Israel carried out an airstrike on Beirut for the first time since implementing a ceasefire agreement, targeting what Israeli officials described as a commander of Hezbollah's elite forces. The strike marks a significant escalation and potential violation of the ceasefire terms that had been in effect.

The military action comes amid heightened tensions across the Middle East region. In the Persian Gulf, a French cargo ship was attacked in the Strait of Hormuz, with U.S. Central Command and the vessel's owner disagreeing on whether the ship had coordinated safe passage with American military forces. The incident underscores continued maritime security risks in the strategically important waterway.

Separately, U.S. forces disabled an Iranian-flagged vessel that attempted to break an unspecified blockade, according to military sources. The confrontation adds to growing maritime tensions between the United States and Iran in regional waters.

In other Middle East diplomatic developments, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held what was described as a rare phone call with the President of the United Arab Emirates, as defense cooperation between the two nations continues to expand following their normalization agreement.

Regional military capabilities are also evolving, with Turkey announcing plans to test an intercontinental ballistic missile, a development that would place the country among a select group of nations possessing such long-range strike capabilities. Meanwhile, Cuba issued strong criticism of what it characterized as "dangerous" U.S. threats of military action against the island nation.