Israel said it killed several suspected Hezbollah operatives in southern Lebanon as tensions along the border remained high, while Defence Minister Israel Katz insisted troops would stay in Lebanon, Gaza and Syria indefinitely. Meanwhile, a cargo ship was struck by an unidentified projectile in the Strait of Hormuz, prompting the International Maritime Organisation to suspend its evacuation plan. Despite the unrest, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Israel and Lebanon were nearing a breakthrough in US-mediated talks. Follow our live updates:10:55 PM, 25 June 2026Israel army says killed Hezbollah operatives in south LebanonThe Israeli army said it had killed several suspected Hezbollah operatives on Thursday in two separate incidents around the so-called "security zone" its forces have established in southern Lebanon.In the first case, the military said soldiers "identified five Hezbollah terrorists who posed a threat to them" in Zawtar al-Sharqiyah, while in the second, they "identified an armed Hezbollah terrorist" around the strategic Ali al-Taher Ridge."Following the identifications, the Israeli Air Force and the ground forces fired toward the terrorists and eliminated them to remove the threat," it said.10:53 PM, 25 June 2026IMO suspends ship, seafarer evacuation plan from Strait of Hormuz