Live from the conflict in the Middle East: strikes in Lebanon, Saudi arms sales and global tensions

J.B., J.D., L.G. with AFP

In Lebanon, three dead and 23 injured in Israeli strikes

At least three people were killed and 23 others injured Friday evening in Israeli strikes in southern and eastern Lebanon, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry. The bombings targeted five localities located in the regions of Tire and Nabatiyé, in the south of the country, as well as in the Bekaa, in the east.

US approves $5 billion arms deal to Saudi Arabia

The United States gave the green light on Friday to a five billion dollar arms sale to Saudi Arabia. The contract concerns in particular bombs, guidance kits and various military equipment intended to strengthen the defense capabilities of the kingdom, regularly targeted by drones and missiles since the start of the war led by Washington and Israel against Iran.

According to the American State Department, this sale should allow Riyadh to better face “current and future regional threats”, while strengthening interoperability with American forces and their partners in the Gulf. Washington also underlines the strategic importance of Saudi Arabia, considered a major ally outside NATO.

Trump announces that work to strengthen the security of the presidential plane donated by Qatar will begin in October

Trump says the war in Iran is “noise” for the United States

As the midterms approach, Donald Trump put the extent of American involvement in the conflict in Iran into perspective on Friday. Questioned in the Oval Office about the comments of his vice-president J.D. Vance, who the day before refused to speak of “war”, the American president adopted the same line.

“A lot of people don’t call it a war. I say it's a military conflict, because it's bullshit for us. It's not a big thing. We did Venezuela and we did that,” he said.

Two dead in Israeli strike in southern Lebanon

Despite a truce with pro-Iranian Hezbollah, an Israeli strike left two dead on Friday in southern Lebanon according to state media, near the Ali Taher ridge which Israel said it had taken control of.

US sanctions Turkish bank suspected of working with Iran

The American government on Friday placed a Turkish bank on its blacklist, accused of having transferred funds for the benefit of the Iranian authorities.

“Golden Global Yatirim Bankasi Anonim Sirketi (Golden Global Bank) and its subsidiaries facilitated transactions worth tens of millions of dollars on behalf of” the Revolutionary Guards, Iran’s powerful armed force, writes the Treasury.

Death toll from Houthi attack in Yemen now rises to 120

According to military and medical sources, the latest results of clashes in Yemen between pro-government forces and Houthis show more than 120 deaths in two days. It is one of the deadliest attacks in years, following the offensive launched by pro-Iranian rebels near the strategic Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

Diesel (also) reaches new records in the United States

In the United States, too, the price of gasoline is weighing down household purchasing power. The price of diesel, widely used in transport and agriculture, reached a new record on Friday. It reached 5.85 dollars (5 euros) per gallon (3.8 liters), according to data published by the American Automobile Association, beating the previous record which dates back to 2022, then in the aftermath of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The price of gasoline hits a new ceiling

SP95-E10 gasoline has never been so expensive in France since the outbreak of the war in Iran at the end of February, at 2.090 euros per liter on Friday, while the price of diesel remains very high, according to an AFP calculation based on government data. This average, based on 7,452 stations, is 2.78% higher than a week ago and 21.52% more expensive since February 27 in France, the day before the first Israeli-American strikes.

The price of a barrel of Brent fell to nearly $70 at the beginning of July, before rising again to settle this Friday around $95 in a context of renewed tensions in the Middle East.

The Red Cross says it has transferred four people released by Israel to Lebanon

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) announced on Friday that it had transferred four new people released by Israel to Lebanon, the day after the release of a first civilian.

Israel says it has consolidated its “security zone” in Lebanon

“The capture of the Ali Taher Ridge marks the completion of control (by Israel, editor's note) of the security zone in southern Lebanon,” Defense Minister Israel Katz said in a video released by his services.

According to Israel, Hezbollah had dug tunnels in this area allowing it to launch drones and missiles against Israeli military positions in southern Lebanon, as well as northern Israel across the border.

Palestinian killed by police in Jerusalem after attempted stabbing

Near the Damascus Gate which provides access to the Old City, security forces “neutralized a terrorist who had tried to attack them with a knife, and he was pronounced dead on the spot,” police said in a statement.

According to the same source, he is a 33-year-old man from Jerusalem.

South Korea at the bedside of Hormuz?

Seoul plans to make its “contribution” to secure navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, says the presidency.

“Contributions for the Strait of Hormuz could be managed within limits which do not compromise the state of military preparedness” of South Korea in the face of the threat from North Korea, a presidential spokesperson told the press.

J.D. Vance plays with words

A war, what war? During a press conference at the White House on Thursday, US Vice President J.D. Vance ruled that the ongoing conflict with Iran was not “a war”. Another very personal vision: the passage through the Strait of Hormuz has, according to him, “almost” returned to normal.

Hello and welcome to this live

Together we will follow the latest news on the conflict between the United States and Iran, whose repercussions are global and which does not seem to have an end.

Partial calm returned to the Middle East this Friday, after Iranian strikes against American military targets in the Gulf on Thursday. Tehran has promised to avenge the attack which killed four people at a wedding on Tuesday.

In the Strait of Hormuz, a new actor could come into play: South Korea, which is considering making its contribution to secure the area.

In the United States, the vice-president plays with words: according to J.D. Vance, the current conflict is not “a war”. For his part, Donald Trump assured this Friday that the war against Iran was “nonsense”.

The price of gasoline hits a new ceiling (duplicate removed)

The Red Cross says it has transferred four people released by Israel to Lebanon (duplicate removed)

Israel says it has consolidated its “security zone” in Lebanon (duplicate removed)