Shafaq News

Wadi Al Salam Cemetery, 180 km southwest of Najaf, stretches across roughly 10 square kilometres (1,485 acres) and holds an estimated 5 to 6 million graves, making it the world’s largest cemetery. For more than 1,400 years, people have been buried here continuously, creating a sprawling city of the dead that grows alongside the Iraqi province.

Its significance comes from the nearby shrine of Imam Ali Ibn Abi Talib, the Prophet Muhammad’s cousin and the first Shia Imam. Millions of Shia Muslims see burial near him as the ultimate spiritual honor, and visitors arrive from across Iraq and the Shia world, hoping to secure a resting place in this sacred ground.

The cemetery preserves layers of history. Graves from centuries past stand beside more recent burials, and the site is believed to contain the tombs of ancient prophets, including Hud and Saleh, figures recognized in both Islamic and biblical traditions. Over time, these layers have created a living archive of Iraq’s spiritual memory.

Custodians, local religious authorities, and Najaf municipality workers coordinate daily burials, care for graves, and guide visitors. Their work keeps the vast cemetery functional, maintaining order across the millions of graves that stretch as far as the eye can see.

Visitors encounter a striking mix of graves, from simple markers to elaborate mausoleums adorned with inscriptions, tiles, and religious symbols. Together, they reflect centuries of social, cultural, and economic diversity, offering a visual history of the people buried here.

Religious practice thrives alongside the burials. Families and pilgrims come to pray, honor ancestors, and perform rituals, especially during major Shia occasions such as Ashura and Arbaeen. The cemetery hums with devotion, blending faith and memory with the continuous cycle of burials.

As Najaf’s population expands, the cemetery grows with it. NASA satellite imagery reveals tens of thousands of new graves added each year, while reports estimate roughly 50,000 burials annually. The pressures of urban expansion highlight the delicate balance between the city of the living and this vast city of the dead.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Wadi Al Salam reflected the crisis sweeping Iraq. Special areas were designated for victims, producing a noticeable rise in burials and establishing the cemetery as a central site of national mourning.

The layers of continuous burials have transformed Wadi al-Salam into a living part of Najaf—simultaneously a sacred space, a historical archive, and a functioning cemetery where faith, history, and urban life converge without pause.

Read more: Discover Iraq: Najaf, a city of dust and divinity

Written and edited by Shafaq News.

Shafaq News- Baghdad

Iraq's LPG production has fallen by roughly 53% since the onset of regional hostilities, dropping from 9,500 tonnes per day to around 4,500 tonnes, the Eco Iraq economic observatory announced on Sunday.

In a report, the observatory said Iraq's pre-crisis daily output included approximately 3,000 tonnes from the Basra Gas Company, with the remainder sourced from refineries and associated gas in oil fields. The sharp decline in oil production driven by the security escalation has opened a supply gap that daily household consumption -estimated at between 6,000 and 6,500 tonnes- cannot bridge.

To compensate, authorities have drawn on underground reserves, which stood at roughly 107,000 tonnes before the crisis but have since fallen to approximately 53,000 tonnes. The observatory called for urgent expansion of underground storage capacity and stressed the need to distribute reserves geographically across provinces rather than concentrating them in specific areas.

Shafaq News- Erbil

Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani on Sunday congratulated the election of Archbishop Emil Shimoun Nona as the new Patriarch of the Chaldean Catholic Church, linking the appointment to efforts to strengthen coexistence and tolerance in Iraq.

Barzani described Nona as a prominent religious figure with broad spiritual and humanitarian experience, noting that his election could reinforce values of peaceful coexistence and acceptance among Iraq’s diverse communities.

سه‌رۆك نێچيرڤان بارزانى پیرۆزبایی له‌ پاتریارکی نوێی کلدان ده‌كاتhttps://t.co/4xCH2iWTsk pic.twitter.com/gs0y21TrGu

— Kurdistan Region Presidency (@KurdistanRegion) April 12, 2026

Reaffirming that the Kurdistan Region will continue to serve as a safe haven for all religious and ethnic groups, he underscored his ongoing support for Christian citizens in protecting their rights, identity, and historical presence across the region and Iraq.

Read more: Iraqi Kurdistan’s pluralism: A living model of coexistence

Earlier today, the Synod of Bishops of the Chaldean Church confirmed the election of Nona as a Patriarch, succeeding Cardinal Louis Raphael Sako, who stepped down in March after 13 years in office to focus on prayer and writing.

Shafaq News- Baghdad

Iraq’s Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) on Sunday approved an update to the voter registry adding more than 2 million new voters born between 2008 and 2010, according to an official decision obtained by Shafaq News.

The IHEC said the newly eligible voters will undergo biometric registration and receive voter ID cards, with registration set to begin on April 30. The decision, approved unanimously by the commission’s board, expands the electorate by incorporating a new cohort of young voters as part of efforts to improve data accuracy and broaden participation.

Earlier expansions had added more than 1 million voters born in 2007 ahead of recent elections, bringing Iraq’s total eligible electorate to nearly 29 million, according to official figures. Still, despite the expansion, millions remain outside the electoral system, with estimates suggesting around 9 million eligible Iraqis have not registered to vote.

Shafaq News- Baghdad

Four candidates are under consideration for Iraq’s next prime minister, with the Shiite Coordination Framework (CF) expected to choose a consensus nominee at a meeting on April 13, a source told Shafaq News on Sunday.

Discussions are leaning toward a figure who has not previously held the post, raising the possibility that caretaker Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani and State of Law leader Nouri al-Maliki may be excluded, the source said, noting that additional names could emerge if the current shortlist fails to secure agreement.

Read more: Five contenders eye Iraq's top post: PM selection looms

The move comes after Parliament Speaker Haibet al-Halbousi formally requested the largest parliamentary bloc —the CF, which holds about 185 of parliament’s 329 seats— to submit its nominee within 15 days.

Speaking to Shafaq News, multiple sources within the Framework pointed to persistent divisions over potential candidates. Al-Sudani, who leads the Al Ima’ar wal Tanmiya (Reconstruction and Development) bloc with 46 seats, remains in contention despite earlier backing for al-Maliki and has signaled openness to a compromise figure.

Names under discussion also include Basim al-Badri, viewed by some factions as a potential consensus choice, while Asaib Ahl al-Haq leader Qais al-Khazali has put forward options such as Hamid al-Shatri.

According to the sources, the CF may ultimately move away from al-Maliki in favor of a new nominee, with Ammar al-Hakim, head of al-Hikma (Wisdom) Movement, and al-Khazali expressing reservations, while Badr Organization leader Hadi al-Amiri has yet to take a public position and is expected to align with the final consensus.

Read more: Iraq's premiership battle has already begun

Shafaq News- Dhi Qar

A booby-trapped drone was discovered in Iraq’s southern Dhi Qar province, a security source told Shafaq News on Sunday, with preliminary assessments suggesting it may have fallen amid recent Middle East tensions.

No casualties or property damage were reported.

The current joint US-Israeli was on Iran, along with the June 2025 12-day conflict between Tel Aviv and Tehran, has turned Iraqi airspace into a hazardous transit zone for missiles and warplanes, exposing the country’s skies to heightened activity amid the absence of a modern air defence system.

Read more: 650 Strikes in Iraqi Kurdistan: How deniability became a weapon

Shafaq News- Baghdad

Bishop Emil Shimoun Nona was elected on Sunday as the new patriarch of the Chaldean Catholic Church in Iraq and worldwide, stepping into the role after the resignation of Louis Raphael Sako.

A statement from the synod’s secretariat indicated that the vote adhered to established church procedures. Following his election, Emil Shimoun Nona took the name His Beatitude Patriarch Mar Paul III Nona.

On March 10, Cardinal Sako stepped down after 13 years in the post, choosing to dedicate his time to prayer and writing.

Who is Emil Shimoun Nona

Born in 1968 in Alqosh, northern Iraq, Nona is a prominent figure within the Chaldean Catholic Church. He previously served as Archbishop of Mosul, where he led the local Christian community during one of its most challenging periods, particularly amid the 2014 rise of ISIS and the displacement of thousands of Christians from the city and surrounding areas.

He later assumed the role of Apostolic Visitor for Chaldean Catholics in Europe, broadening his pastoral responsibilities across diaspora communities.

Shafaq News- Baghdad/ Erbil

On Sunday, gold prices hovered around 1.03 million IQD per mithqal in Baghdad and 1.08 million in Erbil, according to a survey by Shafaq News Agency.

Gold prices on Baghdad's Al-Nahr Street recorded a selling price of 1,030,000 IQD per mithqal (equivalent to five grams) for 21-carat gold, including Gulf, Turkish, and European varieties, with a buying price of 1,026,000 IQD.

The selling price for 21-carat Iraqi gold stood at 1,000,000 IQD, with a buying price of 996,000 IQD.

In jewelry stores, the selling price per mithqal of 21-carat Gulf gold ranged between 1,030,000 and 1,040,000 IQD, while Iraqi gold sold for between 1,000,000 and 1,010,000 IQD.

In Erbil, 22-carat gold was sold at 1,079,000 IQD per mithqal, 21-carat gold at 1,030,000 IQD, and 18-carat gold at 883,000 IQD.

Shafaq News- Tehran

Iran on Sunday dismantled an alleged spy network, arresting 50 people accused of providing coordinates of critical sites across the country, local media said.

According to the state news agency IRNA, the suspects supplied data on fixed and mobile locations, including infrastructure, checkpoints, and security force deployments, which facilitated “targeted operations” against those sites.

Security forces seized specialized electronic equipment during the operation, including communication devices, satellite-based tools, as well as weapons and ammunition.

Officials did not specify the timeline of the alleged activity or identify the foreign entities involved, though Iran typically attributes such espionage operations to the US or Israel.

Iranian authorities previously reported around 500 detentions on espionage-related charges since the war began on February 28, alongside dozens of additional arrests in separate cases linked to what they describe as “enemy spy networks.” Earlier this month, Iranian media reported the detention of 85 people for alleged cooperation with hostile actors, while intelligence authorities said 97 individuals linked to Israel were arrested in separate operations.

The development follows the collapse of US-Iran talks in Islamabad after about 21 hours of negotiations, with both sides citing disagreements over key issues, including nuclear commitments and the Strait of Hormuz. Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said the talks produced understandings on several issues but stalled over “two or three main points,” preventing a final agreement.

Shafaq News- Baghdad

Tankers carrying 2 million barrels of Iraqi crude and 4 million barrels of Saudi oil have transited the Strait of Hormuz bound for international markets, according to tracking platform TankerTrackers on Sunday.

Shipping activity in the waterway is also gradually recovering, with approximately 12 vessels transiting the Strait during the first two days of the US-Iran two-week truce.

The Strait of Hormuz, which carries roughly 20% of global oil supply, was effectively closed after US and Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28. Despite a previously granted exemption allowing Iraqi oil tankers to transit the Strait, Iraq’s oil sector saw a sharp downturn, with production falling from about 3.5 million barrels per day (bpd) to around 1.3 million bpd, while exports declined to roughly 800,000 bpd.

On Saturday, US President Donald Trump revealed the start of mine-clearing operations in the Strait, noting that the passage was not coordinated with Tehran. Iran rejected the claims, calling them “inaccurate,” further dismissing US allegations that it had laid mines in the strategic waterway.

Shafaq News- Beirut

Hezbollah on Sunday launched drone and rocket attacks on Israeli forces, targeting troops across the border in the settlement of Yiron and military positions in the southern Lebanese town of Al-Khiyam, according to a series of statements.

Local media also reported street clashes between Hezbollah fighters and Israeli troops in Bint Jbeil, while Israeli planes struck the southern towns of Al-Bazouriyeh and Al-Shehabiyeh.

The clashes come as Lebanon and Israel move toward direct negotiations. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed the talks, saying they require Hezbollah’s full disarmament and a “real peace agreement.”

After Lebanese President Joseph Aoun revealed that Beirut has begun direct contacts with Israel, protests erupted outside government buildings. According to a 2025 Arab Opinion Index survey, 89% of Lebanese people do not recognize Israel.

Lebanon’s Health Ministry said about 2,020 people have been killed and 6,436 injured since March 2, while Israel’s Health Ministry, which operates under military censorship, claimed about 8,000 injuries without detailing deaths.

Shafaq News- Beirut

Hezbollah on Sunday rejected Syrian authorities' accusations linking the group to a cell involved in a plot to assassinate a religious figure, denying any presence or operational activity inside Syria.

In a statement, the Lebanese armed group urged Damascus to carefully verify information before making any “unfounded accusations,” pointing to what it described as intelligence actors seeking to stir tensions between Lebanon and Syria.

On Saturday, Syria’s Interior Ministry reported that five suspects linked to Hezbollah had been arrested after several people were injured in a hand grenade detonated near Mariamite Cathedral in the Bab Touma district, a historic Christian area in central Damascus.

Shafaq News- Baghdad/ Erbil

The US dollar opened Sunday’s trading higher in Iraq, nearing 153,500 dinars per 100 dollars, according to a survey by Shafaq News Agency.

The dollar traded in Baghdad's Al-Kifah and Al-Harithiya exchanges at 153,600 dinars per 100 dollars, up from 152,900 dinars recorded last Saturday.

In the Iraqi capital, exchange shops sold the dollar at 154,000 dinars and bought it at 153,000 dinars, while in Erbil, selling prices stood at 153,650 dinars per 100 dollars and buying prices at 152,550 dinars.

Shafaq News- Baghdad/ Washington

Iraq’s crude oil exports to the United States dropped 20,000 barrels per day (bpd) last week, US Energy Information Administration (EIA) data showed on Sunday.

According to the data, Iraqi shipments averaged 120,000 bpd last week, 14.29% less than the previous week’s average of 140,000 bpd.

Total US crude imports from seven major suppliers fell to 5.622 million bpd, down 218,000 bpd from 5.840 million bpd the previous week.

Canada remained the top supplier at 4.271 million bpd, followed by Saudi Arabia with 589,000 bpd, Venezuela with 321,000 bpd, and Mexico with 165,000 bpd.

Imports also included Brazil at 114,000 bpd, and Libya at 42,000 bpd. No oil was imported from Colombia, Nigeria and Ecuador this week.

Shafaq News- Washington

US President Donald Trump on Sunday raised the prospect of a maritime blockade on Iran following the collapse of talks between Washington and Tehran, reiterating that he did not care whether a deal is reached with Iran.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump framed the idea as part of a broader effort to tighten economic pressure on Iran and curb its oil revenues, particularly by restricting exports to major buyers such as China and India. He pointed to a similar approach previously used against Venezuela under President Nicolás Maduro, where maritime restrictions were deployed to limit the country’s oil income.

Earlier today, US Vice President JD Vance noted that talks with Iran ended without agreement after marathon negotiations, pointing to Tehran’s refusal to commit to abandoning nuclear weapons. Meanwhile, Iran stated that despite partial progress, both sides remain far from reaching an agreement, adding that differences persisted over three central issues.

Shafaq News- Erbil

Markets in Erbil, the capital of Iraq’s Kurdistan Region, have regained activity, with commercial movement and consumer spending picking up after a slowdown linked to recent US–Iran tensions.

Following the de-escalation and full reopening of airspace, central Erbil —particularly around the historic Citadel— has filled again with residents and tourists, as shopping centers and traditional markets resume normal activity.

During the tensions, many customers limited purchases to essential goods, while traders closely monitored flight operations due to their reliance on air imports and cargo. “Everyone was asking about flights,” shop owner Tahseen Mohammed told Shafaq News, adding that orders have resumed with the return of air traffic.

Market workers estimate activity has increased by around 30% after the reopening of airspace, which had forced the cancellation of dozens of bookings for both business travelers and tourists.

Travel plans that had been delayed during the escalation are now moving forward again. “Once we heard the airspace had reopened, we booked immediately and came to Erbil,” said Alaa al-Qaisi, who arrived from Hilla city with his family for a weekend visit.

He described the capital as lively, with active markets, reasonable prices, and an atmosphere that encourages visitors to spend time and shop.

Read more: Discover Kurdistan: The Middle East's best-kept travel secret

Shafaq News- Islamabad

Pakistan on Sunday urged Iran and the United States to maintain their commitment to the recently signed two-week truce following the collapse of ongoing Islamabad talks aimed at securing a lasting settlement in the Middle East.

In a statement, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar underscored that Islamabad would continue efforts to encourage understanding between Tehran and Washington, reaffirming Pakistan’s role in supporting dialogue and narrowing differences between the two sides.

Earlier today, US Vice President JD Vance noted that talks with Iran ended without agreement after marathon negotiations, citing Tehran’s refusal to commit to abandoning nuclear weapons. Meanwhile, Iran stated that despite partial progress, both sides remain far from reaching an agreement, adding that differences persisted over three central issues.

Shafaq News- Tehran

Talks between Iran and the United States in Islamabad ended without a deal, with both sides still divided on key issues despite partial progress, Iran’s Foreign Ministry indicated on Sunday.

In a statement, the Ministry outlined that negotiations covered a set of ten proposals put forward by Tehran, alongside points raised by the US delegation. While some areas saw alignment, differences persisted over three central issues, preventing a final agreement. The Ministry did not specify which three points remained in contest.

Citing an informed source, Tasnim News Agency reported that one of the main sticking points involves the Strait of Hormuz, adding that the situation in the strategic maritime gateway will remain unchanged unless Washington accepts what was described as a “reasonable” deal. Another informed source, speaking to Axios, identified Iran’s refusal to give up its stockpile of enriched uranium as another point of disagreement between Tehran and Washington.

Earlier today, US Vice President JD Vance noted that talks with Iran ended without agreement after marathon negotiations in Pakistan, citing Tehran’s refusal to commit to abandoning nuclear weapons.

Shafaq News- Islamabad

US Vice President JD Vance on Sunday said talks with Iran ended without agreement after marathon negotiations in Pakistan, citing Tehran’s refusal to commit to abandoning nuclear weapons.

Vance told reporters, “We leave here with a very simple proposal… our final and best offer,” adding that Washington is awaiting Iran’s response.

While he did not clarify the terms of the final proposal, Vance explained that the United States requires a “clear commitment” that Iran will not pursue a nuclear weapon or the capability to rapidly develop one.

Iranian state media confirmed the failure, saying the two sides “have not yet reached an agreement” after nearly 24 hours of talks, blaming what it described as US “excessive demands and ambitions.” The Iranian delegation resisted US attempts to secure concessions it “failed to gain in the war,” including on the Strait of Hormuz and the removal of nuclear materials.

Before the talks concluded, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei said negotiations had been intensive and covered key issues including the Strait of Hormuz, the nuclear program, sanctions relief, war reparations, and ending the conflict, adding that progress depended on US “seriousness” and respect for Iran’s rights.

The negotiations, mediated by Pakistan, ran for nearly a full day and were described by Iranian media as a critical attempt to reach a framework, but ended without a breakthrough. A two-week ceasefire agreed on April 8 to allow negotiations remains in place, though neither Washington nor Tehran clarified whether it will hold following the failure of the talks.

Shafaq News- Baghdad

Regional and international leaders on Saturday sent congratulations to Iraq’s new President Nizar Amedi following his election.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian congratulated Amedi, expressing hope that cooperation between the two countries would expand across various fields, describing Iraq and Iran as influential countries with deep historical and cultural ties.

The Sultan of Oman Haitham bin Tariq also congratulated Amedi on assuming the presidency, according to Iraqi state media.

Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Amedi and expressed hope his efforts would help strengthen friendly and historical ties between Iraq and Russia.

French President Emmanuel Macron said Iraq’s stability, the continuity of its institutions, and the full exercise of state sovereignty are “more necessary than ever” for the country and the Middle East, adding that France stands alongside Iraq.

أتقدّم بخالص التهاني إلى نزار أميدي بمناسبة انتخابه رئيسًا لجمهورية العراق.إن استقرار العراق، واستمرارية مؤسساته، والممارسة التامة لسيادة الدولة، أمور ضرورية اليوم اكثر من أي وقت مضى للبلاد وللمنطقة. وفرنسا تقف إلى جانب شريكها العراقي.

— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) April 11, 2026

Shafaq News- Washington

US President Donald Trump on Saturday said he does not care whether a deal is reached with Iran, although Washington is currently in “deep talks” with Tehran in Islamabad.

Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump claimed that the United States would come out ahead regardless of the outcome, adding, “maybe they make a deal, maybe they don’t.”

US forces, he said, are deploying minesweepers in the Strait of Hormuz after Washington destroyed Iran’s naval capabilities without NATO assistance. He also warned China it would face “big problems” if it shipped weapons to Tehran following reports that Beijing would send air defense systems to Tehran.

A third round of US-Iran talks is underway under Pakistani mediation, with Iranian media describing the negotiations as a “final chance” to reach a framework. Earlier rounds ended without a breakthrough, with disputes centered on control of the Strait of Hormuz; Tehran has rejected joint management proposals, insisting on full sovereignty and transit fees, while Washington demands unrestricted navigation and guarantees against nuclear weapons.

A two-week ceasefire was agreed on April 8 to allow negotiations, but progress remains limited, with Iran linking any deal to an end to Israeli operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Shafaq News- Erbil

The Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) on Saturday rejected Iraq’s presidential election, saying the process “violated” parliament’s internal regulations and that it would not recognize the outcome.

The party said parliament scheduled the session without consultation, describing the move as a breach of its approved procedures.

ڕاگەیاندراوێک لە مەکتەبى سیاسیى پارتى دیموکراتى کوردستانەوەهاووڵاتیانى خۆشەویستى کوردستان و عێراقئەمڕۆ، 11ى نیسانى 2026، لە ئەنجوومەنى نوێنەرانى عێراق بەشێوەیەک پڕۆسەى هەڵبژاردنى سەرۆککۆمار بەڕێوەچوو، کە لە دەرەوەى پەیڕەوى ناوخۆى پەسەندکراوى ئەنجوومەنەکە بوو، سەرۆکایەتى… pic.twitter.com/PCquFXJsDI

— KDP ForeignRelations (@kdpfro) April 11, 2026

“The presidency is an entitlement of the people of Kurdistan,” it added, criticizing the selection of a candidate from outside the Region who was nominated by a party –referencing the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK)– and backed by other political forces.

The KDP said it would not recognize or engage with anyone chosen through what it described as an “illegitimate process” as a representative of the majority of Kurdistan. Its parliamentary bloc boycotted the session, which the party said should have resulted in the withdrawal of its candidate from the election process.

For now, the party revealed that its blocs in parliament and the federal government have returned to the Kurdistan Region to assess the situation and “monitor developments.”

Earlier today, new President Nizar Amedi secured 227 votes in a second-round runoff after no candidate met the two-thirds threshold in the initial vote. A senior PUK leader and former environment minister, Amedi has held multiple senior roles within Iraq’s presidency since 2005, including chief of staff to three presidents, and currently serves in the State Administration Coalition.

Read more: Iraq picks Nizar Amedi as sixth president 

Shafaq News- Tehran/ Islamabad

A third round of talks between Iran and the United States opened in Islamabad on Saturday, with Tehran signaling it could be the “final chance” to reach a common framework amid “excessive US demands,” Iranian state media reported.

Earlier rounds ended without a breakthrough, leaving key disputes unresolved, particularly over control of the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran has rejected proposals for joint management, maintaining its claim to full sovereignty and the right to impose transit fees.

The discussions, hosted under Pakistani mediation, follow a two-week ceasefire agreed on April 8 to create space for diplomacy. The agenda includes reopening the waterway, ending the conflict, and addressing broader issues such as sanctions and Iran’s nuclear program. However, progress remains limited due to core differences, with Tehran linking any settlement to an end to Israeli operations in Lebanon and retaining control over Hormuz, while Washington demands unrestricted navigation and guarantees against nuclear weapons, which US President Donald Trump said account for “99 percent” of the talks.

Shafaq News- Beirut

Around 97 people were killed and 133 wounded in Israeli strikes over the past 24 hours, Lebanon’s Health Ministry announced on Saturday, bringing the total since hostilities resumed on March 2 to 2,020 dead and 6,436 injured.

Lebanese media reported air raids across several southern towns, including areas in Bint Jbeil, Tyre, and Nabatieh districts, alongside phosphorus shelling in al-Tayri and al-Mansouri. A strike on Tafahata in Saida district also killed 13 people.

Hezbollah responded with a series of attacks targeting Israeli forces and military sites, citing repeated ceasefire breaches. In separate statements, the group detailed operations against troop positions in al-Bayyada, infrastructure in Shomera and Branit, the Amiad base north of Lake Tiberias, as well as Nahariya, Kiryat Shmona, Yir’on, and other border locations.

📹 اشتباكات عنيفة في محيط بنت جبيل بين "حزب الله" والجيش الإسرائيلي pic.twitter.com/TxNKUqikhK

— Al Jadeed News (@ALJADEEDNEWS) April 11, 2026

The Israeli military indicated that paratrooper units, backed by the air force, conducted overnight raids on Hezbollah sites in southern Lebanon and engaged fighters in close combat. It confirmed two soldiers were moderately wounded and noted the seizure of weapons, including anti-tank missiles and explosive devices.

#عاجل 🔸قوات لواء المظليين وبالتعاون مع سلاح الجو قضت على مخربين في اشتباك جنوب لبنان🔸خلال ساعات الليلة الماضية داهمت قوات لواء المظليين بشكل متزامن عدة بنى تحتية إرهابية في جنوب لبنان.🔸في إطار النشاط، اشتبك المقاتلون مع عناصر من حزب الله داخل مبنى تمت مداهمته حيث وخلال… pic.twitter.com/miB7nnhbVk

— افيخاي ادرعي (@AvichayAdraee) April 11, 2026

The mutual attacks come despite a two-week US-Iran ceasefire brokered by Pakistan, which Pakistani and Iranian officials state includes Lebanon, while US President Donald Trump described Israeli operations there as a separate “skirmish” linked to Hezbollah and outside the agreement.

Shafaq News- Tehran

Iran's Revolutionary Guard (IRGC) announced, on Saturday, arresting 122 people across the provinces of Hamadan, Semnan, and Gilan, accusing them of belonging to networks linked to Israel and the United States, while taking disciplinary action against 100 others described as "inciters and newly recruited agents."

In a statement, the IRGC said its intelligence operations led to the arrest of 18 people in Hamadan from several networks linked to the royalist movement, Israeli intelligence, nationalist factions, and media operatives. The cells were found to be transmitting information to sensitive locations while planning acts of sabotage.

In Semnan, IRGC intelligence identified and arrested two Mossad agents who had repeatedly attempted to contact a Mossad intelligence officer since the start of the war, transmitting information gathered from individuals and various locations until their arrest.

The largest sweep took place in Gilan, where 102 people across several networks were detained before carrying out what the Guard described as planned acts of chaos and sabotage in urban areas. Among them were four Mossad agents who were transmitting classified information and coordinates of sensitive locations, and receiving training in online violence operations. The Guard said disciplinary measures had been taken against 100 individuals categorized as inciters and newly recruited operatives.