Middle East crisis live: Trump says Israel and Lebanon to hold talks Thursday; US hits Iran’s oil sector with new sanctions

New meeting to come after rare direct talks between the countries mediated by US; Netanyahu earlier says Israel about to ‘overwhelm’ part of southern Lebanon US and Iran in indirect talks to extend two-week ceasefire Hello and welcome to our live coverage of events in the Middle East. Donald Trump says the leaders of Israel and Lebanon will hold talks on Thursday, after the countries’ first face-to-face diplomatic negotiations in decades. Pakistan’s army chief met with Iran’s foreign minister in Tehran on Wednesday in the latest diplomatic move to ease Middle East tensions and arrange a second round of US-Iran negotiations.