On the evening of the 21st, HEZBOLLAH leader Naim Qassem said in a televised address the group would respond to any Israeli aggression, called Israel an aggressor that must withdraw, and said continued Israeli troop presence on Lebanese territory was "impossible" and there is no space in Lebanon for an Israeli "security zone." He added Lebanon has its own national army responsible for safeguarding sovereignty and said HEZBOLLAH cooperates with the Lebanese Armed Forces.

Lithium iron phosphate (LFP) prices have jumped this year, with a ~400 kg bag trading above 25,000 yuan versus about 10,000 yuan a year ago. Demand remains robust: finished-goods warehouses are full and more than 90% of output is supplied to leading new-energy vehicle makers, which account for the bulk of order growth. Producers point to strong NEV and energy-storage exports as the main demand driver. Upstream costs are also pushing prices higher: LFP is made from iron phosphate, lithium carbonate and glucose, with iron phosphate representing roughly 30% of raw-material cost; iron phosphate has risen sharply year-to-date, lifting overall LFP production costs.

On June 19, Israel's UN ambassador Danny Danon and the UN Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, Vanessa Frezer, exchanged a heated argument at a meeting. Danon objected to Israel's inclusion on a UN list of parties credibly linked to conflict-related sexual violence and accused the Secretary-General's special representative on sexual violence in conflict, Patten, of bowing to pressure. Frezer interrupted, citing procedural rules and barring personal attacks, and the exchange escalated.