US-Iran war live updates: Israel and Lebanon enter 10-day ceasefire; Netanyahu says Israeli military will stay in southern Lebanon; Trump criticises Australia over Strait of Hormuz

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What you need to know

By Daniel Lo Surdo

Thank you for reading our rolling coverage of the war in the Middle East. Our live blog has closed for the evening but will resume tomorrow.

Here’s a recap of the latest developments:

• A steady flow of displaced Lebanese are returning to their homes in the country’s south following the start of a 10-day ceasefire. Israel’s war against Hezbollah over the past 46 days has displaced an estimated 1.2 million people – or almost 20 per cent of the population – including 820,000 from the south. Lebanese officials urged residents to not return until it became clear if the peace would hold.
• Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his military would occupy a “security zone” extending 10 kilometres into Lebanon’s territory.
• US President Donald Trump made the assertion that Iran had agreed to hand over its “nuclear dust” in an exchange with reporters before departing for an event in Las Vegas on Thursday (Washington time). If true, it would be a major concession from Iran, and would lock in a key demand of the US to end the conflict.
• French President Emmanuel Macron says the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire “may already be undermined” by continued fighting.
• The Lebanese army has claimed Israel violated the 10-day ceasefire starting 7am on Friday (AEST) just as it was beginning, alleging the shelling and artillery fire of southern Lebanese villages. The Israel military told the Associated Press it is investigating the allegations, as it urges Lebanese residents to not move south of the Litani River, about 30 kilometres north of the Israeli border. Trump announced the ceasefire and said he hoped Hezbollah “acts nicely” as the truce began.
• Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visited the Viva Energy plant in Geelong on Friday morning, a day after a fire erupted at the refinery. Albanese said the fire was “regrettable” considering its timing, but added that most fuel production continued despite the incident. He batted away several questions probing Trump’s latest criticism of his government, in which the US president renewed accusations Australia had not done enough to help in the Middle East, and ignored Canberra’s recently announced increase in defence expenditure.
• The Iranian soccer players who sought asylum following their Women’s Asian Cup campaign have confirmed they want to continue their sporting careers in Australia. In a statement, they also expressed their “deepest gratitude” for their “safe haven in this beautiful country”. Fatemeh Pasandideh and Atefeh Ramezanisadeh said their primary focus was on their “safety, our health and beginning the process of rebuilding our lives”.