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Two Rockets from Lebanon Hit Israel, Drawing Israeli Retaliation

Vehicles drive along border wall with Israel near southern Lebanese village of Adaisseh. (AFP file photo)
Vehicles drive along border wall with Israel near southern Lebanese village of Adaisseh. (AFP file photo)
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Two Rockets from Lebanon Hit Israel, Drawing Israeli Retaliation

Vehicles drive along border wall with Israel near southern Lebanese village of Adaisseh. (AFP file photo)
Vehicles drive along border wall with Israel near southern Lebanese village of Adaisseh. (AFP file photo)

Two rockets launched from Lebanon on Wednesday struck Israel, which responded with artillery fire, amid heightened regional tensions over an alleged Iranian attack on an oil tanker in the Gulf last week.

Israel's Magen David Adom national ambulance service said there were no casualties on the Israeli side of the hilly frontier, where the rockets ignited a brush fire.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the rocket strike, launched from an area of south Lebanon under the sway of the Iranian-backed Hezbollah.

In a statement, Israel's military said three rockets were launched from Lebanon, with one falling short of the Israeli border and the others striking inside Israel. Witnesses in Lebanon also reported that several rockets were fired at Israel.

"In response, (Israeli) artillery forces attacked Lebanese territory," the military said. Some two hours after the initial shelling, the military said its artillery had fired again at targets, which it did not identify, along the frontier.

The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon said its Head of Mission and Force Commander, Major General Stefano Del Col, was in contact with both parties.

"He urged them to cease fire and to exercise maximum restraint to avoid further escalation, especially on this solemn anniversary," the statement said, referring to the Beirut port explosion on Aug. 4 last year.

The border has been mostly quiet since Israel fought a 2006 war against Hezbollah, which has advanced rockets.

But small Palestinian factions in Lebanon have fired sporadically on Israel in the past, and two rockets were launched at Israel on July 20, causing no damage or injuries. Israel responded to that incident with artillery fire.

The latest border incidents occurred after an attack last Thursday, which Israel blamed on Iran, on a tanker off the coast of Oman. Two crew members, a Briton and a Romanian, were killed. Iran has denied any involvement.

Briefing a meeting of ambassadors from UN Security Council countries to Israel on Wednesday, Defense Minister Benny Gantz said: "It is time for diplomatic, economic and even military deeds (against Iran) - otherwise the attacks will continue."

On Tuesday, Britain, Romania and Liberia told the United Nations Security Council it was "highly likely" that Iran used one or more drones to strike the vessel.

The United States and Britain said on Sunday they would work with their allies to respond to the attack. Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said on Tuesday that Israel was keeping open the option of acting alone against Iran if necessary.

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Arab World

Al-Zaidi, Barrack Discuss Iraq’s Plans for Disarmament of Armed Groups ahead of US Visit

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi receives US Special Presidential Envoy Tom Barrack in Baghdad on Tuesday. (INA)
Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi receives US Special Presidential Envoy Tom Barrack in Baghdad on Tuesday. (INA)
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Al-Zaidi, Barrack Discuss Iraq’s Plans for Disarmament of Armed Groups ahead of US Visit

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi receives US Special Presidential Envoy Tom Barrack in Baghdad on Tuesday. (INA)
Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi receives US Special Presidential Envoy Tom Barrack in Baghdad on Tuesday. (INA)

The agreement between the United States and Iran to end the conflict in the region has revived hopes that the Iraqi government will be able to disarm armed factions that are aligned with Iran.

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi received US Special Presidential Envoy Tom Barrack in Baghdad for talks on the “shared commitment” of the US and Iraqi governments “to a strong and mutually beneficial US-Iraq partnership, able to fulfill Iraqi aspirations for a sovereign, secure, and prosperous future and to deliver tangible benefits for Americans and Iraqis alike,” said the US Embassy in Iraq in a statement on Tuesday.

Barrack said US President Donald Trump looks forward to welcoming al-Zaidi to the White House mid-July “to discuss the future of this important relationship”.

The leaders discussed “the shared aspirational vision for the Iraqi government to build a brighter future free from terrorism, to implement Iraqi plans for ensuring the complete disarmament and disbandment of all armed groups and formations operating outside the authority and control of the Iraqi state, to ensure the confinement of their weapons within the authority of the Iraqi state, and to assert full sovereignty in order to keep Iraq away from conflict and ensure that Iraqi territory cannot be used by any side to threaten regional peace.”

“Al-Zaidi and Barrack underscored the urgency in full completion of these efforts,” added the statement.

Al-Zaidi also reaffirmed Iraq's commitment to deepening trade and investment relations between the two countries, and Barrack welcomed this shared approach.

The two sides also underscored “the importance of supporting a strong, sovereign, and united federal democratic Iraq, grounded in robust constitutional institutions, and ensuring full equality for all citizens, in a manner that strengthens Iraq's unity, stability, and prosperity.”

Disarmament of factions

Efforts to impose state monopoly over arms continue to be shrouded in mystery given the lack of clear mechanism and plans to that effect. So far, the government has said that it wanted to resolve this issue when the international anti-ISIS coalition ends its mission in Iraq in September.

Meanwhile, more factions have been voicing their opposition to disarmament.

The Kataib Sayyid al-Shuhada reneged on Sunday on its previous declaration that it would lay down its arms.

Observers said it changed its position after its leader Abu Ala al-Walai was placed on a US sanctions and terrorism list.

They predicted that other factions may also change their stance on disarmament.

Kataib spokesman Kazem al-Fartousi told the media on Sunday that the “resistance’s weapons was too great an issue to be discussed by the Iraqi government.”

Rather, he said it was the “choice of the people and nation. So we cannot comply with calls that could be attributed to the government or foreign pressure.”

“The weapons are needed for one goal and purpose: the withdrawal of the occupier,” he added.

“We respect al-Zaidi's government as one that represents the Iraqi people, but we do not agree to the demand of disarmament and categorically reject it,” he continued, citing “repeated attacks on Iraq’s sovereignty.”

“We have several reasons to keep the weapons,” he added.

The staunchly pro-Iran Kataib Hezbollah and al-Nujaba movement have been adamantly opposed to disarmament since the government expressed its determination to impose state monopoly over weapons.

A source close to the factions revealed that “direct and serious threats have been made against political and government powers” against pursuing disarmament, which explains why discussions over the issue have died down somewhat in Iraq in recent days.

The source, speaking on condition of anonymity, did not elaborate on the threats, but spoke of fears of “intra-Shiite strife should the authorities maintain their position on disarmament.”

The source did not rule out the possibility that Iran could exert its influence over the factions to respect a long-term truce in Iraq should the agreement to end the war with the US stand.

Researcher and former diplomat Ghazi al-Faisal stressed that Iran plays a decisive role in the disarmament file.

He told Asharq Al-Awsat: “Any strategic shift in the Iranian policy will reflect directly on Iraq.”

“Should Iran choose the path of a developed state and economic integration instead of backing cross-border armed groups, then that will pave the way for a new phase of stability in the region,” he remarked.

“Iraq will benefit the most from such a shift,” he predicted.

Arab World

Egypt, UAE Leaders Underscore Importance of Preserving Security of Arab Countries

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan meet in Cairo on Monday. (Egyptian presidency)
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan meet in Cairo on Monday. (Egyptian presidency)
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Egypt, UAE Leaders Underscore Importance of Preserving Security of Arab Countries

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan meet in Cairo on Monday. (Egyptian presidency)
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan meet in Cairo on Monday. (Egyptian presidency)

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan stressed on Monday the importance of maintaining coordination in stances between Arab countries to preserve their security and interests.

Sisi welcomed Sheikh Mohamed in Cairo for talks in wake of the agreement to end the US war on Iran and on the eve of the Egyptian leader's trip to Evian where he will meet with US President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the G7 summit.

Sisi and Sheikh Mohamed held expanded talks, with Egyptian Presidency spokesman Mohamed El-Shennawy saying they were part of the “ongoing close consultations” between their leaderships.

Sisi reiterated Egypt’s firm support for the stability and sovereignty of the UAE and the steps its leadership takes to protect the security of its territories and people, he added.

“The security of the UAE and Gulf countries is indivisible to that of Egypt’s national security,” Sisi declared.

“Egypt is committed to supporting the Gulf countries and all other Arab nations,” he declared, according to the spokesman.

For his part, Sheikh Mohamed expressed his keenness on the ongoing consultations with Sisi over various developments.

He also expressed his appreciation for the Egyptian leader’s constant support for the UAE and Gulf countries.

President of the UAE Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan reacts as he bids farewell to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, at Cairo International Airport, in Cairo, Egypt, June 15, 2026. (UAE Presidential Court/Handout via Reuters)

Sisi had visited Abu Dhabi in May where he underlined Egypt’s support for the UAE amid the escalation in the region.

Ali El-Hefny, former assistant foreign minister and secretary general of the Egyptian Council for Foreign Affairs, said the visits between the Egyptian and UAE leaders offer an opportunity to maintain consultations on the highest levels between their countries.

In remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat, he said Sheikh Mohamed’s visit is significant because it took place soon after the US and Iran reached an agreement to end the conflict in the region.

Relations between Egypt and the UAE have reached the level of “comprehensive strategic partnership, which demands constant follow-up so that it can be elevated further,” he went on to say.

Sheikh Mohamed’s visit offers an opportunity to achieve more cooperation over everything related to regional and international affairs, added El-Hefny.

Egypt had on Monday welcomed the US-Iran deal, saying it was significant in helping restore regional and international security and stability.

On Sisi’s upcoming meeting with Trump, El-Hefny said the leaders will tackle several issues and the talks gain greater significance in wake of the agreement with Iran.

Talks may also tackle the situation in Gaza where Egypt has been playing a mediating role.

Sisi is set to meet with several world leaders on the sidelines of the G7.

Arab World

Lebanon Fighting Eases After US-Iran Deal

Destroyed buildings are seen following an Israeli strike in the village of Deir Qanoun Nahr, southern Lebanon, 15 June 2026, after the announcement of a US-Iran mediated preliminary framework to end regional military hostilities and lift the naval blockade on the Strait of Hormuz. (EPA)
Destroyed buildings are seen following an Israeli strike in the village of Deir Qanoun Nahr, southern Lebanon, 15 June 2026, after the announcement of a US-Iran mediated preliminary framework to end regional military hostilities and lift the naval blockade on the Strait of Hormuz. (EPA)
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Lebanon Fighting Eases After US-Iran Deal

Destroyed buildings are seen following an Israeli strike in the village of Deir Qanoun Nahr, southern Lebanon, 15 June 2026, after the announcement of a US-Iran mediated preliminary framework to end regional military hostilities and lift the naval blockade on the Strait of Hormuz. (EPA)
Destroyed buildings are seen following an Israeli strike in the village of Deir Qanoun Nahr, southern Lebanon, 15 June 2026, after the announcement of a US-Iran mediated preliminary framework to end regional military hostilities and lift the naval blockade on the Strait of Hormuz. (EPA)

Fighting between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon eased significantly on Monday but did not halt completely despite a US-Iran deal to end the wider conflict, with one person killed in an Israeli strike, underscoring the fragility of the truce.

Lebanon has suffered the deadliest spillover of the conflict between the US and Iran, with nearly 3,800 people killed and some 1.2 million people uprooted by an Israeli offensive against the Iran-backed Hezbollah group, which opened fire on Israel in support of Tehran on March 2.

A halt to the fighting there is key to the broader agreement, with Tehran having pushed for a Lebanon ceasefire to be included.

Pakistan, a key mediator between Tehran and Washington, announced that a deal struck early on Monday local time called for "the immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts, including in Lebanon."

The declaration brought relative calm to southern Lebanon, though sporadic violence persisted as Israeli troops remain stationed in territory they have occupied in the three-month war, ‌according to Lebanese ‌and foreign security sources.

An Israeli drone strike on a car in the southern Lebanese town of ‌Kfar ⁠Tebnit killed the ⁠driver.

Hezbollah said it fired drones and rockets at Israeli military vehicles that it said were trying to push deeper into southern Lebanon, in its first attack since the deal.

The Iran-aligned group also said it fired salvos of rockets and artillery shells against the Israeli troops in southern Lebanon, where the clashes were still ongoing.

Later on Monday, the Israeli military confirmed it intercepted rockets launched by Hezbollah toward an area where troops were operating in southern Lebanon. It added that anti-tank missile and mortar shells were also fired, with no injuries reported.

An Israeli drone could be heard circling over Beirut and its southern suburbs throughout Monday, according to Reuters reporters and other residents of the city.

ISRAEL'S PM SAYS ITS TROOPS WILL STAY

In a ⁠written statement on Monday before Israel's drone strike, Hezbollah welcomed the US-Iran deal, saying it had resulted ‌in a comprehensive ceasefire including in Lebanon.

A Hezbollah official earlier told Reuters the ‌group's position on the ceasefire was linked to Israel adhering to it.

The official, who declined to be named, said Iran delayed signing its memorandum with ‌the US until June 19 partly to monitor whether Israel would keep up strikes on Lebanon. Israel is not a party to ‌the US-Iran deal.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said late on Monday that his troops would remain in southern Lebanon as long as needed, saying Iran had demanded a withdrawal but that he "stood firm".

He said the Israeli military would maintain "freedom of action" in Lebanon to thwart attacks by Hezbollah and that it killed four fighters who approached Israeli troops.

Reuters could not independently confirm those incidents.

Hezbollah, meanwhile, said it rejected any situation in which Israel could keep ‌up its strikes on Lebanon and warned Israel against continuing attacks.

AOUN, BERRI WELCOME DEAL

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said the security zone in southern Lebanon would be cleared of local residents and "all terrorist ⁠infrastructure, including houses", a reference ⁠to Hezbollah.

The Israeli military has been razing villages in southern Lebanon for weeks, saying it is acting against Hezbollah fighters embedded in civilian areas in the region.

In Nabatieh, a devastated city in the south, Mohammed Daqdouq said he had returned on Monday morning to check on his home.

"We'll need a lifetime to rebuild," he said.

Local authorities called on residents to hold off on returning home.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun issued a carefully worded statement on Monday in response to the US-Iran deal, saying he was grateful to those who had worked towards de-escalation in Lebanon and appreciated the deal's recognition of the importance of his country's stability.

He did not mention Iran or Israel specifically. Aoun previously accused Tehran of using Lebanon as a bargaining chip in its negotiations with Washington.

Aoun later spoke to Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi by phone and issued a second statement welcoming the deal. Araghchi also separately spoke to Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, a political ally of Hezbollah, who hailed the agreement.

Iran, whose Revolutionary Guard Corps established Hezbollah in 1982, had insisted that a Lebanon ceasefire be included as part of any broader deal with the United States.