★ISRAEL

1. Hamas Seeks Changes To Trump’s Gaza Peace Plan

Hamas officials are divided over US President Trump’s Gaza plan and seek amendments on disarmament, leadership expulsion, and Israeli withdrawal guarantees. Negotiators met Turkish, Egyptian, and Qatari officials in Doha, requesting a few days to respond. The plan, supported by Israel and several Arab states, calls for a ceasefire, hostage release, Hamas disarmament, and gradual Israeli withdrawal.

2. Israeli Bulldozers Undermine Palestinian Statehood Hopes in West Bank

While President Trump unveiled a Gaza peace plan proposing a potential Palestinian state, Israeli bulldozers expanded settlement roads around Beit Awar al-Fauqa, restricting Palestinian movement and consolidating settler control. Palestinians and rights groups call the construction illegal under international law, designed to impose “facts on the ground,” with Israel allocating $2.1 billion for West Bank infrastructure since the October 2023 Gaza war.

3. Colombian President Expels Israeli Diplomats Over Gaza Aid Incident

President Gustavo Petro ordered the expulsion of all remaining Israeli diplomats in Colombia following Israel’s interception of a Gaza-bound aid flotilla. Four Israeli diplomats remained after Petro severed ties last year. He condemned Israel for detaining two Colombian women in international waters and demanded their immediate release.

4. Germany Arrests Three Suspected Hamas Operatives Planning Attacks

German authorities arrested three men—two German citizens and one Lebanese-born—suspected of plotting attacks on Israeli and Jewish targets for Hamas. Police seized an AK-47, pistols, and ammunition during raids in Berlin, Leipzig, and Oberhausen. Prosecutors said the suspects were procuring weapons for assassinations ahead of the second anniversary of Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attacks on Israel.

5. Israel Seizes 15 Rockets, Weapons Cache In West Bank Raid

Israeli security forces discovered and destroyed a large weapons cache in Beitunia, near Ramallah, including 15 rockets in production, 18 explosives, firearms, and additional combat materials. The operation, based on precise intelligence, targeted the same cell arrested last week for manufacturing rockets and previously launching a Qassam missile near Kafr Nima.

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★IRAN

6. US Imposes Fresh Sanctions Targeting Iran’s Nuclear And Defense Programs

Washington imposed new sanctions on 17 individuals and 21 entities accused of aiding Iran’s missile and nuclear programs, targeting the central bank, defense-linked financial institutions, oil exports, and sensitive technology. The measures followed Europe’s snapback sanctions and failed nuclear talks, as the G7 urged Iran to enter direct negotiations with the United States immediately.

7. Iran Vows To Extend Ballistic Missile Range Beyond Current Limits

Iran’s deputy operations commander, General Mohammad Jafar Asadi, announced plans to extend ballistic missile range beyond the self-imposed 2,000-kilometer cap, rejecting Western calls to restrict them to 400 kilometers. Asadi said missile power shortened Israel’s June war to 12 days, stressing deterrence. Meanwhile, Washington imposed sanctions on 21 entities and 17 individuals tied to Iran’s military programs.

8. Iranian Rial Plummets During Deepening UN Sanctions

The Iranian rial has hit record lows against the dollar following the reimposition of UN sanctions, intensifying economic pressures. Since 2015, the rial has lost 34 times its value, gold prices have surged, and the middle class has shrunk from 80% to 55% of the population. High inflation (37–47%), falling investment, and unstable jobs signal a prolonged recession and growing hardships.

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★SIRYA

9. Syrian Chief Of Staff Visits Moscow To Discuss Military Coordination

Syrian Chief of Staff Major General Ali Al-Nassan arrived in Moscow with a defense ministry delegation to enhance military coordination with Russia. The group was received by Russian Deputy Defense Minister Yunus Bek Yevkurov, with the official Syrian news agency describing the visit as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen cooperation between the two countries’ defense ministries.

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★IRAQ

10. Iraq Faces Pre-Election Tensions As Sadr Challenges Ruling Alliance

Days before Iraq’s November parliamentary campaigns, a tense “message war” is unfolding between Muqtada al-Sadr’s bloc and the ruling Coordination Framework. Despite boycotting the vote, Sadr warns of escalating political strife and rejects power-sharing deals, hinting at street protests, supporting abstention, or seeking election delays. Analysts note low turnout risks, while former PM Maliki urges adherence to the ballot box.

11. US Prepares Security Partnership With Iraq During Troop Reduction

The US announced a gradual drawdown of its forces in Iraq, transitioning the international coalition’s counter-ISIS mission into a long-term security partnership with Iraq and the UK. The move, aligned with last year’s agreement with Baghdad, reflects shared successes against ISIS and aims to strengthen Iraq’s defense capabilities, economic growth, and regional role while maintaining strategic bilateral cooperation through 2026.

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★TURKIYE

12. Türkiye Freezes Assets Of Iranian Entities In Line With UN

Türkiye froze assets of dozens of individuals and entities linked to Iran’s nuclear program, including Bank Sepah and the Atomic Energy Organization. The decree, signed by President Erdogan and published in the Official Gazette, aligns with UN snapback sanctions triggered after Tehran’s violations of the 2015 nuclear deal, reinforcing Ankara’s role in global efforts to curb Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

13. Erdogan Presses Trump Over Undelivered F-35 Jets

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told US President Donald Trump that Turkey paid $1.4 billion for F-35 jets but never received them, criticizing Washington’s exclusion following Ankara’s 2019 S-400 purchase. Speaking at a parliamentary reception, Erdogan vowed to pursue Turkey’s rights, signaling both F-35s and F-16 upgrades remain on the table during hopes for a compromise and potential sanctions relief.

14. Erdogan Vows To Prevent Syria’s Fragmentation

President Tayyip Erdogan stated that Türkiye will not allow Syria’s territorial integrity to be compromised if diplomatic efforts to integrate the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) into the Syrian government fail. Ankara, which considers the SDF a terrorist group, has warned of potential military action should the integration deal with Damascus not be honored.

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★THE GULF

15. Trump Pledges US Defense Commitment To Qatar

President Donald Trump issued an executive order declaring that any armed attack on Qatar would be treated as a threat to U.S. security, allowing diplomatic, economic, or military measures to defend the Gulf state. The move follows an Israeli airstrike on Doha and strengthens U.S.-Qatar defense ties, though such a pledge, unlike a treaty, can be revoked by future administrations.

16. Qatar Emir, Trump Discuss Bilateral Ties And Gaza Peace Plan

Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani spoke with US President Donald Trump to review the countries’ strategic partnership and discuss Trump’s plan to end the Gaza war. The Emir reaffirmed Qatar’s support for peace efforts and a just resolution protecting Palestinian rights. The call followed Trump’s executive order pledging US defense in case of attacks on Qatar.

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★ Disclaimer: The Early Phoenix is a digest of various news sources compiled by the Early Phoenix team and edited by Rania Kisar. The items are curated, concise summaries of news items hyperlinked within each story. The items and summaries presented do not necessarily represent the views of the American Center for Levant Studies.