Issued on: 26/04/2026 - 07:13Modified: 27/04/2026 - 07:49
Hezbollah on Sunday said it would respond to Israel’s “violations” of the ceasefire in Lebanon, rejecting accusations by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the pro-Iranian group was jeopardising the truce deal. Iran’s foreign minister departed Pakistan for Moscow to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday as mediators pressed to keep talks between Tehran and the US alive. Read our blog to see how the day's events unfolded.
Iran gave US a proposal for reopening the Strait Of Hormuz and ending the war, Axios reports
Iran through Pakistani mediators gave the US a new proposal on reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and the ending of the war, with nuclear negotiations postponed for a later stage, Axios reported on Sunday, citing a US official and two sources with knowledge of the matter.
Putin to meet Iranian foreign minister, state media
Russian President Vladimir Putin plans to meet with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Monday, Russian state media reported.
Russia and Tehran, who are both subject to fierce Western sanctions, have developed an increasingly close relationship in recent years.
Moscow's TASS news agency confirmed the Russian leader's plans, citing Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.
Russia's foreign ministry had said earlier that Araghchi would travel to Moscow for talks.
"We confirm a visit by Araghchi to Russia with the aim of holding talks," the ministry told RIA Novosti news agency, without providing more details.
Oil jumps more than 2% as US-Iran peace talks stall
Oil prices rose on Monday as peace talks between the US and Iran stalled while shipments through the Strait of Hormuz remained limited, keeping global oil supplies tight.
Brent crude futures rose $2.22, or 2.11%, to $107.55 a barrel by 2202 GMT and U.S. West Texas Intermediate was at $96.42 a barrel, up $2.02, or 2.14%.
Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon kill 14
Lebanon's health ministry said Israeli strikes on the country's south on Sunday killed 14 people despite a ceasefire that was recently extended.
The ministry in a statement said the dead included two women and two children, adding that 37 other people were wounded.
Iran minister leaves Pakistan, heads to Russia for more talks
Iran's foreign minister has departed Islamabad for Moscow, his ministry said, ping-ponging from capital to capital as mediators hoped to keep peace talks between Tehran and the US alive.
Abbas Araghchi sandwiched a visit to Oman's Muscat in between trips to the Pakistani capital, and was set to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Monday
Russia confirms Iran FM to visit Moscow for talks with Putin
Russia's foreign ministry has confirmed that Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi would travel to Moscow for talks.
Earlier, Iran's ISNA news agency quoted Tehran's ambassador to Russia, Kazem Jalali, saying that Araghchi would meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Monday to "consult with Russian officials regarding the latest status of the negotiations, ceasefire, and surrounding developments".
Israel army says soldier killed in south Lebanon
The Israeli military has said a soldier was killed in southern Lebanon, where a ceasefire has been in place since mid-April.
Sergeant Idan Fooks, 19, died "during combat" in south Lebanon, while "an officer and three additional soldiers were severely injured, along with a soldier who was moderately injured and a soldier who was lightly injured", the military said.
Under the terms of the truce, which was recently extended, Israel reserves the right to respond to "planned, imminent or ongoing attacks" and has been striking what it says are Hezbollah targets in south Lebanon almost every day.
Iran FM to meet Putin on Moscow trip, Iranian media reports
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin during a visit to Moscow on Monday, the ISNA news agency reported.
It cited Tehran's ambassador to Russia, Kazem Jalali, who said that Araghchi would meet Putin and "consult with Russian officials regarding the latest status of the negotiations, ceasefire, and surrounding developments", and present a report on negotiations to end the war with the US and Israel.
Iran can call the US if it wants, Trump says
President Donald Trump has said Iran can reach out to the US by telephone if it wants to negotiate an end to the war between the two countries.
In an interview on Fox News' "The Sunday Briefing", Trump repeated his reasons for cancelling a trip by his envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Pakistan on Saturday for negotiations, claiming a flight of around 16 to 17 hours to Islamabad was not worth it.
Trump said Iran can call the US if it wants to negotiate. "We're gonna do it by phone," said Trump.
Two former Israeli prime ministers agree to merge parties against Netanyahu
Two Israeli political heavyweights have said they would join forces in upcoming elections in a shared effort to unseat longtime Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid served as prime ministers in a rotation agreement as part of a coalition government they formed in 2021. They now plan to merge their parties into single faction headed by Bennett.
“The move is intended to unite the bloc, put an end to internal divisions and focus all efforts on winning the critical upcoming elections,” Lapid's Yesh Atid party said in a statement.
Hezbollah says Israel violating truce, rejects Netanyahu accusation
Lebanon's Hezbollah has accused Israel of violating the ceasefire and has warned that the violations will be met with resistance.
In a statement, Hezbollah rejected Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accusations that the group's actions were threatening the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, as he pledged to "vigorously" target the Iran-backed group.
Hezbollah said its attacks on Israeli troops inside Lebanon were a "legitimate response to ceasefire violations".
Lebanese death toll from Israeli strikes tops 2,500
The death toll from Israeli strikes on Lebanon since March 2 has risen above 2,500, according to the Lebanese health ministry.
Earlier Sunday, Lebanese official media said the Israeli military began striking the country's south after issuing an evacuation warning for seven locations, despite a ceasefire deal.
Iran’s foreign minister travels from Muscat to Islamabad
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi returned to Islamabad for more consultations on Sunday, as international mediators tried to keep peace talks on track despite US President Donald Trump calling off his envoys' planned trip.
According to the Iranian news agency ISNA, Araghchi was to sit down with Pakistani officials to convey "Iran's positions and views on the framework of any understanding to completely end the war" in the Middle East.
The minister had already been in Islamabad only the day before, after which he travelled to Oman, while other Iranian envoys went to Tehran "to consult and obtain the necessary instructions on issues related to ending the war", according to the agency.
UK's Starmer and Trump discuss 'urgent need' to restore shipping in Strait of Hormuz
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and U.S. President Donald Trump discussed the urgent need to get shipping moving again in the Strait of Hormuz during a call, a Downing Street spokesperson said.
"The leaders discussed the urgent need to get shipping moving again in the Strait of Hormuz, given the severe consequences for the global economy and cost of living for people in the UK and globally," the spokesperson for Starmer's office said in a statement.
"The prime minister shared the latest progress on his joint initiative with President (Emmanuel) Macron to restore freedom of navigation," the spokesperson added.
Watch more: Deadly Israeli strikes hit Lebanon despite ceasefire extension
Lebanon state media says Israel begins striking south after warning
Lebanese official media said Israel's military began striking the country's south on Sunday after issuing an evacuation warning for seven locations, despite a ceasefire with the Iran-backed Hezbollah group.
"Israeli warplanes launched a strike" in Kfar Tibnit -- one of the locations included in the warning -- the state-run National News Agency said, adding that there were reports of casualties.
Under the terms of the ceasefire, Israel reserves the right to act against "planned, imminent or ongoing attacks". Israel's military has carried out repeated strikes in Lebanon since the truce came into force on April 17, and its troops are operating inside an Israeli-announced "yellow line" near the border where Lebanese residents have been warned not to return.
Iran's Araghchi discusses efforts to end war and Hormuz security with Oman
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi held talks in Oman and discussed security in the Strait of Hormuz and broader Gulf waters and diplomatic efforts to end the Iran-US conflict, according to an Iranian foreign ministry statement.
In talks in Muscat with Oman's Sultan Haitham bin Tariq al-Said, Araghchi said the US military presence in the Middle
East was fuelling insecurity and division and called for a regional security framework free of outside interference.
Israel PM says Hezbollah 'dismantling ceasefire' with Lebanon
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Hezbollah's actions were threatening the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, as he pledged to "vigorously" target the Iran-backed group.
"It must be understood that Hezbollah's violations are, in practice, dismantling the ceasefire," Netanyahu said during a weekly cabinet meeting.
Under the terms of the truce, which was recently extended, Israel reserves the right to respond to "planned, imminent or ongoing attacks" and has been striking targets in south Lebanon almost every day.
"We are acting vigorously in accordance with arrangements agreed with the United States and, incidentally, also with Lebanon," Netanyahu said.
"This means freedom of action not only to respond to attacks, which is obvious, but also to pre-empt immediate threats and even emerging threats."
Israeli military issues evacuation warning for seven Lebanese towns north of Litani river
Israel's military issued an evacuation warning to residents of seven towns north of Litani river, saying it would act forcefully against Hezbollah over ceasefire violations.
Yesterday's key developments:
(FRANCE 24 with AFP, AP and Reuters)
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