AS IT HAPPENED: PM reveals major fuel move; Trump lashes NATO after meeting leader; Iran closes Strait of Hormuz again in response to Israeli attacks in Lebanon

It's been a nervy day for the whole world, as the ceasefire negotiated between Iran and the US continues to lie on shaky ground.

Here are the key events from today, April 9:

- Israel carried out its heaviest bombardment of Lebanon since the conflict began, hitting the capital Beirut and other areas of the country's southern regions. The death toll is estimated to be around 180 people, but could rise as rescue workers search through the rubble.

- Israel's actions have been widely condemned, including by Australia, with world leaders and the UN calling on the country to stop its attack on Lebanon, warning it puts the ceasefire in jeopardy.

- US President Donald Trump insists he will keep military personnel in the region until the Strait of Hormuz has reopened to international shipping and that he reaches what he believes to be a satisfactory deal with Iran. The shipping lane, which was briefly opened yesterday, was closed by Iran after Israel's attacks on Lebanon.

- Representatives from the US are set to travel to Islamabad in Pakistan for talks on ending the war. It not known if Iran will send anyone to the talks, after the Iranian ambassador to Pakistan deleted a social media post saying they would be sending a delegation.

- Closer to home, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's confirmed he secured a deal to bring more fuel to Australia, working with Export Finance Australia to direct fuel to regions of Australia that need it most.

Iran's ambassador to Pakistan has deleted an online post saying that Tehran's negotiating team would arrive tonight in Islamabad.

Reza Amiri Moghadam made the initial comment on X, without identifying who was on the Iranian team.

Then he deleted it without comment.

Israel has claimed it has taken control of some parts of southern Lebanon in its fight against Hezbollah.

In a post on Telegram, the Israeli Defence Force (IDF) said its goal is to "remove threats to the residents of northern Israel."

"The brigade's troops have established operational control of the area and continue to strike Hezbollah terrorist infrastructure sites in order to reinforce the forward defensive area."

They claimed to have killed dozens of Hezbollah "terrorists" and located weapons and ammunition.

However, the recent operation in southern Lebanon, which began yesterday after the ceasefire between Iran and the USA came into effect, has also caused significant civilian casualties.

While an official death toll is unclear, the strikes killed at least 182 people and wounded 890 others, according to Lebanon's Health Ministry.

Some reports have the death toll reaching over 240 people.

The widespread Israeli strikes on Wednesday killed at least 182 people and wounded 890 others, according to Lebanon's Health Ministry.

Civil Defence spokesperson Elie Khairallah told The Associated Press that a wounded woman was found alive under the rubble overnight in the seaside Beirut neighborhood of Ain Mreisseh.

A man whose building collapsed after strikes in the capital's southern suburbs was also found alive in rubble.

"The others so far have been killed," Khairallah said.

Meanwhile, others like Mohammad Chehab, a Syrian man from Deir el-Zour, are anxiously waiting.

Six of his 10 family members have been found but others are still missing. He tries to stay hopeful.

"They've been searching all day," he said nervously, watching rescue workers dig through the rubble.

Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif issued a public statement thanking Anthony Albanese for his "endorsement" of Pakistan's peace efforts.

Sharif re-shared Albanese's statement on X, which said Australia welcomed the two-week ceasefire and called for a permanent end to the conflict.

"We will continue to work tirelessly with our friends and partners in our shared pursuit of lasting peace in the region," Sharif wrote.

Donald Trump is not expected to represent the US in the Pakistan-hosted peace talks, with his right-hand man JD Vance instead heading up the American contingent.

However, Trump cast doubt over Vance's attendance today, hinting that the vice president may skip the meeting, citing "safety, security" risks.

The president earlier confirmed that his son-in-law Jared Kushner and special envoy Steve Witkoff would travel to Pakistan to attend the talks.

The White House reportedly knew about Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's ceasefire plea on X before he posted it.

The New York Times reports the Trump administration signed off on the statement, which asked the president to extend his deadline for Iran to agree to end the war by two weeks, in the hours before Sharif shared it online.

A person familiar with the matter told the outlet there had been communication behind the scenes with the US and Pakistan, indicating Trump was hoping for more time as his strict deadline loomed.

Eagle-eyed social media users noticed the initial X post had the header "*Draft - Pakistan's PM Message on X*" before it was amended.

Pakistani authorities have stepped up security in the capital, Islamabad, deploying hundreds of additional police and paramilitary forces ahead of the much-awaited peace talks between the United States and Iran.

The talks, seen as a potentially significant diplomatic opening to end the war in the region, will begin later this week.

Authorities also moved to seal off parts of the city by placing shipping containers along key roads leading to the city's Red Zone, a heavily fortified enclave that houses the president and prime minister's office, the Foreign Ministry, and foreign embassies.

A nearby hotel, where the delegations are expected to stay, has also been brought under tight security.

Pakistan condemned Israel's latest round of strikes on Lebanon, and called on the international community to "take urgent and concrete steps" to stop further attacks in a statement from its Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

"The Israeli actions undermine international efforts to establish peace and stability in the region and constitute a blatant violation of international law and fundamental humanitarian principles," the statement said.

Israel said it carried out its largest coordinated strike on Lebanon since the war began, killing at least 182 and wounding hundreds more, according to Lebanon's health ministry.

Meanwhile, Iranian officials will arrive in Pakistan's capital, Islamabad, tonight as both sides of the conflict gear up for talks.

Iran has not revealed who they are sending for the negotiations, but Iran's ambassador to Pakistan confirmed they would be seeking to reaffirm the 10-points in the peace plan proposed yesterday as part of the ceasefire.

It is believed US Vice President JD Vance will be heading the American contingent, with Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff and Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner are also expected to join.

Reported with Associated Press and CNN.

Ship-tracking data from trade data and analytics platform Kpler showed only four vessels with their Automatic Identification System trackers on passed through the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, the first day of the ceasefire.

However, this total does not include so-called "dark fleet" vessels — those with their AIS trackers turned off.

Many of those "dark fleet" ships carry sanctioned Iranian crude oil out to the open market.