Lebanon's health ministry said 10 people including three emergency workers were killed by Israeli strikes on south Lebanon on Saturday, as state media reported raids on more than a dozen locations.

The ministry said three deadly strikes hit locations in the Nabatiyeh district, with the dead including a member of the Lebanese civil defence and two paramedics from the Hezbollah-affiliated Islamic Health Committee, decrying what it said was Israel's "systematic" targeting of emergency workers.

The strikes come as a ceasefire between the US and Iran has halted the broader regional war, but fighting between Israel and Hezbollah in southern Lebanon continues.

A senior Iraqi security official told AFP that a drone fell near a U.S. diplomatic team at Baghdad International Airport while they were escorting journalist Shelly Kittleson after her release from captivity. The official said the airport’s diplomatic support centre was targeted by three drones on Wednesday, with one landing about 50 meters from the convoy. The incident delayed Kittleson’s departure but caused no reported injuries. It adds to ongoing tensions involving repeated drone and rocket attacks on U.S. facilities in Iraq since February 28, many of which have been attributed by Washington to Iran-aligned armed groups. The U.S. State Department has condemned recent attacks and summoned Iraq’s ambassador over what it described as militia strikes on U.S. interests. No group has claimed responsibility for the latest incident.

Iranian sources told Reuters that the United States has agreed to release frozen Iranian assets held in Qatar and other foreign banks, linking the move to maritime security discussions in the Strait of Hormuz. The claim emerged as Iranian and U.S. delegations held direct talks in Islamabad over Tehran’s nuclear program. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Iran is entering negotiations under “complete mistrust.” The United States has not publicly confirmed the reported asset release. The talks are being facilitated by Pakistan at a secured venue, with both sides also addressing unresolved nuclear and regional issues.

Iran’s foreign minister said Tehran is entering nuclear negotiations with “complete mistrust” as talks begin in Islamabad. The discussions follow weeks of conflict and involve direct engagement with the United States. Iranian officials met Pakistan’s prime minister ahead of the talks, outlining conditions including halting the war in Lebanon and releasing frozen assets. The negotiations are being held at a secured hotel in Islamabad, with Pakistani authorities facilitating the process. The International Atomic Energy Agency continues to monitor unresolved issues, including uranium enrichment and verification mechanisms, which remain key obstacles in the talks.

Pakistan hosted U.S. and Iranian delegations in Islamabad on Saturday for talks aimed at reinforcing a fragile ceasefire and ending more than a month of war in the Middle East. Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar urged both sides to “engage constructively,” while Pakistan said it would continue facilitating a lasting solution. The U.S. delegation was led by Vice President JD Vance, and the Iranian team was headed by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf. Iran said talks depend on an Israeli ceasefire in Lebanon and the release of blocked assets. Security in Islamabad was tightened, roads were sealed and a media center was opened for reporters.

On Saturday, Tahir Andrabi, spokesperson for Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told Kurdistan24 that Islamabad is hopeful the talks between the United States and Iran will yield positive results.

He said, “This round of negotiations is different, and we cannot predict whether it will lead to an agreement or not, but we are optimistic the meeting will produce a positive outcome.”

Andrabi added that a formal statement will be issued after the conclusion of the meeting, noting that Pakistan remains ready to host further rounds of dialogue if necessary.

He stated: “We are prepared to host any additional rounds of negotiations, but for now, it is unclear whether there will be another session.”

 Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh said on Friday that the Strait of Hormuz remains open, but emphasized that vessels must coordinate with Iranian forces before transiting the strategic waterway due to what he described as “certain restrictions.”

Khatibzadeh added that even American vessels are permitted to pass through the strait, provided they do not engage in any hostile actions. He stressed that Iranian security agencies guarantee the “safety and security of passage” through the route.