Gaza death toll reaches 73,381 At least 73,381 Palestinians have been killed and 174,231 wounded in Israeli attacks across Gaza since 7 October 2023, the enclave's health ministry is reporting. There are thousands more believed to be buried under the rubble. Medical sources said that hospitals in Gaza received, over the past 24 hours, four fatalities, including two people who succumbed to wounds sustained earlier, in addition to one injured person.
The big story: The resurrection of Hezbollah There was a moment, in late September 2024, when Hezbollah was in complete disarray. Eighty Israeli bombs had obliterated the Lebanese movement’s headquarters. Several of its most senior leaders were dead, including Hassan Nasrallah , who it appeared had been tracked down by the Israelis and was not safe even 60 feet underground.
Iran says it will support any decision by Palestinian leaders in Gaza negotiations Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said in a call with the Hamas political bureau chief on Wednesday that Tehran would support any initiative or decision taken by Palestinian leaders in the ongoing indirect negotiations between Hamas and Israel, Iranian state media reported.
Iran executed at least 56 people since March, UN says UN human rights chief Volker Turk said Iran has executed at least 56 people since 19 March, including 27 in cases linked to protests at the start of the year. Turk added in a statement that there has been a rise in executions and death sentences since March, and urged authorities to halt all executions and move towards abolishing the death penalty.
UN announces 800,000 displaced Lebanese returning home The UN said more than 800,000 people displaced by war in Lebanon have begun returning to their hometowns following a lull in violence amid the Israel-Hezbollah war. The UN humanitarian agency OCHA said that 821,077 people began to return on 30 July, although 360,000 remain displaced, of which 26,000 are currently living in government shelters. Lebanon and Israel are currently engaged in US-sponsored talks in Rome aimed at ending the fighting which are scheduled to run until Thursday.
Iran says deal with Oman would not immediately reopen Strait of Hormuz Iran's state broadcaster IRIB reported that an agreement between Iran and Oman on shipping routes would not immediately reopen the Strait of Hormuz. A source speaking to IRIB said the "possible agreement between Iran and Oman on the arrangements for vessels to pass through the Strait of Hormuz has nothing to do with the immediate opening of this strait". They also added that the negotiations were conducted exclusively between Tehran and Muscat, and had "nothing to do with the United States".
Exclusive: Trump demanded direct talks with Hezbollah but was denied Submitted by Adam Chamseddine on Wed, 08/05/2026 - 09:17 Attempts to speak with Lebanese movement were shut down - but sources dispute whether it was Lebanese Ambassador Nada Hamadeh Moawad or Hezbollah that refused the president Donald Trump and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio with Lebanese Ambassador Nada Hamadeh Moawad during a meeting at the White House in Washington, DC, 23 April 2026 (Brendan Smialowski/AFP) Off Donald Trump called the Lebanese ambassador in Washington in late May and demanded a direct conversation with Hezbollah , a request that was then denied to the US president, Middle East Eye can reveal. According to two sources intimately familiar with events from the Hezbollah side and a Lebanese diplomatic source, Trump called Ambassador Nada Hamadeh Moawad in frustration as the ceasefire in Lebanon frayed. Soon after, on 1 June, Trump claimed he had spoken to Hezbollah through unidentified intermediaries and secured a commitment from the group to halt attacks against Israel.
The resurrection of Hezbollah Submitted by Daniel Hilton on Mon, 08/03/2026 - 13:06 The Lebanese party has been defeated, degraded and written off. Yet it has managed to resuscitate itself despite pressure from enemies all around. This is the inside story of how it happened There was a moment, in late September 2024, when Hezbollah was in complete disarray.
Video: Marco Rubio says "there's been progress" in Iran deal on Hormuz US Secretary Marco Rubio told reporters on Tuesday that "there's been progress" in the negotiations with Iran and Oman on the Strait of Hormuz, "but not finality yet" pic. twitter.
Yemen's Houthis say they attacked oil tanker off Saudi coast Yemen's Houthis said on Wednesday they had attacked a Saudi oil tanker with missiles off the coast of the Saudi port city of Yanbu, on the north of the Saudi Red Sea coast. The group's military spokesperson did not confirm when the attack took place.
Abdul El-Sayed defeats Aipac-backed rival in Michigan Democratic Senate primary, NBC reports Submitted by MEE staff on Wed, 08/05/2026 - 08:51 Progressive advocate overcame more than $60m in spending to defeat Congresswoman Haley Stevens Off Progressive advocate Abdul El-Sayed won the Democratic nomination for the US Senate in Michigan on Wednesday, defeating Congresswoman Haley Stevens in a race that became one of the most expensive and closely watched primaries in US history. NBC News projected El-Sayed's victory late on Tuesday after a bruising campaign in which more than $60m was spent, much of it by outside groups seeking to block his path to the Senate. As of 08:30 BST, NBC reported that El-Sayed had received 48.
Why Syria will not join the fight against Hezbollah in Lebanon Submitted by Ali Rizk on Mon, 08/03/2026 - 19:49 Such a move could undermine bilateral relations, while potentially empowering IS in its quest to bring down Ahmed al-Sharaa Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa pictured in Damascus on 7 July 2026 (Ludovic Marin/AFP) On The issue of what role Damascus could play regarding Hezbollah has returned to the forefront, amid a flurry of recent high-level statements. On Tuesday, the Lebanese movement has - for the first time - publicly expressed its willingness to hold talks with Damascus. "There is no impediment to a public meeting between Hezbollah and the Syrian leadership at a time considered appropriate by both sides," said Hezbollah leader Sheikh Naim Qassem in a televised speech.
Morning update Good morning Middle East Eye readers, Here are the latest developments from across the region: US President Donald Trump told Fox News that Washington is having "very good discussions" with Iran, insisting that Tehran is keen on signing the deal. He also threatened that Iran would be "hit very hard" unless the Strait of Hormuz is reopened "very soon". The US, Iran and Oman are getting closer to an interim deal aimed at reopening the strategic Strait of Hormuz as well as restoring the ceasefire between Washington and Tehran, Axios reported.
US not directly updating Israel on talks with Iran: Report The US has not been providing direct briefings to Israel on discussions with Iran, leaving Tel Aviv authorities receiving much of the information indirectly, the Israeli Channel 12 reported. The report indicated that there is increased scepticism over US diplomatic efforts regarding Iran, with one Israeli official noting Tel Aviv's growing doubt over Donald Trump's approach with Iran. "The distance between peace and war with Trump is the distance between the letters T, R and U on the keyboard," the official said.
Iranian official blames US as key reason behind delay in Hormuz Strait deal with Oman An informed Iranian official said that the primary reasons behind the delay in reaching a deal with Oman regarding the Strait of Hormuz is due to US "interference and [Donald] Trump's threats". "As long as there is American interference and the threat of a military attack on Iran, the agreement will be delayed," the offiical told the state-affiliated Sepah News. "Iran will not make any agreement under the shadow of threats.
Israel attacks south Lebanon, despite ongoing peace talks The Israeli army carried out a new bombing in the southern Lebanese town of Haddatha, Bint Jbeil district. The attack is the latest in a series of many have criticised as Israeli violations of continued ceasefire discussions between with the two states.
Report: US closer to Iran deal to reopen Strait of Hormuz, restore truce The US, Iran and Oman are getting closer to an interim deal aimed at reopening the strategic Strait of Hormuz as well as restoring the ceasefire between Washington and Tehran, Axios reported. According to the news site, the announcement of the pact is expected as early as Wednesday.
US depleted 'virtually all' long-range precision missiles during Iran war: Report The US has exhausted its stockpile of sophisticated long-range missiles during the war on Iran, suggesting that there are supply limits to President Donald Trump’s threat to subject the Islamic Republic to the "biggest attack" since World War II. The US has drained its supply of surface-to-surface weapons, known as Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) and Precision Strike Missiles (PrSM), Reuters reported on Tuesday, citing two sources who said the US had used "virtually all" of these munitions. These long-range missiles are a critical part of the US’s arsenal, allowing it to accurately target foes from a distance without relying on warplanes that are vulnerable to air defence systems.
Trump says talks with Tehran 'very good', threatens to strike if Hormuz Strait remains closed US President Donald Trump told Fox News that Washington is having "very good discussions" with Iran, insisting that Tehran is keen on signing the deal. He also threatened that Iran would be "hit very hard" unless the Strait of Hormuz is reopened "very soon".
Explosions reportedly heard in Yemeni capital of Sanaa Explosions were heard in Yemen's capital of Sanaa, however reports and footage of the incident remain unverified.
