LiveLive Updates June 23, 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 23, 2026One person killed by Israeli gunfire in southern Lebanon, civil defense says One person was killed by Israeli gunfire on Monday in southern Lebanon's Nabatieh district, the Lebanese Civil Defense said. A security source confirmed the report to Reuters. The rubble of a collapsed building is pictured following Israeli bombardment, in Nabatieh in southern Lebanon on Sunday. Credit: Mahmoud Zayyat/AFPThe rubble of a collapsed building is pictured following Israeli bombardment, in Nabatieh in southern Lebanon on Sunday. Credit: Mahmoud Zayyat/AFPQatar's Al-Araby TV reported four people were wounded by Israeli gunfire after returning to their homes in Upper Nabatieh. Lebanon's Al-Jadeed said an Israeli airstrike struck a tractor in a field in the municipality. In a separate incident, Hezbollah's Al Manar outlet reported that Israeli forces opened fire on civil defense workers attempting to retrieve bodies trapped under rubble in Upper Nabatieh.The outlet also said Israeli forces opened fire on residents in the town of Haddatha in the Bint Jbeil district, who were en route to a local cemetery for a burial and were accompanied by the Lebanese army.Iranian ambassador to UN reports good progress in U.S.-Iran peace talks Iran's ambassador to ⁠the United Nations in ⁠Geneva on Tuesday reported good progress in negotiations between the United States ‌and Iran ‌during peace deal talks in Switzerland."Our colleagues continue to discuss in very good talks yesterday at technical level," said ⁠Ali Bahreini, adding that two working groups ‌will ⁠be established ‌within the coming days to discuss the removal ⁠of sanctions against Iran, and issues related to ‌Iranian nuclear activities.Iran won't allow inspectors to visit nuclear sites targeted in conflict, spokesman says Iran won't allow International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors access to nuclear sites targeted during the war, Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said Tuesday.On Monday, U.S. Vice President JD Vance said Tehran had agreed to allow IAEA inspectors back into the country, calling it a "major milestone for the American people and the first step in permanently denuclearizing or permanently ending a nuclear weapons program in Iran."IAEA inspectors were blocked from accessing Iran in 2025, following the 12-day war with Israel and the Israeli-American strikes on nuclear sites across the country.'I’m right wing, not a schmuck,' Bennett says in swipe at Israel’s far rightFormer Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett on Monday criticized Israel's far right, saying its rhetoric has damaged Israel's reputation in the Arab world.Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett speaks to reporters in June. Credit: Itai RonFormer Prime Minister Naftali Bennett speaks to reporters in June.Credit: Itai RonSpeaking at the Jewish News Syndicate conference in Jerusalem, Bennett described himself as right-wing but distinguished himself from some figures on the Israeli right. "I'm not a schmuck, and there's a huge difference," he said.Bennett said he opposes the creation of a Palestinian state but criticized those who "tweet infantile tweets day and night."Describing his opponents as "really childish provocateurs," Bennett said their comments create unnecessary pressure in the Arab world. "And then the Arab leaders are pressured by their public against Israel, but for nothing, just for nothing, just for words," he said.Bennett, who is seeking to unseat Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the next election, urged Israel to continue its campaign in Lebanon."Israel is not a client state or a vassal state. Israel is a friend and an ally of the U.S., and in Lebanon we must exercise our right and duty to defend ourselves," he said. "Never tell soldiers, 'You see terrorists with your own eyes, they're preparing something, and you can't shoot them, which is what's going on literally right now," he added. Bennett also said that during his tenure as prime minister, Israel acquired and smuggled thousands of Starlink satellite internet receivers into Iran to help citizens counter internet blackouts and coordinate protest efforts.Concluding his remarks, the leader of the Together party summarized his political approach as "right-wing non-schmuck."U.S.-Iran technical talks end with plans for high-level negotiations, Iranian official says Technical talks between the U.S., Iran and mediators concluded successfully overnight into Tuesday, Iran's deputy foreign minister said, adding that the sides have agreed on arrangements for future rounds of negotiations. Kazem Gharibabadi, who also leads the Iranian technical delegation, said in a statement published by Iran's Press TV that the next phase of talks will involve high-level negotiations. According to Al Jazeera, Iranian Parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, and U.S. Vice President JD Vance will participate in the next round of talks, alongside the prime ministers of Pakistan and Qatar. Read the full articleReport: U.S. establishes mechanism to monitor Lebanon fightingThe U.S. military's Central Command has established a monitoring mechanism to observe fighting in Lebanon in real time, CBS News reported Monday, citing a U.S. official. A Lebanese army soldier inspects the damage in the aftermath of an Israeli strike in Nabatieh, Lebanon, Sunday. Credit: Stringer/ReutersA Lebanese army soldier inspects the damage in the aftermath of an Israeli strike in Nabatieh, Lebanon, Sunday. Credit: Stringer/ReutersAccording to the report, the mechanism was created after U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio held separate phone calls Friday with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.Rubio discussed efforts to strengthen the cease-fire and upcoming talks between Israel and Lebanon scheduled to begin Tuesday in Washington and conclude Thursday.On Sunday, an Israeli source told Haaretz Israel and Lebanon will negotiate to determine the "pilot areas" to be transferred to exclusive Lebanese military control.According to the source, the arrangement would require Israeli forces to withdraw south of the Yellow Line, an unofficial demarcation of Israeli-held territory in southern Lebanon.The Lebanese army would operate in the pilot areas under close U.S. supervision, including in areas vacated by Israeli forces, the source said.Palestinian reports: Settlers raid village near Ramallah, damage vehiclesA vehicle reportedly torched by Israeli settlers in the West Bank on Monday. Credit: Used under Section 27a of the Copyright ActA vehicle reportedly torched by Israeli settlers in the West Bank on Monday. Credit: Used under Section 27a of the Copyright ActIsraeli settlers raided the village of Burqa, located near Ramallah, on Monday night, damaging vehicles, according to Palestinian reports.Oman affirms commitment to toll-free passage in Strait of HormuzOman's foreign minister affirmed his country's commitment to international law and toll-free safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz following meetings with top Iranian officials.Sayyid Badr Albusaidi said that he held constructive discussions in Muscat with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, during which "we affirmed commitment to international law and toll-free safe passage."📸 | استقبل معالي السيد بدر بن حمد البوسعيدي @badralbusaidi وزير الخارجية مساء اليوم، معالي الدكتور محمد باقر قاليباف، رئيس مجلس الشورى بالجمهورية الإسلامية الإيرانية، والوفد المرافق له، وبمعيته معالي الدكتور سيد عباس عراقجي وزير الخارجية بالجمهورية الإسلامية الإيرانية، وذلك في Show moreIran to establish a communication line for safe passage in Hormuz, top negotiator saysIran's top negotiator Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said that Tehran has agreed to have a communication line regarding ship passage in the strait of Hormuz to avoid conflict and incidents in the strategic waterway.In comments given to state TV on his way back from talks with U.S. in Switzerland on Sunday, the Iranian negotiator added that the signing for the release of $12 billion in frozen Iranian assets has been finalised in the talks.8 hours agoTrump, seemingly unaware of Netanyahu statement on Lebanon: 'I can solve problems fast, including with Bibi'Asked Monday by a reporter in the Oval Office to comment on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's assertion that the IDF would not be withdrawing from southern Lebanon, U.S. President Donald Trump appeared unaware of the Israeli leader's recorded statement.When told that the statement was made publicly, Trump appeared surprised, before saying: "We are going to take a look at it. I am a problem solver. I can solve problems fast, including with Bibi."In a recorded statement published Monday, Netanyahu said that the Israeli military will remain in the Israeli-controlled buffer zone in southern Lebanon "for as long as necessary." "My instruction and that of the Defense Minister to the IDF is clear and has not changed," Netanyahu said. "Our fighters in southern Lebanon have full freedom of action to thwart any direct or emerging threat against them or against the residents of the north."Trump also warned that he "will do what I have to do" if Iran does not stick to its agreement with Washington. "If Iran doesn't live up to their agreement, or if they're not behaving, I will do what I have to do," Trump told reporters."As long as they respect us – I don't want to use the word 'fear' because it's inappropriate – as long as they respect us, we're not going to have any trouble," Trump added. Trump said Iran was supposed to use the money being unfrozen to buy food exclusively from the United States. "All that money's coming back in the form of purchases of food which they desperately need. They have 91 million people, they can't feed them. So, the money that we lift is going to go to our farmers," Trump asserted.In the NewsDogs and Cats Face Rising Risk of Blindness From SuperbugsU.S.-Iran Talks End With Plans for High-level Negotiations, Iranian Source SaysDOJ Probes Coffee Shop Chain in New York After It Bars pro-Israel U.S. LawmakerNetanyahu Is Selling Fiction on Lebanon as Trump Sidelines Israel in Iran TalksDual U.S.-Israeli Citizen Arraigned on Federal Hate Crime Charges in FloridaRemembering and rebuilding two years laterICYMIIsrael Is Conducting a Systematic Campaign of Ethnic Cleansing in the West BankWhere Does Andy Burnham Stand on Israel and Palestine?Netanyahu's Mouthpieces Turn on Trump, Revealing a Deeper Israeli IngratitudeIsrael Is Bleeding Support in U.S. and Pouring Tens of Millions to Change ThatTrump's Iran Deal Castrates Netanyahu, but It's Still Catastrophic for IsraelReport: Netanyahu 'Likely' to Sabotage Iran Deal, U.S. Officials Tell Trump