★IRAN
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Trump Warns Iran Power Grid Could Be Destroyed Without Nuclear Deal
President Donald Trump warned the U.S. could destroy Iran’s power grid and energy infrastructure “in the small part of an afternoon” if nuclear negotiations fail, while insisting he prefers a deal. He reiterated Iran must not obtain nuclear weapons and claimed recent U.S. military operations severely weakened Iran’s military capabilities and protected oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz.
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Iran Reports LNG Tanker Attacked After Ignoring Hormuz Transit Warnings
Iranian state TV said an LNG tanker was attacked while crossing the Strait of Hormuz after ignoring Iranian warnings, without identifying the vessel or attacker. Earlier, UKMTO reported a commercial tanker hit by an unidentified projectile off Oman, while a U.S. official accused Iran’s IRGC of firing missiles at commercial ships, escalating regional tensions.
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Iran Strengthens Houthi Ties As Envoy Reappears In Sana’a
Iran’s envoy to the Houthis, Ali Mohammad Rezaei, reappeared in Sana’a after nearly two years, meeting Houthi officials as reports suggested Tehran resumed air deliveries to Yemen. UAE-based Al-Ain said the IRGC is directing recent Houthi escalation, while the new Tehran-Sana’a air route has drawn objections from Yemen’s government and heightened regional tensions.
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★ISRAEL
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Netanyahu Urges US to Block F-35 Sales to Turkiye
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged Washington not to sell Turkey F-35 jets or engines for its KAAN fighter, warning it could alter the regional balance of power. Turkey seeks US-made engines after its removal from the F-35 program over its 2017 Russian S-400 purchase.
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Iran-Linked Hackers Target Israeli Government Through IT Service Providers
Israeli cybersecurity firm Check Point said the Iran-linked hacking group Cavern Manticore used trusted Israeli IT providers to infiltrate government and technology organizations. The group’s new malware exploits remote management tools, spreads through supply chains, steals data, and enables long-term access, highlighting increasingly sophisticated Iranian cyber capabilities.
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★TURKIYE
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NATO Leaders Meet in Ankara to Boost Defense Spending
NATO leaders from 32 countries arrived in Ankara for a two-day summit focused on increasing defense spending, strengthening European capabilities, and major arms deals. The meeting aims to turn commitments into action amid US pressure for greater burden-sharing, with Ukraine’s Zelenskyy seeking more military aid and air defense support.
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Trump Considers Returning Turkiye to F-35 Fighter Jet Program
President Donald Trump is reportedly prepared to discuss returning Turkiye to the F-35 program during talks with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan at the NATO summit. Any move would require overcoming congressional restrictions imposed after Turkiye purchases Russia’s S-400 system and could mark a major shift in US-Turkey defense ties.
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Turkiye Expands Africa Presence with Somalia Space Base Project
Turkiye is building a $350 million space facility in Somalia near Warsheikh, aimed at satellite launches and space research. Reports suggest possible future defense applications, though no official confirmation exists. The project reflects Ankara’s growing economic, security, and strategic influence in the Horn of Africa and Indian Ocean.
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★SYRIA
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Explosions Hit Near Macron’s Damascus Hotel During Visit
Two blasts from explosive devices struck near French President Emmanuel Macron’s hotel in Damascus, shortly after his convoy left, with no reported injuries. Macron’s office confirmed his safety and said the Syria visit would continue, including talks with President Ahmed al-Sharaa on reconstruction, investment, and regional issues.
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US-Backed Iraq-Syria Economic Alliance Takes Shape
Iraq and Syria are preparing a US-backed economic connectivity agreement during Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zeidi’s visit to Washington in July. The deal could form a new regional alliance linking Baghdad and Damascus, focusing on energy routes, trade, and reducing reliance on Iran-aligned networks and the Strait of Hormuz.
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★LEBANON
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Israel-Lebanon Talks Set for Rome Next Week
Israel said the sixth round of talks with Lebanon will take place in Rome on July 15-16 at the ambassadorial level. The discussions follow a US-backed framework agreement focused on Israeli withdrawal, Lebanese army deployment, and disarming non-state groups, including Hezbollah.
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Israel Says It Killed 20 Hezbollah Fighters in Lebanon
Israel said its forces killed over 20 Hezbollah fighters in southern Lebanon’s Hadatha during operations that uncovered more than 150 weapons. Lebanon reported Israeli strikes and demolitions in several towns, including four deaths from a drone attack, as tensions continued along the border buffer zone.
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★ 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.
