Eight blasts reported in southern Iran Explosions are being reported from Iran's southwestern Bushehr province, according to the country's Mehr news agency. Iran's state broadcaster IRIB said eight explosions were heard in the southern port city, with air defence systems activated as a result.
'Earth shifting': Trump begins process to remove Syria from state sponsors of terrorism list Submitted by Yasmine El-Sabawi on Wed, 07/08/2026 - 19:30 The announcement follows Trump's meeting with his Syrian counterpart on the sidelines of the Nato summit in Ankara US President Donald Trump shakes hands with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa on the sidelines of the Nato summit at Bestepe Presidential Compound in Ankara, Turkey, on 8 July 2026 (Saul Lobe/AFP) Off In what is arguably the most impactful deliverable from President Donald Trump's trip to Ankara, Turkey, this week, the US on Wednesday formally began the process of removing Syria from the list of State Sponsors of Terrorism (SST). There are only four countries on that list: Cuba, Iran, North Korea, and Syria, which was added in 1979. "This is yet another historic step by President Trump to give the Syrian people a chance at greatness," US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement.
Centcom says US strikes meant to hold Iran 'accountable' US Central Command says its latest wave of strikes on Iran is aimed at holding Tehran "accountable" for what it described as recent "aggression". "The United States is holding Iran accountable for recent unjustified aggression against commercial shipping and civilian crews freely navigating a vital international waterway," CENTCOM said in a post on X.
Centcom says US forces launching additional strikes on Iran US Central Command says its forces have started conducting additional strikes against Iran at Trump's direction. In a post on X, Centcom said the strikes aimed "to further degrade their ability to threaten freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz". The announcement came after Iranian semi-official media reported explosions in southern coastal Iran.
CENTCOM says more than 20 US warships operating across Middle East US Central Command says more than 20 US Navy warships are currently operating "across the Middle East" as part of efforts to maintain regional security. In a post on X, CENTCOM said recent naval movements demonstrated "unmatched American military strength and firepower".
Arab League chief says Israel blocked first foreign trip to Ramallah The Arab League's new secretary-general, Nabil Fahmy, says Israel blocked him from visiting Ramallah, in what would have been his first foreign trip since taking office this month. The regional bloc's secretariat was informed by Palestinian authorities "of the Israeli occupation authorities' rejection of a visit... to the occupied Palestinian territories" to meet Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah, Fahmy's office said in a statement.
Iranian foreign ministry says US violated terms of MoU Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei has accused the US of violating the terms of its memorandum of understanding with Iran. In a post on X, Baqaei said the US had "violated the agreement's structure through its unilateral actions and aggressive attacks against Iran" by going against the MoU's fifth clause, which he said "emphasises the Islamic Republic of Iran's responsibility in determining arrangements for the safe passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz". Baqaei said Iran will defend its national interests and exercise sovereignty.
Israeli drone strike kills two men in southern Lebanon Two men were killed after being targeted by an Israeli drone strike in Nabatieh al-Fawqa, Lebanon's National News Agency reported. According to NNA, the two were struck while walking near Ghandour Hospital.
Israeli forces heavily bomb southern Lebanon town Lebanon's National News Agency says Israeli forces carried out heavy bombing in the town of Taybeh. No further details on casualties or damage were immediately available.
Iranian deputy foreign minister says Trump remarks show failure of US policy Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi says Trump's latest remarks on Iran reflected the failure of Washington's policy towards Tehran. In a post on X, Gharibabadi said Trump's comments, including threats of further attacks, were "not a sign of strength, but rather an admission of the failure of a policy built on brute force, sanctions, and threats for years". He added that Iran must respond to Trump in "his own language", saying that "apparently, he understands the language of force better".
Not even a single American soldier will return alive, Iranian lawmaker says Ebrahim Rezaei, spokesperson for the Iranian parliament's Foreign Policy and National Security Committee, has warned US military personnel after Trump threatened to invade Iran's Kharg Island. "Not even a single American soldier will return alive," Rezaei wrote on X, responding to Trump's threat during the Nato summit in Ankara. "Come on, we're waiting for you," he added.
Gaza genocide and arms company profits underpin anti-Nato protests in Turkey Submitted by Alex MacDonald on Thu, 07/02/2026 - 10:21 Turkey's government has instituted a sweeping crackdown and protest ban as Trump attends key alliance meeting Protesters hold placards featuring US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during an anti-Nato demonstration in Istanbul, ahead of the Nato summit in Ankara on, 27 June 2026 (Yasin Akgul/AFP) Off As US President Donald Trump flew into Ankara for the 2026 Nato summit, Turkey's membership of the military alliance continues to provoke anger domestically. Opposition to Nato membership is nothing new among leftists in the country, but the ongoing genocide in Gaza and a sweeping crackdown and protest ban that have accompanied the summit have heightened anger over Ankara's hosting of the meeting. A number of international figures, primarily socialists and anti-war activists, gathered in Istanbul on Saturday for a counter-summit opposing Nato.
Iran says eight armed forces members killed in US strikes Iran's state news agency IRNA says eight members of the country's armed forces were killed in US strikes on southern Iran. According to IRNA, the personnel from the Iranian army's air and naval forces were killed in Bandar Abbas and Bushehr.
Trump praises Netanyahu as 'a great wartime prime minister' Trump has praised Netanyahu as "a great wartime prime minister" and said no US president has done more for Israel than he has. "Nobody has ever done anything for Israel like me," Trump said, citing US recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital. He said he and Netanyahu "worked with each other very closely".
Eight Palestinians killed in Gaza over past 24 hours Eight Palestinians were killed and 17 wounded in the Gaza Strip over the past 24 hours, the Palestinian Health Ministry said, as Israeli forces continued military operations across the enclave. In its daily report, the ministry said a number of victims remain trapped under rubble and on roadsides, with emergency and civil defence teams still unable to reach them.
Trump lavishes praise on 'fantastic' and 'highly respected' Sharaa Submitted by Yasmine El-Sabawi on Wed, 07/08/2026 - 16:01 The win for the Syrian president is simply having the meeting at all US President Donald Trump holds a meeting with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa on the sidelines of the Nato summit at the Bestepe Presidential Compound in Ankara, Turkey, on 8 July 2026 (Jonathan Ernst/Reuters) Off US President Donald Trump lavished rare praise on Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa on Wednesday, calling him "fantastic" and "highly respected", as the two leaders met on the sidelines of the Nato summit in Ankara, Turkey . The meeting itself is a win for Sharaa, who was first introduced to Trump a little over a year ago in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia , before finding himself in the Oval Office exchanging gifts with the US president by November. No Syrian leader - and certainly not one with Sharaa's past as a US-designated terrorist - had been in the White House in decades.
Thousands attend Khamenei funeral processions in Najaf and Karbala Tens of thousands of mourners attended funeral processions for Iran's late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in the Iraqi cities of Najaf and Karbala. Khamenei's remains have now returned to Iran, where he will be laid to rest in Mashhad on 9 July. The 86-year-old leader was killed in a US-Israeli attack on his compound in Tehran in late February.
Lebanon demands Israeli withdrawal from 'pilot' zones Lebanon has said it would participate in the next round of direct talks in Italy after Israeli forces withdraw from two “pilot zones” in the south, AFP reported, citing a diplomatic source. The talks are scheduled in Rome on July 15 and 16, following a framework agreement signed last month. After US-led talks in Washington, Lebanon and Israel had agreed to create "pilot zones" in which the Lebanese armed forces “will take exclusive control of the territory to the exclusion of all non-state actors”.
Trump says he may remove Syria from state sponsors of terrorism list "I think I will," the US president said when asked whether he would remove Syria from the United States' list of designated state sponsors of terrorism. Trump also says he has lifted sanctions placed on Syria and commended Damascus for becoming stable, Al Jazeera reported. The US president also again suggested Syria “could help with Hezbollah” in Lebanon.
Trump says Nato allies to deploy minesweepers to Hormuz After declaring the ceasefire with Iran over and threatening to "hit them hard tonight", the US president said Nato allies will send minesweepers to the critical waterway. There was no independent confirmation from allies, Al Jazeera reported. Iran has repeatedly warned against foreign navies operating in the Strait of Hormuz.
