Key development: Trump says he’ll meet with Iran in Qatar on Tuesday, though Tehran hasn’t confirmed it yet—and this is happening while the US and Iran are actively trading strikes.
Diplomacy
(Update) Trump announced a meeting with Iran in Qatar set for Tuesday, though Tehran hasn’t confirmed. The timing is precarious given ongoing strikes between the two countries. (Al Jazeera, France 24)
Context: This is a concrete step up from the technical talks Trump mentioned earlier. He’s put a specific date (Tuesday) and place (Qatar) on the table. France 24 reports that Tehran earlier denied any technical talks had been scheduled, creating uncertainty about whether the meeting will actually happen. Iran firing missiles at US allies while this gets announced makes the whole thing feel pretty precarious.
Sources: Al Jazeera, France 24
(Update) Israel and Lebanon are discussing handing back chunks of southern Lebanon to the Lebanese army. It’s a US-backed pilot project being negotiated in Washington right now. (France 24)
Context: This is the first time we’re seeing a concrete plan for Israeli troops to actually withdraw from specific areas. The idea is to transfer control to the Lebanese Armed Forces in phases, starting with a test zone. Talks are happening between Israeli and Lebanese negotiators in DC.
Sources: France 24
Military Operations
(Update) The US hit Iran with a second wave of air strikes Saturday after Iran fired on Bahrain and Kuwait. That Kuwait strike was the first since the interim deal, threatening the already fragile arrangement. (France 24)
Context: Iran hitting Kuwait is a new escalation—it’s the first attack there since the fragile ceasefire-ish arrangement. Trump ordered the second round of US strikes in response. Meanwhile, a US-led maritime group expanded shipping routes near Oman, presumably trying to keep commerce flowing while missiles fly.
Sources: France 24
Syria condemned Israeli forces rolling into a village in Daraa province on Sunday. Residents tried blocking the road with stones. Israel has done at least 70 incursions into southern Syria just this month. (France 24) [UNCONFIRMED]
Context: Syrian foreign ministry condemned the Sunday incursion into Abidin village, where locals tried to physically stop Israeli patrols. A local NGO called Sijil is tracking these—they count 70 Israeli incursions in southern Syria in June alone, plus bombardments.
Sources: France 24
What to watch: Whether Iran actually shows up in Qatar on Tuesday, and whether anyone can keep this interim deal alive while strikes keep happening.