US-Israel, Iran War: Key Highlights on May 31

US-Israel, Iran war: Key highlights on May 31 Lebanon’s Health Ministry says at least 3,412 people have been killed and 10,269 others wounded since March 2 as a result of Israel’s military campaign in the country. The Israeli military said sirens were activated in several areas of northern Israel after what it described as a “hostile aircraft infiltration” triggered air defence systems. In a statement, the military said the alerts followed the detection of an aerial threat, adding that earlier sirens had also sounded after “several projectiles that fell in open areas in southern Lebanon were identified”. Israel’s capture of the strategically important Beaufort Castle marks its deepest advance into Lebanon since withdrawing from the country in 2000 and signals a major escalation in the conflict with Hezbollah. Perched high above southern Lebanon, Beaufort Castle offers commanding views over large parts of southern Lebanon and northern Israel. For centuries it has served as a military stronghold, used by Crusaders, Ottoman forces, Palestinian fighters, Hezbollah and Israeli troops, reported AP. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it carried out strikes against what it described as “separatist groups” in northern Iraq, according to Iranian state media. US President Donald Trump said he is “in no hurry” to reach a deal with Iran, warning that Washington could pursue other options if negotiations fail. “If we don't get what we want, we are going to end it in a different way,” Trump said, while reiterating that preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon remains his administration’s top priority. The Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza says the death toll from Israel’s war on the Gaza Strip has risen to at least 72,939 people since October 7, 2023. According to the ministry, a total of 172,927 people have also been injured during the conflict. The figures include those killed and wounded in Israeli military operations across the enclave over the course of the war. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he has ordered the military to expand its ground operations in Lebanon, signalling a further escalation in Israel’s campaign against Hezbollah despite a ceasefire announced more than six weeks ago. “I instructed the military to expand its ground manoeuvre in Lebanon,” Netanyahu said, adding that Israel’s objective is to “deepen and expand our grip on the places that were under Hezbollah’s control”. An attack near Hiram Hospital in the southern Lebanese city of Tyre injured 13 hospital staff members and caused significant damage to the facility, according to Lebanon’s Health Ministry. Lebanon’s National News Agency, citing the ministry, reported that the hospital sustained “serious damage”, adding to destruction from previous attacks. The ministry praised the hospital’s staff for continuing to provide medical services despite the risks. It also renewed calls on the international community to intervene, saying the escalating Israeli attacks showed no regard for international humanitarian law, international resolutions or established norms. Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf accused the United States of trying to create internal divisions in Iran through economic pressure and media campaigns, saying Washington was attempting to compensate for what he described as a military defeat. Speaking during the swearing-in ceremony of the parliament’s new presidium, Ghalibaf said the country was entering a “new phase of the war” in which adversaries were seeking to undermine national unity and force Iran into surrender. He dismissed such efforts as a “false dream” and said Iranians remained determined to resist external pressure. France has requested an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council following the expansion of Israeli ground operations in southern Lebanon and the seizure of Beaufort Castle by Israeli forces. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said France recognises Israel’s right to self-defence but argued that the ongoing military campaign and deeper incursions into Lebanese territory cannot be justified. “Nothing can justify the continuation of Israeli military operations in Lebanon and its ever-deeper occupation of Lebanese territory,” Barrot told BFMTV. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz are leaning toward approving large-scale strikes across Lebanon within the next 24 hours following a series of security consultations, according to Israel’s Channel 14. The report said the proposed operation could include evacuation warnings affecting hundreds of thousands of civilians in areas expected to be targeted. It also said the plans would be coordinated with the United States. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he has instructed the military to expand its operations in southern Lebanon and strengthen its control over areas previously held by Hezbollah. “Now my instruction is to deepen and expand our grip on the places that were under Hezbollah’s control,” Netanyahu said, according to Reuters. The remarks came after Israeli forces announced the capture of the strategic Beaufort Castle and surrounding high ground in southern Lebanon, marking Israel’s deepest advance into the country in more than two decades. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has described the capture of Beaufort Castle in southern Lebanon as a “dramatic step” and a significant shift in Israel’s military strategy. According to Israeli broadcaster Kan, Netanyahu said: “The occupation of Beaufort [Castle] is a dramatic step and a dramatic change in the policy we are leading.” He added that Israel was taking the initiative across multiple fronts, saying, “We are operating on all fronts – in Syria, Gaza, Lebanon. We have established security belts beyond our borders to protect our communities.” Israeli troops have captured the strategic Beaufort Castle in southern Lebanon, marking Israel’s deepest military advance into the country in more than 25 years, according to the Israeli military. The Crusader-era fortress sits atop a mountain near the city of Nabatieh and overlooks key areas of southern Lebanon. The Israeli military said the operation was launched several days ago in the Beaufort Ridge and Suluki Valley to dismantle infrastructure belonging to Hezbollah and remove what it described as direct threats to Israeli civilians. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said an Israeli flag had been raised over the castle, while military spokesperson Avichay Adraee published images showing Israeli soldiers at the site. Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said Tehran will judge any agreement with the United States based on concrete outcomes rather than promises, reiterating Iran’s distrust of Washington during ongoing negotiations. “There is no trust in the enemy’s words and promises. Our only criterion is to achieve tangible results before we fulfill our commitments in return,” Ghalibaf said after taking the oath of office following his re-election as speaker of parliament alongside the parliamentary presidium. Three offshore platforms at Iran’s South Pars gas field have resumed production, according to a report by Iran’s state-run news agency IRNA. The restart marks a boost for operations at the world’s largest offshore natural gas field, which is a cornerstone of Iran’s energy sector. Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said Tehran will not accept any agreement to end its conflict with the United States unless there is certainty that the rights of the Iranian people are protected. Speaking after taking the oath of office following his re-election as speaker, Ghalibaf said Iran remains deeply sceptical of US commitments. “There is no trust in the enemy's words and promises,” he said, according to state media. He added that Tehran’s benchmark for any agreement is the achievement of tangible results before Iran fulfills its own obligations, underscoring Iran’s demand for concrete actions rather than assurances as negotiations with Washington continue. The Israeli military said it intercepted two missiles launched from Lebanon toward northern Israel on Saturday morning. In a brief statement, the army said the interceptions took place at about 10.49 am local time in the Zar’it area near the Lebanese border. It added that hostile aircraft alerts were activated in the region during the incident. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said 28 vessels, including oil tankers, container ships and other commercial vessels, transited the Strait of Hormuz over the past 24 hours under the coordination and security oversight of the IRGC Navy. Iranian state media quoted the Revolutionary Guards as saying that 28 vessels had passed through the Strait of Hormuz in the past 24 hours. Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty has affirmed solidarity with Lebanon in a phone call with Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam. He also called for Israel’s complete withdrawal from all Lebanese territory and said any infringement on Lebanon’s sovereignty is a violation of international law. President Donald Trump has said the US and Iran are close to a "very good deal" during an interview with Fox News on Saturday night. He insisted that matters would "end it in a different way" if Washington does not get what it wants. "We're close to a very good deal. If you're going to be in a hurry, you're not going to make a good deal, and slowly but surely, we're getting what we want - and if we don't get what we want, we're going to end it a different way," Trump said. Trump said the Iranians are "good negotiators," but argued that the United States now holds "all the cards" because Iran has been "militarily defeated." "But we're close to a very good deal. If we can make it, good. Otherwise we just start up with the Department of War as we call it," the US President said. Iran's grip on the Strait of Hormuz has affected the supply of natural gas, essential for making chemical fertilizer, as well as global shipping. The Gulf region produces 30% of globally traded chemical fertilizer, according to the International Food Policy Research Institute, and global prices have increased by 50%, according to the World Bank's fertilizer price index. "The clock is ticking very hard," said Maximo Torero, chief economist at the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization, as concerns grow about food security. Experts say a shift away from chemical fertilizer could have wider benefits, as its production and usage create significant greenhouse gas emissions, the main driver of climate change. Natural fertilizers, by contrast, can sequester carbon in the soil and create fewer problems like runoff that can pollute waterways. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz hailed the capture of Beaufort Castle as a "strategic" win. In a post on Telegram, he wrote, "Under the direction of Prime Minister Netanyahu and my guidance, the [Israeli military] expanded the manoeuvre in Lebanon, crossed the Litani River and captured the Beaufort Ridge – one of the most important strategic points for the defence of the Galilee communities and maintaining the security of our forces." Lebanon has yet to comment on the development. According to Reuters and Associated Press, Israeli forces claimed to have captured the Beaufort Castle near the city of Nabatieh in southern Lebanon. Israel's Kann broadcaster showed images of the Israeli flag flying over the structure, located on a high ridge about 15km from the Lebanon-Israel border. A senior Iranian commander issued a warning against "any aggression" targeting his country. “The enemy should know that any aggression against the country’s territory will be met with a response even more forceful than before,” Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari, the deputy army commander for coordination, said, according to Press TV. A proposal titled, “United States-Israel Defense Technology Cooperation Initiative," has been presented before the US Congress. It could integrate the American and Israeli forces, boosting their cooperation on weapons research, production and technology. The bill provision appears as Section 224 of the House Armed Services Committee’s version of the fiscal year 2027 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), the annual US defence policy bill. It's still at an early stage and has not been enacted yet. After Axios' report suggesting that Trump made several amendments to the potential agreement with Iran, The New York Times is also reporting that the POTUS has "toughened the terms" of the deal and sent the proposed changes to Iran. The report, however, didn't go into detail about what kind of changes have been made to the text. In a post on X, spokeswoman Ella Waweya said that the Israeli military was launching “a large-scale operation” in the Shebaa Heights and the Wadi al-Salouqi area in southern Lebanon. According to the tweet, the operation was "aimed at destroying terrorist infrastructure and eliminating saboteurs, as part of enhancing operational control in southern Lebanon and removing the direct threat to the Finger of the Galilee and the Metula settlement." “The operation began several days ago, with large ground forces,” Waweya said, adding that troops are “executing an offensive activity to expand the forward defense line”. She added that he Israeli forces “have crossed the Litani River and expanded their attacks against Hezbollah north of the river, while operations in the meantime are expanding to additional areas." Waweya also said that Israeli forces were "prepared and ready to expand the attack as required." Citing officials, an Axios report indicated that Trump asked for "several amendments" to the Iran deal his team agreed upon with Iran during Friday's Situation Room meeting at the White House. According to the US outlet, the POTUS asked for changes in clauses pertaining to Iran's nuclear program. “It’s more specifics about how the U.S. gets the material [Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile] and the timing,” a senior administration official told Axios. Official sources told Axios that they were hoping to hear back from Iran "at the turn of the week." Another source claimed that the president also wanted changes in the language surrounding the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.