War and Craft

07/10/2026

BREAKING: The explosion heard in the southern Iranian city of Bushehr was the result of the country’s air defense system responding, a local official tells Iran’s state news agency IRNA, adding that a military facility on the outskirts of Bushehr was struck by a projectile fired by the “US-Zionist enemy.”

07/09/2026

NEWS FLASH: A senior US official told Axios that the latest American strikes against Iran targeted key military infrastructure, including air defense systems, coastal surveillance assets, anti-ship missile launch sites, drone launch facilities, and port infrastructure. According to the official, the operation was designed to degrade Iran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping and military operations in the Strait of Hormuz following recent attacks on commercial vessels. The reported targets indicate a focus on reducing Iran’s coastal defense capabilities and limiting its capacity to project force across one of the world’s most strategically important maritime corridors.

07/08/2026

07/06/2026

Netanyahu denies Trump rift, says relationship is ‘fine’
Speaking to US media, Netanyahu acknowledged “differences of opinion” between the US and Israel but denied a deeper rift, saying “we see-eye-to-eye on just about everything”.

“My relationship with the president is fine, and we have a way of ironing out our differences as allies who respect each other,” he added.

As we reported earlier, Netanyahu also said he opposes the sale of F-35 warplanes to Turkiye ahead of Trump’s visit to Ankara.

07/04/2026

Erdogan says Israel trying to undermine US-Iran MoU
President Erdogan has accused Israel of undermining the recent MoU, adding that Turkiye “stands ready to support any effort to achieve peace in the region”.

“We know the mediation process was full of difficulties,” he said during a media conference with Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif in Istanbul.

Erdogan warned Israel not to undermine regional peace.

“It is clear that Israel’s survival depends on regional conflicts, including in Syria and in Lebanon.”

07/02/2026

Israel marks 1,000 days since Oct 7 with memorials, protests
Jerusalem (AFP) – Israel on Thursday marked the 1,000th day since Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack with calls for a state commission of inquiry into the unprecedented assault that triggered the war in Gaza. 'Establish state commission now'
Israeli forces occupy nearly 70 percent of the territory.

The "October Council", founded by the families of victims and hostages taken on October 7, is one of the main organisers of the day's events.

Gatherings are scheduled in front of the Israeli parliament and near the homes of government members.

"The families of the hostages and the bereaved families are demanding the establishment of a state commission of inquiry now!" the October Council said on X.

The "Hostages Square" plaza in Tel Aviv, which became a focal point for the struggle to release the captives during the Gaza war, is due to be renamed "Memory Square".

A memorial event is also scheduled to be held at 8:00 pm in Tel Aviv's Yarkon Park, bringing together victims' families and leading figures of the protest movement against the Israeli authorities and their handling of events.

Israel's military chief, Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, on Monday said that "This day reminds us of our overall responsibility and the weight that rests on our shoulders".

"We remember, we learn, and we prepare for the continuation of combat and the many challenges still ahead," he was quoted as saying in a statement.

Gadi Eizenkot, former army chief and now a leading candidate to succeed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the elections due to be held in October, marked the day in a short X post.

"1,000 days. We will still prove ourselves worthy. I promise. Gadi," he wrote.

According to polls, a large number of Israelis across the political spectrum support the establishment of a body to determine who is responsible for the authorities' failure to prevent the deadliest-ever attack on Israel.

Netanyahu's government, however, has long refused to establish such a commission, the likes of which Israel has commonly set up in the past to investigate major state-level failings.

© 2026 AFP

06/30/2026

‘Ceasefire’ in Gaza is ‘biggest lie’, says displaced resident
We’ve spoken to Maram Sersawi, a displaced Palestinian in Gaza City, about the “ceasefire” that has been in place since October last year.

“Nothing has changed since the war. In fact, the situation is getting worse day by day and we can never change anything,” she said, calling the “ceasefire” the “biggest lie that has been taught to the whole world”.

Israeli attacks since the October agreement have killed at least 1,053 people and wounded 3,406 others, according to the Health Ministry in Gaza.

Sersawi said that while international attention has shifted away from Gaza, she and many other residents fear that the lack of access to basic services and the continuation of attacks may just become their “painful reality forever”.

“Despite that, I try to continue my education, believing that maybe with my university I still have a future, and maybe we can change something,” added Sersawi.

06/29/2026

Hormuz tensions ‘cloud atmosphere’ of Iran-US talks
The Strait of Hormuz has quickly emerged as a key flashpoint threatening to derail Iran-US peace negotiations, an analyst says.

“In the past few days the two sides have been flexing their muscles on this strategic issue – meaning the Strait of Hormuz, which is a leverage for Iran that can create a balance in the negotiations with the United States,” said Abbas Aslani from the Center for Middle East Strategic Studies.

“This has been clouding the atmosphere of the talks. The Iranian senior negotiator said they are not expecting those technical talks to be held this week.”

He told Al Jazeera the latest developments indicate the US, “which was perhaps not happy with the terms of the MoU in relation to the Strait of Hormuz, now in the implementation phase wants to resort to a different solution or an alternative method”.