The IDF plans for a prolonged Israeli presence in southern Lebanon, adding that withdrawal is not yet possible, and warning against overestimating damage to Hezbollah, which still poses a military threat to Israel, albeit on a more limited scale, officials say
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said on Friday that his country was on the verge of a "new phase" of "permanent agreements", after the 10-day ceasefire in the Israel-Hezbollah war went into force. In a speech addressing the Lebanese people and hinting at the Iran-backed
April 17 (Reuters) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy called on Friday for joint efforts for an effective mission to ensure freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and said Kyiv's wartime experience in the Black Sea could help. "Decisions made regarding Hormuz now
A Turkish doctoral student detained by US immigration authorities following her pro-Palestinian activism has returned to her native country, a rights group said Friday. "After 13 years of dedicated study, I am very proud to have completed my PhD and to return home on my own
DUBAI, April 17 (Reuters) - Significant differences between Iran and the United States remain to reach a deal aimed at ending the war, a senior Iranian official told Reuters on Friday, adding that keeping the Strait of Hormuz open is "conditional on U.S. adherence to the terms
BEIRUT, April 17 (Reuters) - Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said on Friday that any future deal reached by the government would not cede any territory or undermine Lebanon's national rights, without saying whether he was referring to prospective talks with Israel. The televised
Shipping industry figures gave a cautious welcome Friday to Iran's announcement that it was reopening the crucial Strait of Hormuz trade route to commercial freight after nearly seven weeks closed. Iranian forces' closure of the strait has trapped hundreds of ships in the Gulf
Aoun says Lebanon is entering a “new stage” of negotiations with Israel focused on “permanent agreements” following a US-brokered ceasefire and a White House invitation extended to both him and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
By Thomas Suen and Louisa Gouliamaki TYRE, Lebanon, April 17 (Reuters) - Hassan Abu Khalil's family miraculously survived six weeks of war in southern Lebanon, but tragedy struck in the final minutes before a ceasefire came into force. An Israeli strike late on Thursday
By Nate Raymond BOSTON, April 17 (Reuters) - A Tufts University graduate who had been arrested by U.S. immigration agents last year as part of the Trump administration's targeting of pro-Palestinian campus activists has returned to her home in Turkey following a settlement with
By Thomas Suen , Aziz Taher , Emilie Madi and Jihed Abidellaoui QASMIYEH, Lebanon, April 17 - Lebanese children leaned out of cars flashing victory signs on Friday as they bumped across a makeshift bridge erected overnight across the Litani River after a truce with Israel - but
Netanyahu says Israel pursuing 'political and military' path with Lebanon after Trump request; minutes later, Israeli drone strike kills one in southern Lebanon
WASHINGTON, April 17 (Reuters) - President Donald Trump told Reuters on Friday that the U.S. will work with Iran to recover its enriched uranium and bring it back to the United States. "We're going to get it together. We're going to go in with Iran, at a nice leisurely pace,
Negotiations with Israel "have not reached a dead end, but they are progressing with great difficulty” Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa said at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum.
Negotiations with Israel "have not reached a dead end, but they are progressing with great difficulty” Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa said at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum.
A top admiral said the US Navy will pursue any vessels "providing material support to Iran" anywhere in the world.
By Parisa Hafezi and Jonathan Saul DUBAI, April 17 (Reuters) - All ships can sail through the Strait of Hormuz but this needs to be coordinated with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), a senior Iranian official told Reuters, adding that unfreezing Iranian funds was
LONDON, April 17 (Reuters) - The threat posed by mines in parts of the Strait of Hormuz is not fully understood and avoidance of the area by ships should be considered, a U.S. navy advisory said on Friday. "Status of TSS mine threat is not fully understood. Consider avoidance
France and Britain said Friday they will lead a multinational mission ensure freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, while emphasising the force would be entirely defensive -- and only deployed once a peace in the region was agreed. "I can confirm that, along with
When seaman Rex Pereira saw missiles flying above his vessel in the Gulf, it sparked in him one desperate wish: to get back home to India. Stranded by the Middle East war, like thousands of other seafarers, he feared for his life as he saw bombardments in the distance in Iran.
Iran's foreign minister said the Strait of Hormuz, the world's most vital oil shipping route, is 'completely open' for commercial vessels; Trump said a U.S. blockade remains and that Iran has agreed 'never' to close the Strait of Hormuz again
PARIS, April 17 (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Friday that more than a dozen countries were ready to contribute assets to a defensive mission aimed at restoring the freedom of navigation of the Strait of Hormuz. France and Britain chaired a meeting in
By Tarek Amara TUNIS, April 17 (Reuters) - Tunisian comedian and actor Lotfi Abdelli said on Friday a court in Tunisia had sentenced him in absentia to 18 months in prison over a play he performed years ago, and described the ruling as politically motivated and aimed at
WASHINGTON, April 17 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday that the United States has banned Israel from further bombing in Lebanon, using an atypically harsher tone than usual with the longtime U.S. ally Israel. "Israel will not be bombing Lebanon any longer.
STOCKHOLM, April 17 (Reuters) - Leaders of Finland, Norway, Sweden and Denmark on Friday welcomed Iran's announcement on opening the Strait of Hormuz, and said they supported diplomatic efforts to find lasting solutions to the conflict. Iran said earlier on Friday the strait
In cars and on motorbikes, people trickled back into Beirut's southern suburbs Friday, passing bombed-out buildings to check on homes and loved ones after a ceasefire began between Israel and Hezbollah. "We'd been on the street going from place to place because there was no
WASHINGTON, April 17 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday that the naval blockade on Iran will "remain in full force" until a deal with Tehran is struck. "The Strait of Hormuz is completely open and ready for business and full passage, but the naval blockade
The latest developments in the Middle East war: - Trump says blockade on - President Donald Trump said the US naval blockade of Iranian ports would remain in place until a peace deal with Tehran. "The naval blockade will remain in full force and effect as it pertains to Iran,
US President Donald Trump signaled Friday that an Iran peace deal was all but done, telling AFP there were "no sticking points" left between Washington and Tehran. Trump's comments came after a slew of social media posts in which he touted Iran's promise to reopen the Strait of
US President Donald Trump signaled Friday that an Iran peace deal was all but done, trumpeting agreements on the Strait of Hormuz and Tehran's nuclear program. In a rapid-fire stream of social media posts, Trump hailed a "GREAT AND BRILLIANT DAY FOR THE WORLD!" but without
President Donald Trump on Friday welcomed Iran's announcement that the crucial Strait of Hormuz will reopen to shipping, but said a US blockade of Iranian ports would continue until a peace deal is signed. "THANK YOU!" Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform, saying that Iran
Oil prices plunged more than 10 percent on Friday after Iran said the Strait of Hormuz would be "completely open" for the rest of the ceasefire with the United States, and stock markets surged. Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on X that "passage for all commercial
Oil prices plunged more than 10 percent on Friday after Iran said the Strait of Hormuz would be "completely open" for the rest of the ceasefire with the United States, and stock markets surged. Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on X that "passage for all commercial
Israel's defense minister said the country remains 'in the midst' of its war with Hezbollah, while Lebanese President Aoun urged an Israeli withdrawal from the south and the return of captured Lebanese detainees
By Andrea Shalal WASHINGTON, April 17 (Reuters) - The U.S. is urging G20 members and the International Monetary Fund and World Bank to take coordinated action to ensure fertilizer access amid disruptions in food trade supply chains caused by the war in the Middle East, two
Turkey on Friday hosts a high‑stakes diplomatic forum bringing together the foreign ministers of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Egypt, as Islamabad steps up efforts to help end the Middle East war. "I believe the window of opportunity opened by the ceasefire should be used in the
Iran’s foreign minister said on Friday that commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz will remain secure for the duration of the Israel-Lebanon truce.
MOSCOW, April 17 (Reuters) - The Kremlin said on Friday that European countries were becoming more involved in the war in Ukraine, referencing a warning from Russia's Defence Ministry about drone production sites across the continent and in Britain. The Defence Ministry on
Three Iranian oil tankers carrying a total of five million barrels of crude have become the first such loaded vessels to leave the Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz since a US blockade came into force, the tracking firm Kpler told AFP on Friday. The Deep Sea, Sonia I and Diona,
By Olivia Le Poidevin GENEVA, April 17 (Reuters) - An average of at least 47 women and girls were killed each day during the war in Gaza, according to figures published by U.N. Women on Friday, and the agency warned that deaths have continued six months into a fragile
By Saad Sayeed and Mubasher Bukhari ISLAMABAD, April 17 (Reuters) - Pakistan's air force escorted Iranian negotiators home from inconclusive peace talks with the U.S. last weekend, launching a major operation after the Iranians said Israel might seek to kill them, three
Europe had not fallen below 29 days of jet fuel cover since 2020, but some countries are now under 20. Airlines are cutting flights, raising fees and trimming routes as officials warn shortages could disrupt peak summer travel if supplies through the Strait of Hormuz remain
JERUSALEM/BEIRUT, April 17 (Reuters) - Israel and Lebanon have agreed to a U.S.-backed ceasefire in fighting between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah, a deal meant to enable broader U.S.-Iran negotiations but one that will see Israeli forces maintain positions deep inside
By Joshua McElwee YAOUNDE, April 17 (Reuters) - Pope Leo has debuted a new, forceful speaking style on his four-nation Africa tour this week, issuing sharp denunciations of war and inequality that have sparked repeated attacks on the pontiff from U.S. President Donald Trump.
In an interview with Turkish Anadolu News, President Ahmad al-Sharaa said Syria is seeking Israeli withdrawal from positions in southern Syria, where previous U.S.-mediated talks have explored restoring parts of a 1974 border framework
Thousands of displaced Lebanese civilians took to the road on Friday, hoping a 10-day ceasefire with Israel would allow them to return to their homes in southern Beirut and the country's war-torn south. Roads heading south from the capital were clogged with traffic, despite
Thousands of displaced Lebanese civilians took to the road on Friday, hoping that a 10-day ceasefire with Israel would allow them to return to their homes in southern Beirut and the country's war-torn south. Minutes before the ceasefire came into effect at midnight, a series of
Israelis express anger that the prime minister's maneuvering to stay out of jail has allowed the US to once again "hijack" foreign policy and national security decision-making.
By Lili Bayer and Feras Dalatey BRUSSELS/DAMASCUS, April 17 - The European Union plans to deepen its engagement with Syria by relaunching formal political contacts and paving the way for closer economic and security ties, according to a document seen by Reuters, marking the
Alongside hundreds of others forced to flee south Lebanon, Amani Atrash and her family waited eagerly on Friday morning for bulldozers to reopen the Qasmiyeh bridge, which Israel bombed just hours before a ceasefire began. Her family was among the tens of thousands of people