Debel, Lebanon – The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has sentenced two soldiers to 30 days of military detention after one of them was filmed striking a statue of Jesus with a sledgehammer in southern Lebanon. The military said both soldiers, one who carried out the act and another who photographed it, will also be removed from combat duty following an internal inquiry. The individuals have not been publicly identified.

HARARE – New claims about the human toll of the ongoing conflict involving Israel have surfaced, with Iran-linked media suggesting significantly higher casualty figures than official reports.

Israel said it carried out an “extensive series” of airstrikes targeting Iranian production facilities, though it did not provide specific details. Explosions were reported across Tehran, with a massive blast heard in northern neighbourhoods and another in the city centre, according to eyewitness accounts. In retaliation, Iran launched multiple waves of missiles towards Israel in the early hours of Tuesday.

The geopolitical climate in the Middle East has reached a fever pitch, sending ripples through global trade hubs and local markets alike. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) have issued a stern call to action, urging the U.S. administration to cease hostilities against Iran, asserting that the executive branch has "lost control" of the escalating military friction.

WASHINGTON – Donald Trump has criticised Keir Starmer after the British prime minister said the UK would not be drawn into a wider conflict with Iran, despite rising tensions in the Gulf. The row centres on the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a vital global oil shipping route that has become a flashpoint as fears grow that Tehran could disrupt energy supplies. Trump has been urging allies to help patrol the narrow waterway, arguing that countries benefiting from oil shipments thr

Somalia has raised concerns over alleged plans by Israel to establish a military base in the breakaway region of Somaliland, warning it does not want its territory drawn into external conflicts. The proposed base, if confirmed, would sit near the Gulf of Aden, opposite Yemen, a strategically important location that could enable Israel to conduct airstrikes and military operations across the region.

Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, has said there is no justification for the recent military strikes carried out by the United States and Israel against Iran, arguing that the Islamic Republic posed no direct threat to either country.

Tehran — Iran says it is fully prepared to confront a potential ground invasion by the United States as tensions continue to escalate between Tehran, Washington, and Israel. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran would be ready to face American troops if the United States deployed forces on Iranian soil.

Iran has continued launching strikes on Israeli and US-linked targets in the Gulf, even as casualties rise across the region amid intensifying joint attacks by Israel and the United States on Iranian territory.

JERUSALEM — Israel has informed the United States that it will not provide financial contributions to the Board of Peace’s Gaza reconstruction efforts, Security Cabinet Minister Zeev Elkin confirmed Friday. The declaration marks a clear divergence between Tel Aviv and the international coalition assembled by President Donald Trump to rebuild the war‑ravaged enclave.