Pentagon to deploy more forces to Middle East to deter Iran

US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff deemed Hamas' response to the proposed Gaza ceasefire “totally unacceptable,” stating it regresses progress and urging Hamas to accept the US framework for talks. Witkoff emphasized that this framework could facilitate a 60-day ceasefire, allowing for the return of hostages and deceased individuals to their families, alongside substantive negotiations for a permanent ceasefire. Hamas, in its response through mediators Egypt and Qatar, called for a permanent ceasefire, Israeli withdrawal...

Iran has rejected the latest International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) report on its nuclear program, labeling it “baseless” and a tool for political maneuvering. The report indicates Iran's stockpile of uranium enriched to 60% purity has increased by nearly 50%, potentially sufficient for nine nuclear weapons, and claims Iran engaged in undeclared activities at three sites. Iran's Foreign Ministry warned of “appropriate measures” to protect its rights if the report is misused at the IAEA...

Israeli gunfire killed at least 22 Palestinians near a US-backed aid distribution site in Rafah, Gaza, as international criticism mounts over Israel's humanitarian actions amid a severe blockade. A newly established organization, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, has begun distributing aid but has faced chaos and casualties from Israeli fire. While negotiations for a ceasefire continue, the US has deemed Hamas's response to a ceasefire proposal unacceptable, with significant casualties reported on both sides since the...

On Sunday, Gaza rescuers reported that Israeli gunfire killed at least 10 Palestinians near a US-backed aid distribution site, coinciding with Washington's rejection of a Hamas ceasefire proposal. Amid escalating humanitarian crises, the UN has warned of impending famine in Gaza, where aid is limited despite a partial blockade lift. Hamas condemned the situation as a "massacre" and called for a permanent ceasefire, while US negotiators criticized Hamas's response to the ceasefire proposal as "totally...

Israeli forces conducted multiple raids in the occupied West Bank, arresting two Palestinians and damaging a bus carrying Hajj pilgrims in Jenin, where a military vehicle reportedly rammed into the bus. The bus was transporting elderly Palestinians to Saudi Arabia via Jordan, prompting condemnation from Jenin Deputy Governor Mansour al-Saadi due to the distress caused to vulnerable passengers. Additional arrests occurred in Silat al-Harithiya and Tulkarem, while military actions in Nablus involved gunfire and sound...

Syria’s Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani and Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan visited the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus, symbolizing Syria's renewed connection with the Sunni Arab states and its Islamic heritage. This rapprochement has led to economic cooperation, with Saudi Arabia and Qatar pledging joint financial support for Syrian state employees, while contrasting with the ongoing violence in Gaza. As international engagement grows in Syria, it may isolate Israel further, highlighting a shift in...