Gulf Security Escalation: The U.S. intercepted four Iranian drones aimed at the Strait of Hormuz and struck Iranian coastal radar sites, as Iran then fired seven ballistic missiles toward Kuwait and Bahrain; Bahrain called it “blatant aggression” while air raid sirens sounded and residents were urged to shelter, further straining a fragile ceasefire and U.S.-Iran talks. Lebanon Ceasefire Under Pressure: Despite a U.S.-brokered Israel-Lebanon ceasefire, Israel carried out airstrikes in southern Lebanon, killing Lebanese troops and triggering evacuation warnings for multiple villages, while Hezbollah rejected truce terms and demanded full Israeli withdrawal. Lebanon-Iran Political Clash: Lebanese President Joseph Aoun accused Iran of using Lebanon as a “bargaining chip,” prompting a sharp rebuttal from Iran’s foreign minister, who urged Aoun to focus on Lebanon’s “real foe.” West Bank Violence: Israeli forces killed a seven-month-old Palestinian infant after firing at a vehicle near Hebron, with Palestinian officials reporting the family was traveling to visit relatives. Accountability and Rights: France opened a “war crime” probe into alleged mistreatment of French activists detained after a Gaza-bound flotilla. Regional Governance & Aid: The EBRD said it will keep scaling support for conflict-hit economies across the Middle East, including Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and the West Bank and Gaza.