Two killed in Israeli attack in southern Lebanon

Republican leaders in the US House on Thursday delayed a planned vote on legislation forcing President Donald Trump to end the Iran war until they get congressional approval after struggling to muster enough votes to block the measure.

A similar step was taken in the US Senate two days ago.

The proposal would require Trump to halt military operations against Iran unless authorized by Congress.

The delay underlined growing unease within Trump’s Republican Party over the conflict, which began without congressional approval more than two months ago.

The House had blocked three previous war powers resolutions by close votes earlier this year, but the margin had narrowed rapidly. The final motion failed due to a tied vote.

“We had the votes without question and they knew it,” Democratic Representative Gregory Meeks said after the vote was canceled.

The measure is now expected to return in June after the Memorial Day holiday.

The White House has defended its military operation as legal, arguing that Trump has the authority as commander-in-chief to order limited operations against imminent threats.

The Israeli military said Friday it carried out an airstrike in southern Lebanon that killed two armed men walking “suspiciously” near the border.

“A little while ago, [Israeli military] Surveillance identified two armed men moving suspiciously hundreds of meters from Israeli territory in southern Lebanon, the Israeli military posted on Telegram.

“The armed individuals were killed in an airstrike, following their identification and continued surveillance by the IDF.”

Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency said four people were killed and two doctors were wounded at an Islamic Health Committee site in separate attacks overnight in the Tire district.

Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group have continued shelling despite a ceasefire extended last week following talks in Washington between Lebanese and Israeli representatives.

Good morning! Welcome to our coverage of events in the Middle East as the US-Israeli attack against Iran sparks widespread conflict in the region.

Here’s a recap of our top headlines from Thursday:

• Tehran said it was reviewing Washington’s latest peace proposal after US President Donald Trump said he could wait a few days “to get the right answer”.
• US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he hopes Pakistan’s engagement with Tehran can help advance efforts to end the war
• Iran’s supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, issued a directive that the country’s nearly weapons-grade uranium would not be sent abroad.
• IEA warns oil market is in danger of entering ‘red zone’ by summer
• Israel says it has deported ‘all foreign workers’ from Gaza aid flotilla