Hezbollah's veto of cease-fire means northern Israel is exposed until IDF leaves Lebanon

Israel might not attack Dahiyeh and Tyre and Hezbollah might not strike Tel Aviv and Haifa, but the border towns will get no rest

Armenia candidate Tatoyan eyes Pashinyan's pro-West mantle in sea of Russia-backed rivals

In an interview from Yerevan, Armenian opposition candidate Arman Tatoyan denies pro-Russian ties and says he would deepen cooperation with the European Union and the United States while pursuing a gradual approach to relations with Moscow.

Algeria begins work on Trans-Saharan gas pipeline to Europe

Algerian state-owned energy giant Sonatrach will build a section of the pipeline and connect it to an existing system in the southwestern Aoulef region that supplies Europe.

US sanctions network smuggling Iranian LPG as talks falter

The sanctions come as President Donald Trump has offered mixed signals on prospects for a deal.

French prosecutors open probe over treatment of French nationals on Gaza flotilla

PARIS, June 5 (Reuters) - French anti-terrorism prosecutors said on Friday they had opened a preliminary investigation into suspected torture and war crimes over the alleged mistreatment by Israeli authorities of French nationals who were part of an activist flotilla bound for

US says it has issued new Iran-related sanctions

June 5 (Reuters) - The United States imposed new Iran-related sanctions on Friday, targeting several entities, individuals and LPG tankers, the U.S. Treasury Department's website showed. Among 12 entities designated are five that are based in the Marshall Islands, four in the

Iran using Lebanon as bargaining chip in US talks, Lebanese president says

BEIRUT, June 5 (Reuters) - Lebanese President Joseph Aoun accused Iran of using Lebanon as a bargaining chip in its negotiations with the United States on Friday, in some of his toughest criticism yet of Tehran and its Lebanese ally Hezbollah as it wages war with Israel. In a

Saudi Arabia's new Riyadh Air set to begin flights amid aviation turmoil

Saudi Arabia's long-awaited national airline is set to begin commercial flights on July 1 as the US-Israel-Iran war continues to cloud regional aviation.

US preparing draft resolution condemning Iran at IAEA, diplomats say

By Francois Murphy and John Irish VIENNA/PARIS, June 5 (Reuters) - The United States is preparing a draft resolution condemning Iran ahead of next week's meeting of the U.N. nuclear watchdog's Board of Governors, diplomats said on Friday, a step that could complicate wider

Romanians convicted of stabbing journalist in UK, prosecutors say they acted for Iran

LONDON, June 5 (Reuters) - Two Romanian men whom British prosecutors said were acting as proxies for the Iranian government were on Friday found guilty of stabbing a journalist working for a Persian-language media organisation in London. Pouria Zaratifoukolaei, known as Pouria

'Not your country': Joseph Aoun tells Iran to stay out of Lebanon's affairs

The Lebanese president called on Israel and Hezbollah to negotiate while the parliament speaker said he would endorse a ceasefire if Israel withdraws.

US forces board sanctioned tanker in Indian Ocean, Pentagon says

WASHINGTON, June 5 (Reuters) - U.S. forces conducted an interdiction of the sanctioned stateless oil tanker Davina overnight in the Indian Ocean, the U.S. military's Indo-Pacific Command said on Friday. Washington has imposed a blockade on Iran's sea trade while Tehran has

Italy appeals for release of hunger-striking Flotilla activists in Libya

By Mirko Miorelli ROME, June 5 (Reuters) - Italy appealed on Friday for the release of two Italian pro-Palestinian campaigners detained in eastern Libya who, along with eight other activists, had been refusing food and water for four days. Israeli forces arrested 430 people on

Factbox-What issues do the US and Iran need to resolve for any peace deal?

LONDON, June 5 (Reuters) - Here are the main issues between the United States and Iran as they seek a deal to end their war, which is now in its fourth month: HORMUZ AND GULF BLOCKADE Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz, normally the conduit for around a fifth of global oil

Iran unveils new missile-armed fast attack boat: What to know

The boats are the latest addition to Iran’s "mosquito fleet," a fleet of high-speed attack craft operated by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

Analysis-Turkey targets more defence sales as West rearms, alliances shift

By Can Sezer and Tuvan Gumrukcu ISTANBUL, June 5 (Reuters) - Two decades of state investment have transformed Turkey into a major exporter of drones and other military equipment, and the NATO member is now looking to build on that momentum as the West rearms and security

Ireland bans hard-line Israeli ministers Ben-Gvir, Smotrich: What to know

Ireland joined France and the United Kingdom in banning Israel's far-right and pro-settler ministers.

Gazan fishermen patch up dinghies with door frames to keep themselves afloat

By Ebrahim Hajjaj GAZA, June 5 (Reuters) - In a Gaza workshop, a group of men patch up pleasure dinghies with reclaimed fibreglass, wood and door frames pulled from the rubble, racing to get the boats ready for a tougher line of work. The small vessels, which were used by

Factbox-What's at stake in Armenia's election on Sunday?

By Lucy Papachristou YEREVAN, June 5 (Reuters) - Armenia holds a parliamentary election on Sunday that pits the governing Civil Contract party, which is pursuing closer ties with the West, against an array of opposition parties, many of which are pro-Russian. Opinion polls

'No hope': Indian crew stranded off Turkey for months

Four Indian sailors have been stranded for months on an abandoned container ship off Istanbul, unable to leave under maritime rules requiring the vessel to remain manned, inspectors said on Friday. In a message sent to AFP, the stranded crew members said they were losing hope

Celtic fans oppose potential Keane move over Israel stay

Celtic's interest in appointing Robbie Keane as their new manager has sparked anger among the club's pro-Palestine fans after his previous role with Israeli side Maccabi Tel Aviv. Keane is the leading contender to take charge of the Scottish champions after reportedly entering

Oman denies disruption at key oil hub after reported drone attack

Oman’s state-owned oil company rebuffed reports about the suspension of oil loading operations at a key port following an alleged drone attack.

Iran declares support for Hezbollah with wider peace deal in doubt

By Ahmed Elimam and Jana Choukeir DUBAI, June 5 (Reuters) - Iran has reaffirmed support for its Lebanese ally Hezbollah and demanded Israel withdraw from southern Lebanon, underscoring complications facing an interim deal to end the broader conflict between the U.S. and Iran.

'Nations committing genocide don't recognize it in real time': Yuli Novak on Israel's moral crisis

UN nuclear watchdog says it's been unable to inspect Iranian facilities

The IAEA said it has no information on Iran's enriched uranium stockpile or whether enrichment has stopped. Iranian drones heavily damaged a passenger terminal at Kuwait's main airport on Wednesday, killing one person

Netanyahu says IDF won't withdraw from southern Lebanon in the near future

Speaking with the heads of northern Israeli municipalities, the prime minister said that Iran continues to seek to advance plans for a Hezbollah invasion of Israeli territory. Meanwhile, Hezbollah militants and Israeli soldiers continued to exchange fire on Thursday, with one

Report: Israel secretly deployed IDF troops to Azerbaijan near Iran's border amid war, sources say

Sources told CNN that dozens of IDF soldiers and Mossad agents were deployed as part of a broader covert network, initially assigned solely emergency response duties. However, their role was later expanded to include drone operations and intelligence gathering

Lebanese leaders rebuke Iran as Israel, Hezbollah trade attacks

Lebanon's leaders issued pointed calls for Iran to stop interfering in their country's affairs on Friday, as Israel and the Tehran-backed Hezbollah traded attacks after a new truce deal collapsed before it even began. Lebanese state media reported fresh Israeli strikes on

Israel strikes south Lebanon after warning to several areas

Israel's air force struck south Lebanon on Friday following warnings for several areas of imminent attacks against Hezbollah, after the Iran-backed militants rejected a truce brokered by the United States. Lebanon was drawn into the wider Middle East war when Hezbollah attacked

Israel strikes Lebanese village after warning to several areas

Israel's air force struck a Lebanese village on Friday following warnings for several areas of imminent attacks against Hezbollah, after the Iran-backed militants rejected a truce brokered by the United States. Lebanon was drawn into the wider Middle East war when Hezbollah

Why Israel sees Lebanon’s 'pilot zones' as path to containing Hezbollah

Israel views the proposed pilot security zones in southern Lebanon as a pragmatic way to gradually expand Lebanese state control, push Hezbollah away from the border and preserve a fragile ceasefire while the Trump administration pursues broader negotiations with Iran.

UN doubles Lebanon aid appeal as war drives surge in humanitarian needs

By Olivia Le Poidevin GENEVA, June 5 (Reuters) - The United Nations on Friday said it is doubling the amount of money it says it needs to help Lebanon meet surging humanitarian needs, as the war enters its fourth month. Lebanon was drawn into the wider regional war in early

Trump's 'crazy' rebuke undercuts Netanyahu at a critical moment

By Alexander Cornwell, Rami Ayyub and Steve Holland JERUSALEM/WASHINGTON, June 5 (Reuters) - Benjamin Netanyahu has long portrayed himself to the Israeli public as being uniquely adept in dealing with Donald Trump, capable of winning and sustaining the U.S. president's backing.

Middle East conflict pushing millions into hunger, WFP says

By Olivia Le Poidevin GENEVA, June 5 (Reuters) - The Middle East conflict is pushing millions of people closer to hunger, as rising fuel and transport costs drive up food prices while funding shortfalls force aid agencies to scale back assistance, the U.N. World Food Programme

UN doubles appeal for Lebanon aid to nearly $640 mn amid Israel war

The UN on Friday more than doubled its aid appeal for Lebanon as the country reels from Israel's war against Iran-backed Hezbollah, saying nearly $640 million was needed over six months. Three months into the war, the United Nations warned that a "humanitarian catastrophe" was

EU considers limiting protection for Ukrainian men of fighting age

June 4 (Reuters) - EU ministers on Thursday broadly supported a proposal to limit access to temporary protection for Ukrainian men of military age, Sweden’s migration minister said. The European Union activated the Temporary Protection Directive after Russia’s 2022 invasion of

Trump says he thinks progress is being made on Lebanon

WASHINGTON, June 4 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday he believed progress was being made between Israel and Lebanon and that Lebanon deserved to have peace. Trump told reporters in the Oval Office that he had spoken to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin

Trump says he does not need deal with Iran to get enriched uranium

WASHINGTON, June 4 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday said that Washington did not need a deal with Iran to get enriched uranium from the country. "We could get it right now. I don't think they could stop us if we wanted, but there's no reason to. It's

Tom Barrack addresses criticism over his remarks on Hezbollah, Turkey: What to know

Tom Barrack, a senior figure within the Trump administration, was recently criticized by a member of the House for some of his past statements on Hezbollah.