Aletho News

Doctors Are Dangerous

An Essay on the First Leading Cause of Death

Lies are Unbekoming | July 24, 2026

… The doctor is not the third leading cause of death. The doctor is the first. … Read full article

US, British intelligence behind Ukraine’s military leadership purge: Ex-Ukrainian PM

Press TV – July 26, 2026

Former Ukrainian Prime Minister Nikolay Azarov says the recent changes in Ukraine’s military command and the campaign to reinstate former Defense Minister Mykhailo Fyodorov were orchestrated by US and British intelligence services rather than driven by domestic protests.

Azarov made the remarks on Sunday, saying Western intelligence agencies, acting under the broader political direction of Washington and London, were behind the replacement of Commander-in-Chief Alexander Syrsky and efforts to restore Fyodorov as defense minister.

“One should not think that it was the ‘Cardboard Maidan’ that pushed Zelensky to do something,” Azarov told TASS.

He said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s decisions were inspired primarily by his foreign “curators,” adding that British and American intelligence services “work in a very coordinated manner.”

According to Azarov, strategic decisions concerning Ukraine are shaped in Washington, and intelligence agencies carry out their implementation.

Both the US and Britain continue to play the leading role in directing political and military developments in Ukraine, he argued. … Full article

UK keeps Venezuela’s gold frozen despite earthquake catastrophe

Al Mayadeen | July 26, 2026

The United Kingdom continues to deny Venezuela access to approximately 31 tonnes of its own gold, worth around $4 billion, even as the South American nation struggles to recover from twin earthquakes that killed more than 5,000 people and caused tens of billions of dollars in damage.

According to an explainer published by CNN, the gold remains inaccessible because the British government continues to refuse to recognize the Venezuelan authorities requesting its release.

The bullion remains locked inside the Bank of England’s heavily guarded underground vaults, years after British authorities prevented Caracas from retrieving the reserves amid a politically driven dispute over which Venezuelan administration London was prepared to recognize.

The humanitarian catastrophe has failed to move British authorities toward releasing the Venezuelan property.
London places recognition policy above immediate survival, recovery needs

Instead, billions of dollars that could finance homes, hospitals, infrastructure, emergency assistance, and employment remain immobilized in London, while thousands of Venezuelans mourn their relatives or remain displaced by the June 24 disaster. … Full article

The spark in Tell: How a village resistance disrupted Israel’s West Bank strategy

By Ramzy Baroud | MEMO | July 25, 2026

During a military raid on the small town of Tell, southwest of Nablus, a moment of direct defiance shattered the illusion of total Palestinian submission.

Faced with relentless military incursions, land confiscation, and settler harassment and violence, local villagers and farmers refused to retreat.

In the confrontation that followed, a single Palestinian disarmed an Israeli soldier and opened fire on the invading forces near the illegal Havat Gilad settlement outpost, killing two soldiers and wounding three others.

What followed was the predictable, unyielding fury of the occupation: Israeli forces and state-backed armed settlers immediately launched a series of raids across Tell and neighboring communities, killing four Palestinians, setting fire to homes, and converting residential buildings into field interrogation centers.

In a swift collective punishment campaign, Israeli occupation troops detained over 70 Palestinians—including more than 40 in Tell alone—while expanding military incursions into Jenin, Tubas, Tulkarm, Ramallah, Hebron (Al-Khalil), Bethlehem, and Jericho.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz promptly ordered a “wide-scale military operation,” while UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese unequivocally condemned the combined army-settler assaults as “pogroms against defenseless civilians,” reiterating calls for an immediate arms embargo and trade sanctions against Israel.

Yet to understand the spark in Tell, one must understand the explosive pressure cooker that the occupied West Bank has become. … continue

Jewish settlers rampage through West Bank, burning two mosques and several vehicles

Palestinian Information Center – July 26, 2026

Extremist Jewish settlers escalated their terrorist attacks in the occupied West Bank early Sunday, burning two mosques, torching vehicles, assaulting residents, and even blocking an ambulance.

According to media sources, a horde of settlers stormed the town of Qusra, south of Nablus, and set fire to the al‑Rahma Mosque after scrawling racist Hebrew graffiti on its walls, burning large parts of the building.

In southern Tulkarem, settlers set fire to the mosque of Kur, south of Tulkarem, and wrote racist slogans and threats on its walls.

The settlers also attacked the Ein Samia quarry south of al-Mughayir village, east of Ramallah, where they set fire to several heavy-duty vehicles and assaulted workers and guards, injuring some of them.

Another group of settlers raided Beitillu village near Ramallah, torching a number of cars belonging to local residents.

In a separate incident, settlers attempted to set fire to a house in the town of Beit Furik in eastern Nablus after writing racist graffiti on walls. A local guard committee reportedly confronted them and forced them to leave.

Settlers also intercepted an ambulance transporting a patient near the illegal Karnei Shomron settlement east of Qalqilya, forcing it to turn back. Others pelted Palestinian vehicles with stones near the illegal Mitzpe Jericho settlement southwest of Jericho.

Rights group details harrowing treatment of Palestinian women at Damon

Al Mayadeen – July 26, 2026

The Palestinian Prisoners’ Media Office reported that the Israeli Prison Service’s suppression unit carried out a brutal crackdown against Palestinian female detainees at Damon Prison on Friday.

The Office said female detainees at Damon Prison were forced to lie face down for nearly an hour with their hands bound and eyes blindfolded during the raid, adding that “their screams and cries for help echoed throughout the prison wing after they were subjected to tear gas, physical assault, and beatings.”

The Palestinian Prisoners’ Media Office stated that prison authorities subsequently placed several female detainees in solitary confinement following the crackdown, amid insults and abusive language directed at them during the assault.

The Office also pointed to the spread of allergies and skin rashes among female detainees at Damon Prison due to extreme heat and poor detention conditions.

The 94 female detainees held at Damon Prison have, in recent months, been subjected to repeated crackdowns marked by physical and psychological abuse, as well as degrading treatment and rights violations, amid increasingly harsh detention conditions. … Full article

Two Palestinians killed, others injured in Israeli attacks in Gaza

Palestinian Information Center – July 26, 2026

Two Palestinian citizens were martyred and others were injured in fresh Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip on Sunday, while another citizen succumbed to injuries sustained in an earlier strike.

According to media sources, two officers were assassinated and seven people were wounded when Israeli aircraft fired three missiles at a vehicle in the al-Birka area of Deir al-Balah in central Gaza.

The interior ministry in Gaza identified the two martyrs as Wael al-Laddawi, director of the internal security service in the central governorate, and his escort, Ramez Abu Zureiq.

For their part, medical sources announced that a citizen, identified as Suleiman Sahmoud, died of injuries sustained yesterday in an Israeli strike near Street 5 in Khan Yunis.

A little girl was also wounded by Israeli gunfire near the Jabalia Martyrs Healthcare Center in northern Gaza.

Meanwhile, widespread military activity, including demolitions, shooting incidents, artillery shelling, and airstrikes, was reported across Gaza today.

Netanyahu: Israeli Army Hasn’t Withdrawn from Any Inch of “Yellow Zone” in South Lebanon

Al-Manar | July 26, 2026

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu said that, contrary to what is being circulated by mass media, the occupation forces have not withdrawn from the original “yellow zone” in Lebanon by even a millimeter.

The “yellow zone” is a term used by the enemy authorities and refers to the area controlled by the Zionist occupation forces in South Lebanon.

Netanyahu added, “Regarding the two pilot zones: in one of them, we didn’t have a single soldier, so we didn’t withdraw from a place where we were never present.”

“In the second zone, north of the Litani River, we were not present in most of it at all, and in the remaining part, we temporarily controlled territory outside the original yellow line. Therefore, we are maintaining the original security zone and have not moved out from it.”

Continued Israeli aggression obstructs LAF deployment: Lebanese Army

Al Mayadeen | July 26, 2026

Israeli attacks are obstructing the completion of Lebanese Army deployment in southern Lebanon, the Lebanese Army said Sunday.

“The Lebanese Army confirmed that the continued Israeli assaults are hindering the completion of the deployment of its units in southern Lebanon according to existing understandings,” the military said in a statement, adding that “these violations prevent the implementation of the agreed-upon commitments.”

The army further noted in its statement that the ongoing Israeli attacks are preventing residents from returning to their villages and towns and are impeding the establishment of stability in the southern regions. It reiterated its commitment to carrying out its duties in accordance with the applicable understandings.
Israeli forces sustain aggression on southern Lebanon

Israeli forces continued their attacks on towns in southern Lebanon. On Saturday, they burned and detonated a number of houses in the Saf al-Hawa area of Bint Jbeil and on the road leading to the town of Ainatha, as part of a policy of destruction targeting villages and towns along the front-line edge.

In the Tyre district, Al Mayadeen’s correspondent reported that Israeli forces carried out a new detonation in the town of Majdal Zoun, coinciding with patrol operations using automatic weapons near a Lebanese Army position between the towns of Majdal Zoun and Mansouri. … Full article

Israeli forces launch artillery shells at agricultural lands in Syria’s Quneitra

Press TV – July 26, 2026

Israeli occupation forces have carried out military offensives in the countryside of Syria’s southwestern province of Quneitra near the occupied strategic Golan Heights, launching artillery shells at agricultural lands in the region.

The local al-Ikhbariyah Syria television news channel reported that the forces hit areas close to the village of Tarnajah on Sunday, but did not provide any details about possible casualties and the extent of damage caused.

According to the broadcaster, Israeli troops also moved forward before sunrise towards the villages of Maariya and al-Ardah located in the Yarmouk Basin region of western Dara’a.

The report said the military force, made up of three vehicles and a bulldozer, moved into the area, opened a road, and set up a checkpoint within the village of al-Ardah.

The developments come as visiting UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is anticipated to visit the UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) in the occupied Golan Heights to help oversee adherence to the ceasefire agreement between Syria’s HTS regime and Israel. … Full article

Sharaa Dismisses Military Intervention in Lebanon: Syria Looks for Security Agreement with ‘Israel’

Al-Manar | July 26, 2026

The Syrian interim President Ahmad Al-Sharaa dismissed any military intervention in Lebanon, highlighting contacts with the Lebanese government to discuss solutions that will help bring Lebanon to safety.

In a televised interview, Al-Sharaa said, “The Lebanese solution may not be military; anarchy in Lebanon will affect Syria.”

We are afraid of the expansion of the war zone in the region and seek a security agreement with ‘Israel’, he said.

The security agreement with ‘Israel’ will not include concession of right to occupied Golan Heights, Al-Sharaa added.

Syria’s relations with Iraq are witnessing a steady progress, Al-Sharaa said.

Suspension of attacks on Iran not enough, war must end: Russia

Press TV – July 26, 2026

A senior Russian foreign ministry official has called for a permanent end to the US war of aggression against Iran, saying that Washington’s plans to expand attacks must be cancelled for good.

Mikhail Ulyanov, who serves as Russia’s Permanent Representative to International Organizations in Vienna, said on Sunday that the United States has to accept that it has failed to reach its objectives by launching a military aggression against Iran.

“To suspend plans to expand strikes on Iran is not enough. Those plans must be cancelled. It is high time to recognise that this conflict has no military solution,” Ulyanov said in a post on his X account.

The comments came after reports emerged that the US has run short of military stockpiles, causing it to suspend plans for a large-scale aggression against Iran.

The reports published in the US media have pointed to pressure on stockpiles of Patriot interceptors and other defensive weapons that the US needs to fend off extensive Iranian missile and drone attacks on its military bases in the West Asia region.

That comes as US President Donald Trump has continuously threatened Iran with an escalation in attacks. … continue

India’s reluctance to confront US over Chabahar attacks exposes contradictions in its Iran policy: Journalist

Press TV – July 26, 2026

India’s continued reluctance to openly challenge Washington despite the recent US attacks on Iran, including the strategic coastal city of Chabahar, has exposed the contradictions at the heart of New Delhi’s foreign policy, says an Indian journalist and foreign policy analyst.

Speaking to the Press TV website, Sanjay Kapoor, founder and editor of Hardnews magazine and president of the Editors Guild of India, said India’s approach towards Chabahar has never been independent of US policy on Iran, noting that New Delhi has consistently calibrated its engagement with the strategic Iranian port around Washington’s broader regional strategy.

“India decided to take up the Chabahar project only after then US President Barack Obama had signed the JCPOA and there was a global attempt to normalise ties with Iran,” Kapoor said.

He noted that India, like many other countries, had also severed its energy relationship with Iran after Washington instructed New Delhi to stop purchasing Iranian oil, underscoring India’s willingness to accommodate American concerns over the Islamic Republic.

“India also cut energy ties with Iran after the US told New Delhi to stop buying Persian oil. In other words, India has been mindful of US concerns on Iran,” he stated.

Kapoor said the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government in New Delhi has simultaneously cultivated close strategic relations with Israel, a policy that has further aligned India’s foreign policy with that of Washington. … continue

Yemeni Armed Forces shoot down Saudi-operated Bayraktar drone

Al Mayadeen | July 26, 2026

The Yemeni armed forces announced on Sunday that their air defenses shot down a Turkish-made “Bayraktar Akinci” armed reconnaissance drone, which they said belongs to “the Saudi enemy,” while it was conducting “hostile operations” in the airspace of Al-Jawf province.

Brigadier General Yahya Saree, the spokesperson for the Yemeni Armed Forces (YAF), stated that the drone was downed using appropriate weaponry, affirming that the YAF “will confront any attempt to breach the country’s sovereignty.”

Saree added that the forces possess “the capabilities and means” enabling them to face any threats, stressing their continued defense of Yemeni airspace and sovereignty. … Full article

Kheibar Shekan, a formidable weapon in Iran’s missile arsenal: WSJ

Press TV – July 25, 2026

A report by the Wall Street Journal has shown how Iran has used an inexpensive but accurate and powerful missile to destroy US bases in the West Asia region in recent days.

The WSJ report, published earlier this week, said that Kheibar Shekan had emerged as a central element of a resilient Iranian strategy that poses a persistent and cost-effective threat to US forces and allies in the region.

The report described the Kheibar Shekan as the workhorse of Iran’s arsenal, capable of carrying a maneuverable warhead designed to evade air defenses.

The solid-fuel, medium-range ballistic missile has a satellite-guidance system and a range of at least 900 miles (approximately 1,450 km), it said, adding that the missile’s solid-fuel design allows for rapid deployment and launch from mobile launchers. […]

The WSJ report said … that Iran has been analyzing past attacks and adapting its tactics, including using a combination of high-speed drones and simpler missiles to saturate and overwhelm air defenses.

It said the production cost of each Kheibar Shekan missile is significantly lower than that of American and Israeli interceptors, which can cost between $2 million and $15 million per interceptor depending on the system.

This cost asymmetry makes Iran’s strategy economically sustainable for Tehran while being very expensive for its adversaries, the report said. – Full article

IRGC breaks down US military losses over 15 days of Iranian strikes

Al Mayadeen| July 25, 2026

Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) spokesperson Hussein Mohebbi outlined US military losses during fifteen days of retaliatory Iranian strikes on US bases across the region, in response to US aggression on the country launched from these bases. … continue

Iranian strikes have forced US to halt, revisit regional strategy: Army spokesman

Press TV – July 25, 2026

Iran’s decisive retaliatory strikes in the face of the United States’ violations have forced Washington to halt and revisit its regional strategy, Army spokesman says.

Brigadier General Mohammad Akraminia made the remarks during a televised interview on Saturday, stating that coordinated operations by the Army and the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), including airstrikes, missile strikes, and drone operations against US positions in Kuwait, Qatar, and Erbil, Iraq, have brought Washington’s regional strategy to a halt and forced it to alter its strategic approach. … continue

Ukraine attacks Iranian ship, kills sailor – Tehran

RT | July 25, 2026

At least one sailor was killed and another injured in a Ukrainian strike on a cargo vessel in the Caspian Sea, the Iranian Foreign Ministry has said, denouncing the attack as an act of aggression and warning of potential retaliation.

The drone attack was publicized on Saturday by Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky, who bragged on X about achieving “very strong results with long‑range strikes in the Caspian Sea.” The strikes affected “vessels used in military cargo shipments involving Iran, as well as a warship,” Zelensky claimed on X.

Tehran responded to the incident later in the day, confirming its commercial vessel came under the “Ukrainian regime’s attack” in the landlocked waterway. The strike killed one sailor aboard the vessel and wounded another one, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement without providing any details on the extent of the damage sustained by the ship. … continue

Germany declines to disclose intel on Nord Stream sabotage – media

RT | July 25, 2026

The German government has refused to clarify whether it received warnings ahead of the Nord Stream sabotage, Ostdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung (OAZ) reported on Friday, citing a written response to an opposition lawmaker.

Anna Rathert, an MP from the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, asked the chancellor’s office whether it received any information from foreign intelligence agencies before the twin pipelines, which were built to deliver Russian gas to Germany via the Baltic Sea, were bombed in September 2022. She also asked why the government had not taken any precautions.

In the document, which was obtained by the outlet, the government said the issue “touches on the national interest to a particularly high degree” and could jeopardize “the trusting cooperation” between Germany and its allies. The document added that the response should be treated as “neither confirming nor denying” the matter.

According to OAZ, the chancellery refused to provide the information through a special parliamentary procedure that allows classified data to be shared with MPs under strict security protocols. Rathert told the outlet that she considers the response a sign that Berlin is concealing information. … Full article

Israeli FM led efforts to oust ICC prosecutor Karim Khan: Report

Israel has run a decade-long covert campaign against the ICC to block the prosecution of Israeli officials and military officers

The Cradle | July 25, 2026

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar played an active role in efforts to oust Karim Khan, the former head prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), i24 News reported on 25 July.

Guy Azriel, the diplomatic correspondent for the Israeli news outlet, cited a government official as saying, “Saar oversaw a dedicated task force and employed intensive diplomatic efforts aimed at securing Khan’s removal from office.”

The revelation comes after member States of the ICC dismissed Khan following disciplinary proceedings related to allegations of sexual misconduct.

The vote took place at an emergency session at UN Headquarters in New York on Friday. […]

This is not the first time Israel has targeted ICC prosecutors.

In May 2024, The Guardian reported that Mossad director Yossi Cohen had been personally involved in a secret plot to pressure Khan’s predecessor, chief prosecutor Fatou Bensouda, to drop an investigation into Israeli war crimes in the occupied Palestinian West Bank and Gaza.

An Israeli source said that “the Mossad’s objective was to compromise the prosecutor or enlist her as someone who would cooperate with Israel’s demands.”

Cohen’s efforts included threatening her family. “You should help us and let us take care of you. You don’t want to be getting into things that could compromise your security or that of your family,” the Mossad chief reportedly told her. … Full article

Israel shifts from AIPAC-style lobbying to foreign agents to expand US influence: Report

Press TV – July 25, 2026

Israel is reportedly moving away from relying primarily on traditional US-based lobbying organizations such as the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) and instead hiring foreign agents and public relations firms to expand its influence operations in the United States.

According to a new report by the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, authored by Nick Cleveland-Stout, a research associate in the institute’s Democratizing Foreign Policy program, Israel has spent more than $1 billion on global public diplomacy efforts since 2023.

The amount, the report said, includes more than $100 million on influence activities in the United States disclosed under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA).

The report added 17 new firms registered under FARA to represent Israeli interests in 2024 and 2025.

Among them is Clock Tower X, the consulting firm founded by former Donald Trump campaign manager Brad Parscale, which secured a $46.5 million contract—the largest disclosed agreement.

The report said Clock Tower X disclosed efforts to promote pro-Israel narratives in the training data used by large language models through a network of websites designed to influence AI chatbots, including ChatGPT.

The report also states that Israel spent millions of dollars on social media campaigns and influencer partnerships.

According to FARA filings reviewed by the Quincy Institute, influencer Yoav Davis, who manages the Instagram account @jews_of_ny, received $161,000, while public affairs firm Bridges Partners was paid $900,000 to compensate more than a dozen influencers, none of whom have registered as foreign agents. … Full article

Rebuilding of Gaza to cost seven times more than all previous wars: Oxfam

The New Arab | July 24, 2026

The reconstruction of Gaza will cost at least seven times more than every previous attempt to rebuild the devastated coastal enclave combined and will not succeed without Palestinian leadership, the UK charity Oxfam warned on Thursday.

Oxfam, together with Palestinian NGOs have presented world leaders with a plan for Gaza’s recovery “that puts Palestinian ownership and accountability for Israel’s genocide at its core”, the charity said in a statement.

It estimated the total cost of rebuilding Gaza at a staggering $71.4 billion, pointing out that this was seven times combined the cost of rebuilding the devastated territory after previous Israeli wars, such as the ones in 2008-9, 2014, and 2021.

Richard Hawkes, the chief executive of Oxfam’s UK branch, said “The [UK] government must take the lead in ensuring Palestinians are the primary decision-makers in rebuilding the Gaza Strip and should no longer suffer the devastating consequences of the Israeli Government’s ongoing genocide and aid blockade in Gaza.” … continue

Israeli Media Reveals Expanded Assassination Lists in Gaza

IMEMC | July 25, 2026

Israeli media revealed new details about a wide assassination program Israel is carrying out in the Gaza Strip, targeting Palestinians it claims were involved in the events of October 7, 2023.

According to these reports, Israel’s security establishment has compiled a list of individuals it intends to pursue, stating that “none of them will be beyond reach.”

The Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth reported that the Israeli Security Agency (Shin Bet) established a special operations room less than two weeks after October 7, 2023.

The unit, named “Nili”—an acronym drawn from a biblical phrase translated in Israeli discourse as “The Eternal One of Israel does not lie”—includes intelligence and operations personnel tasked with tracking and killing Palestinians Israel accuses of involvement in the attack on Israeli colonies around Gaza, or in the killing, capture, or holding of Israelis inside the Strip. … Full article

Israeli airstrike kills police chief in northern Gaza: Officials

Press TV – July 25, 2026

An Israeli airstrike has killed Brigadier General Abdel-Nasser Al-Maqadma, the head of the police force in the northern Gaza Strip, according to Gaza’s Interior Ministry and local medics.

The Interior Ministry said Al-Maqadma, who also served as governor of northern Gaza, was killed in an airstrike targeting the Sheikh Radwan neighborhood, north of Gaza City, on Saturday.

In separate strikes, medics reported that a Palestinian paramedic was killed in the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza, while a police officer who had been wounded in an Israeli strike last week later succumbed to his injuries.

Israel has targeted numerous members of the police force in recent months, including senior officials, alleging many were affiliated with Hamas’ military wing and posed security threats to Israeli forces in Gaza.

Hamas, however, says the strikes are aimed at undermining law enforcement, spreading instability, and violating the US-brokered ceasefire that came into effect in October.

Since the ceasefire that took effect on October 10, 2025, the Israeli occupation regime has killed 1,191 Palestinians and wounded 3,853 others in Gaza.

Despite the ceasefire, Israeli strikes have continued almost daily. During the same period, four Israeli soldiers have been killed in attacks by Palestinian resistance fighters inside Gaza. … Full article

Israeli settler violence in the West Bank injures eight Palestinians

Al Mayadeen | July 25, 2026

Eight Palestinians were injured, including six by live ammunition, after Israeli settlers attacked the village of Far’ata east of Qalqilya in the occupied West Bank, the Palestinian Red Crescent reported.

The attack occurred amid a wider escalation of Israeli military raids and settler violence across the West Bank, according to local reports.

Israeli forces stormed several areas, including the Aqabat Jabr refugee camp near Areeha, Kober near Ramallah, and the towns of Yabad and Zababdeh in Jenin, as well as villages near Tulkarm and Nablus. … continue

Nablus: When the killer becomes the victim

By Tamer Ajrami | MEMO | July 25, 2026

In the occupied West Bank, the story often starts too late.

It starts when an Israeli settler is killed, injured, or frightened. It starts when Israeli officials speak, when the army enters Palestinian villages, and when headlines describe a “clash” or a “terror attack”. Suddenly, the settler becomes the victim, the Palestinian village becomes the threat, and the occupation disappears from the story.

But Nablus cannot be understood from the middle of the story. … continue

Bankrupt and fraudulent: EU sanctions Russia while silent on U.S., Israeli genocide

Strategic Culture Foundation | July 24, 2026

European Union leaders imposed yet another raft of sanctions on the Russian Federation this week. This is the 21st package of political and economic strictures that the 27-nation bloc has deployed against Russia over the past four years.

The EU sanctimoniously claims that the measures are a demonstration of rebuke for Russia’s alleged unprovoked aggression and invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

This pretense of European principle is farcical. … continue

Beijing blacklists 14 EU firms after Brussels targets Chinese companies in latest Russia sanctions package

The Cradle | July 25, 2026

Beijing prohibited 14 EU companies from obtaining Chinese dual-use goods on 24 July, targeting Europe’s defense industry shortly after the EU included 14 Chinese and Hong Kong firms in its 21st sanctions package against Russia.

Announcing the measures with immediate effect, the Chinese Commerce Ministry called the bloc’s conduct “egregious” and demanded the EU “immediately correct its wrongdoing, eliminate the egregious impact, and safeguard the overall interests of China–EU relations with concrete actions.”

The restrictions cover dual-use items, goods, software, and technology with both civilian and military applications, including rare earth elements used to build drones and chips. … continue

Ukrainian Attack on Tourist Camps is Act of Terrorism — Russian MFA

Sputnik – 25.07.2026

Striking civilian populations is the method used by terrorists, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told Sputnik on Saturday, commenting on Ukrainian attacks on tourist camps in the Zaporozhye Region.

“Striking civilians is the method used by terrorists,” Zakharova said.

Eight people, including two children, have been killed and 14 were wounded in an overnight Ukrainian attack on tourist camps in Zaporozhye Region, Governor Yevgeny Balitsky said.

Emergency services are working at the scene, and search and rescue operations are ongoing.

A criminal case on terrorism charges has been opened following Ukrainian drone strikes on holiday camps in the Zaporozhye Region, Russian Investigative Committee spokeswoman Svetlana Petrenko told Sputnik.

Trump Refuses to Answer for US War Crimes in Iran

Sputnik – 25.07.2026

Asked about “blowing up civilian power plants and bridges” and whether that would be considered a war crime, US President Donald Trump refused to answer.
“I won’t respond to that question,” Trump said.

The exchange comes as the US continues its strikes on Iran, with attacks on civilian infrastructure, including bridges, residential areas and power-related facilities, causing civilian casualties.

Asked about his “exit strategy” on Iran, Trump said the US could either keep bombing, escalate further or negotiate.

“We can even make it a heavier dose, and it’s knocking out everything they have,” Trump said.

Once again, Trump claimed that talks with Iran are underway — a claim Tehran has not confirmed.

Iran slams EU ‘Human Rights concerns’ as sheer hypocrisy

Al Mayadeen | July 25, 2026

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei has dismissed European Union claims of concern for human rights in Iran as “sheer hypocrisy,” criticizing remarks by EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas regarding what she described as “human rights concerns” in the country.

Baghaei questioned how the EU’s professed commitment to human rights could be reconciled with its provision of logistical and technical support for deadly attacks “deliberately targeting the Iranian people, including civilians and vital national infrastructure,” according to the statement.

The spokesman noted that the EU has refrained from condemning “the most obvious war crimes” and has not expressed any sympathy for Iranian children killed by US and Israeli bombs and missiles, “the execution of which has been made possible by European logistical and technical support.”

Baghaei concluded by saying that this stance “is not just a loss of credibility, but a trivialization of evil and the most obvious form of hypocrisy.” … continue

Iran: US attack on rescue vessels amounts to ‘war crime’

Press TV – July 24, 2026

Iran has formally lodged a complaint with the United Nations over a deliberate US attack on two Iranian maritime search-and-rescue vessels, saying the incident constituted “a grave and manifest violation of international humanitarian law” and amounts to a “war crime.”

Gholamhossein Darzi, Iran’s deputy permanent representative to the UN, issued the complaint in a letter dated Friday to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, the president of the UN Security Council, International Maritime Organization (IMO) Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez, and the president of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

The diplomat said the United States attacked the vessels Naji (Rescuer)-15 and Naji-16 in the early hours of Thursday, while they were operating in Iran’s territorial waters in Hormozgan Province. According to the letter, the vessels were engaged exclusively in humanitarian search-and-rescue missions and sustained significant damage in the attack.

“The deliberate targeting of vessels exclusively assigned to maritime search-and-rescue operations constitutes a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law and the international law of the sea,” Darzi wrote, adding that the vessels’ “sole mission is to save the lives of persons in distress at sea.”

He further stated that the vessels “were not engaged in any military activity or direct participation in hostilities at the time of the attack,” adding that “their deliberate targeting, therefore, constitutes a serious and manifest violation of international humanitarian law and amounts to a war crime.”

Referring to Article 27 of the 1949 Second Geneva Convention, Darzi said vessels employed for maritime rescue operations are entitled to special protection under international law.

The official also described the incident as part of a broader pattern, stating that since “the commencement of the military aggression by the United States and the Israeli regime against the Islamic Republic of Iran on February 28, 2026,” Iranian search-and-rescue vessels and marine ambulances engaged in humanitarian missions “have repeatedly been targeted.” … Full article

Fars: US evacuates bases in Qatar and UAE, satellite images show

Al Mayadeen | July 25, 2026

Iranian news agency Fars reported, citing satellite imagery, that the United States has evacuated two military bases in the UAE and Qatar.

According to the agency, US forces evacuated Al Dhafra Air Base in the UAE and Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.

Fars said satellite images from Sentinel-2, dated July 24, 2026, showed the evacuation of the US military base in the UAE. The agency said five US military aircraft had been stationed at Al Dhafra three days earlier, while the satellite images showed that they had since been evacuated. … continue

YAF target Saudi Aramco sites in Jizan and Yanbu with missiles, drones

Al Mayadeen | July 25, 2026

The Yemeni Armed Forces carried out two top-tier operations in response to the “blatant and criminal Saudi aggression,” YAF spokesperson Brigadier General Yahya Saree announced in a statement on Saturday.

In detail, the first operation targeted sensitive facilities affiliated with Aramco in Jizan using dozens of ballistic missiles and drones, while the second targeted Aramco-affiliated facilities in Yanbu with ballistic and cruise missiles, as well as drones, as per the spokesperson.

Saree said both operations successfully achieved their objectives, delivering accurate and direct strikes on their intended targets.

Response to aggression

The Yemeni Armed Forces spokesperson noted that the operations were in response to the aggression on the country, explaining that Saudi airstrikes targeted the city and port of Hodeidah and Kamaran Island overnight. Saree described the aggression as a violation of Yemen’s sovereignty, with material and incorporeal damage reported.

In the statement, he revealed that Yemeni air defenses engaged a formation of Saudi warplanes after they invaded Yemeni airspace, preventing them from carrying out “further crimes against this great nation.”

The Yemeni Brigadier General further stated that the latest aggression demonstrated Saudi Arabia’s determination to continue its blockade of Yemen and its violation of the country’s sovereignty. … continue

What a US war with Cuba would really look like

By Blaise Malley | Responsible Statecraft | July 24, 2026

CBS News reported recently that Pentagon officials were exploring the possibility of military action against Cuba.

“Military planners have in recent weeks examined a range of options for possible action against the island, including an Army-led air assault involving thousands of U.S. soldiers to be carried out by the 101st Airborne Division, the only unit trained for such a task,” according to the report.

Only days later, the State Department released a 100-page report describing Cuba as a “unique threat” to U.S. national security, claiming Havana sought to “turn America against itself” and even “conquer” the United States. Some analysts and commentators interpreted the report as an effort to lay the political groundwork for possible military action.

President Donald Trump has also repeatedly declared that he intends to overthrow Cuba’s government, at one point saying that he might “stop by” the island after he was “finished” with the war in Iran.

Experts who spoke with Responsible Statecraft cautioned that reports of military planning should not necessarily be interpreted as evidence that an intervention is imminent. Several said the recent rhetoric and reported contingency planning could just as easily reflect an effort to increase pressure on Havana. Should Washington ultimately decide to use force, they warned, any operation aimed at toppling the Cuban government would confront far greater military, political, and humanitarian risks than the administration’s rhetoric suggests. … Full article

British Army faces Kenya setback amid row over troops’ crimes

RT | July 24, 2026

The UK has canceled a major army exercise in Kenya after the two countries failed to resolve a dispute over Nairobi’s powers to prosecute British soldiers accused of committing crimes in the East African nation.

The planned Exercise Haraka Storm, involving the 1st Battalion and The Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment, was reportedly scheduled to begin in September in central Kenya’s Laikipia County. It will instead be held outside Kenya, the British Ministry of Defence said on Thursday, according to The Guardian. Kenya’s Standard newspaper reported that the training would be moved to neighboring Tanzania.

“It is with regret that the necessary licences required to allow training to take place in Laikipia later this year have not been forthcoming,” a Ministry of Defence spokesperson said.

The African state hosts a permanent British Army training support unit, known as BATUK, in Nanyuki, about 200km (125 miles) north of the capital, Nairobi. British troops have trained there since Kenya’s independence in 1963, conducting infantry exercises, as well as engineering and medical deployments under a bilateral defense cooperation agreement.

Kenyan lawmakers have, however, withheld approval for a renewed bilateral defense agreement amid demands for greater jurisdiction over serious offenses committed by British troops. Funding for BATUK is also reportedly under negotiation.

The unit has faced widespread allegations of misconduct, including murder, rape, and environmental pollution. … continue

Latvia bans books and toys in latest Russophobic crackdown

RT | July 24, 2026

Latvia’s parliament has approved a ban on a wide range of Russian and Belarusian consumer goods, citing support for Ukraine and concerns over alleged propaganda.

The decision comes amid accusations from Moscow that Latvia and its Baltic neighbors are pursuing extreme Russophobia and systematically targeting Russian culture, language, and people under the guise of national security.

The restrictions, which were approved on Thursday, apply to books, newspapers, toys, video games, clothing, footwear, and sporting goods produced in Russia and Belarus. They will apply to both direct shipments and goods routed through third countries and remain in force until July 1, 2027. The government has yet to finalize the list.

Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braze claimed that Russia uses books and periodicals to spread propaganda, arguing that neither Latvia nor the EU needs this material. … Full article

Irish MPs push gov. to act on pro-Palestine activist case in Germany

Al-Mayadeen | July 24, 2026

A cross-party group of Irish politicians has called on Dublin to send observers to the high-security trial of pro-Palestine activists in Germany and to raise concerns over the detention conditions of the Irish defendant when the German chancellor visits next week, The Guardian reported.

Mairéad Farrell of Sinn Féin, one of seven members of the delegation, said she and her colleagues attended Wednesday’s hearing in Stuttgart involving the Ulm 5 activists, who are facing charges linked to an alleged attack on an Israeli arms company.

Farrell and two other members of the delegation also visited Daniel Tatlow-Devally, the Irish defendant being tried as part of the group, in prison. She said she was deeply concerned by the conditions of his detention.

“I was quite shocked by the treatment that he is receiving. He is 23 hours a day in his cell,” Farrell said, urging Irish prime minister Micheál Martin to discuss the matter with German chancellor Friedrich Merz during his visit on Tuesday. … Full article

Israeli Forces Kill a Palestinian Near Jerusalem

IMEMC | July 24, 2026

The Jerusalem Governorate announced the death of the citizen Khalil Rashad Hamed Al-Rashq, 47, who was shot and killed by Israeli forces on Thursday night, and his body was seized.

It added that the slain man was a married father of five children from the Al-Salam neighborhood, and that he suffered from epilepsy, as confirmed by his family.

In a statement, the Israeli police claimed that “one of the suspects behaved suspiciously upon arriving at the checkpoint. The soldiers ordered the suspect to stop, but he did not comply with their orders. As a result, an arrest operation was carried out on the suspect, during which he was shot in the leg. No injuries were recorded among our forces.” … Full article

Israeli far-right minister calls for Gaza-style destruction in occupied West Bank cities, villages

MEMO | July 24, 2026

Israeli far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir on Friday called for applying the destructive military approach used in Gaza’s Beit Hanoun to Palestinian cities and villages in the occupied West Bank, Anadolu reports.

The cities and villages of Palestinians who carry out attacks against Israelis in the West Bank should be treated “as Beit Hanoun in Gaza was treated,” Ben-Gvir said in a post on the US social media platform X.

“I will demand that the Israeli army issue orders to destroy the homes” of Palestinians involved in such incidents and their supporters, the extremist minister said.

“For every Jew killed, the enemy must bear the loss of land and homes,” Ben-Gvir added.

The statement came after a security incident earlier Friday in which four Palestinians were killed in an attack by Israeli forces and occupiers in the town of Tell, southwest of Nablus in the northern occupied West Bank, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.

Israeli media reported that one occupier was killed and three others injured in a shooting near the illegal Havat Gilad settlement.

In a statement Friday, the Palestinian Health Ministry said 86 Palestinians had been killed in the West Bank by Israeli forces and occupiers since the beginning of 2026, including 21 killed by occupiers.

Palestinian woman killed, several others injured in Israeli strikes on Gaza

Palestinian Information Center – July 24, 2026

GAZA – A Palestinian woman was killed and several others were injured early Friday in Israeli airstrikes across the Gaza Strip as Israeli occupation forces continued violating the ceasefire agreement.

Local sources said the woman succumbed to wounds she sustained in an Israeli strike that targeted a residential apartment on Al-Jalaa Street in Gaza City.

Several Palestinians were also injured after Israeli warplanes struck an industrial facility near Salah al-Din Mosque in the Zeitoun neighborhood, southeast of Gaza City.

Others were wounded in an airstrike targeting a residential building near the Al-Zaharna area, close to Al-Jalaa Street.

Israeli warplanes also bombed a house in the Beit Lahia housing project in northern Gaza and another home near the Jabalia refugee camp police station.

In central Gaza, Israeli aircraft carried out a strike on Al-Bureij refugee camp, while Israeli occupation forces demolished Al-Nour Mosque and the surrounding area in Block 9, southeast of the camp.

Another strike targeted a house adjacent to Al-Salah Medical Association in Al-Maghazi refugee camp in central Gaza.

According to media sources, Israeli airstrikes destroyed five homes, a mosque, and a commercial facility across various parts of the Gaza Strip overnight.

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

Kiev hitting civilian targets in Russia to provoke mirror response – ex-Pentagon analyst

RT | July 24, 2026

Kiev is targeting civilian infrastructure in Russia in an attempt to provoke Moscow into responding in kind so that Ukraine can “play the victim,” knowing Western media will largely ignore attacks on Russian civilians, former Pentagon senior security policy analyst Michael Maloof has told RT.

Thursday marked the third Ukrainian strike on warehouses belonging to Russia’s largest e-commerce retailer, Wildberries in an escalation of Kiev’s campaign against Russian civilian infrastructure. Ukraine has claimed the company supports Russian military logistics, an allegation denied by both Moscow and Wildberries itself. In a separate attack the same day, Ukrainian forces also struck storage facilities at a poultry farm near St. Petersburg.

Speaking to RT on Friday, Maloof described the attacks as a deliberate “terrorist” strategy.

“They’re doing it purposely in order to lure Russia to start hitting civilian targets… thereby knowing that the Western press will take that information and run with it,” he said.

“And that’s all that you’ll ever hear. You never hear about the attacks in Russia on civilian targets… And so I think the Ukrainians are just trying to play victim once again.” … 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

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

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