17/04/2026 - 08:49
Lebanese army works to secure crucial bridge linking south with rest of country
The Lebanese army has begun work to secure the crucial Qasmiyeh sea bridge which connects the south with the rest of the country. The bridge was hit in an Israeli strike on April 16.
17/04/2026 - 08:44
In pictures: Displaced Lebanese return to their homes
A Lebanese soldier gestures as displaced people in cars queue up to cross a destroyed bridge in Qasmiyeh near Tyre city, in southern Lebanon, on April 17, 2026.
Photo: Mohammed Zaatari, AP
A man flashes the victory sign as he crosses the bridge in Qasmiyeh and which links southern Lebanon to the rest of the country. The bridge was hit in an Israeli strike prior to the ceasefire. On April 17, 2026.
Photo: Louisa Gouliamaki, Reuters
Displaced people returning to their villages following the start of the 10-day ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel, cross the destroyed Qasmiyeh bridge near Tyre city, in southern Lebanon, on April 17, 2026.
Photo: Mohammed Zaatari, AP
A man with his kids returns to the southern suburbs of Beirut, shortly after the start of the ceasefire. On April 17, 2026.
Photo: Adnan Abidi, Reuters
17/04/2026 - 08:18
Macron expresses ‘concern’ Lebanon-Israel ceasefire ‘may already be undermined’
French President Emmanuel Macron said he fully supports the ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel but is concerned that it may “already be undermined” by military operations.
“I call for the safety of civilian populations on both sides of the border between Lebanon and Israel. Hezbollah must renounce its weapons. Israel must respect Lebanese sovereignty and stop the war,” he wrote in a post on X.
17/04/2026 - 07:56
European countries have capacity to clear mines in Hormuz, French defence minister says
European countries such as Belgium, the Netherlands and France have mine clearance capacity which could help secure passage through the Strait of Hormuz, French Defence Minister Catherine Vautrin told French TV station TF1.
“There are capabilities to provide fully supported escort services […] for ships to ensure safe passage through the strait; that is what will be debated today in Paris.”
France and Britain will today chair a meeting of around 40 countries aimed at signalling to the United States that some of its closest allies are ready to play a role in restoring freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.
17/04/2026 - 07:52
Loss of energy output in MidEast will take about two years to recover, IEA says
It will take about two years to recover the energy output lost in the Middle East from the conflict there, Fatih Birol, the head of the International Energy Agency, said in an interview with Swiss newspaper Neue Zuercher Zeitung.
“That will vary from country to country. In Iraq, for example, it will take much longer than in Saudi Arabia. However, we estimate it will take approximately two years overall to reach pre-war levels again,” Birol said.
17/04/2026 - 07:13
NATO will not collapse and US will defend its allies, Estonian minister says
NATO member Estonia has no doubt that the United States would help defend it if Russia attacks, its defence minister said, while warning that Europe is not ready to stand up to Moscow on its own.
Estonian intelligence warned in February its neighbour Russia is already stockpiling ammunition for future wars after the conflict in Ukraine ends. Russia has described allegations by European leaders that it could attack NATO as nonsense.
US President Donald Trump this month threatened to pull the US out of the alliance over European members’ refusal to send ships to unblock the Strait of Hormuz near Iran.
But Hanno Pevkur, defence minister of Estonia, said he is in no doubt that the US would come to its defence if Russia attacks.
“Yes I trust the US and yes I trust all our allies,” he said, adding that the US needs Europe for its military as much as Europe needs the US, so “I don’t believe that NATO will collapse”.
17/04/2026 - 03:14
Lebanese army accuses Israel of ceasefire violations in south Lebanon
Lebanon's army reported “acts of aggression” by Israel that it said violated a ceasefire which took effect at midnight Friday local time.
Lebanon's army, in an X post early on Friday, called on residents in the south to exercise caution “in light of a number of violations” of the ceasefire agreement by “several Israeli acts of aggression".
17/04/2026 - 03:14
Good morning, and welcome to our liveblog on the war in the middle east.
17/04/2026 - 06:45
Pakistani-flagged tanker exits Gulf via Hormuz with UAE crude
Pakistani-flagged tanker Shalamar has exited the Gulf via the Strait of Hormuz carrying crude loaded from the United Arab Emirates, shipping data from Kpler and LSEG showed.
The Aframax tanker exited the waterway on Thursday laden with about 440,000 barrels of Abu Dhabi’s Das Blend crude loaded earlier this week, Kpler data showed. The vessel is heading to the port of Karachi to discharge its cargo on April 19, according to the data.
The Shalamar was one of two Pakistani tankers that entered the strait on Sunday to load crude and oil products. Pakistan’s petroleum minister said on Wednesday that the Shalamar loaded crude from the UAE at an ADNOC terminal.
US Central Command said on X that 14 vessels have turned around to comply with the blockade at the direction of American forces after 72 hours of enforcement.
17/04/2026 - 05:00
Stocks slip as investors eye Iran–US ceasefire extension
Stock markets fell Friday as investors awaited news of an extension to the Iran–US ceasefire, while crude prices edged back down following the previous day’s rally.
The losses follow a healthy, record-breaking week for equities fuelled by hopes the Middle East war, which is heading into a seventh week, could be close to an end after Donald Trump said negotiators were close to a deal.
But worries abound that a shaky truce agreed earlier this month – and which ends next week – could fall apart and spark a fresh market rout.
17/04/2026 - 04:13
Albanese says US made 'no new requests' as Trump criticises Australia over Iran conflict
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Friday the United States has made “no new requests” to help in Iran after President Donald Trump said he was “not happy with Australia”.
US security ally Australia has said it is not involved in the Iran conflict but has an interest in the Strait of Hormuz reopening to fuel shipments.
Trump has repeatedly criticised Australia for not helping in the Iran war.
“I’m not happy with Australia because they were not there when we asked them to be there,” he told reporters in Washington Thursday. “They were not there, having to do with Hormuz,” he said.
17/04/2026 - 03:46
Trump calls US war with Iran a 'little diversion'
President Donald Trump said Thursday the US war with Iran was a “little diversion” during his second term in power, as recent polling shows the conflict’s unpopularity with the American public.
At an event in Las Vegas, Nevada touting his “no tax on tips” measure from the major tax reform bill passed last year, the 79-year-old president boasted about his economic record since returning to office in 2025.
“We had the best economy in the history of our country in my first term. And we’re blowing it out now ... And despite our little diversion to the lovely country of Iran, lovely place,” Trump told the crowd of supporters.
“But we had to do that, because otherwise, bad things could happen, the really bad thing,” he continued, referencing Iran’s apparent nuclear potential.
17/04/2026 - 03:31
Macron and Starmer to discuss multinational force for Strait of Hormuz security
French President Emmanuel Macron and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Friday chair a meeting of allies to consider sending a multinational force to ensure security and free-flowing trade in the Strait of Hormuz once the current conflict between Iran and the US and Israel ends.
The leaders joining Starmer and Macron from 1200 GMT for the meeting – which will mostly be held via video – are due to call for a return to full freedom of navigation and address the economic consequences of the blockade.
But they will also “prepare the deployment, when conditions are met, of a strictly defensive multinational military mission, in order to ensure freedom of navigation,” according to the invitation sent by the Élysée which was seen by AFP.
17/04/2026 - 03:30
Iranian footballers granted asylum in Australia say they feel safe to compete
Two Iranian women footballers who sought asylum last month during the Asian Cup said Friday the support they had received in Australia gave them hope of being able to “live and compete in safety”.
Seven members of Iran’s delegation at the tournament sought sanctuary after being branded “traitors” at home for refusing to sing the national anthem at their opening game soon after war erupted in the Middle East.
With their demands for protection an embarrassment for Iran’s leaders but lauded by US President Donald Trump, five later changed their minds and returned home.
Only Fatemeh Pasandideh and Atefeh Ramezanisadeh stayed, despite activists accusing Iranian authorities of pressuring the women’s families, including summoning their parents for interrogation.
In a joint statement, the pair thanked the Australian government for “granting us humanitarian protection and a safe haven in this beautiful country”.
17/04/2026 - 03:20
Hezbollah signals conditional response to US ceasefire terms
Hezbollah said that “Israeli occupation on our land grants Lebanon and its people the right to resist it, and this matter will be determined based on how developments unfold” — a stance that could complicate the ceasefire.
The US State Department said that according to the agreement, Israel reserves the right to defend itself “at any time, against planned, imminent, or ongoing attacks". But otherwise, Israel “will not carry out any offensive military operations against Lebanese targets, including civilian, military, and other state targets".
The wording suggested Israel would maintain the freedom to strike at will, as it did in the months following the ceasefire that ended the previous war. This time, Hezbollah said it would respond to any strikes by Israel.
17/04/2026 - 03:15
Oil prices fall as ceasefire and Iran talks ease war fears
Oil prices fell in early trade on Friday on optimism the Middle East conflict could be nearing an end after a 10-day ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel took effect and President Donald Trump said the US and Iran may meet for talks on the weekend.
Brent crude futures declined by $1.34, or 1.35 percent, to $98.05 a barrel at 0021 GMT. US West Texas Intermediate crude futures fell $1.65, or 1.74 percent, to $93.40 a barrel, trimming gains from the previous session.