Middle East crisis live: Israel strikes targets in Lebanon as US-Iran talks in Switzerland called off

Israel's military announced strikes against Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon on June 19, 2026, stating these actions followed repeated ceasefire violations by the Iran-backed group. Concurrently, scheduled talks between the United States and Iran in Switzerland were abruptly canceled. U.S. Senator JD Vance criticized Israeli opponents of a potential Iran deal, asserting that Donald Trump remains the sole ally for Israel globally, referencing the substantial defense aid provided by America. Vance told reporters that Trump is currently the only head of state sympathetic to Israel. Donald Trump had previously expressed expectations for a comprehensive ceasefire across all fronts, including Lebanon, Hezbollah, and Israel, encouraging regional actors to support ongoing negotiations. Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khame, reportedly approved the deal with the U.S. despite holding a differing perspective, though further details were not provided.