Middle East tensions: US strikes Iran midnight; Lebanon-Israel-US framework deal signed

Tensions in the Middle East escalated on Friday as the United States carried out air strikes on Iran while Lebanon, Israel and the US reached a new trilateral framework agreement in Washington aimed at reshaping security arrangements along the Lebanese border.

The US military launched strikes on Iranian missile and drone storage facilities and coastal radar installations, describing the operation as "a powerful response" to an alleged Iranian drone attack on a commercial vessel transiting the Strait of Hormuz a day earlier, according to US Central Command.

The command said Iranian drone activity against commercial shipping "clearly violated the ceasefire" and threatened freedom of navigation in the strategic waterway. It added that US forces would continue to ensure safe passage for commercial vessels and remain "present and vigilant" to enforce the recently signed US-Iran memorandum of understanding.

Earlier on Friday, US President Donald Trump said Iran had launched at least four one-way attack drones at a cargo vessel on Thursday, one of which struck the ship's upper deck, while three others were intercepted.

In retaliation, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) struck US military locations in the Middle East, according to a statement issued in the early hours of Saturday. The statement said that, under various pretexts, the United States had launched air strikes on Iran's coastal areas over an alleged unauthorized vessel transiting a restricted route in the Strait of Hormuz, adding that Washington had once again broken its commitments.

It stated that, under Article 5 of the Iran–US memorandum of understanding, transit management in the Strait of Hormuz falls under Iran's responsibility. However, the United States allegedly attempted to provoke violations of this arrangement, which it said had received an "appropriate response." It added that if "aggression" is repeated, Tehran's response "will be even larger in scale."

According to Iranian sources, warning shots had been fired hours earlier at a "violating vessel" in the Strait of Hormuz.

The strikes mark the first US military action against Iran since the signing of a US–Iran MoU earlier this week.

The MoU signed between Washington and Tehran includes provisions to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to commercial traffic and allow vessels to pass without charges for 60 days. The waterway, which once handled around 20% of global oil and liquefied natural gas flows, has seen only a partial recovery in traffic, according to shipping data.

The IRGC denied reports that a communication hotline had been established with the United States regarding the Strait of Hormuz, calling the claim "completely fabricated."

Meanwhile, on the same day, Lebanon, Israel and the United States concluded their four days of negotiations in Washington and announced a new framework agreement covering security arrangements in southern Lebanon.

According to Israeli media reports, the framework includes the withdrawal of Israeli troops from two areas south of the Litani River as a pilot measure, with Lebanese army forces – supported by US troops – expected to deploy in their place.

Meanwhile, Israel will maintain its military presence in a self-declared "security zone" in southern Lebanon until Hezbollah disarms. The Israel Defense Forces will retain operational freedom within the zone to respond to perceived security threats.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun described the agreement as the beginning of a path toward restoring Lebanon's full sovereignty, saying it marked an initial step to enable displaced civilians to return home. He stressed that Lebanon would not accept continued occupation.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the deal a "major achievement," framing it as a setback for Iran's regional influence. He said Israeli forces would remain in the security zone as long as Hezbollah refused to disarm.

Under the deal, the three parties also agreed on how to address Hezbollah's tunnels in southern Lebanon, deal with the group's growing strength, and conduct negotiations over the land border between Israel and Lebanon, according to the report.

However, the deal drew immediate opposition from Hezbollah. Its lawmaker Hassan Fadlallah on Friday said the group would confront any attempt to implement the framework and would not relinquish its weapons, according to Lebanese news website Elnashra. Fadlallah noted that Iran, a close ally of Hezbollah, had made clear that Tehran would not sign an agreement with Washington before a full Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory, Elnashra reported.