War: latest news. The IDF marks Palestinians detained in the West Bank with numbers on their foreheads

The Pentagon is considering reducing the US military presence in the Gulf once the war with Iran is over. This is according to a report in today’s Washington Post, citing eight sources, who state that an analysis – not yet a formal review – has been launched, which also includes an assessment of whether or not to rebuild the bases damaged by Iranian attacks.

One of the key issues the Department of Defence is considering is whether to withdraw troops from the Persian Gulf from their bases, according to two people familiar with the ongoing analysis. “The damage to these facilities has presented the Pentagon with a unique, once-in-a-generation opportunity to reconsider its presence in the region”, wrote the Washington Post, noting that the Department of Defence has already indicated that it may not rebuild the bases as they were before the conflict.

The United Arab Emirates has issued a warning to the public regarding “potential missile threats”, the first alert of this kind in months. “Due to the current situation and potential missile threats, please seek shelter immediately in the nearest protected building,” the Ministry of the Interior stated in the alert, which was sent to the public via their mobile phones. This is the first such alert since a false alarm in June. Prior to that, the last missile warning had been issued in May.

The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) have marked Palestinians detained during a raid in the West Bank with numbers written on their foreheads. The Haaretz website reported this, publishing a photo of a Palestinian with the number ‘44’ written on his forehead and explaining that the Israeli army had confirmed that suspects questioned by troops were being numbered. The IDF also stated that it had carried out raids on 100 buildings in Qabatiyah, in the West Bank south of Jenin, and had arrested two suspects who, according to the army, were involved in planning attacks. Palestinian and local sources, however, reported a higher number of people arrested. According to local sources, some of those arrested were beaten by Israeli forces. Several Palestinians who had been detained for questioning were subsequently released with numbers written in marker pen on their faces or bodies to identify them. An IDF statement noted that “commanders have emphasised the seriousness of the incident”. Ta’al MP Ahmad Tibi wrote on X that this was a “shocking and repugnant incident: soldiers and officers are writing identification numbers on the foreheads of Palestinians in Qabatiyah before interrogating them. This is what dehumanisation looks like: erasing the person and turning them into a number. An image that harks back to dark times and should shock us all.”

Work restrictions in Israel, billions of dollars in tax revenue withheld, restrictions on banking transactions and new checkpoints. According to reports in the New York Times, the mounting economic pressure being exerted by Israel is pushing the West Bank to the brink of a financial crisis, thereby also jeopardising the solvency of the Palestinian National Authority.

Since the Hamas attack on 7 October 2023, Israel has revoked the work permits of tens of thousands of Palestinians, pushing unemployment in the West Bank up to 28 per cent, more than double the pre-war level. Since May 2025, the Israeli government has also begun withholding hundreds of millions of dollars a month in import duties collected on behalf of the PNA, revenue that accounts for around two-thirds of its 2026 budget, amounting to approximately 6 billion dollars. “We are facing a huge problem. Everyone has been affected,” Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Mustafa told The New York Times.

According to a new geospatial assessment published by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) and the United Nations Satellite Centre (UNOSAT), only 3 per cent of the Gaza Strip’s arable land remains accessible and intact.

“As at 24 June 2026, 4,091 hectares remained accessible, equivalent to 27 per cent of the arable land in the Gaza Strip. However, only 448 hectares are accessible and undamaged. The remaining 3,643 accessible hectares are damaged and will require restoration work before cultivation can resume,” reads a statement released today by the FAO.

Qatar has expressed its “strong condemnation” of the Israeli air strikes against the Syrian military base at Abu al-Duhur, in the province of Idlib. In a post on X, the Qatari Foreign Ministry emphasised that “Israel’s ongoing violations of the sovereignty of countries in the region, in the absence of deterrence, reveal a dangerous approach aimed at imposing a fait accompli by force and a systematic disregard for international law”. The Ministry reiterated Qatar’s firm stance on “standing alongside the Syrian Arab Republic”, expressing solidarity with the Syrian government and supporting any measures that would preserve Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

“The main opponent and obstacle to the implementation of the memorandum of understanding” signed by Iran and the United States “has been, and remains, the Israeli regime”. This was stated today by the Iranian Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, who claimed that Israel “has done everything in its power to prevent this memorandum from being reached, everything to make it fail and everything to prevent its implementation. And it continues to do so even now”.

“You will recall that, in the early days of the war, the US President issued a brief message stating: ‘Unconditional surrender’. That was their sole objective: Iran’s unconditional surrender,” continued Araghchi. “Iran did not surrender. When they realised that this vain hope would not materialise, they attempted regime change. They failed. They attempted to break Iran up. They failed. They attempted to arm various groups in the cities and in the western part of the country – and they themselves admitted to having supplied them with weapons – but this attempt also failed.”

“There are no talks or discussions currently taking place with the Islamic Republic of Iran, nor are any planned. The naval blockade remains fully in force. The Strait of Hormuz is open and operational.” Donald Trump wrote this on Truth, stating that “all naval mines have been removed or detonated”.

Two Egyptian sailors detained on board the Reem Al-Khaleej in December 2025, after 8 months in captivity, two Egyptian sailors who had been detained on board the vessel Reem Al-Khaleej in December 2025, when the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy had intercepted the vessel near the island of Qeshm, accusing the crew on board of fuel smuggling. This was announced by the Egyptian Foreign Ministry, which expressed satisfaction at the positive outcome of months of diplomatic efforts. The sailors had been stranded for eight months on board the vessel, which was moored in the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas.
Following their release, “their departure from Iran has been guaranteed and their return to Egypt has been facilitated”, the ministry stated.

Since December 2017, when the World Health Organisation’s surveillance system was launched, the WHO has documented over 10,400 attacks on healthcare facilities in 29 countries and territories, resulting in over 5,700 deaths and 8,500 injuries.

In 2026 alone, 914 attacks were recorded, resulting in 911 deaths and 1,486 injuries, the majority of which were reported in Ukraine, Lebanon, the occupied Palestinian territories and Myanmar. This is the picture painted by the UN health agency on the eve of World Humanitarian Day, which is celebrated on 19 August.

The humanitarian and displacement crisis in Lebanon is far from over, the UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, warned today in Geneva. Although some 860,000 people have returned to their areas of origin, around 360,000 remain displaced and many are facing damaged homes, widespread destruction and a lack of essential services.

According to the UNHCR, the security situation in Lebanon remains fragile and the humanitarian needs of hundreds of thousands of people remain enormous, although the intensity of the hostilities has decreased. Furthermore, “despite the declared ceasefires, new Israeli air raids in southern Lebanon over the weekend have triggered a new wave of displacement, with hundreds of families fleeing northwards in search of safety”, said the agency’s spokesperson, Babar Baloch. Many families are still unable to return to their homes due to extensive rubble, insecurity, difficulties in accessing their communities and widespread damage to infrastructure, resulting in disruptions or shortages of health, water and electricity supplies, the UN agency emphasises. At the height of the conflict – UNHCR notes – over a million people were internally displaced within Lebanon. The government and humanitarian agencies are mobilising to provide aid, but the inter-agency appeal for Lebanon, amounting to $639.9 million, is only 48 per cent funded.

Syria accuses Israel of striking an airport in the north-western province of Idlib, after a security source told AFP that the military facility, which is no longer in use, had been hit by unidentified aircraft. According to the Times of Israel, this would be the first attack of this kind by the Israeli Air Force since last March. The move has been criticised by the United States, whose special envoy to Syria, Tom Barrack, described it as an “unnecessary escalation” that does not promote regional stability, explaining instead that Washington prioritises “rational dialogue”. “Israeli occupation aircraft targeted the runway at Abu Dhouhour military airport early this morning (...) with eight strikes,” said a military source quoted by Syrian television, adding that “the attack caused only material damage”.

US President Donald Trump is not abandoning the idea – announced during a speech in New York last Friday and reiterated yesterday in the Oval Office – of making the Strait of Hormuz US territory. In a post on Truth Social, the tycoon published a map of the strategic sea route, marked as ‘new US territory’.

fonte: Truth social

Qatar is awaiting an agreement between Iran and Oman on the Strait of Hormuz before resuming broader negotiations between the United States and Iran. The spokesperson for the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Majed al-Ansari, told ‘Al Jazeera’ that stated during a press conference that the countries involved in mediating between Iran and the US will resume their efforts to end the war between the US and Israel against Iran and to restart dialogue between the two sides, once Iran and Oman have announced a bilateral agreement on transit through the Strait of Hormuz. Qatar reported in recent days that negotiations between Iran and Oman on the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz have reached an advanced stage, with technical discussions taking place on shipping routes.

The Speaker of the Iranian Parliament, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the Islamic Republic’s negotiator in the difficult talks with the United States, is on a mission to Iraq. He is due to arrive in Baghdad tomorrow at the head of a high-level parliamentary delegation for meetings with Iraqi counterparts focusing on the latest developments in the Middle East, according to the official Iranian news agency IRNA, against a backdrop of growing tensions in the region. Tehran’s stated aim is to strengthen ‘strategic cooperation’ with Baghdad and reassess ‘joint approaches’ in support of ‘stability and security’ in the region. Talks on border security and economic cooperation are scheduled, according to Iranian media reports. Whilst no solution to the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz is in sight, crude oil exports from Iraq are also high on the agenda, according to sources in Baghdad. The crisis in the Strait of Hormuz continues to have a severe impact on Iraqi exports. In recent days, Iraq has announced that, since the start of August, it has been exporting around two million barrels of oil per day – a level never before reached in the more than five months of tensions in the region, despite the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. Earlier this month, the Iraqi Minister of Oil, Bassem Mohammed Khudair, explained that before the end of February – when the US and Israel announced the launch of military operations against Iran, to which Tehran did not fail to ‘respond’ – Iraq was exporting around 3.4 million barrels a day via the Strait of Hormuz. (Continued)

The US Special Envoy for the Middle East, Jared Kushner, described the meeting with Hamas as very cordial, whilst emphasising the need to verify, through concrete actions, the group’s willingness to reach an agreement. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called for Hamas to hand over its weapons to the International Stabilisation Force in Gaza, under US supervision, as a first step. Israel and the Board of Peace have agreed that the disarmament and demilitarisation of the Strip must be completed before reconstruction can begin. During the meeting between Netanyahu and Kushner, two working groups were also set up, dedicated respectively to disarmament and public health. Disagreement remains over the roadmap for a ceasefire, which has been accepted by Hamas but rejected by Israel, which is demanding complete disarmament before any withdrawal from the Strip. Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and other countries have criticised the Israeli position and called for concrete measures to facilitate the implementation of the plan.

The Board of Peace is considering abandoning the gradual approach to the disarmament of Hamas in favour of a single-phase, complete handover of weapons, to be followed by Israel’s withdrawal from the Strip. This is according to Ynet. A source from the Peace Council stated that, in this way, “We want a complete dismantling, with no compromises on this issue, and we do not intend to allow any kind of manoeuvre,” said a source from the Board of Peace. According to the Times of Israel, the shift to a plan for the complete handover of weapons might be sufficient to secure Israel’s support, but risks losing Hamas’s backing, after the Peace Council spent months persuading the militant group to accept the phased disarmament plan. The original roadmap for disarmament, approved by Hamas on 30 July, divided the approximately 47 per cent of the Gaza Strip still under Hamas control into five sectors and provided for each sector to be progressively demilitarised, a source told the Times of Israel.

The Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until the United States complies with the terms of the interim agreement with Iran, which provides for the lifting of the naval blockade and oil sanctions, the unfreezing of Iranian assets and an end to threats and military operations on all fronts: this was stated by Iran’s chief negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf. Ghalibaf, who is also Speaker of the Iranian Parliament, further warned that internal disputes would weaken the country and embolden foreign adversaries. He also stated that Iran’s adversaries are seeking to foment unrest, combining this with military operations, assassinations and separatist activities.

“The Prime Minister and Chairman of Likud, Benjamin Netanyahu, is very pleased with the results of the Likud primaries and congratulates those who have been selected for the list.” This was announced by Likud in a statement following the conclusion of the vote count for the party’s primary elections held yesterday ahead of the 27 October general election. “The new Likud list reflects a renewal and the integration of new forces at the top. Together with the reserved seats to be appointed by the Prime Minister, which will further strengthen the list, the Likud team led by Netanyahu will secure a resounding victory and form a broad national government immediately after the elections. This is the only way to prevent a left-wing government led by Eisenkot, Golan, Liberman and the Arab parties,’ the statement adds. “Prime Minister Netanyahu thanks the Likud members who voted with common sense rather than on the basis of backroom deals, and extends his appreciation to those who did not make it onto the list, whom he intends to involve in the efforts to secure a Likud victory,” the statement concludes.

The Iranian-backed Yemeni Houthis have targeted an oil refinery on the southern coast of the Red Sea in Saudi Arabia, as the militant group steps up its attacks against the kingdom. This is according to local media reports. The Houthis “targeted the Aramco refinery in Jazan with several drones… in response to airspace violations” over the Yemeni provinces of Saada and Hajjah, the Houthi news agency Saba reported, citing a military source.

Speaking to journalists in the Oval Office, US President Donald Trump played down reports concerning conditions on board the USS Abraham Lincoln. The aircraft carrier has been at the centre of growing concerns over the mental health and supply issues faced by American sailors, who have been on a mission at sea for almost nine months. Trump described the period as “a good length of time”, but added that “over the years, we’ve kept them at sea for much longer”. The ship has set a record for uninterrupted time at sea, exceeding 240 days.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has accused Israel of actively sabotaging diplomatic efforts, describing the country as the main obstacle to reaching a lasting ceasefire agreement with the United States. This was reported by the IRNA news agency. “The Zionist regime has been and remains the main opponent and obstacle to the implementation of the memorandum of understanding. They have done everything possible to prevent such an agreement from being reached, everything possible to make it fail and everything possible to prevent its implementation,” he said. Araghchi added that Trump’s demand for an “unconditional surrender” from Iran did not materialise, as Tehran ultimately accepted a ceasefire and conducted negotiations with the United States on its own terms. According to the agency’s report, Araghchi stated that those who “were seeking an unconditional surrender, shortly after the war began, were begging to negotiate”. “It was we who said that we would not accept a ceasefire and that we would continue the war until they agreed to a ceasefire and negotiations on Iran’s terms,” he said.

Il ministro degli Esteri iraniano Abbas Araghchi, al centro, è circondato da agenti di sicurezza mentre cammina durante la commemorazione dell’Arbaeen a Najaf, in Iraq, lunedì 3 agosto 2026. (AP Photo/Anmar Khalil)

The spokesperson for the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Esmail Baghaei, has stated that the 60-day deadline for reaching an agreement, as set out in the memorandum of understanding with the United States – which expired yesterday – is now “null and void” due to Washington’s “breaches”. This is according to France 24.

US President Donald Trump has dismissed reports of dwindling supplies and low morale aboard the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, describing CNN’s recent coverage of the matter as “fake news”. The US broadcaster itself reported this, recounting what took place during an exchange between Trump and the press in the Oval Office. The President also disputed rumours regarding intermittent shortages of food and medical supplies on the Lincoln, refuting the accounts given to CNN by sailors and their families. “The Lincoln has been on a mission for some time, quite a long time,” said Trump, “but over the years we’ve had them on missions for much longer.” Since leaving its home port of San Diego last November, the aircraft carrier has been deployed for more than 250 days after being redirected to the Middle East to support US operations in the war with Iran, which is now entering its sixth month. The Lincoln could break the record for the longest deployment away from its home port by a US aircraft carrier since the Vietnam War. During his exchange with the press, Trump referred to a meeting with a retired admiral over the weekend. “He said: ‘I’ve been on ships that have been on mission for much longer than that, sir, and I know people on the Lincoln. They say it’s beautifully maintained and beautifully looked after, and other people have gone to check and found that to be true.’ That was fake news reported by CNN,” he said.

The Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan held a telephone conversation with the US President Donald Trump: this was reported by the Anadolu Agency, citing a statement from the Turkish Communications Directorate, according to which the leader in Ankara argued that it is “important” to make the most of diplomacy in the context of tensions in the Middle East, expressing the hope, in particular, that negotiations between the US and Iran would continue. Erdoğan also stated that the Joint Mecca Defence Agreement, signed this month between Turkey, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, “demonstrates a strong stance in ensuring regional stability and security”, the statement reads. The Turkish president also spoke about Gaza, arguing that “at a time when the aim is to move to the second phase of the peace process, there has been an increase in the Israeli government’s actions against the Palestinians”, adding that Turkey “will continue to support lasting peace in the region and initiatives aimed at the reconstruction” of the Strip.

Il presidente turco Recep Tayyip Erdogan interviene durante una conferenza stampa al vertice NATO del 2026 ad Ankara, in Turchia, l'8 luglio 2026. EPA/FILIP SINGER

Ship traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remained at single figures yesterday, the day the US-Iran memorandum signed in June expired, despite a slight increase compared with the weekend. This is according to preliminary maritime traffic data from Kpler, reported by various international media outlets, which show that only six merchant ships crossed the Strait yesterday – three entering and three leaving. According to data provided by Kpler, the average over the last 10 days is 11 ships per day. On Saturday, three ships transited the Strait of Hormuz; on Sunday, only two; and none of these were supertankers or liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers, although some vessels may have crossed the strait with their transponders switched off and are therefore not included in the count.

A vessel in the Strait of Hormuz has reported that it was hit by a projectile, according to the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO). “The company’s security officer reported that the vessel was struck by an unidentified projectile whilst manoeuvring to exit the Strait of Hormuz,” reads the statement, which was also reported by Al Jazeera. “The impact caused damage to the engine room and resulted in one crew member being injured”, the statement adds, noting that the surviving crew members are receiving assistance from the Omani Coastguard. The UKMTO stated that no environmental impacts have been reported and that the authorities are investigating, advising vessels in the area to proceed with caution and to report any suspicious activity.