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US personnel draw weapons on Lebanese officials following drone crash near Hamat base

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US personnel reportedly barred Lebanese authorities from accessing the wreckage of an unidentified unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) that crashed near the Hamat Airbase in northern Lebanon during the early hours of February 17, according to security sources cited by The Cradle. The drone, which was detected by security units at the base where US forces are stationed, crashed into a nearby forested area following an intervention.

Patrols from the Hamat municipal police and elements of the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) were immediately dispatched to the site to inspect the debris.

US personnel drew weapons against local officials

US personnel on the scene actively obstructed the investigation into the downed UAV. A security source reported that US soldiers drew their weapons to prevent Lebanese officials, including the local mayor, from accessing the crash site. The US contingent justified the exclusion by citing security concerns, alleging that the drone might have been rigged with explosive booby traps.

While Lebanese authorities were unable to take custody of the UAV, it was subsequently reported that US officials informed them the craft was no longer at its initial discovery point.

Mayor rejects US general’s apology request

A US general stationed at the base reportedly contacted the Mayor of Hamat to offer an apology for the incident; however, the overture was rebuffed. The mayor declined the request for a meeting, citing his objection to the conduct of the forces stationed at the base in northern Lebanon.

This latest violation of Lebanese airspace occurs as the Israeli military continues to breach the terms of a US-brokered ceasefire.

UNIFIL documents aggressive Israeli drone activity

In early February, units of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) operating near Kafr Kila in southern Lebanon detected two UAVs. One of the aircraft was reported to be carrying an unidentified object characterized as an “immediate threat.” The UAV reportedly dropped a sound bomb that detonated approximately 50 meters from UNIFIL troops before proceeding toward Israel.

The UN mission emphasized that the drone belonged to the Israeli military and had crossed the Blue Line in violation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701. The statement underscored that the use of armed UAVs in such a manner is unacceptable.

Israel commits over 12,000 violations post-ceasefire

Since Hezbollah suspended its attacks in November 2024, the Israeli military has reportedly violated Lebanese sovereignty more than 12,000 times. This figure includes over 8,000 airspace violations and approximately 700 airstrikes. Israeli operations have resulted in the deaths of 343 Lebanese nationals and left nearly 1,000 others wounded. Reported civilian casualties include a significant number of women and children.

Israeli forces maintain a military presence at several border points within Lebanese territory, preventing more than 64,000 displaced persons from returning to their homes due to the extent of the destruction.

Katz defends military presence in Lebanese territory

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz stated on February 18 that the military presence at five points in Southern Lebanon was not a formal component of the ceasefire agreement but was a condition they had imposed, which the US had accepted.

This declaration coincides with reports from the Lebanese government indicating that the army will require at least four months to proceed with the next phase of the plan involving the disarmament of Hezbollah.

Middle East

Iran discloses 14-point draft US agreement featuring sanctions relief and troop withdrawals

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Iran has disclosed the details of a 14-point draft memorandum of understanding (MoU) prepared as part of ongoing negotiations with the United States.

According to the draft text published by the Mehr news agency, citing sources, the document includes critical provisions such as an immediate end to the war, the withdrawal of US forces from the region, and the provision of financial assistance to Tehran.

Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials stated that the text has not yet taken its final shape and must be reviewed and processed by relevant domestic institutions.

The draft memorandum of understanding published by the Mehr agency consists of the following points:

  • An immediate and complete cessation of war on all fronts, including Lebanon;
  • US non-interference in the internal affairs of Iran and respect for its sovereignty;
  • The complete lifting of the maritime blockade within 30 days;
  • The withdrawal of American military personnel from areas close to Iran;
  • The restoration of normal maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz within 30 days;
  • The suspension of sanctions and the provision of full access to Iran’s frozen assets;
  • The provision of $300 billion in financial assistance to Tehran by the US and its allies;
  • The initiation of a 60-day negotiation period for a final agreement regarding nuclear issues, the complete lifting of US sanctions, and the revocation of UN Security Council and International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) resolutions;
  • Iran’s reaffirmation of its commitment to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT);
  • A US commitment not to increase its troop levels in the region and to refrain from imposing new sanctions;
  • The release of $24 billion of Iran’s frozen financial assets by the US during the 60-day negotiation process, with half of this amount transferred to Tehran before negotiations begin;
  • The establishment of a monitoring mechanism to oversee the implementation of the agreement;
  • The endorsement of the final agreement via a UN Security Council resolution;
  • The requirement that half of the Iranian funds be released, oil sanctions suspended, and the maritime blockade lifted for second-phase negotiations to begin; with the final agreement strictly limited to the status of enriched uranium, the lifting of sanctions, and the economic recovery program, while explicitly excluding the missile program and support for resistance groups from the agenda.

Meanwhile, the news outlet Axios, citing its own sources, reported that Washington and Tehran have agreed on the text of the memorandum of understanding, though the document still awaits final approval.

The report noted that the document in question contains all the details regarding nuclear issues and satisfies US demands.

Bloomberg reported that instead of establishing direct contact, the parties have been exchanging messages through indirect diplomatic channels, utilizing Pakistani mediators and private couriers.

US President Donald Trump announced on June 11 that the parties had reached an agreement to end the war, stating that only the signatures remained to be finalized.

Trump indicated that the preparation of the documents had reached the final stage, adding that the signing ceremony could take place as early as this weekend.

According to information reported by Axios correspondent Barak Ravid, US Air Force aircraft and necessary equipment departed for Geneva, Switzerland, on the evening of June 11 to prepare for the signing ceremony.

Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei also announced that work on the main articles of the peace agreement text with the US is nearly complete.

Despite these positive statements pointing toward an agreement, military tensions between the two sides had continued until very recently.

A few days ago, the parties carried out reciprocal military strikes, after which Trump stated that Washington was prepared to launch new attacks against Iran, seize Kharg Island, and take control of the country’s oil and gas markets, drawing a parallel to Venezuela.

Trump later announced that he had canceled these attack plans, while the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs argued that the American attacks had rendered the ceasefire process dysfunctional.

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Middle East

Iran says US strikes have rendered April ceasefire meaningless

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Iran’s Foreign Ministry said US attacks on targets inside Iran during the night of June 11 had “effectively rendered meaningless” the ceasefire arrangement that entered into force between the parties in April.

According to a statement carried by the Tasnim news agency, “The illegal and criminal attacks carried out by the United States in recent hours constitute not only a grave violation of the United Nations Charter and the fundamental norms of international law, but have also effectively rendered the ceasefire regime meaningless.”

Iran also stressed that countries in the region have a legal and moral responsibility not to allow the US military to use their territory and resources to conduct attacks.

The statement further pledged to “neutralize the source of the aggressive actions.”

US strikes lasted four hours

According to a statement from US Central Command, American armed forces launched strikes against targets in Iran on the night of June 11 “in self-defense.”

“These strikes are a response to Iran’s unjustified and ongoing aggression,” the statement said.

Approximately four hours after the operation began, the US military announced that it had concluded the mission.

According to the statement, the targets included intelligence and surveillance facilities, communications systems and air defense positions. The operation involved units from the US Marine Corps, Air Force and Navy.

Axios reporter Barak Ravid wrote on X that the United States had struck military targets in southern Iran.

According to reports from the IRNA, Mehr, Tasnim and Fars news agencies, explosions were reported on Kish Island, east of Isfahan, in Mohr, and in the Hormozgan province districts of Sirik, Minab, Qeshm and Hengam.

Air defense systems were also reported to have been activated around the airport and military base in Bandar Abbas.

Iran announces closure of the Strait of Hormuz

Iran announced that it had closed the Strait of Hormuz to all maritime traffic, including tankers and commercial vessels.

According to Mehr, the naval arm of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps attacked two commercial ships attempting to transit the strait.

The Revolutionary Guards also said that 12 ballistic missiles struck a location hosting US F-35, F-15 and F-16 fighter aircraft. The statement added that targets at Jordan’s Azraq Air Base and a “command center” had also been hit.

US President Donald Trump had previously warned that attacks on Iran could resume after negotiations failed to make progress and following the destruction of a US Apache attack helicopter.

The helicopter was reportedly shot down off the coast of Oman on the evening of June 8, although both pilots were rescued.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian condemned US threats and said his country would “maintain its resolute stance.”

A two-week ceasefire between the parties entered into force in April and was later extended indefinitely by Trump until further notice. Despite the ceasefire, however, the two sides had engaged in several rounds of retaliatory attacks.

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US submits draft IAEA resolution demanding immediate Iranian cooperation on enriched uranium

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The United States has approached the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to determine the fate of Iran’s highly enriched uranium.

According to a report by Reuters, which cited diplomatic sources and obtained a draft resolution prepared by the US and presented to member states, Tehran is being called upon to provide the agency with precise and clear information regarding its nuclear material accounting and monitored nuclear facilities.

The text drafted by the US demands that the Tehran administration grant all necessary access permissions required to verify this information. The draft resolution emphasizes that Iran’s cooperation is a vital and urgent necessity, stating that the process must be executed without any delay.

The current draft does not yet include a referral to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), which would typically be expected following an IAEA resolution declaring that Iran has violated its obligations under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). That violation decision was issued on June 12, 2025, one day before a 12-day war waged by the US and Israel against Iran last year. Diplomats speaking to Reuters indicated that the option of referring the matter to the UNSC remains under evaluation.

The Al Mayadeen television channel also reported, based on a copy of the draft resolution it obtained, that Washington is lobbying member states of the IAEA Board of Governors intensively to support its position.

These diplomatic moves coincide with a call from IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi for renewed engagement with Tehran. In his statement, Grossi said, “I call on Iran to work constructively with the agency to facilitate the full and effective implementation of safeguards in Iran. Re-engaging is of utmost importance.”

Reuters had previously reported in early June that the US was preparing a draft resolution to censure Iran at the upcoming IAEA meeting.

The Tehran administration continues to accuse the IAEA of systematically leaking sensitive and confidential information to Israel. At the end of the 12-day war last year, the US targeted Iran’s critical nuclear facilities and claimed to have destroyed Tehran’s entire nuclear program. However, intelligence assessments at the time revealed that Washington’s claims did not reflect reality.

Since those attacks, the IAEA has been requesting access to the struck nuclear facilities for inspection purposes. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi characterized the agency’s request last year as malicious.

In early April, Washington announced it had launched a rescue operation for a pilot downed in Iranian airspace. However, during the operation, US forces encountered stiff resistance from Iranian soldiers and, according to reports in the press, lost numerous aerial assets.

Following these developments, the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement suggesting that the military move conducted by the US under the guise of a pilot rescue operation may have been part of a deceptive and covert mission with the actual objective of stealing enriched uranium.

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