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Haniyeh Briefs Khamenei on Gaza Developments

Haniyeh meets Khamenei on June 21. (File photo/Office of the Iranian Leader)
Haniyeh meets Khamenei on June 21. (File photo/Office of the Iranian Leader)
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Haniyeh Briefs Khamenei on Gaza Developments

Haniyeh meets Khamenei on June 21. (File photo/Office of the Iranian Leader)
Haniyeh meets Khamenei on June 21. (File photo/Office of the Iranian Leader)

Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh has briefed Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on the latest developments in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, at a time when Israel warned the US of harsh consequences if attacks continue on Gaza.

Iran's Tasnim news agency said the country's top authority Khamenei "emphasized Tehran's consistent policy of supporting the Palestinian resistance forces against the Zionist occupiers".

Haniyeh briefed Khamenei on the crimes of the Zionist regime in Gaza, as well as the developments in the West Bank, the office of Khamenei said.

"Ayatollah Khamenei praised the steadfastness and resilience of the people of Gaza and expressed strong regret over the crimes of the Zionist regime, supported directly by Washington and some Western countries," Iran's state TV said.

The Supreme Leader urged the comprehensive and practical support of Islamic governments for the people of Gaza.​

Othman Hamdan, the representative of Hamas in Lebanon, said earlier that Hanieh arrived in the Iranian capital a few days ago to hold talks.

Last week, Khamenei called for ceasing oil and food exports to Israel.

For his part, the representative of the Iranian leader in the Supreme National Security Council, Saeed Jalili, called for backing the resistance through the “soft powers”, according to ISNA.

IRGC-affiliated Tasnim news agency quoted Mohammad-Reza Ashtiani, Iran's Minister of Defense, as saying "our advice to the Americans is to immediately halt the war in Gaza and implement a ceasefire, otherwise they will be hit hard."

The US accused Iranian-backed armed factions in the region of conducting attacks by drones and missiles in Syria and Iraq. The US responded by striking sites in Syria.

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin announced last Saturday that sending the United States a second aircraft carrier to the eastern Mediterranean comes within the framework of “deterring hostile actions against Israel or any efforts to expand the war”.

Brigadier General Abolfazl Shekarchi said on Saturday that the US is incapable of fighting Hamas and that Israel fears fighting face-to-face with Palestinian fighters.

Shekarchi said the US aircraft carriers approached Israel to boost the Israeli military’s morale, according to Tasnim.

He noted that the NATO countries backed Israel after Operation Al-Aqsa Storm which was launched by Hamas on October 7.

He added that when these countries failed to face the small group of Hamas, they started targeting women, children, schools, and houses.

Meanwhile, Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi said the attacks on US military bases in Iraq and Syria over the past days were not related to Iran. Washington may be targeted as the "main culprit" anywhere as it is "managing the conflict," he added.

Mohsen Hashemi, former Iranian President Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani's son, said that the indirect involvement of Iran in the ongoing war in Gaza and the voluntary presence of Hezbollah could drag Iran to the battle.

Reformist activist Mohammadreza Jalaeipour told Mehr news agency that any truce in Gaza would positively affect the nuclear talks between the US and Iran. He praised the fact that Iran restricted its support to moral support and didn’t get involved in the war.

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Arab World

Israel Intensifies Ceasefire Violations, Destroying and Burning Occupied Lebanese Villages

Residents walk on the rubble of destroyed houses on the second day of a ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel in Jibchit village, south Lebanon, Saturday, April 18, 2026.(AP Photo/Mohammed Zaatari)
Residents walk on the rubble of destroyed houses on the second day of a ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel in Jibchit village, south Lebanon, Saturday, April 18, 2026.(AP Photo/Mohammed Zaatari)
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Israel Intensifies Ceasefire Violations, Destroying and Burning Occupied Lebanese Villages

Residents walk on the rubble of destroyed houses on the second day of a ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel in Jibchit village, south Lebanon, Saturday, April 18, 2026.(AP Photo/Mohammed Zaatari)
Residents walk on the rubble of destroyed houses on the second day of a ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel in Jibchit village, south Lebanon, Saturday, April 18, 2026.(AP Photo/Mohammed Zaatari)

Israeli violations of the US-brokered ceasefire on the Lebanon front continue, as military operations and airstrikes persist against targets Israel claims are affiliated with Hezbollah. This has forced residents who had returned to some southern villages to leave again immediately, fearing a rapid return to fighting.

The yellow line

These violations coincide with the Israeli army’s announcement of the creation of a “yellow line” in southern Lebanon, similar to the one in Gaza, effectively preventing residents from returning to 55 Lebanese towns located within this line.

On Saturday, the Israeli army said it had established a separating “yellow line” in southern Lebanon, similar to the line dividing its forces from areas controlled by Hamas in Gaza. It stated that it had targeted suspected militants who approached its forces along this line.

The army said that over the past 24 hours, its forces operating south of the yellow line had identified individuals it described as militants who violated the ceasefire and approached from the north of the line in what it called a direct threat. This marked the first reference to the line since the ceasefire took effect.

It added that its forces struck those individuals in several areas of southern Lebanon immediately after detecting them, in order to eliminate the threat, stressing that it is authorized to act against threats despite the ceasefire.

In this context, military and security expert Brig. Gen. Fadi Daoud told Asharq Al-Awsat that the Israeli security line is unofficial but effectively constitutes a dangerous point of friction. He said it is known in the field as the Israeli technical line along the Lebanon-Israel border. It is not an internationally recognized boundary but a security measure imposed by Israel that extends beyond the Blue Line and is used to impose facts on the ground, and could quickly trigger clashes.

An unstable situation

Amid the developments imposed by the recent war, it has become difficult to quantify Israeli violations, as UNIFIL forces are unable to enter towns under full Israeli control. A security source told Asharq Al-Awsat that violations are not limited to artillery shelling, drone strikes, or clashes with Hezbollah fighters, but also include the deliberate booby-trapping and complete demolition of homes under the pretext of destroying the group’s infrastructure.

The source described the situation in the south as unstable, warning of concerns about a return to a cycle of fighting. The source added that the Lebanese side had been monitoring developments through the mechanism committee, but the committee is currently not in place, leaving no mechanism to address new Israeli attacks.

On the ground, one person was killed in the town of Kounine and others were wounded by a suspicious object believed to be a cluster munition left over from Israeli bombardment, just hours after the ceasefire came into effect. Artillery shelling continues to be heard in several villages in the central sector, while Israeli forces fired bursts of gunfire toward the town of Aitaroun.

Field reports indicate that the town of Khiam continues to come under artillery fire. Israeli forces have also carried out demolitions in Khiam, Qantara, Shamaa, Bint Jbeil, and Bayyada. Explosions and sweeping fire were also reported in the vicinity of Bint Jbeil.

Two tracks of operations in the south

The ceasefire terms, which took effect at midnight between Thursday and Friday, have imposed a new and more difficult reality compared with the cessation of hostilities agreement reached between Lebanon and Israel on November 27, 2024.

Daoud said Israeli operations south of the Litani River are proceeding along two parallel tracks aimed at establishing a new reality on the ground. The first track involves efforts by the Israeli army to entrench its presence in villages it has taken control of, alongside continuing a policy of widespread destruction similar to what it previously carried out in Gaza.

He said the Israeli army is focusing on demolishing buildings in villages it controls in the first and second defensive lines, uprooting trees including olive trees, and setting forests on fire to turn them into completely scorched areas. He added that Israel is also clearing the rubble of destroyed homes and transporting it for recycling, indicating an intention to fundamentally alter the nature of the area.

The battle for Bint Jbeil

The second track centers, according to Daoud, on the battle for Bint Jbeil. He said the battle has two main dimensions: a symbolic one, as Hezbollah has called the city the “capital of the resistance,” and a strategic one due to its geographic location near the border, allowing whoever controls it to influence both northern Israel and southern Lebanon.

The importance of Bint Jbeil is not limited to symbolism but extends to its surroundings. Daoud said controlling the city effectively means controlling surrounding roads and towns, as it provides a tactical advantage that allows fire control over the northeastern and western sectors of the area. He added that operations inside Bint Jbeil will continue regardless of the ceasefire.

He also suggested that if a US green light is given, Israel may continue operations under what is described as “low-intensity warfare” or guerrilla-style operations, aimed at completing control over remaining Hezbollah positions in the city.

Daoud stressed that Israel’s less visible operations reflect a scorched-earth policy, turning occupied towns south of the Litani into fully devastated areas, mirroring the operational pattern seen in Gaza.

Arab World

Lebanon President, PM Discuss Readiness for Israel Talks

Vehicles line up as displaced people make their way to return to their homes after a 10-day ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel went into effect, in Sidon, Lebanon, April 18, 2026. REUTERS/Aziz Taher
Vehicles line up as displaced people make their way to return to their homes after a 10-day ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel went into effect, in Sidon, Lebanon, April 18, 2026. REUTERS/Aziz Taher
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Lebanon President, PM Discuss Readiness for Israel Talks

Vehicles line up as displaced people make their way to return to their homes after a 10-day ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel went into effect, in Sidon, Lebanon, April 18, 2026. REUTERS/Aziz Taher
Vehicles line up as displaced people make their way to return to their homes after a 10-day ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel went into effect, in Sidon, Lebanon, April 18, 2026. REUTERS/Aziz Taher

Lebanon's president and prime minister discussed on Saturday preparations for the first direct negotiations with Israel in decades, as southerners headed home after the ceasefire in the Israel-Hezbollah war.

In a statement, the office of President Joseph Aoun said he and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam conducted "an assessment of the post-ceasefire phase and the ongoing efforts to consolidate it", and discussed "Lebanese readiness for the anticipated negotiations" with Israel.

Their meeting came a day after a strongly-worded speech to the nation from Aoun stating that the country was entering a new phase to work on "permanent agreements" with Israel and insisting that direct talks were not a "concession" -- an apparent rebuttal of Hezbollah criticism.

The 10-day ceasefire seeking to end more than six weeks of war between Hezbollah and Israel has been in place since midnight on Thursday (2100 GMT) after being announced by US President Donald Trump.

More than 2,300 people have been killed in Israeli attacks and more than a million displaced since Hezbollah dragged Lebanon into the Middle East conflict last month.

Iran-backed Hezbollah and its supporters strongly oppose the negotiations, and have rejected several government decisions over the past year, including Beirut's commitment to disarming the group in 2025.

As the truce entered its second day, displaced people were still flocking to the south, which saw the brunt of the fighting, with roads packed with cars.

Lebanon's military and other local bodies are working to open roads that were blocked due to Israeli strikes.

In the heavily bombed southern suburbs of Beirut, families came to inspect their homes and grab belongings, though neighborhoods in the area remained largely empty, according to an AFP correspondent, with people hesitant to return.

Among the residents briefly visiting was Samah Hajoul, who is currently staying in a tent on Beirut's seafront.

"We do not feel safe to return, for fear that something might happen at night and I would not be able to carry my children and flee with them," she told AFP.

She only visited her home, which sustained minor damage, to "bathe the children and get summer clothes" as temperatures started to rise.

"We will wait and see what happens during the days of the truce. If the ceasefire is consolidated, we will return to our homes," she added, saying that dozens of families staying in nearby tents were doing the same.

During his meeting with Aoun, Salam expressed hope that "the displaced will be able to return safely to their homes as soon as possible after the ceasefire holds".

He stressed that the government was working to "facilitate this return, especially by repairing the destroyed bridges, opening roads, and providing supplies in the areas where the return will be safe and possible".

Arab World

Strong Pressure on Hamas to Agree to Gaza Disarmament

Gunmen from Hamas and Islamic Jihad seen deployed in Gaza (file- AFP)
Gunmen from Hamas and Islamic Jihad seen deployed in Gaza (file- AFP)
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Strong Pressure on Hamas to Agree to Gaza Disarmament

Gunmen from Hamas and Islamic Jihad seen deployed in Gaza (file- AFP)
Gunmen from Hamas and Islamic Jihad seen deployed in Gaza (file- AFP)

Hamas is facing its strongest pressure yet from mediators and other parties to agree, even in principle, to the “Peace Council” document before negotiating its terms, particularly the plan to disarm factions operating in the Gaza Strip, especially its armed wing, the Qassam Brigades.

Two Hamas sources outside Gaza told Asharq Al-Awsat that some mediating countries are trying to persuade the movement to provide preliminary written approval of the plan, which was presented about two weeks ago by Peace Council High Commissioner Nikolay Mladenov to the group’s leadership, with detailed negotiations to follow at a later stage.

The sources said there are efforts to secure this approval before obtaining clear guarantees obligating Israel to implement the first phase of the ceasefire agreement. They added that the negotiating team is insisting on maintaining its position to ensure full implementation of the first phase before moving on to talks over the second phase.

Destruction in Gaza - File photo by AFP

They said mediators and other parties are pushing for the full implementation of the first phase without exception, in exchange for immediately beginning work on the second phase in parallel, a move that could lead to an agreement.

One source pointed to real concerns within Hamas leadership that Israel and the United States could use any preliminary approval to the phase-two document to pressure the movement into steps it still rejects under the original plan and for which it has requested clear amendments.

The source added that some mediating countries understand Hamas’ position and concerns and are trying to convey reassurances, while internal discussions within the movement and with other Palestinian factions are ongoing.

Some factions, with mediator backing, have proposed shortening the second phase from eight months to three or four months to capitalize on any positive progress in improving humanitarian and living conditions in Gaza, particularly by launching the reconstruction phase amid the urgent need for progress, as displaced people whose homes were destroyed continue to live in extremely harsh conditions, according to a factional source.

The same source said the aim of shortening the second phase is to move to more advanced stages that serve all parties, especially Palestinians seeking to reorganize their internal situation, address the population’s needs, and work toward building a comprehensive Palestinian national system. The source added that efforts are also underway, with Arab and Islamic support including from Türkiye, to resume Palestinian national dialogue, but so far there has been no progress indicating an imminent meeting, though efforts continue.

The source noted there is consensus among factions on the issue of limiting weapons, but not in the form currently proposed. Factions want to introduce amendments to the original proposal and will wait to see how ongoing contacts develop before submitting their revisions if serious discussions on the second phase begin.

A girl carries a bowl of water in a temporary camp for displaced Palestinians in Khan Yunis, southern Gaza Strip - AFP

This comes as Israeli military escalation continues in the Gaza Strip, leading to a rising number of Palestinian casualties.

Four Palestinians were wounded Saturday morning, one critically, after being shot east of Gaza City and east of Jabalia in the northern part of the territory.

On Friday, three Palestinians were killed in a series of Israeli attacks targeting groups of civilians and tents for displaced people in Khan Younis in the south and in areas in the north. Among the victims were two brothers who were driving a desalinated water truck providing services to displaced people with support from UNICEF, which announced it was suspending its activities in northern Gaza following the incident.

The number of Palestinian casualties in the Gaza Strip since the ceasefire took effect on October 10, 2025 has risen to more than 773, with over 2,015 injured. The cumulative total since October 7, 2023 has exceeded 72,500.