The strike occurred before dawn in an eastern neighborhood of the city, according to the civil defense agency, which operates under the Hamas-run administration in the territory.

Al-Shifa hospital said four bodies and five wounded people were brought in after an Israeli drone fired two missiles at a group of civilians. The casualty figures were consistent with those reported by the civil defense agency.

The Israel military said it was reviewing the reports when contacted for comment.The incident comes despite a ceasefire that took effect on October 10, though strikes have continued intermittently.

Gaza’s health ministry says at least 715 people have been killed in the territory since the truce began, a figure the United Nations considers reliable.Israel has reported five of its soldiers killed since the ceasefire took hold.

Access restrictions and media limitations in Gaza have made independent verification of casualty figures difficult.

Hamas and Israel have repeatedly accused each other of violating the ceasefire, which had largely halted nearly two years of conflict in the territory.

In a statement, the Iran-backed group said the vessel was struck about 68 nautical miles from the Lebanese coast, alleging it had been preparing to launch attacks on Lebanese territory.

There was no immediate confirmation from the Israeli military regarding the claim.Israeli naval forces have been involved in operations against targets in Lebanon in recent weeks, including using warships to carry out strikes along the coastline as hostilities with Hezbollah intensified.

The reported attack underscores a potential expansion of the conflict into the maritime domain, as cross-border hostilities between Israeli forces and Hezbollah continue alongside the broader regional war involving Iran and its allies.

The Israeli military said the Masnaa crossing was being used by Hezbollah for transferring combat equipment, and warned that strikes on the site were imminent. Military spokesman Avichay Adraee called on residents and travelers to leave the area immediately.

A Lebanese security source confirmed that the crossing was being evacuated following the warning. On the Syrian side, the crossing known as Jdeidet Yabous was described by border authorities as strictly civilian, with officials denying any military use and announcing a temporary suspension of traffic for safety reasons.

The Masnaa crossing is Lebanon’s primary land route to Syria and a key corridor for trade and civilian movement. Israel previously struck the crossing in October 2024 during earlier hostilities with Hezbollah, forcing its closure until repairs were completed after a ceasefire.

The warning comes amid intensified Israeli operations across Lebanon since March 2, when Hezbollah joined the broader regional conflict alongside its ally Iran. Israeli forces have since conducted widespread airstrikes and ground operations in southern Lebanon.

Lebanon’s health ministry said an Israeli strike on Maaraka near the southern city of Tyre killed five people and wounded one. Earlier strikes in Habbush killed two girls and wounded 22 others, while an attack on Al-Hawsh injured 18 people and damaged a nearby hospital, according to official statements.

Despite evacuation warnings covering much of southern Lebanon, tens of thousands of residents have fled Tyre, though about 20,000 people remain, including many displaced from surrounding villages.Lebanese state media reported additional Israeli strikes across the country, including on infrastructure in the West Bekaa region, where a bridge was destroyed after repeated attacks.

The Israeli military said it had struck more than 140 Hezbollah targets over the previous two days.Hezbollah said it carried out retaliatory attacks on northern Israeli towns and Israeli forces near the border, including in Marun Al-Ras and other southern Lebanese locations.

The conflict has displaced more than one million people in Lebanon and killed over 1,400, including medical personnel and UN peacekeepers, according to Lebanese authorities. A United Nations security official said Israeli forces also destroyed surveillance cameras linked to the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon headquarters in Naqura.

The peacekeeping mission has been caught in escalating cross-border hostilities, as Israeli forces push deeper into southern Lebanon and Hezbollah continues attacks into northern Israel.

Iran’s central military command rejected the ultimatum, with General Ali Abdollahi Aliabadi describing Trump’s warning as destabilizing and vowing retaliation. “The gates of hell will open for you,” he said, echoing the language used by the U.S. president in recent statements.

Authorities in Abu Dhabi said multiple fires broke out at the Borouge Petrochemicals facility in Ruwais after debris from intercepted projectiles struck the site. Operations at the plant, a joint venture involving Abu Dhabi National Oil Co., were suspended pending damage assessment, with no injuries reported.

The UAE Defense Ministry said its air defence systems were actively engaging missile and drone threats, without specifying their origin. In Bahrain, Bapco Energies reported that a storage tank caught fire following an attack, though the blaze was later contained and no casualties were recorded.

In Kuwait, a fire erupted at the Shuwaikh oil sector complex, which houses key energy infrastructure including the headquarters of Kuwait Petroleum Corporation. State media reported material damage and the shutdown of two power and water units, with no casualties.

The Israeli military said missiles launched from Iran targeted its territory, while also reporting a separate missile fired from Yemen, marking the fifth such launch since the start of the conflict. Air defence systems were activated to intercept incoming threats.

The escalation underscores the widening scope of a conflict that began with U.S.-Israeli strikes on Tehran on February 28 and has since spread across the region. Iran has maintained restrictions on the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global energy route, while targeting economic infrastructure in Gulf states it associates with the U.S.-Israeli campaign.

Trump reiterated his ultimatum in a post on Truth Social, warning that time was running out for Iran to comply. He also released a video referencing strikes in Tehran that he said killed multiple Iranian military leaders, though he did not provide details on timing or verification.

Separately, Iranian media reported that U.S.-Israeli strikes in Ardabil province in the country’s northwest killed three people and wounded three others, citing a local official.

Iran’s military command said Iraqi vessels would be allowed to transit the Strait of Hormuz despite broader restrictions, describing Iraq as exempt from measures imposed on what it termed “enemy countries.”

Speaking in separate calls with regional counterparts, Wang urged renewed dialogue, saying indications from Washington and Tehran suggested a willingness to re-engage diplomatically. His remarks came amid conflicting claims from the two sides over whether any talks are underway.

Iran has denied entering negotiations, with Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stating that no talks had taken place and that discussing negotiations under current conditions would amount to conceding defeat. His comments underscored Tehran’s public resistance to engaging while the conflict persists.

U.S. President Donald Trump, however, maintained that Iran was already participating in talks and eager to reach an agreement, suggesting Iranian officials were reluctant to acknowledge this publicly.The White House has also warned of severe consequences if Iran does not accept a proposed peace framework, while reiterating readiness to escalate pressure.

Wang conveyed China’s position in discussions with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, emphasizing the need to resume negotiations and avoid further escalation. He said prolonging the conflict would lead to additional casualties and broader regional spillover.

China also expressed support for diplomatic initiatives led by regional actors, including Türkiye’s ongoing engagement with both Washington and Tehran aimed at facilitating dialogue.

Despite the diplomatic activity, violence on the ground has shown little sign of easing after nearly four weeks of conflict. Intensified rhetoric from all sides has further complicated prospects for immediate de-escalation.

Wang reiterated that dialogue remains the only viable path forward, warning that continued fighting risks deepening humanitarian and geopolitical consequences across the region.

Saudi Arabia’s permanent representative to the UN in Geneva, Abdulmohsen Majed bin Khothaila, said the strikes targeted Saudi Arabia, other Gulf countries and Jordan, characterizing them as breaches of sovereignty and territorial integrity.

He described the actions as “cowardly” and said they undermined regional stability and diplomatic efforts to de-escalate tensions.

Addressing the council, bin Khothaila said that targeting neighboring states and mediators amounted to a violation of the principles of good neighborliness and a betrayal of peace initiatives.

He added that attacks on countries not directly involved in the conflict were “unjustifiable and unacceptable.”He accused Iran of pursuing a strategy involving support for militias and destabilization of neighboring countries, warning that such conduct posed a direct threat to international peace and security.

He also said the attacks had caused civilian casualties and damage to residential areas and critical infrastructure.

The Saudi envoy stated that the strikes constituted serious violations of international humanitarian and human rights law. He rejected any attempt by Tehran to deny responsibility, saying the evidence was clear and accountability unavoidable.

“Continuing this approach will bring Iran no gains, but will instead impose a high political and economic cost and deepen its isolation,” he said, urging Iranian authorities to reconsider their actions.

Bin Khothaila also condemned attacks on commercial shipping and disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, highlighting their implications for global energy markets and trade.

He warned that interference with energy supplies and food systems could have severe consequences, particularly for developing economies vulnerable to external shocks.

Calling for a stronger international response, he said the situation demanded urgent action to protect civilians and critical infrastructure, adding that “silence is no longer an option.”

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said on state television that no formal negotiations or dialogue were under way with Washington, despite the exchange of messages via third-party countries.

He described the communications as indirect and limited to conveying positions and warnings rather than structured diplomacy.Trump, speaking at an event in Washington later on Wednesday, said Iranian leaders were effectively negotiating and eager to reach an agreement but reluctant to acknowledge it publicly, citing fears of internal backlash and external pressure. He did not specify which Iranian officials were involved.

Araqchi reiterated that Iran’s stance remained unchanged, emphasizing that message exchanges through “friendly countries” did not constitute negotiations. His remarks underscored the absence of direct diplomatic engagement even as international efforts intensify to contain the conflict.

The divergence in public messaging highlights the opaque nature of backchannel communications, with both sides signaling differing interpretations of the same exchanges. No official confirmation has been provided by Washington regarding the structure or participants of any indirect contacts.

A 15-point U.S. proposal, transmitted via Pakistan, calls for Iran to dismantle its stockpile of highly enriched uranium, halt enrichment activities, limit its ballistic missile programme, and cease support for regional allied groups, according to Israeli cabinet sources familiar with the plan.

The proposal forms part of broader efforts to de-escalate hostilities that began on February 28, when U.S. and Israeli strikes targeted Iran, triggering retaliatory attacks by Tehran against Israel, U.S. bases, and Gulf states. Senior Iranian leadership has been severely impacted, with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei reported killed in an early strike and his successor Mojtaba Khamenei wounded and absent from public view.

The conflict has triggered what analysts describe as the most severe energy shock on record, with the closure of the Strait of Hormuz disrupting a critical artery for roughly one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments.

Fuel shortages have emerged across multiple regions, driving price spikes and straining industries ranging from aviation to retail and automotive markets. Governments are considering emergency support measures similar to those deployed during the COVID-19 pandemic as supply chains face mounting pressure.

Agricultural sectors have also been affected, with farmers struggling to secure diesel supplies, raising concerns over food production.

The World Food Programme has warned that tens of millions more people could face acute hunger if the conflict persists into June.