Daily Archives: 24 July 2026

Trump weighing ‘massive’ US strikes on Iran

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US President Donald J. Trump monitors U.S. military operations in Iran: Operation Epic Fury, February 28, 2026. [White House X Account – Anadolu Agency]

US President Donald Trump is considering launching a new military operation against Iran that could surpass the scale of the US strikes from Operation Epic Fury earlier this year, Axios reported Thursday.

In an interview with the outlet, Trump said he was nearing a decision on a potential major attack but stressed that no final determination had been made. Two US officials also told Axios that no new military orders have been issued.

“I am considering a massive attack. Bigger than ever before. I am close to making a decision. We are all set for it,” Trump said.

He also said Israel could join the operation almost immediately if requested, but maintained that the US would not require assistance from another country to carry out a new campaign against Iran.

According to Axios, Trump said Iranian officials want to negotiate but have not yet agreed to the latest proposal presented through mediation efforts.

READ: Iraq will not allow its territory to be used to threaten Iran: Prime minister

“They haven’t received enough pain yet,” he claimed.

Citing two regional sources familiar with the mediation efforts, Axios reported that Iran’s leadership had not accepted the latest proposal.

One source said: “We are trying, but the Iranians are not being helpful.”

In a post on Truth Social, Trump previously warned that Washington would hold Tehran responsible for any further Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping, arguing that “major military punishment will be inflicted upon Iran and, of course, the Houthis themselves.”

The region has been on high alert since the US and Israel launched a joint offensive against Iran in February. Tehran responded with missile and drone attacks targeting Israel and US military assets across the Gulf.

Although the two sides last month signed a Pakistani-mediated framework agreement to end the conflict, tensions were sparked again in the Strait of Hormuz, prompting a new exchange of strikes and renewed US threats of military action against Iran.

READ: A Reading of US National Security Strategies

This work by Middle East Monitor is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. 

Keir Starmer objects to criticism of the IDF. He asks how could anyone object to them starving people to death, forced marches like the Nazis did, bombing Gaza's hospitals and universities, mass-murdering journalists, healthworkers and starving people queuing for food, killing and raping prisoners and murdering children. He calls for people to stop obstructing his genocide for Israel.
Keir Starmer objects to criticism of the IDF. He asks how could anyone object to them starving people to death, forced marches like the Nazis did, bombing Gaza’s hospitals and universities, mass-murdering journalists, healthworkers and starving people queuing for food, killing and raping prisoners and murdering children. He calls for people to stop obstructing his genocide for Israel.

Donald Trump calls for help from NATO allies in securing the Strait of Hormuz despite saying on 7 March 2026 that they don't need people to join wars after they've already won. He's challenged with the claim that he lies as much as the IDF.
Donald Trump calls for help from NATO allies in securing the Strait of Hormuz despite saying on 7 March 2026 that they don’t need people to join wars after they’ve already won. He’s challenged with the claim that he lies as much as the IDF.
Orcas discuss rotting brain, front Orca says Sundown Syndrome is a dead givaway and he wishes someone would Lock Him Up
Orcas discuss rotting brain, front Orca says Sundown Syndrome is a dead givaway and he wishes someone would Lock Him Up

Continue ReadingTrump weighing ‘massive’ US strikes on Iran

Iraq will not allow its territory to be used to threaten Iran: Prime minister

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This work by Middle East Monitor is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. 

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi (L) meets with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian (R) in Tehran, Iran on July 23, 2026. [Iranian Presidency / Handout – Anadolu Agency]

Iraq’s Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi said Thursday Baghdad will never allow the use of Iraqi territory to threaten Iran, reaffirming his country’s commitment to security cooperation with Tehran, Anadolu reports.

Speaking at a joint meeting of senior Iranian and Iraqi delegations in Tehran, al-Zaidi said Iraq will not accept hostile action against Iran by any party.

“Iraq will never forget Iran’s support in the fight against the Daesh/ISIS terrorist group,” he said, as cited by a statement from Iran’s presidential office.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, for his part, said that a comprehensive strategic cooperation plan would serve as a roadmap for expanding relations between Tehran and Baghdad, stressing that the security of the two neighboring countries was closely linked.

Pezeshkian called for the rapid implementation of bilateral agreements and the expansion of economic, infrastructure, and security cooperation.

He said regional countries should facilitate the movement of people, trade and investment “based on their shared historical, cultural and religious ties.”

READ: Tehran warns any UK base used by US to attack Iran will become ‘legitimate target’

The Iranian president said Tehran had begun developing transport links with neighboring countries and hoped Iraq would join the network to establish an integrated transportation system that would promote transit, investment, joint markets and port development.

He stressed that insecurity in either country would directly affect the other, underscoring the strategic importance of security cooperation.

Pezeshkian also called for the full implementation of the Iran-Iraq security agreement, particularly the clearing of border areas of anti-Iran armed groups, while emphasizing that Tehran preferred to resolve the issue through cooperation and peaceful means.

During al-Zaidi’s official visit to Tehran, senior officials from the two countries signed four cooperation agreements and memorandums of understanding in the presence of the two leaders.

The documents included an agreement on the road transport of goods, a memorandum on the construction of the Khosravi-Khanaqin-Baghdad railway, a sister-city agreement between Tehran and Baghdad, and a memorandum on public administration, training and human resources.

Al-Zaidi met Pezeshkian earlier Thursday during his first official visit to Iran since taking office in May.

The Iraqi premier’s media office said the two leaders held a bilateral meeting, without providing further details.

READ: Islamic resistance in Iraq threatens to target US interests if conflict with Iran escalates

This work by Middle East Monitor is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. 

Keir Starmer objects to criticism of the IDF. He asks how could anyone object to them starving people to death, forced marches like the Nazis did, bombing Gaza's hospitals and universities, mass-murdering journalists, healthworkers and starving people queuing for food, killing and raping prisoners and murdering children. He calls for people to stop obstructing his genocide for Israel.
Keir Starmer objects to criticism of the IDF. He asks how could anyone object to them starving people to death, forced marches like the Nazis did, bombing Gaza’s hospitals and universities, mass-murdering journalists, healthworkers and starving people queuing for food, killing and raping prisoners and murdering children. He calls for people to stop obstructing his genocide for Israel.

Donald Trump calls for help from NATO allies in securing the Strait of Hormuz despite saying on 7 March 2026 that they don't need people to join wars after they've already won. He's challenged with the claim that he lies as much as the IDF.
Donald Trump calls for help from NATO allies in securing the Strait of Hormuz despite saying on 7 March 2026 that they don’t need people to join wars after they’ve already won. He’s challenged with the claim that he lies as much as the IDF.
Orcas discuss rotting brain, front Orca says Sundown Syndrome is a dead givaway and he wishes someone would Lock Him Up
Orcas discuss rotting brain, front Orca says Sundown Syndrome is a dead givaway and he wishes someone would Lock Him Up

Continue ReadingIraq will not allow its territory to be used to threaten Iran: Prime minister

Turkiye strongly condemns Israeli raid led by minister on Al Aqsa Mosque

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Groups of fanatic Jews raid the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in East Jerusalem during events marking what they regard as the anniversary of the destruction of the Jewish temples, on July 23, 2026 in Jerusalem. [Gazi Samad – Anadolu Agency]

Turkiye on Thursday condemned “in strongest terms” a raid carried out by Israeli minister, accompanied by an extremist group, under the protection of Israeli security forces, on the Al-Aqsa Mosque, Anadolu reports.

“We condemn in the strongest terms the storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque by an Israeli minister, accompanied by a group of extremists and under the protection of Israeli security forces,” said the Foreign Ministry in a statement.

The statement reaffirmed that the global community has a shared responsibility to prevent the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s “provocative acts and attempts to create fait accompli that violate the historical and legal status of the holy sites in Jerusalem, particularly Al-Aqsa Mosque, a place of worship exclusively for Muslims.”

More than 3,200 Israeli occupiers stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied East Jerusalem on Thursday morning as they marked the Jewish holiday of Tisha B’Av, commemorating what they call the “destruction of the Temple.”

The Islamic Waqf Department in Jerusalem said in a statement that 3,228 occupiers entered the compound during the morning period.

More occupiers were expected to enter the mosque after noon prayers.

Videos circulated by Israeli right-wing activists showed occupiers performing collective prayers opposite the Dome of the Rock. Another clip showed the Israeli flag being raised inside the compound as participants sang the Israeli national anthem in the presence of Israeli police.

Earlier, the Jerusalem Governorate said in a Facebook post that Israeli police allowed the number of occupiers entering the compound in each group to increase to around 150.

READ: Over 2,500 Israeli occupiers storm Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied East Jerusalem

Israeli forces imposed tight restrictions at the mosque’s gates and around Jerusalem’s Old City, deploying heavily across its courtyards and preventing Palestinian worshippers from entering, it added.

Only a very limited number of Palestinians managed to reach the mosque for dawn prayers before Israeli forces assaulted several worshippers and other residents, the statement said.

The governorate said occupiers “performed Talmudic rituals during the incursions, including wearing tefillin, carrying out full prostrations in the eastern section of the compound and chanting loudly.”

It added that “extremist groups advocating the construction of a Jewish temple at the site were mobilizing supporters in an effort to bring 5,000 occupiers into the compound” during Thursday’s incursions.

Ben-Gvir storms compound

The Jerusalem Governorate condemned Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir’s storming of the compound as a “dangerous escalation” and a “flagrant violation” of its historical and legal status quo.

It said the move was part of “systematic targeting of Islamic holy sites” and attempts to impose new realities at the mosque.

The governorate said Ben-Gvir’s participation, alongside incursions by occupiers and groups advocating the construction of a “Jewish temple” at the site, marked a “dangerous shift” from attacks by extremist groups to the Israeli government’s official adoption of such actions.

It warned that the violations could have repercussions for regional security and stability, and urged the international community and international institutions to act to halt them.

The governorate stressed that the entire 144-dunam (35.6-acre) Al-Aqsa Mosque compound is “an exclusively Islamic place of worship,” saying any measures aimed at changing its identity or historical and legal status are “invalid and illegitimate.”

Likud party lawmaker Amit Halevi also stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound on Thursday morning.

READ: Israeli forces kill 3 Palestinians, withhold their bodies in occupied West Bank

This work by Middle East Monitor is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. 

Keir Starmer objects to criticism of the IDF. He asks how could anyone object to them starving people to death, forced marches like the Nazis did, bombing Gaza's hospitals and universities, mass-murdering journalists, healthworkers and starving people queuing for food, killing and raping prisoners and murdering children. He calls for people to stop obstructing his genocide for Israel.
Keir Starmer objects to criticism of the IDF. He asks how could anyone object to them starving people to death, forced marches like the Nazis did, bombing Gaza’s hospitals and universities, mass-murdering journalists, healthworkers and starving people queuing for food, killing and raping prisoners and murdering children. He calls for people to stop obstructing his genocide for Israel.

Donald Trump calls for help from NATO allies in securing the Strait of Hormuz despite saying on 7 March 2026 that they don't need people to join wars after they've already won. He's challenged with the claim that he lies as much as the IDF.
Donald Trump calls for help from NATO allies in securing the Strait of Hormuz despite saying on 7 March 2026 that they don’t need people to join wars after they’ve already won. He’s challenged with the claim that he lies as much as the IDF.
Orcas discuss rotting brain, front Orca says Sundown Syndrome is a dead givaway and he wishes someone would Lock Him Up
Orcas discuss rotting brain, front Orca says Sundown Syndrome is a dead givaway and he wishes someone would Lock Him Up

Continue ReadingTurkiye strongly condemns Israeli raid led by minister on Al Aqsa Mosque