Skip next section What you need to know
What you need to know
- The IDF says it has begun striking targets in southern Lebanon, accusing Hezbollah of a ceasefire breach
- This comes a day after Hezbollah sharply criticized the latest round of talks between Israel and Lebanon’s government in Rome
- Earlier on Wednesday, the UN said hundreds of thousands were returning to their homes in Lebanon after several months of comparative calm
Welcome to our updates on developments in the Middle East and the Iran war on August 5, 2026.
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Skip next section US removes sanctions from aviation entities linked to Iran’s IRGC08/05/2026August 5, 2026
US removes sanctions from aviation entities linked to Iran’s IRGC
Three airlines and two aircraft have been removed from the US’ secondary sanctions risk list, data published on the US Treasury Department’s website on Wednesday shows.
The website listed three airlines, all registered to the same address in Baghdad and established on the same date, that it said were linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and specificialy its clandestine foreign operations body known as the Qods (or Quds) Force.
It named them as Fly Baghdad Airlines Company, Iraq Express and Fly Baghdad. The wording used by the US Treasury seemed to suggest the names were interchangeable and only one real-life entity was behind all three.
The Treasury also listed two Boeing 737 aircraft, which it said were linked to these companies — one manufactured in 2002 and the other in 2008 — as also being removed from the sanctions list by executive order.
The Treasury did not issue a rationale for the move.
https://p.dw.com/p/5ILQbSkip next section Israel’s IDF says it’s launching ‘precise strikes in southern Lebanon’08/05/2026August 5, 2026
Israel’s IDF says it’s launching ‘precise strikes in southern Lebanon’
Israel’s military has said it is hitting targets in southern Lebanon, after saying it was “compelled to act” by the Iran-backed Hezbollah militia.
“In response to a blatant violation of the ceasefire by Hezbollah, the IDF has begun conducting precise strikes in southern Lebanon,” the Israel Defense Forces wrote online.
Slightly earlier on Wednesday, the IDF’s Arabic language spokeswoman Ella Waweya had called for residents of Mansouri near the border to evacuate immediately, saying military action was imminent.
“In light of Hezbollah’s violations of the ceasefire agreement, the Israel Defense Forces are compelled to act,” she wrote. “For your safety, you must evacuate your homes immediately and move north.”
The incidents come a day after the latest round of talks between Israel and Lebanon’s government began at the US Embassy in Rome. Hezbollah, which is not party to these talks, had staunchly criticized Lebanese officials for taking part in them on Tuesday.
The talks aim to remove Hezbollah from southern areas and replace them with Lebanese troops, thus facilitating Israel’s withdrawal from its unilaterally imposed “buffer zone” near the de facto border.
https://p.dw.com/p/5IKtiSkip next section Welcome to our updates08/05/2026August 5, 2026
Welcome to our updates
Hello and welcome to our updates from the conflicts in the Middle East as Israel launches new strikes on targets in Lebanon.
We will be bringing you more on this and other major stories from region in this live blog.
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