Month: August 2026

Israel pushes back on US plan to coordinate military moves with Turkey in Syria

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Jerusalem fears coordination with Ankara could constrain its freedom to strike as tensions rise over Turkey’s expanding role in Syria Guy Azriel ■ Diplomatic Correspondent, i24NEWS Hebrew Channel ■  August 20, 2026 at 11:42 AM ■ latest revision August 20, 2026 at 12:22 PM Israel is resisting efforts by the United States to create a deconfliction mechanism to coordinate Israeli and Turkish military actions in Syria. US Special Envoy Tom Barrack has been leading the effort to prevent unintended military confrontations in Syria between Israel and Turkey. Washington wants fewer surprises and more coordination. However, Jerusalem is worried that any mechanism would eventually evolve into an …

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Iran calls Trump’s floated sanctions ‘economic terrorism’ as US set to unveil plans

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US treasury secretary vows Washington will ‘collapse’ Islamic Republic regime, promises toughest sanctions yet; US targets Hezbollah with new sanctions, emphasizing ties to Tehran By Agencies and ToI Staff20 August 2026, 11:54 pm Women walk past a portrait of the late Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in US-Israel strikes on February 28, and images of the Iranian flag, on a sidewalk in downtown Tehran, Iran, August 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi) Iran’s Foreign Ministry on Thursday condemned newly threatened US economic and trade sanctions, claiming they would target ordinary Iranians and amount to “economic terrorism” and crimes against humanity. …

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Turkey’s expanding maritime ambitions-and the challenge for Israel

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Developments suggest that Turkey is gradually acquiring the ability to project naval power across two strategically important maritime theaters: the Mediterranean and the Red Sea. Israel must plan its next steps. Opinion. Jonathan Pollard Published: Aug 21, 2026, 11:15 AM (GMT+3) Jonathan PollardArutz Sheva Tensions between Turkey and Greece are once again rising over conflicting maritime claims. Just recently, Ankara officially designated two “protected zones” in the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean that, according to Greek sources, infringe upon Greek maritime rights. One is located in the northern Aegean, between the Greek islands of Limnos and Samothraki, while the other is in …

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Report: Air Force strikes four locations in southern Lebanon

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Aug 21, 2026 Lebanese media reported early Friday morning that the Israel Air Force carried out strikes in the town of Mansouri and in the Ali al-Taher ridge area in southern Lebanon. Later, two additional strikes were reported in Duhayra and Kfar Rouman in southern Lebanon. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/flashes/692135

Pentagon spokesperson says claims of US munitions shortage amid Iran war ‘false’ – report

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“The US has massive amounts of ‘munitions’” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social on August 6, adding that claims of any munitions shortage were fabricated. A general view of the Pentagon in Washington, DC, US, March 21, 2025.(photo credit: Kent Nishimura/Reuters)Is the US military actually running out of missiles?›What is the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense?›How many Tomahawk missiles were fired in month one?›How long did defense leaders get to speed up production?› ByESTHER DAVISAUGUST 21, 2026 06:33 “Claims of US munitions shortages are false,” Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell told the Wall Street Journal on Wednesday. “America’s military remains the most powerful fighting …

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Israel, Turkey maneuver toward potential clash over influence in Syria – analysis

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Rhetoric is one thing. Action is another. The bombing of Syria is not entirely new. Israel carried out thousands of airstrikes before the fall of the Assad regime in December 2024. View of the Israeli border area with Syria, as seen from the northern Golan Heights, April 11, 2026.(photo credit: MICHAEL GILADI/FLASH90)Is Israel heading for a full-scale war with Turkey?›Who is Hakan Fidan?›Which Syrian airbase strike triggered a stern US warning?›What bold move are Druze leaders considering in Suwayda?› BySETH J. FRANTZMAN AUGUST 19, 2026 21:08Updated: AUGUST 19, 2026 21:46 Israel’s recent airstrike on Syria forms part of a larger context of …

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Declaring ‘economic D-Day,’ Trump says any country trading with Iran will be sanctioned

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These maniacs are on the ropes, and these HISTORIC MEASURES will cripple them,’ claims president, as US military said helping get millions of barrels of oil through Hormuz daily By Jacob Magid Follow and AgenciesToday, 6:46 am US President Donald Trump listens as Gemini co-founder and president Cameron Winklevoss, left, and Gemini co-founder and CEO Tyler Winklevoss, right, watch, during a meeting with technology leaders in the Roosevelt Room of the White House, August 19, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) US President Donald Trump on Wednesday declared “ECONOMIC D-DAY” against Iran, warning that any country doing business with the Islamic Republic will face …

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Trump puts $206 million behind Gaza force to disarm Hamas — but Israel won’t leave until the guns are gone

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August 20, 2026 U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a news conference at the G7 summit, Wednesday, June 17, 2026, in Evian-les-Bains, France. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson) President Donald Trump is putting more than $206 million behind an international force for Gaza, the first major US financial commitment to his plan to disarm Hamas and reshape the Strip after the war. The International Stabilization Force would support the dismantling of Hamas’s weapons and terror infrastructure, secure territory following any IDF withdrawal, protect humanitarian operations, and help train new Palestinian police. Indonesia, Morocco, Kazakhstan, Kosovo and Albania have already pledged troops. …

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Report: Houthis plan to escalate tensions with Saudi Arabia

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Hezbollah-affiliated Al-Akhbar reports Houthis preparing for possible escalation with Saudi Arabia, including renewed fighting along Saudi Arabia’s southern border. Israel National News   Aug 20, 2026, 8:38 AM (GMT+3) Houthi rebels in YemenMohammed Hamoud / Anadolu The Houthi rebel group in Yemen is planning an escalation with Saudi Arabia, the Hezbollah-affiliated Al-Akhbar reported Thursday. According to the report, the Houthis are also weighing the option of a ground invasion. On July 20, Houthi leadership announced a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia in the Red Sea, framing the measure as a response to an alleged Saudi blockade on Yemen – an accusation Riyadh …

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Israel strikes an air base in northwest Syria to prevent Turkish troops from deploying

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By  SAMAR KASSABALIUpdated 8:16 PM EDT, August 18, 2026 Leer en español DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — Israel struck an air base in northwest Syria early Tuesday, saying it aimed to prevent Turkish troops from deploying there. Turkey, which has close ties with the Syrian government and has been providing assistance to Syria’s military, has tense relations with Israel. The rival countries have sought to curb each other’s influence in neighboring Syria. Eight strikes hit the runway of the Abu Duhur air base in the northwestern province of Idlib, causing damage but no casualties, state TV said. Syria’s Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani told reporters …

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Trump says ‘no talks’ with Iran, posts map showing Hormuz as ‘new US territory’

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President seems to contradict Kushner who touted ‘robust’ talks with Iran a day earlier; Trump claims Strait of Hormuz open and de-mined, despite limited traffic amid fears of Iranian strikes By Jacob Magid Follow and Nava Freiberg Follow18 August 2026, 7:56 pm A map posted by US President Donald Trump, showing the Strait of Hormuz as a “New US Territory,” August 18, 2026. (Via Truth Social) US President Donald Trump said Tuesday that no talks with Iran are under way or scheduled, as he posted a map showing the Strait of Hormuz as a new American territory in a fresh jibe at Tehran. “There are …

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Israel confirms strikes on Syria’s Idlib airbase after US envoy condemns attack

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A source familiar with the details told The Jerusalem Post that Israel recently provided the US with intelligence on attempts by Syria to build up its military capabilities. Abu al-Duhur base is seen following reported Israeli strikes, Syria, August 18, 2026(photo credit: REUTERS/STRINGER)ByAVI ASHKENAZI , JERUSALEM POST STAFFAUGUST 18, 2026 10:06Updated: AUGUST 19, 2026 07:53 The Syrian government and US Envoy to Iraq and Syria Tom Barrack accused Israel on Tuesday of carrying out overnight strikes on the Abu al-Duhur military airfield in Idlib province in northwestern Syria, calling the attacks an unnecessary escalation that threatens regional stability. On Tuesday evening, the Prime Minister’s Office released …

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Saudi Aramco resumes commercial oil shipments from Strait of Hormuz

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World’s top oil exporter still stymied by Yemen’s Houthis in Red Sea, but ships millions of barrels to Asian refineries via UAE port after pause forced by latest US-Iran flare-up By Florence Tan and Siyi Liu18 August 2026, 4:24 pm Illustrative: An oil tanker (R) sails past petroleum refineries on Bukom Island off Singapore on March 17, 2022. (Roslan RAHMAN/AFP) SINGAPORE (Reuters) — Saudi Aramco resumed oil loading from inside the Strait of Hormuz last week and has more tankers waiting to load as the state energy giant offers spot heavy crude cargoes, according to shipping data and trade sources. On Monday, the …

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Kushner warns Hamas: US will allow Israel to ‘finish the job’ if disarmament fails

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 August 18, 2026 Jared Kushner delivers a statement to the media alongside U.S. Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff and U.S. Vice President JD Vance, near Kiryat Gat, on October 21, 2025. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90) Jared Kushner says progress in Gaza disarmament could start in as little as one to three months. By World Israel News Staff US envoy Jared Kushner issued a blunt warning to Hamas on Monday, saying the group has a limited opportunity to prove it is serious about surrendering its weapons before Washington gives Israel broader backing to resume military operations and “finish the job” in Gaza. Kushner …

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