Middle East Eye

US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth stated the Iran war has cost the United States $37.5 billion, an increase from a previous estimate of nearly $29 billion in mid-May. The update was shared via a tweet from Middle East Eye.

Iran's military claims its naval air defence systems destroyed a US-made Lucas drone. The Iranian IRNA news agency published a photo of the alleged damaged drone, but the claim could not be independently verified by Middle East Eye. The Lucas is noted as the US version of the low-cost Shahed one-way attack drone.

US strikes have damaged bridges and civilian infrastructure in southern Iran, as tensions escalate over control of the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian media broadcast footage of the damage, while Iran retaliated by attacking a water desalination plant in Kuwait.

Iraq and Syria signed a deal to rehabilitate the Kirkuk-Baniyas oil pipeline, aiming to bypass the Strait of Hormuz as part of a US-brokered agreement. The US ambassador to Turkey and Syria envoy, Tom Barrack, led efforts, with initial reporting by Middle East Eye followed by major international news outlets.

Trump is open to diplomacy with Iran, as stated by White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, amid escalating tensions in the region.

US President Donald Trump stated that Iran 'wants to settle so badly' and that he would decide whether to proceed with that step. The comment was shared in a tweet by Middle East Eye.

Jeremy Corbyn accused Keir Starmer of falsely claiming the Labour Party was 'institutionally antisemitic' under his leadership. Corbyn denied such a finding existed, citing the EHRC report which identified antisemitism issues but did not label Labour as institutionally antisemitic.

Cross-party MPs have demanded an independent investigation into the British Museum's removal of terms like 'Palestine' and 'Palestinian' from displays, alleging political interference due to lobbying by pro-Israel activists. The call follows a Middle East Eye investigation revealing the museum's actions in response to such pressure, with MPs accusing the museum of anti-Palestinian racism.

Lebanon's Deputy Prime Minister Tarek Mitri states the US-brokered Israel-Lebanon framework lacks government approval and is not a binding agreement. The framework, signed in June 2026, faces opposition in Lebanon over sovereignty concerns and unmet demands, including Israel's full withdrawal from occupied Lebanese territory.

Cross-party MPs demand an independent investigation into the British Museum’s removal of terms like 'Palestine' and 'Israelite occupation' from displays, citing a Middle East Eye investigation linking the changes to pro-Israel lobbying in late 2024. The museum defended the alterations as based on 'audience testing,' but no records of such testing exist, according to internal emails and freedom of information responses.

US President Donald Trump announced the US will replace a 20 percent levy on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz with trade and investment deals with Gulf states. Trump stated the Gulf states will invest significantly in the United States.

Saudi Arabia granted royal amnesties to nearly 2,000 detained Ethiopian nationals, with Ethiopia facilitating the repatriation of 1,971 citizens. The amnesties follow reports of Ethiopians held on death row in Saudi Arabia for minor drug charges, including possession of khat.

A British surgeon, Ranjeet Brar, is challenging the NHS's use of the IHRA definition of antisemitism, claiming it led to his suspension after a pro-Palestine speech. Brar argues the definition unlawfully restricts political expression, with the NHS citing concerns his remarks could be interpreted as antisemitic.

The US Central Command released footage after completing a new wave of strikes against Iran on Tuesday. This follows attacks on Iran for the third consecutive night, as reported by Middle East Eye.

Hamada al-Banna went missing in Gaza while obtaining humanitarian aid and was presumed dead after his family was told he was killed under torture. A year later, he was released from Israeli detention and reunited with his fiancée, Reem Jadallah.

Israeli settlers assaulted 80-year-old Ibrahim Ismail al-Jabour and his family in the Hawara area of Masafer Yatta in the occupied West Bank. Local sources reported that Israeli soldiers stood by, protecting the settlers during the attack.

ICC Deputy Prosecutor Nazhat Khan announced a 'breakthrough' in Darfur war crimes investigations, citing concrete evidence linking leadership to crimes. The ICC shelved an arrest warrant application for a Rapid Support Forces (RSF) member, despite prior public assurances, and judges criticized delays in filing warrants.

Teenage Palestinian girls Nada Bani Odeh and Ola Qutaishat are imprisoned in Israel's Damon Prison, disrupting their education and academic ambitions due to arrests linked to social media posts. Their families highlight the emotional toll and inadequate prison conditions, including poor food and lack of sanitary products.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed attacks on Bahrain and Kuwait as retaliation for US attacks on its southern coastal provinces. A video reportedly showed an Iranian missile striking the US Fifth Fleet base in Bahrain.

US President Donald Trump stated he expects the recent military escalation with Iran to end quickly, despite earlier claims that the ceasefire was 'over'. The statement was made on July 8, 2026, following a military flare-up between the two nations.

The US military launched a series of powerful strikes against Iran in response to attacks on commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz. Iran's foreign ministry warned of retaliation, accusing the US of violating their agreement to end the regional war.

Rima Hassan, a French-Palestinian member of the European Parliament, faces trial for 'apology for terrorism' over her criticism of Israel and a post quoting Kozo Okamoto, a militant linked to a 1972 attack. She alleges political and judicial harassment, citing disproportionate surveillance and 16 legal cases, 13 of which were dismissed.

Crowds marched through Tehran during the funeral procession for Iran's late Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, with hundreds of thousands participating and millions gathering in the capital according to Iranian media reports.

Retired General Frank McKenzie, former head of US Central Command, argues that US bases in the Gulf should be relocated to Israel and neighboring countries to better protect against Iranian threats. He criticized the current basing system as an 'artefact' of Cold War strategy, noting that Iran's attacks on Gulf bases during the war exposed vulnerabilities. McKenzie stated the Biden administration rejected his proposal to shift bases westward.

An Israeli soldier is seen in video footage throwing a stun grenade into a car occupied by young Palestinians during a raid in the Qalandiya refugee camp in the occupied West Bank. The incident resulted in the death of a 16-year-old boy and injuries to two 14-year-olds from gunshot wounds.

The son of Palestinian doctor Hussam Abu Safiya, detained in Israeli custody without charge for over 555 days, has urgently called on global entities to save his father's life, citing severe health deterioration. The doctor reportedly suffers from severe injuries, difficulty breathing, and frequent loss of consciousness, with his son warning this may be his last plea for help.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed that some Christian villages in southern Lebanon 'asked to be annexed to Israel' for protection from Hezbollah. The mayor of Rmeish, a majority Christian town in Lebanon’s Bint Jbeil district, has rejected Netanyahu’s claims, with attacks against the country's Christian community increasing in recent times. Attacks against Palestinian Christians have also been steadily increasing.

Israeli settlers entered Hebron's Old City under the protection of Israeli forces, with armed soldiers clearing Palestinian residents from streets and public areas. The incident highlights expanding illegal settler activity and increased Israeli control in the historic center.

Displaced Palestinians in Gaza marked 1,000 days since Israel's full-scale war began following the Hamas-led attack on 7 October 2023. Over 73,000 Palestinians, including 21,500 children, have been killed, with 90% of Gaza's territory reportedly destroyed.

The University of Birmingham has weakened its restrictions on investing in arms companies by replacing a policy that excluded weapons, tobacco, and alcohol with weaker 'investment principles' focused on 'financially material' ESG factors. This makes it the first British university to loosen such restrictions amid Israel's actions in Gaza.

The British Museum removed terms like 'Palestine' and 'Palestinian' from its displays following lobbying in 2024, but later falsely claimed 'audience testing' justified the changes. A freedom of information request revealed no such testing occurred, and internal emails showed the alterations were made in response to complaints from pro-Israel groups and individuals between October and December 2024.

The Israeli army arrested five women activists in the occupied West Bank after raiding their homes. The women, associated with health committees, included Jamila Abu Dahou, Jamila Kanaan, Maysar al-Faqih, Faten Hanaysheh, and Etaf Bader, along with 15 other Palestinians. Soldiers blindfolded and handcuffed Etaf Bader during the raid in Hebron, and her husband expressed uncertainty about her detention location.

The British Museum removed terms like 'Palestine' and 'Israelite occupation' from its displays in 2024 following complaints by pro-Israel activists, despite later falsely claiming the changes were based on 'audience testing.' A Palestinian ambassador criticized the removal as erasure of Palestinian history, while the museum denied the allegations.

Mujahid Bani Mufleh, a Palestinian journalist detained in Israel for six months without charge, suffered physical and psychological abuse that left him severely weakened. After his release, he was hospitalized with a brain haemorrhage and stroke, which he attributes to the mistreatment during detention.

Israeli finance minister Bezalel Smotrich called for the establishment of Jewish settlements within Gaza, claiming the Israeli military controls nearly 70% of the strip. He stated preparations for three settlements in the northern perimeter are underway, awaiting approval from the prime minister and defense minister.

Nika Soon-Shiong, a former CPJ board member, was removed as the organization reviews journalists killed in Gaza. She criticized CPJ for excluding certain Palestinian journalists from its death toll, citing a Free Beacon article that accused the board of anti-Israel sentiment.

US President Donald Trump told farmers that unfrozen Iranian assets will be used to purchase American agricultural products, including wheat, soybeans, and corn. He stated that these funds will be spent on supporting US agriculture.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz announced that Israeli forces will maintain an indefinite presence in southern Lebanon, Syria, and the Gaza Strip. The statement was made during a graduation ceremony for combat officers in southern Israel.

Israeli forces struck a vehicle in Gaza City’s Rimal neighbourhood on June 23, 2026, killing a Palestinian student and leaving three others wounded. Footage from the scene shows civilians rushing to the initial impact site and then scrambling for cover as a second strike occurred.

Lebanese villagers in Halta describe life under Israeli control as Israel expands its invasion and establishes a 'Yellow Line' in southern Lebanon. A resident's son, Mohammed, was shot and killed by Israeli soldiers while observing an arrest.