Israel attacks Lebanon in escalating conflict, leaving 11 dead, while the US prepares for new sanctions against Iran, fearing the ceasefire will be shaken.
Israel attacked Lebanon, killing 11 people, the most intense attack since the ceasefire in early June. Meanwhile, the United States is preparing new sanctions on Iran amid the expiring ceasefire agreement.
On August 17, 2569, Bloomberg News reported that...Labanon faced its most intense fighting in months, increasing pressure on stalled negotiations between the US and Iran. As Washington prepares for a new round of sanctions.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said on Sunday that it had killed Abu Hassan Alaa, a top Hezbollah commander, in southern Lebanon the previous day, in an Israeli attack that left 11 dead, making it the deadliest attack since the two sides agreed to a ceasefire in early June.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu The attack was said to be in retaliation for a Hezbollah attack on Saturday that injured three soldiers. Israel said on Sunday that it would strike again against Iranian-backed groups if threatened.
The fighting threatens the US-brokered ceasefire agreement, which calls for Hezbollah to disarm, Israel to ultimately withdraw from its occupied territories, and for the Lebanese army to assume responsibility for security.
The situation could further complicate already stalled negotiations between the US and Iran, as their ceasefire expires on Monday, with no clear direction on the Strait of Hormuz and Washington preparing a plan. "Separate Iran from the economic system."
President Donald Trump told Fox News on Friday that the U.S. has a plan to launch a heavy attack on the Iranian economy and that he doesn't care whether the conflict ends before the U.S. midterm elections in November, the outcome of which will depend on voters' views of the economy.
It remains unclear what additional measures the U.S. can take without resorting to sanctions against countries that do business with Iran. China buys more than 90% of its oil from Iran, but sanctions against China could provoke retaliation, risking a backlash against the U.S. economy and increasing uncertainty about global energy prices.
"Unless the president decides to prioritize addressing the Iranian threat above all other issues, especially China, it is unlikely that any action will significantly alter Iran's calculations." Chris Kennedy, an analyst from Bloomberg Economics, said:
The Iranian economy has been severely impacted, with most industrial production damaged and crude oil exports severely restricted by the US naval blockade. Multiple rounds of sanctions have failed to force Iran to back down on its nuclear program or relinquish control of the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran's semi-official Fars news agency quoted military chief Amir Hatami on Sunday as saying the strait was... “The geopolitical assets that God has bestowed upon Iran, and this bargaining power, will never be restored,” they stated, adding, “We will defend this capability with all our might.”
Before the war, approximately one-fifth of the world's oil and gas was transported through the Strait of Hormuz. Brent crude prices rose nearly 6% last week following attacks on ships, reflecting the continued threat to energy shipments. Brent prices remained virtually unchanged and traded below $89 per barrel in Asia on Monday.
The Wall Street Journal, citing Iranian and Arab officials, reported that Iran is using the calm to prepare for a potentially wider confrontation. Tehran is increasing the influence of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on its military, appointing former hardline officers to key security positions, accelerating the production of missiles and drones, and enhancing coordination with allied armed forces across the region.
Transport routes through the Strait of Hormuz began to appear.
Iran and major Western navies each proposed one route.
Iran and Oman appear to be reaching a conclusion. "Navigation chart" This is part of a broader agreement on how to manage traffic in the strait, but the United States did not participate in those discussions and is unlikely to accept conditions that do not restore freedom of navigation through the waterway.
Middle Eastern oil producers continue to transport large quantities of crude oil out of the Persian Gulf, helping to limit global oil prices and alleviate inflation concerns.
Trump had already warned that a ceasefire deal was possible. "It's over." In practice, in July, the U.S. and Iran exchanged retaliatory attacks, and Iran has long argued that Israel's attacks on Lebanon violated the agreement.
Attacks continue in and around the Strait of Hormuz, with the UK Maritime Trade Operations reporting shelling of a bulk carrier on Saturday. Two Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. vessels were attacked while passing through the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday, and another on Friday, according to WAM, the UAE state news agency.
Tensions also escalated with Qatar, a mediator, after Iran's IRNA news agency reported that Doha barred an Iranian delegation from examining three pilots who died in a wartime plane crash there. A Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman posted on X denying detaining the Iranian pilots and stating the allegations were misleading, amid efforts to de-escalate the conflict.
Israel continues to clash with Iranian-backed Hamas in the Gaza Strip, while Houthi rebels attacked ships in the Red Sea.
Jared Kushner, U.S. Peace Envoy. Discussions were held with mediators from Egypt, Turkey, and Qatar on how to accelerate the second phase of the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip ahead of a planned trip to Israel on Monday, according to Egyptian and regional media reports.
A member of Hamas's political office said Kushner confirmed that the plan was final and would not be renegotiated, even if Israel had to agree to the terms without violating any rules. The official, who requested anonymity because Hamas did not disclose the discussions publicly before the mediation process began, told Bloomberg.
refer : bloomberg.com
Stay updated on the escalating tensions between the US, Israel, and Iran, which are shaking the world.
