Israel and Hezbollah continued trading strikes on Friday, while Donald Trump told US media that he had asked Benjamin Netanyahu to take a more “low-key” approach in Lebanon. The comments came as questions persisted over the wider regional fallout from the Iran war and the fragile ceasefire that has followed it.
Trump also cast doubt on the ceasefire’s durability, pointing to the continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz. The strategic waterway remains a major focus of concern because of its importance to regional shipping and energy flows, and its closure has added to uncertainty after the conflict.
In Lebanon, Netanyahu said there was no ceasefire in place, even as Israel launched fresh strikes. The latest violence underscored how quickly tensions are continuing to flare across multiple fronts in the region, despite diplomatic efforts to prevent further escalation.
Earlier, Kuwait accused Iran and its proxies of carrying out drone attacks on Thursday. According to Kuwait’s foreign ministry, the drones “targeted some vital Kuwaiti facilities” during the night. The statement added a new layer of strain to an already volatile situation and suggested that the effects of the Iran war are still being felt beyond the main battlefield.
The accusations from Kuwait came despite the two-week ceasefire in the Iran war. While the truce has temporarily halted the main fighting, the wider regional picture remains unsettled, with cross-border attacks, mutual accusations and military activity continuing in several areas.
Trump’s remarks, Netanyahu’s insistence that no ceasefire exists in Lebanon, and Kuwait’s claims about drone attacks all point to the same underlying reality: the conflict has not fully settled. Even where formal pauses have been announced, the situation on the ground remains fluid, and new strikes or allegations of attacks can quickly destabilise the broader picture.
Israel and Hezbollah’s continued exchange of fire is especially significant because it suggests that the Lebanon front remains active and dangerous. At the same time, the closure of the Strait of Hormuz keeps the focus on the wider regional consequences of the war, particularly for international shipping and the security environment in the Gulf.
As the situation develops, leaders in the region and beyond are facing pressure to prevent the ceasefire from unraveling. But the latest reports from Lebanon and Kuwait indicate that the war’s aftermath is still unfolding, with no clear sign yet of a return to stability.
