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Senior UAE, Iran officials discuss de-escalation in rare call

Senior UAE and Iranian officials held a call to discuss de-escalation on Wednesday, UAE state media reported, the first high-level call since ties deteriorated over the U.S.-Iran war.

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UNHCR chief calls for 'urgent' support to Lebanon during war

United Nations refugee chief Barham Salih on Wednesday called on the international community to provide urgent support to Lebanon, with a fifth of the country's population displaced by the Israel-Hezbollah war.

"I call upon the international community to provide urgent support and relief to Lebanon," he said after meeting Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam.

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Rare precedents for Lebanon-Israel peace talks

There are few precedents for the direct talks between Lebanese and Israeli officials that began in Washington on Tuesday.

- 1949, Fragile armistice -

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Iran military warns will block Red Sea if US naval blockade continues

Iran's military warned on Wednesday it would block trade through the Red Sea, along with the Gulf and Sea of Oman, if the U.S. naval blockade continues.

In a statement carried by Iranian state television, the head of Iran's military central command center said if the U.S. continues with its blockade and "creates insecurity for Iran's commercial vessels and oil tankers", it will constitute "a prelude" to violating the ceasefire.

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Israeli army issues new evacuation call to south Zahrani residents

Israel's military on Wednesday issued a fresh evacuation order for residents of south Lebanon despite talks held Tuesday in Washington.

"The airstrikes are ongoing as the Israel Defense Forces operate with significant force in the area. Therefore... we reiterate our urgent appeal for you to evacuate your homes immediately and head north of the Zahrani River," it said in a statement.

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Israel says detained 3 Hezbollah militants during Bint Jbeil clashes

The Israeli military has said that three Hezbollah militants were brought to Israel for questioning after surrendering during close-quarters combat in southern Lebanon.

"Yesterday, IDF soldiers engaged in close-range combat with a Hezbollah terrorist cell in Bint Jbeil," the military said.

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Hezbollah targets north Israel and troops in south with rockets and attack drones

Israel's army said Hezbollah militants fired around 30 rockets into northern Israel early on Wednesday, just hours after Washington hosted the first direct talks between Israel and Lebanon in decades.

The military detected "approximately 30 launches" towards Israel since the early hours, a spokesman told AFP.

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Israel strikes south Lebanon, Saadiyat, and Jiyeh despite Washington talks

Two Israeli strikes on Wednesday hit vehicles south of Beirut, state media reported, while Hezbollah launched rockets at Israel, hours after Lebanon and Israel agreed to hold direct negotiations.

Israel is continuing its strikes on southern Lebanon, but has not targeted the Lebanese capital since a series of attacks across the country on April 8 that killed more than 350 people.

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Trump signals possible new Iran talks in Pakistan

U.S. President Donald Trump told the New York Post on Tuesday that a second round of Iran talks could happen in Pakistan "over the next two days," after a first round ended at the weekend without a deal.

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Lebanon's US ambassador says called for ceasefire at 'constructive' Israel talks

Lebanon's ambassador to the United States Nada Hamadeh Moawad called for a ceasefire during "constructive" talks on Tuesday with Israeli officials in Washington, she said in a statement.

The "preparatory meeting was constructive," the envoy's statement said, adding that she "called for a ceasefire" and the return of displaced people to their homes, and also emphasized "the full sovereignty of the state" over all Lebanese territory.

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