Israel-Iran war LIVE: Lebanon PM denounces Israeli campaign as fresh strikes hit South

Israeli forces have intensified their aerial campaign against suspected Hezbollah positions in South Lebanon, prompting sharp condemnation from Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati, who denounced the operations as a severe violation of sovereignty and a direct escalation of the regional proxy war. This surge in cross-border hostilities unfolds as former U.S. President Donald Trump and Tehran engage in conflicting public statements regarding a potential deal to reopen the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, currently facing unprecedented transit disruptions. The shadow boxing over Hormuz reveals the deeper fissures in the region, with Washington and Jerusalem reportedly at odds over the terms of any potential détente that could ease Iranian oil exports in exchange for de-escalation. While Trump's camp touts backchannel progress, Tehran insists any "deal" is entirely conditional on the full lifting of sanctions and guaranteed economic benefits, fueling skepticism within the Biden administration and among Israeli security analysts. The Red Sea shipping lanes remain precarious, further stressing global energy markets already volatile from ongoing Houthi rebel actions. Observers are now keenly watching whether the escalating confrontation in Lebanon signals a broader Israeli pre-emption against Iranian-backed groups, potentially derailing any fragile diplomatic overtures concerning Hormuz. The immediate future hinges on the extent of military responses from Hezbollah and the diplomatic efforts, if any, by regional and international mediators to prevent an all-out regional conflagration that would send global oil prices spiraling.