US officials head to Middle East in ceasefire push

Top US officials are heading to the Middle East seeking progress on resolving the conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon and to deter a further Iranian response to Israel. Follow live updates.

• US officials are heading to the Middle East in a renewed push to resolve the conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon, and to deter an Iranian response to Israel’s strikes last week. Lebanon’s prime minister said he is optimistic a potential Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire could be struck in the “next few hours or days.” • One Israeli and four foreign farmers were killed in the city of Metula in northern Israel near the Lebanese border, a local official said, following a “direct hit.” It’s unclear what caused the hit. • Iran could respond to Israel’s attacks before the US presidential election, a high-ranking source told CNN, potentially signaling a departure from Tehran’s initial attempts to downplay the severity of the strikes. The White House said Iran should not respond, but the US was ready to assist Israel’s defense. • Israeli strikes near the historic city of Baalbek killed at least 19 people, Lebanese authorities said. Israel had issued evacuation orders for the entire city, including an area home to Roman ruins, according to an Israeli military map. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel’s “supreme objective” is stopping Iran from getting nuclear weapons, in a speech outlining his strategy as Israel battles Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. Addressing Israeli soldiers graduating from a military officer course at a training base in southern Israel, Netanyahu said Iranian capabilities had been diminished following direct strikes and attacks on Iranian proxies.