Strait of Hormuz blockade should continue says Iran's new Supreme Leader: Middle East conflict on 12 March
Iran should continue “blocking the Strait of Hormuz,” while the U....
US envoy Amos Hochstein arrived in Beirut as Hezbollah and Lebanon approved a US-brokered ceasefire draft. While aligned with UN Resolution 1701, unresolved details and ongoing violence may delay a final deal.
US envoy Amos Hochstein arrived in Beirut on Tuesday for discussions with Lebanese officials regarding a US-brokered ceasefire proposal between Hezbollah and Israel. The visit follows Hezbollah’s approval of a draft ceasefire agreement facilitated by Washington, according to Lebanon’s state news agency.
This development marks significant progress in US-led diplomatic efforts to end the conflict that escalated into full-scale war in late September, after Israel launched a major offensive against Hezbollah.
Ali Hassan Khalil, an aide to Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, confirmed that both the Lebanese government and Hezbollah had agreed to the US proposal and provided comments on its content. Khalil refrained from detailing these comments but described the response as positive and aligned with the principles of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701, which ended the 2006 war between Hezbollah and Israel. The resolution mandates that Hezbollah must not maintain an armed presence in the area between the Israeli-Lebanese border and the Litani River.
Whilst Hezbollah has entrusted Berri with leading negotiations, both sides have intensified military actions during the ongoing political talks. Khalil criticised Israel for attempting to 'negotiate under fire', referencing an escalation in Israeli bombardments targeting Beirut and Hezbollah-controlled regions in southern Lebanon. He emphasised that these actions would not alter Lebanon’s stance.
A diplomat familiar with the discussions noted that some details of the agreement still need to be finalised, warning that unresolved issues could delay a formal deal.
Israel has not issued an official statement on the proposed ceasefire. However, the continuing dialogue signals a potential breakthrough in efforts to halt the violence and restore stability to the region.
The 32 countries belonging to the Internatioanl Energy Agency agreed to release 400 million barrels of oil on Wednesday (11 March), in efforts aimed at bringing down the price of crude oil, which has soared since fighting between Iran, Israel and the U.S. started at the end of February.
The U.S. should shut down its military bases in the Middle East, Iran's new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei said on Thursday (12 March). His words were read out by a broadcaster on state Iranian television.
A towering lava fountain from Kilauea shot about 400 metres into the air late on Tuesday (11 March) on Hawaii Island, prompting temporary closures at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and part of a key highway as volcanic ash and debris fell over nearby areas.
More than 68,000 children in eastern Afghanistan have been displaced after clashes between Afghan and Pakistani forces intensified along the border, according to a new report by Save the Children.
Georgia has cancelled international tenders for the construction of major road sections that form part of a regional highway linking the country with the borders of Armenia and Azerbaijan.
Freight transport on the China–Europe Railway Express grew strongly in the first two months of 2026, highlighting the growing importance of rail links between Asia and Europe. The network moved about 352,000 shipping containers between January and February, a 25% increase from a year earlier.
At least 64 people have been killed in southern Ethiopia following recent landslides and floods, the regional government’s communications office said on Thursday (12 March), citing local police
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 12th of March, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Norwegian police apprehended three brothers suspected of carrying out Sunday's (8 March) bombing at the U.S. embassy in Oslo, in an attack investigators have branded an act of terrorism.
Oil prices continue to fluctuate as a result of the conflict in the Middle East with Iran and the insecurity of ships sailing through the key Strait of Hormuz route. Iran has said it will target any ship linked to the U.S., Israel or their allies.
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