Across 80 stories in the last 7 days. Consensus facts are claims corroborated across multiple sources; disputed claims reflect source disagreements.
Mojtaba Khamenei succeeded his father Ali Khamenei as Supreme Leader following the latter's death in a US-Israeli airstrike on February 28. On July 11 2026 Mojtaba issued a statement vowing revenge against the United States and Israel. Funeral ceremonies occurred months after the death.
Donald Trump stated during a July 12 NBC Meet the Press interview that the Strait of Hormuz is open to commercial traffic. Multiple Al-Monitor reports describe concurrent U.S.-Iranian missile and drone exchanges, Iranian strikes on U.S. facilities in the UAE and Qatar, and an Iranian claim that the strait had been closed. The strait carries one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments.
Israel will hold national elections on October 27, the final date permitted by law, following the scheduled end of the current Knesset term on July 17. The ruling coalition is completing a full four-year term for the first time in decades without requiring a dissolution law. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, aged 76 and Israel's longest-serving leader, has stated his intention to run again.
Multiple outlets report that Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in US-Israeli airstrikes on February 28, after which Mojtaba Khamenei assumed the role of supreme leader. Mojtaba issued a July 11 written statement vowing revenge framed as the nation's will. Ongoing exchanges of fire and a Qatari delegation visit are also noted amid questions over public confirmation of the succession.
Two explosions occurred Tuesday near a Damascus hotel where French President Emmanuel Macron stayed during his visit, wounding 18 people. Preliminary investigations indicate the cell responsible was affiliated with Islamic State. Macron's trip marked the first by an EU head of state since the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad.
A UN Women report released July 10 surveyed 855 women's organizations in Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Haiti. It found that at least one million women and girls lost access to support in the past year amid the steepest recorded drop in aid funding. The Trump administration cut billions in foreign assistance while other donors reduced budgets due to fiscal pressures and defense spending.
US forces struck 140 targets in Iran on July 12 2026 following an Iranian attack on a container ship in the Strait of Hormuz. The war began on February 28 and Iran later struck Bahrain Kuwait Qatar and Oman. At least 20 percent of global oil transits the strait annually.
The Israeli parliament faces imminent dissolution with national elections scheduled for late October. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition is advancing seven pieces of legislation, including a bill granting military service exemptions to religious students. Opposition leader Yair Lapid has criticized the timing as focused on coalition survival rather than national interests.
Syria's new parliament held its first session on July 12 with 206 members present, 19 months after rebels led by Ahmed al-Sharaa ousted Bashar al-Assad. Two-thirds of the 210 seats were filled through regional electoral colleges and the remainder appointed by Sharaa, who addressed the body under a temporary constitutional declaration introduced in 2025. Sharaa called on the chamber to serve as a model of responsibility and a platform for truth and justice.
Donald Trump stated on July 10 that Iran requested continued talks and the United States agreed, while declaring the June ceasefire ended. Verified reports confirm US and Iranian strikes occurred during July 7-10, including Iranian attacks on US infrastructure in Gulf states and prior US strikes on Iranian provinces. The conflict has affected energy transit through the Strait of Hormuz.
Residents of the Palestinian village of Burin in the Israeli-occupied West Bank have organized a kite festival each summer since 2009 on a hillside near the settlement of Har Bracha. The event occurs amid reports of settler violence documented by the UN since 2008, with an increase noted after October 2023. Organizers describe the festival as carrying a political message regarding land access.
The Amiri Diwan, Qatar's top government body, announced on Sunday that Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, who ruled as emir from 1995 to 2013, died at age 74. The announcement was reported by Al-Monitor and the New York Post. No additional details on cause of death or succession implications were provided in the verified reports.
On July 10 the Kremlin stated it maintains contact with Turkey over the fate of Ankara's S-400 missile systems. Turkish outlet Hurriyet reported that Ankara may announce resale of the systems to a Gulf nation the same day in an effort to seek U.S. sanctions relief. The United States sanctioned Turkey in 2020 and removed it from the F-35 program after the original purchase.
The Philippines, as ASEAN chair, announced that the July 2024 foreign ministers meeting in Bangkok will discuss Myanmar's civil war and the bloc's engagement with the country. The gathering marks the first in-person session with Myanmar's top diplomat since the 2021 coup, which resulted in the exclusion of Myanmar's military representatives from ASEAN summits. An estimated 100,000 people have been killed and millions displaced in the conflict, during which Myanmar's army has ruled the country for five of the past six decades [Al-Monitor].
President Trump stated on Wednesday that the ceasefire with Iran is over and that he is unsure about pursuing a new deal. The U.S. military carried out strikes on Iranian targets aimed at degrading threats to navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran responded with missile and drone attacks on sites in several Gulf states.
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Supreme Leader of Iran, was buried on July 9, 2026, at the Imam Reza Shrine following his death. A verified Truth Social post from Donald Trump warned of missile strikes if Iran attempted to assassinate him. Iran attacked ships in the Strait of Hormuz, U.S. airstrikes occurred, and a prior ceasefire ended.
On July 12, 2026, U.S. Central Command launched strikes on targets in Bandar Abbas and Sirik, Iran, following Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz and Revolutionary Guards' firing on the M/V GFS Galaxy. The vessel sustained engine damage with one crew member reported missing. All verified claims originate from left-center sources, with lower-quality reports on the prior ceasefire and February conflict start.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi arrived in Oman on July 11 to discuss safe passage arrangements through the Strait of Hormuz. US President Donald Trump stated on July 10 both that talks with Iran would continue and that the US-Iran ceasefire had ended. No attacks were reported on July 10 or early July 11 following US and Israeli airstrikes on Iran on February 28.
Egypt defeated Australia on penalties for its first World Cup win, then lost 3-2 to Argentina in the round of 16 after leading 2-0. The squad returned to El Alamein Airport, where fans waved Egyptian flags and an open-top bus parade occurred. Reports conflict on crowd size and include unverified details on additional flag displays and political meetings.
Iran announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday. The United States conducted a new round of strikes on Iran. Multiple additional military incidents have been reported from a single primary outlet.
Israel conducted attacks on Iranian steel plants during the war, stating the facilities supplied revenue to military forces and materials for weapons production. The strikes also damaged Iran's civilian economy according to reporting. Analyses of the events differ across ideological perspectives regarding proportionality, civilian impact, and regime incentives.
Al-Monitor reported a 2-0 French victory over Morocco with goals from Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé in Foxborough, Massachusetts. Multiple supplied claims about prior results, venue, and scorers conflict with established tournament records.
On July 10 the Commerce Department loosened licensing requirements for Nvidia AI chips, military items, and commercial satellites to the UAE, allowing license-free access for approved government and company entities including G42, Core42, Amazon, Apple, and xAI. The change was justified by the UAE's role as the largest U.S. trading partner in the Middle East and its cooperation against Iran and proxies. Sen. Elizabeth Warren described the rule as corrupt, citing ties involving MGX and a Trump-family-affiliated stablecoin.