The Middle East ceasefire is facing its most severe test as Israeli strikes on Hezbollah in Beirut trigger Iranian retaliation and Israeli counterstrikes. The U.S.
and mediators rush to prevent a full-scale war. - Israeli strikes on Hezbollah in Beirut over the weekend prompted Iran's first direct attacks on Israel since the April 7 ceasefire.
- Israel retaliated with strikes on targets across Iran, while Iran-backed proxies in Yemen and Iraq threaten to widen the conflict. - Hezbollah has rejected ceasefires agreed to by Israel and the Lebanese government, vowing to continue attacks as long as Israeli forces remain in southern Lebanon.
- Gulf Arab states, vulnerable to attacks, urge an end to the conflict as the region teeters on the edge of a wider war.