Lebanon drama: 127,000 displaced. Hezbollah refuses truce with Israel. Blue helmet killed

"We reaffirm our determination to confront our enemies" and "we are fully coordinated with our brother fighters of the axis of resistance regarding what is happening in Lebanon and Palestine": this was said today by the leader of the Yemeni Houthi group, Sayyid Abdulmalik al-Houthi, in a speech reported by local media.

The Yemeni leader then warned "all forces and parties in the region about the risk of being dragged by the Americans into a fight on the side of the Zionist enemy", emphasising that "the Americans are really trying to push these forces and parties to the point where they will go to war in the service of the Zionist Jews".

Hezbollah claimed a rocket attack against an Israeli Merkava tank near the Beaufort Castle in Lebanon, claiming to have destroyed it. This was reported by the Lebanese broadcaster Al Manar.

Israeli forces have occupied Beaufort Castle, located near the city of Nabatieh in southern Lebanon, in recent days.

When the US Treasury Secretary declared that his ministry would 'aggressively target' anyone who favoured tolls in the Strait of Hormuz, and that Oman should have known better, confirmation came: Donald Trump's earlier words were not a slip of the tongue. The day before, in fact, the American president had said that on Hormuz Oman would have to behave like the others 'or we will blow them up'. Some had speculated that Trump had said 'Oman' instead of 'Iran', so surreal did that sentence sound.

Last week, Iran had indicated that talks were underway with the Sultanate, the other geographical custodian of the Strait, to define a joint protocol to supervise commercial traffic. A spokesman for Tehran had denied any desire to introduce tolls, speaking, however, generically of "services" requiring "costs" and that it was "the responsibility of Iran and Oman to formulate mechanisms" for the safe passage of ships. No reaction had come from Muscat. The six Gulf monarchies had officially spoken out against sea tolls, with Qatar later opening up to provisional taxes.

Listen to Macro, the news with global impact.

At least 3,526 people have been killed in Israeli attacks across Lebanon since 2 March. This was indicated by Lebanon's Ministry of Public Health.

The ministry also stated that another 10,733 people were injured during the same period.

Since 2 March 2026, the day of Lebanon's involvement in the Middle East conflict, more than 191 attacks against health facilities have been reported in the country, resulting in the death of 128 health workers and injury to 351. This is according to the WHO Situation Report on the Middle East conflict, according to which over 127,700 people remain displaced in 631 collective shelters across the country, with cases of acute diarrhoea continuing to rise, from 504 cases in week 17 to 803 cases in week 20, for a cumulative total of 2,777 cases. Since 2 March, there have been 3,468 deaths and 10,577 injured in Lebanon. Meanwhile, Lebanese population movements continue, with over 448,000 people reported to have crossed the border into Syria since 2 March.

The European Union will grant EUR 100 million in aid to support the Lebanese army after the announcement of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon. This was announced by the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Kaja Kallas. This endowment, Kallas said in a note, "will help the Lebanese state assert its monopoly on weapons and disarm non-state actors such as Hezbollah". "The best way to eliminate the threat posed by Hezbollah is to strengthen the Lebanese state," he added. The Lebanese army will begin deploying in 'pilot zones' in the south of the country, where Hezbollah has a presence, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam announced in the aftermath of the ceasefire agreement between Lebanon and Israel announced in Washington. The agreement, rejected by pro-Iranian Hezbollah, provides for the establishment of areas controlled exclusively by the Lebanese army after the withdrawal of Israeli forces from parts of southern Lebanon.

"The new ceasefire agreement should be read as a green light from the United States to Israel to continue, if necessary, its defensive operations against Hezbollah". This was told to Adnkronos by former Israeli government spokesman Eylon Levy, commenting on the joint declaration between Israel and Lebanon signed in Washington and the position of the pro-Iranian Shiite movement, which did not participate in the negotiations and has already made it known that it does not recognise the agreement. Regarding the killing of a Serbian blue case in the south, Levy reiterated the IDF line that Hezbollah was responsible for the incident, and called it "tragic" that UN forces were "easy prey" to the movement's attacks. According to Levy, the ceasefire is "conditional" and cannot be interpreted as a final breakthrough. "It is a ceasefire based on conditions: Israel will withdraw if Hezbollah stops firing and retreats behind the Litani River," he explains, recalling, however, that "this is exactly what Hezbollah should have done already with the November 2024 ceasefire and did not do." Hence his reading: 'I interpret this as a green light from the United States to Israel', and in this scenario, he adds, 'we will continue to see Israeli military action against Hezbollah', which could also open up an internal political space in Lebanon. The problem, he notes, is that 'the Lebanese government has been afraid to take any opportunity to confront Hezbollah' and has been unwilling to confront the Iranian-backed militia. "Unfortunately, it was only Israeli military action that created a sense of urgency on the Lebanese side," he says, because Beirut "understands the costs of being dragged into another war."

The IAEA, the International Atomic Energy Agency, has expressed ''concern'' over the lack of access of its inspectors to nuclear sites in Iran, warning of the risk of nuclear ''proliferation''. This was stated in a report prepared by the IAEA, which called on the Islamic Republic of Iran to ''cooperate constructively with the agency''. While acknowledging that military strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities and sites have created ''an unprecedented situation'', the International Atomic Energy Agency said in the report that it is ''critical to conduct verification activities'' in Iran without delay.

Iran's supreme leader has urged the people of his country to "remain strong, clear-headed and united" in the face of the "hybrid war plan" implemented by Israel and the United States. The message from Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei was read by his representative during an event held in Tehran on the anniversary of the 1989 death of the late supreme leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.

At least six dead and eight wounded. This is the toll of attacks conducted by the IDF in Lebanon in recent hours. According to the Lebanese daily L'Orient-Le Jour, the Israeli raids hit the town of Sohmor, in the western Bekaa valley, seven times, killing five people and wounding four others. Also targeted in the same area of the country was the Qaraoun dam, one of the most important in Lebanon, where another civilian was hit, and the outskirts of Lebbaya, with two wounded. The IDF attacks also targeted the area south of Beirut. In Tyre, one person fell victim to a drone offensive, while another was injured. The towns of Nabatieh and Bint Jbeil were also hit by Israeli attacks. (ANSA).

"I bow with great respect before the memory of the Serbian soldier killed in Lebanon". This was stated by the French president, Emmanuel Macron, from Montenegro.

Mortar shells fell on a Unifil (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon) base in Marjayoun, south Lebanon: Serjeant Milovan Jovanovic died and two other blue helmets were wounded.

Hezbollah's rejection of the Lebanese ceasefire agreement reached in Washington between the Israeli and Lebanese delegations was coordinated with Iran. Haaretz writes this, citing a Lebanese source close to the government in Beirut. For Tehran, in fact, the ceasefire in Lebanon is a condition to be included in the agreement between Iran and the United States. According to the source, an agreement with the US and Israel cannot be reached without internal Lebanese consensus. Moreover, he added, Hezbollah's position on negotiations is oriented towards the internal political sphere and it is unacceptable for Hezbollah to accept truce conditions that amount to admitting defeat. "Hezbollah will not admit defeat, announce disarmament or agree to withdraw. But what will determine the developments on the ground will be whether, in the first phase, an order will be given to the military leadership not to attack Israeli settlements and whether an agreement will be reached not to attack the Israeli armed forces," the source added.

"Yesterday, in a meaningless vote, the House voted - 4 bad Republicans and all Democrats - to limit my war powers, right in the middle of my final negotiations to end the war with the Islamic Republic of Iran. Who could do something so unpatriotic?". US President Donald Trump writes this on Truth, criticising the resolution by which the House of Representatives ordered the withdrawal of US troops from the war in Iran.

The Washington agreement between Lebanon and Israel is 'a capitulation and a defeat', saysHezbollah leader Naim Qassem calling on Lebanon to 'end the farce and humiliation of negotiations' with Israel.

The words - inside the Oval Office - of US President Donald Trump.

"The Hezbollah terrorist organisation fired mortar rounds that hit a Unifil outpost, killing a UN member in southern Lebanon and wounding two others. An examination of the trajectory of the bullets clearly indicates that the attack was carried out by the terrorist organisation'. This was stated by an Idf spokesman commenting on reports that the soldier was killed in an Israeli attack. Ynet reports.

The basic demand in Lebanon is for the Israeli army to withdraw to the positions it occupied before the start of the US-Israeli war against Iran. This was stated by an official of the Guardians of the Islamic Revolution.

The commander of the Quds Force, Esmail Qaani, also stated that Hezbollah fighters will soon see the "results of their courageous resistance", adding that supporting the group against the Israeli forces occupying Lebanon is the "duty of all Muslims".

- Economic reparations demanded by Tehran to deal with war damage and the lifting of sanctions are some of the latest obstacles to reaching a nuclear deal between Iran and the US. This is reported by CNN, citing a US official briefed on the negotiations, according to whom President Donald Trump is determined to close a deal that can be considered more beneficial than the Jcpoa, signed in 2015 by Barack Obama's administration. According to the broadcaster, Iran has reportedly told the mediators that it wants to obtain a form of economic compensation immediately after the signing of an initial memorandum of understanding between the parties, without waiting for the later stages of the agreement. A request that meets with resistance from the Trump administration, which is concerned that the early release of funds could reduce the economic pressure on Tehran and weaken one of the main negotiating levers at Washington's disposal. The issue is particularly sensitive for Trump, who has reportedly made it clear to his aides that he does not want to enter into any agreement that would involve a direct transfer of US money to Iran. Indeed, the president continues to criticise the deal reached by Obama, which involved the release of $1.7 billion in favour of Tehran. In the current negotiations, however, Iran is said to have made demands for about $12 billion.

Hezbollah has rejected the US-brokered ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel. In a statement, picked up by Sky News uk, the militant group says it has 'officially informed Lebanese President Joseph Aoun of its rejection of the agreement, insisting that any acceptable agreement must begin with the complete withdrawal of Israel from all Lebanese territory'. Hezbollah also adds that it considers 'the return of the displaced, reconstruction efforts and the release of Lebanese prisoners' as 'essential conditions for any future agreement'.

The Farnesina excludes that there are any Italians involved in the mortar attack against a Unifil base in southern Lebanon, where a blue helmet died and two others were wounded. The incident occurred in the eastern sector where there are no compatriots.

US President Donald Trump has confided to his aides that he wants to maintain the current ceasefire with Iran and that he is only prepared to consider a new large-scale military campaign if Iranian attacks result in the death of US military personnel. This was reported to the Wall Street Journal by US officials, according to whom the White House intends to preserve the truce despite repeated episodes of tension in recent weeks. Trump's position suggests a willingness to tolerate limited attacks and regional skirmishes in order to avoid a new escalation in the Middle East. Although clashes between the US and Iran continued after the ceasefire came into effect, the US administration continues to view these incidents as limited reactions and not as a resumption of the war.

Further reading

Israel arrests Palestinian researcher as he leaves Gaza for Italia

04 June 2026

Unifil confirms on X that a blue helmet died 'early this morning from serious injuries sustained when mortar shells hit his position near Marjayoun in south-east Lebanon. Two other blue helmets, who also sustained injuries, are receiving treatment at a medical centre at the Unifil base'.

Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, in a written message declared that "the evil enemy", the US and Israel had suffered a "searing defeat" in the war unleashed against Iran. Now, he added, "their main tool" to weaken Iran "is to sow the seeds of doubt, despair, fear, distrust and division", he said.

A security source tells Afp that a Blue Helmet was killed in southern Lebanon.

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz welcomed the US-brokered ceasefire in Lebanon, stating that 'members of the opposition should apologise and recognise this great achievement in Lebanon, both on the ground and diplomatically'.

The agreement, he said, is 'an expression of the reality we have created in Lebanon so far. A reality that can lead to a peace agreement with the Lebanese state'. "We promised security to the inhabitants of the north and we kept it," he added.

Israeli attacks continue to be reported in southern Lebanon. Several people were injured this morning on the road between Zefta and Kafroue in South Lebanon, where a car was hit by an Israeli drone, according to the National News Agency (NNA), without providing further details.

The NNA had previously reported two more raids in the Nabatieh district, a few hours after the announcement in Washington of an Israeli-Lebanese ceasefire agreement, conditional on a 'complete cessation' of Hezbollah attacks.

Israel and Lebanon agreed in the night to 'implement a ceasefire' and the creation of 'pilot zones' under the control of the Lebanese army where access to Hezbollah militants would be banned, according to a joint communiqué issued after two days of talks in Washington.

"As a result of negotiations conducted under the auspices of the United States, Israel and Lebanon have agreed to implement a ceasefire," which will be conditional on the "complete cessation of Hezbollah fire and the evacuation of all Hezbollah members from the southern Litani sector," reads the communiqué signed by the three parties involved in the negotiations

The death toll of the four Israeli air raids that hit residential complexes in Gaza City overnight has risen to nine, including four children, according to Al Jazeera Arabic.

The Israeli warplanes, the Arab newspaper points out, carried out the raids without any warning to the civilian population. Search and rescue operations continue at the sites of the attacks.

- The US Central Command denies claims by Iran about an attack on a US warship in the Gulf of Oman. "Iran now claims to have targeted a US Navy destroyer in the Gulf of Oman," but "Iran is lying. US military assets at sea continue to fly, sail and operate safely and unhindered," Centcom says in a pos

Peace negotiations with Iran could be concluded 'by the weekend'. This was stated by US President Donald Trump while answering reporters' questions in the Oval Office. Iran is "very close" to signing a peace deal with the US, he said. "It could happen over the weekend," he said. "Anything can happen when you're dealing with Iran ... is a very unstable part of the world, probably the most unstable. The population is unstable. The leadership, you see what's going on," he said. Trump then reiterated that the crux of the negotiations is Iran's commitment never to possess, develop or acquire a nuclear weapon. Given US military strength, "we could go on for another two or three weeks and wipe everybody out," he added. "I'd rather not do that," he concluded. 'It's very easy to do. But if we can put something in writing that achieves the same result without killing everyone, I'd like to do it. Most of my people would agree. Some would not, but most would."

"Bibi Netanyahu has been a great partner for me. For other people he has not been as good; for me, however, he has been great." This was said by Donald Trump, speaking to reporters at the White House and downplaying his recent clash with the Israeli premier. "We were very effective in what we did, and they needed us," Trump said, referring to US-Israeli military cooperation against Iran. "They couldn't have done it without us, they wouldn't have even been close," the president said.

- The US military denied reports that a US Navy destroyer was targeted by Iranian military attacks, calling them 'lies'. The Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps announced in a statement reported by the Iranian state news agency Tasnim that missile and drone attacks were conducted against a 'command and control centre', specifically the US destroyer, in the Gulf of Oman. According to the same statement, a US air base and a civilian container ship, identified as the MSC Panaya, were also targets of the attacks, which allegedly occurred in response to US attacks on an Iranian oil tanker and a Revolutionary Guard communications tower. However, the US Central Command denied that its targets were hit, saying that Iranian ballistic missiles did not reach targets in the region. "Iran is lying. US military assets at sea continue to fly, sail, and operate safely and unimpeded," reads X.

- "As soon as the Memorandum of Understanding is signed, the Strait of Hormuz will reopen". US President Donald Trump said this while talking to reporters in the Oval Office.

The US House of Representatives passed a resolution ordering the withdrawal of US troops from the Iran war, a political blow to President Donald Trump, who started the conflict in February. The resolution, adopted with four members of Trump's Republican Party joining the Democrats, is largely symbolic, as the US president can veto the measure if it gains Senate approval.

- US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has come under bipartisan fire in the Senate over the Trump administration's decision to extend the suspension of sanctions on Russian oil to ease tensions over global demand for crude oil caused by the US and Israel's war against Iran. "President Trump was right to impose those sanctions last autumn. However, the waivers provide Moscow with desperately needed revenue and, in my view, have a negligible impact on the price of gasoline for American consumers," Rubio replied at a hearing, defending the move because "these are short-term waivers, not permanent". In April, the Treasury Department extended the so-called 'general licence' for Russian oil that had been loaded by 11 March. These extensions highlighted how the repercussions of the Iran conflict had increased Moscow's ability to profit from its energy exports, which had been limited since the invasion of Ukraine.

According to media reports citing official US sources, a US F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jet shot down over Iran in April was probably hit by a Chinese-made portable missile. National Interest magazine reported the news in an article published yesterday and picked up by Iran International. Nbc News reported, citing three people with knowledge of the facts, that investigators believe the aircraft may have been hit by a Chinese-made portable air defence system (Manpads). China had previously denied providing military assistance to Iran, with its embassy rejecting what it called 'unfounded slanders and malicious associations'. However, US intelligence officials have reportedly assessed that Beijing may be preparing to transfer additional air defence systems to Tehran via third parties, although the details of such transfers remain unclear.

"What today's outcome reaffirms: Israel and Lebanon want Iran out of our region. Together, we will work to ensure that Iran and its allied terrorist groups do not continue to sow chaos in our lives in the name of terror and destruction." The Israeli ambassador to the US, Yechiel Leiter, wrote this in a post on X. "Today's talks represented another important step in the process of facilitating peace between Israel and Lebanon. But make no mistake: if Hezbollah thinks that this result grants it immunity, it is mistaken. This ceasefire depends entirely on the complete cessation of fighting against Israel and the total dismantling of Hezbollah and its terrorist infrastructure,' he added.

- US President Donald Trump reportedly told his aides in private that he would consider ending the truce with Iran if Tehran killed American soldiers. This was reported by the Wall Street Journal citing US officials, who pointed out that the air raid ceasefire, which has been in place for weeks, remains in place despite the constant succession of violent clashes. The president's reluctance to reignite the war suggests that he may be willing to endure small outbreaks of violence for weeks, or even months, to avoid a wider conflict in the Middle East. However, US officials have said that the repeated attacks have increased pressure on Trump and cast doubt on the long-term sustainability of the ceasefire.

Israel and Lebanon agreed to participate in a new round of talks in the week of 22 June with the aim of reaching a 'comprehensive agreement', reads a joint statement issued at the end of the US-led talks in Washington.