23h18
This Live is now over
Thanks for following it. The 20 Minutes editorial team remains mobilized and will meet you tomorrow morning to find out the latest information on the war in the Middle East. Good night to everyone.
23h07
Tehran demands release of billions of dollars in Iranian assets frozen by the United States
Among its demands from Washington, Tehran is asking for the release of billions of dollars in Iranian assets frozen by the United States. Iranian state television said on Saturday, citing an unofficial transcription of the text, that the memorandum of understanding discussed with the United States provides for the release within 60 days of twelve billion dollars.
20h41
US forces say they fired on cargo ship trying to reach Iran
The American armed forces claimed on Saturday to have stopped a cargo ship sailing under the Gambian flag and trying to reach an Iranian port, thanks to the firing of a missile on its engine room. According to the US Middle East Command (Centcom), the strike took place on Friday after the Lian Star did not respond to its demands to enforce the blockade put in place by the United States in the Strait of Hormuz. The press release does not specify whether any injuries were recorded in this strike on board the Lian Star.
6:10 p.m
The Lebanese Prime Minister accused Israel of pursuing a “scorched earth policy”
In his speech, the Lebanese Prime Minister accused Israel of pursuing a “scorched earth policy” against his country. In this televised speech, Nawaf Salam judged that the “policy of scorched earth and collective punishment” carried out by the neighboring country “will not bring it security or stability”. Clashes between Israel and pro-Iranian Hezbollah are almost daily despite the truce of April 17, which has never been respected.
6:05 p.m
Lebanese Prime Minister denounces “Israel’s dangerous escalation”
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam denounced on Saturday Israel’s “dangerous and unprecedented escalation” in the south of his country and called for a ceasefire without delay, affirming that the “scorched earth” policy would not bring peace. security in the neighboring country. In a televised speech addressed to the Lebanese, Nawaf Salam, however, defended the authorities’ decision to conduct negotiations with Israel, affirming that it was “the least costly path” for Lebanon.
14h30
Two Lebanese soldiers seriously injured in “targeted” Israeli attack
The Lebanese army announced on Saturday that a “targeted” Israeli strike had injured two soldiers in southern Lebanon, the day after a meeting in Washington between military delegations from the two countries.
12h14
New evacuation orders, the Israeli army advances deep into Lebanon
The Israeli army again called on Saturday the population of villages in southern Lebanon to evacuate, in preparation for strikes, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reported the deeper progression of his army in the neighboring country.
The Israeli army has intensified its air and land operations in Lebanon in recent days, where it says it is targeting pro-Iranian Hezbollah.
Israel and Lebanon held a military meeting in Washington on Friday, amid negotiations between the United States and Iran, which wants to include the Lebanese front of the conflict in any agreement to end the war in the Middle East.
Friday’s strikes on around thirty localities left 11 dead in the Tire region, including a rescuer, and injured eight other people, according to the Ministry of Health.
09h12
US ‘more than capable’ of restarting war with Iran, says Hegseth
The United States has more than sufficient stocks of weapons and is “more than capable” of restarting the war against Iran, the head of American diplomacy, Pete Hegseth, said on Saturday in Singapore.
09h06
Israeli army issues evacuation orders for seven villages in southern Lebanon
The Israeli army on Saturday called on the Lebanese population to evacuate seven villages in southern Lebanon, ahead of planned attacks against pro-Iranian Hezbollah, despite the current truce.
Most of these villages are located near the town of Nabatiyé. Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon are almost daily despite the truce theoretically in force since April 17, with the army accusing Hezbollah of violating the ceasefire.
09h00
Trump will only agree to a deal with Iran if his ‘red lines’ are respected
A White House official said Friday that Donald Trump would only approve a possible agreement with Iran on the condition that its “red lines” are fully respected. This position comes the day after a meeting lasting almost two hours in the “Situation Room”, presented as major by the American president but which did not result in any concrete announcement. According to this source, Washington maintains its main demand: to prevent Iran from acquiring the capacity to develop a nuclear weapon.
08:50
Hamas denounces the extension of Israeli control in the Gaza Strip
Hamas denounced on Friday the decision announced by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to extend Israeli control over a larger part of the Gaza Strip, deeming this measure contrary to the ceasefire concluded in October 2025.
The spokesperson for the Palestinian movement, Bassem Naïm, accused Israel of violating the agreements in force by increasing its control to 70% of the territory, while the fighting and the humanitarian crisis continue. He recalled that the truce provided for the maintenance of Israeli forces behind the “yellow line”, which already granted Israel control of a significant part of the enclave.
08h45
Iranian sources reject Trump’s statements on deal under discussion
Iranian sources cited by the Iranian news agency Fars News Agency on Friday rejected Donald Trump’s statements on a possible agreement to end the conflict, calling them “a mixture of truth and lies.” They affirm that the text provides neither for an Iranian guarantee of free passage through the Strait of Hormuz without cost, nor for the destruction of Iranian nuclear materials.
A few hours earlier, Donald Trump had declared on Truth Social that he was preparing to make a “final decision” on this potential agreement, demanding the immediate reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and the destruction of Iranian enriched uranium.
08:30
Iran accuses Washington of making “excessive” demands in negotiations
Iran on Friday urged the United States to drop what it called “excessive” demands in talks aimed at ending the conflict. During a meeting with his Omani counterpart, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi estimated that the conclusion of an agreement depended on a change in attitude from Washington. He also criticized American “excessive demands” as well as positions that he considered “fluctuating and contradictory”.
08:15
The Israeli army says it has crossed the Litani and intensifies its strikes in Lebanon
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israeli forces had crossed the Litani River, located about 30 kilometers north of the Israeli-Lebanese border. During a visit to soldiers in northern Israel, he praised the operations carried out in several areas considered strategic, indicating that the army was continuing its progression beyond the river.
According to him, the Israeli air force is also carrying out strikes in Beirut, in the Bekaa Valley and across the entire Lebanese front. “We are hitting Hezbollah head on,” he declared, while the Israeli army now considers a large part of southern Lebanon as a combat zone, despite the ceasefire officially in force.
08:00
Welcome to this new Live
Hello everyone. Like every day, the editorial staff of 20 Minutes is mobilized to give you all the information on the situation in the Middle East.
The situation in the Middle East is still very complicated this Saturday given the diplomatic impasse in which the conflict finds itself. While an agreement seemed to be reached on Thursday between the United States and Iran, the discussions were unsuccessful. Each party remaining stuck to its positions and its demands.
