WASHINGTON BLOCKS ISRAEL FROM RETALIATING ITS WAY OUT OF THE ROME TALKS

Two Israeli reserve soldiers were killed Wednesday when they entered a booby-trapped building in the southern Lebanese village of Majdal Zoun, a site outside the ceasefire framework's designated inspection zones. 7JPO Two IDF soldiers killed, four seriously injured in southern Lebanon 9YNT Two IDF reservists killed, four seriously wounded by Hezbollah explosive in southern Lebanon Israel launched immediate strikes, issued the first civilian evacuation order in over a month, and killed one person in Tebnine. 2GDN Iran says a deal with Oman to reopen the strait of Hormuz is close to being finalised, Middle East crisis live 4CRD Explosive device kills two Israeli soldiers, wounds several in south Lebanon The US intervened directly to prevent a significantly wider attack, which is what kept the Rome talks from collapsing on day three. 1JPO Israel Katz questions IDF tactics after Lebanon blast as US reportedly blocks wider attack The uncomfortable question nobody in Jerusalem is asking publicly: why were Israeli forces operating in an uninspected building outside their sanctioned zone in the first place.

Corridor coordinates are agreed and a joint statement with Oman is in final drafting. 11AJE Iran says Hormuz talks with Oman in ‘final’ stages as route approved 13GDN Understanding reached on coordinates for shipping route through Hormuz, Iran says Trump told Fox News the strait "is going to be open very soon." 2GDN Iran says a deal with Oman to reopen the strait of Hormuz is close to being finalised, Middle East crisis live Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Gharibabadi then clarified that even a signed agreement "cannot in itself be interpreted as meaning the waterway has become safe for passing vessels," with reopening still conditioned on ending the naval blockade, lifting sanctions, and unfreezing assets. 6CNN Tehran denies talks with US as Iran and Oman close in on Strait of Hormuz agreement 12MHR Reopening of Hormuz needs US cessation of its violations Iranian sources pushed back to Reuters on claims a deal is imminent. 2GDN Iran says a deal with Oman to reopen the strait of Hormuz is close to being finalised, Middle East crisis live Make of that what you will.

Major General Abdullah al-Shehri has been appointed to lead the Multinational Maritime Defense Alliance, with a planning session set for 12-13 August. 3CRD Saudi Arabia names commander for Red Sea military alliance On the same day as the announcement, Houthi forces struck the Saudi tanker Wafa off Yanbu with ballistic missiles, the eighth Saudi tanker hit since the blockade began on 22 July. 3CRD Saudi Arabia names commander for Red Sea military alliance Twenty-nine more tankers have turned back from Bab al-Mandab and six supertankers have rerouted around Africa entirely, adding 25 days per voyage. 3CRD Saudi Arabia names commander for Red Sea military alliance A commander and a planning meeting are a start. They do not intercept missiles already in the air.

CNN reported that 80 percent of THAAD interceptors and roughly half of Patriot interceptors used since the war began have been expended. 10AJE US officials push back on reports of dangerously low munitions supplies Hegseth called the THAAD figure "not true." Trump blamed Biden-era Ukraine transfers. 10AJE US officials push back on reports of dangerously low munitions supplies When the president and defence secretary are personally going on record to deny a stockpile story, the story has clearly landed. The CSIS analysis underpinning the reporting is from July 27 and is not going away, which is also why Raytheon is quietly up about 10 percent since early July.

Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and Legal Agenda jointly concluded that Israel deliberately targeted Lebanese journalists Amal Khalil and Zeinab Faraj with apparent knowledge they were civilians. 8GDN Israeli strike that killed journalist in Lebanon was war crime, say rights groups Investigators found Israeli forces dropped stun grenades on Red Cross workers and fired on ambulances, with delays that may have contributed to Khalil's death. 8GDN Israeli strike that killed journalist in Lebanon was war crime, say rights groups Israel said the journalists were killed in operations targeting Hezbollah operatives. 8GDN Israeli strike that killed journalist in Lebanon was war crime, say rights groups The timing hands Hezbollah's political allies in Beirut a ready-made propaganda asset and adds pressure on European governments already navigating arms transfer politics.