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Yemen says Bab al-Mandab Strait closed only to Saudi vessels

Press TV – July 24, 2026

Yemen’s Ansarullah resistance movement has dismissed claims of the closure of Bab al-Mandab, stressing that only Saudi vessels are banned from transiting the waterway.

Mohammed Abdul-Salam, the spokesman for Ansarullah, emphasized on Friday that Yemen has not yet closed the Bab al-Mandab Strait.

Citing the Yemeni armed forces’ statements, he said the naval blockade only targets Saudi vessels in response to the siege imposed by the kingdom against Yemen, noting that Riyadh is unwilling to explore solutions that guarantee Yemen’s security, sovereignty, and independence. […]

Separately, Yemen’s Foreign Ministry slammed the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy to Yemen for expressing concern over the blockade imposed by Yemen on Saudi Arabia, while remaining silent on the 12-year Saudi blockade of Yemen.

“Perhaps the UN envoy forgot he is an envoy to Yemen, not Saudi Arabia, to express concern over the blockade of its ports,” the ministry said in a press release.

The ministry slammed such “unacceptable” stances, noting that they embolden the Saudi regime to continue its crimes against the Yemeni nation.

The statement noted that these positions constitute a disregard for the suffering of the Yemeni people.

Reiterating that Sana’a has the full and legitimate right to take all necessary measures to lift the unjust blockade imposed on Yemen, the ministry noted that the Yemeni army’s actions are backed by the Yemeni people who have taken part in massive pro-government demonstrations. … Full article

The nuclear leash: Washington’s deal to put Saudi Arabia back in its place

By Junaid S. Ahmad | MEMO | July 24, 2026

The United States has presented its new nuclear agreement with Saudi Arabia as a gift: reactors, technology, investment, prestige, and the radiant promise of a peaceful atomic future. Washington is forever giving gifts of this kind. Curiously, they tend to arrive fitted with surveillance equipment, political conditions, and a discreetly concealed choke chain.

This is not merely a civil nuclear agreement. It is a disciplinary instrument aimed at Mohammed bin Salman — a strategic summons issued to a crown prince who has recently behaved less like an obedient client and more like the ruler of an indispensable state.

Its message is simple: Saudi Arabia may diversify its economy, its diplomatic partners, and even its wardrobe of alliances, but it may not diversify the source of its ultimate protection. That franchise still belongs to Washington.

The agreement therefore concerns nuclear energy only in the same sense that a prison contract concerns architecture. Its deeper purpose is to reconstruct American authority over a kingdom that has begun imagining life beyond the imperial security nursery.

Riyadh has committed three increasingly intolerable offenses. … continue

US-Saudi nuclear pantomime is with eye on Iran

By M. K. BHADRAKUMAR | Indian Punchline | July 24, 2026

The excitement over the US-Saudi nuclear deal has proved to be short-lived. Apparently, the US President Donald Trump himself poured cold water into it by adding a caveat on Thursday that in order for the deal to be advanced, Saudi Arabia must first join the Abraham Accords. That is, as things stand, may seem like asking for the moon.

However, it’s all but certain that Trump allowed the Saudi deal to be signed after consulting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a last throw of dice to pin down Saudi Arabia as a participant / collaborator alongside Israel (and the UAE) for an all-out war against Iran that  might at some point entail ground operations, which is not possible without first getting Riyadh on his side firmly, irrevocably.

If Saudi Arabia dissociates from Tump’s upcoming war and disallows the US to use the Saudi bases or work out the logistics accordingly, Pentagon generals will be hard-pressed to conduct the war. In political terms too, the Saudi stance will influence other regional oligarchies in the Persian Gulf in their own attitudes towards Iran, which is astride the Arab street like a colossus. The timing of the July 15 meeting of Trump with the visit of the pro-American prime minister of Iraq Ali al-Zaidi also needs to be factored in here. Simply put, Iraq has become a frontline in the US-Iran conflict. … continue

UN experts call for accountability five months after US-Israeli attack on Minab school

Press TV – July 24, 2026

UN experts have called for an independent investigation into the bombing of a primary school in the southern Iranian city of Minab that killed 168 children and teachers, saying the attack highlights serious violations of international law during war of aggression by the United States and Israel.

In a statement released on Friday, the experts said the school was struck twice during school hours on Feb. 28, 2026, and that there was no indication it was being used for military purposes.

“The school was clearly identifiable as a civilian educational facility and that they had received no information indicating it was being used for military purposes,” the statement read.

Five months later, they said, neither the United States nor Israel had made public the findings of any investigation into the deadly attack, raising questions about the transparency of any inquiry. … continue

What’s Ukraine Really After by Striking Russia’s Marketplace Warehouses?

Sputnik – 24.07.2026

Ukrainian forces have hit Wildberries warehouses in multiple Russian cities for several day. Ukraine’s official line says the facilities were used to store dual-use goods: body armor, military uniforms, fiber optics.

Plausible? Hardly.

The very same items are freely sold on Amazon, Temu, AliExpress, and other Western and Chinese platforms across Europe. Neither the EU, nor NATO, nor Ukraine itself treats those sales as legitimate military targets.

So what’s really going on?

Striking Wildberries’ warehouses means hitting ordinary local workers: people unloading trucks, stacking shelves, earning a paycheck. That’s not a military operation, but terrorist attack aimed at civilians.

This isn’t just about Russia, either. The marketplace supports hundreds of thousands of sellers from Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan. They use Wildberries’ infrastructure to move goods across borders: clothing from Kazakhstan to Armenia, for example. These strikes don’t just hurt Russians, but hit entrepreneurs and businesses across a dozen countries.

What do these warehouses really hold? Mostly clothes, shoes, home goods, and beauty products, which are bought primarily by women with children.

This isn’t an ammunition depot and surely not a big-tech data center. Ukraine’s rhetoric is wearing thin: and the pretext is getting harder to sell.

Conveniently, though, it fits the narrative of Ukraine’s new commander-in-chief, Mykhailo Drapaty, who recently told an interviewer that Russians “have no right to exist as a nation.”

Anchorage Dead-End Not Russia’s Fault – Lavrov

Sputnik – 24.07.2026

Russia arrived in Anchorage with US proposals already approved by President Donald Trump and was genuinely ready to compromise, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said, pushing back against US claims that the negotiations had failed.

The Anchorage talks, held on August 15, 2025, were seen as a potential breakthrough in US‑Russia relations, but Secretary of State Marco Rubio later said the agreements never materialized, without specifying the reasons.

US Stands to Gain Most From Nord Stream Sabotage – Expert

Sputnik – 24.07.2026

German prosecutors have linked the Nord Stream pipeline sabotage to Ukrainian state agencies, according to Nicola Canestrini, an attorney representing one of the suspects. He said the indictment argues there are sufficient grounds to believe the operation was ordered and directed by Ukrainian authorities.

“Russia does not supply gas to Europe, while the United States supplies liquefied gas to Europe and makes excessive profits from it. Who benefits? The United States,” former SBU Lieutenant Colonel Vasily Prozorov told Sputnik.

He added that the US had both the motive and the operational capability to carry out such an attack, adding that divers trained for missions at that depth “can be counted on one hand.”

These claims were previously made by Pulitzer Prize-winning American journalist Seymour Hersh, who alleged in 2023 that US Navy divers planted explosives under the pipelines in June 2022, hidden during Baltops exercises, with Norwegian support and authorization from then-President Joe Biden. … continue

Prevent the Great War

By Israel Shamir • Unz Review • July 24, 2026

A couple of weeks ago, in Ankara, the capital of Turkey, there was a NATO conference that sought yet more rearmament and militarization, steps that must inevitably lead to a new Great War. As an answer to this NATO conference, 200 ministers, members of parliament, ambassadors, politicians, activists, journalists, retired generals, academics, diplomats, military personnel and experts from many countries gathered in Ankara last weekend to prevent NATO’s new Great War. Among them were a few of our fellows, Unz Review writers, notably Larry Johnson and Scott Ritter.

The Alliance to Prevent the Great War concluded that the threats that could lead to a Great War originate from the United States, the EU and Israel. The US and Israeli attacks on Iran, NATO’s build-up of military power in Ukraine and the deployment of proxy forces against Russia, Israel’s genocide in Gaza and the attacks on Lebanon — these are regional wars that carry the risk of triggering a Great War.continue

Greece approves purchase of $4bn Israeli air defense system

Athens, Tel Aviv, and Washington are forming an Eastern Mediterranean energy bloc to counter regional trade and energy networks

The Cradle | July 23, 2026

Israel is set to supply Greece with a layered air defense network under an agreement valued at up to $4 billion, Greek Defense Minister Nikos Dendias announced on 23 July, with the same round of approvals covering several drone models and the C-390 military transport aircraft manufactured by Embraer.

Dendias said the government security council, KYSEA, had signed off on the plans in principle earlier this year and has now cleared the procurement contracts.

Greece aims to build a multi-layered network capable of intercepting ballistic missiles, aircraft, and drones, named “Achilles Shield.” The system’s core will rely on radars and missiles supplied by the Israeli firms Rafael and IAI. … continue

The Iran war may go down as the US’ worst ever defeat

By Robert Inlakesh | Al Mayadeen | July 24, 2026

While the US president continues to lie to his people about imagined victories over Iran in West Asia, the arguments fall flat amongst the vast majority of Americans who see through his tired rhetoric. Unlike past military blunders, Washington has not and will not be able to pull the wool over its people’s eyes.

Some analysts have attempted to compare Donald Trump’s failure to effectively combat Iran with defeats and strategic mistakes that ruined the reputations of past presidents; this one is very different. … continue

No route around Hormuz: Why West Asia’s pipeline alternatives fall short

The rush to bypass Hormuz leads back to the same problem: Every alternative route remains hostage to war, rival chokepoints, or political disputes.

By Hussein Askary | The Cradle | July 23, 2026

“The only alternative to the Strait of Hormuz is the Strait of Hormuz.”

This blunt assessment, offered by an Iraqi expert in a recent interview, captures the central weakness in the rush to revive old pipeline schemes and promote new ones across West Asia. Since Iran effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz after Israel and the US launched their second war against it in February 2026, the region has been flooded with proposals for alternative oil-export routes.

Washington has encouraged these plans, while several governments have presented dormant or unfinished pipelines as strategic solutions. Yet the closer one looks at geography, markets, costs, capacity, and security, the clearer it becomes that most of these projects cannot substitute for Hormuz.

Even if oil bypasses the strait, it still faces the rival chokepoint of Bab al-Mandab, where the Ansarallah-aligned armed forces have declared a maritime blockade against Saudi Arabia and attacked Saudi tankers.

These expensive detours will remain exposed unless security in the Persian Gulf itself improves. Until the war on Iran ends and an inclusive regional security architecture is established, Iranian and Yemeni missiles and drones can reach the pipelines and loading terminals built to evade them. … continue

‘You will lose Diego Garcia’: Iran warns UK over US aggression role

Al Mayadeen | July 24, 2026

The head of the Iranian Parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Commission has warned the United Kingdom over its support for US military operations against Iran, specifically referencing the strategic role of the UK-controlled Diego Garcia military base in the Indian Ocean.

In a post on X, Iranian lawmaker Ebrahim Azizi said the “era of Sykes–Picot is long over,” adding that “the day is not far when you will lose Diego Garcia, like your other colonies.”

Azizi also warned London to “reflect on the fragility of its own borders” and said Iran’s capabilities “extend far beyond military options.”

The remarks came amid heightened tensions between Tehran and Western powers, with the United Kingdom facing scrutiny over its military cooperation with Washington.

Diego Garcia, a UK-administered territory in the Indian Ocean, hosts a major US military facility under a long-standing agreement between London and Washington. The base has historically served as a strategic hub for US long-range aviation, logistics, and naval operations across the West Asia and Indo-Pacific.

The facility has previously been used to support US military aggression in the region, including in Afghanistan and Iraq.

During the current war on Iran the base has been identified as a key location supporting the deployment of American strategic bombers, including B-2 Spirit stealth bombers, which have the range and payload capacity to conduct long-distance strikes against heavily defended targets. … Full article

Ex-Indian envoy: US showed ‘scant regard’ for India in attack on Iranian frigate

Press TV – July 24, 2026

Former Indian Foreign Secretary Kanwal Sibal says the US attack on the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena near Sri Lanka demonstrated Washington’s disregard for India’s sensitivities, warning that the war with Iran has expanded beyond West Asia into India’s immediate maritime neighborhood.

“The sinking of the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena by a US submarine in the Indian Ocean has brought the widening conflict with Iran into India’s immediate maritime neighborhood. This is no longer a distant West Asian crisis,” Sibal wrote on X on Friday.

Sibal said the circumstances gave the incident both moral and diplomatic significance for New Delhi.

“That fact gives the episode a moral and diplomatic dimension that cannot simply be ignored. The United States has shown scant regard for Indian sensitivities in carrying out this action so close to our shores,” he said.

Warning that the consequences extend beyond the immediate attack, Sibal said the war between major powers will inevitably spread beyond West Asia into regions vital to India’s interests.

“The larger issue is the progressive spread of the conflict beyond West Asia. Escalation between major powers does not remain geographically contained. It inevitably spills into regions that are vital to India’s security and economic interests,” he wrote.

He added: “Stability in the Indian Ocean, freedom of navigation, and uninterrupted energy flows are not abstract concerns for India. They are core national interests. Any sustained disruption in these waters will have direct and serious consequences for us.” … continue

IRGC finishes off Amazon data center, says US fatalities in hundreds

Al Mayadeen | July 24, 2026

Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) announced on Friday that its forces have destroyed the remaining building of an Amazon company data center and a large ammunition depot at a US base, as part of ongoing operations against American military assets in the region.

In a statement, the IRGC said its fighters, in the 27th wave of Operation Nasr 2, targeted the remaining structure of an Amazon data center, which plays a primary role in completing intelligence for the US military.

“The fighters of Islam, in the 27th wave of Operation Nasr 2, in completion of their previous operation against the data intelligence center of the American company Amazon, which plays the main role in completing the intelligence of the US child-killing army, targeted and destroyed the remaining building of this center,” the IRGC said in a statement. … continue

US Army turns to older PAC-2 Patriot missiles as war against Iran drains stockpiles

Press TV – July 23, 2026

The United States Army has been forced by Iran’s resolute resistance to procure outdated PAC-2 Patriot missiles for the first time in decades, as its vaunted air defense stockpiles were severely depleted during its war of aggression against Tehran.

Raytheon RTX received a $441.6 million contract modification on April 30 for the production of Patriot Guidance Enhanced Missile-Tactical (GEM-T) interceptors, essentially upgraded versions of the older PAC-2 series, to support what Washington called Operation Epic Fury, twz.com reported on Thursday.

The rush order, funded by special fiscal 2026 appropriations outside normal budgeting, demands completion by September 30 and marks the first domestic US purchase of these missiles in over 30 years. Work is underway solely at Raytheon’s Chambersburg, Pennsylvania facility, the only US production line for the system.

The move comes after American forces expended an estimated 1,060 to 1,430 Patriot interceptors between late February and early April 2026 in a desperate attempt to counter Iran’s precision missile and drone strikes. … continue

James Woolsey, influential neocon and Iraq War booster, dies at 84

In his heyday, the former CIA director was among America’s loudest voices pressing for military intervention abroad

By Jim Lobe | Responsible Statecraft | July 23, 2026

R. James “Jim” Woolsey, a major Iraq and GWOT promoter and neoconservative Democrat, passed away Tuesday at 84.

Woolsey served briefly as CIA director but rose to much greater prominence as a consistent promoter on television and in the Wall Street Journal’s op-ed pages of both the Iraq War and the broader Global War on Terror, which he sometimes referred to as “World War IV.”

Indeed, immediately after the 9/11 attacks, Woolsey was ubiquitous in arguing that Iraqi President Saddam Hussein not only was linked to al-Qaeda but may very well have approved or helped plan the plot himself. … continue

Report: Billions in Venezuelan revenues vanish under Washington control

Press TV – July 23, 2026

The administration of US President Donald Trump has collected billions of dollars in Venezuelan oil revenues while withholding control of the funds from the crisis-hit country, according to a report.

An investigation published by the Financial Times on Wednesday estimated that Washington has collected more than $13 billion from Venezuelan oil exports since taking control of the country’s oil sales in January, following the abduction of President Nicolás Maduro Moros.

The report said the revenues were expected to provide a major boost to Venezuela’s economy, where oil accounts for roughly one-quarter of national output.

However, despite the sharp rise in oil income, Venezuela’s economic recovery has remained weak, raising questions over Washington’s control of the revenues and whether the funds have reached the Venezuelan economy.

The report highlighted that only one transfer of $300 million has been publicly recorded on a Venezuelan government website created to monitor the US-controlled oil revenues.

It also highlighted conflicting statements from Washington regarding who controls the funds and how they are being managed.

A January executive order described the US role as merely holding the money in a custodial capacity, yet Trump later boasted that Washington was “making a lot of money” from Venezuelan oil.

He cited oil revenues as one of the benefits of the US aggression against Venezuela, saying, “48 minutes to win that war,” and claiming, “We brought millions of barrels of oil out,” after taking control of the country’s oil exports.

A senior State Department official, Michael Kozak told Congress in April that roughly $3 billion had been transferred to Venezuela. However, lawmakers later said they had received no further disclosures regarding the funds. … Full article

Ukrainian defense plant sold off to fund luxury car fleet – prosecutors

RT | July 23, 2026

Ukraine’s Prosecutor General’s Office has accused the former head of a defense industry factory of selling plant machinery for scrap while amassing a fleet of luxury cars.

Investigators have accused the former acting director of the Kiev-based Burevestnik plant, Aleksandr Plotnikov, and three employees of organizing the destruction of the state enterprise while it was awaiting privatization.

Equipment was allegedly dismantled, cut up, loaded onto trucks, and taken to scrap yards, costing the state millions.

Since the Ukraine conflict escalated in 2022, Plotnikov allegedly became the effective owner of six undeclared vehicles, including a Lamborghini Murcielago, BMW M8, Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class, and Audi RS7, worth well over $400,000.

The cars were registered to relatives and associates but were allegedly owned and used by Plotnikov, investigators said. His financial declarations for 2024 and 2025 reportedly omitted assets and income worth almost 25 million hryvnia ($550,000).

Plotnikov and the plant’s chief engineer had previously been accused of taking bribes to hand over warehouse space without official rental agreements, allegedly costing the company another 5.7 million hryvnia ($127,000).

The case is the latest in a string of wartime corruption scandals involving Ukrainian state and defense enterprises. … Full article

Donbass civilians recount being hunted by Ukrainian drones

RT | July 22, 2026

Ukrainian forces systematically hunted the Russian-speaking civilians of the Donbass town of Konstantinovka, killing families peeking out of their shelters for water or to attempt to evacuate, officials heard at a session of an international tribunal in Moscow on Wednesday.

The town, located on the southernmost tip of the Slavyansk-Kramatorsk agglomeration, was briefly under the control of the Donetsk People’s Republic forces in 2014 before being recaptured by Ukraine. It was liberated by Russian troops in early June.

At a hearing of the International Public Tribunal on Crimes of Ukrainian Neo-Nazis in Moscow on Wednesday, witnesses and survivors from the town said that Ukrainian troops hunted them, their relatives, and their neighbors with drones.

One witness recounted soldiers setting a house on fire, watching to see how locals would react via a reconnaissance UAV and attacking them with kamikaze drones when they attempted to take belongings out of the burning building. Another witness said his son was killed by a Ukrainian missile strike. … Full article

Met Police reverses decision to close Gaza war-crimes referral against British nationals

MEMO | July 23, 2026

The Metropolitan Police has withdrawn its decision not to investigate allegations that British nationals committed war crimes while serving with the Israeli army in Gaza, following a legal challenge brought by a British-Palestinian human rights campaigner.

The reversal means that the force’s previous decision no longer stands and its War Crimes Team will conduct a fresh assessment of the evidence relating to four identifiable British nationals.

British-Palestinian campaigner Lubna Speitan challenged the decision with the assistance of the Public Interest Law Centre (PILC). Lawyers sent the Metropolitan Police a detailed letter before action threatening judicial-review proceedings over its handling of the case.

The original referral was submitted by PILC and the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) on April, 2025. It alleged that ten British nationals had committed war crimes and crimes against humanity while taking part in Israeli military operations in Gaza.

After reviewing the evidence, the Metropolitan Police narrowed its focus to four identifiable British nationals. However, on 27 April, 2026, the War Crimes Team informed the organisations that it would not open a criminal investigation, claiming that the available evidence was insufficient.

PILC challenged that conclusion, arguing that the police had failed to consider the full range of investigative avenues available to them and had effectively demanded evidence capable of securing a conviction before opening an investigation.

The force has now formally withdrawn its decision and agreed to carry out a fresh scoping exercise. Such an exercise allows the War Crimes Team, which sits within the Metropolitan Police’s Counter Terrorism Command, SO15, to determine whether the evidence justifies a full criminal investigation. … Full article

Settlers seize Palestinian home as Israeli army continues West Bank raids

MEMO | July 23, 2026

Israeli settlers seized a Palestinian family’s home in the village of Jalud, south of Nablus in the occupied northern West Bank, on Wednesday after forcing the family to leave, while the Israeli army continued raids across the territory, according to Palestinian sources.

Local sources told Anadolu that settlers took over the home of Mahmoud al-Tubasi after forcing his family to leave following more than three months of attacks and restrictions.

The sources said the settlers had previously set fire to the house and established a settlement outpost nearby.

Despite being cut off from water and food and living under what the family described as a siege, they had remained in the home. … Full article

Palestinian dies of injuries, two others wounded by Israeli gunfire in Gaza

Palestinian Information Center – July 23, 2026

GAZA – A Palestinian citizen died on Thursday after succumbing to injuries sustained in an Israeli airstrike in northern Gaza, while two others were wounded by Israeli gunfire in the south.

According to media sources, a young man, Mohamed Abu Shikyan, succumbed to wounds sustained in an Israeli airstrike that targeted the al‑Faluja area of Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza on Wednesday morning.

Two citizens were reportedly injured when Israeli forces opened fire towards al-Burj displacement camp in the al-Mawasi area of Khan Yunis, south of Gaza.

Israeli armored vehicles also opened machinegun fire towards tents sheltering displaced families in the al-Kanees area of Khan Yunis, with no reported casualties.

Gunfire from a helicopter and gunboats was reported in separate areas of Gaza, amid other attacks, including artillery shelling.

Israeli minister says government’s ultimate goal is to control Gaza and establish settlements

MEMO | July 23, 2026

Israeli Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu said on Wednesday that the government’s ultimate goal is to regain control of the Gaza Strip and establish Israeli settlements there.

According to the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation (KAN), Eliyahu, a member of the Otzma Yehudit (Jewish Power) party led by National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, said: “Our ultimate goal is to regain control of Gaza, including establishing settlements.” […]

On Sunday, thousands of Israeli demonstrators, including ministers led by Itamar Ben-Gvir, gathered near the Gaza border to call for the establishment of Israeli settlements in the Gaza Strip. – Full article

New Israeli incursions reported in Quneitra as 57 violations documented in one week

Palestinian Information Center – July 23, 2026

DAMASCUS – Israeli occupation forces carried out a new incursion on Wednesday evening into the Al-Mantara Dam area in the northern countryside of Quneitra, southwestern Syria, amid repeated violations in the region since the fall of Bashar Al-Assad’s regime on December 8, 2024.

Israeli incursions have become an almost daily pattern, accompanied by raids, detentions, checkpoints and harassment of local residents in Quneitra and its countryside.

The Rights Record Center said in a report issued Wednesday that it had documented at least 57 Israeli violations in the governorates of Quneitra, Daraa and Rural Damascus between July 15 and 21.

Quneitra recorded the largest share, with 43 violations, including four shelling incidents, six detentions, five checkpoints, two raids, four overflights, 19 incursions and three other violations. … Full article

Trump says Saudi nuclear deal will be subject to Riyadh joining Abraham Accords

MEMO | July 23, 2026

US President Donald Trump said Thursday that a nuclear cooperation deal with Saudi Arabia will be subject to Riyadh joining the Abraham Accords, Anadolu reports.

“The Civil Nuclear Deal (There will be no enrichment of material!) being made between the United States Department of Energy and Saudi Arabia, which pertains only to non-military use such as the ones that Iran and UAE (and others) already have, will be approved,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.

Trump said that the agreement “is totally subject to Saudi Arabia joining the very respected and successful Abraham Accords,” adding that the US “is not opposed to Civil (Non-Enriched) Nuclear Facilities.” … Full article

Congress fails to restrict Trump’s Iran war powers

While a symbolic measure passed the House, the Senate rejected the only resolution that could have tied Trump’s hands

RT | July 23, 2026

The US Senate has blocked a resolution that would have forbidden President Donald Trump from waging war against Iran without Congressional approval. A similar resolution passed the House of Representatives hours earlier.

The Senate defeated the resolution in a 49-47 vote on Thursday, with Democrat Senator John Fetterman joining his Republican colleagues to oppose it, and Republican Senator Susan Collins lending her support to the measure. … Full article

Brent Crude Price Rises Above $99 Per Barrel for 1st Time Since May 22

Sputnik – 23.07.2026

Global oil prices are rising, with the price of a barrel of Brent crude reaching above $99 for the first time since May22, trading data showed on Thursday.

As of 11:59 GMT, the price of September Brent crude futures was up 5.26% to $99.02 per barrel. Minutes earlier, the figure exceeded the $99 mark for the first time since June 22.
September WTI futures were up 4.87% to $91.06 per barrel.

The rising prices come amid heightened tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, with US Central Command striking Iran for 12 consecutive days, prompting a strong response from Tehran and affecting the entire region.

US President Donald Trump continued to exacerbate tensions, saying that “any time the Islamic Republic of Iran shoots at a ship in the Strait of Hormuz, whether it be by Missile, Rocket, Drone, or any other device or weapon, the United States will bomb and destroy one bridge or power plant, including those located next to, or in, the capital city of Tehran.”

US Benefits From Oil Supply Disruptions in Strait of Hormuz – Ex-UK Ambassador

Sputnik – 23.07.2026

The United States benefits from oil supply disruptions caused by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, Craig Murray, a Scottish political activist and former UK ambassador to Uzbekistan, told Sputnik.

“The Americans are not unhappy with the disruption of oil supplies. They actually like the disruption of oil supplies because it benefits their own oil producers,” Murray said.

The blockade of the strait is not a big problem for the US, a net oil exporter, as the Americans do not get much oil from the Strait of Hormuz, the ex-diplomat said. It is a problem for China and India, which the US sees as competitors.

“So if they are damaged, that is good from the American perspective,” he added.

Murray compared the Hormuz blockade with the 2022 bombing of the Nord Stream pipeline, which carried Russian natural gas to Germany and on to other EU countries.

“It did huge damage to Germany and European economies, and the Americans were quite happy. For them, closing the Strait of Hormuz is like blowing up Nord Stream: it damages industrial competitors and energy-exporting competitors,” Murray said.

The US has renewed strikes against Iran since July 8, claiming they are in response to Iran interfering with commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. US President Donald Trump suggested on July 13 that the US could become a “guardian” of the strait in exchange for a 20% fee on cargo shipped through the waterway.

Houthis claim strikes on Saudi oil tankers in Red Sea

RT | July 23, 2026

Yemen’s Houthis said they struck two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea in the first attack of the kind since the Iranian-backed militant group declared a naval blockade of the kingdom.

Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said on Wednesday that the group targeted the Saudi-flagged vessels Encelia and Layla with missiles and drones. He added that around ten ships changed course since the blockade was formally imposed on Monday.

According to the UK Maritime Trade Operations coordination center, a vessel reported that it caught fire after being struck by an unidentified projectile around 130 km from Al Shuqaiq, Saudi Arabia. There were no reports of casualties.

A video posted on social media appears to show a large fire aboard a ship.

The Saudi Press Agency (SPA) later cited a source at the kingdom’s Transport General Authority as confirming that the Encelia caught fire after being struck. The source said all crew members were safe.

In a statement on Wednesday, Saree said the group would continue to enforce what he described as a policy of “a siege for a siege,” which Riyadh considers illegal under international law.

The Houthis imposed the blockade a week after forces loyal to Yemen’s Saudi-backed government bombed Sanaa International Airport in an attempt to prevent an Iranian plane carrying a Houthi delegation from Tehran from landing. The group has regularly launched missiles and drones at Israel since the start of the Gaza war, before reaching a ceasefire with the US in May 2025.

US house of representatives approves ‘merger’ of US, Israeli militaries

Netanyahu called Section 219 of the NDAA, which fuses US and Israeli military elements, ‘my plan’ in a letter last month

The Cradle | July 23, 2026

The US House of Representatives on 22 July passed the $1.1 trillion National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which includes Section 219 integrating US military intelligence and the defense industrial base with the Israeli military.

The measure passed with a vote of 216-212.

It was overwhelmingly supported by Republican representatives in Congress, with only seven voting no.

House Democrats overwhelmingly opposed the bill, but six voted yes, allowing it to pass. All six received substantial funding from the Israel lobby.

The bill will now go to the Senate for a vote for final approval.

The bill creates a Pentagon official tasked with facilitating US–Israel military technology cooperation, including joint R&D, testing, co-production, data sharing, and moving jointly developed technology into procurement. […]

In response to Netanyahu’s lobbying of Congressional members to merge the US and Israeli militaries, Congressman Ro Khanna stated that, “The American people are tired of the arrogance and the insolence of Prime Minister Netanyahu telling America what we should do.” – Full article

Iran: UK decision to aid US strikes amounts to ‘act of aggression’

Press TV – July 23, 2026

Iran’s foreign ministry has strongly condemned the British government’s decision to allow the US to use UK military bases and facilities to prepare and facilitate military strikes against Iran, declaring the move a violation of the UN Charter and international law.

“British policymakers, fully aware that US military strikes against Iran – which began with the participation of the Zionist regime and are still ongoing – constitute a clear act of aggression and a gross violation of the fundamental principles of the UN Charter and peremptory norms of international law, have decided to join these actions,” the ministry said in a statement Thursday.

The decision, the ministry said, is “clearly contrary to the fundamental principles and rules of the Charter of the United Nations and international law” and, under paragraph (f) of Article 3 of UN General Assembly Resolution 3314 on the Definition of Aggression, “constitutes an act of aggression against the Islamic Republic of Iran”.

The foreign ministry sharply criticized Britain’s role as a permanent member of the UN Security Council.

“The UK government, both as a state and as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, instead of fulfilling its legal and moral responsibilities to condemn the military aggression and war crimes of the United States and the Zionist regime against Iran, has stepped onto the path of aligning with the aggressors and has degraded its position to that of an accomplice in their war against the Iranian nation.”

“This decision,” the ministry added, “further undermines London’s claims about supporting the rule of law, human rights, and international peace and security.” … continue

Two martyred, 11 wounded in US aggression on Iran-Iraq border crossing

Al Mayadeen | July 23, 2026

Two people were martyred and 11 others injured in a US missile attack on the Shalamcheh border crossing between Iran and Iraq, according to Iranian officials.

Mehr News Agency, citing a security official in Khuzestan province, initially reported that a US missile strike near the passenger terminal at the Shalamcheh border crossing caused no injuries.

However, the deputy governor of Khuzestan for security affairs later said that two people were killed due to US aggression targeting the border crossing.

Khuzestan province authorities confirmed that two people were killed and 11 others injured in the US missile attack on the Shalamcheh border point.

The deputy governor’s office said there was a US terrorist aggression and confirmed the reported casualties. … Full article

Satellite imagery confirms Iran destroyed US radar in Kuwait

Al Mayadeen | July 22, 2026

New satellite imagery has surfaced showing the aftermath of Iranian retaliatory strikes on US military installations in Kuwait and Jordan, as Tehran continues its response to the US war on Iran.

The images show a direct impact at Kuwait’s Ahmad Al-Jaber Air Base, corroborating an Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) statement issued on Tuesday detailing the destruction of key US military infrastructure at the site.

The IRGC said its forces destroyed the AN/FPS-117 early-warning radar, a Patriot air defense system, and a US military satellite communications system supporting American air operations at the base.

The Corps said the strike would further degrade Washington’s defensive posture in the region and warned the United States to “prepare for more decisive and more powerful attacks” from Iranian missile and drone forces. … Full article

Number of US casualties in war with Iran higher than officially disclosed

By Lucas Leiroz | July 23, 2026

American media outlets themselves are beginning to admit that the US is concealing its casualties in the current war of aggression against Iran. Although US officials insist that the number of American soldiers killed and wounded is minimal, there is strong evidence that the actual figures are far higher than what is officially reported. This suggests that Washington is facing serious difficulties in the conflict and is being forced to hide losses to prevent public outrage. … continue

Turkey Arrests DW Journalist Over Post Criticizing the Courts

By Cindy Harper | Reclaim The Net | July 23, 2026

Turkish police arrested Alican Uludag, a court reporter for the German public broadcaster Deutsche Welle, over a post on X that accused the country’s judiciary of feeding case files and police footage to pro-government reporters.

Officers took him from his home in Ankara around noon on Tuesday and held him for roughly 25 hours. An Ankara criminal judge released him on Wednesday under judicial supervision, barring him from leaving Turkey and ordering him to report to a police station four days a week. […]

The Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office opened its investigation under Article 217/A of the penal code, covering the spread of misleading information, and Article 216, covering incitement to hatred and denigration of segments of society. Both articles have become standing tools against speech the government wants gone. … Full article

Italian newspaper forced to pay for smearing ‘Putinists’

Corriere della Sera claimed the Italian government was investigating a Russian propaganda ring

RT | July 22, 2026

Italy’s Corriere della Sera was ordered to pay compensation to a sociology professor that it defamed as a “Putinist” after a court determined that the pro-Russia influence network he supposedly belonged to never existed.

In a Tuesday ruling, a court in Milan found that the newspaper had defamed Professor Alessandro Orsini by referring to him as a member of “Putin’s Network in Italy.” Corriere della Sera, a mainstream broadsheet paper, was ordered to pay €27,500 in compensation to Orsini.

“Publishing and allowing the publication of an article that attributes to Orsini the status of a member of an organized network of pro-Putin supporters aimed at propaganda and counter-information… constitutes conduct damaging to his personal and professional image and reputation,” the judge noted in the ruling.

Published in 2022, the defamatory article listed Orsini – then a professor at Luiss University in Rome – as a member of a “complex and diverse” network aimed at “attacking pro-Kiev politicians” and “undermining government decisions” it deemed favorable to Kiev. According to the newspaper, the group was under investigation by the Italian parliament’s intelligence committee (COPASIR), which allegedly determined it was “activated at key moments” to spread pro-Russia propaganda during the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

However, COPASIR’s president admitted at the time that the committee had “never conducted its own investigations into alleged influencers.” Italy’s undersecretary for intelligence services, Franco Gabrielli, added that “the names given by the newspaper do not appear in any type of investigation.”

During the trial, Corriere della Sera claimed it had received “other and different information” from confidential sources to back its story but was unable to prove this in court.

The judge noted that, not only had the newspaper failed to prove that Orsini participated in an organized propaganda network, but it was unable to prove that the network even existed in the first place.

As a result of the Corriere della Sera article, Orsini lost his position at Luiss University and was dropped as a contributor by Italian broadcaster RAI.

Orsini has been a persistent critic of Italy’s support for Ukraine. In early 2022, he accused Prime Minister Mario Draghi of “total subordination to America,” while blasting the West for “doing nothing for peace.”

“We must be open to recognizing the independence of Donbass and lifting sanctions,” he said in an appearance on RAI. “Draghi must say he’s no longer sending weapons to Zelensky.”

Hezbollah MP slams summons of pro-resistance journalist over criticism of Saudi Arabia

Press TV – July 22, 2026

A Lebanese lawmaker from Hezbollah’s political wing has strongly condemned a judicial order summoning pro-resistance journalist Hassan Illaik for questioning over social media posts critical of Saudi Arabia.

On Wednesday, Hussein al-Hajj Hassan, a member of the Loyalty to the Resistance Bloc, stated that the legal action against Illaik was due to foreign dictates and against the national sovereignty of Lebanon.

Hajj Hassan said the legal prosecution of the pro-Hezbollah Lebanese journalist is an arbitrary measure and constitutes a violation of freedom of expression and the media.

“In a country where authorities assert to be defending various forms of freedom, Hassan Illaik has been summoned and prosecuted for a post on social media.”

A senior Lebanese judicial source has clarified that the legal action against Illaik was not an arrest warrant, but a decision by which Prosecutor General at the Court of Cassation Ahmad Rami al-Hajj ordered the intelligence service of the Internal Security Forces (ISF) to bring him to the prosecutor’s office for questioning.

Illaik recently published a post on X, where he censured Saudi Arabia for imposing “a criminal blockade” on Yemen.

Illaik immediately reacted to the order against him, stating on X that the judge was appointed to his position last March “on the decision of Yazid bin Farhan [the Saudi envoy to Lebanon].”

The pro-Hezbollah journalist further wrote that he was not surprised to see that the prosecutor had become “a tool of political power to repress freedom of expression.”

“Anyone who calls for the arrest of a journalist for criticizing Mohammed bin Salman [the Saudi Crown Prince] will do the same for criticism of [Benjamin] Netanyahu.” … Full article

Palestinian mother loses unborn baby after Israeli settlers attack her home in West Bank

MEMO | July 22, 2026

A Palestinian mother lost her unborn baby on Tuesday after Israeli settlers attacked her home south of Hebron, while other Palestinians were injured in settler attacks and Israeli military raids across the occupied West Bank.

Osama Makhamera, an activist who documents Israeli violations in Masafer Yatta, south of Hebron, said resident Ruqayya Rabe’i suffered “shock and fear” after settlers attacked her home in the village of Tuwani on Sunday.

In a statement, he said the settlers threw stones at the house and set it on fire. He added that they also burned the village mosque and several other homes.

Makhamera said the woman was taken to hospital for treatment after the attack. Her condition worsened on Tuesday, and after she was admitted to hospital again, doctors found that she had lost her unborn baby as a result of the shock and fear caused by the attack, according to the statement.

Separately, the official Palestinian news agency WAFA said Israeli settlers attacked the outskirts of the town of Turmus Ayya, east of Ramallah, and its main entrance. The settlers also set fire to agricultural land and prevented residents from putting out the blaze.

Israeli Colonizers Attack Shepherds, Farms, and Homes In West Bank

IMEMC |July 22, 2026

Illegal paramilitary Israeli colonizers carried out multiple assaults on Palestinian residents and property, Wednesday, across the occupied West Bank, including Bethlehem, Nablus, and Salfit districts.

In the Bethlehem governorate, a heavily armed Israeli colonizer used his vehicle to ram a flock of sheep in the village of Al‑Rashayda, east of the city, killing two animals belonging to resident Saud Mohammad Hassan Rashayda.

Bader Rashayda, head of the village council, said colonizer attacks have sharply escalated, including chasing shepherds, preventing access to grazing areas, ramming residents, and attacking homes.

In Nablus, in the northern West Bank, colonizers attacked an agricultural facility in the “Qammas” area on the outskirts of Beita, south of the city.

Local sources said a group of colonizers, accompanied by Israeli soldiers, invaded the area, broke into the facility, and carried out extensive vandalism inside.

Soldiers fired live rounds, toxic gas, and concussion grenades at residents who attempted to repel the colonizers.

In Beita town, south of Nablus, Israeli colonizers rammed their vehicle into a Palestinian car in the al-Harayeq area, and assaulted them, wounding two. … continue

Soldiers raze Palestinian homes in West Bank towns of Nahalin and Za’atara

IMEMC |July 22, 2026

Israeli soldiers demolished multiple homes and structures on Wednesday during extensive invasions across the occupied West Bank, including the Bethlehem district and the town of Rafat north‑west of occupied Jerusalem.

In the Bethlehem governorate, soldiers invaded the towns of Nahalin and Za’tara and demolished five inhabited homes.

Troops stormed the “Sabiha” area of Nahalin, breaking into residential buildings and demolishing four homes belonging to Mahmoud Na’im Fannoun (two floors), Mahmoud Husni Shakarna (one floor), Malek Ribhi Najajra (one floor), and Jamil Mohammad Najajra.

Soldiers assaulted residents and fired gas bombs and concussion grenades, causing several cases of inhalation injuries.

Troops also abducted Subhi Mohammad Najajra, Maruf Mohammad Najajra, Fuad Jamil Najajra, Hanin Mahmoud Fannoun (39), the wife of Mahmoud Fannoun whose home was demolished, and Rezeq Shakarna after beating him. … Full article

Lethal Precision Without Accountability: Israeli Government “Quadcopter” Use in Gaza

By Dr. Mimi Syed | Costs of War | June 17, 2026

This report illustrates that the manner in which the Israeli military uses small tactical drones in Gaza as instruments of “precision warfare” has not reduced civilian harm but has intensified it. Dr. Mimi Syed, (Emergency Medicine Physician with direct experience in Gaza), Wes J. Bryant (Former U.S. Air Force special operations targeting expert and Pentagon advisor on precision warfare and civilian harm mitigation), Charles O. Blaha (retired former 32-year State Department official) and Stephanie Savell (Director of Costs of War) authored the report.

Medical imaging and forensic analysis of deaths and injuries treated by co-author Dr. Syed and her colleagues in Gaza between August and September 2024 suggest a pattern of highly precise and troubling applications of lethal force utilizing small tactical “sniper” drones against children. Ninety percent of the 18 cases of child death or injury by gunshots documented by Dr. Syed were reported to be fired by quadcopters, per witnesses who brought the injured or killed children into the hospital. Most of the wounds were caused by single small caliber rounds to the head, neck, chest, or abdomen. Given this pattern of single-shot precision, these types of wounds strongly suggest targeting that fails to discriminate civilians from combatants.

The report contains radiological images or forensic sketches of photographs for five specific cases that Dr. Syed documented between August to September 2024. These cases provide evidence of certain types of trauma patterns that suggest these children were shot by IDF quadcopters, noting that this casualty pattern likely extends beyond these five cases to many other cases of children killed and injured by Israeli military action.

Although there has been media coverage on the use of lethal force by small tactical drones in Gaza, no reports have yet been published with an interdisciplinary and methodologically rigorous approach. … Full report

Twelve Palestinians Killed as Israeli Attacks Escalate in Gaza

IMEMC |July 22, 2026

Israeli occupation forces killed twelve Palestinians and wounded many others across the Gaza Strip on Wednesday, as daily “ceasefire” violations continued for the 286th consecutive day.

The attacks included artillery shelling, drone strikes, live fire, and demolition operations in Gaza City, the central governorate, and Khan Younis, amid warnings from Palestinian authorities that the expanding Israeli military activity threatens to further destabilize the fragile ceasefire framework.

In Gaza City, Israeli tanks, and artillery intensified attacks in the Zeitoun neighborhood, firing shells and live rounds around Salahuddin Mosque and Doula Junction as armored vehicles advanced toward Abu Marahil and Dawla areas.

Israeli forces also carried out demolition operations east of the city and continued firing toward the Tuffah neighborhood.

In addition, medical officials confirmed the death of Abdullah Hassan, who succumbed to wounds sustained days earlier when Israeli forces targeted a civilian vehicle on Al‑Jalaa Street in Gaza city.

In the central Gaza Strip, Israeli drone strikes repeatedly targeted tents sheltering displaced families in the Nuseirat refugee camp. … Full article

Drone Strike, Shelling and Incursions: Israeli Enemy Steps Up Attacks in Southern Lebanon

Al-Manar | July 22, 2026

Israeli attacks proceed in southern Lebanon with drone strike, artillery shelling reported on Wednesday in Nabatieh region amid continued incursions and demolitions in other areas.

Al-Manar correspondent in southern Lebanon reported an Israeli drone strike in the town of Nabatieh Al-Fawqa.

Our correspondent reported, meanwhile, Israeli artillery shelling of the area of Ali Al-Taher, a contested hill where the Israeli enemy forces have been for weeks hardly attempting to control amid fierce resistance by Hezbollah fighters.

Our reporter said the Israeli enemy carried out sustained shelling of the area.

Demolition operations went ahead, meanwhile, with Israeli occupation forces carrying out a massive one in the town of Majdal Zoun, in Tyre district, according to our reporter.

In the neighboring town of Al-Mansouri, an Israeli light drone attack dropped a stun grenade, the correspondent added.

Elsewhere in Houla in Marjeyoun district, Al-Manar correspondent reported Israeli forces have been since the early morning hours of Wednesday bulldozing agricultural lands and homes on the western outskirts of the town, near Wadi Al-Slouqi.

Also in Marjeyoun district, Al-Manar reporter said that at around 11:00 PM on Tuesday, an Israeli force advanced to the outskirts of Burj Al-Mulouk, along the public road with Tal Al-Nhas, where it searched the home of Lebanese citizen Sh. N., inspected his mobile phone, questioned him, and confiscated his passport.

The force withdrew toward Tal Al-Nhas approximately an hour and a half later.

Lebanese return to US ‘pilot zones’ to discover Israeli ‘withdrawal’ a hoax

Press TV – July 22, 2026

Displaced Lebanese civilians have made their way back to southern towns designated by Washington as “pilot zones”, only to discover that the Israeli “withdrawal” they had been promised was nothing more than a carefully crafted ruse.

Scores of residents returned to the southern villages of Froun and Srifa on Tuesday after Washington announced the launch of the first “pilot zones” under the Lebanon-Israel Framework Agreement, which many Lebanese view as a disgraceful capitulation to Israeli demands.

Instead of witnessing an Israeli withdrawal, residents found that the zones, or at least most of them, “were never occupied by Israeli forces” to begin with.

“The inclusion of these villages is evidence that Israel is in fact not giving anything up, despite the framework agreement, and is instead able to remain in the other areas it has occupied,” villagers said.

Two Lebanese security sources confirmed the same narrative to Al Jazeera, stressing that two of the three designated “pilot zones” — Froun and Srifa — are simply not occupied.

Zawtar al-Gharbiya is the only one of the three where Israeli forces are actually present.

The US State Department officially launched the project on Monday, declaring that “pilot zone operations began in the villages of Froun, Srifa, and Zawtar al-Gharbiya in accordance with the Trilateral Framework”.

But on the ground, the reality was starkly different. Fierce resistance from Hezbollah prevented occupation forces from pushing into both Froun and al-Ghandourieh during the initial weeks of heavy fighting, a fact confirmed by local officials and correspondents on the ground.

Residents pointed to the sheer absurdity of the arrangement. “Israel is not giving anything up,” residents said. “Israel wants to sell us and the state empty walnut shells, calling it a pilot zone, when they never even entered it in the first place,” one local told Al Jazeera.

Rejecting his town’s designation as a pilot zone, the mayor of Ghandouriyeh said Israeli forces had never reached the area, asking, “How can they withdraw from an area where they are not present?”

The revelation that Israel is being credited with “withdrawing” from areas it never occupied underscores the utter humiliation of the US-brokered agreement signed between Lebanon and Israel.

Critics say the illegal deal, not endorsed by parliament, violates Lebanese law and effectively hands away Lebanon’s sovereignty in return for absolutely nothing.

Under the Framework Agreement, Israeli forces are to withdraw in phases while the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) deploy into designated areas. … Full article

Jordanians urge government to scrap US military deal amid war on Iran

Al Mayadeen | July 22, 2026

Jordanian national, political, cultural, intellectual, and tribal figures have issued a statement calling for the withdrawal of foreign forces from Jordanian territory, arguing that their presence exposes the country to security, political, and economic risks and increases the likelihood of Jordan becoming embroiled in regional wars.

The signatories called on the Jordanian government to withdraw from the security and military agreement concluded with the United States and submit it to the National Assembly, “out of respect for the rights of Jordanians, their legislative councils, and civil society institutions, to cancel or restrict the agreement and allow Jordanian public opinion to examine the obligations that may affect the state’s sovereignty and national security.”

The statement also called for “neutralizing all Jordanian strategic facilities, foremost among them airports, ports, military bases, and vital installations, and not using them in any military, security, or logistical operations connected to the war of aggression being waged against the peoples of the region, in a manner that safeguards Jordan’s security and spares it the consequences of any confrontation.”

The signatories noted that Jordan “is not a party to this war” and should not bear its consequences, pointing out that the continued escalation is having a negative impact on the national economy, internal stability, and political relations with several countries in the region.

At the same time, the statement expressed pride in the Jordanian Army, calling for “its national doctrine to remain directed toward defending the homeland and its holy sites in confronting the Zionist enemy, branded with genocide, displacement, and expansion,” while recalling its historic role in the battles of Karameh, Bab al-Wad, and Latrun, as well as at the walls of occupied al-Quds and elsewhere, in defense of Palestine and Jordan.

The signatories called on the Jordanian authorities to take immediate and practical steps to keep the kingdom out of the war, safeguard its sovereignty, protect its security and stability, and preserve its independent national decision-making by pursuing a policy of neutrality based on refraining from involvement in any military or logistical activity that serves any party to the conflict.

Calls for immediate steps to avoid alignment under US umbrella

The signatories concluded the statement by calling on the Jordanian authorities to take immediate and practical steps to ensure that Jordan remains neutral in the war, safeguard its sovereignty, protect its security and stability, and preserve its independent decision-making.

They also stressed the need for their country to avoid the “dangers of alignment under the American umbrella“, emphasizing the importance of pursuing a policy based on “not engaging in any military or logistical activity that serves any party”. … Full article

Yemen closes the other gate: Bab al-Mandab turns against Riyadh

Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea outlet offered a lifeline as Hormuz tightened. Riyadh’s renewed escalation against Yemen now threatens that escape route.

By Aidan J. Simardone | The Cradle | July 22, 2026

… Given the scale of the economic damage now confronting the kingdom and its already limited alternatives, Saudi Arabia is likely to respond harshly against Yemen. Its Yemeni proxy, the Presidential Leadership Council (PLC), is stronger than ever after the defeat of the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC).

But while Saudi Arabia can inflict a heavy toll on Yemen, it cannot defeat the Ansarallah-aligned army. A decade of sustained attacks and punishing blockades has failed to weaken the Yemeni resistance or force it into submission. The US campaign against the country also ended in defeat, with Washington signing a “ceasefire” – in reality, a surrender – in May 2025.

Yemen can impose severe costs in return. A single drone or missile strike on the East–West Pipeline could send Saudi Arabia’s oil-diversion strategy up in smoke. Repeated attacks on port cities such as Yanbu, which handles 75 percent of oil exports, or on a major hub such as King Khalid International Airport could also disrupt commerce.

Saudi Arabia could, of course, lift its blockade, prompting Sanaa to do the same. But Riyadh would view this as surrender and is unlikely to accept it readily. Conflict is therefore increasingly difficult to avoid. Yet Yemen does not stand alone at the edge of the precipice. Saudi Arabia, the Persian Gulf states, and the global economy are there with it. – Full article

Pakistan ‘reserves right’ of military action to confront Yemeni blockade of Saudi Arabia

The Cradle | July 22, 2026

The Pakistani Foreign Office announced on 22 July that an attack on any ship flying the country’s flag, or on its shipping interests, would be treated as an assault on the state itself following Yemen’s declaration of a maritime blockade against Saudi Arabia in the Red Sea.

“Pakistan reaffirms that any hostile act against Pakistani-flagged vessels or Pakistani maritime interests will be regarded as a grave threat to Pakistan’s national security and sovereign interests,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Islamabad released a statement, claiming a right of armed response. “Consistent with the Charter of the United Nations and international law, Pakistan reserves its right to take all necessary measures, including lawful use of force, in the exercise of self-defense to protect its maritime assets and national interests.”

The Foreign Office “unequivocally” condemned the continued threats issued by Yemen’s Ansarallah against Saudi Arabia and against commercial traffic in the Red Sea, adding that Islamabad was “particularly concerned by reports of threats directed against vessels engaged in lawful commercial trade” with the kingdom.

Threats of that kind, it said, are “unacceptable and violate established principles of international law.”

“Such actions threaten regional security, undermine freedom of navigation, challenge the rules-based maritime order and jeopardize uninterrupted flow of global commerce,” the ministry said.

This comes as the Ansarallah-led Yemeni Armed Forces (YAF) announced on 20 July a full ban on all Saudi shipping, effective immediately upon the statement’s issuance and imposed in response to more than a decade of war and blockade waged on Yemen by the kingdom.

The YAF said the measure rests on the principle of blockade for blockade… Full article

Pakistan thought it won the peace. Now, it could be dragged into war.

By Elfadil Ibrahim | Responsible Statecraft | July 22, 2026

Four weeks ago, Pakistan looked like one of the biggest winners of the U.S.-Iran war.

Its army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, shuttled between Washington, Tehran and Gulf capitals for months. As part of his efforts, Pakistan hosted the first face-to-face U.S.-Iran talks in years and helped broker the Islamabad memorandum of understanding that Vice President JD Vance signed in June, thanking Munir and calling him one of the “very, very important people” in his life.

Islamabad hired a Washington lobbying firm to convert that goodwill into defense cooperation and minerals investment, and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif spoke of a “sun of progress and prosperity” for Pakistan’s chronically stressed economy after the MoU between the U.S.and Iran brought an end to major military operations.

Pakistan’s fortunes have since reversed. Fighting between Washington and Tehran has resumed, and Islamabad’s dual goals of being Iran’s trusted interlocutor and the Arab Gulf states’ security guarantor are once again at odds. … continue

Iran will destroy multiple energy facilities for every bridge, power plant struck by US: Report

Press TV – July 22, 2026

A senior Iranian military source has warned that any attack by the United States on Iranian bridges or power plants will face a devastating response targeting multiple infrastructure and energy facilities across the region where America has interests.

The warning came after US President Donald Trump threatened to destroy one Iranian bridge or power plant for each Iranian attack on a ship in the Strait of Hormuz.

“From this point forward, any time the Islamic Republic of Iran shoots at a ship in the Strait of Hormuz, whether it be by Missile, Rocket, Drone, or any other device or weapon, the United States will bomb and destroy ONE BRIDGE OR POWER PLANT,” Trump wrote on social media.

In response, the Iranian military source told Tasnim News Agency that Tehran has an “iron will” in exercising its sovereignty over the strategic waterway and will never allow the Strait to once again become a threat against Iran. … continue

Trump’s MAGA base sours on Iran war as costs keep mounting

Al Mayadeen | July 22, 2026

Support for the war on Iran is declining among President Donald Trump’s most loyal supporters, with a new POLITICO poll showing a sharp drop in the share of MAGA voters who believe the war is worth its economic costs.

In May, half of self-identified MAGA Trump voters said the war was worth the financial burden. That figure has now fallen by 13 points to just over one-third, according to the poll conducted by independent polling firm Public First.

The shift suggests that Trump’s core supporters are increasingly aligning with the broader American public, which has largely opposed continued US involvement in the war. … Full article

Trump’s bombing campaign in Iran just sinks U.S. into a deeper quagmire

By Martin Jay | Strategic Culture Foundation | July 22, 2026

The coming days and weeks will see Trump lower himself in the acid bath of what analysts call the ‘escalation trap’. Many analysts comment that he has already fallen on his sword in the Iran war, as his fantasy of bringing Tehran to its knees – served up by Israel’s PM Netanyahu – has proved to be the greatest deception in U.S.-Israeli relations since the birth of the entity in 1948. He has, to many, lost the war, which was really the essence of him signing the MOU on June 17th, agreeing in principle to all of the points of unconditional surrender, making Iran a bigger, bolder regional power which now controls the Straits of Hormuz and is revered by the GCC elites like never before.

Yet his own lack of diplomatic verve both with Western leaders, NATO and above all Benjamin Netanyahu made his signature worthless, and his only recourse was to continue the war, to at least make it look like he is still relevant.

But this gambit, which is foolish on so many levels – not least of all because the U.S. is very low on military hardware used up between February 28th and April 7th – is more reckless than he understands and will soon destroy him. … continue

PM Burnham approves continued US use of UK bases for aggression against Iran

Press TV – July 22, 2026

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham has approved the continued use of British military bases by the United States for military aggression against Iran, maintaining a policy established under his predecessor, Keir Starmer.

The decision revealed on Tuesday followed a meeting of senior ministers and “security officials” held before Burnham took office, during which officials agreed that the United States could continue using the Diego Garcia base in the Indian Ocean and RAF Fairford in England for operations the UK describes as “defensive.”

Burnham, who became prime minister earlier this week, was briefed on those discussions after taking office and endorsed the policy.

The decision means British military facilities are expected to support, what London insists to describe as, “some” ongoing US strikes. … Full article

US Threats Against Iran’s Nuclear Facilities Violate International Law – Iranian Foreign Ministry

Sputnik – 22.07.2026

Statements from the US that it might bomb Iran’s nuclear facilities violate international law, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said on Wednesday.

“The repeated US attacks and threats against Iran’s peaceful nuclear facilities not only constitute a flagrant violation of the core principles of the UN Charter, international law, and the relevant resolutions of the IAEA Board of Governors, General Conference, and UN Security Council, but also reveal the United States’ deep-rooted enmity toward Iran’s scientific progress and technological development,” Baghaei wrote on X.

Iran does not conduct any nuclear activities in the area of the Kuh-e Kolang Gaz La Mountain, otherwise known as “Pickaxe,” which the United States wants to strike, the diplomat said, adding that the relevant remarks are just an excuse for more aggression.

On July 21, US President Donald Trump threatened to attack Iran’s Pickaxe Mountain, where, per Israeli intelligence assessments, a fortified nuclear enrichment facility is located.

The US has been conducting strikes against Iran since July 8, in violation of the provisions of the memorandum of understanding signed on June 17.

US directly involved in Ukrainian strikes on Russia – Lavrov

RT | July 22, 2026

The US is directly participating in Ukrainian strikes against targets inside Russia by supplying weapons, intelligence, and communications support to Kiev, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said.

Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, Lavrov rejected Western claims that Russia and China were allegedly supplying Iran with weapons used to attack American military facilities.

He accused Washington of hypocrisy, pointing to its own role in the Ukraine conflict.

“The Americans, through arms supplies paid for by the European Union, the provision of intelligence, the Starlink system and much more, are not simply helping, but are directly participating in guiding Ukrainian weapons toward targets, including civilian targets, on Russian territory,” Lavrov said. … Full article

Ukraine hits two more Russian retailer warehouses

“Intentional attacks directed against civilians and civilian objects constitute a war crime under international humanitarian law”

RT | July 22, 2026

Ukrainian drones have again struck two logistics centers operated by Russian online retailer Wildberries, this time in southern Russia, leaving one employee dead and multiple others injured, according to the regional authorities. A separate attack on an oil depot in Armavir killed another worker and sparked a major fire.

Wildberries, often called the Russian version of Amazon, is one of the country’s most popular online retailers. Its founder Tatyana Kim confirmed on Wednesday that the company’s facilities in Krasnodar and Nevinnomyssk in Stavropol Region had been targeted overnight. Both complexes were evacuated and their operations suspended while emergency crews worked at the sites.

“Our priority is people,” Kim wrote. “I thank our team and our heroes who carried out the prompt evacuation. According to preliminary information there are unfortunately casualties. We will provide all the necessary assistance.”

Ten employees were injured at the retailer’s Krasnodar warehouse, according to Governor Veniamin Kondratyev. He said a young woman injured in the strike later died, adding that three other victims remain in a hospital, while the warehouse fire has been localized. … continue

Ukrainian human rights commissioner warns of growing public anger at forced conscription

By Ahmed Adel | July 22, 2026

Ukrainian society is approaching a violent confrontation with its political leadership because of the apparent shortcomings of current mobilization efforts, said Dmitry Lubinets, Ukraine’s Verkhovna Rada (unicameral parliament) Human Rights Commissioner. In a recent TV interview, Lubinets warned that rising tensions could spiral into chaos if not addressed promptly.

Lubinets noted a rise in public criticism of the mobilization process, with many Ukrainians deeply angered by the aggressive tactics the Territorial Recruitment Centers use. He cautioned that unless reforms are implemented, Ukraine could face worsening social divisions and even violent confrontations between civilians and authorities.

The ombudsman explained that Ukrainian citizens notice the lack of legal accountability for the actions of recruitment officers. As a result, citizens are taking matters into their own hands, which could potentially lead to escalated conflicts and greater instability in the future. This self-help approach, Lubinets said, reflects a breakdown in trust between the population and state institutions responsible for defense matters.

Lubinets expressed concern over the high levels of desertion and evasion occurring even before soldiers reach the front. Many conscripts reportedly escape from enlistment centers or while being transported to training sites. He noted several instances of unauthorized desertion from assigned positions. As a result, although official records may indicate a growing army, the real number of active combat-ready troops is decreasing. This gap highlights significant inefficiencies and morale issues within the military. … continue

The Zumwalt-class destroyer is an ever-growing boondoggle

By Stavroula Pabst | Responsible Statecraft | July 22, 2026

After ten years of upgrades, repairs, and program-related issues, the lead Zumwalt-class destroyer is finally returning to service this September. But it will have to go without the hypersonic missiles many hoped would give the troubled program a purpose.

Thanks to ongoing modernization efforts, the lead Zumwalt-class destroyer now has a launcher, making it the Navy’s first hypersonic strike ship. But the missiles themselves will not be tested until next year, as the Conventional Prompt Strike (CPS) hypersonic missile rollout is about two years behind schedule.

Experts tell RS the problem is par for the course for the Zumwalt program. … continue

Andy Burn ’Em, Britain’s new PM, wants to end homelessness by fueling militarism and war

By Finian Cunningham | Strategic Culture Foundation | July 22, 2026

Andy Burnham took over as British prime minister this week, promising to bring “hope and change” to poverty-stricken Britain amid a political crisis in which public contempt for governing parties is at record levels.

In his first speech outside 10 Downing Street on Monday, Burnham said: “I will put the care of people at the heart of everything I do… Let us make this the moment when Britain starts to believe again, the moment we bring back hope.”

British media headlines were swooning over this supposed radical new beginning for Britain. At 56 years old, Burnham brings a fresh face to tired British politics.

Notably, he said his top priority was to end “rough sleeping” on the streets for thousands of homeless Britons. And he announced a budget of £340 million (€400 m, $450 m) over the next five years to fix the problem by building affordable homes.

This apparent commitment to improving social conditions may sound laudable. It buffs Burnham’s image as a caring politician on the side of working-class Britons. He likes to talk about his North of England credentials and empathy for popular concerns during his tenure as Mayor of Greater Manchester (2017-2026).

But let’s put his homeless budget in a realistic context. On his first day in Downing Street, Burnham also made Britain’s military support for Ukraine another of his priorities. He said there would be “one hundred per cent” continuation of the policy under his predecessor Keir Starmer that made Britain one of the most gung-ho backers of the Kiev regime in NATO’s proxy war against Russia. … continue

China hawks are losing the public opinion battle

Despite a Beltway push for confrontation, polls show that average Americans want a normal relationship with Beijing

By Frank Yuwen Chen | Responsible Statecraft | July 22, 2026

It sometimes seems easier to imagine the end of the world than the end of Washington’s anti-China obsession.

Congressional Republicans, on one side, are championing a staggering $1.5 trillion Pentagon budget that would cannibalize domestic programs to “deter China.” Meanwhile, many of their Democratic colleagues are attacking President Donald Trump due to his apparent lack of enthusiasm for confronting China.

Yet under the surface, a crack is widening between how Beltway elites talk about China and how ordinary Americans view the U.S.-China relationship. In particular, younger Americans are roundly rejecting tough-on-China politics. Over time, this chasm will challenge the very foundation of Washington’s indefinite strategic competition with Beijing.

While the Blob whips itself into an anti-China frenzy, Americans are backing away from the so-called “China consensus.” Over the past two years, national surveys by reputable pollsters have consistently found that Americans are warming up in their views on China and seeking closer ties between the two superpowers. There are reasons to believe this trend will continue. … continue