There is widespread coverage this morning of the fall of the strategic Syrian town Qusair to Hezbollah, which has led an offensive there over the last week on behalf of President Assad’s regime. Qusair is key for coastal access, is linked to Lebanon and for control of the centre of Syria. The ousting of opposition forces is reported in the Telegraph which quotes rebel leaders who vow to fight on, the Times and Independent which both predict that Hezbollah could now move on to try to wrest control of Aleppo and the Financial Times which suggests that the strengthening of Assad may be a blow to potential peace talks in Geneva. The Independent i, Sun and Evening Standard also cover the fall of Qusair to Hezbollah while an editorial in the Guardian argues that although the battle for Qusair has swung the pendulum in Assad’s favour, the momentum could swing back again.

Meanwhile, the Metro and the online editions of the Telegraph and Independent report that both Foreign Secretary William Hague and French President Francois Hollande have thrown their weight behind evidence that the Assad regime deployed sarin gas. However, the Telegraph report emphasises that top US officials John Kerry and Chuck Hagel have shown indifference to the claims.

The Independent and the online edition of the Telegraph both report on video evidence of a mass anti-government protest at a funeral in Iran’s second city, Isfahan. Demonstrators chanted anti-regime slogans in what appeared to be the biggest public show of dissent in Iran since 2009. The demonstration will likely alarm Tehran’s leaders just weeks ahead of the country’s presidential election. Meanwhile, the Guardian reports on live television debates which have featured all eight candidates ahead of the poll.

The Financial Times includes a focus on an Israeli start-up, NSO, which allows clients to tackle perceived security threats posed by smartphone users.

The Independent i reports on an incident in Israel’s Knesset which has become an internet viral hit, featuring Education Minister Shai Piron who was unable to complete a speech presenting proposed legislation due to a fit of laughter at a double entendre contained in the law’s text.

The dominant front page story in the Israeli media this morning is the news that Tel Aviv police have arrested three suspects in connection with an attack on a youth centre for the gay community in Tel Aviv four years ago. The attack, which shocked the country, killed two youngsters and wounded ten others. Israel Hayom’s headline declares that the murder has been “solved” while Yediot Ahronot leads with a similar headline “We’ve caught the murderers.” It is also the top story in Haaretz and Makor Rishon.

Maariv’s top story reports that senior officials within the European Union have threatened that they will support Palestinian moves for greater recognition at the United Nations (UN) and related international forums if Israel continues to build settlements. On a similar theme, Makor Rishon reports on its’ front page that Israel is preparing for a new Palestinian Authority “diplomatic offensive” to seek greater recognition at the UN and elsewhere.

Israel Radio news reports this morning that Bulgaria’s new foreign minister Kristian Vigenin has said that evidence Hezbollah was responsible for a bus bombing in the Bulgarian resort of Burgas last summer was circumstantial and inconclusive. The attack killed five Israeli tourists and a Bulgarian bus driver. A lengthy Bulgarian investigation under the previous government concluded that Hezbollah had carried out the attack.