Middle East crisis live: Red Cross ‘outraged’ as Israeli strikes kill at least 254 people in Lebanon; strait of Hormuz impasse continues

Key Points:

• The International Committee of the Red Cross condemned the latest Israeli strikes in Lebanon, calling the heavy attacks on densely populated areas, including Beirut, devastating and carried out without effective advance warnings; at least 254 people were killed and 1,165 wounded according to Lebanon’s Civil Defence.
• Hezbollah reportedly fired rockets at northern Israel in response to alleged ceasefire violations, escalating tensions amid ongoing conflict and ceasefire efforts.
• Iran’s Revolutionary Guards issued alternative shipping routes for vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz to avoid naval mines, complicating maritime safety during a fragile two-week truce that Israel’s strikes on Lebanon threaten.
• NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg met privately with former US President Donald Trump, who expressed frustration with NATO allies and hinted at a possible US withdrawal; Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte emphasized that many European countries have fulfilled their commitments.
• French President Emmanuel Macron urged that any ceasefire agreement include Lebanon to ensure credibility and lasting peace, highlighting France’s commitment to working with Middle Eastern partners toward comprehensive negotiations.