By Robert Inlakesh | Al Mayadeen | June 18, 2026
The Israeli-US plot to inflict “regime change” upon Iran has been turned into a strategic failure of historic proportions – in the end, Washington and Tel Aviv were forced to confront the reality. The newly signed Memorandum of Understanding is either a gateway to a final deal or simply another strategy to buy time. … continue
Trump owns this failed war, but if the Democrats help torpedo the MOU and war resumes, then they will co-own the next war.
By Trita Parsi | June 17, 2026
… Rather than attacking the terms of the MOU, Democrats should pressure the administration to protect it from those who are determined to see it fail. The main external threat is the Israeli government and Benjamin Netanyahu’s obsession with sabotaging any opportunity for Iran and the United States to bury the hatchet.
Instead of relying solely on angry phone calls and public rebukes of Netanyahu, supporters of ending the war should press Trump to act now: suspend military aid to Israel and curtail military and intelligence cooperation. Such measures would limit Israel’s ability to reignite the conflict and dispel any notion in Tel Aviv that Washington will automatically follow Israel into another war. If Israeli leaders understand that the United States will not be drawn into a future conflict on their behalf, their incentive to start one in the first place will be significantly reduced. … Full article
RT | June 18, 2026
Iranian officials have portrayed the newly signed memorandum of understanding with the US as a diplomatic victory achieved through strength and as evidence that Washington failed to achieve any of its objectives militarily.
The 14-point document was signed remotely by President Donald Trump and his Iranian counterpart, Masoud Pezeshkian, late Wednesday and immediately entered force, according to the Pakistani mediators.
The US side has been unusually muted in its public response. The White House has also yet to publish the final text of the memorandum, although an unnamed senior US official read out the 14-point document to journalists after days of criticism over the secrecy surrounding the deal.
Meanwhile, Iran’s parliament speaker and chief negotiator in the talks, Mohammad Ghalibaf, described the memorandum as proof of US surrender. … continue
Al Mayadeen | June 18, 2026
Iran and the United States have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at launching expanded negotiations and ending the war across all fronts in the region.
The text of the agreement, published by Tasnim News Agency, outlines a framework for a permanent cessation of hostilities, sanctions relief, maritime security arrangements, nuclear negotiations, and a roadmap toward a final agreement to be concluded within 60 days. … continue
RT | June 17, 2026
… Parents who attempted to intervene were stonewalled. One mother who told police that her daughter had been abused by “Asian men” was supposedly told “You can’t describe them as Asian men because that’s racist. You should just be glad your child is being taught a different culture” (In the UK, ‘Asian’ typically refers to people of South Asian descent, such as those of Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, or Sri Lankan heritage). […]
At least four Labour councillors and MPs have been convicted of child abuse, while others “either failed to crack down on rape gangs or obstructed efforts to do so.” Among them were:
RT | June 17, 2026
A Ukrainian drone attack has struck a bus carrying a children’s soccer team from Belarus to a Russian seaside resort, according to acting Bryansk Region Governor Egor Kovalchuk.
The attack killed an adult woman who was accompanying the underage passengers to the resort town of Gelendzhik in Krasnodar Region and injured six others, including four children, the official said.
One young victim has been rushed to hospital in serious condition, while the injuries of the others are considered moderate, Deputy Health Minister Aleksey Kuznetsov told the media. He said seven people in total were injured.
Meanwhile Belarusian Deputy Health Minister Aleksandr Khodzhaev said eight victims were being treated following the incident, including six minors.
The bus was carrying 44 passengers, including 28 young athletes from a school sports team based in the town of Rechytsa in Belarus, according to Russia’s Investigative Committee.
The incident has been designated a terrorist attack, the agency added. … continue
Western allies are using the diplomatic progress from a possible Iran peace deal to intensify an economic blockade against Russia
The Cradle | June 17, 2026
On 17 June, G7 leaders announced that US and EU arms makers will start manufacturing advanced long-range weaponry “under license” in Ukraine, as western stockpiles dwindle, aiming to industrialize the frontline and sustain pressure on Russia.
A diplomatic source at the summit in Evian-les-Bains clarified that the push involves “not just air defense systems, but deep strike capabilities,” allowing Ukraine to threaten targets much deeper into Russian territory, Le Parisien reported.
The official noted that local production is essential as Ukrainian forces currently deploy approximately 20 Patriot missiles to counter every massive Russian offensive, straining global stocks.
The move effectively entrenches a permanent industrial infrastructure for offensive warfare capabilities within Ukrainian territory.
In a joint statement, G7 leaders from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK, the US, and the EU expressed their “readiness to grant Ukraine licenses enabling it to increase its military production.”
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz explained that US firms will grant these licenses to European and Ukrainian manufacturers to address current industrial shortages.
Merz stated he was “grateful to [US] President [Donald] Trump for this great willingness to cooperate,” adding, “We are all currently producing too little, and this can be compensated for by granting licenses to companies that have these production capacities, including European and Ukrainian companies.”
This military support coincides with a G7 agreement to escalate economic pressure on Moscow by tightening sanctions on the Russian oil and gas sectors, with leaders citing the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz following the Iran–US memorandum of understanding (MoU) as the catalyst for these measures. … continue
By Pete Gregson | MEMO | June 17, 2026
In the years of Pro-Palestine demonstrations I’ve attended since 7th October 2023, there is rarely a mention of the group at the core of the whole issue: Hamas. For people are fearful to talk about them. But whilst calling for support for Hamas may be illegal, seeking its de-proscription is not. The UK Government’s 2000 Terrorism act permits requesting the de-proscription of any “terrorist” group. You can’t be penalised for calling for de-proscription. Citizens have the right to appeal against proscription if you give a reason as to why its proscription affects you.
Following the events of 7th October 2023, I did exactly that and launched a petition to the Home Secretary. Initially I tried to get the petition before Parliament using the UK Government portal but was told it was beyond Parliament’s remit! So, I launched it online on Go-Petition, promoted it using 20,000 flyers – which I took to all the demonstrations around London and Scotland – and started getting signatures. … continue
MEMO | June 17, 2026Israeli occupiers on Wednesday set fire to parts of two mosques in the villages of Jiljilya and Mazra’a al-Nubani, north of the central occupied West Bank city of Ramallah, and sprayed Hebrew slogans on their walls, while Israeli forces demolished an inhabited Palestinian home east of Yatta, Anadolu Agency reports.
A group of occupiers stormed Jiljilya at dawn and set fire to the village mosque, burning the women’s prayer hall and damaging the mosque’s exterior walls, local sources told Anadolu Agency.
The village has recently witnessed an escalation in occupier attacks, the sources said.
Last month, occupiers attacked the village and stole a flock of sheep.
In a separate incident, occupiers attacked Mazra’a al-Nubani and set fire to a mosque there, causing material damage. … Full article
The Cradle | June 17, 2026
US President Donald Trump is seeking to leverage severe Palestinian financial hardship to coerce a “normalization” agreement that would require the Palestinian Authority (PA) to drop all international legal challenges against Israel, the Times of Israel reported on 17 June.
This proposed memorandum of understanding (MoU), negotiated by US officials Aryeh Lightstone and Scott Leith, demands the Palestinian Authority (PA) “halt efforts to internationalize the conflict with Israel.” … continue
By Freddie Ponton | 21st Century Wire | June 17, 2026
… Our analysis shows that the new legislation is not inventing access from scratch. Instead, it is widening, modernizing, and hardening a channel that already exists. Therefore, the practical question is not whether the United States and Israel can share classified material. They already can. The question is how much further that exchange is being normalized, how many systems are already inside the orbit, and how much discretion is being removed from future reversals. … Read full article
Press TV – June 17, 2026
US President Donald Trump has acknowledged that global oil reserves were on the verge of exhaustion, a development that pressured Washington to accept Iran’s terms for a framework agreement to end the war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
Speaking at the G7 summit in France on Wednesday, Trump warned that without the deal with Iran, the world would have faced “bedlam” as oil reserves were set to run out in approximately four weeks.
“We run out of reserves at about four weeks,” he told reporters. “You know, there are reserves all over the world, and we would really run out, and there’ll be a time when you wouldn’t be able to get it.”
The US president acknowledged that continued military strikes would have kept the strait closed.
“If we keep bombing, those ships won’t be going,” he said, referring to the impact of the agreement with Tehran.
Trump’s admission underscores the effectiveness of Iran’s strategy in placing restrictions on the strategic waterway, through which approximately one-fifth of the world’s oil consumption normally passes. … Full article
Press TV – June 17, 2026
Eleven Iranian ships have so far successfully broken through the US naval blockade, an informed source tells Press TV.
According to the source, 8 vessels have managed to sail through international waters from Iran’s territorial waters, and 3 others managed to enter Iranian waters after the US blockade was lifted under an agreement between Tehran and Washington. … Full article
Al Mayadeen | June 17, 2026
US President Donald Trump said Washington will eventually have to return Iran’s frozen assets, arguing that permanently withholding the funds would undermine international confidence in the US dollar.
Speaking during a press conference in Evian, France, on Wednesday, Trump acknowledged that the assets belong to Iran and suggested their eventual return is necessary to preserve trust in the global financial system.
“It’s not our money, it’s their money, and we froze it at a certain point in time,” Trump said. “I guess we’re going to have to give it back. If we didn’t give it back, nobody would ever invest in the dollar again.” … Full article
By Jamal Kanj | MEMO | June 17, 2026
There are many lessons to be learned from the latest made-for-Israel war on Iran. The first and most damning is that the war resolved the very crisis it created. Donald Trump celebrated the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and the lifting of the blockade against Iran. Two conditions that were fully in place before Benjamin Netanyahu dog walked Trump into this war. The agreement that concluded the war took us back to exactly where we stood before America spent $200 billion, and where Americans continue to pay Israeli surcharge tax at the pump and grocery stores.
As for Iran’s nuclear program, the arithmetic does not lie. The 400 kilograms of 60-percent enriched uranium that Iran possessed were zero before Trump — pressured by his largest Israel-first donors — tore up the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in May 2018.
According to the International Atomic Energy Agency, Iran had fully complied not only with the IAEA non-proliferation agreement, which Israel has never signed nor accepted, but with the additional protocols governing verification and monitoring of its civilian nuclear program.
Trump canceled the deal anyway, not because it failed America, but because it did not satisfy Israel’s veto.
The deepest irony is that Iran’s nuclear knowledge and capabilities are more advanced today than when Trump discarded the JCPOA. Any new agreement — even one stricter in structure than the original — is therefore being negotiated from a fundamentally weaker position than the one that existed in 2018. No treaty can unlearn what Iran already knows. … continue
Lebanon is now central to Iran’s deterrence strategy, with pressure on allies treated as pressure on Tehran itself.
By Peiman Salehi | The Cradle | June 17, 2026
“We are consolidating an Iranian equation in the region, one in which Iran will no longer exercise restraint in the face of any aggression or disorder. It will cost the Americans some pain and expense, but they will get used to it.” – Ebrahim Rezaei, spokesman for Iran’s parliamentary National Security Commission
Ebrahim Rezaei, spokesman for Iran’s parliamentary National Security Commission, was describing a policy already underway rather than offering a warning.
Lebanon is where that policy is now being tested, and where much of what western analysts thought they understood about Iranian strategic behavior is being quietly dismantled. … continue
MEMO | June 17, 2026
Israel cannot stop home demolitions in southern Lebanon, Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said Wednesday, following statements by US Vice President JD Vance that a draft agreement with Iran includes Lebanon, Anadolu reports.
“Israel cannot stop the demolition of houses in southern Lebanon. We simply cannot stop, that’s all,” Ben-Gvir said in comments carried by the Knesset’s channel.
“We cannot allow the residents of southern Lebanon to return. We must continue to control the territory even if we disagree with (US President Donald) Trump, we are an independent state,” he added.
In statements early Wednesday, Vance described the agreement with Iran as “regional peace,” saying it “will include the Gulf states, Israel, and it will include Lebanon.”
“The basic idea is that this is a genuine regional peace agreement,” he added. … Full article
Press TV – June 17, 2026
Israel’s Channel 14 has called on the occupying regime to maintain its attacks on Lebanon in order to sabotage the peace agreement between Iran and the United States.
The channel claimed that Israel must continue its strikes on Lebanon to derail the recent Iran-US memorandum of understanding. […]
Israel has reportedly informed the US that it does not consider itself bound by the agreement, which includes an immediate and permanent end to military operations on all fronts, including Lebanon. … Full article
Al Mayadeen | June 17, 2026
Israeli occupation forces launched a series of attacks on several areas in southern Lebanon on Wednesday, shattering the newly announced agreement between Washington and Tehran that was intended to end all hostilities, including at the Lebanese front.
According to Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA), Israeli warplanes carried out airstrikes targeting the town of al-Nabatieh al-Fawqa, near the city of Nabatieh, one of the largest urban centers in southern Lebanon, as well as the eastern outskirts of the neighboring town of Kfar Tibnit. In a separate attack, an Israeli drone struck the town of Ansariyeh in the Zahrani district.
The NNA further reported that Israeli warplanes conducted mock raids and flew aggressively over the Nabatieh and Iqlim al-Tuffah regions.
Artillery shelling also targeted the Ali al-Taher hill, on the outskirts of al-Nabatieh al-Fawqa, as well as the vicinity of Beit al-Moaalem near the Nabatieh–al-Nabatieh al-Fawqa junction. The town of Majdal Zoun was also hit by artillery fire.
Concurrently, hostile reconnaissance drones were observed flying over Beirut’s Southern Suburb.
Overnight and into the morning hours, occupation artillery subjected the Ali al-Taher hill to intense and concentrated shelling. Multiple rounds landed near the government-run Nabih Berri Hospital, as well as in the al-Maidan neighborhood and the Convent Quarter in Nabatieh city. … Full article
The Cradle | June 17, 2026
The Iranian army has warned that it will strike Israel in response to continued attacks and violations in south Lebanon, as Hebrew media indicates Tel Aviv is preparing for a collapse of the understanding between Tehran and Washington.
The Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters of the Iranian military said in a statement on the evening of 16 June that Israel violated the Lebanon clause of the US–Iran understanding at least 84 times since the agreement was announced.
The Israeli “terrorist army” continues “its crimes and killings against the oppressed people of Lebanon,” the Iranian army statement said.
“If the child-killing army of the Zionist regime does not end its aggression in southern Lebanon, it should expect a severe response from the powerful armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran,” it added.
The statement came after deadly airstrikes and attacks on south Lebanon, including multiple drone strikes on Mayfadoun and artillery shelling across Nabatieh al-Fawqa and elsewhere.
At least four people have been killed in Lebanon in the last 48 hours, and attacks have persisted.
In response to continued attacks and the occupation of dozens of villages, Hezbollah has continued to resist the presence of Israeli troops inside Lebanon, but has halted cross-border strikes against Israeli targets in an effort to give the ceasefire a chance.
Hezbollah resistance fighters targeted gatherings of Israeli occupation forces on the outskirts of the southern Lebanese village of Kfar Tebnit on 17 June, according to local reports. … Full article
By Raphael Machado | Strategic Culture Foundation | June 17, 2026
Anyone would be skeptical about the sustainability of the “peace” taking shape in the Middle East from the Memorandum of Understanding to be signed between Iran and the United States in a few days. It is plausible that it may not even be signed. And even if it is signed, considering that it involves a gradual, phased unfolding of a peace process that would last at least two months, it is hard to believe that everything will go as intended by the parties and the Pakistani mediators.
Nevertheless, in the terms that this “peace” is presented and which have been accepted by the U.S., we are facing an overwhelming victory for Iran. Even if the diplomatic process is derailed, nothing will change the fact that the U.S. accepted peace with Iran on terms unilaterally favorable to the Persians, leaving Tehran in a much stronger position than before the war began.
First of all, the U.S. failure should be seen as obvious and rests on a very simple assessment: Washington failed to achieve any strategic objective in the conflict with Iran: the “regime” was not overthrown, the nuclear program was not destroyed, military capabilities were not eliminated, support for the Axis of Resistance was not liquidated, and finally, it was not possible to reopen the Strait of Hormuz by force.
The U.S. committed the most basic error of any conflict: misjudging the balance of power. And in this, naturally, the U.S. was led into error by Israel and its allies within the U.S.. From the start, reports indicate that the Pentagon opposed military action against Iran, for good reasons. … continue
The Cradle | June 17, 2026
Iran is planning to connect its electricity grid with Qatar and announced on 16 June that work on the matter is in its “final stage,” reviving a years-old agreement with the Gulf state in the aftermath of the brutal US-Israeli war against the Islamic Republic.
Iranian Energy Minister Abbas Aliabadi said on Tuesday that “the connection between Iran and Qatar will begin soon.”
He added that “studies are in the final stage, and we are beginning the implementation phase.”
Aliabadi also said Tehran was “studying” power grid connection with other Gulf countries, according to Tasnim News Agency. … continue
Press TV – June 17, 2026
Anti-government demonstrators gathered in Albania’s capital for the 17th consecutive day on Tuesday, protesting a planned tourism development project linked to Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner, the daughter and son-in-law of US President Donald Trump.
A large crowd assembled in Tirana’s Skanderbeg Square, chanting “Albania is not for sale” in opposition to the proposed sale of a beach in the Zvernec area of southwestern Vlora County. The project is reportedly valued at approximately $4 billion.
Over the ensuing years, the couple’s trip evolved into plans to build a luxury resort along a stretch of Albanian coastline directly across from the island. Albania’s government has given the project preliminary approval, prompting daily protests outside Prime Minister Edi Rama’s office in the capital Tirana.
Carrying banners and Albanian flags, protesters marched to the Prime Minister’s Office on Martyrs of the Nation Boulevard, where they gathered outside the government building and chanted slogans demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama.
“Edi Rama, you traitor, resign as soon as possible!” protesters shouted.
Now in its third week, the protest movement has shown no signs of losing momentum, with organizers vowing to continue demonstrations until their demands are met. … Full article
Al Mayadeen | June 17, 2026
Israeli Minister of War Israel Katz disclosed on Wednesday that “Israel” and the breakaway region of Somaliland have maintained extensive security ties for years, including cooperation that had remained undisclosed until now.
The remarks came during a meeting in occupied al-Quds with the visiting regional president of the breakaway region of Somaliland, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, and senior officials from the self-declared region.
According to Katz, the relationship between the two sides extends well beyond recent diplomatic developments.
“For many years, we have cooperated under the radar in a series of operations that will remain classified. Now, we are determined to take our security cooperation to new horizons,” he said. … Full article
An Essay on Why Your Doctor’s Recommendation May Have Nothing to Do with You
Lies are Unbekoming | June 15, 2026
A prospective study at a Level I trauma center in the United States examined 1,097 consecutive CT scans and asked the ordering physicians to identify, for each scan, the reason it was performed. Four hundred and sixteen of those scans (38 percent) were ordered primarily to protect the physician from a possible lawsuit, not because the clinical situation required imaging. The defensively ordered scans exposed patients to an average of 8.8 millisieverts of ionizing radiation per person. Of those defensive scans, 2.2 percent changed how the patient was managed. The remaining 97.8 percent produced no clinical benefit. What they did produce was radiation exposure to patients, charges to insurance, and legal cover for the ordering physicians.¹
The 2.2 percent represents roughly nine patients out of the 416 defensively scanned whose course of care shifted because of the scan. Those nine exist. They are the cases on which defensive practice rests its moral claim. The trade their existence requires, however, is one no consenting patient would knowingly accept: irradiating roughly forty-five people to alter the management of one, with the population-level cancer burden falling on the forty-four whose management did not change. “Management change” is also not a synonym for benefit; it includes precautionary medication, further imaging, and surveillance protocols that themselves produce iatrogenic harm. The defense of the 2.2 percent does not survive contact with the math.
Extrapolated nationally, defensive CT imaging alone is estimated to add approximately $501 million annually to American healthcare expenditure, a figure that covers only CT scans and only in the United States.¹ A 2025 paper in JAMA Internal Medicine projects that the 93 million CT scans performed in the United States in 2023 will eventually produce approximately 103,000 cancers across the lifetimes of the people who received them, accounting for roughly 5 percent of all new annual cancer diagnoses in the country.²
A subset of those cancers will arise from scans ordered to protect not the patient but the physician. The patient will never know they were exposed for that reason. By the time the cancer arrives, decades after the scan, the link between the encounter and the disease is no longer recoverable.
Defensive medicine is the operating principle that produces this arrangement. The practice is documented in peer-reviewed literature, in physician self-reports, and across the cost-accounting of the institutions that profit from it. The patient sitting across the desk from the doctor is rarely aware the principle exists. The doctor knows. What this essay describes is what happens in the consulting room as a result of that asymmetry of awareness. … continue
By Henrick Karoliszyn, DSW | The Defender | June 12, 2026
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) recent decision to award Pfizer $1.24 billion for COVID-19 vaccines has renewed debate over the government’s continued investment in mRNA technology.
The contracts, awarded on June 1, include about $735.7 million for pediatric COVID-19 vaccines and nearly $505.3 million for adult doses for fiscal year 2026-2027.
Critics say the funding reflects a continued commitment to vaccines associated with high rates of serious injuries and deaths, and a lack of adequate safety testing and monitoring.
Public health experts argue the investment is necessary to protect vulnerable populations and prepare for future outbreaks.
The latest contracts come as mRNA technology expands beyond COVID-19. … continue
RT | June 16, 2026
A Russian vessel fired warning shots near a British yacht sailing on a dangerous trajectory in the English Channel, the Russian Defense Ministry has said, adding that the shots were fired when all other options had been exhausted.
The Admiral Grigorovich was sailing in international waters between the Isle of Wight and Normandy shortly before midday on Tuesday when its crew spotted the civilian yacht, the ‘Bright Future’ sailing “on a dangerous course that would bring it into close proximity with the warship,” the ministry said.
The Russian crew tried and failed to reach the yacht by radio, before firing signal flares and sounding a siren, neither of which succeeded in changing its course. When the yacht came within 150 meters, the commander of the Admiral Grigorovich decided to fire warning shots across its bow with small arms.
“Following this, the British-flagged yacht immediately altered course and moved away from the Russian warship,” the ministry said, adding that the Russian crew “acted in strict compliance with international navigation rules and took all necessary measures to prevent an incident.”
The incident was first reported by the British press, which made no mention of the yacht sailing toward the warship. … continue
“Military Intervention in Politics Will No Longer Be Possible”
By Erkin Oncan | Strategic Culture Foundation | June 15, 2026
The aftermath of the December 2024 coup attempt in South Korea, led by former President Yoon Suk-yeol, continues to reverberate. … continue
By Patrick Pillow | The Libertarian Institute | June 16, 2026
“Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty were critically important weapons in the free world’s competition with Soviet totalitarianism—and without them the Soviet bloc might even have not disintegrated.”
This was the assessment of Zbigniew Brzezinski, former national security advisor to President Jimmy Carter and one of the most influential foreign policy strategists of the Cold War era.
Brzezinski’s description is notable not only because of who said it, but because of how he described the organization. He did not characterize Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty as merely a U.S.-funded news organization but instead, referred to it as a “weapon” in a geopolitical struggle between the United States and the Soviet Union.
More than three decades after the Cold War ended, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty remains in operation—and Congress is now considering a major increase in its funding.
As Americans continue to grapple with rising prices and persistent inflation, Washington DC’s attention has increasingly shifted toward foreign policy priorities rather than domestic economic concerns. When foreign spending does enter the public conversation, it is often through provisions buried deep within legislative text and only briefly summarized in committee reports, with limited public attention.
One recent example is the Ukraine Support Act, sponsored by Representative Gregory Meeks (D-NY). The bill continues ongoing U.S. funding for Ukraine as the war with Russia enters its fourth year, and like most large foreign aid packages, it contains a wide range of provisions.
Among them is Section 108, which authorizes $250 million in funding for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) for 2026 alone. The language describes this funding as necessary to bring the organization to its “full capacity” in combating “conspiracy theories” and “Russian disinformation.” To understand this framing, it helps to look at the organization’s origins. … continue
The historic Ibrahimi Mosque and surrounding neighborhoods now fall under exclusive Israeli control
The Cradle | June 16, 2026
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, on 15 June, formally revoked the 1997 Hebron Protocol, stripping Hebron Municipality and Islamic endowments of planning and construction rights in the occupied West Bank city of Hebron.
Finalized Monday night by Israel’s Higher Planning Council following a security cabinet vote, the move transfers jurisdiction over development, infrastructure, and preservation in the Old City and the historic Ibrahimi Mosque to Israeli authorities, with Israeli officials framing the change as a “historic correction.” … Full article
MEMO | June 16, 2026
Israeli settlers on Monday damaged the only water pipeline supplying the village of Umm Safa in the central occupied West Bank.
Local sources told Anadolu Agency that settlers destroyed the village’s main and only water pipeline while bulldozing Palestinian-owned land and constructing a settlement road near the village, northwest of Ramallah.
The sources said the damage to the pipeline caused a complete water outage in the village.
The village of Umm Safa is witnessing an escalation in settler attacks launched from surrounding settlements and outposts in all directions, preventing Palestinians from accessing their lands.
Palestinian Information Center – June 16, 2026
GAZA – Two Palestinians were killed on Tuesday in an Israeli drone strike in central Gaza as ceasefire violations continued.
Local sources reported that an Israeli drone targeted an area near Al-Nouri Tower, north of the Nuseirat refugee camp, killing two people.
Israeli forces also continued ceasefire violations across the Gaza Strip through gunfire, artillery shelling, and demolition operations.
Residents reported heavy gunfire from Israeli military vehicles east of Khan Yunis in southern Gaza, accompanied by artillery shelling and low-flying drones. Israeli forces also fired smoke grenades and live ammunition near Salah al-Din Road at the Bani Suheila roundabout east of the city.
In Gaza City, Israeli helicopters flew at low altitude over both the eastern and western parts of the city, heightening tensions among residents.
Furthermore, Israeli military vehicles opened fire toward areas surrounding the Wadi Gaza bridge north of the Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza, though no injuries were reported. … Full article
Al Mayadeen | June 16, 2026
Israeli occupation forces killed four people and wounded several others in a series of attacks on the town of Mayfadoun in south Lebanon on Tuesday afternoon, including a deliberate second strike on residents who had gathered at the scene of an earlier attack.
According to Al Mayadeen’s correspondent in South Lebanon, IOF first bombed a car in Mayfadoun before attacking the same area again after residents had gathered.
A second car in the town was then bombed, followed by a third car in the nearby town of Shoukin, bringing the total to three vehicles struck and one gathering of civilians hit.
Civil Defense teams from the Islamic Health Authority worked to evacuate the casualties in coordination with other ambulance associations.
The attacks on Mayfadoun were the latest in a series of Israeli attacks that began shortly after midnight. Al Mayadeen’s correspondent reported Israeli artillery shelling on Jabal al-Rafee shortly after midnight on Tuesday, followed by an artillery attack on the outskirts of al-Aishiyah in the Jezzine district in the morning, and a drone attack on Nabatieh al-Fawqa in the afternoon. … Full article
Press TV – June 16, 2026
The United Nations has reported ongoing Israeli military offensives in southern Lebanon, including projectile launches and repeated violations of airspace, though it recorded a decrease in overall violence following a memorandum of understanding between Iran and the United States.
UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said during a news conference on Monday that the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) had “observed a decrease in violence and exchanges of fire” from midnight until 4 p.m. local time.
UNIFIL also documented “133 trajectories of projectiles and 2 airstrikes” conducted by Israeli forces, while noting “no trajectories from Hezbollah or non-state actors.”
Dujarric further explained that peacekeepers had recorded 25 violations of Lebanese airspace by Israeli forces, with a cumulative overflight duration of “approximately 40 hours.”
“Prior to the announcement of the agreement yesterday between the US and Iran, our UNIFIL peacekeepers noted 135 violations of Lebanese airspace by the [Israeli military], with a total overflight time exceeding 222 hours,” he stated, adding that the peacekeeping mission had recorded a total of “1,374 trajectories of projectiles over the weekend, with 1,328 attributed” to Israeli forces. … continue
Press TV – June 16, 2026
Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters on Monday warned the Israeli regime to halt repeated ceasefire violations in southern Lebanon or face a “harsh response” from Iran’s armed forces.
In a statement on Tuesday, the headquarters said the “terrorist army of the Zionist regime” had violated the ceasefire 84 times over the past two days, despite the US president’s announcement declaring an end to the war.
It noted that the occupation regime has been continuing “crimes and the killing of the oppressed people of Lebanon,” even after the ceasefire was meant to take effect. … Full article
Al Mayadeen | June 16, 2026
In a televised statement, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi affirmed that, from Iran’s perspective, the two parties to the Memorandum of Understanding are the United States and “Israel” on one side, and Iran and Hezbollah on the other.
He also said, contrary to Trump’s overnight statement, that the MoU would be signed on Friday.
Speaking at the opening of a meeting with ambassadors, chargés d’affaires, and heads of foreign and international missions in Tehran on Tuesday, Araghchi stressed that the end of the war in Lebanon is an inseparable part of the complete end of the war, noting that ending the war on Lebanon also includes ending the occupation of Lebanese territory.
Araghchi said that, from now on, any military attack by “Israel” on Lebanon, as well as the continuation of the occupation of Lebanese territories, will be considered a violation of the MoU. … continue
By Larry C. Johnson | SONAR21 | June 16, 2026
Let’s give Donald Trump credit for one thing… He kept his word and lifted the US blockade on Iranian ships and Iran is going to town with its oil tankers moving in and out of the Persian Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz.
This does not mean that the MOU with Iran, which is supposed to be signed in Geneva on Friday, will hold, but it is a step in the direction of de-escalation. So the question we ought to ask is why did Donald Trump blink and accept the proposal that Iran proffered way back in April?
I think there are several reasons, but the principal one is that the US is running out of oil, which means Trump will not be able to artificially suppress the price of gasoline. US strategic oil reserves have fallen to their lowest level since 1983, reports CNN. The decline comes amid continued drawdowns to mitigate the impact of the conflict with Iran. Reserves have dropped to 340.3 million barrels, last seen during the Reagan administration, which was still building the stockpile. … continue
The Cradle | June 15, 2026
Israeli Prime Minister and wanted war criminal Benjamin Netanyahu declared during a news conference on 15 June that Tel Aviv has its “own interests,” stressing that his “struggle” against Iran is “not over.”
“The agreement with Iran was made by Trump, and this is his decision; we have our own interests,” Netanyahu said.
He also claimed he was “not sure about the details of the agreement between Washington and Tehran,” while at the same time telling reporters that the framework aligns with the war goals defined by the Israeli cabinet.
“I did not say that one of the objectives of the operation was to overthrow the Iranian regime,” he claimed, contradicting comments made early in the war.
“It did not go wrong at all. I defined the goals — and the cabinet defined the goals — differently from what you said,” he told a reporter.
“Many times, we see eye to eye, and there are also cases in which we see less eye to eye. I am responsible for Israel’s security interests. I stand up for them,” Netanyahu added in response to a question on his relationship with Trump.
“When necessary, I stand firm on our security interests.”
The premier went on to repeat what his war minister and other officials said earlier on Monday, vowing to continue the occupation in south Lebanon. … Full article
Press TV – June 16, 2026
Fighters from the Lebanese Hezbollah resistance movement have confronted an Israeli military convoy as it was attempting to infiltrate into southern Lebanon despite an Iran-US agreement that includes complete cessation of Israeli assaults on Lebanon.
Hezbollah said in a statement on Monday that its fighters, employing rockets and drones, obstructed an Israeli unit comprising an excavator and two Merkava tanks that was moving forward near the town of Kfar Tebnit, close to the southern city of Nabatieh.
In a subsequent statement later in the day, Hezbollah said, “The enemy army has reorganized its forces in the vicinity of the crossing area by deploying an armored contingent consisting of five Merkava tanks and four vehicles.”
“The combatants of the Islamic Resistance have targeted them with rocket barrages and artillery shells, and clashes are continuing.”
It came after an Israeli drone struck a vehicle in the same region, killing its driver. The air raid marked the first fatal strike since the announcement of the agreement. … continue
By Justin K.P. | The Dissident | June 15, 2026
Lebanon has officially accused Israel – in a complaint filed with the U.N. Security Council- of violating the Convention on the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons for using aircraft to spray glyphosate, a “toxic herbicide with serious consequences for health, soil, and crops” over farmland in Southern Lebanon, as part of its broader ethnic cleansing plan.
Lebanon said that “the Convention on the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons prohibits the use of herbicides as a means of warfare”.
It noted that “Chemical analyses and laboratory tests conducted on soil samples taken from Aita al-Shaab (Bint Jbeil district), Ras Naqoura and Dhaira (Sour district) ‘confirmed the use of glyphosate at high concentrations reaching 22,750 micrograms per gram, a level far higher than the concentrations usually found in agricultural soils after farmers’ direct use of this product, which generally range between 0.5 and 2 micrograms per gram at most’”.
For context, Lebanon’s agriculture minister, Nizar Hani, revealed in February that “Laboratory tests have identified the chemical sprayed by Israeli aircraft in southern Lebanon as glyphosate, a widely used herbicide that can destroy vegetation when applied intensively,” adding that “the substance was used at abnormally high concentrations along the border with Israel”.
Nizar Hani noted that, “glyphosate, like other herbicides, eliminates vegetation when used at such high levels, directly affecting soil and water and causing negative repercussions for human health” and “the substance is classified as having carcinogenic effects and poses serious risks, particularly to agriculture and plant ecosystems” adding, “the incident was consistent with known practices along the border, where such substances are used to create vegetation-free zones, effectively resulting in systematic desertification.” … continue
RT | June 15, 2026
The Russian military has destroyed a warehouse at the Dovzhenko Film Studios in Kiev, with the national filmmaker and local media accidentally confirming that it housed a drone manufacturing plant.
The Russian Defense Ministry on Monday named the warehouse among the targets of a large-scale overnight strike on the Ukrainian capital. The building housed a “workshop for the production and tuning of long- and medium-range UAVs,” the ministry stated.
Ukrainian officials were quick to deny the military nature of the destroyed installation, with the studio claiming the warehouse was used to store “unique” props and costumes dating back to the Soviet era.
“The missile destroyed the entire building and ignited a fire. It wasn’t debris, but a direct hit. Judging by the scale of the destruction, you can see there was practically nothing left to save,” the studio’s director general, Andrey Donchik, told Ukrainian media.
Footage from the scene shared by the studio itself and Ukrainian media outlet NV.ua, however, told a different story, showing a distinctive stack of aircraft wings among the rubble. The wings appear to be consistent with those of Ukrainian FP-1/2 drones used for long-range strikes on Russian territory. […]
Ukraine has a long history of using civilian installations, including assorted warehouses, public buildings, and agricultural and industrial facilities, for military purposes. Over the course of the conflict, Kiev has taken considerable steps to decentralize its weapons production chain, creating small-scale assembly sites that mainly produce FPV and fixed-wing long-range drones from components supplied from abroad.
When such manufacturing sites are discovered and destroyed by Moscow, Kiev routinely denies their nature and accuses Russia of targeting civilian sites. Moscow has consistently brushed off such allegations, maintaining that it only targets military and dual-use installations in response to indiscriminate “terrorist attacks” staged by Kiev.
RT | June 15, 2026
Three people were killed and three others injured, including a one-year-old child, after Ukrainian drones struck residential areas in Tula Region, Russia, Governor Dmitry Milyaev has said.
The attack damaged several private homes and commercial facilities in the settlements of Yamny, Maslovo, Mikhalkovo, and Inshinsky outside Tula, a city around 193 km (120 miles) south of Moscow. … Full article
RT | June 15, 2026
Russian President Vladimir Putin was deceived into withdrawing troops from near Kiev in 2022 by forces claiming to represent Vladimir Zelensky’s willingness to seek peace, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has said.
Speaking in an interview with Al Arabiya, Lukashenko said the conflict could have ended quickly in its early stages, when Moscow’s forces were near the Ukrainian capital.
“At the time, not only I, but everyone in the world understood that the war would end quickly with a Russian victory. This was primarily because the Russians were in Kiev,” the Belarusian leader said, according to BelTA.
However, Lukashenko claimed that “certain politicians and forces” then asked Putin to stop, pull troops back from Kiev, and conclude a peace agreement. “Before that withdrawal, everyone understood that Ukraine’s days were numbered.”
The Belarusian president argued that Moscow had been acting on what appeared to be a genuine opportunity to reach a settlement, adding: “Judge for yourselves who was right and who was wrong in this matter.”
“Once again, probably, these forces deceived him. It was the Vatican. And, surprisingly, the Jewish lobby, the Israelis,” Lukashenko said. “They said on behalf of Zelensky: that’s it, we are moving toward peace, we agree. And others as well.” … continue
By Craig Murray | June 15, 2026
I was genuinely surprised by the Starmer regime’s refusal to state that the Israeli boarding of the Global Sumud flotilla on the High Seas was illegal. I did not realise it was because the UK was planning to undertake similar illegal seizure itself.
The Gaza Flotilla seizure was illegal: while for obvious reasons freedom of navigation had been the undisputed basis of UK maritime policy for centuries. The UK is a set of islands whose population is dependent on food imports to stay alive. Freedom of navigation is a core strategic interest of the UK. The relevant provisions of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea were very heavily UK driven, including on passage through straits.
Abandoning the primacy of freedom of navigation is absolutely a radical policy departure for the UK, driven like so many other changes to traditional British legal positions by the Starmer regime’s extreme support for Israel. … continue
By Freddie Ponton | 21st Century Wire | June 15, 2026
Five days after Britain hit networks tied to settler violence in the West Bank with sanctions, the rest of the machine walked into Edgware United Synagogue and carried on selling. On 14 June, the Great Israeli Real Estate Event went ahead behind heavy police lines. Protesters packed the streets outside, politicians slammed it, and fourteen people got arrested. Inside, Israeli firms pitched homes, land and relocation packages tied straight into the settlement economy.
I followed the trail. … continue
Press TV – June 15, 2026
A horde of Israeli settlers has set fire to several Palestinian cars and vandalized property in the West Bank, as Israeli attacks against Palestinian citizens and their land continue to surge across the occupied territory.
According to local sources, the attack unfolded on Sunday evening in the town of Deir Dibwan, east of Ramallah, when a group of Israeli settlers stormed the al-Marah area near the western entrance of the town.
The extremists set fire to and smashed four vehicles belonging to Palestinian citizens, causing heavy material damage.
The al-Baidar Human Rights Organization said that the settler rampage resulted in widespread damage to residents’ property, including vehicles, homes, and agricultural land in the targeted area.
In a separate yet strikingly similar incident, a group of settlers stormed the town of Burqa in eastern Ramallah Sunday night and attempted to set fire to a local mosque.
Local sources reported that the assailants ignited a fire at the entrance of a mosque in Burqa, fired live ammunition into the air, and set a car ablaze during their brazen attack. No injuries were reported.
These back-to-back attacks come amid a marked and alarming surge in Israeli attacks across the occupied West Bank. According to figures released by the Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission, Israeli forces and settlers carried out a staggering 1,659 attacks against Palestinian citizens and their property during the month of May alone, including 551 carried out by settlers. … Full article
MEMO | June 15, 2026The Israeli government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu plans to allocate 5.5 million shekels ($1.89 million) in state funding to the extremist occupier group known as the “Hilltop Youth,” the Yedioth Ahronoth daily said Monday.
The newspaper said the budget was outlined in a document issued by the Settlement and National Missions Ministry, headed by Minister Orit Strock, which will oversee the transfer of funds through regional settlement councils in the occupied West Bank.
The funding plan is scheduled to run from June through the end of the year and totals 5.5 million shekels, it added.
According to the newspaper, each member of the Hilltop Youth movement would receive the equivalent of approximately $550 per month to help cover food, clothing and living expenses for more than 650 youths living in hilltop outposts and pastoral settlement sites across the occupied West Bank. … continue
Palestinian Information Center – June 15, 2026
GAZA – Three Palestinian civilians, including a woman and a child, were martyred and another one was injured in Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip on Monday.
According to media sources, a civilian was killed this afternoon when an Israeli strike targeted a tent used as a sewing shop near Al-Razi School in an-Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza.
A woman was also killed after an Israeli strike targeted a street near her home in the town of az-Zawaida in central Gaza.
In another incident, a medical source said that a child, Rayan Bahaa, was brought dead to Shuhada Al-Aqsa Hospital alongside his wounded father. Their evacuation to the hospital happened hours after Israeli forces shot and detained them in the Wadi as-Salqa area, southeast of Deir al-Balah in central Gaza.
Meanwhile, Israeli armored vehicles opened fire east of Khan Yunis amid heavy artillery shelling.
Israeli forces also expanded the “Yellow Line” area by moving concrete blocks towards the western side of Khan Yunis. … Full article
The first tranche of approximately $3 billion in Iranian foreign-exchange assets has arrived in Tehran following the landing of a private Emirati aircraft at Mehrabad Airport in recent days, according to a report.
The development, which was confirmed on Monday, came as part of a broader financial arrangement between Tehran and Abu Dhabi aimed at preserving regional economic stability, with the shipment marking the initial phase of the process.
Radar data confirmed that a Boeing 737-7JZ BBJ, registered A6-RJF and operated as an Emirati private aircraft, conducted a direct flight from Abu Dhabi to Tehran last Monday. The aircraft, which was carrying the funds, landed at Mehrabad Airport after crossing regional air traffic restrictions.
The arrangement between the countries features gradual release of Iranian financial resources.
The transfer countered official US positions featuring repeated denials regarding certain aspects of the relevant discussions.
The Emirati side has, however, committed to the release of between $10 billion and $20 billion in Iranian assets as part of the arrangement.
Press TV – June 15, 2026A Press TV correspondent has been struck by an Israeli drone while reporting in southern Lebanon, despite wearing a clearly marked press vest.
Israeli forces deliberately targeted Hadi Hoteit in the southern Lebanese town of Kfar Tebnit on Monday, according to Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA), despite the journalist wearing clearly marked press gear.
Hoteit sustained a shrapnel wound to his foot and was transported to Al-Najda Al-Shaabia Hospital in Nabatieh, where he underwent surgery and is receiving medical treatment.
The NNA reported that the Israeli military fired a shell that landed near the journalist. … continue
Netanyahu always says “What you own belongs to me”
By Philip Giraldi • Unz Review • June 14, 2026
In addition to the regular lethal American and Israeli attacks on Iran, last week alone the Israeli military killed 13 Gazans and 13 Lebanese. Gaza is now 70% Israeli occupied, contrary to what was agreed upon in the ceasefire arrangement, as is much of south Lebanon. More than 1,000 Gazans have been murdered by Israel since the temporary ceasefire was declared in October 2025. And one might add to the toll the constant aggression in south Syria, where Israel is creating an army base presence to be followed by settlers that creeps ever closer to the capital Damascus. It is an encroachment that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his band of war criminals intend to turn into a component of “Greater Israel” together with Gaza and Lebanon. … continue
Al Mayadeen | June 15, 2026
Israeli War Minister Israel Katz said the Israeli army will continue to hold so-called “security zones” in Lebanon, Syria, and Gaza indefinitely, asserting that what he described as border security requirements take precedence over any political or diplomatic arrangements.
He stated that the policy is being pursued in coordination with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, adding that the IOF would remain deployed in these areas without a defined timeline.
According to Katz, the stated objective of maintaining these zones is to prevent what he described as threats from armed groups operating near the borders.
He said Israeli forces would remain in the “security zones” in Lebanon, Syria, and Gaza in order to protect Israeli settlements and border areas, framing the deployments as a defensive necessity to mask its colonial nature. … continue
Press TV – June 15, 2026
Shortly after the announcement of a memorandum of understanding between the US and Iran, which included the end of the war on all fronts, including Lebanon, Israeli occupation forces pressed ahead with their assaults south of the Arab country, violating the deal.
According to Lebanese media outlets, Israeli warplanes carried out two airstrikes in the early hours of Monday, targeting the town of Majdal Zoun. A drone strike hit areas in the town of Kfar Tebnit as well.
There were, however, no immediate reports about possible casualties and the extent of damage caused.
This aerial aggression was coupled with intense and ongoing artillery bombardment on the city of Nabatieh and the towns of Kfar Remman, Nabatieh al-Fawqa, and Kfar Tebnit.
Additional reports also noted further strikes by the occupation forces in the towns of Khiam and Markaba in southern Lebanon, along with a drone attack on the town of Haris in the Bint Jbeil district of the Nabatieh Governorate.
Hezbollah continues to confront the Israeli occupation and respond to its ongoing aggression against Lebanon and its people. … Full article
Al-Manar | June 15, 2026
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has stressed the US’ responsibility regarding the implementation of the MoU with Iran as well as a complete halt to the Israeli regime’s attacks against Lebanon.
Araghchi made the remarks in his separate phone calls with Turkish, Iraq, and Egyptian counterparts Hakan Fidan, Fuad Hussein, and Badr Abdelatty. … continue
Press TV – June 15, 2026
A former official in US President Donald Trump’s administration says cutting US assistance to Israel could help strengthen the agreement between Tehran and Washington, amid the Tel Aviv regime’s continuous attempts to sabotage regional peace.
Joe Kent, who left the administration after disagreements over the United States’ joint unprovoked aggression against Iran alongside the regime, made the remarks in a post on X on Monday. … continue
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Aletho News Archives – Video-Images
By Kit | OffGuardian | July 20, 2018
… At every corner, we are urged to simply believe what we are told. Whether it is about believing Porton Down and MI6 about “novichok”, or believing the White Helmets about Sarin, or believing the FBI about “collusion”, we are presented with no facts, just assertions from authority. Those who question those assertions are deemed “bots” at best or “traitors” at worst.
Well here, fellow traitors, are the Top Ten reasons to question anything and everything the CIA – or any intelligence agency – has ever told you. … Read full article
Aletho News If Americans Knew No Tricks Zone
Aletho News 