A key road near Lebanon's Masnaa border crossing with Syria has been severely bombed by Israeli airstrikes, according to the UN's World Food Programme. Matthew Hollingworth, WFP's country director for Lebanon, told the BBC that this bombing will significantly affect the ability of people to flee the fighting, while also halting the entry of essential goods into Lebanon via the land route. The Masnaa crossing is a critical supply line, and its destruction adds pressure on Lebanon during the ongoing conflict with Israel.

Lebanon's Ambassador to India, Rabie Narsh, stated that Hezbollah is not a terrorist group but a resistance movement fighting Israeli occupation. In an interview with NDTV, Narsh emphasized that Lebanon’s armed forces haven’t been engaged as it would lead to full-scale war. He defended Hezbollah's actions, stating they represent Lebanon's people resisting occupation and fighting for freedom. Narsh also criticized Israel's expansionist policies, accusing the international community of failing to curb Israel's war crimes against Lebanon.

Former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has claimed that a bugging device was discovered in his bathroom after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu used it during a 2017 visit. The incident is detailed in Johnson’s new book Unleashed, where he notes that Israeli security teams found the device during a routine sweep. Netanyahu had used the bathroom in Johnson’s office, described as a private "secret annex." Israel has previously been accused of spying on friendly nations, but Netanyahu has denied such allegations, including past accusations from the US.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei delivered his first public sermon in five years, declaring that Israel "won't last long." Speaking to tens of thousands in Tehran, Khamenei justified Iran's recent missile strikes on Israel as a "public service." He praised Hezbollah's former leader Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed in an Israeli airstrike, calling him a symbol of resistance. Khamenei backed Palestinian and Lebanese movements against Israel, calling on Muslims to support them. His remarks come amid heightened tensions between Iran and Israel following missile attacks earlier this week.

US President Joe Biden has confirmed discussions with Israel about potential strikes on Iran's oil facilities. This comes after Iran fired over 180 missiles at Israel in response to the deaths of key leaders from Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran's military. Biden did not specify if the US supports the strikes but has previously opposed targeting Iran's nuclear sites. The price of Brent crude oil rose sharply after Biden’s remarks. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed Iran would "pay a heavy price" for the missile attack, raising concerns of further escalation in the Middle East.

Hezbollah launched rockets at Israel shortly after Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei delivered a rare Friday sermon. Khamenei called for resistance against Israel, saying it would not defeat Hezbollah or Hamas. The attacks follow intense Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon, killing 37 people in the last 24 hours. One strike targeted Hezbollah's likely new leader, Hashem Safieddine, though his fate is unclear. Tensions between Israel, Hezbollah, and Iran are escalating, with Israel preparing a possible retaliation against Iran. The conflict has displaced over a million people from southern Lebanon.

Israeli airstrikes in Beirut reportedly targeted Hashem Safieddine, cousin of slain Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and a potential successor. U.S. media, including The New York Times, quoted Israeli officials claiming that Safieddine and other Hezbollah leaders were meeting in an underground bunker in the southern Dahieh district when the attack occurred. It remains unclear whether Safieddine was killed in the strikes, which were larger than last week's attack that killed Nasrallah. Hezbollah has not commented on the incident. The strikes follow escalating tensions as Israel faces rocket attacks from Lebanon, with 37 Lebanese deaths reported in the past 24 hours.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei defended Iran’s missile strikes on Israel as “legitimate” during his first public sermon in five years. Addressing thousands in Tehran, Khamenei called Hamas' October 7, 2023, attack on Israel "a rightful move" and warned that Iran would strike again if provoked. He also praised Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed in an Israeli airstrike, as a voice for the oppressed. Khamenei urged Muslim nations to unite against Israel and the U.S., predicting that the “Zionist entity” would be uprooted. Tensions remain high, risking further escalation in the Middle East.

Iran-backed Houthi rebels have issued a series of threatening emails to Greek shipping companies, warning of attacks on vessels crossing the Red Sea. The warnings, which began in May, target ships violating a Houthi-imposed transit ban by docking at Israeli ports. The Houthis, acting in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, have carried out nearly 100 attacks on vessels since November, sinking two ships and killing four seafarers. These threats expand the risks for ships attempting to navigate the region, with significant disruptions to maritime traffic. The conflict between Yemen and Israel continues to escalate as regional tensions grow.

In an exclusive interview ahead of his memoir "Unleashed," Boris Johnson claimed that Vladimir Putin would not have invaded Ukraine if Donald Trump had been president. Johnson highlighted Trump’s unpredictability, saying, “Putin wouldn’t have invaded Ukraine under Trump.” He pointed out that Trump’s foreign policy actions, including expelling Russian spies and supporting Ukraine militarily, demonstrated a tougher stance. Johnson emphasized the importance of Ukraine’s fight for democracy and recently spoke to both Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. He also criticized the UK government's current direction on EU relations and the European Convention on Human Rights.