Middle East live: Trump threatens US takeover of Hormuz as Iran vows to retain control
France 24
F
France 24
Original Source
Multiple escalations grip the Middle East as Israeli strikes kill seven in southern Lebanon despite an alleged truce, while Trump threatens to declare the Strait of Hormuz American territory, prompting Iran to insist it will remain under its control.
15/08/2026 - 13:45
'We're seeing an important escalation in southern Lebanon despite the so-called truce'
Overnight Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon killed at least seven people in one village, in the deadliest escalation since the lull in fighting began two months ago.
FRANCE 24 correspondent Renée Davis, reporting from Beirut, says the strikes mark a significant escalation despite the so-called truce, and also gives us an update on ongoing negotiations with Israel.
15/08/2026 - 12:15
Lebanon president says Israeli strikes send 'clear message' on negotiations
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said Israeli strikes on the country's south on Saturday were a "clear message" on negotiations between the two countries, ahead of the next round of US-sponsored talks early next month in Rome.
Aoun condemned the "ongoing Israeli attacks" on the south and "repeated violations of the framework agreement ... and international law on protecting civilians, which led to the death of an entire family in the village of Ansar", according to a statement from his office, adding that "these violations are a clear message on the negotiation process".
15/08/2026 - 12:04
15/08/2026 - 11:06
Lebanon PM says those killed in Israeli strike were not 'military infrastructure'
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said seven people including two women and three children killed in an Israeli strike on Saturday were not military targets, after Israel said it struck Hezbollah "infrastructure".
"The seven martyrs of the Israeli strike on the village of Ansar are not 'military infrastructure' and the women and children who were killed are not military targets," Salam said, adding that "Israel must halt this escalation", which he said was "extremely dangerous and undermines efforts to consolidate stability in the south".
15/08/2026 - 09:51
Israeli military says it struck hezbollah infrastructure in southern lebanon in response to action against soldiers in security zone
15/08/2026 - 09:44
15/08/2026 - 08:38
'We are seeing the cracks of Israeli politics play out in the West Bank'
Palestinian residents of three houses in Qusra near Nablus in the occupied West Bank say they have been effectively cut off from food and other supplies since the siege by Israeli settlers began on Sunday.
But the Israeli military has not done anything to remove the settlers.
"We are seeing the cracks of Israeli politics, including a paralysed prime minister’s inability to condemn basic filmed violent acts, play out in the West Bank," says FRANCE 24 correspondent Noga Tarnopolsky, reporting from Jerusalem.
15/08/2026 - 07:22
Lebanon state media says Israeli strike on south kills seven
Lebanese state media said an Israeli strike in the country's south early Saturday killed seven people, the worst toll since deals in June saw a lull in hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah.
The National News Agency (NNA) said "a strike launched by enemy warplanes on a home" on the outskirts of the village of Ansar "killed seven people and wounded three others" and destroyed the home.
15/08/2026 - 06:58
Iran says Strait of Hormuz 'will remain Iranian'
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi stressed Saturday that the Strait of Hormuz "will remain Iranian", after US President Donald Trump said he would "soon" declare the waterway part of American territory.
"The Strait of Hormuz has been Iranian, is Iranian, and will remain Iranian," Gharibabadi said on X, adding that the route "will be opened and closed only at Iran's command".
Trump had said Friday that after the US defeats Iran, "pretty soon I'll be declaring the Hormuz Strait a territory of the United States".
15/08/2026 - 06:56
UAE oil vessel comes under attack in Strait of Hormuz, state company says
UAE's Abu Dhabi National Oil Company said on Saturday that one of its vessels came under attack while transiting the Strait of Hormuz a day earlier.
The state oil company said no injuries were reported, with the situation now under control.
15/08/2026 - 06:55
Iran has not yet decided to resume talks with US
Iran has not decided to resume talks with the US, and messages being exchanged via Qatar and Pakistan do not amount to negotiations, Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said in an interview published on Saturday.
Araqchi told Iranian news outlet Shahrara News that separate talks with Oman were focused on defining a sea route through the Strait of Hormuz, while the US would have to meet conditions for shipping to resume through the waterway.
15/08/2026 - 06:52
Trump says will 'soon' declare Hormuz strait US territory
President Donald Trump on Friday said he would "soon" declare the Strait of Hormuz waterway part of US territory, claiming that Iran was being heavily defeated.
"Pretty soon I'll be declaring the Hormuz Strait a territory of the United States. It's true," he said with a chuckle during a political rally at a police academy in New York state.
'We're seeing an important escalation in southern Lebanon despite the so-called truce'
Overnight Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon killed at least seven people in one village, in the deadliest escalation since the lull in fighting began two months ago.
FRANCE 24 correspondent Renée Davis, reporting from Beirut, says the strikes mark a significant escalation despite the so-called truce, and also gives us an update on ongoing negotiations with Israel.
15/08/2026 - 12:15
Lebanon president says Israeli strikes send 'clear message' on negotiations
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said Israeli strikes on the country's south on Saturday were a "clear message" on negotiations between the two countries, ahead of the next round of US-sponsored talks early next month in Rome.
Aoun condemned the "ongoing Israeli attacks" on the south and "repeated violations of the framework agreement ... and international law on protecting civilians, which led to the death of an entire family in the village of Ansar", according to a statement from his office, adding that "these violations are a clear message on the negotiation process".
15/08/2026 - 12:04
15/08/2026 - 11:06
Lebanon PM says those killed in Israeli strike were not 'military infrastructure'
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said seven people including two women and three children killed in an Israeli strike on Saturday were not military targets, after Israel said it struck Hezbollah "infrastructure".
"The seven martyrs of the Israeli strike on the village of Ansar are not 'military infrastructure' and the women and children who were killed are not military targets," Salam said, adding that "Israel must halt this escalation", which he said was "extremely dangerous and undermines efforts to consolidate stability in the south".
15/08/2026 - 09:51
Israeli military says it struck hezbollah infrastructure in southern lebanon in response to action against soldiers in security zone
15/08/2026 - 09:44
15/08/2026 - 08:38
'We are seeing the cracks of Israeli politics play out in the West Bank'
Palestinian residents of three houses in Qusra near Nablus in the occupied West Bank say they have been effectively cut off from food and other supplies since the siege by Israeli settlers began on Sunday.
But the Israeli military has not done anything to remove the settlers.
"We are seeing the cracks of Israeli politics, including a paralysed prime minister’s inability to condemn basic filmed violent acts, play out in the West Bank," says FRANCE 24 correspondent Noga Tarnopolsky, reporting from Jerusalem.
15/08/2026 - 07:22
Lebanon state media says Israeli strike on south kills seven
Lebanese state media said an Israeli strike in the country's south early Saturday killed seven people, the worst toll since deals in June saw a lull in hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah.
The National News Agency (NNA) said "a strike launched by enemy warplanes on a home" on the outskirts of the village of Ansar "killed seven people and wounded three others" and destroyed the home.
15/08/2026 - 06:58
Iran says Strait of Hormuz 'will remain Iranian'
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi stressed Saturday that the Strait of Hormuz "will remain Iranian", after US President Donald Trump said he would "soon" declare the waterway part of American territory.
"The Strait of Hormuz has been Iranian, is Iranian, and will remain Iranian," Gharibabadi said on X, adding that the route "will be opened and closed only at Iran's command".
Trump had said Friday that after the US defeats Iran, "pretty soon I'll be declaring the Hormuz Strait a territory of the United States".
15/08/2026 - 06:56
UAE oil vessel comes under attack in Strait of Hormuz, state company says
UAE's Abu Dhabi National Oil Company said on Saturday that one of its vessels came under attack while transiting the Strait of Hormuz a day earlier.
The state oil company said no injuries were reported, with the situation now under control.
15/08/2026 - 06:55
Iran has not yet decided to resume talks with US
Iran has not decided to resume talks with the US, and messages being exchanged via Qatar and Pakistan do not amount to negotiations, Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said in an interview published on Saturday.
Araqchi told Iranian news outlet Shahrara News that separate talks with Oman were focused on defining a sea route through the Strait of Hormuz, while the US would have to meet conditions for shipping to resume through the waterway.
15/08/2026 - 06:52
Trump says will 'soon' declare Hormuz strait US territory
President Donald Trump on Friday said he would "soon" declare the Strait of Hormuz waterway part of US territory, claiming that Iran was being heavily defeated.
"Pretty soon I'll be declaring the Hormuz Strait a territory of the United States. It's true," he said with a chuckle during a political rally at a police academy in New York state.
🔗 Share Article
Tags:#الشرق الأوسط#الأزمة الإيرانية الأمريكية#إسرائيل لبنان#مضيق هرمز#الصراع الإسرائيلي الفلسطيني#المفاوضات
Source: France 24
For Context
Related reads from the same topic or latest developments
