LiveLive Updates June 25, 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 25, 2026UpdatesOil prices back to pre-war levels as Hormuz traffic rebounds, U.S. tries to reassure Gulf alliesOil prices fell to pre-war levels on Thursday as the United States said flows through the Strait of Hormuz were nearing normal and its top diplomat completed a Gulf tour aimed at shoring up support for a preliminary Iran deal.The Straight of Hormuz, on Friday. Credit: Stringer/ReutersThe Straight of Hormuz, on Friday. Credit: Stringer/ReutersU.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright said on Wednesday shipments through the strait were approaching levels seen before the U.S. and Israel launched strikes on Iran on February ‌28, with at least 20 million barrels exiting the strait in the previous 24 hours.Data from the U.N.'s International Maritime Organization showed that 57 ships carrying about 1,100 seafarers have transited the strait since Tuesday under the evacuation plan.Report: Israeli settlers threw stones at West Bank village homes in response to evacuation of nearby outpostIsraeli settlers pelted Palestinian homes with stones on the outskirts of the West Bank town of Halhul early Thursday morning, in what residents said was a response to the dismantling of a nearby settler outpost.The confrontation came hours after the IDF and Civil Administration evacuated the Beit Anot outpost, which Palestinian residents said had been established on the edge of the town more than a year ago. Residents said settlers arrived in the area following the evacuation and began throwing stones toward houses, forcing families to shelter inside.A resident of Halhul told Haaretz he saw masked settlers attacking property and attempting arson. "I saw ten masked people throwing stones at the house and at a truck loaded with wood, he said. "They also tried to set the wood on fire."He added that a child was wounded. "He said settlers hit him in the face and stole his bicycle," the resident said. "Later, about 35 masked settlers arrived, according to my estimate, and threw stones at houses."According to the resident, Israeli security forces arrived after a significant delay and used tear gas near homes, but did not act against settlers. "It took the police three hours to arrive," he said. He added that similar incidents have followed previous evacuations of the outpost. "Every time they evacuate it, settlers attack the village afterwards." After forces withdrew, settlers reportedly returned to a nearby hill. "My children don't go outside at night."He said, "When settlers throw stones at my children, I tell them not to respond. If they throw one stone, my children go to jail while settlers can do whatever they want. Are these religious people? These are not Jews — they are terrorists. We have terrorists here too, you have terrorists there too."RECAP: Palestinian man shot dead by IDF inside West Bank home, IDF says he 'threw objects at the forces'Here areThursday's latest updates from Israel, the West Bank, Gaza and the Middle East:■ Senior Israeli and Lebanese officials denied reports that Israel has withdrawn from any part of the IDF-occupied buffer zone in southern Lebanon, pushing back on a U.S. official's claim that a partial pullback had taken place as a "good faith" gesture. Both Israeli and Lebanese military sources said there was no observable change on the ground, with Israeli forces continuing to enforce the zone.■ Iran's Revolutionary Guards Corps said any maritime safety arrangements in the Strait of Hormuz that are not coordinated with Tehran are "unacceptable" and a security risk, warning it would take action against non-compliant vessels.■ U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington seeks a deal with Iran but will not accept any arrangement that undermines U.S. or allied security, adding that the United States does not accept exclusive national control over the Strait of Hormuz.■ U.S. President Donald Trump faced criticism from Republican lawmakers over the Iran war during a closed-door meeting on Capitol Hill, as his administration requested roughly $70 billion in additional funding. Trump also repeated doubts over responsibility for a deadly strike on a girls' school in Iran and defended the administration's handling of negotiations.■ Israeli forces shot and killed Mustafa Taha Mustafa al-Khatib, 32, inside his home in the West Bank village of Sarta, according to Palestinian reports. The IDF said troops opened fire after he "threw objects at forces" during a raid linked to stone-throwing incidents on Route 5.■ Israeli soldier Master Sgt. (res.) Basil Sweid, 32, was killed during operational activity in southern Lebanon after his vehicle overturned, the IDF said. Another soldier was moderately wounded in the incident, which the military described as an accident.■ Hundreds of protesters demonstrated in southern Israel's Be'er Sheva against planned demolitions of homes in the Bedouin village of Tel Arad, gathering outside the Bedouin Development and Settlement Authority. Demonstrators, joined by Arab Israeli lawmakers, said the state was advancing evacuations without a long-term solution for residents.Israel, Lebanon deny that Israel has withdrawn from IDF-occupied buffer zone in southern LebanonSenior Israeli and Lebanese officials denied on Thursday that there had been any Israeli withdrawal from occupied southern Lebanon, after a U.S. official said Israel had pulled some of its troops back in a "good faith" gesture toward Lebanon's government.A senior Israeli official rejected the report, while an IDF source said the military was unaware of any such move. "I don't know of such a thing," the source said, adding that "de facto, we haven't moved from anywhere as of now."IDF soldiers at Fort Beaufort, Lebanon, earlier this month. Credit: the IDF Spokesperson’s UnitIDF soldiers at Fort Beaufort, Lebanon, earlier this month. Credit: the IDF Spokesperson’s UnitA senior Lebanese military official also said developments on the ground "show the opposite of a pullback," adding that Israeli forces had been enforcing their so-called buffer zone against anyone approaching it, including Lebanese army troops.Israel withdraws from part of southern Lebanon 'buffer zone', U.S. official saysIsrael has reportedly withdrawn from parts of southern Lebanese territory it occupies in war with Hezbollah, according to a U.S. State Department official on Thursday, who added that Lebanon's armed forces should now step in.There was no immediate comment from Israel. A senior Lebanese security official said they were ‌unaware of any withdrawal of Israeli troops from ‌Israel's so-called "buffer zone" in southern Lebanon.IDF forces maneuvering in southern Lebanon, last week. Credit: Gil EliyahuIDF forces maneuvering in southern Lebanon, last week. Credit: Gil EliyahuThe State Department official did not say how much territory Israel withdrew from or where exactly the pullback occurred. Israel and Lebanon have been holding U.S.-brokered talks in Washington aimed in part at halting fighting between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah militia."Israel has already taken a concrete step by pulling back from a part of its buffer zone," the official said, calling it a "significant demonstration of good faith toward Lebanon's legitimate government.""The (Lebanese Armed Forces) should now move in and verifiably clear ⁠out terrorist weapons and infrastructure," the official added. "This model will be repeated across South Lebanon, enabling the safe return of displaced families, reconstruction ‌of the south, and the restoration of full Lebanese sovereignty."Read the full articlePalestinian man shot dead by IDF inside West Bank home, IDF says he 'threw objects at the forces'Israeli forces shot and killed Mustafa Taha Mustafa al-Khatib, 32, inside his home in the West Bank village of Sarta near Salfit on Thursday, according to Palestinian reports.Palestinian sources said Israeli troops raided the village early in the morning and opened fire on Khatib while he was inside his home, adding that his body was not taken by the military.Mustafa Taha Mustafa al-Khatib, 32, from the West Bank village of Sarta. Credit: Used in accordance with section 27A of the Israel Copyright LawMustafa Taha Mustafa al-Khatib, 32, from the West Bank village of Sarta.Credit: Used in accordance with section 27A of the Israel Copyright LawThe IDF said forces opened fire after al-Khatib "threw objects at the forces" and that the incident followed a suspect apprehension procedure, including warning shots. A security source said troops entered the village to investigate stone-throwing incidents targeting Israeli vehicles on Route 5. According to the source, al-Khatib threw "plates, bottles, a cabinet and a knife" at the soldiers, prompting return fire.U.S. Secretary of State Rubio: We won't accept that Hormuz belongs to any nation stateU.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the United States is seeking a deal with Iran but will not accept any agreement "at any price," as he arrived in Bahrain for meetings with Gulf Cooperation Council officials."We want a deal with Iran, we don't want a deal at any price," Rubio said, adding that Washington is "open for peace that is enduring and real" and that does not undermine U.S. or allied security and prosperity. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio (C) attends a meeting with foreign ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council member states in Manama, Bahrain, Thursday. Credit: Eric Lee/AP U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio (C) attends a meeting with foreign ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council member states in Manama, Bahrain, Thursday. Credit: Eric Lee/AP He added that the U.S. "while committed to this process," will ensure that "none of the decisions made will counter the interest of our allies and partners," and stressed that Washington wants any agreement to take "into account the interests of allies."On the disputed status of the Strait of Hormuz, Rubio said, "We won't accept that Hormuz belongs to any nation state," and added that any transit charges should be treated as "a toll… or a fee – at the end of the day it's all semantics."At earlier stops, he told officials in Kuwait that Washington would not take steps that "undermine the security of our longstanding allies in the region."U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio meets Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud at The Ritz-Carlton Bahrain during a visit to discuss the interim U.S.-Iran deal with Arab Gulf allies, in Manama, Bahrain, Thursday. Credit: Eric Lee/REUTERSU.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio meets Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud at The Ritz-Carlton Bahrain during a visit to discuss the interim U.S.-Iran deal with Arab Gulf allies, in Manama, Bahrain, Thursday. Credit: Eric Lee/REUTERSThe trip comes as Gulf states voice concern over provisions in the emerging U.S.-Iran understanding, including questions over sanctions relief and maritime arrangements in the Strait of Hormuz.In Bahrain, Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani welcomed Oman's announcement of a corridor for the safe passage of vessels through the strait, as he chaired a Gulf Cooperation Council meeting during Rubio's visit.Hundreds protest in southern Israel against planned demolition of Bedouin village homes Hundreds of protesters demonstrated in the southern Israeli city of Be'er Sheva on Thursday against the planned demolition of homes in the Bedouin village of Tel Arad, gathering outside the Bedouin Development and Settlement Authority.Protest in Be'er Sheva against the demolition of houses in southern Israel's Tel Arad, Thursday. Credit: Eliahu HershkovitzProtest in Be'er Sheva against the demolition of houses in southern Israel's Tel Arad, Thursday. Credit: Eliahu HershkovitzThe demonstrators said the state is advancing demolitions and evacuations before a full solution is found for residents. Many held signs reading "The expulsion of the Bedouin will not pass," "No to demolitions, yes to construction," and "Stop the house demolitions."Several lawmakers joined the protest, including United Arab List leader Mansour Abbas, Ta'al Chairman Ahmad Tibi, Walid Alhwashla, and Ofer Cassif of Hadash-Ta'al.Rahat Mayor Talal al-Karnawi said, "We want to live in cooperation and peace," adding, "We will plan a tent city at the entrance to Be'er Sheva and at the entrance to Ofakim, where we will live."Dr. Jamal Zahalka, head of the Higher Follow-Up Committee for Arab Citizens of Israel, said, "We are not seeking confrontation, but peaceful solutions," adding that negotiations could be held between public representatives and the government. "Many experts say the land issue can be resolved. But if they force demolitions, land expropriation and transfer on us, we say one word – no."Read the full articleIn the NewsIsrael Denies Report of Partial Withdrawal From Southern Lebanon 'Buffer Zone'Hundreds Protest in Southern Israel Against Planned Demolition in Bedouin TownReturning Southern Lebanon Residents Find Rubble Where Their Homes Once StoodIsraeli Universities Rise in Global Rank, Palestinian Institution Makes Top ListIsraeli Soldier Killed in Southern Lebanon Operational Accident, IDF SaysRemembering and rebuilding two years laterICYMIAs the World Watched Gaza, Israeli Settlers Charged Ahead in the West Bank. 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