Explosion heard in Damascus during French president's visit An explosion was heard in central Damascus on Tuesday as French President Emmanuel Macron visited the Syrian capital, AFP journalists said, with witnesses reporting smoke rising near a high-end hotel where the leader spent the night. At least one blast was heard before ambulances rushed to the scene, while Macron, the first Western European leader to visit Syria since the 2024 fall of longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad, held talks with Syrian counterpart Ahmed al-Sharaa at the presidential palace.
Morning update Good morning Middle East Eye readers, Tensions have reignited amid an attack on an oil tanker off the coast of Oman, with severe damage to the vessel reported. While Axios indicated that two US officials blamed Iran for the attack on the ship, Tehran's IRIB state broadcaster reported that the targeting happened after the vessel "ignored repeated warnings". Here are more updates from across the region: Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said that he is preparing to travel to the White House for a meeting with US President Donald Trump towards the end of July, where the two are set to discuss the framework of the agreement with Israel.
Beijing said the move was not aimed at any particular country, dismissing accusations of escalation A Chinese nuclear submarine launched a long-range ballistic missile with a dummy warhead into the Pacific Ocean on Monday, marking the first such test since 2024.
Limah [Oman], July 7 (ANI): A tanker reported to be on fire after being hit by an unknown projectile on the port side, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations agency (UKMTO). In a post on X on Tuesday, UKMTO said that no casualties or environmental impact were reported. The incident occurred 8 nautical miles east of Oman's Limah whilst the ship was travelling southbound.
Iranian media says vessel struck near Oman for 'ignoring repeated warnings' Iranian media say ship attacked in Hormuz after attempting to take US-backed route We have more details on the attack on the tanker attack. The IRIB state broadcaster is reporting that an oil tanker attempting to pass through the Omani route in the Strait of Hormuz was attacked "after ignoring repeated warnings". According to the broadcaster, citing anonymous sources, the vessel was planning to travel through the waterway with the support of the US Navy.
US needs to move bases from Gulf to Israel, former Centcom commander says The US needs to relocate its bases in the Gulf to Israel and neighbouring countries to better protect its assets from Iran’s missiles and drones, the former head of US Central Command (Centcom), General Frank McKenzie, said at a webinar last week. “No one in their right mind would ever put the Centcom forward headquarters, you know, 100 miles away from Iran, [in Qatar], yet that’s where it is,” he told the Jewish Institute for National Security of America, referring to al-Udeid military base. McKenzie, who was the top military official overseeing US forces in the Middle East from 28 March 2019 to 1 April 2022, said that in 2022, he and other officials told the Biden administration that the constellation of US bases around the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, and Bahrain was vulnerable to Iranian attacks and US forces should be dispersed to the West, including to Israel.
Tanker hit by unknown projectile 8 nautical miles away from Oman's Limah, maritime body says A vessel was hit by an unknown projectile while traveling southbound about 8 nautical miles east of Oman's Limah, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations agency (UKMTO) said early on Tuesday. The targeting struck the tanker's port side, causing a fire. UKMTO indicated that there were no casualties or environmental impact reported.
Israeli parliament advances bill on inquiry into 7 October failures Israel's parliament has approved a bill in its first reading to establish a commission of inquiry into the security failings that led to the 7 October attacks. "The purpose of the proposed law is to bring about a full, thorough, and independent investigation of the events of the ... October 7 massacre" and the genocidal wars that followed, an explanatory note to the bill said.
Israel restricts flow of goods into Gaza at Karem Abu Salem crossing Israel is restricting the flow of goods into Gaza at the Karem Abu Salem crossing, the UN's humanitarian agency has reported. Last week, only 42 percent of supplies routed through Egypt and 65 percent of those from Ashdod port could be offloaded at the crossing, which sits at the intersection of Egypt, Israel and Gaza and is known to Israelis as Kerem Shalom, OCHA said in its latest update. The UN and its partners managed to deliver about 42,000 pallets to Gaza in June, down from around 46,600 in May.
Israeli settlers attack Palestinian homes and farmland in occupied West Bank Dozens of Israeli settlers reportedly attacked Palestinian homes and farmland in the occupied West Bank's Hebron governorate on Monday, injuring six residents. Activist Osama Makhamra said around 30 armed settlers attacked homes in the village of Umm al-Khair in Masafer Yatta, in the South Hebron Hills, after the Israeli military closed the village's main entrance. According to Wafa, the official news agency of the Palestine Liberation Organization, Makhamra said the settlers carried out the attack under the protection of Israeli forces.
US needs to move bases from Gulf to Israel, former Centcom commander says Submitted by Sean Mathews on Mon, 07/06/2026 - 21:06 Retired General Frank McKenzie says Iran war has shown that current basing system is now an 'artefact' This handout satellite image taken on 1 March 2026 shows a view of smoke rising from damage at the US Fifth Fleet naval base in Bahrain's capital Manama after it was hit by Iranian strikes (2026 Planet Labs PBC/AFP) Off The US needs to relocate its bases in the Gulf to Israel and neighbouring countries to better protect its assets from Iran’s missiles and drones, the former head of US Central Command (Centcom), General Frank McKenzie, said at a webinar last week. “No one in their right mind would ever put the Centcom forward headquarters, you know, 100 miles away from Iran, [in Qatar], yet that’s where it is,” he told the Jewish Institute for National Security of America, referring to al-Udeid military base. McKenzie, who was the top military official overseeing US forces in the Middle East from 28 March 2019 to 1 April 2022, said that in 2022, he and other officials told the Biden administration that the constellation of US bases around the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, and Bahrain was vulnerable to Iranian attacks and US forces should be dispersed to the West, including to Israel.
Israeli forces strike southern Lebanon town after funeral attack Israeli forces have carried out an air strike on the town of Baraachit in southern Lebanon's Bint Jbeil district, Lebanon's National News Agency reported. The attack came after a mass funeral for civilians in the same town on Sunday was targeted by Israeli artillery fire. No casualties were reported in the strike.
Israeli army says it targeted vehicle near southern Lebanon 'security zone' The Israeli army says it targeted the Al-Aqida area in southern Lebanon, claiming that "four suspects" approaching the so-called security zone in a vehicle posed a threat to its forces. As we reported earlier, four people were killed in an Israeli strike on a vehicle in the neighbouring Nabatieh al-Fawqa area. The victims included the principal of Youssef Shamoun Public School, her mother, a foreign domestic worker and a Syrian citizen.
Nephew of PA vice president arrested over Gaza smuggling with Israeli soldiers Submitted by Nadav Rapaport on Mon, 07/06/2026 - 15:33 Hussein al-Sheikh's nephew was arrested by the Shin Bet on suspicion of smuggling contraband into Gaza, according to i24 News Palestinian vice president Hussein al-Sheikh attends a meeting with ambassadors in Ramallah, in the occupied West Bank, on 10 February 2026 (AFP) Off The nephew of Hussein al-Sheikh, vice president of the Palestinian Authority (PA), was arrested by Israeli security forces on suspicion of smuggling contraband goods into Gaza as part of an operation that also involved Israeli soldiers, Israel's i24News reported on Monday. According to the report, Jamal al-Sheikh, whose uncle was recently appointed vice president of the PA, was arrested in February by the Shin Bet, Israel’s internal security agency, for smuggling what Israel deems to be illegal goods into the Palestinian enclave. Jamal, a resident of the occupied West Bank, reportedly started to smuggle goods into Gaza in February 2025 with the help of Israeli soldiers, an Egyptian citizen and merchants from Gaza.
Even with a suspect in court, Berlin will still protect Kiev and the wider cover-up rather than confront a devastating truth Imagine a Hollywood movie. It's a thriller about a big bad secret.
Lebanon president says Israeli occupation in south preventing army deployment Lebanon's president has said that Israel's occupation of the south was preventing the Lebanese army's deployment to the area, as the two sides prepare to implement a deal involving the deployment and gradual Israeli withdrawal. According to a statement from his office, President Joseph Aoun emphasised the need to pressure Israel to withdraw its forces "because the persistence of the occupation undermines the legitimacy of the [Lebanese] state and prevents the army from deploying and the laying of the foundations for achieving a just and lasting peace".
Israel's death towers: Gaza civilians killed by remote attacks during ceasefire Submitted by Maha Hussaini on Mon, 07/06/2026 - 12:43 Israeli fire from military lifters, quadcopters and snipers increasingly target Palestinians in supposed safe zones Palestinian women mourn loved ones killed in an Israeli air strike, prior to being taken for burial from the Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, on 18 June 2026 (Omar al-Qattaa/AFP) Off Less than two weeks before his daughter’s wedding, Khalil al-Masri set out with his eldest son to complete what should have been one of the family's happiest final preparations: paying for and confirming the reservation of the wedding dress she had chosen at a shop in Gaza City’s Rimal neighbourhood. With the reservation confirmed, the two stopped at a nearby sweet shop to celebrate, where they met two friends. As they sat together at a table outside the shop, a live bullet pierced Masri’s head, leaving him unconscious as his son and friends watched in horror.
