★UNITED STATES

1. Islamabad Prepares To Host Iran-US Delegations’ Talks Negotiations

Islamabad is preparing under tight security to host U.S. and Iranian delegations after mediating a temporary ceasefire between Iran and the United States. Talks, expected to begin at the Serena Hotel, involve senior officials including JD Vance, Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner, and Abbas Araghchi, with Pakistan’s military overseeing security arrangements.

2. Trump Presses Netanyahu To Curb Lebanon Strikes Iran Talks

US President Donald Trump asked Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu to scale back military operations in Lebanon, according to a Wall Street Journal report citing US officials. The move aims to protect fragile Iran ceasefire talks, as Washington fears escalation could derail negotiations. Officials said the request came in a short phone call as tensions around Hezbollah and Iran remain high.

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★IRAN

3. Hormuz Under Conditional Control During Fragile Ceasefire, Tensions Rising

The Strait of Hormuz remains tense despite a US-Iran ceasefire, as Iranian navigation charts and alleged mine warnings disrupt shipping. Hundreds of vessels are delayed amid heightened insurance risks and restricted passage. The US is pushing to internationalize maritime security, while Iran enforces controlled transit, keeping global energy flows under uncertainty.

4. Death Of Kamal Kharrazi From US Israeli Airstrikes Wounds

Kamal Kharrazi, Iran’s former foreign minister, reportedly died on Thursday from wounds sustained in US-Israeli airstrikes on April 1, according to Iranian media. He previously served as ambassador to the UN and foreign minister from 1997 to 2005. Reports say his wife was killed in the same strike on their home in Tehran.

5. Iran War Weakens Tehran As Five Key Figures Shape Power Structure

The U.S.-Israeli war against Iran has caused major military and political losses, according to reports, yet the system remains intact under five key figures across parliament, the Revolutionary Guard, the Supreme National Security Council, the judiciary, and law enforcement. They include Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, security council chief Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, IRGC commander Ahmad Vahidi, judiciary chief Gholam-Hossein Mohseni Ejei, and police chief Ahmad Reza Radan.

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★ISRAEL

6. Israel, Lebanon Begin Direct Talks In Washington During Ceasefire

Israel and Lebanon will begin direct talks next week at the US State Department in Washington, led by Israeli envoy Yechiel Leiter and Lebanese ambassador Nada Moad, with former minister Ron Dermer expected to join later. Iran demanded a wider ceasefire, including Lebanon and Yemen, while Lebanon seeks US guarantees.

7. War In Numbers: 650 Iranian Missiles, 24 Dead Israelis

The 40-day Israel–US campaign against Iran involved about 650 Iranian ballistic missiles fired at Israel, killing 20 civilians in Israel and four Palestinians in the West Bank. In response, Israel carried out over 10,800 strikes on thousands of targets, while US forces also conducted extensive operations, as a ceasefire brought the fighting to a halt.

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★LEBANON

8. Israeli Airstrikes and Shelling Hit Southern Lebanon Towns Escalation

Israeli airstrikes and artillery struck multiple southern Lebanese towns from Thursday night into Friday, including Haris, Majdal, Joya, and others, killing one person and injuring another. A drone hit a motorcycle in al-Babliyeh, while homes were demolished in Khiam and Aita al-Shaab, amid continued cross-border escalation with Hezbollah.

9. Hezbollah Fires Rockets At Israeli Settlements Amid Escalating Tensions

Hezbollah said it fired rockets at Israeli settlements Kiryat Shmona, Metula, and Misgav Am, in multiple operations on Friday, claiming retaliation for Israeli violations of a ceasefire and attacks on southern Lebanon. Israeli media reported rocket damage to a house in the north, while Hezbollah said operations will continue amid ongoing cross-border escalation.

10. Israeli Strikes Hit Beirut Commercial And Seafront Neighborhoods Hard

Israeli airstrikes hit multiple commercial and seafront districts in Beirut, destroying apartment buildings and targeting alleged Hezbollah infrastructure, according to the Israel Defense Forces. Lebanese authorities reported over 300 killed and 1,800 wounded, while Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said more than 200 Hezbollah operatives were killed.

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★GULF STATES

11. Zelenskyy Gulf Talks Boost Drone Defense Cooperation Efforts

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine is holding security talks with Oman, Kuwait, and Bahrain to counter drones, after deploying 200 experts who intercepted Iranian Shahed UAVs. He stressed the need for integrated systems and noted long-term security and fuel agreements, alongside broader cooperation with Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE.

12. Saudi Arabia Partially Halts Production After Energy Facility Attacks

Saudi energy operations were temporarily suspended after attacks on oil and gas facilities across several regions, cutting output by around 600,000 barrels per day. The disruptions affected production, transport, and refining in Riyadh, Eastern Province, and Yanbu, with reported injuries among industrial security staff. Kuwait also said it intercepted a drone attack.

13. Drones Attack Kuwait Traced Back To Iraq Sources Say

Kuwait said drone attacks targeting military sites linked to the National Guard were traced back to Iraq, according to security sources, with no casualties reported. Kuwait had accused Iran and its proxies of violating a ceasefire, while Iran denied involvement. Tensions remain high amid ongoing regional conflict involving Iran, the United States, and Israel.

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★ Disclaimer: This publication is a digest of various news sources compiled by the Early Phoenix team and edited by Rania Kisar. The items are curated, concise summaries of news items hyperlinked within each story. The items and summaries presented do not necessarily represent the views of the American Center for Levant Studies.