Iran declares support for Hezbollah with wider peace deal in doubt

FIGHTING FLARES ACROSS REGION DESPITE CEASEFIRES

Mohsen Rezaei, an adviser to Iran’s supreme leader, said Hezbollah had “made great sacrifices in the recent war and it is our ally. Therefore, we support Hezbollah and remain firmly committed to our obligations toward it”.

In comments reported by the semi-official Mehr news agency, he cautioned Israel against following through on threats to resume strikes against the Lebanese capital, Beirut. 

“Today we again warn this sinister regime to leave Lebanon. They should know that Lebanon will be an inseparable part of any agreement and any ceasefire.”

In Washington, President Donald Trump told reporters he believed progress was being made in Lebanon and the country deserved to have peace, adding: “It’s been going on for a long time, you know.”

Along with Lebanon, residents of Gaza, northern Israel and Kuwait have all been under fire this week, despite U.S.-arranged ceasefires that Trump said involved “shooting in a more moderate manner”, rather than a total halt to fighting.

On Wednesday, Iranian and US forces traded attacks in the Gulf in one of the most intense bouts of fighting since early April, when a ceasefire halted large-scale hostilities.

On Friday, an alleged drone attack forced the suspension of oil loading at the Mina al Fahal terminal in Oman after an explosion, two people familiar with the matter said, before normal operations resumed.