Iran said on Friday that a joint statement by the U.S. and the Gulf Cooperation Council contained "interventionist, irresponsible and provocative positions", and said the U.S. military presence in the Gulf was a source of insecurity and division in the region.
In the statement by Iran's foreign ministry, Iran also reiterated its position that the Strait of Hormuz should be governed with Oman in line with terms of MOU with the United States. Washington, Israel and their regional allies that took part in attacks on Iran are responsible for insecurity in the Strait of hormuz, Tehran said.
In the joint statement, the United States and Gulf staits urged to "maintain momentum and unity," reaching a "permanent end to hostilities and the shared objective of preventing Iran from ever developing or otherwise acquiring a nuclear weapon." Regional peace requires "requires addressing the full spectrum of Iran's threats, including its ballistic missiles, drones, and support of proxies in the region," the statement read.
Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon on Friday morning.
Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon on Friday morning.
Israeli airstrikes killed two people and wounded at least one in southern Lebanon in the past hours, according to reports in Arab media.
The casualties were reported in an airstrike on a vehicle in Maifadoun, southern Lebanon, according to pro-Hezbollah newspaper Al-Akhbar. Another Israeli airstrike was reported in Nabatieh al-Fouqa (Upper Nabatieh), a suburb of the Lebanese city of Nabatieh, according to Al Jazeera.
Beit Yahoun, southern Lebanon, where the clash took place Thursday night.Beit Yahoun, southern Lebanon, where the clash took place Thursday night.
Four IDF soldiers were wounded in a clash with a Hezbollah militant in southern Lebanon Thursday night, one of them moderately, the Israeli military said.
The militant threw a grenade at IDF combat soldiers who entered the village of Beit Yahoun, southern Lebanon, wounding an officer and three soldiers, who were evacuated for treatment.
The soldiers fatally shot the militant and the Israeli military said it launched air and artillery strikes on the area.
Shots were fired overnight Thursday at the home of the head of the Arara local council, Dr. Nizar Abu Akel.
There were no casualties in the incident but property damage was caused and police have opened an investigation. This is the third time in a year and a half that Abu Akel's home has been targeted by gunfire.
Foreign Minsiter Gideon Sa'ar said he will submit at the next government meeting a proposal for official Israeli recognition of the Armenian Genocide.
According to Sa'ar's proposal, which will require the government's approval, Israel will recognize the genocide committed during the late Ottoman Empire era and will condemn any attempt to deny, minimize, or distort it. To date, 32 countries around the world have already recognized the Armenian Genocide in various ways.
I will bring before the Israeli government at its next meeting a proposed resolution for the official recognition by the Government of Israel of the Armenian Genocide.
Recognizing the genocide perpetrated against the Armenian people in the final years of the Ottoman Empire isShow more
■ Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corpsstruck a Singapore-flagged cargo vessel in the Strait of Hormuz, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing two senior U.S. officials. The United Nations' shipping agency said it has paused its evacuation plan in the Strait until further clarity is reached regarding the attack.
■ Vessels passing outside routes set by the Persian Gulf Strait Authority, a body set up by Iran to manage the Strait of Hormuz, will not be guaranteed safe passage, the authority said.
■ The United States and Gulf countries issued a joint statement declaring that "no one will be forced to leave Gaza, and those who wish to leave will be free to return." It also said that Iran's ballistic missile threat must be addressed.
■ An Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon is a condition for a final agreement between Iran and United States, and red line for Iran, an Iranian source close to the negotiating team told state media.
■ The IDF said it fired at six Hezbollah operatives, including at least one who was armed, who posed a threat to Israeli troops in southern Lebanon, the IDF said.
■ Israeli settlers set fire to farm lands in the West Bank town of Turmus Ayya, Palestinian reports said.
■ Foreign Minsiter Gideon Sa'ar will submit at the next government meeting a proposal for official Israeli recognition of the Armenian Genocide.
■ IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir said the army "needs every male and female soldier, every male and female commander" and that the IDF's main challenge is to balance between "considering the diversity of the population and maintaining a framwork that enables the missions to be fulfilled."
■ A helicopter carrying President Isaac Herzog made an emergency landing at an air base in central Israel after the aircraft was hit by a bird, the IDF said.
