Morning update

Good morning Middle East Eye readers,

US President Donald Trump says diplomacy is gaining momentum on two fronts, claiming Hezbollah agreed to stop firing on Israeli forces and expressing optimism about reaching an agreement with Iran within days.

However, fighting in Lebanon continues, with Israeli air strikes reported overnight and growing international concern over the expanding conflict.

Here are the latest developments: 

• Trump says he asked Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to pull troops back from Beirut and claimed Hezbollah representatives agreed to halt attacks.

• Netanyahu’s office says Israel will continue planned operations in southern Lebanon and warns strikes on Beirut could resume if Hezbollah fire continues.

• Trump says negotiations with Iran are continuing rapidly and suggests a deal could be reached within the next week.

• Iran warns it could suspend talks with Washington if Israeli attacks in Lebanon continue.

• Iran’s chief negotiator links the future of US-Iran dialogue to developments on the ground in Lebanon.

• Lebanese authorities report new Israeli air strikes in southern Lebanon, with casualties reported overnight.

• Hezbollah says it carried out 31 attacks on Israeli military targets over the past day.

• The UN Security Council sees broad support for Lebanon, with several members condemning Israel’s ongoing invasion and calling for de-escalation.

• France tells the Security Council that Israel’s deeper incursion into Lebanon is a strategic mistake and says security will come through peace, not occupation.

• A US envoy says the Trump administration’s proposal offers a pathway to ending the Lebanon conflict, while Hezbollah lawmakers signal support for a nationwide ceasefire.