Israeli forces push deeper into southern Syria Israeli forces have expanded their occupation in Syria’s southern Deraa province, setting up new checkpoints and moving military vehicles deeper into the area, Syria’s state news agency SANA reports. SANA said Israeli troops established a second checkpoint near the village of Sreyeh Jamlah in Deraa’s western countryside, about 200 metres from another checkpoint installed a day earlier. At least five Israeli military vehicles also advanced into the village of Abidin, where troops set up two checkpoints and searched people passing through the area.
Qatari citizen killed by shrapnel after vessel goes missing A Qatari citizen has been killed after sustaining shrapnel wounds from “military operations in the area”, Qatar’s Ministry of Interior says. In a post on X, the ministry said search teams found a missing maritime vessel in the early hours of Sunday after it failed to return on time. “Search operations confirmed that a Qatari citizen was martyred after sustaining injuries from shrapnel resulting from the military operations in the area,” the ministry said.
Tehran-Dubai flights to restart after Israeli-US war Flights between Tehran and Dubai are set to resume on Monday, Iranian media report, months after the Israeli-US war disrupted air travel across the Gulf. Iranian state television and other outlets cited Ramin Kashefazar, the head of Tehran’s Imam Khomeini Airport, as saying that "the necessary arrangements have been made to reopen the Tehran–Dubai route at Imam Khomeini Airport". Tickets appeared on the website of Iranian airline Sepehran for a 10:40am local time flight to Dubai on Monday.
Israel took wounded Palestinian from hospital; 18 months later, family told he is dead The family of Palestinian man Majdi Nour Abu Ara has been told he was killed a year and a half after Israeli forces bombed the vehicle he was travelling in north of Tubas, in the occupied West Bank. His father told the Wafa news agency that the legal rights group HaMoked informed the family of an Israeli High Court decision confirming his death. The family said Israeli authorities had concealed his fate for 18 months.
Israel kills three Palestinians in Gaza attacks Israeli attacks have killed at least three Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, including two people targeted by a drone in the north of the enclave. Palestinian health authorites said an Israeli drone struck the al-Salatin area, west of Beit Lahia, killing two people and wounding at least one more. In southern Gaza, Israeli forces also bombed a tent sheltering displaced Palestinians in Khan Younis.
Iran and Lebanon speakers discuss Israel’s war Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has spoken by phone with Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri to discuss the latest developments in the region, Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency reports. Ghalibaf told Berri that Tehran remains committed to efforts to end Israel’s war on Lebanon. He said the first paragraph of Iran’s memorandum with the US deals with ending hostilities in Lebanon and protecting the country’s territorial integrity.
Israeli army chief says 'we will honour' Lebanon agreement Israeli army chief General Eyal Zamir has praised the deal with Lebanon, calling it "historic and of great significance". He said: "We will honour the agreement and work to ensure its success. The real test now is how both sides behave on the ground, and the coming period will determine the course of the next phase.
Israeli attacks killed 3 in Gaza over past 24 hours Israeli strikes in Gaza have killed three Palestinians and wounded 43 others, according to Gaza's health ministry. It said the total number of deaths since the ceasefire was announced in October 2025 has now risen to 1,041.
Iraq arrests 47 officials in anti-corruption crackdown Submitted by Alex MacDonald on Sun, 06/28/2026 - 13:46 Security services enter the fortified Green Zone in Baghdad as the new prime minister steps up action to tackle the problem Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi (right) meets Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi (left) in Baghdad’s Green Zone, in a handout image released by the Iraqi Prime Minister Media Office on 28 June 2026 (AFP) Off Iraqi authorities have arrested 47 officials in an anti-corruption campaign led by new Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi, the Iraqi News Agency (INA) said on Sunday. INA quoted senior officials as saying the suspects had been “arrested on corruption charges” and included MPs and officials from the oil ministry. Iraq’s Commission of Integrity said the arrests were carried out in Baghdad after “diligent and continuous monitoring” during a major overnight operation that reportedly led to the detention of multiple former officials, lawmakers and businessmen across the country.
Israeli soldiers shoot at journalists in Syrian village Footage showed Israeli soldiers shooting at a Syrian news crew reporting on Israel’s incursion into a Syrian village. The Syrian News Channel crew came under fire while reporting on the Israeli military’s entry into the village of Abdin, west of Daraa, in southern Syria.
Israeli extremists are terrorising Palestinian Christians and their holy sites Submitted by Janan Abdu on Sun, 06/28/2026 - 11:27 With Religious Zionism dominating key institutions of the Israeli state, police and courts fail to hold its adherents accountable for attacks on Christian communities A woman in Beirut views a social media post showing an Israeli soldier striking a statue of Christ in the southern Lebanese village of Debel on 20 April 2026 (Anwar Amro/AFP) Off The frequency and intensity of hate crimes and terrorist acts against Palestinian Christians - including pilgrims, worshippers, clergy, nuns, Christian property, holy sites and religious symbols - carried out by Israeli extremists are steadily increasing. These attacks are not the isolated or spontaneous incidents that Israel portrays them as to evade responsibility as a government and a state. They are premeditated crimes, committed by individuals and groups - including members of the police and military - who draw their ideological framework from extremist Religious Zionist doctrine, particularly the Hardal (Haredi Leumi, or nationalist Haredi) movement, an ultra-Orthodox nationalist current whose leading figures form part of the current governing coalition headed by Bezalel Smotrich.
UAE condemns Iranian strikes on Bahrain and Kuwait The United Arab Emirates has condemned the recent Iranian strikes on Bahrain and Kuwait, which were in retaliation for US attacks on Iranian targets over the past two days. The UAE's foreign affairs ministry said the attacks were a "blatant violation of sovereignty" of the Gulf states and a threat to regional "security and stability".
Israeli soldier killed in southern Lebanon The Israeli military has announced that an Israeli soldier was killed on Saturday night in southern Lebanon. The military named the soldier as David Hazutt, aged 21. He was killed near the Lebanese village of Deir Siryan after Israeli forces encountered a Hezbollah operative, the military said.
IRGC says it will respond to US attacks 'more strongly than before' Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has said it will retaliate against any further US attacks "more strongly than before". IRGC spokesperson Hossein Mohebi told Iranian state media that "the enemy is an enemy that breaks its commitments, is deceitful, and cannot be trusted. At any moment, at any stage of the negotiations, it may take certain actions.
Rights groups criticise Turkey protest ban ahead of Nato summit Submitted by Alex MacDonald on Sun, 06/28/2026 - 10:18 Security services detain hundreds, including LGBTQ campaigners, leftist groups and Islamic State supporters Protesters hold a banner reading 'Turkey should leave Nato, Nato bases should be closed' during a demonstration in Ankara on 27 June 2026, ahead of the Nato summit (Adem Altan/AFP) Off Rights groups have condemned a protest ban imposed by Turkey ahead of a Nato summit, as well as the arrest of hundreds of people in a sweeping crackdown. Last week, the Ankara Governorate announced a 13-day province-wide ban on all public assemblies from Sunday, citing “national security" and security measures around the conference. A total of 225 people were also arrested, including alleged supporters of the leftist Revolutionary People's Liberation Party/Front (DHKP/C) and the Islamic State group.
Iran urges US to force Israel to stop attacking Lebanon Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has called on the United States to stop Israel from attacking Lebanon. Speaking at a press conference in Baghdad, Araghchi said the US "should live up to its responsibility and force" Israel to stop attacking Lebanon and withdraw from the areas it is occupying in Lebanon.
Iran's foreign minister says Hormuz is under total Iranian control Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the Strait of Hormuz is under total Iranian control. He made the comments during a press conference with his Iraqi counterpart in Iran. Araghchi said: "I have briefed my counterpart on the latest outcomes of the war imposed on Iran, and also the developments with respect to the memorandum of understanding signed between Iran and the United States.
Israel bombs southern Lebanon The Israeli military bombed southern Lebanon on Sunday morning, according to Lebanese media. Israel carried out air strikes on the village of Deir Seryan and on homes in Khiam.
Residential building damaged in Iranian strike, says Bahrain ministry The Gulf nation's Ministry of Interior said that a residential building in the Muharraq Governorate suffered damage in the attacks, though no casualties were reported. In a statement posted on X, the ministry attributed the damage to “the sinful Iranian aggression” and said the authorities had begun procedures at the site. Earlier, Bahrain called on the UN Security Council to "hold an urgent session and put an end to this ongoing aggression and hold its perpetrators accountable".
Morning update Good morning Middle East Eye readers, The United States carried out a second consecutive day of strikes on Iranian military targets near the Strait of Hormuz, prompting retaliatory missile and drone attacks claimed by Iran's Revolutionary Guard. The escalation comes as Lebanon and Israel begin implementing a US-backed framework agreement, with Lebanese leaders seeking to preserve stability despite strong opposition from Hezbollah. Here are the latest updates: US Central Command said American aircraft struck Iranian surveillance infrastructure, communications systems, air defence sites and drone storage facilities near Sirik and Qeshm Island.
