US-Israel War on Iran

BEIRUT: Southern Lebanon has been plunged into renewed uncertainty after Israeli airstrikes killed at least 11 people, including three children, and injured 19 others, in the deadliest such escalation since the June ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah. The strikes hit the towns of Ansar and Deir al-Zahrani on Saturday, according to Lebanese authorities. In Ansar, an airstrike on a residential home killed seven people, while another attack in Deir al-Zahrani killed four and wounded several others. Rescue workers and local residents rushed to the damaged sites, searching through rubble for survivors and recovering bodies. Lebanon’s Health Ministry confirmed the casualty figures, while reports said women and children were among those killed. The attacks have raised fresh concerns about the durability of the ceasefire and the possibility of another escalation along the Israel-Lebanon border. Israel said its military operations targeted Hezbollah infrastructure and were carried out in response to attacks that had seriously wounded three Israeli soldiers. The Israeli military also said a senior Hezbollah commander was among those targeted. Israeli officials maintained that Hezbollah activity in the area posed a continuing threat. Lebanese leaders strongly condemned the strikes. President Joseph Aoun described the attacks as a dangerous message at a time when Lebanon and Israel are preparing for another round of US-backed direct negotiations. He warned that repeated violations of the ceasefire could undermine diplomatic efforts aimed at restoring stability. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam also denounced the attacks, stressing that the women and children killed in Ansar were not military targets. He called on Israel to halt what he described as dangerous escalation. The strikes have also put Hezbollah’s position under renewed scrutiny. The group condemned the Israeli attacks and vowed to deliver an “appropriate response”, warning that continued violations could not go unanswered. Hezbollah also criticised the Lebanese government’s negotiations with Israel and called for a tougher position. The latest violence comes as Lebanon faces a delicate political and security challenge. A US-backed framework announced in June was intended to reduce hostilities, address Hezbollah’s weapons and facilitate an Israeli withdrawal from parts of southern Lebanon. Instead, continued attacks and retaliatory actions have kept the region on edge. For residents of southern Lebanon, the latest strikes have brought back memories of prolonged conflict. With civilians once again caught between military operations and political disputes, fears are growing that the fragile ceasefire could give way to a much wider confrontation. The coming days may prove critical. Any Hezbollah retaliation could trigger further Israeli military action, while continued diplomatic efforts face the difficult task of preventing the latest bloodshed from becoming the beginning of another cycle of violence.

TEHRAN: Iran has asked Qatar to allow an Iranian military fact-finding team to enter the country to investigate the fate of pilots Tehran says went missing after an incident involving Iranian aircraft, adding another layer of tension to already strained regional relations. Iranian military official Mohammad Baqerzadeh, commander of the Armed Forces General Staff’s Committee for the Search for Missing Persons, said an Iranian Air Force expert team had been waiting for months to travel to Qatar, according to Iranian media. Baqerzadeh accused Qatari authorities of repeatedly delaying the investigation and called on the International Committee of the Red Cross to intervene in the case. Qatar, however, has rejected Iran’s claim that it is holding Iranian pilots. Doha said its search-and-rescue teams recently recovered the remains of one pilot after Iranian aircraft entered Qatari airspace in March and failed to respond to repeated attempts to establish contact. Qatari authorities said they had contacted Tehran to coordinate the transfer of the remains and invited Iranian officials to examine details of the search-and-rescue operation. Qatar said it had not received a response. The dispute comes as Tehran continues to focus heavily on the security of the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important energy shipping routes. Iran says air defence capacity survived war Separately, an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps official claimed that more than 85 per cent of Iran’s air-defence production capacity survived the recent conflict. According to Iranian media reports, the official said attacks on military production facilities had not significantly reduced the production or delivery of missiles and air-defence systems. He also claimed that production in some areas had increased and that Iran’s operational air-defence capabilities were now stronger than at the beginning of the fighting. The claims could not be independently verified. Hormuz shipping talks continue Iran has also announced progress in negotiations with Oman over new shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz. Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said Tehran and Muscat had reached an agreement on a shipping-route map following weeks of technical discussions. The negotiations began after a memorandum of understanding was signed in June to develop safer navigation arrangements. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stressed that the technical talks with Oman should not be confused with negotiations over reopening the waterway. He said existing maritime routes were no longer functional and that Iran and Oman were working on a temporary route that could eventually become permanent. Tehran links security to US actions Iranian officials continue to insist that the full restoration of security in the strait depends on an end to what Tehran describes as US military pressure, threats and a naval blockade. Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi also declared that the Strait of Hormuz would remain under Iranian control, while accusing Washington of suffering strategic setbacks. The statements underline the widening gap between Iran and the United States over the strategic waterway, despite technical discussions between Iran and Oman aimed at facilitating maritime navigation. Hezbollah commander reportedly killed Meanwhile, tensions have also continued along Iran’s regional front. Israel’s military said it killed Abu Hassan Alaa, described as a senior Hezbollah commander, in a strike in southern Lebanon. The Israeli army said the attack targeted a Hezbollah headquarters in the Ansar area. Hezbollah had not immediately commented on the claim. The developments show how multiple disputes remain intertwined across the region, from missing military personnel and air-defence claims to the sensitive question of shipping through Hormuz. For Tehran, however, control and security of the strait remain central. While Iran and Oman appear to be making technical progress on navigation arrangements, Iranian officials continue to maintain that any broader reopening of the waterway will depend on wider political and security conditions.

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump has expressed frustration with South Korea after Seoul declined to join Washington’s campaign against Iran, ordering the Pentagon to reduce joint military exercises with Seoul. Trump said he recently asked South Korea’s president whether the country wanted to participate in efforts to denuclearise Iran, but received a blunt response: “No, thank you.” The US president said he instructed Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth to cut back the military exercises with South Korea. Although the drills had already begun, Trump said it was too late to cancel them completely and criticised the decision to proceed with exercises he considers costly. The Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise began on Monday and is scheduled to continue through Aug 27. About 18,000 South Korean troops are taking part, with training focused on cyber and drone threats. Trump also argued that the exercises send an “inappropriate and hostile” message to North Korea. He pointed to his relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, saying Pyongyang had not posed a threat to the United States during his presidency and had maintained a respectful attitude. The decision has raised questions about the future of the US-South Korea alliance. Washington and Seoul regard joint military exercises as a crucial part of maintaining readiness and deterring North Korean aggression. Trump’s latest comments suggest the alliance could face pressure as his administration reshapes US military commitments and seeks stronger allied support for its Middle East policies. South Korea has proceeded with the scheduled exercises, while the move to scale them back could fuel debate over regional security and Washington’s long-term commitment to the Korean peninsula.

TEHRAN: Iran has announced a $30,000 reward for anyone who kills or captures a US servicemember and hands them over to Iranian authorities, in a striking escalation of rhetoric amid continuing tensions between Tehran and Washington. Iranian Army chief Maj Gen Amir Hatami announced the reward, saying it had been introduced after what he described as a large number of public requests to participate in the confrontation with the United States. Under the reported scheme, a person who kills or captures a US soldier and hands the servicemember to Iranian authorities would receive $30,000, or the equivalent of about 5 billion Iranian tomans. Hatami reportedly said the reward would be doubled if the action was carried out by a woman. The announcement comes as tensions between Iran and the United States remain high. Tehran has repeatedly demanded that American forces leave the region, while Washington has maintained a significant military presence across the Middle East. Despite the threat, there are no known US ground forces permanently deployed inside Iran. Reports indicate that American personnel entered Iranian territory in April during a rescue operation following the crash of a US aircraft. Hatami also issued a warning over the Persian Gulf, Gulf of Oman and Strait of Hormuz, saying American forces would not be allowed to return. His comments came after US President Donald Trump made controversial statements concerning the strategic waterway. The Strait of Hormuz remains a major flashpoint because it is one of the world’s most important energy shipping routes. Any further escalation around the passage could have consequences well beyond the region, particularly for global oil markets. The latest Iranian announcement adds another provocative dimension to an already tense confrontation, raising concerns over the safety of US personnel and the possibility of further escalation across the Middle East.