Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of developments in the Middle East.
Here are the key updates this morning:
• US-mediated talks between Lebanon and Israel in Washington will continue for a fourth day later today. Talks have focused on an Israeli pullback from southern Lebanon and the disarmament of Hezbollah.
• Senior Israeli and Lebanese officials have denied US claims that Israel had withdrawn its forces from some areas of Lebanon as a goodwill gesture.
• Lebanese media have reported fresh Israeli airstrikes in the south, threatening the US-brokered ceasefire with Hezbollah.
• Four Israeli soldiers were injured in clashes with Hezbollah fighters in Beit Yahoun.
• The fate of the Strait of Hormuz remains uncertain as Iran continues to insist on charging transit fees. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio reiterated the US’s opposition to tolls during his visit to the region on Thursday as Oman attempted to set up a transit route to circumvent the IRGC-controlled corridor.
• The UN has paused a planned evacuation of thousands of sailors from the Gulf after a cargo ship was attacked in the strait on Thursday.
