This live blog follows the latest developments across the Middle East crisis, including regional diplomacy, maritime security, ceasefire negotiations, and economic fallout.
Catch up: Yesterday’s top developments
- Trump says US-Iran draft deal is largely negotiated, includes Strait of Hormuz opening
- Iranian ambassador to Pakistan expresses optimism over regional peace progress
- CDF Field Marshal Asim Munir ends Iran visit, talks made "progress" toward "a final understanding"
- Israel orders evacuation of 10 southern Lebanon villages ahead of strikes
- An Israeli strike killed five police officers and a child in Gaza
Lebanon civil defense says Israeli strike destroys its Nabatieh facility
Published: May 24, 2026 | 2:03 GMT | by AFP
Lebanon's civil defense agency said early on Sunday its regional facility in the southern city of Nabatieh had been destroyed by an Israeli strike.
The Directorate General of Civil Defense said the building had collapsed and a large number of vehicles and equipment had been damaged by a "direct hit in a hostile Israeli strike".
It added there were no reports of casualties among its personnel, who had been moved to another location before the incident.
The civil defense agency condemned "this attack on a center dedicated to humanitarian and relief work", stressing that it was facing "growing risks and challenges" in carrying out its operations.
Israeli strikes in Lebanon have continued despite a truce that came into effect on April 17. Lebanon's health ministry has recorded the deaths of 123 rescuers and health workers in airstrikes since the country was attacked by Israel on March 2.
US, Iran signal peace deal progress as Pakistan hopes to host talks 'soon'
Published: May 24, 2026 | 2:12 GMT | by Web Desk
Pakistan said Sunday it hopes to host the next round of multilateral peace talks soon, as the United States and Iran signaled progress toward finalizing a peace deal.
US President Donald Trump said a draft agreement between Washington, Tehran and “various other countries” had been “largely negotiated” but remained “subject to finalization.”
“An Agreement has been largely negotiated, subject to finalization between the United States of America, the Islamic Republic of Iran, and the various other Countries,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “In addition to many other elements of the Agreement, the Strait of Hormuz will be opened.”
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei said Tehran was working to finalize a memorandum of understanding with the United States aimed at ending war “on all fronts,” according to the country's state news agency IRNA.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Islamabad hoped to host the next round of multilateral peace talks “very soon” following months of diplomatic negotiations between the United States and Iran.
Iran FM holds calls with Egyptian, Qatari counterparts on diplomacy
Published: May 24, 2026 | 1:24 GMT | by Web Desk
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi held separate phone calls with his Egyptian and Qatari counterparts on Saturday, the country’s state news agency reported.
According to IRNA, Araghchi spoke with Qatar’s Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and Egypt’s Badr Abdelatty amid ongoing regional tensions. The Iranian FM discussed diplomatic efforts to prevent escalation and end the on-going Middle East War.
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