.
The latest exchange highlights the fragile nature of the ceasefire, as both sides trade accusations while diplomatic efforts continue.
At least thirteen people have died and sixty-six have been injured following an explosion at Qatar's main liquefied natural gas (LNG) processing hub at Ras Laffan, authorities said on Sunday.
Cape Verde’s remarkable FIFA World Cup debut continued on Sunday (21 June) as the tournament newcomers held Uruguay to a 2-2 draw. Goalkeeper Vozinha was once again at the centre of the story, this time with his mother watching from the stands.
Tehran has agreed to let the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) recommence inspections of its nuclear programme, U.S. Vice President JD Vance has said. The U.S. and Iran have settled on a 60-day roadmap aimed at reaching a final deal, according to mediators Qatar and Pakistan.
Armenia and Azerbaijan have agreed on a landmark internet deal that will allow traffic to pass through Azerbaijani networks.It's the latest deal to highlight the ongoing peace process between the two countries.
Three students have been killed and at least seven injured after two of their peers opened fire in a high school in the Philippines, police said. A spokesperson for the police said the two suspects, aged 14 and 15, had been arrested and a police pistol confiscated. Bullying is a possible motive.
For Pakistan, helping create space for dialogue between the U.S. and Iran was never solely about diplomacy. It was about avoiding the economic and security consequences of a wider regional conflict.
The visit also took on symbolic importance as the two leaders travelled to the liberated cities of Shusha and Fuzuli, areas Azerbaijan regained after decades of occupation.
Iran's ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva said talks between the United States and Iran had made "good progress", with both sides set to establish working groups in the coming days to discuss sanctions relief and issues related to Iran's nuclear programme.
A United Nations official has warned that efforts to stabilise southern Syria remain stalled nearly a year after deadly sectarian violence in Sweida province, with tensions between Druze factions, Bedouin communities and state authorities still unresolved.
Indian National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks in New Delhi on the sidelines of the BRICS security advisers’ meeting, in the latest sign of gradual efforts to stabilise ties after years of border tensions.
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