Military

• The US military confirmed a service member was killed in Iraq during a "controlled detonation" of a downed Iranian drone. • This marks the third confirmed troop death following a new round of airstrikes intended to "swiftly punish" Iran for its actions. • A separate attack targeted electricity generation units, forcing the ministry to trigger emergency plans to stabilize the power grid.

• U.S. Central Command launched a new wave of airstrikes targeting Iran's surveillance sites, military logistics, underground weapons storage, and maritime capabilities. • The strikes reportedly hit critical infrastructure, including electricity and water desalination plants located in the State of Kuwait. • The Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the attacks as a flagrant violation of international law, the UN Charter, and UN Security Council Resolution 2817.

Central Command says US aircraft fired missiles into oil tanker’s smokestack in strait of Hormuz as US strikes Iran for fourth consecutive dayTrump again threatens to strike Iran’s power plants amid impasse over strait of HormuzFor a second day in a row, US strikes targeted Iran’s southern port city of Bushehr, home to the country’s only civilian nuclear plant, according to the state news agency IRNA quoting a local official.“In continuation of the brutality of the American enemy, three points in the city of Bushehr were attacked today,” Mohammad Mozaffari, the governor of Bushehr, was quoted as saying.In the recent attacks on the southern part of the country, more than 30 civilians lost their lives. While expressing our condolences and sympathy to the bereaved families, we honour the memory of the fallen. The government will stand by the people with all its might. The south of Iran is the beating heart of this land. The south of Iran, the soul of Iran.” Continue reading...

Action underscores how sentiment in the party towards Israel and the Netanyahu government has souredMore than 100 House Democrats on Wednesday voted to slash military aid to Israel, a significant rebuke of the longtime US ally as accusations that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government green-lit genocide in Gaza continue to convulse the party ahead of November’s midterm election.The amendment proposed by Republican congressman Thomas Massie to a spending measure would have halted $3.3bn in planned aid – much of which would have gone to Israel’s military – but was rejected by a 104-314 vote, with 10 lawmakers voting present. It received the support of 103 House Democrats, or nearly half of the 212-strong caucus, underscoring how sentiment in the party towards Israel and the Netanyahu government has soured since the 7 October attack and Israel’s subsequent invasion of Gaza. Continue reading...

House minority leader, Hakeem Jeffries, calls amendment ‘overly broad’ as party grapples with backlash over IsraelUS politics live – latest updatesTop House Democrats on Tuesday said they will oppose an effort to cut funding from Israel’s military, amid a rebellion from voters over US support for the Middle Eastern ally that has roiled recent primary elections.The party has been debating how to vote on an amendment that would halt $3.3bn in military aid for Israel, which Republican congressman Thomas Massie has proposed adding to an appropriations bill for the state department and related agencies. Democrats were debating the amendment, which may come up for a vote before the House of Representatives later this week, in the context of a slew of primary victories by candidates who have vowed to take a hardline against Israel. Continue reading...

Almost 6,000 people apply to be excluded on moral or religious grounds despite ‘conscription lite’ policy The number of young men applying to be conscientious objectors and refuse armed military service in Germany has risen sharply this year, undermining a drive by Berlin to create Europe’s strongest conventional army and deter the Russian threat.More people had applied to exclude themselves from service on religious or moral grounds in the first half of 2026 than in the whole of last year, according to figures provided by the government on Tuesday. Continue reading...

Many leaders from the ‘Coalition of the Willing’ stayed overnight in Paris to attend the parade, which will be Emmanuel Macron’s last as presidentYou can watch our live stream of the Bastille Day parade in Paris here, with final preparations now under way before the event starts soon.Most leaders are already in their premium seats, including French PM Sébastien Lecornu, with France’s Emmanuel Macron expected shortly before the start at 10am (9am UK). Continue reading...

US military says it hit dozens of Iranian sites in strikes on Monday while UN chief warns that a return to full-scale fighting would be ‘catastrophic’US launches new attack wave on Iran as Tehran says diplomacy has proven ‘futile’In a series of social media posts this morning, Oman’s interior ministry said sirens were being activated and urged residents to head to the nearest safe place and await further instructions.As we mentioned in the opening post, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said earlier that it had attacked radar systems in Oman as part of its counter strikes against the US. Continue reading...

Two women who alleged they were raped by Tyrion Davis in Suffolk had to testify at an invasive court martial on a US baseMinutes after fleeing the home of an American airman, Rebecca called 999 in tears to report that he had raped her. She recalls vomiting at a police station in Suffolk as she described being repeatedly and violently attacked.Officers took her to a sexual assault referral centre for an intimate examination. There, a nurse measured and photographed her injuries, including bruises and bite marks on her neck. Continue reading...

• U.S. Central Command conducted military strikes in the Strait of Hormuz to protect shipping lanes following President Trump's assertion that a three-week-old cease-fire had ended. • The operation serves as a strategic political message to counter the influence of Iran and its network of Shiite militant groups. • These actions are part of a broader three-year effort by the United States and Israel to dismantle the regional proxy network established under Ayatollah Khamenei’s 37-year rule.

• U.S. Central Command has announced the commencement of new military strikes targeting Iran, escalating tensions between the two nations. • The conflict is impacting global markets, specifically influencing oil prices and maritime security within the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz. • Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian criticized the U.S. government on X, comparing its foreign policy to "bullying" and "cheating" in the context of its role as a World Cup host.

• The U.S. military has launched a new round of strikes against Iran, as confirmed by U.S. Central Command. • The attacks follow a period of "mixed messaging" from President Trump regarding the intended scope and scale of the military conflict. • These escalations are occurring amidst heightened tensions in the Strait of Hormuz and are impacting global oil prices.

Iranian state media report explosions in several locations hours after Donald Trump threatened further military action at Nato summitIran’s IRNA is reporting power cuts in Chabahar after reports of explosions from the area.Tonight’s strikes come 24 hours after the US had launched strikes on more than 80 Iranian targets around the strait of Hormuz and revoked a temporary sanctions waiver for Tehran to export oil after Iranian attacks on three commercial vessels on Tuesday. Continue reading...

George Robertson warns prime minister’s defence investment plan fails to meet scale of challenge facing the UKThe former Nato chief who led the government’s defence review has criticised the prime minister’s plan to pay for it, calling the defence investment plan (Dip) insufficient and overly delayed.George Robertson, the former Nato general secretary, told MPs on Tuesday the Dip had damaged confidence in the defence industry and among Britain’s allies who are gathering in Ankara this week for the Nato summit. Continue reading...

• Amnesty International has expressed serious concern over reports that more than 1,000 Sri Lankan military and police personnel are slated for deployment to Haiti. • The personnel would serve as part of the international Gang Suppression Force (GSF) to combat instability and gang violence in the region. • Renzo Pomi, Amnesty International’s UN Representative, highlighted unresolved allegations of widespread sexual abuse of children involving Sri Lankan forces as a primary risk.

• President Donald Trump delivered a speech commemorating the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, highlighting American military victories and the settling of the West. • The address blended historical tributes with current campaign priorities, including his advocacy for new election legislation and his ongoing criticism of communism. • Trump claimed his first-term military rebuilding efforts were designed to enable the removal of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and the destruction of Iran's military.

• China's military has promoted two new generals following a significant anti-corruption purge that depleted the ranks of its top leadership. • The reshuffle is viewed as a strategic move by President Xi Jinping to consolidate power and ensure absolute loyalty to the Communist Party. • This development follows a broader crackdown on military officials, signaling a systemic effort to remove perceived disloyalty or corruption within the People's Liberation Army.

Fears of resurgence of HIV/Aids amid loss of access to PrEP drugs as at least 40 people arrested in ‘toxic’ climateA “witch-hunt” is under way in Niger, where dozens of people have been arrested for homosexuality in the west African state following the introduction of a new penal code earlier this year.Up to 40 people have been arrested and 16 men, including high-ranking military officials, have been imprisoned across the country, according to local media. Continue reading...

• Lt. Gen. Sagheer bin Aziz, Yemen’s chief of the General Staff, announced that the country's military leadership and decision-making processes have been unified. • The initiative aims to consolidate all military formations under the official umbrella of the Ministry of Defense to streamline command. • This restructuring follows a complex conflict starting in 2015 that lasted until 2022, resulting in tens of thousands of martyrs and wounded personnel.

• US stock futures surged following an agreement between the United States and Iran to halt military strikes after a weekend of clashes. • Both nations have agreed to resume diplomatic talks in Qatar this week, with negotiators aiming to secure a final peace deal within 60 days. • The market rally reflects investor optimism that Middle East de-escalation will reduce geopolitical instability and protect global energy prices.

Move comes amid growing outbreak in Texas and after two-month halt on mandatory shotsThe US military is racing to vaccinate new recruits after a two-month halt on mandatory flu shots – but it’s a temporary reprieve, as the shots will soon expire and new doses will not be available for months.Officials will need to lean on other prevention measures to contain the growing flu outbreak at Lackland air force base in San Antonio, Texas, experts say. Continue reading...

• Qatar reported that one of its citizens was killed by shrapnel resulting from "military operations" following an Iranian drone attack on June 28. • The IDF demolished a major Hezbollah tunnel, an action previously stalled by U.S. pressure, while citing a security annex that allows full freedom of action in the security zone. • Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar met with South Sudanese counterpart James Pitia Morgan in Jerusalem to discuss expanding bilateral cooperation across multiple fields.

• U.S. Navy and Air Force fighter jets conducted strikes on 10 Iranian military targets located in and near the Strait of Hormuz. • The operation, shared via video by U.S. Central Command (Centcom) on Sunday, was launched in response to an Iranian drone attack on the vessel M/T Kiku. • These strikes signal a "vigilant, lethal, and ready" posture from the U.S. military to deter further aggression in a strategically volatile maritime region.

Jacob Wulfson, who strangled woman he met online, was allowed to be tried at airbase court martial instead of facing UK justiceBizarre questions and an all-male ‘jury’: woman strangled by US pilot in Britain tells of airbase trialExplainer: how the US bypasses British courtsA police force in England is facing mounting questions over its decision to allow the US military to prosecute the case of a woman who was strangled by an American fighter pilot in his apartment in Cambridge city centre.Cambridgeshire police has acknowledged that in the days after the assault in 2023, it allowed the US military to take “investigative primacy” in the case, despite the fact the crime took place within the force’s territory and when the pilot was off duty. Continue reading...

Adm Sir Tony Radakin says UK currenly ‘falls short’ of level required to keep Russian threats at bayThe former head of the armed forces has told Andy Burnham that plans for defence spending must meet a “Moscow test” to keep Russian threats at bay, warning the UK currently “falls short” of that level of commitment.Adm Sir Tony Radakin, who was the chief of the defence staff until last year, said that if the government’s defence investment plan (Dip), expected to be published this week, was “not enough” then the probable next prime minister would have to find more funding before the general election. Continue reading...

• The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claims to have destroyed eight U.S. military infrastructures located in Kuwait and Bahrain. • The operation was carried out using a combination of missiles and drones in a coordinated joint strike. • This action was launched as a direct response to a second wave of U.S. military strikes against Iranian interests.

All branches of the military will be taught how to use technology that has become a ‘game changer on the battlefield’, says defence ministerAll of South Korea’s military forces will be trained as drone operators in a sweeping overhaul of its warfare strategy, the defence minister has said.“All soldiers should be able to use drones like a second personal firearm,” Ahn Gyu-back, who heads the defence ministry in Seoul, said on Friday. Continue reading...

• Scholars from 10 different countries will gather in South Korea in early July for an international academic conference. • The event aims to analyze the global cultural influence of BTS and examine the group's trajectory following their mandatory military service. • This gathering highlights the academic significance of the "BTS effect" and how the group's transition back to full activity impacts global pop culture.