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yesterday accused the US and Israel of trying to sow “division” among Iranians after suffering a “decisive blow” during the Middle East war.

Khamenei’s comment came at a time when Israel and Lebanon agreed to implement a ceasefire to end hostilities, the Trump administration said on Wednesday.

But Israel struck south Lebanon yesterday and threatened new attacks on Beirut. Defence Minister Israel Katz said military operations would continue in south Lebanon.

A United Nations peacekeeper has been killed in Lebanon, the force and Serbian authorities said, after a base was hit in the south. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said that the agreement was the “last chance” to reach a comprehensive truce.

Hezbollah, however, rejected the ceasefire plan agreed by the Lebanese and Israeli governments in US-mediated talks, as Israel kept up strikes in southern Lebanon and said it wouldn’t be withdrawing from the south.

Meanwhile, the Republican-led US House of Representatives approved a resolution on Wednesday to block President Donald Trump from continuing the war against Iran, reflecting growing concern among members of his party about the three-month-old conflict.

The House voted 215 to 208, as four Republicans voted with Democrats in favour of the war powers resolution, which directs Trump to withdraw US troops from Iran unless Congress declares war or authorizes the use of military force. It was the latest setback for Trump in Congress despite his party’s slim majorities in both the House and Senate.

In comments shared by Iran’s Tasnim news agency, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran has made it clear that it “will not remain silent” in the face of an attack on Beirut, according to Al Jazeera.

“Any attack on Beirut will have grave consequences and lead to a full resumption of war,” Araghchi said in an interview with Lebanese news outlet Al Mayadeen.