Spotlight
An Argentine judge on Thursday ordered that the seven Iranians and three Lebanese citizens accused of involvement in the 1994 bombing of a Jewish community center in Buenos Aires face trial in absentia for the first time in the long-running case plagued by setbacks and controversy.
For years Argentine courts have ordered that the suspects — Iranian former officials and Lebanese nationals — be apprehended and brought before a judge because Argentina never allowed trials in absentia.

An Israeli strike targeted Thursday a bulldozer on the Baraasheet-Shaqra road after an Israeli infantry force entered the outskirts of Houla at dawn and detonated a house there.
Israeli troops entered Lebanon on September 30, 2024, after nearly a year of cross-border exchanges launched by Hezbollah in support of Gaza.

Hundreds of people rallied outside the Iranian embassy in Beirut Wednesday, responding to a call from Hezbollah to celebrate "the culmination of the struggle and sacrifices" of the Iranian people "who triumphed over the Israeli-American aggression".
Ahmed Mohebbi, 42, who was among the crowd, said: "We are very happy about this victory that Iran achieved, despite the hits it took and attacks by America and Israel to prevent it from continuing its nuclear program.

Hezbollah on Wednesday hailed what it called its ally Iran's victory over Israel after 12 days of war, declaring it the start of a "new historical phase".
In a statement, Hezbollah offered its "most sincere congratulations" to the Islamic republic, praising its "glorious divine victory".

President Joseph Aoun on Wednesday called for an end to Israel’s continued occupation and attacks in Lebanon, in talks with the visiting UK Defense Senior Advisor to the Middle East and North Africa, Vice Admiral Edward Ahlgren.

The five-party U.S.-led ceasefire committee will convene Wednesday in Ras al-Naqoura for the first time since the suspension of its meetings on March 11, al-Akhbar newspaper reported.

Lebanese security agencies have been put on maximum alert to thwart potential terrorist attacks following the church attack in Syria, Kuwait’s al-Anbaa newspaper has reported.

One person was wounded Wednesday when an Israeli quadcopter dropped a bomb on the southern town of al-Mansouri, the Health Ministry said.

Israel said it killed Tuesday in south Lebanon the head of a money exchange firm that was allegedly transferring money from Iran to Hezbollah for military purposes.

The whipsaw chain of events involving Iran, Israel and the United States that culminated in a surprise ceasefire has raised many questions about how the Trump administration will approach the Middle East going forward.
Yet, the answer to the bottom line question — "what's next?" — remains unknowable and unpredictable. That is because President Donald Trump has essentially sidelined the traditional U.S. national security apparatus and confined advice and decision-making to a very small group of top aides operating from the White House.
