Al Jazeera

By Ali Mustafa and Yashraj Sharma

    US President Donald Trump says he expects the war on Iran to conclude “pretty soon”, adding during questions on high energy prices that he does not believe “they can go much longer”.

    The US, Iran, and Oman are approaching a temporary deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Israeli raid in West Bank’s Qalandiya injures 51 Palestinians

By Al Jazeera Staff

    A “large-scale” Israeli raid in the Qalandiya refugee camp in the occupied West Bank has injured at least 51 Palestinians, the Jerusalem Governorate told Al Jazeera.

    Israeli forces demolished shops near the Qalandiya checkpoint on Thursday, before imposing a curfew on the neighbouring town of Kafr Aqab and sealing off roads linking the area to Jerusalem.

    The Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) said 35 people were hospitalised after severe beatings and six more were treated at the scene. One person was hit by a rubber-coated steel bullet. Six others suffered tear gas inhalation.

    Read the full article here.

Oil prices climb to $83 a barrel

    Oil prices are continuing their upward trajectory, with Brent crude futures gaining 99 cents as of 00:10 GMT, or 1.2 percent, to $83.48 a barrel.

    US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude went up 85 cents, or 1.1 percent, to $78.84 a barrel.

    The gains came amid mounting anxieties over navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, after Tehran, in coordination with Muscat, proposed barring ships belonging to “hostile” nations from the waterway and levying steep fines on any violators.

Pakistan PM’s Saudi Arabia visit comes at ‘pivotal moment’ for region

By Osama Bin Javaid

Reporting from Doha, Qatar

    The Pakistani prime minister’s visit to Saudi Arabia is hugely significant as it comes at a pivotal moment for the entire region. Regional security remains paramount, not just to Saudi Arabia, but also to Turkiye and Pakistan, both of which share a border with Iran.

    Any fallout would have a direct impact on those countries. This has been in the making since April of this year, when the first so-called R4 countries – Egypt, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkiye – met in Riyadh. Spearheading the talks, they tasked Pakistan with leading negotiations between Iran and the United States to try and find an end to the conflict.

    In the last 24 hours, there have been several meetings between the foreign ministers of those four countries. This appears to be the moment where they essentially ironed out the details.

    As a result, the region’s major powers – combining military prowess, technology, energy, and Saudi Arabia’s deep pockets – are coming together. It is a significant step, especially given what we have been seeing in the region after the Iran war.

Trump will not accept joint Iranian-Omani control, analyst says

    Here is more analysis from University of Chicago political science professor Robert Pape in his interview with Al Jazeera. He says Trump will not accept any deal that leads to Iran and Oman jointly controlling the Strait of Hormuz, given his backtracking after the June 17 memorandum of understanding with Iran.

    “Trump will oscillate back and forth,” Pape said, adding, “I don’t think Trump will be able to accept Iranian and Omani control of the Strait of Hormuz for more than a day or two.”

    “As we head to the midterms, President Trump will want a symbolic victory. It may be taking an island, taking a beachhead on part of Iran’s coast. That is the kind of symbolic victory that Trump may be able to make use of as we get into the midterms,” he added.

Latest Yemen escalation could spark new civil war

By Yousef Mawry

Reporting from Sanaa, Yemen

    Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis say they’ve killed at least 45 people in an attack that targeted three military bases in Yemen’s eastern province, considered a stronghold of the internationally recognised Yemeni government backed by Saudi Arabia.

    Meanwhile, the Saudi-led coalition said at least 11 civilians were wounded in the attack on Najran airport.

    This is perhaps one of the Houthis’ biggest military operations against the Yemeni government.

    The Houthis’ war strategy, which is now taking the fight to areas in the east of the country, is driven by a belief that the Saudi-backed government is planning preemptive strikes against the Iran-backed group.

    Many experts and analysts say that violent escalation could be the spark for another civil war in the country.

Israeli FM criticises Turkish counterpart’s Syria comments

    Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Saar has criticised his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan, for accusing Israel of “destabilizing Syria.”

    “These are the same Turkish leaders who have spent decades violating the sovereignty of Syria while cynically lecturing others on international law,” Saar wrote on X.

    He accused Türkiye of lecturing others while it “occupies five percent of Syria” to undermine Israel’s security by establishing military bases in the country.

    “In comparison, Israel holds a buffer zone that comprises just one-tenth of one percent of Syrian territory, in order to protect itself from the terrorist groups seeking to attack Israel from southern Syria,” he said.

    “What Minister Fidan wants is for Israel to stop protecting itself from threats to its security. This will not happen. Israel will continue to take all measures necessary to defend its citizens against any threat.”

Trump faces ‘escalation trap’ in Iran

    After failing to defeat Iran with air and naval power, Trump will likely deploy ground forces, argues University of Chicago political science professor Robert Pape, the author of the Escalation Trap Substack.

    “President Trump may not do ground operations in the next few days, even the next few weeks, but he has already seen the limits of air power. He’s being told that on a daily basis. He’s also seen the limits of naval power—well, there’s only one branch left, that’s ground power,” Pape told Al Jazeera.

    Pape said a US ground operation might also prove unsuccessful against Iran, but that Trump has no option left but to escalate.

    “This is the escalation trap: either he moves in that direction, or he surrenders, and Iran becomes the fourth centre of world power. This would be a stunning defeat for President Trump. His legacy in history would be in tatters,” said Pape.

Tensions rise in Hormuz as Tehran drafts bill to ban ships of ‘hostile’ countries

By Mahmoud Abdelwahed

Reporting from Tehran, Iran

    The situation at the Strait of Hormuz remains precarious after a very brief period of de-escalation. Explosions have been heard again around Iran’s Qeshm Island. Iran’s state media says these are connected to operations against what it says are hostile targets.

    This comes as the parliament in Tehran has begun discussing a draft bill to tighten Iran’s control over the Strait of Hormuz. Under the proposed legislation, hostile countries, such as the US and Israel, will be banned from transiting the waterway, with the bill imposing fines on those who violate this measure.

    Meanwhile, the speaker of Iran’s parliament and chief negotiator, Ghalibaf, has posted comments on social media once again over the issue of the trust deficiency between Iran and the US, accusing Washington of alternating between military threats and calls for diplomacy.

    Domestically, the Iranian Intelligence Ministry has announced the apprehension of 21 people, accusing them of working with Israel’s Mossad intelligence service in Kirman province.

    These developments come as Iran and Oman are now at the final stage of drafting a temporary agreement to arrange the passage of commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, as the US naval blockade on Iran’s southern ports continues.

India’s Modi, Netanyahu discuss West Asia situation in call

    Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi discussed the situation in West Asia with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a phone call.

    In a post on X, Modi said the two leaders also “reviewed the progress across various aspects of the special strategic partnership between India and Israel, which continues to strengthen and develop steadily”.

    Modi faced criticism for his late February 2026 visit to Israel, which took place just days before the US and Israel launched attacks on Iran, with opponents calling the trip ill-timed.