Rome: Israel declared during talks in Rome on Thursday that it will not withdraw from additional areas in southern Lebanon until the Lebanese army establishes full control over two initial "pilot zones," as reported by a Lebanese presidential source.

According to France24.com, this decision comes amid heightened tensions and a fragile ceasefire between Israel and the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah. The ceasefire has become increasingly unstable, with the Israeli military issuing an evacuation warning to residents of the southern Lebanese village of Mansouri, marking the first such warning in weeks. In response to what Israel described as "a blatant violation of the ceasefire" that had been largely maintained since June 20, the Israeli military announced it had commenced "precise strikes" in southern Lebanon.

In related developments, Iran announced it is in the "final stage" of drafting an agreement with Oman concerning the Strait of Hormuz, with the possibility of a deal being announced this week, as indicated by US President Donald Trump. Meanwhile, US Vice President JD Vance acknowledged the complexities of the situation with Iran, describing the ongoing efforts to end the conflict as "messy" and noting that progress will require time.

Further complicating regional dynamics, Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen claimed they had fired ballistic missiles toward a Saudi oil tanker on the Red Sea near the Saudi port of Yanbu, although no evidence was provided and there was no immediate comment from Saudi Arabia.