At least 4,257 people have been killed in Israeli attacks on Lebanon, according to the country’s health ministry. The ministry reported that more than 12,000 others have been injured since the strikes began on March 2. The ongoing violence has severely affected civilians and worsened the humanitarian situation across Lebanon.

After months of direct negotiations, Lebanon and Israel signed a framework agreement on Friday with mediation from the United States. However, the deal does not include any obligation for Israel to withdraw its forces from occupied Lebanese territories. This omission has raised new concerns about the durability of the agreement and the prospects for peace.

Despite continued diplomatic efforts to end the conflict, the absence of a clear commitment to troop withdrawal has left the situation uncertain, with humanitarian conditions deteriorating further as casualties continue to rise.

The White House announced that US President Donald Trump’s special envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, will travel to Doha on Tuesday for a high-level meeting with Iranian officials. According to White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt, the talks aim to continue discussions on a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Iran, alongside planned technical-level meetings. The announcement was also shared earlier by Trump on social media.

However, Iran has denied any plan for such a meeting. Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi stated that there is no scheduled meeting with US officials in Qatar this week, though consultations with Qatar are ongoing. Initially focused on Iran’s nuclear program, the discussions have now shifted toward reducing tensions in the Strait of Hormuz.

The two countries remain at odds over control of the strategic waterway. Iran insists that the MoU grants it control over the Strait, while the United States maintains that it should remain open to international navigation and not be under the authority of any single nation.

Photos of missing persons now cover the outer walls of Miguel Pérez Carreño Hospital in Caracas, Venezuela, as families continue searching for loved ones following a powerful earthquake. Thousands remain unaccounted for, prompting relatives to move from one hospital to another in hopes of finding survivors. Many of the missing are residents of the coastal area of La Guaira.

Eyewitness Yerinker Bermúdez, who narrowly survived the quake, said he is now searching for friends who lived in his collapsed building. He expressed frustration at the government’s lack of assistance, saying that neighbors and volunteers have been conducting rescue operations with their bare hands. Outside the hospital, crowds wait anxiously, scanning patient lists for familiar names.

Inside the hospital, conditions remain tense. Doctor Santiago Casanova said the first few days were extremely difficult, though the number of injured has since declined. However, he cautioned that the decrease is not a positive sign, as the chances of finding survivors under the rubble are diminishing with time.

The Gaza Government Media Office has accused Israel of violating the ceasefire agreement 3,465 times since it took effect in October 2025. According to the office, Israeli attacks during the ceasefire period have killed at least 1,045 Palestinians and injured another 3,380. The office also alleged that Israel failed to comply with the agreement’s humanitarian aid provisions.

Under the U.S.-brokered ceasefire, 156,000 aid trucks were supposed to enter Gaza, but the media office claimed Israel allowed only 55,539 trucks. In a statement, it accused Israel of pursuing a “policy of planned genocide” in Gaza and urged the ceasefire mediators to take effective measures to ensure Israel fulfills all terms of the signed agreement.

The Gaza Health Ministry reported that since Israel’s military campaign began in October 2023, at least 73,043 Palestinians have been killed and 173,417 injured in the Gaza Strip.

A doctor at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis has accused Israel of carrying out a 'health genocide' in Gaza, citing the collapse of medical services despite a ceasefire agreement. According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, under the U.S.-mediated truce signed in October 2025, around 21,000 Palestinians were supposed to receive permission to leave Gaza for medical treatment. However, fewer than 7,500 have been able to leave so far, meaning only about 36 percent of the agreement has been implemented.

Al Jazeera’s Gaza correspondent Tareq Abu Azzoum reported that thousands of people approved for emergency evacuation remain trapped in Gaza, many of whom are unlikely to survive. Dr. Ahmed Al-Farra, head of the pediatric department at Nasser Hospital, said the situation has become the worst in a thousand days, with hospitals lacking supplies and staff. He described Israel’s actions as targeting the health sector and turning hospitals into unusable concrete shells.

The report highlights the ongoing humanitarian and medical crisis in Gaza despite the ceasefire framework intended to facilitate medical relief and patient transfers.

North Korea has strongly criticized the ongoing joint military exercise between the United States and Japan, accusing Tokyo of exploiting global instability to transform itself into a 'militarist state.' According to a report by North Korea’s state news agency KCNA, the exercise, named 'Resolute Dragon,' is being used by Japan to test its ability to conduct overseas military operations.

Pyongyang further alleged that Japan’s deepening military cooperation with the United States is worsening security instability in the Asia-Pacific region. It claimed that Japan had earlier participated for the first time in a US-led multinational drill in April and May, where it tested long-range missile capabilities aimed at potential preemptive strikes against neighboring countries.

The North Korean statement warned that continued military activities of this nature could bring 'terrible consequences' for Japan. The 'Resolute Dragon' exercise began on June 20 in Japan’s southwestern Okinawa and Kyushu islands, involving the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force and the US Marine Corps, and is scheduled to conclude on Tuesday.

Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud is set to visit China for a two-day official trip from Tuesday to Wednesday, according to China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The visit comes at the invitation of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and follows a weekend of reciprocal attacks between the United States and Iran around the Strait of Hormuz.

The trip takes place against the backdrop of escalating regional tensions. Earlier, a memorandum of understanding was signed to halt the conflict between Iran and the US-Israel alliance, followed by technical-level discussions in Switzerland. Since the war began in February, Iran has launched attacks on several Gulf countries hosting US military bases, including Saudi Arabia. These repeated strikes and the temporary closure of the Strait of Hormuz have severely disrupted Saudi oil exports.

The visit is expected to focus on regional stability and energy security, though specific agenda details were not disclosed in the source.

Turkish Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmus stated that lasting peace in the Middle East can only be achieved if Israel’s current far-right government halts its expansionist policies and aggression. Speaking at the opening session of a NATO summit in Istanbul, he said that ending decades of injustice against Palestinians and ensuring justice are essential for regional stability.

Kurtulmus emphasized that stopping Israel’s aggressive actions would not only secure peace and safety for Palestinians but also strengthen global peace. He reaffirmed Turkey’s support for establishing an independent and sovereign Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, reiterating that a two-state solution remains the only viable path to resolving the crisis.

He also welcomed the recent interim agreement between Iran and the United States, expressing hope that such initiatives would lead beyond temporary ceasefires toward a lasting and just peace.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said that continued Ukrainian attacks have caused some fuel shortages in Russia, though he described the situation as not yet serious. In an interview released by the Kremlin on Sunday, Putin explained that after four years of war, Ukrainian strikes have affected Russia’s energy infrastructure.

Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Russian forces have regularly targeted Ukrainian cities, civilians, and energy facilities. In response, Ukraine has launched counterattacks on oil refineries and other military sites inside Russia. Putin stated that Russia’s main task now is to strengthen its air defense systems, particularly to secure energy supplies to Crimea.

Authorities in Russian-occupied Crimea declared a state of emergency on Friday due to fuel shortages and power outages, blaming Ukrainian attacks on logistics chains and oil installations. Putin also expressed hope that once the Middle East situation stabilizes, a U.S. delegation might visit Moscow to discuss ending the war.

Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs, Kazem Gharibabadi, met with Oman’s Deputy Foreign Minister Abdul Aziz Al-Hinai in Muscat to discuss the management of the Strait of Hormuz. The meeting focused on cooperation within the framework of Article 5 of the ‘Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding’ and the sovereign rights of coastal states.

According to Gharibabadi’s post on social media platform X, the discussions addressed the removal of technical and military obstacles and the deactivation of mines within 30 days, as outlined in the memorandum. The memorandum also calls for Iran to engage with other Persian Gulf coastal states, in coordination with Oman, to determine future administration and maritime services in the Strait of Hormuz.

The talks are intended to align with applicable international law and respect the sovereign rights of the coastal states bordering the strategic waterway.

China has added 20 Japanese companies to its export control blacklist, aiming to halt the export of dual-use goods that can serve both military and civilian purposes. The announcement came from China’s Ministry of Commerce on Monday, according to AFP. Among the listed entities is Japan’s National Institute for Defense Studies.

In its statement, the ministry said the decision was made to protect national security and interests, prevent weapons proliferation, and fulfill international obligations. China believes these Japanese firms have contributed to strengthening Japan’s military capabilities, prompting their inclusion on the list.

The move underscores China’s growing emphasis on export controls related to defense-linked technologies and reflects ongoing sensitivities in regional security and trade relations between China and Japan.

Four days after a pair of powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela, a father and his teenage son were rescued alive from the rubble near Caracas. The rescue took place in the town of Carabaleda, about 40 kilometers north of the capital, where French and U.S. rescue teams located the survivors on Sunday. The twin quakes, which hit the previous week, have left more than 1,450 people dead.

Interim leader Delcy Rodríguez praised the rescuers for continuing their efforts to find survivors, emphasizing that the mission would not be halted as long as there was hope. The discovery of the father and son has brought a rare moment of relief amid the country’s ongoing crisis.

Despite the successful rescue, thousands of people remain missing, and the nation continues to grapple with the aftermath of the disaster and its broader economic challenges.

Thousands of Malawian nationals are leaving South Africa following a surge in xenophobic violence targeting foreign workers. Many, including 27-year-old Janet Kapito, have returned home empty-handed after losing their belongings and livelihoods. The Malawian government has arranged buses to repatriate citizens before the June 30 deadline, while well-wishers have raised funds to support those stranded. According to local media, 6,936 Malawians have already returned, and authorities estimate around 10,000 remain at risk in South Africa.

Malawi’s Department of Disaster Management Affairs has activated a comprehensive response plan to ensure safe and dignified returns. South African authorities reported that 15,162 Malawians have been processed for deportation or repatriation. Many returnees said they had taken high-interest loans to migrate and are now struggling to repay them after losing jobs and property during the unrest. Some described hiding in open fields as violence escalated.

Community sources told Al Jazeera that xenophobic attacks often intensify around election periods. With unemployment high in Malawi, returnees face social stigma and economic hardship, and officials expect thousands more to arrive in the coming weeks.

Iran’s senior adviser to the Supreme Leader, Ali Akbar Velayati, has issued a strong warning to Bahrain, saying Tehran will launch harsher attacks if provoked. He urged Bahrain’s people to recognize their limits and avoid forcing Iran into taking severe action.

According to the report, Iran carried out strikes on a US naval base in Bahrain on Friday and Saturday in retaliation for American attacks. Tehran claimed that the United States used Bahraini military bases to launch assaults on Iran. Bahrain, however, denied the allegation and condemned the Iranian strikes, calling them a violation of its sovereignty.

The exchange of accusations has heightened tensions between Tehran and Manama, with both sides asserting conflicting narratives about the recent military actions.

Israel’s military announced it destroyed a 200-meter-long tunnel used by Hezbollah in the southern Lebanese town of Maydal Zoun. The operation, confirmed Sunday in a joint statement by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz, was reportedly coordinated with the United States beforehand. The tunnel allegedly contained hundreds of weapons and rocket launchers. Hours earlier, Israeli forces said they had struck Hezbollah fighters and a rocket launcher in Nabatieh, southern Lebanon.

The strike came two days after Lebanon and Israel agreed to a U.S.-mediated security arrangement aimed at easing border tensions. The deal includes deploying Lebanese troops and a phased withdrawal of Israeli forces from parts of southern Lebanon, while allowing Israel to maintain a presence in an expanded security zone. Hezbollah condemned the Israeli attacks as a clear violation of the ceasefire, asserting its right to defend Lebanon and its people.

Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem rejected the new security agreement, calling it a surrender to Israel and vowing to continue armed resistance. The conflict, running parallel to the Iran war, has displaced over one million Lebanese citizens, according to the report.