Israeli strikes killed ten people in four locations in southern Lebanon on Friday, according to the Ministry of Health. Among the dead were two children and three women, as specified by the Lebanese ministry. The civil defense also announced the death of one of its rescuers in a strike in southern Lebanon. Meanwhile, Hezbollah stated in a press release on Friday, May 8 that it had once again attacked a military base in northern Israel, near the city of Nahariya, using “a salvo of sophisticated missiles.” Follow our live updates.
– Context: Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon resulting in casualties. – Fact Check: Hezbollah’s claim of attacking an Israeli military base. – Fact Check: Civilian casualties reported in the Israeli strikes in Lebanon.
The United States is awaiting Iran’s response. Washington has presented Tehran with its latest proposal for a lasting resolution to the conflict in the Middle East, amid mutual accusations of attacks despite the ceasefire. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he expects a response from the Iranians “within the day.” He also warned that Iran must not control the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic oil route whose blockade by Tehran since the start of the war on February 28 has shaken the global economy.
– Context: U.S. proposal for peace resolution in the Middle East. – Fact Check: U.S. warning regarding Iran controlling the Strait of Hormuz.
The United States has targeted two Iranian tankers. An American aircraft “neutralized the two tankers by firing precision ammunition into their smokestacks,” preventing them from entering Iran, according to the U.S. Central Command in a statement on social media. The two ships were attempting to reach an Iranian port in the Gulf of Oman, “in violation of the ongoing U.S. blockade.”
– Fact Check: U.S. military action against Iranian tankers. – Fact Check: U.S. accusation of Iranian tankers violating blockade.
Iran accuses the United States of a “blatant violation” of the ceasefire. “The action carried out last [Thursday] night constitutes a blatant violation of international law and the ceasefire. However, the country’s defense forces dealt a heavy blow to the enemy and repelled their attacks with all their might,” said Esma’il Baghaei, spokesperson for the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The U.S. claimed to have “targeted Iranian military installations” on Thursday after several of their ships were attacked in the Strait of Hormuz.
– Fact Check: Iranian claim of U.S. ceasefire violation. – Fact Check: U.S. actions against Iranian military installations.
The Iranian army claims to have seized a tanker in the Sea of Oman. “The navy of the Islamic Republic of Iran, during a specially planned operation in the Sea of Oman, detained the violating tanker Ocean Koi, carrying a cargo of oil belonging to the Islamic Republic of Iran,” explained the army in a statement broadcast on state television. The vessel was redirected to the coasts south of Iran after attempting “to undermine and disrupt Iran’s oil exports.”
– Fact Check: Iranian navy seizing a tanker in the Sea of Oman.
Hezbollah says it targeted a military base in northern Israel. In a statement, the pro-Iranian group asserted that the targeted base is located south of Nahariya. This strike comes the day after an Israeli strike on the southern suburbs of Beirut that killed a high-ranking commander of the group.
– Fact Check: Hezbollah’s claim of targeting an Israeli military base.
Donald Trump maintains that the ceasefire is still in effect. “They played with us today [Thursday]. We swept them aside. They played. I call it a trifle,” stated the American president to reporters. These exchange of fire incidents occur as Washington is still awaiting a response from Tehran to its latest proposal to end the conflict permanently.
– Fact Check: Trump’s statement on the ceasefire. – Fact Check: Washington’s ongoing wait for Iran’s response.
