Trump says Gaza ceasefire possible ‘within the next week’, gives no details, Israel expands north Gaza assault amid reports of imminent truce deal, Israel carries out deadly strikes on southern Lebanon in latest ceasefire breach, The fragile end of the 12-days war, Iran moves to suspend cooperation with UN nuclear watchdog, Teheran says 71 killed in Israeli strike on Evin Prison, Israeli court rejects Netanyahu’s attempt to cancel testimony but postpones it, Trump affirms US ‘with Lebanon until the end’, Musk calls Aoun to tell him he wants to do business in Lebanon, ‘The Lebanese state is guilty’ in the face of Israeli violations, says Jaafarite Mufti Qabalan, Geagea: Joseph Aoun’s approach to disarmament has reached its time limits, Three Lebanese nationals allegedly participated in the logistics of the deadly June 22 attack on Saint Elias Church in Damascus, Berri dismisses more than 60 MPs on electoral law amendment, ‘No survivors’: Israeli media reveals details on latest Hamas ambush in Gaza, Israeli War Minister confirms 20 soldiers killed in Gaza over past week, Israel’s national airline offers deep discounts to lure back settlers who fled in droves, White House expects Syria to normalize ties with Israel amid ‘quiet talks’, New Turkiye-Syria deal reopens direct land routes boosting Gulf trade links, Four arrested over pro-Palestinian protest at UK air base over terrorism charges, US sanctions on Sudan over alleged chemical weapons use take effect
Up until a few months ago, it would have been too early to talk about it: but Iran’s apparent neutralization makes the Israeli highest ambition on Lebanon not that utopistic anymore. With deadly strikes on Lebanon’s sovereign territory, an ongoing land occupation, and constant drones’ surveillance over its people’s heads, ‘settlement’, ‘peace’, ‘normalization’, and other terms in the imperialist lexicon can be nothing but a continuation of the progressively standardized war aimed at further realizing Israel’s expansionist ambitions, by engaging in the many Lebanese internal conflicts.
“No one in Lebanon wants to normalize ties with Israel,” Lebanon’s Prime Minister Nawaf Salam had affirmed last March, during a meeting with a press delegation in Beirut. “Normalization with Israel is rejected by all the Lebanese people,” he added at a time when ‘normalization’ was indeed a powerful, violent word; unacceptable by the great majority of Lebanese; for many unthinkable without it being soaked in the smell of burnt, white phosphorus bombs, and the blood of youth’s bodies.
Yet with his latest demands to the Lebanese ruling class – a one-week deadline to take significant steps to restrict possession of weapons by non-state groups, with a further six-month deadline to show tangible results -, US special envoy for Syria and Ambassador to Türkİye, Tom Barrack, attempted to shift from the politically opposable charge of normalization to the strategic passivity of an armistice. Or, in other words, to turn the Lebanese nightmare into an Israeli dream.
Anticipated with a proposal submitted via Lebanese Druze leader Walid Jumblatt, who announced on Thursday that weapons held by his party had been handed over to authorities, the US plan – discussed on Saturday morning, along with the last Israeli strikes on Lebanon, by Prime Minister Salam and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri – includes an expansion of the Ceasefire Monitoring Committee’s mandate and a strengthening of the Lebanese army in the south, as well as an improvement of Lebanese-Syrian relations and state reforms. Barrack is set to visit Lebanon in around two weeks, when a response to his proposal is expected to be delivered.
However, speaking on Saturday, Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef Rajji weighed in on the issue, saying that there should be no foreign interference in Lebanese matters. “What we are asking for is one thing: respect for Lebanon’s sovereignty. We do not want anyone to interfere in our internal affairs, nor for us to interfere in those of another country,” Rajji said in a statement which also touched upon Israel’s recent war with key Hezbollah backer Iran.
At the same time, former minister and member of Hezbollah’s political bureau, Mahmoud Komati, stated on Sunday that “Lebanon’s priorities have been clear from the start.” “The President, the Speaker of Parliament, the Prime Minister, and the entire cabinet agree on the priority to liberate the five Israeli-occupied points, free the Lebanese prisoners, end Israeli hostilities, and rebuild the country without conditions,” he said during a religious event in Ankoun, southern Lebanon. “This is not just Hezbollah’s or the Shia duo’s demands but official positions clearly stated. The priorities previously outlined must be implemented before any internal dialogue or discussion on a national defense strategy,” he added. ‘Nation’. ‘Defense’. ‘Shia’. ‘Hostilities’. ‘Priorities’.
In the LAAB’s book A Collapsing Lexicon, published in Beirut in 2023, 15 authors – including Hashem Adnan, Vivane Akiki, Hassan AlSahily, Masad Asaad, Naim Halawi, Serge Harfouche, Sarah Kaddoura, Chrystèle Khodr, Sahar Mandour, Sara Mourad, Rima Rantisi, Fawzi Zabyan, Amal Taleb – gathered their contributions reflecting on the specific notions and terms that have shifted, reversed, or acquired new meanings since the economic crisis began making itself felt in 2019, as an attempt to reflect on a reality we couldn’t articulate yet. They crowd-sourced a number of terms: ‘Arsat, NGOs, 1500, Panic, Haircut, Depositors, Future, Subsidies, Support, Son-In-Law, Silos, Victory, Subscription – and many others, interrogated in their political character by exploring language’s entanglement with Lebanon’s economic collapse. ‘Collapse’: another word whose density has been neutralized, its consequences – normalized. Altogether, they provided a small snapshot of this time in Lebanese history, where an economic collapse has extended to the collapse of meaning itself: and by reflection, one could say, a political normalization risks encompassing the normalization of brutal domination, impunity, and injustice.
“Despite the collapse in the infrastructure and language, analysis should not be limited to the words that dominate daily life and the collective imaginary,” wrote Omar El-Ghazzi in his Foreword to the book. “Rather, one must also critically examine the relationship of words to the instruments and centers of power in society, including how this relates to class struggle.” Which words are imposed on us, the book questions: which ones can confront power, which express the middle class exclusively? Which ones can attract a wider segment of society, reinforce the sectarian system of the ruling class – and which disrupts it? “Perhaps this lexicon of the collapse,” El-Ghazzi continues, “will draw the reader to think of words not as received language, but as part of a strategy of political and social conflict, that we must master and control. Interpreting and thinking about words is an endless project.”
Indeed, the terms we have had to deal with – to interpret and to think about – in the past two years, since A Collapsing Lexicon was published, and before being even able to solve the questions raised by the ‘words of the crisis’, bring with them issues of unimaginable magnitude. ‘Starvation’, ‘amputation without anesthesia’, ‘WCNSF’ (Wounded Child, No Surviving Family), ‘jidar al-sawt’, ‘cluster bomb’, ‘nuclear threat’ – towards ‘right to self-defense’, ‘retaliation’, ‘revenge’, ‘annihilation’. Will we ever have the means to elaborate on such words? Or will we neutralise the horror of their semantic charge with new, even more terrifying vocabulary?
What is clearly beyond a doubt is that the road to the ‘normalization-armistice’ has never been so paved as today, when some trustfully hope and believe in it, some will surely try to fight it, but the overwhelming majority of Lebanese will not have the strength to oppose it, and will speak of ‘normalization’ and ‘occupation’ with the same nonchalance they have been accustomed to speaking of ‘crisis’, ‘inflation’, and ‘political vacuum’. With which, maybe, they started talking about ‘genocide’. Until there will be none of us able to distinguish ‘negotiation’ from ‘imposition’, ‘sovereignty’ from ‘shift of foreign influence’, ‘peace’ from ‘collusion’.
In Lebanon
Until the end: American President Donald Trump said on Friday during a press conference that the United States stands “with Lebanon until the end.” When asked about a timeline for disarming Hezbollah, he said his administration aims to “try to restore order in Beirut.” He described Lebanon as a “great country with brilliant people,” known for its teachers and doctors, with a rich history. He expressed hope to help Lebanon return to its former state.
Trump’s comments came as Hezbollah emerged significantly weakened after over a year of war with Israel, which escalated into open conflict between September and November 2024. A ceasefire was agreed upon on November 27, 2024, but has been frequently violated by Israel since then, including during the past week.
Restoring the state’s monopoly on arms – including disarming Hezbollah and Palestinian factions – is a key goal for President Joseph Aoun, elected in January, and the government led by Prime Minister Nawaf Salam.
In mid-May, speaking at the Saudi-American Economic Forum in Riyadh, Trump expressed his desire to support Lebanon’s development. He praised the new President and Prime Minister for bringing “a new chance to create a more productive partnership with the United States” after decades.
Musk in Lebanon: Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, SpaceX, and X, expressed interest in expanding his companies’ presence in Lebanon during a phone call with President Joseph Aoun, according to a statement from the Lebanese presidency. Musk specifically showed enthusiasm for Lebanon’s telecommunications and internet sectors, a proposal warmly welcomed by Aoun, who assured he would facilitate the necessary procedures within Lebanese laws and regulations. At the end of the call, Aoun invited Musk to visit Beirut, and Musk thanked him, promising to accept the invitation at the earliest opportunity.
Discussions between Lebanese officials and Starlink, SpaceX’s satellite internet service, have accelerated since late May. Starlink aims to provide Lebanon with high-speed satellite internet, joining its network already active in 136 countries. Sam Turner, Starlink’s director of licensing and development, has met with Aoun, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, and key ministers, who pledged support to help Starlink establish operations efficiently in Lebanon.
Lebanon’s telecommunications sector faces challenges including slow internet speeds and infrastructure issues, making Starlink’s satellite service a potentially significant upgrade. The government sees this as an opportunity to improve connectivity and support economic recovery following recent conflicts and financial difficulties.
Violent airstrikes: Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon on Friday resulted in one death and 20 injuries, marking the latest violation of the ceasefire agreed on November 27, 2024, between Tel Aviv and Hezbollah. The large-scale attacks occurred at 11 am in Nabatieh, Kfar Tibnit Heights, and Nabatieh Fawqa, according to Lebanon’s National News Agency. The health ministry reported that an Israeli strike on an apartment in Nabatieh killed one woman and wounded 13 others, with earlier reports noting seven additional injuries from separate strikes. An Israeli drone also dropped a sound bomb near two pickup trucks in Ramya while they were loading scrap iron. Shortly after midnight, Israeli forces fired artillery shells and dropped bombs via drones in the Shawat neighborhood of Aita al-Shaab.
The Israeli military’s Arabic-language spokesman, Avichay Adraee, stated on X that Israel targeted Hezbollah positions in the Mount Shqif area, alleging that Hezbollah was trying to rebuild an underground facility previously destroyed by Israeli forces. Despite the ceasefire that ended two months of war in November, Israel has continued strikes in southern Lebanon.
On Thursday, Israel announced it had killed a Hezbollah commander from the elite Radwan Force in southern Lebanon’s Barashit area and a member of Hezbollah’s reconnaissance unit in Beit Lif. Following significant losses to its leadership, the group faces increased pressure within Lebanon to disarm. Lebanese Druze politician Walid Jumblatt reiterated calls for weapons to be held exclusively by the state, urging any armed groups, Lebanese or non-Lebanese, to surrender their arms to the authorities. Jumblatt informed President Joseph Aoun about weapons found in the Druze-majority village of Mukhtara and requested their confiscation.
The state is guilty: Jaafarite Mufti Ahmad Qabalan, close to the Amal-Hezbollah alliance, sharply criticized the Lebanese state as ‘failing’, ‘guilty’, and ‘nonexistent’ amid ongoing Israeli violations in southern Lebanon despite the November 2024 ceasefire. He accused the state of punishing its people and failing to respond to Israeli actions, stressing the need to protect sovereignty south of the Litani River and implement UN Resolution 1701, including Hezbollah’s disarmament.
Qabalan also condemned media attacks he linked to Mossad and warned against aligning with Washington and Israel. His views align with Hezbollah’s Naim Qassem, who blamed the state for Israeli violations and opposed disarming Hezbollah without an end to these breaches.
During his last speech, Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem highlighted that Hezbollah’s support for Gaza and Palestine was both ‘necessary’ and ‘obligatory’, and “its sacrifices have given Hezbollah more strength and responsibility.” “We fully implemented the ceasefire agreement, and neither the Israelis nor the Americans can find any fault in our compliance. The ceasefire marks a new phase: one called state responsibility,” he added, wondering: “does anyone who thinks logically believe they should give up their sources of strength while the Israeli enemy continues to violate the agreement and escalate its aggression? The aggression we’re facing is now the responsibility of the Lebanese state.”
Sheikh Qassem condemned the Israeli attacks on the south, civilians, and currency exchange workers, demanding that the state fulfill its obligations. “Do you imagine we will remain silent forever? That’s not true. We are a people of ‘Hayhat minna al-dhilla’ – never to humiliation. You’ve tested us before,” he continued. “When given a choice, we have only one option: dignity. And we win – follow us and we’ll show you how we win. If not on the first day, then the second or third – we are always victorious, whether through triumph or martyrdom.”
Berri dismisses electoral reform: Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri has once again asserted his authority by scheduling a plenary session for Monday but excluding from the agenda a bill with double urgency status aimed at amending the current electoral law. This move surprised many MPs, especially those opposing the Amal-Hezbollah alliance, as the proposed amendment sought to retain proportional representation across 15 constituencies with preferential voting at the district level and to grant Lebanese expatriates the right to vote for all 128 MPs, rather than limiting them to six seats in a special expatriate constituency.
Berri’s decision sidelined over 60 MPs supporting reform, signaling that the Amal-Hezbollah alliance opposes changes that might weaken its electoral position. MPs Georges Okais, Michel Doueihy, and Hagop Terzian presented the proposed amendment, which challenges Article 112 that allocates six seats to non-residents but has been suspended in recent elections. The bill argues that limiting expatriates to six MPs violates constitutional equality and reduces their political representation compared to residents.
Okais expressed surprise at Berri’s refusal to include the bill on the agenda, while Amal MP Michel Moussa said the issue is still under commission discussion. Berri, relying on parliamentary rules, exercised his right to exclude the bill despite its double urgency status, a move seen as politically motivated to block reform.
The rejection is a setback for MPs supporting the amendment, including Ibrahim Mneimneh, Neemat Frem, and others. It also sends a message to 69 MPs mostly opposed to Hezbollah who favor reform: the Amal-Hezbollah alliance resists allowing the diaspora full voting rights, as it lacks strong influence among expatriates, many of whom are young and oppose its agenda. While the alliance secures seats within Lebanon, it struggles to win beyond the single Shiite seat in the diaspora constituency, making Berri’s stance a way to maintain the status quo.
From Geagea to Aoun: The leader of the Lebanese Forces (LF), Samir Geagea, said on Saturday that the handover of illegal weapons in Lebanon must be completed before the end of 2025, criticizing President Joseph Aoun’s soft approach as having reached its limits. His statement comes as the Lebanese government aims to reassert its exclusive control over arms through talks from Baabda with Hezbollah, following the ceasefire with Israel in November. Meanwhile, other political groups are calling for a clear disarmament timeline, which Geagea’s party still rejects.
In an interview with Nidaa al-Watan, Geagea stressed the importance of collecting all illegal weapons and handing them over to the Lebanese Army so Lebanon can become ‘a true state’ again. While he acknowledged President Aoun’s preference for a gradual, gentle approach and said they had not opposed it over the past five months, he insisted that this approach has now reached its deadline and urged speeding up the process, as time and events will not wait.
Geagea clarified that he did not propose a fixed deadline to the President but emphasized that the disarmament should happen before the end of 2025. Regarding Palestinian arms, he said that despite some media claims, most Palestinian factions and authorities support President Mahmoud Abbas’s position recognizing Lebanese sovereignty, leaving it to Lebanon to set its priorities. The planned disarmament of Palestinian weapons in June failed mainly because many Palestinian factions, including within the divided Palestine Liberation Organization, opposed giving up their arms.
He also criticized the unclear coordination between the Lebanese Army and the ceasefire supervision committee in southern Lebanon, noting that work and reporting have been very slow since the ceasefire began in late November 2024.
Geagea blamed the Iranian regime for causing great damage that has hindered the establishment of a Lebanese state, saying Lebanon was dragged into wars without national interest, which also led to economic decline due to corrupt alliances. He stated that Lebanon does not have a real state because of the current Iranian regime and doubted that Hezbollah is a bargaining chip for Tehran. He expressed uncertainty about whether the Middle East has entered a peaceful phase after the Iran-Israel conflict, given the unclear status of Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.
Commenting on photos in Tel Aviv showing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with Arab leaders, including Lebanese President Aoun, promoting the Abraham Accords, Geagea said these were put up by peace-supporting groups, not the Israeli government. The Abraham Accords, signed in 2020, normalized relations between Israel and several Arab countries.
On electoral issues, Geagea called for a real revision of expatriate voting, criticizing the current system that allocates only six parliamentary seats to Lebanese living abroad, divided by continent. He opposed any separation between Lebanese residents and the diaspora in voting rights. Finally, regarding a recent suicide bombing at a church in Damascus claimed by a little-known Sunni extremist group, Geagea said he does not fear a return of the Islamic State as a threat to Syria or the region.
A new jihadist threat for Lebanon?: Syrian security forces have arrested three Lebanese nationals suspected of involvement in planning the June 22 suicide bombing at Saint Elias Church in Damascus, which killed at least 25 people and injured 63 during a Sunday Mass, according to Lebanese security sources.
The attack, the deadliest targeting Christians in Syria since the 2011–2024 war, was claimed by Saraya Ansar al-Sunna (‘Brigade of Sunna Supporters’), a group believed by some analysts to be a pro-Islamic State (IS) offshoot formed from defectors of Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and members of the al-Qaeda-linked Hurras al-Din. The group first emerged publicly in February 2025 by claiming attacks on Alawite targets and has since threatened Christian, Druze, and Shia communities in Syria and Lebanon. It also claimed activity in Tripoli, northern Lebanon. Saraya Ansar al-Sunna was formed secretly in June 2024 in Idlib. While it has not formally pledged allegiance to IS, its tactics and rhetoric indicate a clear ideological alignment.
The arrests come amid rising concerns in Lebanon about a possible resurgence of IS activity. Just two days after the Damascus bombing, Lebanese Army intelligence announced the arrest of a suspected new IS leader in Lebanon, known as ‘Qassoura’, who replaced a previous leader and was involved in planning attacks nationwide. Authorities seized large amounts of weapons, ammunition, electronics, and drone parts during his arrest.
The three Lebanese suspects detained in Syria are from Ersal, a border town in eastern Bekaa. They reportedly joined jihadist groups after the 2014–2017 ‘Battle of the Jurds’, when IS and al-Nusra fighters occupied areas near Ersal before being expelled by Hezbollah and the Lebanese Army in 2017. The Syrian Interior Ministry said they were caught in an ambush near Damascus and are accused of assisting the church bombing and planning further attacks on churches in Hama province. The cell’s alleged leader, Mohammad Abdallah al-Joumaili, a former IS emir in the Syrian desert, was also arrested along with five others.
Experts warn that the Syrian power vacuum and Israel’s operations against Hezbollah may create conditions favorable for IS’s return. Despite challenges, Lebanese security agencies have effectively thwarted attacks over the past decade, and recent arrests may provide valuable intelligence to prevent further violence. Analysts note that security gaps following the Assad regime’s fall have allowed jihadists to regroup and infiltrate western Syria and possibly Lebanon. Efforts are ongoing to restore cross-border security coordination, which has been complicated by the leadership transition in Damascus.
In The Region
Another ceasefire proposal: Eager to bolster his reputation as a dealmaker, Trump sees the ceasefire between Tel Aviv and Tehran as a key step toward ending the nearly two-year genocide in Gaza. Speaking at the NATO summit in The Hague, Trump said that “there is progress. I think the attack we launched on Iran is going to lead to very good news.”
The latest ceasefire proposal calls for the release of 10 living Israeli hostages and the return of 18 deceased hostages’ bodies in two batches within the first week. In return, Israel would free 1,236 Palestinian prisoners and return 180 bodies it holds. Both sides must update detainee information by day ten.
Under the agreement, Israel would halt military operations and aerial surveillance over Gaza for 10 hours daily, extending to 12 hours during hostage exchanges. Israeli forces would reposition in the Netzarim corridor and northern Gaza, while humanitarian aid would resume through agreed channels. During the truce, negotiations would continue to address remaining issues, with the possibility of extending the ceasefire by 60 days.
Yet, despite US optimism and growing pressure for a ceasefire and prisoner exchange deal in Gaza, significant obstacles remain, according to several Israeli media reports. Israel accuses Hamas of being the main obstacle, pointing to the group’s refusal to show flexibility or drop its demands, particularly its insistence on a guaranteed end to the war upfront – a condition Israel rejects. On its side, Hamas opposes the current US-backed ‘Witkoff proposal’, arguing that it would allow Israel to resume hostilities at will. Israel insists on maintaining its troops in place during the ceasefire, whereas Hamas demands a withdrawal to previous truce lines.
There are also disputes over control of humanitarian aid: Israel wants the Gaza Health Foundation (GHF) to remain in charge, while Hamas prefers international organizations to oversee aid. Furthermore, Israel demands Hamas’s disarmament, the exile of its leaders, and eventual foreign administration of Gaza – all of which Hamas rejects. Both sides accuse each other of lacking genuine intent, and US officials acknowledge that despite mounting pressure, no immediate breakthrough is expected, with negotiations likely to continue for weeks.
Occupation in expansion: The Israeli army has issued new evacuation orders for the Gaza City and Jabalia areas in the northern Gaza Strip in preparation to expand its ongoing assault. “The IDF is operating with extreme force in these areas, and these military operations will escalate, intensify, and extend westward to the city center to destroy the capabilities of the terrorist organizations,” the Israeli army’s Arabic spokesman Avichay Adraee said in a statement on X on Sunday, June 29. “Hamas is bringing a disaster upon you. Returning to dangerous combat zones poses a danger to your lives,” Adraee added.
The statement also called on Palestinians to head to the coastal Al-Mawasi area in south Gaza, an area once considered a “safe zone.” Israel regularly orders Palestinians to flee to Al-Mawasi, which continues to come under attack by the Israeli army.
At least five Palestinians were killed in an Israeli strike on a tent in Al-Mawasi on Sunday. Several others were killed in areas of Gaza City and the northern strip. Across all of Gaza, Israel has killed at least 22 Palestinians since dawn only on Sunday.
Israel’s escalation in northern Gaza comes in the wake of US President Donald Trump’s call to finalize a ceasefire and prisoner exchange deal. “MAKE THE DEAL IN GAZA. GET THE HOSTAGES BACK!!!,” the American President said. In another post, he also doubled down on his position regarding the judicial “witch hunt” against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, calling it a “travesty of justice” and stressing that Washington is “not going to stand” for the prosecution of the premier, who he referred to as a “war hero.”
According to sources cited by Israel’s Channel 12 on Saturday night, Netanyahu has sent messages indicating that he is interested in ending the war on Gaza within 10 days. Military sources told Channel 13 that “There are no longer any ground targets that can be achieved without endangering the lives of the captives.”
Israel Hayom reported on June 27 that Trump and Netanyahu have reached a preliminary agreement on a new strategic vision for West Asia, which includes a roadmap to end the war in Gaza within two weeks.
However, Hamas has rejected Israel’s terms for a full disarmament of the Palestinian resistance and the exile of the movement’s leadership outside of Gaza. It also continues to insist on a permanent ceasefire and withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza. In response to a Sky News Arabia report claiming Hamas has demanded guarantees that its leadership or assets abroad not be subjected to harm, the movement said “these lies contradict our clear, public positions,” and that “demands are never conveyed through anonymous leaks.” The report also claims Israel will retain freedom of military action if a 70-day truce period ends without an agreement being reached.
A 12-days long war: The intense 12‑day conflict between Israel and Iran that erupted on June 13, 2025 – after Israel launched air strikes on Iranian military and nuclear sites, killing key nuclear scientists and military commanders – has come to an end officially on Tuesday, June 24, through the mediation of Israel’s key-ally, the US. During those days, more than 200 Israeli fighter jets hit more than 100 nuclear and military facilities along with residential neighbourhoods across Iran. At the same time, Iran retaliated with hundreds of ballistic missiles against Israeli cities. In the days that followed, Israel and Iran traded missiles as casualties mounted on both sides.
The United States entered the military clash on June 22 with bunker-buster strikes on Iran’s Natanz, Fordow and Isfahan nuclear facilities. A fragile ceasefire was brokered by the same superpower on June 24, hours after Iran had fired missiles at its largest airbase in the Middle East, based in Qatar.
According to Iran’s Ministry of Health and Medical Education, 4,746 people were injured, 610 were killed – including 49 women and 13 children, the youngest of whom was two months old, and 5 healthcare workers – and public infrastructure was damaged, including 9 ambulances, 7 hospitals, 4 health units, and 6 emergency bases.
Israel also struck Tehran’s most notorious jail for political prisoners, in a demonstration that it was expanding its targets beyond military and nuclear sites to aim at symbols of Iran’s ruling system. Israel’s attack on the Evin Prison in Iran’s capital Tehran on June 23, for example, killed 71 people, Iranian judiciary spokesperson Asghar Jahangir said on Sunday. “In the attack on Evin prison, 71 people were martyred including administrative staff, youth doing their military service, detainees, family members of detainees who were visiting them and neighbours who lived in the prison’s vicinity,” Jahangir said in remarks carried on the judiciary’s news outlet Mizan.
As the bombardment began, thousands of Iranians tried to flee the capital and other major cities towards northern provinces bordering the Caspian Sea: nearly nine million people headed out in cars from the major cities, especially Tehran.
According to Al Jazeera’s Sanad fact-checking agency, Israel and the US launched at least 145 air strikes on Iran. The actual count may be much higher, as another source, the Armed Conflict Location and Event data (ACLED) tabulated at least 508 air strikes by Israeli forces on Iran. On the other hand, according to the ACLED, Iran has attacked Israel at least 120 times, mainly targeting Tel Aviv and areas around it, with one significant strike on the Soroka Medical Center, which injured dozens. Among other targets were the Israeli Military Intelligence School, the Ministry of Interior in Haifa, the Weizmann Institute of Science, and an oil refinery and power plants. These strikes included ballistic missiles and drones, and many were intercepted with US help and some hit residential areas.
On the Israeli side, according to the Israeli military, Iran launched up to 1,000 ballistic missiles and drones at Israel, and about 90 percent were intercepted. According to Israel’s Ministry of Health, then, the number of people killed and injured across Israel was 3,238 injured and 28 killed. Also, many residents affected by the Iranian strikes from Tel Aviv to Haifa were able to escape into bomb shelters.
Conflicting narratives: And as each side sought to claim victory, the result of the 12-day military confrontation between the countries is still not clear: Trump initially claimed that the US deployment of 30,000-pound bombs had “obliterated” Iran’s nuclear program, but that claim appeared to be contradicted by an initial assessment by one of his administration’s intelligence agencies, according to three people familiar with the matter. One of the sources told Reuters Iran’s enriched uranium stocks had not been eliminated, and the country’s nuclear program, much of which is buried deep underground, may have been set back only a month or two. Iran says its nuclear research is for civilian energy production.
Whether the Israel-Iran truce can hold is a major question given the deep mistrust between the two foes. But Trump’s ability to broker a ceasefire showed Washington retains some leverage in the volatile region. Israeli armed forces chief of staff Eyal Zamir said a ‘significant chapter’ of the conflict had concluded but the campaign against Iran was not over. He said the military would refocus on its war against Iran-backed Hamas militants in Gaza. Iran’s military command also warned Israel and the US to learn from the “crushing blows” it delivered during the conflict.
Iran and the IAEA: Commenting on the matter of nuclear negotiations, advisor to the Iranian Supreme Leader, Ali Shamkhani, said that “negotiations with us were not aimed at reaching an agreement, but rather intended to ignite chaos and protests in the streets,” and that “we were fully aware that we would be attacked, so we put together a well-crafted plan to confront it, and we have complete confidence in our capabilities.”
In addition, Iran’s Guardian Council has ratified a parliament-approved legislation to suspend Tehran’s cooperation with the United Nations nuclear watchdog, the IAEA, after the war with Israel and the United States. Iranian news outlets reported on Thursday that the appointed council, which has veto power over bills approved by lawmakers, found the parliament’s measure to “not to be in contradiction to the Islamic principles and the Constitution.”
Guardian Council spokesperson Hadi Tahan Nazif told the official state news agency, IRNA, that the government is now required to suspend cooperation with the IAEA for the “full respect for the national sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Islamic Republic of Iran.” Nazif added that the decision was prompted by the “attacks by the Zionist regime and the United States against peaceful nuclear facilities.” The bill will be submitted to President Masoud Pezeshkian for final approval and would allow Iran “to benefit from all the entitlements specified under the Non-Proliferation Treaty, especially with regard to uranium enrichment,” Nazif concluded.
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf suggested that the legislation is now binding after the Guardian Council’s approval. “Continued cooperation with the agency, which plays a role as a protector of anti-human interests and an agent of the illegitimate Zionist regime through the pretext of war and aggression, is not possible until the security of our nuclear facilities is ensured,” Ghalibaf said in a social media post.
However, the IAEA said on Thursday that it had not received an official communication from Iran regarding the suspension. Iranian officials have been decrying the IAEA’s failure to condemn Israeli attacks on the country’s nuclear facilities.
New conditions: Iran’s UN ambassador, Amir Saeid Iravani, told Al-Monitor that Tehran would consider transferring its enriched uranium stockpiles and accepting foreign investment in its energy sector if a new agreement with the United States is reached. However, he made clear that Iran will not accept restrictions on its domestic enrichment program or its missile capabilities. US President Donald Trump said talks with Iran could resume this week, though no date is confirmed. Iranian FM Abbas Araghchi says there are “no plans” yet, but expectations are high that an announcement is near.
Washington now hopes for a broader peace agreement. US envoy Steve Witkoff says it could include rebuilding Iran’s civil nuclear program without enrichment and integrating Iran into a regional economic framework alongside Gulf states.
On this matter, CNN reported the US offered $20-30 billion in investment – mainly from Gulf countries – to support a civilian nuclear program inside Iran, under the condition of no enrichment. But Iravani set key conditions: first, Iran is open to cooperating on reactor safety and fuel supply, as long as it complements – not replaces – Iran’s domestic program; second, a regional nuclear consortium operating within Iran is possible, said the ambassador, as long as enrichment remains under Iranian control; third, Iran would consider transferring its 20% and 60% enriched uranium abroad in exchange for yellowcake, or storing it under IAEA seal inside Iran, and it welcomes foreign investment in energy but rejects its use as leverage to limit enrichment rights; last, he made clear that Iran’s missile program is non-negotiable, as it is seen as a vital strategic deterrent.
On legal matters, Iravani clarified that recent legislation passed by Iran’s parliament suspends IAEA cooperation but does not mean withdrawal from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). He emphasized Iran’s demand for full recognition of its rights under the NPT, especially the right to research, produce, and use nuclear energy – including enrichment – on Iranian soil.
Rejected and postponed: The Jerusalem District Court rejected on Friday, June 27, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s request for a two-week delay of his criminal trial. Israeli judge Rivka Friedman-Feldman said in a statement that the request, which was previously put forward by Netanyahu’s lawyer, “does not present a detailed basis or reason that might justify canceling evidentiary hearings.” Yet an Israeli court on Sunday postponed Netanyahu’s scheduled testimony in his ongoing corruption trial, citing national security priorities in light of recent military developments and international diplomatic pressure.
“Following the explanations given we partially accept the request and cancel at this stage Mr Netanyahu’s hearings scheduled for this week,” read the official ruling from the Jerusalem District Court, as published online by Netanyahu’s Likud party. Netanyahu’s defense attorneys stated that the Prime Minister needed time to manage critical negotiations, including ceasefire talks with Iran and hostage release efforts with Hamas in Gaza. Trump weighed in on the matter via his Truth Social platform, defending Netanyahu and blasting the legal proceedings as politically motivated. “It is terrible what they are doing in Israel to Bibi Netanyahu,” Trump wrote. “He is a War Hero, and a Prime Minister who did a fabulous job working with the United States to bring Great Success in getting rid of the dangerous Nuclear threat in Iran.”
Earlier on Friday, the Israeli State Attorney’s office opposed the request and said the “general reasons detailed in the request cannot justify canceling two weeks of hearings, particularly in the run up to the recess.” The State Attorney’s office added that it has already adjusted the schedule to accommodate the Israeli premier, including by allowing him to testify twice a week rather than three times a week. “The prosecution, therefore, opposes the request,” it said.
The filing submitted by Netanyahu’s lawyer on the previous day said “the court is respectfully requested to order the cancellation of the hearings in which the Prime Minister was scheduled to testify in the coming two weeks,” adding that the premier was “compelled to devote all his time and energy to managing national, diplomatic and security issues of the utmost importance” following the 12-day war with Iran, which came to an end on June 24.
After the start of the war on Gaza in October 2023, Netanyahu’s trial was put on hold before resuming in early December 2023.
The Israeli Prime Minister has been accused of and charged with fraud, bribery, and breach of trust in three separate cases filed in 2019. He faces a potential prison sentence of up to 10 years. In one case, he and his wife, Sara, are accused of accepting over $260,000 in luxury gifts, including cigars, jewelry, and champagne, from billionaire associates in exchange for political favors. Two other cases accuse Netanyahu of manipulating media coverage in exchange for regulatory or commercial benefits.
The Jerusalem District Court and State Attorney’s rejection comes a day after US President Donald Trump called Netanyahu’s criminal case a “witch hunt” and said Washington will “save” the Prime Minister from prosecution. The US President called for an immediate cancellation of the trial and a pardon for Netanyahu.
“Thank you, Donald Trump. I was deeply moved by your heartfelt support for me and your incredible support for Israel and the Jewish people,” Netanyahu wrote on X. According to sources in the ruling coalition cited by Israel’s Channel 11, Trump may ask Israeli President Isaac Herzog to pardon the premier. Many, including Israelis opposed to the premier and his policies, have accused Netanyahu of seeking to prolong the war in Gaza in order to avoid trial and imprisonment.
Bringing the settlers back: EL AL, Israel’s national airliner, has introduced heavily subsidized return flights on June 25 aimed at repatriating Israelis who fled during the recent war against Iran. The state-backed offer includes capped fares through the end of June – $99 from European cities and $649–699 from the US – roughly half the standard price. Once repatriation flights are full, remaining seats will become available to the general public.
In Cyprus, where thousands of Israelis remain, emergency repatriation efforts continue. Cruise ships and diverted flights have brought back many in recent days, but Jewish community leaders warn that shelters and resources are overstretched as people await flights home.
This campaign was triggered by the closure of Israeli airspace on June 13, after Iranian missile strikes damaged key infrastructure following Israeli attacks on top Iranian figures and both nuclear and civilian infrastructures all over the Islamic Republic. Since the ceasefire went into effect on June 24, Israeli airports such as Ben Gurion and Haifa have fully reopened, and wartime travel restrictions – including the exit ban – have been lifted.
While inbound flights have resumed, a cabinet resolution had required Israelis to obtain approval from an “exceptions committee” before travelling abroad – but this is no longer necessary following the ceasefire.
Foreign nationals have been permitted to leave via land or sea since the air ban, but Israeli citizens were previously barred from purchasing outbound flights. As a result, hundreds fled by yacht from Herzliya, Haifa, and Ashkelon, sailing to Cyprus before onward travel to Europe.
Egypt emerged as another escape route for Israelis. Sinai authorities raised the alert level due to an influx of Israelis via the Taba crossing. Security officials cautioned that the arrival wave could be used by Mossad operatives posing as tourists, presenting surveillance and destabilization risks. This movement sparked criticism from Egyptian activists, particularly given Cairo’s crackdown on Gaza-bound aid convoys. “It is outrageous that Israelis can walk into Sinai, but activists … are turned away,” one organizer told Middle East Eye (MEE).
Many of those who fled hold dual citizenship – either immigrants who retained their original passports or Israeli-born citizens who later acquired second nationalities. Common destination countries include the US, EU states, Russia, and Ukraine. The repatriation campaign, moreover, highlights growing contradictions: while Israel actively encourages returnees with subsidized flights, its wartime policies briefly trapped its own citizens abroad or forced them into risky sea evacuations.
No survivors: On Wednesday, June 25, Hebrew media has released new details on the resistance ambush against Israeli forces in south Gaza’s Khan Yunis, in which seven soldiers were burned alive in their troop carrier following an explosive attack claimed by Hamas’s armed wing.
“At exactly 5:30 pm yesterday, the first report came in about a fire breaking out in an armored personnel carrier (APC) of the POM type, belonging to the engineering forces. Initial investigations suggest that a militant approached the APC and attached an explosive device to it. The device detonated, causing the entire vehicle to catch fire,” Israeli journalist and army radio correspondent Doron Kadosh reported. “Military firefighting teams rushed to the scene to extinguish the fire in the APC. A D-9 bulldozer was brought in and dumped sand onto the vehicle in an attempt to smother the flames, but all firefighting efforts failed,” he added.
After failing to extinguish the flames, rescue forces towed the military vehicle to Israeli territory as it was still on fire with the soldiers inside. “The fire was only extinguished once the vehicle had reached Israeli territory. Rescue teams and helicopters were dispatched to the scene, but none of the fighters survived. No one remained to be rescued from the wreckage. All seven soldiers were killed.”
In a statement on its media channel released on the same day, Hamas’s military wing, the Qassam Brigades, announced the operation, which was carried out with an explosive device placed on the vehicle by a resistance fighter. “During a complex ambush, Qassam fighters managed to destroy a Zionist personnel carrier yesterday afternoon, Tuesday, with a Shuath explosive device that was placed inside the vehicle and led to the complete burning of the vehicle and its crew,” the Qassam Brigades said in a statement on Wednesday afternoon.
“After that, our fighters targeted another Zionist personnel carrier with a ‘guerilla action’ explosive device near the Ali bin Abi Talib Mosque in the Ma’an area, south of Khan Yunis, in the southern Gaza Strip. Our fighters monitored the landing of the helicopter for the evacuation, which continued for several hours,” the Qassam Brigades added.
On Wednesday morning, the Israeli army released the names of the seven soldiers killed in the attack on the troop carrier. “I send my deepest condolences to the families who lost their dearest loved ones, and I share with them their unbearable grief at this difficult time,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement.
Nearly two years into the genocidal war on the Gaza Strip, the Palestinian resistance continues to ambush soldiers and inflict losses on the Israeli army. Israel has failed to achieve the stated goal it set for itself at the start of the war in October 2023 – the complete eradication of Hamas, which, in recent years, has recruited thousands of new fighters.
Israeli intelligence estimates say that around 20,000 of the Palestinian resistance movement’s military operatives remain alive, including several commanders, some of whom are senior officers. Several other resistance groups, including the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) movement’s Quds Brigades, remain active across the Strip.
Admitted: Israeli troops have admitted to deliberately shooting and killing unarmed Palestinians waiting for aid in the Gaza Strip, following direct orders from their superiors. According to soldiers and officers who spoke to Israeli newspaper Haaretz, commanders instructed them to open fire on people seeking food at aid distribution points despite knowing they posed no threat. One soldier described the distribution centres as a ‘killing field’. “Where I was stationed, between one and five people were killed every day,” the soldier told Haaretz. “They’re treated like a hostile force, no crowd-control measures, no tear gas. Just live fire with everything imaginable: heavy machine guns, grenade launchers, mortars.”
Israel blocked all aid and goods from entering the Gaza Strip for nearly three months beginning in March, pushing the two million residents of the besieged enclave into a severe hunger crisis. In late May, the US- and Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Fund (GHF), a recently launched and controversial aid group, began distributing limited food parcels at four locations. These centres generally operate for just one hour each morning.
To respond, the Israeli military told news agency Reuters that the Israel Defense Forces had not instructed soldiers to deliberately shoot at civilians. It added that it was looking to improve “the operational response” in the aid areas and had recently installed new fencing and signs, and opened additional routes to reach the handout zones. Haaretz quoted unnamed sources as saying that the army unit established to review incidents that may involve breaches of international law had been tasked with examining soldiers’ actions near aid locations over the past month.
Arrested: British police arrested four individuals in connection with a pro-Palestinian protest last week during which military aircraft were vandalized with paint at an air base in England, authorities announced on Friday. According to a police statement, a 29-year-old woman and two men, aged 36 and 24, were detained on suspicion of committing, preparing, or instigating acts of ‘terrorism’. A 41-year-old woman was also arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender.
The protest occurred on June 20, when two activists from the Palestine Action group breached the air base in central England and sprayed red paint on two aircraft used for refueling and transport. Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the act as “disgraceful.”
Syria towards normalization: US President Donald Trump expects that Syria could be the next country to join the Abraham Accords, according to comments made by White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt on June 27. Speaking to reporters, Leavitt said that “the President is certainly hopeful that more countries in the region will sign on to the Abraham Accords,” highlighting that Trump directly raised the issue with Syria’s new de facto President Ahmad al-Sharaa. “When President Trump met with President Sharaa, one of his key requests was for Syria to sign on to the Abraham Accords,” Leavitt said. “We want to see a long, enduring peace in the Middle East, and that’s the path forward.”
Although Leavitt did not provide a specific timeline, she stressed that expanding the Abraham Accords remains a priority for the administration. Echoing this sentiment, Trump’s envoy to the region, Steve Witkoff, told CNBC on Wednesday that “big announcements” are coming and hinted that new countries – once considered unlikely – are preparing to normalize ties with Israel.
Syria’s potential alignment with the Abraham Accords would mark a significant geopolitical shift. President Sharaa has previously signaled his openness to normalization. In April, he told US Representative Cory Mills that Syria was willing to join the accords under “the correct conditions.”
Strategic calculations appear to be influencing Damascus’ posture. Israeli airstrikes against Iranian targets, reportedly conducted through Syrian airspace during the 12-day open conflict between Israel and Iran, were met with no resistance from Syria. US Special Envoy to Syria Thomas Barrack confirmed that Syria and Israel are engaged in “quiet talks” on a range of diplomatic and security issues, Syria TV reported on Friday. Barrack urged observers to give the Syrian government “a chance to demonstrate its new approach.”
Hebrew media also quoted anonymous Syrian officials saying they “do not rule out peace with Israel before the end of Trump’s term” and that “direct daily dialogue” has been taking place, Syria TV added. The deal would include a gradual Israeli withdrawal from all Syrian territory it seized following the incursion into the buffer zone on December 8, 2024 – including the summit of Mount Hermon.
What is clear, though, is that – in case of normalization – Israel will retain the control over the occupied Golan Heights, said Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar speaking to Israel’s i24NEWS: “If there’s an opportunity for a peace agreement or normalization with Syria,” he claimed, “provided the Golan remains in our hands, it would be a positive step for Israel’s future.”
Turkish-Syrian memorandum: Meanwhile, Turkiye and Syria have signed a new memorandum of understanding to resume direct overland transportation, marking a significant step in restoring bilateral trade ties disrupted by years of war. Turkish Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu announced the agreement on June 29 during the Global Transport Connectivity Forum held in Istanbul. The newly signed deal revives the 2004 International Road Transport Agreement between the two countries, allowing trucks to cross the border without the need for transferring cargo to new trucks on the opposite side to resume the journey.
“Cargo transfer at border crossings will end, allowing goods to be transported directly between Turkiye and Syria without the need for transshipment,” Uraloglu told Anadolu Agency. This move is expected to significantly reduce costs, enhance trade efficiency, and simplify logistical processes, the Minister added.
Beyond facilitating bilateral trade, the agreement also enables transit transport routes from Turkiye through Syria to Jordan, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, and other Gulf nations. This expanded access is set to bolster Turkiye’s strategic ambitions to connect with Gulf economies via the Middle Corridor – an overland trade route linking Asia to Europe.
Ankara’s presence in Syria has grown substantially in recent years, even before Assad’s fall. The Turkish military has established 126 installations across the country – primarily in the Aleppo region – according to the Turkiye-based Jusoor Center for Studies. These include 12 bases and 114 outposts. Turkiye has also signed long-term military and economic agreements with Syria’s new government.
Turkish influence extends deep into Syria’s defense establishment. Several leaders from the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA) now hold top positions in the new Defense Ministry. Among them is Muhammad al-Jassim, known as Abu Amsha, the former head of the SNA’s Sultan Suleiman Shah Division. He was appointed brigadier general and now commands the 25th Division in Hama. His appointment followed the division’s controversial role in the March 2025 massacre of more than 1,600 Alawite civilians in Syria’s coastal region.
Washington sanctions Khartoum: US sanctions on Sudan’s government – imposed over what Washington says was the use by Khartoum’s military of chemical weapons in the country’s bloody civil war last year – have taken effect. The sanctions – which include restrictions on US exports, arms sales and financing to the government in Khartoum – are to remain in place for at least one year, the US government said in a notice published Friday in the Federal Register. Assistance to Sudan will be terminated “except for urgent humanitarian assistance and food or other agricultural commodities or products,” it said. However, certain measures will be partially waived because “it is essential to the national security interests of the United States” to do so, it added.
“The United States calls on the Government of Sudan to cease all chemical weapons use and uphold its obligations” under the Chemical Weapons Convention, an international treaty signed by nearly all countries that prohibits their use, the State Department said last month when it announced the sanctions.
The New York Times reported in January that Sudan’s military had used chemical weapons on at least two occasions in remote areas in its war with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Citing anonymous US officials, the newspaper said that the weapon appeared to be chlorine gas, which can cause severe respiratory pain and death. Khartoum has denied using chemical weapons.
In practical terms, the effect will be limited as both Sudan’s military chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his adversary and former deputy, RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, are already under US sanctions.
A power struggle between the army and RSF erupted into full-scale war in April 2023 with devastating consequences for the country. The conflict has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced 13 million, creating what the United Nations describes as the world’s worst humanitarian crisis.
What We’re Reading
The Strait of Hormuz and Lebanon’s rotten economy: Over the past three months, food prices have been on a relentless upward march, climbing by more than 20% year-on-year and leaving Lebanese consumers wondering if their next meal will require a bank loan. But the Ministry of Economy seems to have mastered the art of selective hearing, turning a cold shoulder to the price hikes as if they were some distant rumor rather than the harsh reality on every Lebanese table. Blaming it all on the Iran Israel war is the favorite narrative around, Maan Barazy wrote.
Lebanon’s political hustlers: Last week, US special envoy for Syria Tom Barrack made a brief yet noteworthy stop in Lebanon, meeting with the country’s top officials. His visit came as part of an ongoing international effort to remind Lebanon’s leadership of its long-overdue commitments—chief among them, disarming Hezbollah and initiating long-promised political and economic reforms, in that precise order. The opinion of NOW’s editor in chief, Makram Rabah.
Victory without triumph: As images of celebration spread across Beirut’s southern suburbs, one could easily mistake the moment for triumph. Flags were raised, speeches were delivered, and statements echoed with defiance. For Hezbollah and its supporters, the US-brokered ceasefire between Iran and Israel was framed not as a retreat, but as a “victory.” The war was over, and they had survived, commented Ramzi Abou Ismail.
Fragile calm: A tentative ceasefire between Iran and Israel appeared to take hold on Tuesday following a rocky start, even as tensions flared once more along the Israeli border. In Washington, US President Donald Trump voiced his irritation with both nations, saying their long-standing hostilities had left them blind to reason. The analysis of Dana Hourany.
