Israel to strike Lebanon despite ceasefire; US House votes to limit Trump's war powers
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Iran-US war latest: Israel to strike Lebanon despite ceasefire while US House votes to block Trump hitting Iran
Israel has ‘freedom of action, backed by the United States, to strike in Beirut in response to attacks on Israeli communities and territory,’ said defence minister Katz shortly after a US-brokered ceasefire was agreed
Israel will continue operations in Lebanon despite a ceasefire and Lebanese residents forced to flee will not be able to return, Israeli defence minister Israel Katz said on Thursday.
His statement came shortly after the countries had agreed to a US-brokered ceasefire.
Katz said troops would remain in Israel’s so-called security zone in southern Lebanon, including in the area of Beaufort Castle, a 900-year-old fortress captured by Israel on Saturday.
He said Israel would continue to “dismantle terrorist infrastructure in the area” while Israel had “freedom of action, backed by the United States, to strike in Beirut in response to attacks on Israeli communities and territory.”
The ceasefire had been announced in a joint statement after representatives from all three countries met on Tuesday and Wednesday.
A pause in fighting “is contingent on a complete cessation of Hezbollah fire and the evacuation of all Hezbollah operatives from the South Litani Sector”, the statement read.
Meanwhile, enough Republicans joined Democrats in the US House of Representatives to pass a resolution limiting Donald Trump's war powers. The resolution passed by a vote of 215 to 208, but still needs approval from the Republican-controlled Senate. The vote is largely symbolic and is likely to be ignored by the White House.
How Iran’s ‘bazaar style’ negotiation tactic is stalling deal discussions to its benefit
Negotiations between the US and Iran over an end to the war on the country have been languishing in a stalemate for weeks as both sides remain intransigent about key issues including nuclear development and the situation in Lebanon.
The US is insistent that Tehran surrender its right to ever develop highly enriched uranium and appears to have been manoeuvring to install a government more sympathetic to Western interests.
Meanwhile, Iran has said that it will never agree to a deal that does not ensure the sovereignty of Lebanon and its borders from Israel - with Israeli strikes against Hezbollah in Lebanon continuing - and has insisted on its ability to hold on to some nuclear development capabilities.
How Iran’s ‘bazaar style’ negotiation tactic is stalling deal discussions
The Iranian penchant for what Tehran’s foreign minister calls ‘continuous and tireless’ bargaining appears to be wearing down Donald Trump, writes Maira Butt
Maira Butt4 June 2026 10:35
Hezbollah rejects Israel-Lebanon ceasefire agreement
Hezbollah has told Lebanon’s president that it rejects a ceasefire agreement between the country and Israel.
The group demanded that Israel withdraw completely from Lebanon.
Israel’s defence minister Israel Katz has said that strikes on the country, including Beirut, will continue in the fighting.
Maira Butt4 June 2026 10:09
Ben-Gvir calls Lebanon ceasefire a 'serious mistake'
Israel's far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir on Thursday called the ceasefire a “serious mistake” and said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should bring it to the cabinet for a vote.
Ben-Gvir said that Hezbollah would not withdraw its fighters from the area south of the Litani River and that the Lebanese Armed Forces were incapable of forcing Hezbollah to comply.
“The Lebanese state is a partner of Hezbollah,” he said. “In practice, Hezbollah will only grow stronger, and instead of defeating it, Israel is accepting its very existence.”
Maira Butt4 June 2026 09:27
Iran's Khamenei warns against divisions after 'enemy's defeat on battlefield'
Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has said that Iran's enemies, having been defeated on the battlefield, are now seeking to undermine public resilience and sow internal divisions in a message to the nation read on his behalf on Thursday.
Khamenei called for national unity in the face of those threats and said any action that created pessimism or frustration among the public amounted to helping the enemy.
The message was read during ceremonies marking the anniversary of the death of the Islamic Republic's founder, Ruhollah Khomeini, as well as a major Shi'ite holiday.
Khamenei has not been seen in public since he was injured in a US-Israeli strike that killed his father on 28 February.
Maira Butt4 June 2026 08:59
Trump says definition of ceasefire is different in Middle East
President Donald Trump on Wednesday dismissed questions on whether the shaky ceasefire with Iran is holding by suggesting that the definition of a ceasefire is different in the Middle East region.
Asked whether the ceasefire is still in place after Iran fired missiles against targets in Kuwait, Trump replied that there was “a reason” for the exchange of fire.
“We've been hitting them pretty hard, a little bit, so there is a reason for certain things, and there's usually a reason that sometimes makes sense. Some, but they did something for not a big deal. We got it, we nipped it in the bud very quickly, as we do with the greatest military in the world, but some people would say they were slightly provoked because we took a strong action for a different reason, so they were reciprocating,” he said.
The Independent’s White House correspondent Andrew Feinberg reports:
Trump describes Iran ceasefire as ‘shooting in a moderate manner’
Madcap comments came after U.S. and Iran exchange fire earlier in the week
Maira Butt4 June 2026 08:27
Watch: US House votes to limit Trump’s war powers
Maira Butt4 June 2026 07:54
Israel to continue operations in Lebanon for now despite ceasefire, defence minister says
Israel will continue its operations on the ground in southern Lebanon for the time being and Lebanese residents forced from their homes by Israel would not be able to return, Defence Minister Israel Katz said on Thursday.
His comments came a day after Lebanon and Israel said they had agreed to implement a ceasefire during talks in Washington. The deal is contingent on a cessation of fire from militant group Hezbollah.
In a statement, Katz said troops would remain in its so-called security zone in southern Lebanon, including in the area of Beaufort Castle, a 900-year-old fortress captured by Israel on Saturday.
He said Israel would continue to “dismantle terrorist infrastructure in the area” while Israel had “freedom of action, backed by the United States, to strike in Beirut in response to attacks on Israeli communities and territory.”
Maira Butt4 June 2026 07:28
Watch: Kuwait releases footage of 'brutal Iranian drone attack' on airport terminal
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar4 June 2026 07:10
Inflation and ICE fears threaten to dampen World Cup economic benefits in US
When the U.S. last hosted the World Cup in 1994, the event drew unexpectedly large crowds. At that time, football wasn’t as popular among Americans as it is now, so expectations for attendance had been fairly low.
So as the U.S. prepared to host the World Cup again in 2026, expectations for tourism were high.
But in the run-up to this year’s World Cup, the ongoing war in Iran has resulted in soaring inflation and high fuel prices, neither of which bodes well for tourism or event attendance.
Recent tourism reports indicate there will be fewer hotel reservations than anticipated due to reduced international travel confidence and a growing uncertainty related to U.S. immigration policies, geopolitical instability, tariffs and inflation.
More here.
Inflation and ICE fears dampen World Cup economic benefits
Hotel reservations in South Florida made by international travelers are weak compared with previous mega events
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar4 June 2026 07:00
House Republicans join Democrats in rebuke to Trump’s Iran war powers
A handful of Republicans joined Democrats on Wednesday and bucked President Donald Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson to rein in the president’s power to further prosecute his war in Iran.
The House passed the War Powers Act resolution 215-208. The move came after four Republicans defected to the Democratic side.
Under U.S. law, the president must withdraw troops within 60 days of a military engagement unless Congress declares war or authorizes the use of military force. The president must also inform Congress within 48 of committing armed forces into action.
More here.
House Republicans join Democrats in rebuke to Trump’s Iran war powers
Four Republicans join Democrats on a War Powers Act resolution in the latest act of defiance against Trump by some Republicans
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar4 June 2026 06:45
