Rome: Israel announced at talks in Rome Thursday it would not withdraw from additional areas of southern Lebanon until the Lebanese army established full control over two initial "pilot zones", a Lebanese presidential source said.

According to France24.com, the decision comes amid a shaky ceasefire between Israel and the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah, which grew more volatile. On Wednesday, the Israeli military issued an evacuation warning to residents of the southern Lebanese village of Mansouri, marking the first such warning in weeks. The Israeli military later stated it had begun conducting "precise strikes" in southern Lebanon in response to what it described as "a blatant violation of the ceasefire" that had largely held since June 20.

In related developments, Iran announced Wednesday it is in the "final stage" of drafting an agreement with Oman over the Strait of Hormuz, with US President Donald Trump suggesting a deal could be announced this week. Meanwhile, US Vice President JD Vance acknowledged the challenges faced in resolving the conflict involving Iran, describing efforts to end the war as "messy" and indicating that "it's going to take some time."

Additionally, 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, though no evidence was provided. Saudi Arabia has yet to comment on the claim.

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