Azerbaijan has announced it will not allow its territory or airspace to be used against Iran. Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov told Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in a phone call that Azerbaijan opposes any action destabilizing Iran or the region. Bayramov emphasized that his country rejects statements or moves that could escalate tensions in the […]
Middle East security
Turkey offers mediation as US-Iran tensions escalate
Turkey has announced it will offer to mediate between Washington and Tehran during Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi’s visit, aiming to prevent a potential military confrontation in the region. The visit follows US President Donald Trump’s warning of a possible military strike on Iran over its deadly protest crackdown and stalled nuclear negotiations, with a […]
Trump plans talks amid rising Iran tensions
U.S. President Donald Trump said Thursday he plans to talk with Iran amid escalating tensions. The announcement follows Washington’s deployment of additional warships near Iranian waters. Trump stressed the preference for diplomacy over military conflict while reviewing options. Trump told reporters that “very big, very powerful ships” are sailing toward Iran and that it would […]
UK, France strike suspected ISIS arms cache
Britain and France carried out a joint airstrike on Saturday targeting a suspected underground arms facility used by the Islamic State group in Syria. Officials said the operation aimed to prevent a resurgence of the militant organisation in the region. The airstrike focused on a site in the mountains north of Palmyra, identified through […]
Lebanon tension rises as Israel fires near UN
UN peacekeepers in southern Lebanon came under Israeli gunfire twice on Friday, though no one was injured. The incidents occurred near the Blue Line, the de facto border between Israel and Lebanon. UNIFIL described the attacks as a “concerning trend” and urged Israel to halt aggressive actions near its personnel. According to UNIFIL, peacekeepers reported […]
UNIFIL says Israeli gunfire landed near peacekeepers in southern Lebanon
BEIRUT: The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) said on Friday that Israeli gunfire landed close to its peacekeepers on two separate occasions in southern Lebanon, raising concern over what it described as a recurring pattern of incidents. In a statement, UNIFIL said a patrol operating in south Lebanon reported that 15 rounds of […]
Iran criticises Trump warning amid nationwide protests
Iran has sharply criticised US President Donald Trump after his warning that American forces were “locked and loaded” to intervene if Iranian security forces killed protesters. Tehran said any such move would destabilise an already volatile region and put US troops at risk. Trump’s remarks came as protests spread across Iran amid a deepening economic […]
Lebanon nears completion of Hezbollah disarmament South Litani
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said Lebanon is close to completing the disarmament of Hezbollah south of the Litani River, aiming to meet a key ceasefire requirement with Israel before year-end. The US-backed ceasefire, agreed in November 2024, ended over a year of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah, requiring the Iran-aligned group to disarm, starting […]