May 25, 2026 — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to step up strikes on Hezbollah in southern Lebanon as exchanges of fire continue across the border and elsewhere in the region. The announcement comes amid mounting domestic pressure, ongoing US‑Iran negotiations, and a fragile ceasefire that has only partially reduced hostilities.
Key developments:
Netanyahu on Lebanon
Israeli leaders signaled an intensification of operations against Hezbollah after repeated drone and rocket attacks on northern Israel. In a recorded message Netanyahu said Israel will ‘not slow down’ and promised to increase the scope and intensity of strikes, pledging hits ‘hip and thigh’ against the Iran‑backed militia. The push reflects pressure from far‑right politicians and parts of the public as Israel heads toward an election year and right‑wing partners trail in polls.
Cross‑border fighting
Despite an official ceasefire that took effect in mid‑April, Israeli forces and Hezbollah have continued to trade attacks. Hezbollah has launched drone strikes toward Israel’s north that reportedly hit a home and a bus stop. Israel has targeted what it calls Hezbollah infrastructure near Tyre and warned residents of ten villages to evacuate. Lebanese authorities say more than 3,100 people have died in southern Lebanon since strikes were renewed on March 3; Israeli losses include 23 soldiers and one contractor, officials say.
Gaza casualties
Hospital authorities in southern Gaza reported that an Israeli airstrike struck a tent sheltering displaced people near Khan Younis, killing a Palestinian woman and a young girl and wounding another girl. The Israeli military said the strike targeted a militant, offering no further detail. The incident underscores continuing violence in Gaza despite a separate ceasefire arrangement reached in October to pause the long war that began with Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.
Iran: internet reopening and executions
Iranian state media said President Masoud Pezeshkian ordered the reopening of international internet access after roughly 87 days of a near‑total blackout, during which only regime‑approved information circulated widely and most citizens had access only to domestic platforms. Separately, Iran’s judiciary reported the execution by hanging of Abbas Akbari, convicted of carrying out armed attacks during nationwide anti‑government protests earlier this year. Rights groups note Iran is among the world’s most active executioners.
Diplomacy and negotiations
Reports that the US and Iran are approaching a framework to end broader hostilities have produced mixed statements. A US official, Marco Rubio, said there is ‘a pretty solid thing’ on the table for a time‑limited negotiation and measures to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, while Iranian spokesmen warned that no final agreement is imminent and that key points remain unresolved. China hosted discussions between President Xi Jinping and Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who praised Islamabad’s mediation efforts between Washington and Tehran.
Economic effects and markets
Hopes of a diplomatic breakthrough pushed oil prices down to their lowest levels in two weeks, with Brent and US crude falling sharply after earlier spikes caused by the virtual closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Market moves reflect investor reaction to the prospect of eased regional risk and resumed shipping through the chokepoint.
Other regional and global notes
– The annual Hajj pilgrimage began in Mecca with more than one million pilgrims attending amid high temperatures around 45°C and heightened security.
– Mexico’s president said Iran’s national football team will be allowed to enter Mexican territory to participate in the 2026 World Cup after FIFA approved moving Iran’s training base from Tucson, Arizona, to Mexico. The US will not host Iran’s team, officials said.
– Former US president Donald Trump urged additional Arab and Muslim countries — including Saudi Arabia and Qatar — to join the Abraham Accords as part of a broader settlement once a US‑Iran arrangement is secured.
Outlook
The region remains volatile. Even as negotiators press toward a deal that could reduce maritime blockades and curb some hostilities, local dynamics — domestic politics in Israel, Hezbollah’s operational link to Iran, and protests and repression inside Iran — keep the prospect of renewed escalation high. Civilian casualties and displacement continue to mount across affected areas, and international attention is focused on whether diplomacy can translate into durable pauses on multiple fronts.