Iranian conflict: last-ditch negotiations

South Lebanon witnessed another escalation Tuesday night and again Wednesday, while at the regional level, Pakistan continues to quietly work to try to defuse a conflict that threatens to spiral out of control at any moment, given the exchange of threats between Washington and Tehran.

The Israeli military conducted a series of deadly airstrikes and artillery attacks over the past twenty-four hours against numerous Hezbollah positions and infrastructure in villages and sites in southern Lebanon.

According to the latest toll released by the Lebanese Ministry of Health, these attacks killed at least 20 people over the past 24 hours, including 13 alone in the village of Deir Qanoun el-Nahr.

This figure is likely to rise as search efforts continued Wednesday through the rubble of targeted homes.

The situation worsened Wednesday morning with nearly continuous raids on the pro-Iranian party's positions in the towns of Bint Jbeil and Nabatiyeh, while Hezbollah reported in a series of statements fierce ground clashes with forces in the border zone.

The Israeli military announced in a statement that one of its officers was seriously wounded in a Hezbollah drone attack. A soldier was also slightly injured, according to the statement.

This escalation of violence in South Lebanon dashed hopes for an easing desired by Beirut after the 45-day extension of the ceasefire, which had been negotiated in Washington.

Toward a breakthrough in the Gulf?

It comes just as Pakistan, a key mediator between Washington and Tehran, is attempting once again to reach a minimal compromise to allow talks to resume between the two capitals.

Pakistani Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi traveled for this purpose for the second time in less than a week to Tehran.

This visit comes amid growing tensions between Tehran and Washington. Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, also Iran's chief negotiator at the Islamabad talks, warned that his country has prepared a "muscular response" to any new American or Israeli attack.

The Revolutionary Guards also warned that war in the Middle East would extend "beyond the region" in case of attacks.

Responding to questions from the press at the White House, U.S. President Donald Trump hinted that a resumption of strikes is still being considered if diplomatic efforts fail, which have been praised by Saudi Arabia.

"We are in the final phase of talks with Iran. We'll see what happens. Either we reach a deal, or we hit hard. We hope that doesn't happen," he said, while stating he was opposed to any rush. "I'm not in a hurry," he declared. "Everyone talks about midterm elections, but I'm not in a hurry. Ideally, I'd prefer to see a small number of people killed rather than many," he added.

Gaza flotilla: video sparks outrage

President Trump also said he is on the same wavelength as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is currently facing a new crisis triggered by the forceful detention of "Gaza flotilla" activists.

The conduct of his National Security Minister, Itamar Ben Gvir, who shared a video of himself with activists kneeling and bound after their detention, sparked outraged reactions in Europe and worldwide, despite criticism from Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar.

Foreign reactions were not long in coming. The treatment of detainees was deemed "inadmissible" by Rome, which demanded "an apology," "monstrous, unworthy and inhuman" by Madrid, "odious" by Ottawa. Dublin said it was "dismayed and shocked."

France announced it had summoned the Israeli ambassador over the "inadmissible actions" of minister Ben Gvir, known for his provocative statements, as did Belgium, which judged the images "deeply disturbing."

Germany, calling the episode "totally unacceptable." Turkey condemned the "barbaric mentality" of the Israeli government.

British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper stated on X that these images "violate the most basic standards of respect and dignity regarding how people should be treated."

U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee criticized "despicable acts."

Putin in Beijing

Away from the regional conflict, attention was focused on Wednesday on talks in Beijing between Chinese and Russian presidents Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin, whose visit comes less than a week after President Trump's visit.

The two countries stressed the need to return to dialogue and negotiations as soon as possible in the Middle East, according to the text of a joint statement published by the Kremlin, while Tehran announced it had authorized some fifty tankers flying the flag of "countries that coordinate with us" to cross the Strait of Hormuz.