Airlines told to avoid Iraq and Lebanon airspace The European Union Aviation Safety Agency has warned airlines against using flight routes over Iraq and Lebanon, citing uncertainty over the US-Iran ceasefire and the risk of rapid escalation. EASA urged commercial airlines to remain cautious when flying across the Middle East. The agency said it had extended its conflict-zone advisory for the region until July 8, after previously keeping the warning in place until 1 July.
Iran pushes for formal control over Strait of Hormuz Iran is seeking international recognition of its control over the Strait of Hormuz and its ability to charge vessels entering or leaving the Gulf, two senior Iranian sources have told Reuters. The sources said Tehran is prepared to enforce that position by force if necessary. Under this month’s interim agreement with the United States to end their three-month conflict, Iran agreed to allow ships to pass through the Strait of Hormuz without charge for 60 days.
Former Israeli general says Gaza war could have ended earlier A former head of the Israeli army’s Hostages and Missing Persons Command says Israel prolonged the war on Gaza unnecessarily and could have brought some captives home alive through earlier negotiations. Major General Nitzan Alon said that after 7 October , Israel “conducted a long war that could have ended at least a year earlier,” adding that some captives could have “been returned alive. ” “Strategically, we could have achieved the same results or avoided failing to achieve those we did not achieve – such as disarming Hamas, and so on.
Iran says foreign ship ran aground in Strait of Hormuz A foreign container ship has run aground in the Strait of Hormuz after entering shallow waters outside the shipping route set by Iranian authorities, Iranian state media reports. The report repeated a warning from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps that vessels should pass only through the corridor south of Iran’s Larak island. Tehran says that route is the only approved entry-and-exit corridor for ships travelling through the strait.
Israeli minister vows ‘100 percent’ control over Gaza Israel’s energy and infrastructure minister says Israel will continue expanding its control over the Gaza Strip until it reaches “100 percent”. Speaking to Galei Israel radio, Eli Cohen said Israel could not allow Hamas “to raise its head even by a millimetre”. Cohen said Israel controlled 53 percent of Gaza two months ago, about 60 percent one month ago and “close to 70 percent” today.
Read it yourself: The UN report on Israel targeting Palestinian children stands up to scrutiny Submitted by Peter Oborne on Mon, 06/29/2026 - 21:58 The 94-page document offers a clear accounting of horrific war crimes, even as a wave of pro-Israel commentators attempt to discredit its findings An injured child cries while receiving medical care at a hospital in the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza, after an Israeli strike, on 29 May 2025 (Eyad Baba/AFP) On A United Nations commission this month published a report saying that Israel has deliberately targeted Palestinian children since 7 October 2023, and that it committed genocide , war crimes and crimes against humanity in the process. Since then, the UN has come under ferocious attack, while one senior journalist was smeared simply for drawing attention to the report. When Alex Crawford of Sky News highlighted the UN findings on X (formerly Twitter), former Jewish Chronicle editor Jake Wallis Simons accused her of “the usual baseless propaganda, amplified by the usual players, serving the usual dark agenda”.
Israeli forces arrest at least 20 Palestinians in West Bank raids Israeli forces have arrested at least 20 Palestinians across the occupied West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem, since Tuesday evening, according to the Palestinian Prisoner’s Society. The group said those detained included five women: Jamila Abu Dahou and Jamila Kanaan from Ramallah, released prisoner Maysar Al-Faqih, Faten Hanaysheh from Nablus and Ataf Bader from Hebron. Israeli forces also arrested journalist Hassan Abdel Jawad from Bethlehem, it added.
Video: 'Unable to export even a single barrel of oil' In an interview with state TV, Iranian chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said on Tuesday that Tehran has exported over 40 million barrels of oil in less than two weeks since the lifting of the US blockade.
Iran, Oman to jointly charge fees along Strait of Hormuz: Report Iran and Oman are looking to jointly impose a service fee for use of the Strait of Hormuz, despite open US objections, The New York Times reported on Tuesday, citing an Iranian official and four diplomats. The 14-point plan signed by the US and Iran earlier this month stipulates that the Strait of Hormuz would see "the safe passage of commercial vessels with no charge", but much like the rest of the agreement, it is only valid for the 60-day negotiation period. However, Iran and Oman are mandated to develop a plan as part of the deal.
Israeli settlers storm Al-Aqsa mosque Israeli settlers have stormed the Al-Aqsa mosque courtyard in occupied East Jerusalem under the protection of Israeli police, the Palestinian news agency Wafa reports. The Jerusalem Governorate said dozens of settlers stormed the compound’s courtyards on Wednesday, carried out provocative tours and rituals. Israeli forces protected the settlers during the incursion, it added.
Thailand says 10 stranded vessels leave Strait of Hormuz Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs says 10 of 11 Thai-flagged vessels, or ships chartered by Thai operators, have safely left the Strait of Hormuz after being stranded there since late February. The ministry said one vessel, the Hatthaya Naree, remains in the area while it waits to load cargo. It added that the ship is expected to depart as soon as possible once loading is complete.
Modi urges diplomacy in call with Iran’s Pezeshkian Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spoken with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian about the latest developments in West Asia and the proposed path towards de-escalation. Modi said that, during Tuesday’s call, he stressed the importance of freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz for India and the wider world, according to the Press Trust of India news agency. In a statement, the prime minister’s office said Modi welcomed the understanding reached and reaffirmed India’s position that all disputes must be addressed through dialogue and diplomacy.
UN says one million remain displaced in Lebanon by Israel's war on country The UN’s humanitarian coordinator in Lebanon says about one million people remain displaced by Israel’s war on the country, which has continued since March. Speaking at a seminar in Beirut on Tuesday, Imran Riza said 1. 4 million people in Lebanon now need humanitarian assistance.
Trump administration yet to accept Iran school strike findings The Trump administration has not accepted direct responsibility for a strike on a school in Iran, The Associated Press reports. AP, citing a US official familiar with the matter, said Washington has also not formally accepted the findings of a Pentagon investigation into the bombing. The official said the US military has evidence showing that the school site was hit.
Netanyahu says Gaza ethnic cleansing remains on agenda Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has defended his record in an interview with the right-wing Channel 14 broadcaster as he prepares for elections later this year. Netanyahu was pressed on two issues that The Jerusalem Post described as “central to the right flank of his co-alition”: the expulsion of two million Palestinians from Gaza and the establishment of illegal Jewish settlements in the enclave. Asked about the first issue, Netanyahu said “voluntary emigration” remained on the agenda.
US lawmakers push bill to halt $3. 3bn in military aid to Israel Palestinian-American Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib says she will support a bill seeking to block about $3. 3bn in US military aid to Israel, before a vote expected later this week.
Israel's 'kill first' strategy is now aimed at Turkey. Will the region respond? he US administration has signed two mutually contradictory deals to end its war on Iran .
WHO evacuates 85 patients and companions from Gaza for treatment abroad The World Health Organization evacuated 85 people from the Gaza Strip on Tuesday for medical treatment abroad, with assistance from the Palestine Red Crescent Society. The evacuation included 30 patients and 55 companions, and began at the society's Al-Mawasi field hospital in Khan Younis, in southern Gaza, according to the Palestine News Agency. The WHO facilitated their transfer through the Rafah border crossing, which is controlled by Israeli forces on the Palestinian side and by Egypt.
Erdogan rejects Israeli move to recognise Armenian genocide Türkiye's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has dismissed an Israeli proposal to recognise the mass killing of Armenians by the Ottoman Empire during World War I as genocide, turning the accusation back on Israel over its killing of Palestinians in Gaza. Erdogan was responding to a measure approved on Sunday by Israel's cabinet. The proposal still requires parliamentary approval and comes as ties between Israel and Türkiye continue to deteriorate.
Iran says it is pursuing diplomacy but remains ready for war Iran's chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf says Tehran is prioritising diplomacy with the US, but remains prepared for war. "We are pursuing dialogue, but if the dialogue is not implemented, we are also prepared for war and will respond accordingly," Qalibaf said in an interview on state television. His comments came as Iranian and US delegations were due to hold separate discussions in Doha.
