LiveLive Updates June 20, 2026Share to FacebookShare to XArticle printing is available to subscribers onlyPrint in a simple, ad-free formatSubscribeComments: Zen reading is available to subscribers onlyAd-free and in a comfortable reading formatSubscribeJune 20, 2026UpdatesPakistan PM and army chief to participate in technical-level talks held in Switzerland on SundayPakistan ‌Prime Minister ‌Shehbaz Sharif and army ⁠chief Field ⁠Marshal Syed Asim Munir will participate in the technical-level talks ‌being held ‌in Burgenstock, Switzerland, on Sunday, the PM's office said on Saturday. A roadside billboard displaying portraits of Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, following a deal between the U.S. and Iran, in Islamabad, Pakistan, June. Credit: Akhtar Soomro/ReutersA roadside billboard displaying portraits of Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, following a deal between the U.S. and Iran, in Islamabad, Pakistan, June. Credit: Akhtar Soomro/ReutersEarlier today, ⁠the country's foreign ministry said ‌U.S. ⁠and Iranian representatives ‌would participate in the meeting, ⁠along with mediators from Pakistan and Qatar.RECAP: IDF names two soldiers killed in southern Lebanon; Netanyahu says Israel will respond forcefully to Hezbollah cease-fire violationsHere are Saturday's latest updates:■ The IDF named two soldiers killed in southern Lebanon as Staff Sgt. Yoav Klein and Sgt. First Class Nir Ben Ari, bringing the number of soldiers killed since fighting in northern Israel resumed on March 2 to 36.■ U.S. Central Command rejected Iranian claims that the Strait of Hormuz has been closed, saying Tehran does not control the waterway and that vessel traffic continues to flow. ■ U.S. President Donald Trump said no tolls would be imposed on ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz during the 60-day cease-fire period or afterward, unless the U.S.-Iran deal collapses■ An adviser to Iran's Supreme Leader warned Middle East energy flows could remain disrupted if the U.S.-Iran agreement is not implemented, according to Iran's Mehr news agency.■ Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the IDF will continue responding forcefully to Hezbollah cease-fire violations and will maintain a buffer zone in southern Lebanon for as long as necessary.■ The Palestinian Red Crescent said a father and son were moderately wounded by live fire during a settler attack in the West Bank town of Surif.■ Demonstrations against the government were held across Israel; police confiscated sound equipment from anti-government protesters near Netanyahu's residence in Jerusalem, citing Shabbat noise restrictions.Trump: No Strait of Hormuz tolls during cease-fire period, unless imposed by U.S. if deal collapsesU.S. President Donald Trump said no tolls would be imposed on vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz during the 60-day cease-fire period or afterward.In a Truth Social post, Trump added that if the agreement is not completed, the United States could impose tolls "for services rendered as the Guardian Angel to the countries of the Middle East" as reimbursement for past, present and future costs.Islamic State claims attack that killed two Syrian soldiers near AleppoIslamic State claimed responsibility for an attack near the city of Manbij in Syria's northeastern Aleppo province that, according to the Syrian Defense Ministry, killed two soldiers.The ministry said earlier Saturday that unidentified assailants carried out the attack but provided no further details. Islamic State later claimed responsibility in a statement on its Telegram channel. Reuters could not independently verify the claim.The attack comes amid a series of assaults claimed by the group since February, when it announced what it described as a new phase of operations against the government of Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa.IDF names two soldiers killed in southern LebanonSgt. First Class Nir Ben Ari (L) and Staff Sgt. Yoav Klein Credit: IDF Spokesperson's UnitSgt. First Class Nir Ben Ari (L) and Staff Sgt. Yoav Klein Credit: IDF Spokesperson's UnitThe Israeli military named two soldiers killed in southern Lebanon as Staff Sgt. Yoav Klein, 21, from Herzliya, and Sgt. First Class Nir Ben Ari, 21, from Kerem Maharal.Klein was among four soldiers killed when a tank was hit overnight into Friday in the Lebanese town of Tebnit. The military previously identified one of the other fatalities as Lt. Col. Dor Gedalia Ben Simhon, commander of the 52nd Battalion. The names of two additional soldiers killed in the incident have not yet been cleared for publication. The IDF said it has ruled out a technical malfunction and is investigating whether the tank was struck by an explosive drone or an anti-tank missile.Ben Ari was killed overnight in a Hezbollah attack involving an explosive drone and rocket fire, also in the Tebnit area. Two soldiers were seriously wounded, an officer was moderately wounded and 10 soldiers were lightly wounded in the incident.According to the IDF, troops are operating in Tebnit against a large underground Hezbollah command complex. Since the current round of fighting in northern Israel resumed on March 2, 36 Israeli soldiers have been killed, the military said.Read the full articlePolice seize sound equipment at anti-government protest near Netanyahu's residenceIsrael Police officer seizes megaphone from protester in Jerusalem, on Saturday. Credit: Olivier Fitoussi Israel Police officer seizes megaphone from protester in Jerusalem, on Saturday. Credit: Olivier Fitoussi Police confiscated sound equipment from anti-government protesters near Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's residence in Jerusalem on Saturday, citing restrictions on noise during Shabbat.The move follows similar enforcement last week, when police seized megaphones and drums at the same location. Demonstrations against the government are taking place across Israel, with the main rally set for Tel Aviv's Habima Square Saturday evening.Read the full articleTrump escalates feud with Italian PM over Iran, G7 summitU.S. President Donald Trump speaks to Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Evian-les-Bains, France, June 17, 2026. Credit: ITALIAN PRIME MINISTRY HANDOUT/ REUTERSU.S. President Donald Trump speaks to Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Evian-les-Bains, France, June 17, 2026. Credit: ITALIAN PRIME MINISTRY HANDOUT/ REUTERSU.S. President Donald Trump accused Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni of refusing to support U.S. military action against Iran and later trying to repair ties with him for political gain.In a post on Truth Social, Trump claimed Italy would not allow the United States to use its airfields during the Iran campaign and repeated his assertion that the Italian leader repeatedly sought a photograph with him at the G7 summit.Screenshot taken from U.S. President Donald Trump's post on Truth Social, on Saturday.Screenshot taken from U.S. President Donald Trump's post on Truth Social, on Saturday.The Italian prime minister rejected the claims, calling them "completely fabricated." She said that Trump's personal attacks were "senseless" and that her popularity does not depend on her relationship with the U.S. president.U.S. Central Command: Iran does not control Strait of HormuzA spokesperson for the U.S. Central Command said Iran does not control the Strait of Hormuz and that vessel traffic through the waterway continues to flow.The spokesperson added that U.S. forces are monitoring the situation to ensure maritime traffic continues uninterrupted, amid conflicting claims from Iranian military bodies that the strait has been closed.Israeli security source: Policy unchanged, IDF will continue responding to Hezbollah violationsAn Israeli security source said Israel's policy remains unchanged and that the IDF will continue acting against threats and Hezbollah cease-fire violations.The source said any violations would be met with a forceful response, noting that over the past two days the military struck more than 300 targets and killed about 100 Hezbollah operatives.According to the source, the Israeli military continues to hold a buffer zone in southern Lebanon and operates freely within the area to remove what it described as terrorist infrastructure.Later, a senior political official cited Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as saying Israel will remain in the buffer zone for as long as necessary to protect its northern border and will continue to respond forcefully to any future Hezbollah attacks.In the NewsReform Jews Praise Netanyahu Backtrack on Far-right Aide for NY Consul General20 Protesters Arrested at Iranian Opposition Rally in ParisIDF Names Two Israeli Soldiers Killed in Separate Southern Lebanon IncidentsHundreds of Israelis Protest Against Netanyahu Government Amid Lebanon FightingIran Says Strait of Hormuz Closed Over U.S. Violations, IDF Strikes in LebanonRemembering and rebuilding two years laterICYMIHumiliated by Trump on the Iran Front, Netanyahu May Set the Middle East AblazeIsrael Is Conducting a Systematic Campaign of Ethnic Cleansing in the West Bank'Once-in-a-lifetime Discovery': 1,700-year-old Roman Busts Found in IsraelTrump and Netanyahu Hurtling Toward a Rupture That Could Shock U.S.-Israel TiesNetanyahu's Mouthpieces Turn on Trump, Revealing a Deeper Israeli IngratitudeIsrael Is Bleeding Support in U.S. and Pouring Tens of Millions to Change That