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Army deploys to first 'pilot zone' in Zawtar al-Gharbieh

The Lebanese army deployed on Tuesday to "pilot zones" in part of the country that had been under Israeli control following a deal sponsored by Washington, a military source told AFP.

The source said soldiers "have begun deploying to the village of Zawtar al-Gharbieh" in the Nabatieh region, following Israel's invasion of parts of the south during their war with Hezbollah.

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Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis announce maritime blockade of Saudi Arabia

Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels on Monday announced a maritime embargo of their foe Saudi Arabia, after the pair traded fire last week for the first time in years.

The rebels "declare a maritime embargo against the criminal Saudi enemy, based on the equation of 'an eye for an eye,' effective immediately upon the issuance of this statement," military spokesman Yahya Saree said.

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Hamas says Khalil al-Hayya elected as group's new chief

Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas announced Monday that it had elected Khalil al-Hayya, the group's lead negotiator in indirect ceasefire talks with Israel, as the new head of its political bureau.

"The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) announces the election of brother mujahid Khalil al-Hayya as head of the movement's political bureau, succeeding the martyred leader Yahya al-Sinwar," Hamas said in a statement. Sinwar was killed by Israeli forces in October 2024 in Gaza.

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Iran minister set to visit Islamabad on Monday

Iran's Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni is set to travel to mediator Pakistan's capital on Monday, a Pakistani interior ministry source said.

The source confirmed to AFP that the minister would have talks with Pakistani officials but did not elaborate on whether it was linked to Pakistan's long-running mediation efforts to end fighting between the United States and Iran.

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Iran calls on IAEA to condemn strikes on under-construction nuclear site

Iran urged the United Nations nuclear watchdog on Monday to condemn U.S. strikes that it said targeted the Darkhovin nuclear power plant under construction in the country's southwest.

"Iran... expects the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) Board of Governors and the Director General of the IAEA, who from time to time makes political statements regarding the Iranian nuclear issue, to clearly state their position on this matter in condemning the U.S. crime," Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said at a press conference in Tehran attended by AFP.

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Iran says diplomatic exchanges with US ongoing via mediators

Iran said on Monday that diplomatic exchanges with the United States via mediators were ongoing despite U.S. military strikes on the country.

"We have been informed by mediators, we have received messages -- without going into details -- but the main point is that the diplomatic apparatus has been active in recent days and ideas have been conveyed to us by certain mediators," said Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Ismail Baghaei at a press conference in Tehran attended by AFP.

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Trump, Infantino greeted by boos after World Cup final

U.S. President Donald Trump and FIFA chief Gianni Infantino were met with resounding boos as they walked onto the pitch Sunday for the presentation ceremony after Spain won the World Cup.

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Spain down Argentina to win World Cup, shatter Messi dream

Ferran Torres scored an extra-time winner as Spain defeated holders Argentina 1-0 to win the World Cup on Sunday and shatter Lionel Messi's dreams of a triumphant farewell to football's greatest stage.

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Blast kills Lebanese soldier in south, Israel blames Hezbollah

The Lebanese military has said that a soldier was killed "as a result of the explosion of a suspicious object in an army vehicle" in the southern town of Mansouri.

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In a Lebanon museum, 'keys without homes' evoke destruction in south

Tears streamed down south Lebanon resident Fatima Hajj Ali's face as she stared at a host of keys hanging like windchimes from the ceiling of a Beirut museum -- each one symbolizing a home, like her own, destroyed by Israel.

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