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Middle East
US military shoots down Iranian drone
The United States military has shot down an Iranian drone that flew towards the USS Abraham Lincoln in the Arabian Sea, according to U.S. Central Command. The U.S. military said the Iranian Shahed-139 drone approached the USS Abraham Lincoln “aggressively” and “with unclear intent”. "An F-35C fighter jet from Abraham Lincoln shot down the Iranian drone in self-defence and to protect the aircraft carrier and personnel on board," Navy Captain Tim Hawkins, a spokesman for the US military's Central Command, said. Hawkins said the Abraham Lincoln was around 500 miles from Iran’s southern coast when the unmanned aircraft “unnecessarily maneuvered” toward the ship. Hours after the drone was shot down, Iranian forces harassed a U.S.-flagged and crewed merchant vessel that was lawfully transiting the Strait of Hormuz. These incidents could escalate tensions between the long-time adversaries, U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened Iran with does not negotiate a deal over its nuclear program. Trump threatened to hit the Islamic Republic during mass demonstrations against the regime last month, but ultimately held back from strikes. Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, is due to discuss with Iranian officials later t
Middle East
Iran warns US against intervention as deaths pass 5,000
Iran has warned the United States against trying to intervene in the escalating protest movement in the Middle Eastern Islamic state as the death toll passed 5,000 and the judiciary indicated it may begin executions. Iran's president Masoud Pezeshkian said any U.S. strike would trigger a "harsh response", and an official said at least 5,000 people had been killed in nationwide protests over economic problems, which began on 28 December. Pezeshkian said in a post on social media site X that Tehran's response "to any unjust aggression will be harsh and regrettable" and any attack on the country's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei would be "tantamount to an all-out war against the nation". U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened to intervene if protesters continued to be killed on the streets or were executed, but subsequently pulled back on the basis that Iran had called off the killings. “It’s time to look for new leadership in Iran,” Trump said in an interview. Protestors have called for the end of the clerical rule introduced with Iran’s 1979 Islamic revolution, which gave religious leaders control of the country. Flagging the possible start of executions of protesters, an Iranian judiciary spo
Middle East
Trump is weighing up options against Iran
United States President Donald Trump is considering what action to take against Iran, according to multiple reports. He is scheduled to be briefed on Tuesday on options for responding to Iran's treatment of protesters, according to U.S. officials. The U.S. threatened Iran over the killing of protestors but Trump said Iranian leaders called him and said “they want to negotiate”. However, he also added that the U.S. “may have to act before a meeting”. Speaking Sunday to reporters on Air Force One, Trump said he had been reviewing military options to strike Iran. “We’re looking at some very strong options,” he said. The BBC reported that Iran threatened to retaliate if attacked by the U.S.. "Things here are very, very bad," a source in Tehran said on Sunday. "A lot of our friends have been killed. They were firing live rounds. It's like a war zone, the streets are full of blood. They're taking away bodies in trucks." Trump said in the event that Iran retaliated to an American attack by targeting U.S. troops in the region, “we will hit them at levels that they’ve never been hit before”. The U.S. president isn’t expected to make a final decision at the Tuesday meeting as deliberations are still at an early
Middle East
Up to 25 dead in Iran protests, rights group says
Reports have emerged of at least 25 people being killed during protests in Iran. The fatalities occurred during the first nine days of protests over the nation's economy, which began in Tehran. Iran has faced rapidly climbing inflation and a huge drop in currency value, leading to the civil unrest. The death toll estimate of 25 has come from Hengaw, a Kurdish Iranian rights group, along with confirmation that over 1,000 people had been arrested. Of the 25 people who died, four were minors, it said. Outside pressure on Iran is also forming, with the Trump administration in the United States stating it would intervene if security forces fired upon protestors.
Middle East
US suspends sanctions on Syria in historic meeting
The United States announced that it will suspend some of the sanctions on Syria following a historic meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa. This was the first summit between a U.S and Syrian leader at the White House since 1946, marking a shift in U.S.-Syria relations after the fall of Bashar al-Assad. Trump expressed his support for al-Sharaa, who until recently was designated a terrorist by the U.S. government with a US$10 million bounty on his head for his former affiliation with al-Qaida. “I get along with the president, the new president in Syria, and we’ll do everything we can to make Syria successful, because that’s part of the Middle East,” Trump said. Following the meeting, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced a 180-day suspension of some sanctions under the Syria Civilian Protection Act of 2019, commonly called the Caesar Act. This act targets Syria’s energy industry and deters foreign investors from signing contracts relating to the country’s postwar reconstruction. “The suspension of Caesar Act sanctions supports Syria’s efforts to rebuild its economy, restore ties with foreign partners, and foster prosperity and peace for all its citizens,” Rubio said

Middle East
Israel strikes Southern Lebanon, targeting Hezbollah
Israel has launched a major wave of air strikes in southern Lebanon, targeting positions linked to the Iranian-backed group Hezbollah, according to Israeli officials. The attacks followed evacuation warnings issued for several villages, including Mais al-Jabal, Kfar Tibnit, and Debbin. There have been no immediate reports of casualties. Despite a ceasefire agreement in November that ended the latest conflict with Hezbollah, Israel has regularly conducted air strikes against sites it says are affiliated with the group. Lebanese Prime Minister called on the international community to pressure Israel to halt what he described as intimidation and attacks, and to comply with its ceasefire obligations. “Lebanon calls on the international community, especially the countries sponsoring the agreement to cease hostile operations, to exert maximum pressure on Israel to immediately stop its aggressions,” said Salam in a post on social media. Footage shared online showed large plumes of smoke rising from Mais al-Jabal, one of the targeted locations. An Israeli military spokesperson said the strikes hit Hezbollah infrastructure in response to the group’s attempts to re-establish activities in the area, though no evidence wa
Middle East
Israel bombs Doha in attack on Hamas leaders
Israel’s military has bombed Doha, Qatar’s capital, in a bid to assassinate Hamas leaders involved in ceasefire negotiations. Hamas said its leadership had survived the Israeli strike, though at least six people were killed, including the son of chief negotiator Khalil al-Hayya. The United States said it had only been notified shortly before the attack. Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani told U.S. President Donald Trump via phone that “the State of Qatar condemns and denounces, in the strongest terms, the reckless and criminal attack, given it is a clear violation of the country's sovereignty and security, adding that it was a clear violation of international law's principles.” “Unilaterally bombing inside Qatar, a Sovereign Nation and close Ally of the United States, that is working very hard and bravely taking risks with us to broker Peace, does not advance Israel or America’s goals,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “However, eliminating Hamas, who have profited off the misery of those living in Gaza, is a worthy goal.” Israel’s military said it had deployed 15 fighter jets to attack a complex housing Hamas leaders north of central Doha. While Trump said U.S. Middle East special envoy Steve Witkoff warned Qatar bef
Middle East
US steps in as Israel strikes Syrian defence ministry
The Israeli military has struck the Syrian defence ministry in Damascus and the government forces in southern Syria in a deadly blow. Syrian state media reported the loud explosions in the city, where at least three people were killed and 34 others were injured. Since the clashes between Druze militias and Bedouin tribes erupted on Sunday, more than 300 people have been killed in Suweida. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed his forces were "working to save our Druze brothers and to eliminate the regime's gangs" while the Syrian foreign ministry accused Israel of "treacherous aggression". The U.S. has stepped into the conflict with Secretary of State Marco Rubio saying he was “very worried” about the violence in the south but believed it would end within hours. “We have agreed on specific steps that will bring this troubling and horrifying situation to an end tonight,” he said. “This will require all parties to deliver on the commitments they have made, and this is what we fully expect them to do.” As the situation developed on Wednesday, Netanyahu was giving evidence in his corruption trial in a Tel Aviv courthouse and had to leave the stand. In a video statement, he urged Israeli Druze not to
Middle East
Israel’s Gaza plan triggers legal, ethical alarm
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has announced a sweeping plan to relocate Gaza’s entire civilian population — approximately 2.2 million people — into a sealed “humanitarian city” to be constructed on the ruins of Rafah. The proposed enclave would be managed by unspecified international bodies, not the Israeli military, and residents would be barred from leaving once inside. Legal experts and human rights organisations, including Human Rights Watch and the United Nations, have condemned the plan as a potential crime against humanity, citing its scale, coercive nature, and the absence of viable alternatives for displaced civilians. The move follows months of forced evacuations, mass civilian casualties, and the issuance of International Criminal Court arrest warrants for Israeli leaders, including Prime Minister Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, over alleged war crimes in Gaza. Katz (pictured above) has also reiterated his support for the "voluntary emigration” of Palestinians from Gaza, a policy critics argue amounts to ethnic cleansing under international law. While Israeli officials insist the initiative complies with legal standards, humanitarian groups warn that the destruction of Gaza’s in