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Iran’s military and operational capabilities have increased during the ceasefire period, General Sarder Mohebi, IRGC spokesperson, said.

He added that one of the key takeaways from the US-Israel war on Iran “is the increase in the operational knowledge of the armed forces about the enemy”.

Iran threatened on Monday to expand its blockade to the Bab El Mandeb Strait, another chokepoint at the mouth of the Red Sea, if Israel resumed strikes on Beirut.

Yesterday, Israel kept up strikes in southern Lebanon, Lebanese security sources said, a day after US mediation appeared to have averted any further escalation of that war.

A partial ceasefire announced by Lebanon on Monday would entail Israel refraining from strikes on Beirut and Hezbollah-controlled suburbs of the Lebanese capital, while the Iran-aligned group would halt its attacks on Israel.

Lebanon said it would seek to expand the ceasefire in talks with Israel in Washington that began yesterday.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is facing criticism domestically over any agreement to hold back from further attacks on Beirut, ahead of an election later this year that he is projected to lose.