Here are Wednesday’s updates from the U.S.-Iran cease-fire and Israel’s war with Hezbollah:
■ The IDF announced that Major (res.) Itamar Sapir, 27, was killed during clashes with Hezbollah operatives while scanning buildings in a village in southern Lebanon. Sapir, a deputy company commander in the IDF’s 551 Brigade, is survived by his wife and young son.
■ The U.S. seized an Iran-linked oil tanker in the Indian Ocean overnight, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing three U.S. officials. The tanker was sanctioned by Washington in March for transporting Iranian oil and was reportedly carrying more than one million barrels of crude loaded at Iran’s Kharg Island in February.
■ U.S. Vice President JD Vance said Washington and Tehran are making “a lot of progress” in ongoing talks and that neither side wants a renewed military campaign. “We think the Iranians want to make a deal,” Vance told reporters at the White House.
■ The U.S. imposed sanctions on four individuals linked to the Gaza-bound flotilla movement, accusing them of ties to Hamas-aligned networks. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the flotilla initiative was an attempt to undermine U.S. diplomatic efforts in the region and vowed Washington would continue targeting Hamas’ international financial support networks.
■ Prosecutors agreed to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s request to cancel Wednesday’s hearing in his corruption trial, citing security and diplomatic considerations outlined in confidential materials submitted to the court.
■ Somaliland announced it will soon open an embassy in Jerusalem after Israel became the first country to formally recognize the self-declared republic. Israel is also expected to establish an embassy in Somaliland’s capital, Hargeisa.