Syrian air defenses have responded to apparent missile attacks in the vicinity of Damascus and Homs, SANA reports, with its military source claiming that a number of ‘hostile targets’ have been intercepted. At least 4 people, including a baby, were killed in the strikes on the Damascus countryside, while 21 others suffered injuries, according to state TV. One of those injured is a month-old baby... 

The United Arab Emirates has broken ranks with its U.S. and Saudi allies in refusing to blame Iran for the suspicious oil tanker attacks off its coast in the Sea of Oman last month. In a clear rebuttal to US and Saudi claims, the UAE says there is no “clear, scientific or convincing” evidence to hold Iran responsible for the attacks. Press TV reports: UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed... 

Tensions between the two countries rose dramatically last week after an Iranian air defence missile shot down a US drone in what Iran said was its airspace. Washington claimed the drone was downed over international waters, with President Trump later saying that he nearly ordered a ‘retaliatory’ strike which would have killed 150 Iranians. The US military will get an even “stronger”... 

The US defense secretary is trying to “internationalize” the US stand-off with Iran by convincing NATO allies to help. France reportedly rebuked his advances, saying the alliance shouldn’t be dragged into war in the Gulf, RT.com reports. Mark Esper is meeting his NATO counterparts in Brussels this week, attempting to bring NATO members onto Washington’s side as its confrontation with Tehran... 

Tensions between Iran and the US have intensified since Tehran downed an American drone, which as Iran said, had violated the country’s borders. Washington, meanwhile, has accused Tehran of allegedly attacking oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman, something that the Islamic Republic denies doing. Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev stated in negotiations with US National Security... 

Washington previously imposed restrictions on Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and “those closely affiliated with him”. US President Donald Trump has said he is responsible for “the hostile conduct” of Tehran towards the United States. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has stated that the sanctions against Tehran show the US administration’s “despair”, calling... 

The reports about the UK deployment come against the backdrop of British Minister for the Middle East Andrew Murrison’s visit to Iran to de-escalate tensions. UK Special Boat Service frogmen, who are trained to remove mines from vessels, perpetrate underwater attacks as well as counter foreign troops, have been deployed to the Persian Gulf “as part of a deterrent” amid growing tensions between... 

Iranian MPs have slammed the US amid a new crisis between the two countries. Earlier this month, US President Donald Trump called Iran “terrorist nation number one”, while the Pentagon sent reinforcements to the Middle East to oppose Tehran. “America is the real terrorist in the world by spreading chaos in countries, giving advanced weapons to terrorist groups, causing insecurity,... 

The head of Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards says the downing of a US drone over its territory was a “clear message” to Washington, proving Tehran will react strongly to any military aggression. Just hours earlier, Iran claimed to have shot down a US RQ-4 spy drone over Hormozgan Province. This “was a clear message to America,” the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commander-in-chief,... 

Standing under an oversized sign for a village his temporary government has no authority to build, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu took his friendship with Donald Trump to a new level by inaugurating Trump Heights in the Golan. “It is a historic day,” said Israel’s prime minister, standing next to US ambassador David Friedman. “Many years have passed since a new settlement was established in... 

The warning comes on the heels of US accusations that Iran was behind the attacks on two Japanese oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman on 13 June – just one month after a similar incident near Fujairah was likewise blamed on the Islamic Republic. The Iranian mission to the United Nations has urged the United States and its allies in the Middle East to “stop warmongering” and false flag... 

None of the reporting on this, so far, asked the question that screams out. Why would Jewish leaders leak pessimistic statements like this? And to that we could add the age old question, why now? With Pompeo’s negative statements on the record, even via a leak, it reflects that the Trump team is not four-square on the plan. Could Pompeo have engineered this leak caper to give himself cover for when... 

A teenager, who has been imprisoned since his arrest as a 13-year-old, is facing execution in Saudi Arabia for participating in an anti-government protest as a child. Human rights experts say that 18 year old Murtaja Qureiris, is facing the death penalty, possibly by crucifixion for offences that date back to when he was only 10. The charges include anti-government protests and joining a “terrorist... 

Tehran’s military displayed a brand-new indigenous air defense missile system, capable of tracking and shooting down six targets at the same time. The weapon was rolled out amid growing tensions around the Persian Gulf. Iran unveiled its new domestically-designed air defense missile system Khordad 15 on Sunday. Equipped with long-range Sayyad 3 missiles, it can shoot down enemy jets and combat drones... 

Bentzi Gopstein, the leader of the conservative group Lehava, said Tuesday his organization plans to disrupt this week’s Jerusalem Pride Parade in order to fight what he called “LGBT terrorism”: Gopstein said his Lehava organization has received a police permit to stage a protest near the annual parade on Thursday and would use loudspeakers to disrupt the marchers who “are bringing disaster...