★ISRAEL

1. Netanyahu Tells Iran Via Putin Israel Seeks No War

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sent a message to Iran through Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying Israel does not seek war, Israeli media reported. The message followed rising tensions, though Netanyahu warned Israel would respond forcefully to any Iranian attack and reiterated opposition to Iran’s nuclear and missile programs.

2. Israel Launches Strikes on Hezbollah, Hamas Targets in Lebanon

Israel began airstrikes on what it called Hezbollah and Hamas military infrastructure in eastern and southern Lebanon after issuing evacuation orders for four villages, Reuters reported. The attacks come despite a 2024 US-brokered ceasefire, during growing pressure on Lebanon to disarm Hezbollah and fears of wider escalation.

3. Israel, Morocco Deepen Military Cooperation Five Years After Accords

Israel and Morocco strengthened defense ties with the signing of a 2026 joint action plan during the third meeting of their Joint Military Committee in Tel Aviv. Senior officers discussed strategic planning, technology, and joint training, marking a key milestone in expanding security cooperation under the Abraham Accords.

===========

★SYRIA

4. Syria Weighs Three-Province Security Surrender In Paris Talks

Israel and Syria have resumed US-mediated talks in Paris to update the 1974 disengagement and buffer-zone regime in southern Syria. The core trade-off is Israeli pullback from recent advances into Quneitra and the UN zone versus Syrian acceptance of expanded demilitarised belts and tighter limits on forces and flights that would, in practice, heavily constrain Damascus’s sovereignty and force deployment across Quneitra, Daraa, and Suwayda. Syria’s delegation, led by senior diplomatic and intelligence officials, is publicly demanding a return to pre-incursion lines and affirmation of “full Syrian sovereignty,” while Israel’s team, headed by its ambassador in Washington and a senior military adviser, seeks to retain select forward positions, notably around Mount Hermon, within a new security framework.

5. Syria Says SDF Drone Attack Wounds Soldiers, Warns Response

Syria’s Defense Ministry said three soldiers were wounded after SDF drones struck a military police checkpoint east of Aleppo, damaging two vehicles. Damascus vowed an “appropriate” response, while state media reported limited retaliatory strikes, during stalled talks over a March agreement to integrate the SDF into state institutions.

============

★IRAN

6. Iran Protests Enter Tenth Day With 29 Killed, 1,200 Detained

Iran entered its tenth day of nationwide protests with at least 29 people killed and 1,203 civilians detained, , while AP and other outlets now report “at least 35” fatalities and more than 1,200 arrests across 27–28 provinces. Activists report dozens injured by pellets and rubber bullets, alleged forced confessions aired by state media, and continued nightly demonstrations in over 250 locations despite curfews, mass detentions, and internet disruptions.

7. Report Says Khamenei May Flee To Russia If Unrest Grows

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has, according to an unverified intelligence-based report shared with The Times and amplified by Iran International and Israeli-linked outlets, prepared an emergency plan to leave Tehran for Russia if protests overwhelm security forces. The reported contingency, which allegedly includes evacuating close relatives and aides such as his son Mojtaba, is based on unnamed intelligence sources and psychological profiling and has not been corroborated by US or allied governments.

8. Iran Rial Hits Record Low As Protests, Inflation Intensify

Iran’s rial slid to a new record low at about 1.47 million per dollar on the unofficial market, with parallel trackers showing intraday trades around 1.46-1.48 million, underscoring severe volatility and roughly 60–65 percent depreciation in the past six months. The fall comes as authorities roll back currency subsidies, warn of further food price hikes, and float limited cash support, deepening public anger over inflation near 40 percent and protest-driven business disruptions.

9. Iran Faces Rising Risk Of Losses On Venezuela Debt

The US arrest of Nicolas Maduro raises doubts over Venezuela repaying its reported $2 billion debt to Iran, during total liabilities of up to $170 billion. Analysts say Caracas’s collapsed economy and Iran’s sanctioned status make recovery unlikely, despite Tehran’s two decades of investments and cooperation.

===========

★TURKIYE

10. Erdoğan, Trump Discuss Ties, Gaza War, Venezuela Crisis

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and U.S. President Donald Trump discussed bilateral ties, defense cooperation, trade, Gaza, and Venezuela in a phone call, Ankara said. Erdoğan warned against violating international law after the U.S. seizure of Nicolas Maduro and reiterated hopes Türkiye will rejoin the F-35 program.

==========

★IRAQ

11. Eighty-One Candidates Seek Iraq Presidency, Including Four Women

Eighty-one candidates, including four women, applied for Iraq’s largely ceremonial presidency after nominations closed, parliament said. Under Iraq’s power-sharing system, the post goes to a Kurd, with rivals from the KDP and PUK fielding candidates. Political fragmentation may delay a two-thirds parliamentary vote required by the constitution.

12. Iraqi Militias Reject Disarmament, Defy Prime Minister and Judiciary

Iran-aligned Iraqi militias rejected calls by Iraq’s top judge and prime minister to place weapons under state control, declaring their arms “non-negotiable” until foreign forces withdraw. The stance exposes deep divisions within the Shia camp, undermines state authority, and heightens political and international pressure on Baghdad.

==========

★EGYPT

13. Egypt Accepts Remote Israeli Monitoring at Rafah Border Crossing

Egypt has agreed to let Israel monitor the Rafah crossing through electronic means instead of a military presence, sources said. The EU would continue document checks under a 2005 agreement, as Cairo insists reopening must allow two-way Palestinian movement and prevent displacement during plans to reopen the crossing soon.

14. Egypt Signs Deal to Supply Syria With Gas for Power

Egypt signed two memoranda of understanding with Syria to cooperate on supplying gas for electricity generation and meeting petroleum needs, the Ministry of Petroleum said. Gas will be delivered via regasification ships or transport networks, as Syria struggles with severe power shortages after years of war-damaged infrastructure.

==========

★ Disclaimer: This publication 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.