Iran war: Israel strikes kill Lebanese journalist, Tehran-US talks collapse

Muhammad Asghar | GlobalBeat

An Israeli drone strike in southern Lebanon killed Lebanese journalist Samir Abdel-Hadi and 3 civilians on Tuesday while Iran-US negotiations in Oman stalled after Tehran rejected Washington’s demands on uranium enrichment.

The deaths bring journalist casualties in the 13-day conflict to 4 after Reuters reporter Issam Abdallah died in an Israeli strike last week. Israeli military spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari confirmed the strike targeted what he called a Hezbollah “media cell” operating near the border village of Mais al-Jabal.

The killings escalate media safety concerns as fighting spreads beyond Gaza. Reporters Without Borders counts 68 journalists killed across the region since October 2023. “Journalists are not targets,” the Committee to Protect Journalists stated Tuesday, demanding an investigation into Abdel-Hadi’s death.

US envoy Steve Witkoff left Muscat empty-handed after Iran refused to cap enrichment at 60 percent purity, according to Iranian state media. President Trump’s special representative had offered partial sanctions relief in exchange for enrichment limits and IAEA inspections.

The collapse dashes hopes for a diplomatic off-ramp as Israel prepares what officials describe as a “significant response” to Iran’s April 13 missile barrage. Defense Minister Israel Katz told Army Radio Tuesday that “all options remain on the table” following the failed talks.

Washington doubled down on military pressure, deploying 6 B-2 stealth bombers to Diego Garcia overnight. The Pentagon confirmed the deployment “signals our commitment to regional stability” without specifying targets. Each aircraft carries 16 precision-guided bombs capable of penetrating Iran’s underground nuclear facilities at Fordo and Natanz.

European powers scrambled to salvage negotiations. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot proposed an EU-brokered pause allowing IAEA inspectors access to Iranian sites within 48 hours. Tehran rejected the proposal within hours, calling it “a US proxy demand,” according to Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei.

Oil markets reacted immediately. Brent crude surged $6.40 to $94.70 per barrel, its highest level since October 2023. The spike threatens global inflation just as central banks consider rate cuts. “Every $10 increase adds 0.3 percent to inflation,” JPMorgan analyst Natasha Kaneva warned clients Tuesday.

In Lebanon, Israeli strikes expanded beyond border areas for the first time. Warplanes hit a Hezbollah weapons depot in the Bekaa Valley overnight, killing 7 fighters according to the group. The attacks suggest Israel’s campaign now targets deeper Iranian supply lines rather than just border units.

Tehran responded with defiance. Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf toured the damaged Natanz facility Tuesday, promising parliament would approve a “significant increase” in defense spending. State television showed lawmakers chanting “Death to Israel” as Ghalibaf claimed the country had already begun installing advanced centrifuges.

The escalation worries Russia, which maintains thousands of citizens at Bushehr nuclear power plant. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov urged “maximum restraint” while confirming Moscow had evacuated non-essential personnel from the facility. Russia’s foreign ministry warned any attack on Iranian nuclear infrastructure could release radioactive material across the Persian Gulf.

Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid criticized the government for lacking clear war aims. “We’ve bombed for two weeks without defining victory,” Lapid told reporters in Tel Aviv. Polls show 58 percent of Israelis support continuing strikes but only 31 percent believe the campaign will stop Iran’s nuclear program.

Background

The current crisis traces to April 1 when Israeli warplanes destroyed Iran’s consulate in Damascus, killing 7 Revolutionary Guards including top commander Mohammad Reza Zahedi. Iran responded with its first-ever direct attack on Israel, launching 320 missiles and drones on April 13. Most were intercepted, but several struck Israeli military bases.

The exchange ended a shadow war that began after Trump withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal and reimposed sanctions in 2018. Since then, Israel has conducted hundreds of strikes on Iranian targets in Syria while Iran built up Hezbollah’s missile arsenal to 150,000 projectiles. The current fighting represents the first open direct conflict between the regional enemies.

What’s Next

Israel’s security cabinet meets Wednesday to approve response options ranging from limited strikes on Revolutionary Guards bases to attacks on Iranian oil terminals. US officials expect action within 48 hours, potentially coordinated with American strikes. Iran has warned any attack on its nuclear facilities would trigger missile salvos at Israeli cities and US bases across the region.