Moscow: Situation in Black Sea Being Artificially Ratcheted Up by Outside Powers

The Russian military has reported a major escalation in NATO drilling and reconnaissance activity in the Black Sea. Last month, the Royal Navy tried to test the security of Russia’s maritime borders around Crimea by deploying a destroyer in Russian waters. The incident sparked a major diplomatic scandal between Moscow and London. Outside powers are […]

Israel officially launches direct flights to Morocco

Seven months after Israel and Morocco normalized relations, El Al and Israir both launched their first direct Tel Aviv-Marrakesh flights with a ceremony marking the historic moment. ZEV STUB JULY 25, 2021 12:31 Direct flights between Israel and Morocco began Sunday, seven months after the two countries officially signed an agreement to normalize relations. El […]

Iran rebuffs UN criticism of crackdown on water shortage protests

At least four people have been killed in past week during rallies in country’s southwest By AFP Today, 1:34 am TEHRAN, Iran — Iran on Saturday rejected “false accusations” by the UN rights chief on protests over water shortages in the country’s southwest, where at least four people have been killed since last week. Khuzestan, […]

Palestinians accuse Hamas of storing weapons in residential areas

Palestinians in the Gaza Strip said that the explosion that killed 1 and injured 14 on Thursday took place in a warehouse used by Hamas for storing weapons. KHALED ABU TOAMEH JULY 24, 2021 22:13 Palestinian factions and human rights organizations have called on Hamas and other Palestinian terror groups to stop  storing weapons in residential […]

Iranian-backed militias in Syria are buying up real estate – report

Real estate investors reportedly target property that belongs to people who fled the fighting in Syria over the last 10 years, with ownership likely passing to foreigners or Shi’ites linked to Iran. SETH J. FRANTZMAN JULY 25, 2021 12:05 Pro-Iranian and Iranian-backed militias are recruiting locals, buying up land and homes and even seeking “demographic […]

Iranian, Hezbollah Commanders Killed in Israeli Attacks

David Israel16 Av 5781 – July 25, 2021 Photo Credit: Hezbollah on Telegram Hezbollah commander Imad al-Amin. Hezbollah military commander Imad al-Amin was killed last Thursday in an Israeli attack on western Syria, Al Arabiya reported Saturday night. The Hezbollah telegram channel confirmed that the commander was killed while on duty, but did not specify […]

Mideast in turmoil with water and energy shortages amid record heatwave

Temperatures in Iran top 50°C during chaos in country’s southwest over lack of water; Lebanon’s major power station to resume operations, even with economic collapse By AFP and TOI staff Today, 9:44 am   Protesters burn tires to block roads during a demonstration demanding the return of electricity in Basra, southeast of Baghdad, Iraq, July 2, […]

Russian general says military thwarted Israeli strikes in Syria last week

In an interview with Russia’s Tass news agency, Rear Adm. Vadim Kulit, the head of the Russian military’s Reconciliation Center in Syria, appears to confirm reports of Israeli strikes in Syria last week. “Two F-16 fighter jets of the Israeli Air Force made a strike with four guided missiles on facilities in Homs province from […]

France’s Macron called Bennett to ensure Israel dealing with NSO claims – report

French president reportedly expressed concern Morocco allegedly among those that used spyware; PM said to respond conclusions will be reached, stresses it was before he took office By TOI staff and AFP Today, 10:06 pm Edit French President Emmanuel Macron called Prime Minister Naftali Bennett personally this week to make sure the Israeli government was […]

Israeli airstrikes kill top terrorists.

Al-Arabiya reports that Hezbollah’s military commander, Imad al-Amin, was killed in an Israeli airstrike in western Syria. An Iranian Revolutionary Guards official, Ahmad Qureishi, was killed in an attack attributed to Israel on the night between Wednesday and Thursday in the area of the city of Homs.

Syria: Russian air defence downs Israeli missiles

Four missiles fired by Israeli warplanes in Syria’s Homs province early on Thursday were shot down by the Syrian army using Russian-made “Buk” air defence systems, RT has reported. According to the report, two Israeli F-16 jets fired the guided missiles from Lebanese airspace. This follows the shooting down of seven out of eight missiles […]

PA accuses Israel of ‘war crimes’ after killing of teenager near Ramallah

The PA said that it was still hoping that the ICC would launch an investigation into Israeli “violations and war crimes” in response to the fatal shooting of a 17-year-old. KHALED ABU TOAMEH JULY 24, 2021 19:35 The Palestinian Authority said on Saturday that it was still hoping that the international Criminal Court (ICC) would launch […]