Trump 'very happy' over signing of Makkah Joint Defense Agreement

'Shows how the Middle East is coming together...countries will be able to defend themselves in a more meaningful way'

US President Donald Trump welcomed the signing of the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement by Türkiye, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.

"Very happy to see that Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan have recently, and finally, signed the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement," he said on Sunday on his Truth Social platform.

https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/117107211893196124

Trump said the deal shows "how the Middle East is coming together, and how countries will finally be able to defend themselves in a more meaningful way. Congratulations to the Great Leadership of the three nations mentioned.

“THIS IS A BIG, BOLD, AND IMPORTANT FIRST STEP — WOW!" he added.

Read: Makkah Defence Agreement extension of Pak-Saudi bilateral defence pact: PM Shehbaz

Iran slams Canada's participation in US war on Iran

Iran's Foreign Ministry criticised Canada on Sunday over its participation in the US war on Iran, highlighting Washington's continued economic pressure on Canadian sovereignty.

"Washington calls Canada its 51st state; Washington imposes tariffs on Canadian goods; Washington insults Canada and threatens to punish it over wildfire smoke; Ottawa’s response: Understood, Sir! Meanwhile, Ottawa participates in the US-led unlawful war of choice against Iran, to appease Washington! What's the reward? THIS IS NOT HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA; IT IS WASHINGTON'S FARM TEAM," spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said on the US social media platform X.

Washington calls Canada its 51st state;

Washington imposes tariffs on Canadian goods;

Washington insults Canada and threatens to punish it over wildfire smoke;

........

Ottawa’s response: Understood, Sir!

Meanwhile, Ottawa participates in the U.S.-led unlawful war of choice… pic.twitter.com/b0WWuuNaPJ

— Esmaeil Baqaei (@IRIMFA_SPOX) August 16, 2026

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said in March that Canada was prepared to help with efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, indicating Ottawa’s willingness to support broader US-led objectives in the region.

Israeli army attacks town in southern Lebanon

The Israeli army carried out an attack on Sunday on the town of Hadatha in the Bint Jbeil district of southern Lebanon in yet another violation of an ongoing "ceasefire".

Israeli soldiers opened fire with automatic weapons on a western neighbourhood, according to Lebanon’s official National News Agency (NNA).

Israeli military vehicles were also reportedly moving inside the town at the same time.

The Israeli army launched intensive airstrikes on Lebanon on March 2 and occupied several towns in the country’s south.

The Lebanese government said the number of people displaced during the escalation had exceeded 1 million.

A ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel that took effect on April 17 was later extended several times. Despite the truce, the Israeli army carried out airstrikes on Lebanon in the early hours of August 15.

Lebanon’s Health Ministry said 4,346 people have been killed in Israeli attacks on the country since March 2.

Israeli airstrike targets outskirts of Lebanese town of Al-Qantara: reports

An Israeli airstrike targeted the outskirts of the southern Lebanese town of Al-Qantara while Israeli artillery shelled the town of Al-Mansouri in the same region, local media reports said early Monday.

In the town of Kafra in Bint Jbeil district, an explosive-laden drone struck a house, damaging part of it and injuring two civilians.

The town had also reportedly been targeted earlier by a quadcopter.

Additional strikes and military activity were reported around the Ali al-Taher ridge, near Dawhat Kfar Rumman, in Deir Siryan and in Al-Qantara along Wadi al-Hujair, where an Israeli tank reportedly entered the area.

Some residents believe the repeated attacks are intended to pressure people into leaving their communities and to punish areas associated with support for the resistance.

Following a strike in Ansar on Saturday that reportedly killed seven members of one family and injured three others, residents also expressed deep scepticism toward government claims that direct negotiations with Israel would lead to peace.

Israeli army prepares for possible days-long escalation in Lebanon: report

The Israeli army is preparing for a possible escalation lasting several days in Lebanon as it continues attacks in the country's south, Israeli media reported Sunday evening.

The army is preparing "for the possibility of several days of fighting in Lebanon," Israel's Channel 12 reported, citing unnamed military sources.

According to the broadcaster, the Israeli army is planning further attacks on Hezbollah infrastructure, claiming that Israel "insists on completing the destruction of that infrastructure."

It also claimed that dozens of Hezbollah members were trapped underground in the Jabal Ali al-Taher area of southern Lebanon, without providing further details.

Despite continuing Israeli violations, Channel 12 claimed that Tel Aviv exercised "restraint" in recent days to avoid affecting ongoing US-mediated negotiations with the Lebanese government.

"The Israeli political leadership has not approved some operations proposed by the army in recent days in response to Hezbollah's activities, in an attempt not to affect the course of the negotiations," the broadcaster said.

Tensions along the Lebanese front have increased in recent weeks as Israeli military offensives continue amid US efforts to reach understandings between Israel and Lebanon.

Despite months of negotiations, Israel has continued its military campaign against Lebanon, which began March 2 and has killed 4,346 people, mostly civilians, wounded 12,301 and displaced more than 1 million, according to Lebanese authorities.

Israel continues to occupy areas of southern Lebanon, some for decades and others since the 2023-2024 war. Israeli forces have advanced more than 10 kilometres (6 miles) into Lebanese territory during the current invasion.