War returns to Iran with Israel, US strikes

The Israeli military said on Tuesday it intercepted a drone near the Jordanian border and was looking into its origin, AFP reports.

“A short while ago, the Israeli Air Force intercepted a UAV in the area of the Jordan border,” the military said.

“The UAV did not cross into Israeli territory. The origin of the launch is under review.”

The US State Department has confirmed that the next round of talks between Israel and Lebanon will be held in Rome on August 4 through 6, as Israel prepares to withdraw from two “pilot zones” in southern Lebanon, AFP reports.

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani first announced the next round of US-mediated talks last week, with a State Department official detailing the talks to AFP on the condition of anonymity.

“In Rome, technical groups will focus on advancing the full implementation of the framework agreement,” the official told AFP, adding that the planned discussion “includes expanding the pilot zone process, resolving all outstanding border issues, and working on a comprehensive peace and security agreement.”

“The experience of the initial zones will help us perfect pilot-zone implementation so it can expand in a phased manner,” the US official added.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will meet US President Donald Trump at the White House for the first time since the start of the Iran war, over which they have publicly disagreed, AFP reports.

Relations between Netanyahu and Trump have occasionally appeared strained in recent months, but both have sought to tone things down.

The meeting is expected to be dominated by the war, which began with US-Israeli strikes on Iran in late February, as Washington says it wants to give negotiations a chance.

Israel has not taken part in the latest round of hostilities between the United States and Iran, which flared earlier this month after an April ceasefire collapsed.

Yemen’s internationally recognised government is ready for any escalation with the Houthis after the rebels launched strikes on Saudi Arabia, the foreign minister designate has said, according to AFP.

“At the end of the day, we are prepared for any escalations,” said foreign minister designate Afrah al-Zouba during a briefing.

Yemen is worried that Houthi rebels are trying to emulate Iran’s attempts to control the Strait of Hormuz, a senior official said, after the group announced a maritime blockade of Saudi Arabia, AFP reports.

The “Houthis want to copy the Iran experience in Hormuz,” foreign minister designate Afrah al-Zouba told reporters during a briefing saying the rebels were “in harmony” with Iranian escalation in the region.

Kuwait has denounced attempted strikes on petroleum facilities in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Region and Riyadh, Al Jazeera reports.

The drones, launched by Iran-aligned militias in Iraq, are a “flagrant violation” of Saudi sovereignty and territorial integrity, and a breach of international law, the UN Charter and Security Council Resolution 2817, the foreign ministry says in a statement.

Kuwait reaffirms its full solidarity with Riyadh, saying Saudi Arabia’s security is “an inseparable part” of Kuwait’s own security and that of the Gulf Cooperation Council.

Syria has “strongly condemned” the attempted drone attack on oil facilities in Saudi Arabia, Al Jazeera reports citing a statement posted on X by its foreign ministry.

Damascus calls the attack, which Riyadh says was launched by Iran-aligned militias from Iraq, a violation of the kingdom’s security and stability and a threat to regional security.

The ministry affirms Syria’s solidarity with Saudi Arabia and its support for all measures taken to protect its sovereignty, security and territorial integrity, reiterating its call for respect of states’ sovereignty.

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Faleh Al-Zaidi has ordered security authorities to investigate Saudi Arabia’s claims that drones targeting the kingdom were launched from Iraqi territory, Al Jazeera reports citing a statement by armed forces spokesman Sabah Al-Numan.

Baghdad says it remains committed to preventing Iraqi soil from being used as a launchpad for attacks on neighbouring states, and warns it will take legal action against anyone found responsible once the investigation concludes.

The government describes its ties with Saudi Arabia as “deep-rooted and fraternal”, vowing to protect Iraq’s sovereignty and safeguard regional security and stability.

Oman “strongly condemns and denounces the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) attacks targeting the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia”, Al Jazeera reports, citing a statement carried by the Oman News Agency.

Muscat adds that it is “reaffirming its full solidarity with Saudi Arabia in all measures taken to protect its sovereignty, security and territorial integrity”.

Pakistan has strongly condemned drone attacks carried out against Saudi Arabia, according to a statement from the Foreign Office (FO).

“Such provocative attacks pose a grave threat to peace and stability across the entire region,” the statement reads, adding that Islamabad stands in solidarity with Riyadh and “reaffirms its strong and unwavering support for the kingdom’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and peace and prosperity”.

“Pakistan has taken, and will continue to take, all possible steps to support efforts aimed at achieving lasting peace, security and stability in the region,” the statement concludes.

Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani has discussed efforts to reduce regional tensions with Canada’s Foreign Minister, Anita Anand, Al Jazeera reports.

In their phone call, Qatar’s foreign ministry said Sheikh Mohammed has stressed the need for all parties to adhere to dialogue and diplomacy, as well as implementing the MoU, including ensuring freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.

He also reaffirms Qatar’s support for efforts to defuse tensions and achieve a comprehensive, sustainable peace in the region.

UN Rights Commissioner Volker Turk tells Al Jazeera that after working for the United Nations for 35 years, he “never imagined that we’d end up in a situation where in Gaza, in Yemen, in Lebanon, our colleagues killed not only once or twice, but frankly in a way that is totally unfathomable”.

“We had, as you know, many hundreds of colleagues killed in Gaza,” he said, and “a lot of Unifil personnel killed” in southern Lebanon, as well as 74 colleagues detained in Yemen.

Turk says that his staff who have been monitoring the situation are exhausted and traumatised.

He calls for the protection of UN staff and all those who work in humanitarian and human rights positions, “because we are doing it impartially” in order to serve people all around the world.

“I do think that the majority of people around the world care about not only our work, but also about the truth coming out, and that’s what we are counting on,” he says, adding, “we need to point out that international law that nobody is above international law and there are no exceptions to it.”

Speaking on US missile interceptor stocks, President Donald Trump says the US has “a lot of ammunition, different types”, according to Al Jazeera.

He blames the Biden administration for sending the arms to Ukraine, saying, “And so we’re building that up. But we have a lot. We have a lot of the mid-level stuff too. I mean, more than we could ever use, no matter what.

“The Patriots, in particular, are being built,” he adds.

Asked if he is on the same page as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding Iran, US President Donald Trump says they are “pretty close”.

US Central Command (Centcom) says its forces have redirected 17 vessels, disabled two and boarded two others while enforcing a naval blockade of Iranian ports.

US President Donald Trump says he will ask Russian President Vladimir Putin if Russian satellites are helping Tehran direct strikes in the Middle East, Reuters reports.

“I’ll ask Putin about it. We’ll find out,” Trump tells reporters aboard Air Force One.

Asked how he is communicating with the Houthis, US President Donald Trump says he is dealing with Saudi Arabia and that Washington may “probably have to get involved” if “they’re a problem”.

Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, he notes that the US struck Yemen’s Houthis some time ago and that “we didn’t have any problem with them after that”.

US President Donald Trump tells reporters that Washington and Tehran are “talking right now”.

“Their people said, ‘Please don’t shoot’ last night, the night before … ‘Don’t do it, we’re having good talks’,” he says. “I think there’s a good chance that something could happen, and if it doesn’t, we go back to doing what we were doing two days ago.”

US President Donald Trump has praised his Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, as Iran’s military is “pretty much destroyed” and that Iran wants to come to the table.

“We’re meeting and we’ll see what happens,” he tells reporters on Air Force One. “There’s a chance we could make a deal, but without what we did, they wouldn’t even be talking to us.”

Trump claims that Tehran requested a meeting with Washington through its “surrogates and directly”.

Asked if he is running out of patience with Iran, he replies, “I have plenty of time.”

Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Sheikh Jarrah Jabber Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah is slated to visit Pakistan from July 28-29 at the invitation of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, the Foreign Office (FO) has said in a statement.

“The two sides will review the entire spectrum of bilateral relations and exchange views on regional and international developments of mutual interest,” the statement reads, adding that Kuwait’s top diplomat is expected to pay a courtesy call on other senior leaders.

“The visit reflects the shared resolve of Pakistan and Kuwait to further strengthen their enduring partnership and expand cooperation for the mutual benefit of both countries,” the FO says.

UN Rights Commissioner Volker Turk tells Al Jazeera that the UN has dispatched an assessment mission to Lebanon to look at “serious violations of humanitarian law” by all parties to the conflict.

Turk says that after visiting a residential building in a densely populated area in Beirut that was destroyed in an attack, he sensed that “the principles of distinction, precaution, and proportionality were absolutely not respected in this case, and that really needs to be brought to light”.

“We need to tell the truth about this, and we need to bring the human side of conflict into the spotlight, which also means, yes, there are issues around accountability because people should not get away with the commission of crimes,” he adds.

United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk says that many people in Lebanon have been displaced many times as a result of Israeli bombardments.

“They were displaced in 2024, were displaced again and again in 2026,” he tells Al Jazeera. “So there is a deep sense of exhaustion and despair, I have to say, that I felt from people, [and] anxiety about what the future brings.”

He notes that one man he met with had tried to return to his home four days earlier only to be prevented from entering his village.

“He saw how his village had been demolished in front of his eyes.

“The ceasefire has to hold,” he stresses. “People have to find a way to get back to their lives and live in peace with their neighbour.”

Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi has affirmed with his regional counterparts the importance of reaching an understanding that ensures the safety of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, Al Jazeera reports citing the Oman News Agency.

Albusaidi has also discussed the latest regional developments and efforts to reduce tensions.