Ruptly
"Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israeli forces had expanded operations in southern Lebanon after he visited Bint Jbeil on Sunday. "They are doing amazing work there with a steadfast spirit, great determination, and major successes that must, of course, be acknowledged," Netanyahu said. "We will not rest until we restore security. And of course, the fighting continues; it has not stopped and is constantly ongoing, and yesterday, as well as today, it was concentrated in Bint Jbeil," he added. Bint Jbeil has long been regarded as one of the region's most sensitive flashpoints, including during the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah. Lebanese authorities have described Israeli operations in the area as 'violations of sovereignty,' while Israel claims it is protecting its borders. Netanyahu said he visited the town during a tour of the 'security zone,' after the army's 98th Division completed its encirclement on April 13. Israeli forces continued operations, with reports of heavy air and artillery strikes and close-range fighting. Netanyahu also rejected claims of any rift with Washington, insisting that cooperation with the United States remains unchanged. "I spoke yesterday with Vice President JD Vance. [...] He called me from his plane. On his way back from Islamabad. He reported to me in detail, as the officials of this administration do every day, on the development of the negotiations. In this case, the breakdown in the negotiations," Netanyahu said. "The talk as if there is a disconnect between us is the exact opposite of the truth. This will be testified to by everyone who was around this conversation and around the daily conversations we hold with the President, or that our people hold with his staff," he added.. Talks between the United States and Iran in Islamabad collapsed after more than 20 hours of negotiations failed to produce a deal, with Washington insisting that Tehran abandon any path toward developing nuclear weapons, while Iran rejected what it described as 'unreasonable demands.' The talks came after Tehran and the Washington agreed to a conditional two-week ceasefire, with both sides claiming a 'victory.' Under the deal, Iran agreed in principle to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, while the US and Israel paused strikes on Iranian territory."
Go to News Site