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Singapore police open probe over Palestinian flag displayed at Massive Attack concert

The Cradle | July 31, 2026

Singaporean police are investigating an incident involving the display of a Palestinian flag during a concert by the British band Massive Attack, which ended its performance in the country by raising the flag on stage, according to a police statement issued on 31 July.

Police and media stated that investigations are ongoing concerning what was described as “a possible breach of license conditions.”

Under Singaporean law, no foreign national emblem may be shown in public without a permit or an exemption.

The Palestinian flag carries particular sensitivity given Israel’s genocide of Palestinians in Gaza and the country’s sizable Muslim population.

The home affairs ministry issued a public advisory in 2023 against displaying or wearing items connected to events in Palestine and Israel.

“The ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict is an emotive issue. We would like to advise against the public display and wearing of articles in relation to the conflict, given the heightened sensitivities,” the ministry said.

The case of Massive Attack is far from the first display of solidarity with Palestine to draw legal action. … continue

Army Shoots Two Palestinians, Settlers Shoot One, in the West Bank

IMEMC | August 1, 2026

Israeli forces shot two Palestinian citizens, including a child, on Friday, in the Nablus and Bethlehem governorates, while illegal Israeli colonizers shot a child in the village of Al-Mughayyir.

Media sources reported that Israeli soldiers shot a 15-year-old child in the leg with live ammunition on Friday evening, after storming the town of Beit Fajjar, south of Bethlehem in the southern West Bank,

Meanwhile, illegal Israeli colonizers shot a 10-year-old Palestinian child in the back with live rounds after infiltrating the village of Al-Mughayyir, northeast of Ramallah in the central occupied West Bank.

In the morning, occupation forces and illegal colonizers stormed the village of Al-Junaid, west of Nablus in the northern West Bank, injuring a number of citizens, including children.

The Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) reported that its ambulance crews transported a young man to the hospital after he sustained a live gunshot wound to the abdomen in Al-Junaid. … Full article

Israeli forces demolish 120-year-old building in West Bank

Press TV – August 1, 2026, 2026

The Israeli regime has demolished a 120-year-old building in the occupied West Bank, as part of its ongoing efforts to displace native Palestinians and expand illegal settlements for Israeli settlers.

The historic Palestinian home in the Ramallah countryside that was demolished earlier this week was built about 40 years before the unlawful inception of the Israeli entity itself.

Israeli authorities claimed that the house lacked the permits required under Israeli regulations, a pretext Palestinians say is often used by the Israeli regime to justify the demolition of their homes.

Saddam Nafe’a, the owner of the demolished home, said the Israeli forces started demolishing the historic structure without any prior notice while he was at work. … Full article

Israeli occupiers torch Palestinian vehicle, attack home in southern West Bank

MEMO | August 1, 2026

Israeli occupiers set fire to a Palestinian vehicle and attacked a home near the town of Surif, north of Hebron in the southern occupied West Bank, early Saturday, according to a local resident, Anadolu reports.

Ali Ghneimat told Anadolu that occupiers “attacked the outskirts of Surif from the direction of the Etzion settlement” at around 2.30 am local time (2330GMT Friday).

“They set fire to one vehicle and attempted to burn another,” he said.

The occupiers also “attacked a house and attempted to set it on fire,” but residents gathered in its courtyard thwarted the attack, Ghneimat said. … Full article

Israel Bombs Gaza Again Saturday: Three Killed, Medical Supplies Destroyed

IMEMC | August 1, 2026

A Palestinian citizen was killed and two others were injured Saturday in Israeli occupation shelling in Deir al-Balah, the central Gaza Strip.

An Israeli drone bombed a group of citizens in the city of Deir al-Balah, in the central Gaza Strip, killing one citizen and wounding two others, who were transferred to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital.

Two citizens were killed and several others were injured Saturday, as a result of an Israeli occupation drone bombing a group of citizens in the Sheikh Radwan neighborhood, northwest of Gaza City.

Al-Shifa Hospital, west of Gaza City, reported the arrival of two bodies and a number of injuries to the hospital, after an Israeli drone strike targeted a group of citizens on the third street in the Sheikh Radwan neighborhood

An Israeli occupation raid destroyed, on Saturday, the warehouse for medicines and medical supplies affiliated with Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in the city of Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip, causing significant damage to the place and damaging the tents of the surrounding displaced people.

Medical sources reported that the Israeli occupation aircraft targeted the medicine warehouse at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, destroying it and creating a large hole at the bombing site. The explosion and the resulting destruction displaced dozens of displaced families who were living in nearby tents. … Full article

US begins withdrawing final troops from Erbil as patriot systems pulled from Iraqi base: Report

Press TV – July 31, 2026

The United States has reportedly begun withdrawing its remaining troops from near Erbil International Airport in Iraq’s Kurdistan Region, with Patriot air-defense systems already removed amid Iran’s precision retaliatory strikes.

The United States military has started drawing down its last remaining forces stationed near Erbil International Airport in Iraq’s Kurdistan Region, according to sources cited by Al-Monitor.

The withdrawal began last week and is still underway, the sources said. They added that most US troops and heavy equipment have already left the military compound. … Full article

Empty crates, decoys and desperation: US aerial aggression against Iran ran out of targets – and strategy

By Mohammad Molaei – Press TV – August 1, 2026

In the days since the United States renewed its aerial aggression against Iran, a clear pattern has begun to emerge. During the opening phase of the 40-day war of aggression, American strikes at least appeared to follow a broad strategic logic.

Apart from the repeated attacks that killed schoolchildren and hundreds of other civilians, many of the targets selected could be linked – however dubiously – to an operational objective.

The targets being struck now tell a different story.

A systematic analysis of footage released by US Central Command (CENTCOM), together with open-source videos circulating on Iranian social media, suggests a campaign that has largely exhausted its finite target bank and is approaching the limits of its military effectiveness. … continue

Saudi Arabia’s militarization of Red Sea will not safeguard shipping in waterway: Yemen

Press TV – August 1, 2026

Saudi Arabia’s decision to build an international coalition and militarize the Red Sea will not protect its vessels in the waterway, says a prominent member of Yemen’s Supreme Political Council, warning that such move will mount regional tensions and complicate the security landscape.

Abdulaziz bin Habtour, in a statement issued on Friday, called the proposed Saudi maritime coalition a facade for persisting with the aggression and blockade against Yemen.

He stated that the Bab al-Mandab Strait continues to be accessible for international navigation, emphasizing that Yemen’s maritime measures target only Saudi vessels, calling them a reaction to the blockade placed on Yemen.

Bin Habtour said that earlier warnings to the US-led “Prosperity Guardian” coalition underscored that the Red Sea crisis couldn’t be resolved through military force, but by terminating Israel’s genocidal war in Gaza and removing the blockade.

He noted that removal of the Saudi blockade and cessation of the military campaign against Yemen, instead of militarizing the Bab al-Mandab Strait, is the sole method to ease regional tensions. … continue

Yemen vs. Saudi Arabia: A Strategy of Strangulation and Asymmetric Response

By Mohammed ibn Faisal al-Rashid – New Eastern Outlook – August 1, 2026

The conflict in Yemen, now in its second decade, has entered a new and extremely perilous phase. Recent developments indicate that Sanaa has transitioned from defense to active deterrence, leveraging asymmetric capabilities to strike at the vital arteries of its powerful neighbor.

What once appeared to be a localized skirmish on the periphery of the Arabian Peninsula has now morphed into a direct threat to the Kingdom’s energy security and the stability of the entire region. This escalation unfolds against a backdrop of mounting tensions between the “Axis of Resistance” (Iran, the Houthis, Hezbollah) and the bloc led by the United States and Israel, lending the Yemeni crisis a geopolitical dimension that reaches far beyond the bilateral relationship between Sanaa and Riyadh. … continue

Italian lawmakers expose Rome’s deployment of jet-fighters, radars to Saudi Arabia

Press TV – July 31, 2026

Italian lawmakers have exposed the deployment of jet fighters and radars by a key European ally of the United States to Saudi Arabia, forcing Rome to defend the move.

After lawmakers criticized Giorgia Meloni’s government for sending troops and military equipment to countries without parliamentary approval, Italy’s Defense Minister Guido Crosetto on Friday claimed the deployment was both “legal” and “transparent.”

Parliamentarians from the center-left Democratic Party insisted the non-transparent deployment is illegal because it was never approved by the country’s lawmakers. They pointed out that Saudi Arabia falls outside the scope of any existing mandate authorizing overseas military assignments for the Italian armed forces. […]

Italy’s Defense Ministry website shows that a military contingent of around 400 Italian Air Force personnel has been deployed to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Bahrain since March, after Tehran targeted US military assets in those states in legitimate retaliation following the US-Israeli imposed war on Iran.

The website lists air-defense radars and a counter-drone system among the assets sent. However, it makes no mention of a Franco-Italian SAMP/T air-defense system that the newspaper Il Giornale reported had also been transferred to Saudi Arabia.

Some of these SAMP/T units were previously deployed in Ukraine during Kiev’s war with Russia. France, for its part, has also stationed a SAMP/T unit in the United Arab Emirates in an effort to strengthen defenses against precise Iranian missile strikes.

The Italian contingent includes four Eurofighter jets, yet the ministry has declined to clarify their full mission in the region. Earlier this week, Il Giornale reported that some 700 Italian military personnel had been dispatched to the Persian Gulf. … Full article

Germany scrambles to evade Nicaragua’s landmark Gaza genocide case at ICJ

The Cradle | August 1, 2026

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) announced on 31 July that it will hold hearings from 7 to 10 September on Germany’s bid to dismiss Nicaragua’s landmark genocide case, hoping to prevent judges from ruling on Berlin’s role in enabling Israel’s ethnic cleansing campaign in Gaza.

Germany filed its preliminary objections to Nicaragua’s case on 21 October 2025, challenging the court’s jurisdiction and arguing that several of Nicaragua’s claims are inadmissible.

The filing automatically froze all proceedings, leaving evidence of Germany’s complicity in genocide unexamined until judges rule on Berlin’s challenge.

Germany will open oral arguments on 7 September, with Nicaragua responding the following day. Berlin will return on 9 September, and Managua will close on 10 September.

In April 2024, the ICJ denied Nicaragua’s request for Germany to stop military exports to Israel and to resume UNRWA funding, which Germany had suspended in January 2024.

On 1 March 2024, Nicaragua filed the case accusing Germany of violating the Genocide Convention, the 1949 Geneva Conventions, and fundamental norms of international law. The charges relate to Germany’s political, financial, and military backing of Israel and its decision to cut off funding to the UN Agency for Palestinian Refugees. … continue

Iceland’s forthcoming referendum on EU membership

By Alfred de ZAYAS | CounterPunch | July 29, 2026

In August 2026 Icelanders will vote in a referendum whether Iceland should open accession talks with a view to joining the European Union[1].

Icelanders would be well advised to keep away from the EU, which has morphed from a peace-loving European integration movement into a war-mongering globalist machine run by a bloated bureaucracy in Brussels that operates without transparency or accountability and endorses militarization and virulent Russophobia.

In the light of Iceland’s venerable democratic traditions going back to the Thingvellir Parliament of the tenth century[2], it would be madness for the Icelanders to abandon their hard-won sovereignty and independence.

In 1992 and 93 Iceland did negotiate the EEA (European Economic Area) agreement that gave it access to the EU market but without membership and many of the obligations. The EEA agreement came into effect in 1994, and was negotiated during the period after the adoption of the Treaty of Maastricht (see below). It is important to know that the EU in the time of Maastricht was fundamentally different to EU following the adoption of the Treaty of Lisbon of 2007. The EU is now speeding into a more centralised, authoritarian and even totalitarian future.

There is another important consideration. The Treaty of Lisbon is in many aspects incompatible with the UN Charter. Icelanders must actually choose between their obligations under the UN Charter and the commitments and actions that flow from the Treaty of Lisbon and the arbitrary decisions of the European Commission, currently under Ursula von der Leyen. … continue

Navy retiring USS Fort Worth halfway through lifespan

By Stavroula Pabst | Responsible Statecraft | July 31, 2026

This week, the Navy retired a littoral combat ship only halfway through its lifespan.

The USS Fort Worth, a surface combatant ship which cost $400 million to build, entered service in 2012. It was originally meant to serve until the late 2030s, but was retired early due to chronic repair issues and related costs, and longstanding concerns regarding its overall viability.

A major issue for the USS Fort Worth was its combining gear, which connects its gas turbine and engines to its water jet shafts. The combining gear took critical damage back in 2016 when crew members failed to follow proper procedures while testing its engines, rendering the boat functionally unusable. … continue

Ukraine committing ‘piracy’ – Rosatom CEO

RT | August 1, 2026

Rosatom CEO Aleksey Likhachev has accused Ukraine of “piracy” after a civilian container ship belonging to the Russian state nuclear corporation was sunk by a Ukrainian drone strike.

The MV Yanina, a freighter belonging to Rosatom subsidiary FESCO, was attacked by two Ukrainian drones about 130 miles off the Russian Black Sea port of Novorossiysk, Likhachev said in a press release on Saturday.

“It was a perfectly ordinary, peaceful container ship sailing in international waters and carrying civilian goods – ranging from frozen foods to construction and finishing materials,” he said. “Such an attack can only be characterized as piracy and maritime banditry.”

Likhachev also thanked the international crew of the container ship Delphinus, captained by an Egyptian national, “who, despite the danger posed by drones, headed to the shipwreck site at night and rescued 16 of our 17 men.” … continue

Russian Strike on US Drone Factory in Kiev Makes Clear – NATO’s Overseas MIC Footprint Is Fair Game

Sputnik – 31.07.2026

A July 24 Russian attack on the Ukrainian capital hit a drone factory belonging to Terminal Autonomy – a Delaware-HQ’ed maker of low-cost UAV and AI navigation systems.

The attack deprived Ukraine’s military of a key long-range strike drone capability in the form of AQ-400 Scythe (32kg payload, 750km range) and AQ-100 Bayonet (4kg, 60km) drones.

More importantly, it sent Zelensky’s NATO “partners” an unmistakable message: if they set up shop in Ukraine, their manufacturing facilities will be targeted.

“I do expect that the strikes on Western facilities as and when they are identified will continue and probably intensify,” veteran French geopolitical analyst Come Carpentier de Gourdon told Sputnik, adding that he expects “growing dissention and disagreement” within NATO on how to react.

“So far the EU and its allies, particularly the US, have hidden as far as they could any losses and even denied that their facilities or personnel were attacked and hit. That policy will probably continue for as long as possible, but the resolve will also probably be very weakened eventually,” given the difficulty of “selling” it to these countries’ respective populations.

As for immediate consequences, they may include:

  • the “postponement” of new NATO weapons manufacturing contracts in Ukraine
  • more production in neighboring countries
  • most importantly, a blow to Ukraine’s attempt to sell itself as a nascent global manufacturer of drone hardware, including for the conflicts in the Middle East.

Merz readies secret plan to move German troops to Russian border – media

RT | July 31, 2026

The German government is developing a “secret plan” to prevent regional authorities from potentially obstructing the deployment of NATO troops to the Russian border, according to a joint investigation by The Telegraph and Die Welt.

The “contingency” measures are reportedly driven by fears that the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party could secure enough support in upcoming regional elections in two eastern states to form local governments.

Known for criticizing Berlin’s anti-Russia policies as harmful to Germany’s national interests, the right-wing party has grown to become the country’s most popular political force after once again being excluded from last year’s federal coalition talks.

In the state of Saxony-Anhalt, the AfD currently enjoys the support of 41% of voters, a recent survey suggested, compared with only 24% for Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU). In the northeastern state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, the AfD is polling at 36%, seven points ahead of its closest competitors, the Social Democratic Party.

Berlin has long accused the AfD of extremism, while Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has claimed that the party has “undeniable” ties to Russia and must be deprived of access to classified information if it comes to power.

The federal government is now seeking a way to rein in what The Telegraph bluntly described as “pro-Kremlin traitor states” in the event that NATO decides it is time to go to war with Moscow. … continue

Ukrainian commander ordered troops to shoot deserters on sight – media

RT | July 31, 2026

A Ukrainian commander instructed squad leaders to open fire on soldiers attempting to flee their positions, according to an audio recording cited in a new media investigation into alleged abuses on the conflict front line.

The report, published on Thursday by the Western grant-funded outlet Texty.org.ua, focuses on the 225th Separate Assault Regiment. The unit reportedly ranks second in the number of complaints filed by soldiers, behind only the 425th Separate Assault Regiment, known as “Skelia,” which became the subject of a formal investigation following a similar exposé in late June.

The recording reportedly captures the commander of the 225th Regiment, Major Oleg Shiryaev, telling subordinates that “anything that moves” without authorization should be treated as an enemy.

“Anyone who flees their position, deserters – they are the enemy too,” the officer reportedly said, adding that “there is no such thing as our guys.”

The investigation was based on interviews with current and former members of the regiment, including soldiers who had deserted, as well as troops from units deployed near the 225th, the outlet said. Their testimony allegedly points to systematic mistreatment intended to enforce discipline among rank-and-file service members.

According to the report, soldiers were effectively detained between combat deployments and compelled to return to frontline positions under threat of death. Those accused of breaking the rules were allegedly beaten, with some reportedly stripped naked and tied to trees as an additional form of humiliation. … Full article

With Karim Khan’s dismissal, the elimination of the war crimes court is near-complete

By Jonathan Cook | July 30, 2026

The most important question we should be asking after Karim Khan’s dismissal last week as chief prosecutor of the ICC – the international war crimes court in The Hague – is not whether he is guilty of “sexual misconduct” against another staff member, identified as “Sarah”.

That can only be decided through a legal process – one, let us note, that has already taken place. A fact-finding body carried out a lengthy investigation of Sarah’s allegations over more than a year; its thousands of pages of evidence were then evaluated in detail by three senior judges.

Though you would not know it from the media coverage, they concluded that there was no evidence to suggest any kind of misconduct by Khan, sexual or otherwise.

Strangely, that determination was largely confirmed by an extraordinarily deferential “exclusive” CNN interview with Sarah, aired earlier this month.

She declined to give any meaningful details of what Khan had allegedly subjected her to, and celebrity interviewer Christiane Amanpour delicately avoided pressing her for any clarification. … continue

Court orders discovery in Blumenthal’s case against US govt, recognizes Fourth Amendment violations

The Grayzone | July 30, 2026

… On July 29, The Grayzone’s Max Blumenthal had his day in court. Represented by the American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) in Blumenthal v. Mullin, a federal judge took an important step toward justice in a serious constitutional fight over whether the government can access a journalist’s private electronic devices.

U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema raised significant concerns about the government’s seizure and attempted forensic search of journalist Max Blumenthal’s two cell phones. Rather than dismissing the case as moot because the government returned the devices after ADC filed its motion, the Court ordered limited discovery to establish what federal officials did with the phones, who handled them, and whether they obtained or retained any information. … Read full article

Legendary Anti-Zionist Journalist Sam Husseini Eyes Congressional Bid

The Dissident | July 30, 2026

Veteran journalist Sam Husseini has launched an exploratory committee for a congressional campaign running in Maryland District 4.

If successful, Sam Husseini will be challenging AIPAC stooge Glenn Ivey, who has received more money from AIPAC than any other lobbyist group, according to the campaign finance watchdog Open Secrets.

Sam Husseini has dubbed him “AIPAC Ivey”, noting that he “loves going to imperial Israel and meeting with Melenoski/Netanyahu — and of course taking AIPAC cash” and more recently, “voted against the Lebanon War powers resolution put forward by Rashida Tlaib.”

As a journalist, Sam Husseini has repeatedly called out U.S. officials over their complicity in the genocide in Gaza since the start. […]

Most recently, Sam Husseini called out Chuck Schumer to his face over his support for the Genocide in Gaza, saying, “… You talk about corruption when you back genocide. What could be more corrupt than backing genocide? … And God forbid you should be questioned about your diabolical record. It’s amazing that you can show your genocidal face in public.” … Read full article

UK charges over 1,500 people over signs opposing Israel’s genocide of Palestinians in Gaza

The Cradle | July 31, 2026

… Home Office figures cited by the group show 92 percent of terrorism arrests in the year to March 2026 were linked to alleged support for Palestine Action, with the average demographic profile of the suspect being a 59-year-old white British woman.

A spokesperson for Defend Our Juries said UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham had inherited the crisis, asking “does he really want to be seen locking up pensioners, priests and 84-year-old Reverend Sue Parfitt while people convicted of violent offenses are released early?” … Read full article

Islamic Jihad says reported deal between Palestinian factions, Israel ‘inaccurate’

MEMO | July 31, 2026

The Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement said Friday that the announced agreement between Palestinian factions and Israel was “inaccurate,” adding that it has reservations over the deal in its current form, Anadolu reports.

In a statement, the movement’s spokesperson said: “What has been announced regarding an agreement between the Palestinian factions and the enemy (Israel) is inaccurate, and we have reservations about it in its currently circulated form.”

The Palestinian group’s statement came after US President Donald Trump announced that an agreement had been reached for the complete disarmament of Hamas and other armed groups in Gaza, with Israeli forces set to withdraw in phases as the process moves forward.

Trump also credited Egypt, Qatar, and Turkiye for helping broker what he described as a “historic breakthrough,” saying the agreement would be implemented gradually, with an International Stabilization Force working alongside a new Palestinian police force to assume responsibility for security in Gaza. … Full article

Hamas declares Gaza disarmament deal conditional on Israeli withdrawal

The Cradle | July 31, 2026

Hamas said on 31 July that it will “only” agree to a draft deal involving the handover of arms to the National Committee for Administration of Gaza (NCAG) – the US-endorsed committee tasked with governing the strip – if Israel adheres to its commitments and withdraws.

The senior official’s comments came hours after US President Donald Trump framed the agreement as a “historic” deal for the “complete disarmament” of Hamas and all other Gaza resistance groups.

Speaking to Reuters, Hamas official Ghazi Hamad said implementation of the draft deal depends on Israel adhering to all its commitments under Trump and his Board of Peace’s plan – which has yet to take effect.

This is a “comprehensive agreement” that goes beyond the issue of disarmament, the senior official added.

Israel must adhere fully to the deal reached in Egypt last year, and “only then” would Hamas ​“agree to ​hand over its ⁠weapons” to the NCAG.

“We insisted to ​the mediators ⁠that Israel must abide by the agreement,” Hamad asserted.

Israel is “obliged to end ‌its ⁠attacks in Gaza and withdraw its forces” to where they were positioned in October 2025, as well as increase the flow of aid, which remains severely restricted in violation of the 2025 “peace plan,” he went on to say.

The NCAG released its own statement welcoming the so-called disarmament deal.

NCAG “welcomes the progress announced yesterday regarding the roadmap, and the opening of a path toward beginning its implementation,” it said, adding that it was ready to “assume its responsibilities.”

The comments were made as Israeli violations remained ongoing in Gaza. Several Palestinians were injured in an Israeli drone strike targeting Al-Mukhabarat Street northwest of Gaza City before noon on Friday. … Full article

Israeli Bombing Kills One in Gaza

IMEMC | July 31, 2026

A Palestinian citizen was killed on Friday in a bombing by the Israeli occupation forces in the central Gaza Strip.

According to journalist Mosab Abu Toha, Israeli occupation aircraft targeted Mohammad Abdel Nasser Al Khatib (36), a resident of Al Zawaida town, behind the Egyptian Committee headquarters in the central Gaza Strip, killing him.

It is worth mentioning that the occupation had previously killed his brother Khalil Abdel Nasser Al Khatib (29) and his pregnant wife on 30 May 2025, during an airstrike that targeted a gathering of Palestinians in Deir Al Balah. … Full article

Israeli army detonates 700 tons of explosives near Lebanon’s historic Beaufort Castle

The Cradle | July 31, 2026

Israel carried out massive detonations involving around 700 tons of explosives around Lebanon’s historic Beaufort Castle – a UNESCO World Heritage site – with the huge blasts being heard across large parts of the country’s south late on 30 July.

The violent detonations were carried out under the pretext of alleged Hezbollah infrastructure under the Crusader-era fortress. This has been denied by Lebanese authorities.

“Israeli forces carried out unprecedented bombardment in southern Lebanon, triggering a series of powerful explosions that residents said were unlike anything heard in recent years,” Al Manar TV reported on Friday.

Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA) also reported the blasts, calling them “massive” and “unprecedented,” while confirming that they were heard across the whole south. … continue

Israeli forces push into Quneitra countryside, shell rural Daraa

Al Mayadeen | July 31, 2026

An Israeli occupation military force infiltrated the village of Rasm Sanad in southern rural Quneitra on Friday, entering with five Humvees as part of ongoing Israeli military activity across the governorate, where incursions and patrols have become a near-regular occurrence.

Local sources said no homes were raided and no residents were detained, though the Israeli force had yet to withdraw as of the latest update, leaving local residents on edge and prompting caution among villagers.

The incursion follows a similar Israeli incursion into western rural Daraa on Thursday, when three military vehicles crossed through the Tal Abu al-Ghaithar gate and advanced toward Wadi al-Ruqqad. The duration of that incursion and the objective behind it remain unclear.

The incursion was accompanied by artillery shelling from the Jabeen area, which hit the outskirts of Wadi Abdeen in western rural Daraa. … Full article

Ceuta crisis sparks online speculation over Israel’s role in pressuring Spain

MEMO | July 31, 2026

The emergency in Spain’s North African enclave of Ceuta has sparked an intense online debate over Israel’s possible role in efforts to punish Madrid over its outspoken support for Palestine.

The speculation intensified after social media users resurfaced articles published earlier this year by pro-Israel analysts who argued that Israel and the US should aid Morocco over its claim to Ceuta and Melilla as a means of pressuring Spain.

Israeli sources revealed that in March, Michael Rubin, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, called on Morocco to organise a new “Green March” into the Spanish enclaves. Writing for the US-based Middle East Forum, Rubin suggested that Moroccans approach Ceuta and Melilla with bulldozers, cross into the territories unarmed and raise the Moroccan flag. He framed the proposal as a response to what he portrayed as Spain’s anti-colonial hypocrisy.

A separate article published by the Israeli outlet Ynet in April recommend that Israel could use its influence in Washington to help Morocco “recover” Ceuta and Melilla. The author, Middle East Forum fellow Amine Ayoub, presented support for Rabat’s territorial claim as a means of punishing Spain for challenging US and Israeli policies.

Ayoub proposed three ways for Israel to apply pressure: direct diplomatic signals to support Morocco, lobbying through Washington and repeatedly accusing Spain of hypocrisy over its recognition of Palestine. He concluded that helping Morocco “recover” Ceuta and Melilla would “punish” a NATO member which had challenged US and Israeli policies. … Full article

Saudi Arabia preps for ‘major’ land, sea operations against Ansarallah in Yemen: Report

The Cradle | July 31, 2026

Saudi Arabia is “preparing” for a massive and “major” military assault against Yemen, which would involve both land and sea operations aimed at breaking the Ansarallah-led Yemeni Armed Forces (YAF) blockade on Saudi shipping, The Guardian reported on 30 July.

Yemeni sources claimed Saudi military troops have been “withdrawing from the east of Yemen in what could be preparation for a land offensive.”

“The troop movements inside Yemen involve concentrating forces for what could be an attack on Al-Bayda, a governorate in central southern Yemen captured by [Ansarallah]” between 2020 and 2021, the sources added.

The report coincided with a Saudi Defense Ministry statement saying the kingdom was preparing to form a multinational naval coalition for the Red Sea.

“The Ministry of Defense is hosting an international meeting to discuss the Kingdom’s initiative to establish a multinational maritime defense coalition,” it said, adding that “the meeting was attended by chiefs of staff and their representatives from 43 countries, along with the EU Delegation … out of a total of 51 invited countries and organizations.” … continue

Iran Army hits US base in Kuwait as satellite images show fresh damage

Press TV – July 31, 2026

The Iranian Army says it has targeted key facilities at US-run Ahmad al-Jaber Air Base in Kuwait, as newly analyzed satellite imagery also points to fresh damage at another US-operated base in the Persian Gulf state.

The Army’s Public Relations Office said the strike marked the 27th phase of Operation Sa’eqeh and was carried out in response to recent US military attacks on Iran, including an airstrike on a residential home on Qeshm Island.

According to the statement, loitering drones targeted aircraft shelters, satellite communications systems and equipment storage facilities at Ahmad al-Jaber Air Base. It described the installation as a major hub for US air and surveillance operations and a vital center for the logistical support of American forces. … continue

BRICS+ Series: Why the Egypt-UAE Energy Partnership Signals a New Phase for the Global South

By Chloe Maluleke and Dr Iqbal Survé | IOL | July 3, 2026

The latest discussions between Egypt and the United Arab Emirates on expanding natural gas production in the Nile Delta represent more than another investment agreement in the energy sector. They illustrate a broader transformation underway across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), where energy security, technological capability and regional capital are increasingly being mobilised from within the Global South rather than relying exclusively on Western financing and expertise.

For decades, energy partnerships in the MENA region largely followed a familiar pattern. Resource-rich states exported hydrocarbons while multinational energy companies from Europe and North America supplied technology, finance and operational expertise. That model is gradually evolving. Today’s agreements increasingly reflect cooperation between emerging economies that possess complementary strengths and shared strategic interests.

Egypt occupies a unique position in this transition. It is simultaneously an African, Arab and Mediterranean nation, giving it significant geopolitical value. While its domestic gas production has fluctuated in recent years because of declining output from mature fields and rising domestic consumption, Cairo remains determined to restore its status as a regional energy hub. The country’s existing liquefied natural gas (LNG) export infrastructure, strategic location along the Suez Canal and established pipeline connections position it as a gateway linking African producers with European and Asian markets. … continue

Egypt rejects reports linking Iran to Damietta drone attack

Press TV – July 31, 2026

Egypt has rejected media reports suggesting Iran’s role in a recent drone attack on ships at Damietta Port, as Tehran also dismissed any involvement and urged vigilance against Israeli “false-flag operations.”

Speaking on Thursday, Egypt’s Minister of State for Information Diaa Rashwan dismissed a Wall Street Journal report claiming that the Egyptian government believed Iran was responsible for the attack on two ships at the Mediterranean port. […]

Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said authorities have recovered the wreckage of the drone used in the attack on the gas vessel and are examining it to determine its origin.

Madbouly stressed that Egypt’s conclusions would be based “on facts, not speculation.” – Full article

Was the Drone Attack on US LNG Tanker in Egypt a False Flag?

By Larry C. Johnson | SONAR21 | July 31, 2026 

Short answer… I think so. … continue

Vaccine Amnesia: 78 Forgotten News Segments That Could Never Air Today

When the press was far less captured than now, vaccine injuries were openly covered on national TV.

A Midwestern Doctor | The Forgotten Side of Medicine | July 26, 2026

Story at a Glance:

• Something about vaccines (e.g., their promise of a simple injection being sufficient to safely and effectively end all diseases) has always deeply appealed to the minds of government officials.

• That promise is often a lie. Over and over, unsafe and ineffective vaccines reach the market, and each time, the officials invested in them do everything they can to shield the vaccines from scrutiny and bury the red flags. The medical field has dutifully gone along.

• In earlier decades, the press was far less captured than it is now, and it occasionally aired real investigations into what was happening — segments that documented the suffering of the injured.

• Watched together, these reports show two things at once: how much more candid the media used to be, and how precisely the lies of that era match the lies we face now.

• I compiled this article in the hope of breaking the collective amnesia, now that the pharmaceutical industry’s grip on the media is finally slipping. Below are 78 news reports on the dangers of vaccination that have been almost entirely forgotten and would never be broadcast today.

Continue

Pfizer Freezes Air Traffic Control Funds Over COVID Vaccine Contract Dispute With Poland, Romania

By Michael Nevradakis, Ph.D. | The Defender | July 30, 2026

A vaccine contract dispute between Pfizer and the European Union (EU) has resulted in Pfizer freezing billions of dollars in funds earmarked for air traffic control in Poland and Romania.

Eurocontrol, an intergovernmental organization that coordinates air traffic control management across Europe, notified Poland and Romania’s air traffic control agencies earlier this month that it was freezing the funds after Pfizer enforced an April court ruling in Brussels.

The April 1 ruling requires Poland and Romania to pay Pfizer about $1.5 billion and $640 million, respectively, plus interest and fees, for additional vaccine doses, per a 2021 contract signed between the European Commission — the EU’s executive branch — and Pfizer. … continue

US Navy awards $76.6B deal for 14 nuclear submarines

Al Mayadeen | July 30, 2026

The US Navy has awarded a landmark $76.6 billion contract package to General Dynamics Electric Boat and Huntington Ingalls Industries’ (HII) Newport News Shipbuilding for the construction of 14 nuclear submarines, the companies announced.

The agreement, issued on July 29, includes $42.1 billion for nine Block VI Virginia-class attack submarines and $29.5 billion for five Columbia-class ballistic missile submarines.

The combined contract covers 14 nuclear vessels to be built under a joint teaming agreement between the two shipbuilders, with General Dynamics Electric Boat serving as the prime contractor for modifications to both the Virginia-class and Columbia-class programs. … Full article

Mafia buying up some of 800,000 weapons missing from Ukraine – Italian prosecutors

RT | July 30, 2026

The Italian mafia is seeking to buy up some of the 800,000 firearms reportedly missing or stolen from Ukraine since 2022, including drones and other advanced arms, senior prosecutors have warned.

Some 780,465 items sent to Ukraine have reportedly disappeared since the escalation of the conflict, including around 149,000 during the first five months of 2026. The Il Fatto Quotidiano newspaper reported on Wednesday that much of the arsenal consisted of European military supplies intended for Kiev.

The outlet noted that European law enforcement authorities have struggled to track the flow of these arms, given that Western governments conceal the details of their extensive military shipments to Ukraine. … continue

NATO deploys Italian, Spanish, Turkish jets to eastern flank

Al Mayadeen | July 30, 2026

NATO announced Thursday that the air forces of Italy, Spain, and Turkey will deploy fighter jets to the alliance’s eastern flank as part of efforts to reinforce air patrols and strengthen NATO air defense operations. … continue

Burnham dances right on cue as warmonger puppet PM

By Finian Cunningham | Strategic Culture Foundation | July 29, 2026

… Burnham is a puppet prime minister who did not even have to face a public contest for the role. He was installed to deliver the militarist agenda, and his first overseas visit from Zelensky on board a warship shows that Burnham is dancing right on cue as he was assigned to do.

Britain is piling up the war agenda against Russia. While some Britons might coo over the prospect of cheaper bus fares and pints of beer, the new figure in Downing Street is driving the British bus over the cliff to all-out war.

Notably, too, that, on taking office, Burnham immediately gave the U.S. permission to use RAF bases in England to fly long-range B-1 bombers to attack Iran. And also this week, the new British military minister, Wes Streeting, told the BBC that he would be holding discussions with the U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth on Britain playing a naval role in opening up the Strait of Hormuz.

Britain is being run by a puppet regime whose purpose is to sell war. – Full article

Netanyahu says Israeli special forces would rescue him if arrested abroad

MEMO | July 30, 2026

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in an interview with Fox News that Israeli special forces would intervene to rescue him if he were arrested in a European country. […]

Netanyahu did not elaborate on how such a rescue operation would be carried out. Any military operation conducted by one state on the territory of another without its consent would raise significant issues under international law and could trigger a serious diplomatic dispute. … Full article

Israeli Forces Demolish 3 Wells in Tubas, Order Citizen to Demolish Home in Jerusalem

IMEMC | July 30, 2026

On Wednesday, Israeli forces destroyed three water wells near Tubas in the northeastern part of the West Bank, and ordered a Palestinian citizen to demolish his home in occupied Jerusalem.

Israeli forces stormed the “Al-Bustan” neighborhood of Silwan town, south of the Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied Jerusalem, on Wednesday, and handed him an order to demolish his home.

According to the Jerusalem Governorate, Israeli municipality crews invaded the home of the citizen Abu Yousef Al-Rashq, and ordered him to demolish his home within the next ten days. … Full article

Four Palestinians killed in Israeli airstrikes across Gaza, including two children

Palestinian Information Center – July 30, 2026

GAZA – Four Palestinians, including two children, were killed and several others wounded on Thursday in Israeli airstrikes targeting multiple areas across the Gaza Strip.

A local source reported that one Palestinian was killed and several others were injured in an Israeli airstrike early Thursday targeting a group of civilians outside the Qattan Center for the Child on Al-Wahda Street in central Gaza City.

A local source said child Zaid Mohammed Nofal was killed after Israeli warplanes bombed a residential apartment opposite the Bureij Municipality building in central Gaza.

Israeli warplanes also struck a house in Block 12 of the Bureij refugee camp.

In western Khan Yunis, two Palestinians, including an eight-year-old girl, were killed and several others injured after an Israeli military helicopter struck a tent near the College of Science and Technology.

According to local sources, the victims were identified as Abdullah Nasser Abdel Fattah Al-Balawi, 20, and Ratil Mahmoud Mousa Abdullah, 8.

Israeli warplanes also carried out two airstrikes on the Al-Shati refugee camp west of Gaza City, targeting a house in the Karm Maslaha area near the camp and another near Al-Qawqa Roundabout, wounding several Palestinians.

A Palestinian was injured after being shot by an Israeli quadcopter drone in the Shuja’iyya neighborhood east of Gaza City.

Eight others were wounded in a separate Israeli drone strike that targeted a residential apartment near Al-Ma’mounia School in central Gaza City. … Full article

Israeli Occupation Shells Syria’s Southern Countryside of Quneitra

Al-Manar | July 30, 2026

Israeli occupation forces targeted the southern countryside of Quneitra on Thursday with artillery shelling, Syria’s state media reported.

The occupation forces fired three artillery shells at the area surrounding Tal al-Ahmar Al-Sharqi in the southern countryside of Quneitra, causing no casualties, according to SANA news agency. … Full article

From Tehran to Riyadh: How Israel Draws the Red Lines America Can’t Cross

By Jamal Kanj | MEMO | July 30, 2026

Israel dragged America into another war, then sat back on the spectator bench and watched U.S. taxpayers foot the bill. Borrowed money burned into bombs. Billions more bled out at gas stations and in inflation, all to reopen a strait that was open before Donald was duped into fighting Benjamin’s war.

Now Benjamin Netanyahu watches from a safe distance, gloating as missiles fly between the U.S. forces and Iran in a war he spent years pushing Washington to fight.

At home, flag-draped caskets of American soldiers arriving home from a war Israel instigated and American soldiers carried out. In Congress, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth stood before the Senate requesting more money to keep the war running.

Lawmakers asked to sign the check for a war they never voted to authorize, fought for aims Washington did not set, with no accounting of when — or how— it ends. … continue

Pentagon hands Lockheed Martin nearly $59 billion deal as US interceptor stockpiles collapse

Press TV – July 30, 2026

The US military has awarded defense giant Lockheed Martin a massive contract worth up to $58.6 billion to ramp up production of Patriot interceptor missiles, as Washington’s illegal war of aggression against the Islamic Republic of Iran continues to drain its once-vaunted weapons stockpiles. […]

These systems have been heavily expended in failed attempts to shield illegal US bases and regional clients from the legitimate defensive operations of Iran’s armed forces and the Axis of Resistance. The heavy consumption of interceptors underscores the effectiveness of Iranian missile and drone capabilities in imposing high costs on the aggressor.

Lockheed Martin, headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, claimed the funding will allow it to triple PAC-3 MSE production by the end of 2030 and expand its workforce at the Camden, Arkansas plant by 50 percent, from 1,200 to approximately 1,850 jobs.

The company also plans to invest $8–9 billion by 2030 to modernize more than 20 facilities, including new ammunition plants.

A parallel framework agreement was also signed with RTX to surge Tomahawk cruise missile production from roughly 60 units per year to around 1,000 annually, another admission that American precision munitions have been heavily depleted in the course of Washington’s reckless military adventurism.

Industrial executives have welcomed the lucrative contracts but cautioned that congressional funding must still be secured before full expansion can proceed. … Full article

Houthi official denies reports of plan to charge ships passing through Bab al-Mandab

MEMO | July 30, 2026

A senior political official from Yemen’s Houthi movement has denied reports that the group plans to impose fees on commercial ships passing through the Bab al-Mandab Strait.

Hizam al-Assad, a member of the political bureau of the Houthi movement (Ansar Allah), said in a statement issued on Wednesday evening that Bab al-Mandab Strait “is open to international navigation safely and securely, except for Saudi shipping”.

He said Saudi vessels would remain banned from using the waterway until Riyadh lifts its blockade on Yemen, restores what he described as the Yemeni people’s legitimate rights, respects the country’s sovereignty and stops interfering in its internal affairs.

Earlier, Reuters, citing informed sources, reported that the Houthi movement was considering imposing transit fees on commercial vessels passing through Bab al-Mandab Strait, at the southern entrance to the Red Sea.

According to the sources, the proposed charges would apply to most shipping using the strategic waterway linking the southern Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden. They said no timetable had yet been set for introducing the measures. … Full article

US-Israeli schemes target entire region, Saudi serving them: Al-Houthi

Al Mayadeen | July 30, 2026

The leader of Yemen’s Ansar Allah movement, Sayyed Abdul Malik al-Houthi, affirmed that the “Zionist brutality and the US-Israeli aggression against the Islamic Ummah” continues amid the escalation of attacks against Iran, warning that the current regional developments are part of a broader project targeting the peoples of West Asia.

In a speech delivered on Thursday, Sayyed al-Houthi reiterated that “Zionism and its followers are targeting the Islamic Ummah, although their danger extends to the entirety of human society.”

He said that the stated objectives driving Yemen’s adversaries at this stage revolve around changing the West Asia region and establishing “Greater Israel.” … continue

Iran warns Bulgaria against hosting US warplanes, secures assurances from Cyprus on base neutrality

Press TV – July 30, 2026

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has issued a diplomatic warning to Bulgaria over reports that the country is preparing to host US military aircraft, while simultaneously securing assurances from Cyprus that foreign bases on its territory will not be used for hostile actions against the Islamic Republic.

In a telephone conversation with Bulgarian Foreign Minister Ventsislava Petrova on Thursday, Araghchi firmly condemned Sofia’s reported agreement to allow the United States to station military aircraft at the Bezmer air base. … continue

US airstrikes damage student dormitories in Ahvaz, sports hall in Fars

Press TV – July 30, 2026

Two student dormitories in the southwestern Iranian city of Ahvaz have been damaged in US airstrikes, while a sports hall in Fars Province has also been struck in separate attacks, according to Iranian officials.

Khuzestan Governor Mohammadreza Movaalizadeh said US forces carried out a series of strikes from the early hours of Thursday morning targeting areas around Abadan, Arvandkenar, the Shadegan region, and Ahvaz.

According to the governor, two locations in Ahvaz were hit, damaging the Hazrat Masoumeh (PBUH) student dormitory affiliated with Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz and a student dormitory belonging to Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences. … Full article

IRGC Says It Struck Kuwait Air Base Hosting US Troops

Sputnik – 30.07.2026

TEHRAN – The Iranian military in the early hours of Thursday hit the Ali Al Salem air base in Kuwait housing US forces, destroying two drone hangars and a fuel storage facility, in response to US attacks on Iran, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said.

Overnight into Thursday, Central Command (CENTCOM) said that US forces had completed another wave of strikes against Iran.

“Today, as part of Operation Nasr-2 and the punishment of the aggressor, IRGC forces attacked the US Ali Al Salem air base, destroying two drone hangars and a fuel storage facility for aircraft and military helicopters,” the IRGC said in a statement, as quoted by Fars. … Full article

Leaked: How Britain exploits US Empire

By Kit Klarenberg | Al Mayadeen | July 29, 2026

Donald Trump entered the July 7th/8th NATO summit having recently condemned the alliance as a “paper tiger” over its collective failure to abet the calamitous Zionist-American war on Iran and repeatedly threatened to withdraw US forces from Europe, with reveries of Greenland’s annexation still abounding. He left boasting of the intense “love” and “unity” within NATO, while praising member states for their reaffirmed commitment to spending ever-increasing vast sums on ‘defense’. Meanwhile, the Ukraine proxy war’s world-threatening continuation appears assured for potentially years to come.

As such, the NATO summit signifies a significant triumph in Britain’s never-ending battle to exploit the US Empire to further its own objectives. Highly revealing leaked files amply spell out how the alliance is a key mechanism by which Washington’s “interest” in Europe and West Asia is insidiously maintained, via London’s covert and overt machinations. NATO provides an invaluable “umbrella”, by which Britain projects economic, intelligence, military, and political power throughout these regions and the wider world, while countering competitors.

The documents were authored in March 2021 by Chris Donnelly, a veteran British military intelligence apparatchik who masterminded NATO expansion into the former Soviet Union, Warsaw Pact, and Yugoslavia throughout the 1990s. Now an influential Ministry of Defense advisor guiding London and Kiev’s escalatory strategies in the proxy war, he writes in the leaks of Britain’s perpetual struggle to retain the “security” provided by “US military power.” This, combined with access to Washington’s globe-spanning intelligence network, “underpins our own position in the world.” … continue

Ukraine’s ‘turned tide’ doesn’t comport ‘with basic military reality’

By Stavroula Pabst | Responsible Statecraft | July 29, 2026

Encouraged by Ukraine’s sustained advances in drone warfare, Western media is abuzz with the idea that Kyiv just might be able to defeat Russia after more than four years of bitter fighting.

In May, TIME hailed Ukraine’s drone industry as giving Kyiv “the cards to win without U.S. help.” Last month, CNN lauded Ukrainian drone strikes near Moscow as “a likely turning point” in the war. Earlier this month, Defense One even framed the conflict as a settled matter with the headline “How Ukraine won the first great robot war.”

But this isn’t the first time the press has played up Ukraine’s military capabilities, despite repeated setbacks on the battlefield. As experts warn RS, such coverage reinforces the idea that more military aid can still help Ukraine win back all of its territory, thus downplaying the need for a negotiated solution. … continue

Ukraine continues its use of mine terrorism against civilians

By Eva Karene Bartlett | July 30, 2026

… Today, on his Telegram channel, Rodion Miroshnik, Russia’s Ambassador-at-Large, reported:

“In the Kremenets Ministry of Defense in the LPR [Lugansk Republic], Ukrainian drones are distributing anti-personnel mines, codenamed “new petals,” on civilian targets.

According to local residents and authorities, Ukrainian forces have begun actively using new anti-personnel mines, codenamed “new petals,” to remotely mine civilian targets in the LPR. They are found on civilian properties visited by local residents. The mines consist of a plastic container containing explosives and a pressure-activated fuse. If detonated, the mine can cause serious injuries, traumatic amputation of a limb, or even death from blood loss or shock.

Last year, Ukraine announced its withdrawal from the Ottawa Convention, which bans the production and use of anti-personnel mines. Kyiv is now massively using anti-personnel mines and explosive devices to mine civilian targets. News comes in weekly about civilians being blown up by Ukrainian mines, which constitutes a serious war crime.”

This indeed sounds like how “Petal” mines operate, exploding at the lightest weight, even that of a small animal. … Full article