Reports indicate that the IDF now controls 50% of Gaza, drastically increasing its area of control since restarting hostilities over the past few weeks. Further, Israel’s razing in the region has significantly increased the amount of land now deemed uninhabitable.

New IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir visited and assessed the border with Lebanon today ahead of the Jewish holidays beginning soon, stating that he “reviewed the operational plans for the next phases, both defensively and offensively.”

During her visit to Beirut yesterday, US Special Envoy to the Middle East Ortagus stated, “The sooner that the LAF is able to meet these goals and to disarm all militias in the state, the sooner the Lebanese people can be free…from foreign influence, free from terrorism.” Speaker Berri, noting that the overall tone of the talks was “positive,” claimed that Ortagus did not, as some expected, bring up the issue of normalization with Israel, adding, “Normalizing ties with Israel is unacceptable and unthinkable.”

Reflecting on the envoy’s visit, President Aoun claimed that his government was committed to disarmament, Hezbollah, and economic reforms, but “Lebanon needs time and space to resolve these matters calmly…Hezbollah, after all, is a Lebanese component, and the Israeli occupation of the five hills would not help Lebanon but only complicate the situation further.”

Trump today claimed that his administration has begun direct negotiations with Tehran on the nuclear file. However, also today, Tehran reiterated its rejection of direct talks with the US and asserted that any negotiations must be indirect and mediated by Oman. Regardless, Trump also warned that “Iran is going to be in great danger” if the talks do not lead to a deal, calling back to his previous threat that should Iran refuse to negotiate a deal he would order a broad bombing of Iran.

French President Macron and Jordanian King Abdullah, meeting with Egyptian President el-Sisi in Cairo for tripartite talks, held a joint call with Trump today urging pressure to implement a ceasefire in Gaza, “emphasizing [ing] the need to create conducive conditions for a genuine political horizon and mobilize international efforts to end the suffering of the Palestinian people, restore security and peace for all, and implement the two-state solution.”