LiveLive Updates June 30, 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 30, 2026UpdatesLebanese President and army chief discuss framework agreement with IsraelLebanese President Joseph Aoun met with the country's army chief Rodolphe Haykal, to discuss the framework agreement signed with Israel.According to Aoun, the army is bound by the decisions of the political leadership, and what he described as a smear campaign against him will not affect its performance.Germany welcomes U.S.-Iran deal to cease attacks, continue talks, calls to enable passage through HormuzGermany's Foreign Ministry said in a post on X that the "agreement between the USA and Iran to cease mutual attacks and continue negotiations is an important step and opens up a chance for diplomacy in a still fragile situation."Replying to @GermanyDiploThe priority now is to reach a sustainable solution that ensures safe and free passage through the #StraitOfHormuz and, in particular, addresses Iran's nuclear programme, which must never again pose a threat. @AussenMinDE 5/6The agreement between the United States and Iran to halt mutual attacks and continue negotiations is an important step. It creates an opportunity for diplomacy in what remains a highly fragile situation. @AussenMinDE 4/6The Ministry added that it is important now to reach a viable solution to ensure safe, unimpeded passage through the Strait of Hormuz and to address the Iranian nuclear program. CNN: U.S. Special Envoy Witkoff en route to Doha for Iran talksCNN reported late Monday that U.S. President Donald Trump's Special Envoy, Steve Witkoff, is en route to Doha for talks with Iran.Earlier, Trump told reporters in the Oval Office that the U.S.-Iran meeting in Qatar this week will be "perhaps important, perhaps not."Iranian official: 'Only we will clear mines from the Strait of Hormuz'Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister, Kazem Gharibabadi, said in a post on X Monday that mine-clearing operations in the Strait of Hormuz will be carried out exclusively by Iran. According to him, no other country can intervene in this mission.His remarks came after French President Emmanuel Macron announced that he had spoken with the Omani government to coordinate a joint effort to clear mines in the strait."We strongly advise France not to complicate it further with its provocations," he wrote.7 hours agoDozens of Democrats ask Rubio to probe possible Israeli violations of U.S. law in LebanonRescuers assisted by heavy machinery work at the site of Israeli strikes in the southern suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon, in April. Credit: Mohamed Azakir/ReutersRescuers assisted by heavy machinery work at the site of Israeli strikes in the southern suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon, in April. Credit: Mohamed Azakir/ReutersA group of 75 Democratic lawmakers urged U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio to investigate whether Israel is breaking U.S. law, arguing that the Israeli military violated arms transfer agreements by using American-supplied weapons for the mass destruction of Lebanese civilian infrastructure rather than legitimate self-defense."The use of U.S. origin weapons in the systematic destruction of civilian infrastructure is a violation of U.S. military assistance transfer agreements with the Israeli government," wrote the lawmakers, led by Rep. Becca Baling. "The targeted, mass destruction of civilian homes and infrastructure does not constitute Israeli self-defense. If U.S.-origin arms are confirmed to be used in these unauthorized activities, we ask the Trump administration to enforce existing law and stop arms transfers being used in these operations until these violations cease.""We are troubled by the Israeli military's practice of mass demolitions of civilian infrastructure in southern Lebanon and targeting practices that kill Lebanese civilians," the Members continued. "After the Israeli military invaded southern Lebanon and began an occupation of the territory, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz announced plans to raze all homes in southern border villages, 'following the Rafah and Beit Hanoun model in Gaza,' a reference to the Israeli military's systematic destruction of homes and civilian infrastructure in Gaza. Since then, reporting and satellite imagery have confirmed widespread demolitions of civilian homes, buildings, and religious sites in southern Lebanon, including the use of bulldozers and controlled demolitions. The Israeli military has also demolished bridges, roads, water pipelines, and fuel stations in southern Lebanon.""Every government has a right and a responsibility to protect its citizens, and Israel has a right to defend itself," they added. "However, this does not justify unrestrained Israeli military operations, especially those that violate the current ceasefire, destroy civilian infrastructure, and lead to the death of hundreds of civilians. All sides must fully abide by the ceasefire agreement."Israeli strike kills three Gaza Palestinians, including a child, Gaza Health Ministry saysAn Israeli airstrike ‌killed three Palestinians, including a child, in central Gaza on Monday, ‌according to the health ministry in the devastated territory, despite a cease-fire that ⁠has officially been in effect since October.An Israeli military official confirmed an air ⁠strike had been carried out, without providing further details. The Gazan health ministry said an Israeli strike occurred around 9:30 A.M. in Deir al-Balah city in central Gaza, which is under the control of Hamas. Israel ‌occupies around 60 percent of Gaza.RECAP: Israel kills boy in West Bank; Soldier severely wounded in Lebanon explosionHere are Tuesday's latest updates:■ The Israeli military shot and killed a 15-year-old during an IDF raid on the Palestinian city of Ramallah in the central West Bank, medics said.■ An Israeli reservist was severely wounded in an explosion in southern Lebanon, the IDF said in a statement, adding that the soldier was hospitalized for treatment.■ Israeli forces fatally shot a 31-year-old man and wounded two children in separate attacks in the Gaza Strip, medical sources said.■ Hezbollah said it reserves the right to retaliate to the IDF's Sunday strikes on southern Lebanon, saying Israel repeatedly violated the cease-fire.■ Far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said the Defense Ministry's Settlement Administration is ready to begin building three settlements in the northern Gaza Strip "immediately once political approval is granted."■ Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar said Israel wants to "achieve peace and normalization with Lebanon" by "ending the Iranian occupation of Lebanon by Hezbollah" at a Knesset parliamentary caucus on Peace Between Israel and Lebanon.In the NewsAs IDF Tightens Grip on Southern Syria, Residents Describe an Unbearable RealityU.S. and Iran Negotiators Head to Doha, as High-level Talks Remain UncertainGaza Health Ministry: Israeli Strikes Kill Eight, Wound 26 Over Past DayHaredis Sink Bill to Ban Red Cross Visits in Israeli Prisons Amid Coalition FeudThe Police Have Lost Control of Israel's StreetsRemembering and rebuilding two years laterICYMIAdvanced Israeli Systems Sold to Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Documents and Images ShowAs the World Watched Gaza, Israeli Settlers Charged Ahead in the West Bank. A Clash Is ImminentIsrael 2026 Election Poll Tracker: The Latest ProjectionsA Collapsing Society: Israel Suffers National Mental Crisis Due to the WarFlagGate: How Israel Set Off a Storm by Hosting a Separatist Genocide DenierWhy Israelis Should Stop Being Afraid of Mamdani-backed Brad Lander