Live: US attacks Iran, Tehran vows swift response
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A senior Hezbollah lawmaker has ruled out a ceasefire with Israel while the Israeli army remains in Lebanese territory, warning that further aggression will be met with a response.
“A ceasefire while the enemy continues its targeting and assassinations is meaningless”, MP Hassan Fadlallah said in comments cited by Iranian media, adding that “the right of self-defence is established for us and is not subject to bargaining or negotiation”.
Fadlallah said Iran's military and diplomatic support for Lebanon was key to maintaining a military balance with Israel and could eventually force Israeli troops out of Lebanese territory.
The Lebanese army said on Saturday that Israel had launched an attack targeting an army soldier in the country's south, in violation of the ceasefire reached a day earlier.
“The continuation of brutal Israeli attacks aims to obstruct any solution that would allow for restoring stability in Lebanon,” the army statement read.
تتواصل الاعتداءات الإسرائيلية الوحشية على لبنان بعدما طال التصعيد الأخير مناطق واسعة في الجنوب وصولًا إلى البقاع، موقعًا المزيد من الشهداء والجرحى، ومسببًا دمارًا كبيرًا في الممتلكات.
— الجيش اللبناني (@LebarmyOfficial) June 20, 2026
في هذا السياق، استهدفت غارة إسرائيلية معادية عسكريًّا في الجيش على طريق كفررمان - النبطية ما أدى… pic.twitter.com/07U6EWtfEc
A new poll by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research has found that about two-thirds of Americans continue to disapprove of President Donald Trump's handling of the war with Iran.
Conducted after Trump indicated that an agreement with Tehran was close but before it was signed, the survey found that 65 percent of respondents disapproved of his approach, a figure largely unchanged from a similar poll conducted in May.
The survey also highlighted a sharp partisan divide. While 92 percent of Democrats said they disapproved of Trump's handling of the conflict, only 28 percent of Republicans expressed the same view.
When asked about US military action against Iran, 53 percent of respondents said it had "gone too far", compared with 25 percent who said it was "about right" and 18 percent who felt it had "not far enough".
Good morning Middle East Eye readers,
The US-Iran agreement moved into a new phase as both sides signalled readiness for further diplomacy, while a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah appeared to take effect after days of renewed violence.
Tehran said Washington must ensure Israel complies with the terms of the deal, particularly in Lebanon, as preparations were made for another round of negotiations in Switzerland.
Here are the latest updates:
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Iran's deputy foreign minister said Tehran is ready to move forward with diplomacy but expects the United States to ensure Israel ends attacks in Lebanon.
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A US official said Israel and Hezbollah agreed to a ceasefire after Israeli attacks reportedly killed at least 47 people in Lebanon.
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Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said Washington has a responsibility to implement the agreement on all fronts, including Lebanon.
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Axios reported that US envoy Steve Witkoff and Araghchi are expected to travel to Switzerland for a new round of talks.
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President Donald Trump said shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has surged, claiming roughly 700 vessels are now transiting the waterway.
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Israel's ambassador to Washington said offensive operations in Lebanon were halted beginning Friday morning Washington time.
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The White House confirmed the United States will host a fifth round of Lebanon-Israel negotiations aimed at sustaining the ceasefire.
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UK Maritime trade organisation lowered its threat assessment for the Strait of Hormuz from high to moderate as maritime traffic continues to recover.
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Iran's military said its combat readiness remains unchanged despite the diplomatic progress and ceasefire efforts.
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Regional mediators, including Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey, are due to meet in Egypt's Alamein on June 21 to discuss implementation of the agreement and wider regional stability.
At least four Palestinians were killed and several others wounded in an Israeli strike on a residential apartment in Gaza City early this morning, according to medical sources cited by the Wafa news agency.
The report said the attack targeted an apartment belonging to the al-Safadi family on al-Thalatheeni Street in the city.
Meanwhile, Lebanon's state-run National News Agency reported that Israeli attacks continued overnight and into this morning across southern Lebanon despite the ceasefire.
According to the agency, three people were killed in a two-pronged raid on the village of Arab Salim, while one person was killed in a strike on the municipality of Deir ez-Zahrani and another in a drone attack targeting a motorcycle near the village of Doueir.
The agency also reported that an air strike on al-Numairiyah destroyed a number of homes.
Human rights campaigners gathered in London on Friday for a panel titled "Together Against The Death Penalty", where speakers criticised Israel's death penalty law for Palestinians held in Israeli prisons.
Participants argued that the legislation raises serious concerns about equality before the law and the treatment of Palestinians under Israel's legal system.
"The Israeli death penalty law is a sign of weakness rather than strength," speakers at the event said.
Campaigners noted that the law, passed in March, allows military courts to impose capital punishment on Palestinians in the occupied West Bank convicted of killing Israelis.
Critics argued that the measure reinforces what they describe as a dual legal system, under which Palestinians are subject to military jurisdiction while Israeli citizens and residents remain under civilian law and are exempt from the legislation's provisions.
“The Israeli death penalty law is a sign of weakness rather than strength.”
— Middle East Eye (@MiddleEastEye) June 20, 2026
Human rights campaigners came together at the “Together Against The Death Penalty” panel in London on Friday to challenge Israel’s death penalty for Palestinians held in Israeli prisons pic.twitter.com/SecHkflrvN
Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi arrived in Jerusalem on Sunday for what was described as the first state visit by a leader of the territory, according to Al Jazeera.
The visit comes six months after Israel became the first country to recognise Somaliland's independence from Somalia, marking a significant step in relations between the two sides.
During the visit, Israel and Somaliland signed a strategic cooperation agreement and held a series of meetings aimed at expanding ties in areas including security, trade and regional strategy.
Somaliland views the relationship as an important step towards broader international recognition, while Israel sees growing strategic value in the Horn of Africa region amid ongoing concerns over Red Sea security and disruptions linked to Yemen's Houthi movement.
Iranian football federation secretary-general Hedayat Mombeyni has criticised World Cup organisers after Iran's request to enter the United States two days before its match against Belgium was reportedly rejected.
Iran, which is based in Mexico during the tournament, had sought an earlier arrival in Los Angeles ahead of Sunday's midday kick-off but said the request was turned down.
"This is a major international tournament. This sort of breaking of our rules and our agreements, in my opinion, calls football itself into question," Mombeyni told reporters at the team's training base in Tijuana.
US officials rejected the criticism, with White House Fifa Task Force chief Andrew Giuliani saying Iran had been informed in advance that its squad would only be permitted to enter the United States on the day before its matches.
An Israeli air strike on a residential building in Gaza reportedly killed three Palestinians, including two children, along with their father, early on Saturday.
Local sources reported the strike targeted an apartment on al-Thalathini Street in Gaza City.
According to Gaza’s health ministry, Israeli forces have killed more than 1,000 Palestinians since the US-brokered ceasefire in October.
Additionally, Unicef has reported that, on average, one Palestinian child has been killed by Israeli forces each day since the truce was announced.
An Israeli air strike on a residential building in Gaza reportedly killed three Palestinians, including two children, along with their father early on Saturday pic.twitter.com/yifXf9HBjW
— Middle East Eye (@MiddleEastEye) June 20, 2026
Iran's Army reaffirmed its readiness to defend the country's security, sovereignty and national interests in the event of any violation of the memorandum of understanding signed with the United States.
In a statement issued on Friday, the military said its forces remain fully alert, "with hands on the trigger and ears attuned to the orders of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief", despite the agreement aimed at ending hostilities.
The statement said Iranian armed forces would continue strengthening their capabilities and were prepared to protect the country's security and interests if "the enemy betrays its commitments".
It added that the "steadfast resistance of the Iranian people" and the sacrifices of the armed forces had compelled the enemy "to respect the great Iranian nation and accept the path of ceasefire and understanding".
US Vice President JD Vance said that there are disagreements between President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over how to bring the conflict with Iran to an end.
Speaking during a television interview, Vance said it was natural for allies, including Israel, to seek to influence US policy, but stressed that American leaders must remain focused on their own national interests.
Vance said policymakers must be "extremely careful" to ensure they are pursuing policies that serve the interests of the United States rather than those of another country.
His comments came after he criticised Israeli officials who attacked the memorandum of understanding reached between Washington and Tehran. He also confirmed that Trump and Netanyahu have differences over the precise approach to ending the war with Iran.
Hezbollah said its fighters repelled an Israeli armoured and infantry force attempting to advance near the Ali al-Tahir Heights in southern Lebanon, claiming the troops were drawn into a "killing zone" during clashes on Friday.
According to media reports, fighters engaged the force after it entered the area, destroying three Merkava tanks with guided missiles and continuing the attack with rocket and artillery fire.
The reports said Hezbollah also detonated explosive devices against advancing Israeli armour, setting one tank on fire.
The group claimed Israeli forces had been attempting to advance on the area for six consecutive days. Hezbollah further said it targeted a second Israeli force that was trying to evacuate casualties under smoke cover, striking it with rockets and mortar shells and reporting direct hits.
Doctors Without Borders (MSF) has condemned the latest shelling of Nabatieh in southern Lebanon, describing the attacks as "relentless" and "devastating".
In a social media statement, the medical charity said its teams on the ground were reporting conditions that "resemble a death trap" as civilians remained exposed to ongoing bombardment.
MSF said people had been "caught under heavy shelling" and called for immediate measures to protect civilians and emergency workers.
"Civilians and first responders must be protected, and unhindered access for rescue teams is urgently needed," the organisation said, urging all parties to ensure humanitarian access and the safety of those responding to the attacks.
UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper has condemned comments by Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir after he said that "all of Lebanon must burn" following the deaths of four Israeli soldiers in a Hezbollah attack in southern Lebanon.
In a post on X, Cooper described the remarks as "a horrendous and abhorrent statement from an Israeli Minister who has rightly been sanctioned by the UK Government".
Cooper also called on both Israel and Hezbollah to respect the ceasefire in Lebanon and avoid further escalation.
She urged the parties to "ensure that all civilians are protected", stressing the need to prevent additional violence as diplomatic efforts continue to stabilise the situation along the border.
Calling for "all of Lebanon to burn" is a horrendous and abhorrent statement from an Israeli Minister who has rightly been sanctioned by the UK Government.
— Yvette Cooper (@YvetteCooperMP) June 19, 2026
We call on both Israel and Hizballah to comply with the agreed ceasefire, and ensure that all civilians are protected.
An adviser to Iran's Mojtaba Khamenei said the United States emerged weakened from the recent conflict with Iran and that Washington and Israel gradually lost control of events as the war unfolded.
According to Press TV, Mohsen Rezaei, a former commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), made the remarks during a televised interview on Friday, arguing that by the fifteenth day of the conflict the United States and Israel had realised that the situation was no longer under their control.
Rezaei attributed the outcome to a combination of factors, including political divisions within the United States, military challenges, international pressure and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz in response to the conflict.
He said congressional obstacles, limited support from allies and diplomatic pressure from countries including Spain contributed to what he described as a strategic deadlock.
According to Press TV, Rezaei said that these factors ultimately left Washington and Israel in a weaker position and helped bring about the ceasefire announced on 7 April.
