Dubai, April 10: Kuwait accused Iran and its proxies of drone attacks on vital facilities Thursday night, despite the two-week Iran war ceasefire, ramping up pressure ahead of US-Iran talks in Islamabad Saturday. Saudi Arabia confirmed a recent strike damaged its critical East-West pipeline, which bypasses Iran’s Strait of Hormuz chokehold.
Kuwait’s foreign ministry, via state-run KUNA, highlighted the strikes as a ceasefire violation. Meanwhile, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu authorized direct negotiations with Lebanon “as soon as possible” to disarm Iran-backed Hezbollah and normalize ties—despite no formal ceasefire between them. “Israel will keep striking until northern security is restored,” he said in a video.
Talks, mediated by the US State Department in Washington next week, involve US Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa and Israel’s Ambassador Yechiel Leiter. Lebanon’s representative remains unclear. This follows Israel’s deadliest strikes on Beirut Wednesday, killing over 300 per Lebanon’s health ministry, targeting Hezbollah.
US President Donald Trump questioned the ceasefire’s viability on social media: “Iran is doing a very poor job… allowing Oil to go through the Strait of Hormuz. That is not the agreement!” He warned of escalated US strikes if violated and urged Netanyahu to ease Lebanon operations. Iran denied weakness in accepting the truce, calling it a “solidification of victories,” amid disputes over Strait tolls, mining, and uranium stockpiles.
No new missile or drone launches were reported Thursday, halting weeks of attacks on Gulf neighbors and Israel. However, a New York think tank warned the truce “hovers on the verge of collapse.” Lebanon reported seven killed in an overnight Israeli strike in the south; Israel killed a Hezbollah aide but didn’t confirm.
Israel and Lebanon, technically at war since 1948, have clashed repeatedly, including a recent Israeli incursion over border fire.
