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JERUSALEM (AP) — After fighting for decades to protect his residence, Fakhri Abu Diab watched helplessly as Israeli officials demolished his home with bulldozers two years ago.

Today, he and his spouse live surrounded by fragments of their past: a bicycle sits where their bedroom once was; a garden exists where he grew tomatoes during his childhood; a portrait of his deceased mother adorns a remaining wall, recreated from a photograph destroyed during the demolition. The temporary trailer they now occupy among the debris is also scheduled for demolition.

“They are trying to erase my memories, my childhood, my history,” he stated while tears streamed down his face.

For many years, Israel has pursued efforts to increase Jewish settlement in annexed east Jerusalem — the center of the Israeli-Palestinian dispute and location of significant Jewish, Christian and Muslim holy sites. Settlement groups have used discriminatory regulations and archaeological arguments to remove Palestinians from areas distant from active conflict zones.

According to activists, these initiatives have accelerated dramatically in recent years, as Israel faces reduced U.S. diplomatic pressure while global focus has turned toward Gaza, Lebanon and Iran.

More than 260 residential and other buildings were destroyed in 2025, representing a 70% rise compared to three years prior, with certain areas experiencing their highest eviction rates in decades, based on data from Ir Amim, an Israeli organization opposing settlements that monitors such policies closely. At least 116 demolitions have occurred so far this year, the group reported.

“This represents an intensity and scope that we have never seen,” stated Aviv Tatarsky, a researcher with Ir Amim. “Israel can decide, yes, this neighborhood, we want to erase it … No one is going to stop us.”

Israel seized east Jerusalem, together with the West Bank and Gaza, during the 1967 Middle East conflict. Palestinians seek all three territories for their planned state, while the U.N. and most of the international community regard them as illegally occupied.

Israel views all of Jerusalem as its unified capital and maintains that residents receive equal treatment under law.

Palestinians living in annexed east Jerusalem can apply for Israeli citizenship, but unlike Jewish residents, they must go through an application process — a lengthy, uncertain procedure. Most decline to apply because doing so would acknowledge Israel’s territorial claims. This leaves them with limited options to contest housing policies, which are primarily determined by Israel’s Parliament.

Human rights advocates report that beyond supporting major Jewish settlement development — which many Israelis consider regular neighborhoods — officials have strictly restricted Palestinian neighborhood expansion, making housing permit approval nearly impossible.

During the previous year, almost 9,000 permits received approval for Jerusalem’s Jewish population while fewer than 700 were granted to Palestinians, according to Bimkom, an Israeli human rights organization. Palestinians comprise approximately 40% of Jerusalem’s residents and are primarily located in the eastern section.

Israeli authorities explain the disparity by noting that Palestinians seldom submit permit applications. Many Palestinians describe the process as pointless.

Palestinians who construct buildings without permits face demolition threats. Meanwhile, settlement organizations use various legal provisions to acquire or seize Palestinian properties.

Earlier U.S. administrations urged Israel to reduce or halt settlement projects, considering them barriers to conflict resolution. U.S. President Donald Trump departed from this approach during his initial presidency, acknowledging Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.

The U.S. State Department indicated in a statement that Israeli authorities determine Jerusalem policy, and that it anticipates they will honor due process and legal standards.

Abu Diab’s community, al-Bustan, spreads through a valley adjacent to the Old City, with the Al-Aqsa Mosque’s dome visible above the towering walls. Named after orchards that previously flourished there, the area now consists of crowded low concrete structures and demolition sites.

The neighborhood belongs to the broader Silwan district, housing approximately 20,000 Palestinians and desired by settlers due to its proximity to important religious and archaeological locations. The mosque ranks as Islam’s third holiest site, while the hilltop where it sits represents Judaism’s most sacred location, known to Jews as the Temple Mount where two ancient Jewish temples once stood.

The Jerusalem municipality explained that al-Bustan homes face demolition because they were constructed without permits in areas not designated for residential use. A park and public parking facility will be created there to serve all residents, according to their statement.

The municipality reported proposing alternative housing plans for the neighborhood but said residents failed to demonstrate “serious intentions” toward reaching an agreement.

Abu Diab has contested demolition orders in court since 2004. Portions of his residence predated 1967, but his expanding family enlarged it without permits because obtaining them was impossible, he explained.

In February 2024, police provided him and his spouse only minutes to gather belongings before destroying their home. Since then, they have resided in the mobile home with packed suitcases.

They join approximately 1,500 Palestinians in al-Bustan whose homes face potential demolition at any moment.

Nearby, in the crowded Batan al-Hawah neighborhood, settlers are establishing residence as Palestinians face eviction.

Zuhair al-Rajabi and numerous extended family members received eviction orders in January, following Israel’s Supreme Court ruling against them after more than ten years of legal proceedings.

Reviewing documents in his living room, he displayed a 1966 paper confirming his property ownership. He must vacate by July but lacks alternative housing due to expensive Jerusalem rental costs. “The problem, in short, is that they don’t want us here,” he said.

March witnessed the neighborhood’s highest state-directed eviction rate in decades, with 15 families removed and hundreds more people facing risk, according to B’Tselem, an Israeli human rights organization.

Israeli legislation permits settlers to reclaim properties previously owned by other Jewish residents before the 1948 conflict surrounding Israel’s establishment. Palestinians who fled or were expelled from homes in present-day Israel during that war cannot return. Authorities have also transferred government-controlled land to settlement groups.

The Batan al-Hawah evictions demonstrate “the cooperation between settler organizations and state institutions, based on discriminatory laws, toward a shared goal — the Judaization of east Jerusalem and the replacement of Palestinian residents with Israeli settlers,” said Yair Dvir, a spokesperson for B’Tselem.

The Israeli judiciary stated in a response that courts decide cases based on individual merits, circumstances, applicable law and established precedent, and rejected claims of collaboration with private organizations.

Daniel Luria, executive director of Ateret Cohanim, a primary settler organization in east Jerusalem, said the group works to address a “monumental historical injustice” by assisting Jewish families in returning to what had been a Yemenite and Sephardic Jewish community until the early 20th century, when he claims they were forced out by Arabs and subsequently by the British.

Since 2004, approximately 50 Jewish families have relocated to the neighborhood with more seeking to join them, he reported. “There’s never going to be a Palestinian state,” he added.

An Israeli flag flies over the residence where Khalil Basbous faced eviction in January. The 68-year-old relocated to a relative’s home nearby but passes his former residence daily.

“It’s mine,” he declared, tears flowing as he gently touched an olive tree he had planted beside the entrance. “I have no doubt that I will return.”

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Tensions escalated dramatically Wednesday as Iran launched missile strikes against multiple targets after the United States conducted airstrikes on Iranian territory, blaming Tehran for the downing of an American military helicopter. Iran’s retaliation included attacks on Bahrain, Kuwait and Jordan, marking a dangerous expansion of hostilities that could undermine ongoing diplomatic efforts to end the Iran conflict.

Iran targeted locations across Bahrain and Kuwait, prompting both nations to activate warning systems and deploy air defense systems. Jordan confirmed its forces intercepted five missiles that Iran directed at an air base where U.S. military personnel are stationed.

The conflict, which began when the U.S. and Israel initiated strikes against Iran on Feb. 28, has created ripple effects across the global economy, pushing energy costs higher worldwide and increasing the price of essential goods like food.

Diplomatic efforts to transform the April ceasefire into a lasting peace agreement have stalled, complicated by Israel’s expanding military operations in Lebanon targeting the Iranian-supported militia Hezbollah.

The helicopter incident and subsequent U.S. military response have put additional pressure on the ceasefire just one day after Iran and Israel engaged in direct combat for the first time since the fragile truce began. Iranian state media reported Tuesday that Israeli attacks resulted in the deaths of at least two personnel from the country’s air-defense forces.

U.S. Air Force and Navy aircraft carried out the strikes against Iran, according to the U.S. military’s Central Command, focusing on “air defense, ground control stations, and surveillance radar sites.” Iran confirmed strikes occurred near Bandar Abbas and Qeshm Island but provided no information about casualties or damage.

“The operation was a proportional response to recent attacks on U.S. forces and international commercial ships transiting regional waters,” Central Command said.

Iran’s top diplomat warned that foreign military forces operating near its borders “are at constant risk” and promised retaliation for the latest U.S. strikes.

Iranian forces “will leave no attack or threat unanswered,” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on X. “Leave our region if you want to be safe.”

Jordan confirmed Wednesday that it successfully intercepted five incoming missiles from Iran, which Iran said were aimed at the Muwaffaq Salti Air Base. The facility has previously housed American F-35 fighter jets and other military aircraft.

Jordan’s state-run Petra news agency published the military’s statement, noting that no personnel were harmed in the attack and that bomb disposal experts had analyzed debris from the intercepted missiles.

A U.S. Army AH-64 Apache attack helicopter crashed near the Strait of Hormuz after striking an Iranian drone, according to a U.S. official who requested anonymity due to the ongoing investigation.

Officials have not determined whether the collision was deliberate, and formal statements indicate the incident remains under review. CNN, CBS News and other media outlets previously reported the collision.

In an unprecedented rescue operation by American forces, a drone boat retrieved two crew members at 3:30 a.m. local time Tuesday, approximately two hours after their helicopter went down during a patrol mission off Oman’s coast, U.S. Central Command reported.

Trump confirmed both service members were “safe and uninjured.”

The U.S. personnel were located and recovered by a drone boat that transported them to another maritime location, where a helicopter completed their evacuation, explained Capt. Tim Hawkins, a spokesman for U.S. Central Command.

According to Hawkins, this marked the first documented drone rescue operation at sea conducted by the U.S. military.

AH-64 Apache helicopters serve as crucial equipment for American forces enforcing a blockade on Iranian oil shipments and tankers, designed to pressure Tehran toward a negotiated settlement. The United Arab Emirates has also deployed these helicopters to intercept Iranian drones.

Prior to blaming Iran for the U.S. helicopter loss, Trump voiced renewed hope regarding negotiations with Iran, though he did not explain the basis for his optimism.

Mediators, primarily led by Pakistan, have spent weeks attempting to finalize an agreement. Nevertheless, both Iran and the U.S. maintain inflexible negotiating positions.

The U.S. seeks Iran’s surrender of its highly enriched uranium stockpile, believed to be buried following American airstrikes during the 12-day conflict in 2025. Iran rejects this demand while insisting on sanctions relief and the release of frozen assets before any final agreement, conditions Trump has rejected.

The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah remains a central concern for Iran. Lebanon’s army chief, Gen. Rodolphe Haykal, visited Pakistan on Tuesday, meeting with Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, who plays a significant role in Iran-U.S. negotiations.

Haykal’s trip occurs as Lebanon’s government adopts a tougher stance toward Hezbollah while remaining unable to dismantle the influential militia. Hezbollah expressed gratitude to Iran on Tuesday for attacking Israel “in defense of our Lebanese people,” suggesting Lebanon’s government should use this moment to strengthen ties with Tehran.

Ukrainian drone strikes damaged a historic war museum in Sevastopol, located in Russian-controlled Crimea, according to local officials who announced the attack on Wednesday. The incident has prompted authorities to scale back overnight train operations due to escalating aerial assaults.

The targeted museum honors the 1853-1856 Crimea War, a conflict between the Russian Empire and a coalition that included the Ottoman Empire, which resulted in Russia’s defeat.

Mikhail Razvozhayev, Sevastopol’s Russian-installed governor, reported via Telegram that the museum’s roof sustained damage from the drone attack. He did not elaborate on the extent of the destruction or report any injuries.

“The enemy will pay for this sacrilege!” Razvozhayev declared in his Wednesday morning social media post.

In other parts of Crimea, officials have reduced train operations during nighttime hours, according to Sergei Aksyonov, the peninsula’s Russian-installed governor, who made the announcement on Telegram. This decision follows a recent drone strike that wounded a train operator and fatally injured his colleague.

The Black Sea peninsula, which Russia seized from Ukraine in 2014, is experiencing fuel supply problems due to recent Ukrainian drone operations, coinciding with the start of vacation season.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy recently suggested direct negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin, which Putin declined. Following the railway incident, the Kremlin accused Ukraine of sabotaging efforts toward a peaceful settlement of the conflict.

Meanwhile, the city of Novokuibyshevsk in Russia’s Samara region was defending against drone attacks, according to the regional governor. The city serves as a significant petroleum center along the Volga river and houses multiple refineries run by state-owned oil company Rosneft.

Officials advised the city’s one million residents to take cover as public transit was halted during air raid warnings, local news outlets reported.

Ukraine’s persistent strikes on Russian energy facilities have compelled Moscow to reduce oil production, despite being the world’s third-largest producer.

In Russia’s southern Rostov region, which borders Ukraine, debris from a drone caused a fire in a fuel storage tank at a civilian location, the regional governor reported on Telegram.

The mayor of Moscow also announced via Telegram that the capital was defending against drone attacks.

In unusual developments, distant Russian oil-producing areas including Khanty-Mansiysk, Perm and Tyumen, along with industrial regions Chelyabinsk and Sverdlovsk in the Ural mountains thousands of kilometers from Ukraine, issued air raid warnings, based on local officials’ social media announcements.

Reuters was unable to independently confirm these reports.

Manila officials are demanding that Beijing remove a newly installed structure from the Scarborough Shoal, claiming the installation breaches agreements regarding conduct in the South China Sea region.

On Wednesday, Philippine maritime affairs spokesperson Rogelio Villanueva stated that the structure’s installation occurred without authorization and represents a breach of Philippine territorial rights.

Beijing’s foreign ministry responded on Tuesday by reaffirming China’s “indisputable sovereignty” over the Scarborough Shoal and declaring that Chinese operations in the area, including scientific research activities, are lawful.

Afghan authorities reported Wednesday that Pakistani forces conducted fresh airstrikes on their territory, resulting in the deaths of at least 13 individuals and injuring 14 more.

The strikes were announced by Taliban chief spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid, who stated the attacks hit the Afghan provinces of Khost, Kunar and Paktika. According to Mujahid, the casualties included 11 children, one woman and one elderly man.

Pakistani officials have not yet confirmed or responded to reports of the strikes.

The two neighboring countries have been locked in months of violent cross-border conflict that has claimed hundreds of lives since late February, when Afghanistan conducted a retaliatory cross-border assault on Pakistan following Pakistani airstrikes on Afghan soil.

Pakistani authorities claim Afghanistan provides safe haven for militants who conduct fatal attacks within Pakistani borders, particularly the Pakistani Taliban, referred to as Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan or TTP. This organization operates independently from but maintains an alliance with the Afghan Taliban, which has controlled Afghanistan since taking power in 2021 during the tumultuous departure of U.S.-led forces. Afghan leadership rejects these accusations.

SYDNEY, June 10 – The suspect in a devastating mass shooting that occurred at Sydney’s renowned Bondi Beach in December has been hit with 19 more criminal charges, authorities announced.

Law enforcement officials say the deadly assault during a Hanukkah celebration that claimed 15 lives was motivated by Islamic State ideology.

Originally, authorities filed 59 charges against Naveed Akram in the immediate aftermath of the shooting incident, which included 15 murder charges, 40 charges for wounding with intent to murder, and one terrorism-related charge.

During a Sydney court hearing on Wednesday, Akram’s legal representative, Leonie Gittani, confirmed that prosecutors had added 19 more charges to the case, local media outlets reported.

According to court documentation, the latest charges encompass 10 counts of shooting with intent to murder, six counts of discharging a firearm with intent to resist arrest, and three counts of causing wounding or grievous bodily harm with intent to murder.

The 24-year-old Akram has not yet submitted a plea in the case.

Authorities say his father, Sajid Akram, 50, who was also allegedly involved in carrying out the shooting attack, was killed by police officers at the location.

The violent incident shocked Australia, a country recognized for having stringent firearm regulations, leading to fresh demands for stronger gun control measures and more effective efforts to address antisemitism.

The Australian government has initiated an official investigation into antisemitism and social cohesion, with results expected to be released by December.

American military forces have launched strikes against Iran after investigators determined that Iranian forces were responsible for shooting down a US Army Apache helicopter, US Central Command announced Tuesday.

The military action commenced at 5 p.m. Eastern Time following direct orders from President Donald Trump, according to a statement released on social media by US Central Command.

“US Central Command forces began launching self-defense strikes against Iran at 5 p.m. ET today at the Commander in Chief’s direction, in response to yesterday’s downing of a U.S. Army Apache helicopter. The mission is a proportional response to unjustified Iranian aggression,” the command stated.

The strikes followed President Trump’s earlier declaration that America would retaliate after military investigators determined Iran was behind the helicopter incident.

In a post on Truth Social, President Trump revealed that military leadership had briefed him on their investigation results.

“I have just been informed by our Great Military that last night the Iranians shot down one of our highly sophisticated Apache Helicopters while patrolling over the Strait of Hormuz,” President Trump wrote.

The president confirmed that both aviators aboard the aircraft made it out safely.

“There were two pilots involved, both are safe and uninjured. Nevertheless, the United States must, of necessity, respond to this attack,” he stated.

The helicopter went down Monday evening in the vicinity of the Strait of Hormuz. According to two sources speaking to The New York Times, both crew members were recovered without sustaining injuries.

Initially following the crash, questions remained about whether enemy fire or mechanical failure caused the aircraft to go down. President Trump made public remarks about the incident soon after it occurred, and a follow-up investigation concluded that Iran had deliberately attacked the helicopter.

The incident took place during a lull in hostilities between Iran and Israel after recent tensions had escalated.

Military officials have not disclosed what specific mission the helicopter was conducting when it was hit.

Based on US Central Command documentation, Apache helicopters serve multiple combat roles, including targeted strikes, supporting ground forces, and surveillance operations.

Both US Central Command and President Trump have not revealed specific information about which targets are being hit in the retaliatory strikes or the expected duration of the military response.

WASHINGTON — The Trump administration is pressuring European countries to implement stronger travel controls for individuals arriving from African nations experiencing Ebola outbreaks, warning that insufficient action could lead to heightened U.S. travel restrictions from Europe, potentially affecting the World Cup soccer tournament.

On Tuesday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio contacted European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to express these concerns and “to discuss U.S. and European coordination and response efforts to the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda,” according to a State Department statement.

“The department’s highest priority and focus remain protecting the health of the American people and preventing this Ebola outbreak from reaching our shores,” the statement declared.

A State Department official spoke more directly about the situation, stating that the U.S. “has stepped up” to address the outbreak and “now the world must do more to step up as well.”

Speaking anonymously about the private conversation between Rubio and von der Leyen, the official emphasized that immediate action is needed and warned that inaction could impact trans-Atlantic travel.

The official indicated that the U.S. seeks action including financial support to fight the disease and “commonsense restrictions on travel from the affected area.”

The World Cup tournament begins Thursday in Mexico and continues for nearly six weeks, with the United States serving as host for most matches.

The Trump administration has prohibited travelers who visited any affected countries within the past three weeks from entering the United States and is implementing quarantine protocols for American citizens returning from those regions.

While relatively few direct flights operate daily between Africa and the United States, more than 300 direct daily flights connect Europe and the United States.

The U.S. reports contributing over $200 million toward efforts to stop the outbreak in Congo and Uganda since its initial confirmation last month.

The European Union announced Tuesday that it was increasing its Ebola response funding by 16.5 million euros ($19 million) in addition to 15 million euros ($17.3 million) it provided last month for outbreak response. The European Union delegation in Washington did not immediately respond regarding Rubio’s conversation with von der Leyen.

During congressional hearings last week, Democrats criticized Rubio concerning the dismantling of the U.S. Agency for International Development and its potential impact on Ebola response efforts. Rubio maintained that early detection programs have been incorporated into health agreements with African countries and that the U.S. “response has been very quick.”

Six Western nations unveiled coordinated sanctions Tuesday against Israeli officials and settlers linked to West Bank settlement activities, with France specifically barring Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich from entering French territory.

Foreign ministers from Australia, the United Kingdom, Canada, France, Norway and New Zealand released a collective statement condemning what they termed persistent settler violence and the ongoing growth of settlements and outposts.

“Extremist violent settlers, with the backing of their supporters, continue to attack Palestinians and abuse their human rights,” the ministers said. “For too long, violent settlers have been able to act with near impunity, and settlement expansion and creation of outposts continue with the support and facilitation of the government of Israel.”

In a separate announcement, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot disclosed that Smotrich was included among multiple Israelis now subject to French entry restrictions. The ban encompasses four heads of settler organizations and 21 individual settlers as well.

Barrot explained the decision’s reasoning through a social media post on X, claiming Smotrich endorses policies that France rejects.

The French minister’s accusations against Smotrich included his backing of West Bank annexation and what Barrot described as the “recolonization” of Gaza.

Barrot additionally condemned the Israeli minister’s stance regarding the Palestinian Authority. He claimed that Smotrich was promoting “the economic collapse of the Palestinian Authority and its deleterious consequences on the Palestinian population.”

Such positions clash with the approach preferred by governments backing a negotiated two-state solution, according to Barrot.

He wrote that these policies are something “the overwhelming majority of the international community, firmly committed to the two-state solution, cannot accept.”

Smotrich now joins other Israelis facing limitations announced by European nations as part of wider actions related to West Bank developments.

The declarations came Tuesday as multiple Western governments synchronized measures aimed at Israeli individuals and organizations.

The top military official from Lebanon’s armed forces conducted diplomatic meetings in Pakistan this week, focusing on defense partnerships and regional security matters between the two nations.

General Rodolphe Haykal, who leads Lebanon’s military forces, held discussions with Pakistan’s Field Marshal Asim Munir regarding current regional security challenges, military collaboration, and opportunities to enhance cooperation between their respective armed forces.

Pakistan’s military communications department, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), released information on Tuesday detailing how the discussions took place at the General Headquarters located in Rawalpindi. The talks centered on enhancing professional military partnerships, collaborative training programs, and institutional connections between both nations’ military branches.

Field Marshal Munir emphasized Pakistan’s enduring positive relationship with Lebanon and highlighted the Pakistan Army’s dedication to broadening defense partnerships with Lebanon’s military forces.

The ISPR’s statement noted that General Haykal commended the professional standards and operational effectiveness of Pakistan’s military and acknowledged their role in promoting regional stability, peace efforts, and international peacekeeping operations.

According to the ISPR, the visit demonstrates “the shared commitment of both countries’ armed forces to further enhance military-to-military cooperation and strengthen bilateral defense relations.”

Lebanon’s military announced on June 6 that their commander was traveling to Pakistan for official business. General Haykal made the trip following an invitation from his Pakistani military counterpart.

The Tuesday discussions at Rawalpindi’s General Headquarters represent the first confirmed official meeting during the Lebanese military leader’s visit, though it’s uncertain whether he has also engaged with Pakistan’s civilian government officials.

General Haykal’s Pakistan trip occurs while the country pursues diplomatic initiatives to reduce tensions involving the United States, Israel, and Iran.

Recent weeks have seen conflict effects extending into Lebanon, adding complexity to the regional security situation.

A Middle East scholar warns that Iran’s strategy of using terrorist proxy organizations to encircle Israel is facing significant challenges, though the Islamic Republic remains committed to maintaining these alliances.

Recent escalations began Tuesday following a day of military exchanges between Israel and Iran that concluded after American intervention, elevating the Lebanon-based Hezbollah terrorist group’s role as a significant regional force.

President Donald Trump quickly moved to pressure both Israel and Iran to cease their mutual attacks. According to media accounts, a heated phone call between President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu included the American leader threatening to withdraw support from Israel if it continued striking the Islamic Republic.

“The Trump administration has created a totally new and very bad reality,” Amatzia Baram, a professor emeritus at the University of Haifa and an expert in Middle Eastern politics, told The Media Line. “To appease Iran, they are willing to limit Israel in Lebanon. Washington wants this even more than the Lebanese government itself. This is a grave mistake.”

Weekend Israeli operations against Hezbollah prompted retaliatory action from Iran, establishing a new dynamic. For years, Israel viewed Hezbollah as its primary adversary. While Israel believed it had nearly neutralized Hezbollah by late 2024, it now finds itself constrained as Iran employs the organization as a shield, threatening to attack Israel if it targets this valuable proxy.

Monday’s brief period of military exchanges between Israel and Iran concluded with Iranian warnings of stronger retaliation if Israel continues operations in Lebanon.

Hezbollah commenced attacks on Israel two days following the joint American-Israeli offensive against Iran that started in March, culminating in a ceasefire one month afterward. Subsequently, Israel has maintained strikes on Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon, strengthening its foothold in the region, which Hezbollah considers a breach of the original November 2024 ceasefire agreement.

Hezbollah has maintained its rocket and drone attacks on northern Israel. Both parties are essentially breaking the ceasefire while attempting to manage violence levels and restrict attacks to northern Israel and southern Lebanon, keeping the Hezbollah stronghold of the Dahieh neighborhood in Beirut beyond Israel’s reach.

The ceasefire briefly collapsed when Israel targeted Hezbollah operatives in the Dahieh, deep inside Lebanon. Iran warned of retaliation for such strikes and followed through.

No casualties resulted from Iran’s missile attack on Israel. Iranian reports also indicated no casualties on their side.

“The Iranian attack appears to be an attempt to save face and not an effort to exact a price on Israel,” Dr. Menahem Merhavy, a research fellow and expert on Iran at the Harry S. Truman Institute for the Advancement of Peace at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, told The Media Line. “The attack extracted Iran from a trap.”

“Iran has been unsuccessful in leveraging what it believes was victory over the US and Israel,” Merhavy continued. “Iran is on the verge of catastrophe, and losing Hezbollah is a major source of stress for it.”

Iran has been orchestrating Middle Eastern affairs through multiple terrorist groups it has supported, funded, and trained over the years, establishing a “ring of fire” around Israel.

“The ‘ring of fire’ is currently stuttering,” said Merhavy. “But Iran won’t give up the idea and will not abandon Hezbollah.”

“Hezbollah has been weakened to about half of its previous abilities,” Baram said. “But still, they have significant ability to fight. Hezbollah is busy rebuilding itself, and despite Iran being in a difficult position, it is still helping Hezbollah—financially, militarily, and strategically by positioning itself as its defender and savior.”

“Hezbollah was meant to help Iran, not the opposite,” Baram continued. “The US bears responsibility for this.”

The October 2023 conflict started with an unexpected assault by Gaza-based Hamas against Israel and rapidly expanded into a regional war involving Iran’s proxy network. Israel’s counteroffensive has systematically dismantled this web, weakening Iran before its initial direct confrontation with Israel in April 2024.

“Iran’s latest attack and its quick signal that it finished retaliating, signals its unwillingness to enter another prolonged conflict because they cannot afford it,” said Merhavy.

Following Monday’s cessation of hostilities by both Iran and Israel, Netanyahu declared “our struggle with them has not ended yet,” referring to both Iran and Hezbollah.

“They are weaker than ever,” he added in an attempt to convince the public that Israel had the upper hand.

“Israel didn’t attack Hezbollah between 2006 to 2023 for one reason—it was afraid that the massive missile and rocket arsenal would cause major damage to Israel,” Baram said. “Now, Israel isn’t afraid of attacking Hezbollah because of its potential to cause damage, but rather Israel is concerned that Iran will get involved and the US will not support Israel if it chooses to respond to this.”

Tuesday saw Israeli military forces believed responsible for strikes against Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) did not provide confirmation.

Netanyahu has consistently promised to eliminate Hezbollah after the organization joined Gaza-based Hamas’ conflict against Israel in October 2023. Despite multiple wars and repeated fighting, Israel has failed to definitively neutralize Hezbollah’s threat. The group’s attacks primarily target northern Israel, severely disrupting daily life and creating substantial frustration.

“Attacks against Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon are small, tactical, and have little significance to Hezbollah’s standing in Lebanon,” said Baram. “Attacks against command headquarters, weapons depots, and assembly factories in Beirut and north of Beirut are at an almost strategic level that can weaken Hezbollah, and that needs to be Israel’s target for the future.”

According to Merhavy, this new dynamic may prove temporary. However, currently Hezbollah faces considerable vulnerability to Israeli operations.

“Hezbollah can be pounded all over Lebanon, but Beirut and Iran can do absolutely nothing about it,” he said. “Israel has been able to act freely in Lebanon for months.”

Apart from its military strength, Hezbollah has established an extensive financial and social infrastructure deeply integrated into Lebanese society, particularly within the nation’s Shiite population. Through charitable organizations, educational institutions, medical services, reconstruction efforts, and direct monetary aid, the group has developed an alternative support structure that numerous Lebanese families rely upon, especially in regions where government services are inadequate. This entrenched social and economic presence has complicated efforts by both the Lebanese government and Israel to substantially diminish Hezbollah’s power.

“There is a lot of frustration with both Hezbollah and Iran amongst the Shiite community in Lebanon,” Merhavy said. “Iran has yet to provide funds to rebuild homes that were destroyed by the Israeli military in the past two years. Hezbollah terrorists are also unable to move freely in Lebanon for constant fear of being targeted by Israel.”

The circumstances are further complicated by conflicting objectives between Israel and the United States.

Netanyahu faces significant pressure from President Donald Trump to reduce operations against Hezbollah, with concerns that such actions could undermine negotiations for a lasting agreement between the US and Iranian leadership. Israel has also engaged in direct talks with the Lebanese government for several weeks. With US mediation, there is optimism that Beirut’s government could compel Hezbollah to retreat from southern Lebanon, thereby eliminating a major direct threat to Israel. Tehran has reportedly warned the Lebanese government against negotiating with Israel.

“It should be an American interest that Israel weakens Hezbollah,” said Baram. “Israel has no choice but to continue to engage in dialogue with the US. But because it is now extremely limited in conducting military strikes against Hezbollah, Israel must work with the US to target Hezbollah’s financial network and also cooperate with Syria against Hezbollah.”

The late 2024 fall of the Assad government in Syria significantly damaged Hezbollah’s regional standing by disrupting crucial supply lines used for transferring Iranian weapons through Syria into Lebanon. Israel has attempted to exploit Syria’s changing situation, conducting strikes within the country and restricting Hezbollah’s capacity to restore its military strength along Israel’s northern frontier.

This new arrangement allows all parties to declare success while creating fresh constraints. Israel can target Hezbollah but risks confrontation with Iran and tension with Washington. Iran can threaten escalation but seems hesitant to engage in another broader direct conflict. Hezbollah, formerly the cornerstone of Tehran’s regional deterrence approach, is increasingly focused on ensuring its own survival.

The consequences are significant. Whether this new balance persists or breaks down in another cycle of violence, the result will determine the power structure throughout the Middle East.

Japan’s central banking authority is confronting intensifying demands to speed up interest rate adjustments as the nation’s currency remains under pressure and the Federal Reserve appears poised for a more aggressive stance following robust U.S. employment figures.

While the Fed will likely maintain current rates at this month’s gathering, the initial session led by Chair Kevin Warsh, recent employment statistics revealing three consecutive months of solid job creation have heightened expectations for a U.S. rate increase by year-end, shifting from earlier predictions of a decrease.

“The firm U.S. labour data has added pressure on the BOJ for interest rate hikes,” said Masayuki Koguchi, executive chief fund manager at Mitsubishi UFJ Asset Management. “There had been optimism that the yen might strengthen as U.S. rates had been expected to fall.”

On Tuesday, the Japanese currency was exchanging at 160.14 against the dollar, reaching levels that have triggered Tokyo’s intervention in currency markets. After the yen initially surpassed 160 on April 30, Japan has allocated 11.7 trillion yen ($73 billion) — an unprecedented monthly sum — to support its currency.

Market observers broadly anticipate the Bank of Japan will boost its primary rate by 25 basis points to 1% during its June 15-16 session, with a second increase later this year already largely factored into market expectations.

However, given that the substantial difference between U.S. and Japanese monetary policy rates represents a primary driver of the yen’s decline, financial experts are watching closely to determine whether currency market forces will compel the BOJ toward a more aggressive approach.

“I interpret the coming rate hike as a defensive measure intended to prevent further yen depreciation,” said Shigeto Nagai, the head of Japan economics at Oxford. “The focus of the coming meeting is how the BOJ will communicate their stance regarding future interest rate hikes.”

This approach may represent the primary instrument available to Japanese officials in addressing currency weakness, despite Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s emphasis on fostering economic expansion through government expenditure and her cautious stance toward rapid interest rate normalization.

“The gap between the one-year forward policy rates of Japan and the U.S. is expected to widen as of now. Based on this fundamental, currency intervention at this point may not be effective,” added Satsuki Yuba, an economist at Daiwa Asset Management.

Trading markets on Tuesday reflected a 93% probability of a BOJ rate adjustment this month, rising from May expectations of approximately 80%, based on information from Tokyo Tanshi, a money market broker.

These same markets are also indicating a 92.5% likelihood of an additional rate increase to 1.25% by December.

($1 = 160.2000 yen)

Chinese President Xi Jinping announced that he and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un achieved significant agreements during his recent diplomatic mission to Pyongyang, according to North Korean state media KCNA reports released Wednesday.

In a thank-you message published in its entirety by KCNA, Xi stated the two nations had “exchanged in-depth views on issues of common concern and reached a series of important joint consensus,” demonstrating their commitment to strengthening their relationship.

Moving forward, Xi expressed his readiness to collaborate with Kim “based on fundamental and long-term interests” to “steadily safeguard, consolidate and develop” their nations’ partnership while contributing to regional and global peace and development.

The Chinese leader also declared the diplomatic mission had been “successfully concluded” and that their relationship had entered “a new historical stage,” while voicing his desire for future meetings with Kim.

Xi’s diplomatic mission to Pyongyang lasted from Monday through Tuesday, marking his first journey to North Korea in seven years. According to China’s official Xinhua news agency, Xi stated the visit created deeper, more comprehensive understanding and provided a clearer direction for advancing their nations’ ties.

The leaders committed to broadening collaboration in political, economic and cultural areas, while promising enhanced strategic communication between their administrations, state media from both nations reported.

Additional KCNA coverage Wednesday revealed the two leaders honored fallen Chinese soldiers at Pyongyang’s Sino-Korean Friendship Tower, which memorializes those who perished in the Korean War, and visited a political training facility for party officials.

Brazilian authorities have conducted their most significant humanitarian rescue mission in Roraima state, saving 108 Cuban migrants from human traffickers near the border with Guyana.

The rescued migrants are currently being held in Roraima state as officials work to resolve their immigration documentation before connecting them with social services personnel, authorities announced Tuesday.

Five individuals face human smuggling charges following their arrest in connection with the operation. These traffickers, referred to as “coyotes,” demanded excessive payments while guaranteeing safe passage into Brazil, according to law enforcement.

“In reality, the route imposed by them ignores any standard of human dignity or road safety. Foreigners are subjected to exhausting journeys in vehicles that are not properly maintained,” police added.

Monday’s rescue operation represents the most extensive humanitarian mission documented in the state. Since June 2024, officials report saving 297 Cuban migrants who were attempting unauthorized entry into Brazil through Roraima.

Cuba’s deteriorating economic situation amid a worsening financial crisis and intensifying U.S. sanctions has prompted increasing numbers of Cuban citizens to seek refuge in Brazil. Official statistics show Cuban immigration to Brazil has dramatically increased since 2022.

By 2025, Cubans overtook Venezuelans as the primary nationality applying for refugee protection in Brazil, submitting over 40,000 requests, according to the Ministry of Justice’s annual migration report released in May.

“If geopolitical tensions between Cuba and the United States worsen, migration flows toward Brazil could increase,” the ministry said. It added that regularization through refugee status recognition could be an alternative.

Government officials note that wealthier migrants typically fly directly to Sao Paulo, the nation’s most populous city. Those facing more difficult financial circumstances frequently travel by land, crossing through the northern Amazon regions of Amapa and Roraima, which collectively house nearly 60% of migrants’ residential locations.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Cuba’s highest-ranking diplomatic representative in the United States claims that new American sanctions against the island nation’s leadership and criminal charges filed against former President Raúl Castro serve as justification for the Trump administration to build public support for potential military intervention, according to statements made to The Associated Press.

During a Tuesday interview, Ambassador Lianys Torres Rivera echoed criticisms previously voiced by other Cuban government officials, including the foreign minister and the president, while expressing strong objections to America’s longstanding trade embargo and recent energy blockade affecting the Caribbean nation.

“The sanctions against our leaders, we see as a pretext to make the American people think we are a threat,” she said at Cuba’s embassy in Washington. “We are not a threat to the U.S., and we don’t want confrontation.”

Torres Rivera, whose official designation is chargé d’affaires, characterized the current circumstances as “a war without bombs.” She warned that any attempts to overthrow Cuba’s government through pressure or military force would face determined opposition.

“Raúl is sacred,” she stated regarding last month’s federal grand jury charges against Castro. The 95-year-old former leader has been indicted on conspiracy and murder allegations connected to the 1996 downing of two civilian aircraft flown by the Miami-based exile organization Brothers to the Rescue during his tenure as Cuba’s defense minister.

“Raúl is a sacred symbol of the revolution, and we will defend Raúl — as we will the country — until the end,” Torres Rivera said. “If we are attacked, we are going to respond, and we are prepared for that. But we don’t want it.”

Her statements mirror widespread sentiment among Cubans and Cuba experts who view the criminal charges against Castro and penalties imposed on other socialist government officials as comparable to justifications the Trump administration promoted before January’s military intervention in Venezuela that removed then-President Nicolás Maduro.

Last Thursday, coinciding with the U.S. Treasury Department’s announcement of sanctions targeting Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel, Castro’s son and grandson, and additional officials, U.S. President Donald Trump declared regarding Cuba: “We’re going to handle that as soon as we’ve finished” military operations in Iran.

Trump has maintained threats of military action against Cuba following Maduro’s removal and the implementation of an energy blockade that has severely restricted fuel deliveries to the island. These measures have triggered widespread power outages, food scarcity, and economic devastation throughout Cuba.

Torres Rivera explained that the Trump administration’s efforts to intensify pressure on Cuba’s already struggling economy have caused tremendous hardship for ordinary citizens who face daily survival challenges including power outages lasting up to 20 hours and dramatically increased prices for gasoline, kerosene, and essential items such as food and medicine.

“What is happening now is tough,” she said. “It is heartbreaking.”

Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other administration representatives have consistently rejected claims that Cuba’s economic difficulties stem from American policies, instead attributing responsibility to the Cuban government’s socialist economic approach. While not eliminating the possibility of military action against the island, they have indicated willingness to allow Cuban leadership time to implement changes.

Torres Rivera described recent conversations between high-level U.S. and Cuban representatives in Havana and other locations as “professional and respectful.” However, she emphasized that Cuba will not accept changes imposed externally and insists any reforms must originate internally without external pressure.

Drawing on her previous experience as Cuban ambassador to Vietnam, another socialist nation maintaining long-established relationships with Cuba, she observed that Washington and Hanoi have developed positive diplomatic ties over four decades, but only because Vietnamese leaders implemented changes according to their own timeline. She argued Cuba deserves similar consideration.

“We want to make sure that the only changes to the system are done by us,” she said.

Rubio, however, has characterized Cuba as presenting a significant national security risk to America due to its security and intelligence connections with China and Russia, as well as cordial relationships with U.S. adversaries throughout Latin America.

“I really don’t believe this system is capable of reform unless new people take over or a new mindset takes hold,” he told lawmakers at a congressional hearing last week.

The State Department didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment on the Cuban ambassador’s comments.

The chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Karim Khan, has been placed on suspension as member nations weigh potential disciplinary action following the completion of an investigation into sexual misconduct claims, Reuters and the Associated Press report.

This development comes after an 18-month investigation examining accusations that Khan participated in unwanted sexual contact with a female attorney employed within his office. Khan has consistently rejected these accusations.

A diplomatic source told Reuters that the ICC’s governing body determined Khan had participated in serious and inappropriate behavior. The ultimate decision now lies with the court’s 125 member nations, who will cast votes during an upcoming session that remains unscheduled.

Information from the investigation was also covered by the Associated Press, which obtained access to a document created by the United Nations Office of Internal Oversight Services.

Based on the document referenced by the AP, Khan engaged in “nonconsensual sexual contact with (the aide) in his office, at his private residence, and whilst on mission.”

The ICC’s bureau stated it had made a determination concerning disciplinary action against Khan and forwarded the issue to the Assembly of States Parties. The bureau kept the details of its determination private.

“The decision of the Bureau and the related documentation will remain confidential,” the bureau stated in a press release.

Khan’s attorneys contested both the investigation’s conclusions and the suspension procedures.

“The decision is unlawful, procedurally unfair and unsupported by evidence,” the attorneys’ statement said.

The matter now advances to the Assembly of States Parties, whose representatives will decide the next steps.

During Khan’s time in office, notable actions included issuing arrest warrants for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defense minister Yoav Gallant related to the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza.

BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — A Colombian presidential hopeful has called on prosecutors Tuesday to examine potential voter intimidation by rebel forces in outlying areas during the country’s recent election.

Abelardo de la Espriella has requested an investigation into whether armed groups forced residents of distant municipalities to cast ballots for government party candidate Sen. Iván Cepeda in the May 31 first-round voting.

According to a statement from de la Espriella’s campaign, Cepeda received over 70% support in 109 municipalities where illegal armed organizations operate, with some areas showing support as high as 97%. Cepeda’s team has not yet responded to these claims.

Sen. Cepeda, who supports President Gustavo Petro and previously belonged to Colombia’s communist party, has served as an intermediary between the government and Marxist rebel organizations. He captured approximately 41% of votes in the initial election round, which featured 14 candidates.

“These results, on their own, do not constitute definitive proof of a crime,” de la Espriella’s campaign stated after filing their complaint with prosecutors. “But they should oblige authorities to investigate if there were threats, pressures or mechanisms to coerce voters and alter their freedom.”

De la Espriella, a conservative attorney who backs U.S. President Donald Trump and goes by “The Tiger,” led the first round with 43.7% compared to Cepeda’s 40.9%. The two will compete in a June 21 runoff to determine Colombia’s next four-year leader.

A European Union election monitoring team reported receiving voter complaints about pressure from “government officials and illegal armed groups” during May’s voting, though they did not identify which candidate benefited from the alleged coercion.

Colombian voters have identified security as a primary concern, alongside corruption and healthcare system problems.

The municipalities where Cepeda achieved strong results are situated along Colombia’s Pacific coastline, a region that typically backs the current administration.

Under Petro’s leadership, a former M-19 rebel group member, Colombia has pursued peace negotiations with remaining rebel organizations through a strategy called “total peace.”

Political experts suggest rebel groups have exploited government-granted ceasefires to expand control over rural areas, where they operate cocaine laboratories, collect taxes from legitimate businesses, and intimidate opposing civilians.

Throughout his campaign, Cepeda has advocated continuing rebel negotiations while potentially modifying tactics. De la Espriella has vowed to end talks and adopt a more aggressive stance, including aerial herbicide spraying of coca crops.

Trump recently backed de la Espriella on Truth Social, calling the 47-year-old attorney a “Smart, Strong and Tough Leader” who would successfully restore “LAW AND ORDER!”

Petro responded to Trump’s endorsement on X, stating that “freedom dies” when nations interfere in each other’s domestic matters.

President Donald Trump declared Tuesday evening that America must take action following an investigation that found Iran responsible for shooting down a US Apache helicopter in the vicinity of the Strait of Hormuz.

Through a Truth Social message, President Trump revealed military leadership had briefed him on the investigation’s results.

“I have just been informed by our Great Military that last night the Iranians shot down one of our highly sophisticated Apache Helicopters while patrolling over the Strait of Hormuz,” President Trump wrote.

The president confirmed that both crew members on board the aircraft made it through the incident safely.

“There were two pilots involved, both are safe and uninjured. Nevertheless, the United States must, of necessity, respond to this attack.”

The aircraft crashed Monday evening in the area near the Strait of Hormuz. Two sources speaking to The New York Times confirmed both crew members were recovered without harm.

When the incident first occurred, it remained unclear if enemy fire caused the helicopter’s downing or if mechanical failure was to blame. President Trump had publicly commented on the crash when it first happened, but the investigation later determined Iran had attacked the aircraft.

The aircraft went down during a time when fighting between Iran and Israel had paused after recent tensions had increased.

Officials did not reveal what specific operation the Apache was conducting when the incident happened. The US Central Command website states Apache helicopters perform precision strikes, close air support and aerial reconnaissance.

President Trump provided no details about what military, diplomatic or other actions the United States might pursue in retaliation.

His statements contrasted sharply with comments he delivered Monday evening about negotiations with Iran. While speaking at JFK Airport, President Trump characterized current discussions as being in their “final throes” and suggested a diplomatic deal could reopen the Strait of Hormuz within “two or three days.”

“We are very close to having a very, very good strong, powerful deal,” President Trump said at the time, adding that there were no major unresolved issues preventing an agreement.

The Wall Street Journal previously reported that President Trump had indicated he would consider ending the Iran ceasefire if Iranian attacks resulted in the deaths of American troops.