The fragile truce between Iran and the United States showed signs of unravelling on Thursday, with Tehran threatening to resume hostilities as Israel pummelled Lebanon.
US Vice President JD Vance on Wednesday urged Iran not to let the fragile ceasefire deal fall apart over Israel’s attacks on Lebanon, days before he is due to lead talks with Tehran in Pakistan.
Lebanese officials said Israeli strikes on Wednesday killed over 254 people and wounded 1,165, adding that the updated toll was not final. The Israeli military said it struck around 100 Hezbollah sites across Lebanon on Wednesday, describing the operation as the “largest coordinated strike” since the war with Iran began that killed a senior Hezbolla commander.
Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah said Thursday it had fired rockets towards Israel in response to its “violation” of the US-Iran truce.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said that a Lebanon ceasefire was one of the key conditions of the Islamic Republic’s 10-point plan for securing an end to the Middle East war.
French President Emmanuel Macron told United States President Donald Trump and Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian that Lebanon needs to be included in the two-week ceasefire deal for it to be “credible and lasting.”
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam declared Thursday a national day of mourning after Israeli strikes shook the country. AFP
