This live feed is provided by general news journalists.
4:45 PM. From the Vatican, Emmanuel Macron and Pope Leon XIV have called for peace in the Middle East. The sovereign pontiff reiterated that “Military action will not create space for freedom or for times of peace,” denouncing “absurd and inhumane violence” that “spreads ferociously” in the Middle East. Macron stated, “We hold a firm conviction: in the face of the world’s fractures, action for peace is a duty and a requirement. France will always work for dialogue, justice, and brotherhood among peoples.”
3:55 PM. “Spain has chosen to be against Israel in a repeated manner. Those who attack the state of Israel instead of dealing with terrorist regimes will not be our partners in shaping the region’s future,” said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a video message. He accused Madrid of “hypocrisy” and “hostility” and announced the exclusion of Spanish representatives from the center established to monitor the ceasefire in effect since October 10 between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas in Gaza.
3:42 PM. The Israeli army announced on Friday that it had “dismantled” over 4,300 Hezbollah structures in Lebanon since the beginning of the war between Israel and the Islamist movement allied with Tehran on March 2. More than 1,250 weapons, including long-range rockets, anti-tank missiles, RPG rocket launchers, explosives, and other military equipment, were found in Lebanon. The army also claimed to have “eliminated” over 1,400 Hezbollah fighters in airstrikes or ground operations in southern Lebanon.
According to Lebanese authorities, more than 1,800 people, including 163 children, have been killed in the country since the beginning of March.
3:00 PM. Vice President J.D. Vance expressed his desire for “positive negotiations” with Iran before boarding Air Force Two to Pakistan, where talks are scheduled. He stated, “As the president of the United States said, if the Iranians are willing to negotiate in good faith, we are more than willing to extend a hand to them,” but if “they try to deceive us, they will find that our negotiation team will not be very receptive.”
Context: Iran and the U.S. are engaged in negotiations facilitated by Pakistan.
