Evening update

Good evening Middle East Eye readers, the latest updates from the region bring a mix of developments. First, Israeli forces initiated a significant blast in southern Lebanon's Haddatha during the inaugural day of new peace talks between Israel and Lebanon in Rome, with further discussions anticipated until at least Thursday. Concurrently, an Indian vessel near Yemeni waters was hit by a projectile, yet all 14 crew members were successfully rescued by the Yemeni coast guard.

Iran's foreign ministry reported the talks with Oman are advancing positively in efforts to establish a secure passage through the Strait of Hormuz. Meanwhile, Israeli forces have escalated their raids on West Bank towns, following the Knesset's approval of an additional $36 million for settlement construction. The United States Central Command announced the redirection of another ship within its blockade of Iranian ports, maintaining that the Strait of Hormuz remains open for international trade.

Prime Minister Netanyahu affirmed that Israeli forces are not withdrawing from their present positions in Gaza and expressed disagreement with the Trump Administration's 'Roadmap for Peace' proposal regarding Gaza. Additionally, White House officials are contemplating extending the Jones Act waiver, currently in its longest suspension since its inception, as a potential measure to mitigate gas price inflation triggered by the ongoing Iran conflict, as reported by Reuters.