Iran’s president and parliament speaker are calling for the war to end, warning of a deepening economic crisis even as Tehran’s hard-line stance continues. President Donald Trump shared the report and said Iranians are interested in a deal with the United States.
Kamran Hekmati, a 71-year-old Jewish American, has been released from Evin Prison after receiving a four-year sentence over a visit to Israel. Despite his early release, Iranian authorities still bar him from leaving the country and returning to the U.S.
A powerful volcanic eruption in Indonesia has caused widespread aviation disruptions, with more than 1,500 flights canceled. Footage from the region shows lava jets and enormous ash clouds rising as high as roughly 49,000 feet.
Austria has begun enforcing a ban on Muslim head coverings for schoolgirls under 14, with fines possible for violations. Muslim leaders are preparing a court challenge, while the far right is calling for even broader restrictions.
Kosovo has signed an agreement to join the international stabilization force in Gaza, after its parliament approved the move in April. Five countries have now committed to sending troops to the force.
The IDF is preparing to destroy two underground routes beneath the Ali Taher ridge in the coming days, then begin a gradual withdrawal. Meanwhile, Lebanese reports described powerful explosions in the ridge area.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a stark warning to Tehran, saying the Iranian regime is "fighting for its life." He praised Israel's achievements and made clear: "If Iran attacks us, it will suffer a blow it cannot even imagine."
Despite challenges at Ben-Gurion Airport and the absence of some airlines, Israelis set a new record for overseas travel in August. At the same time, incoming tourism remained weak, with a slight drop in visitor numbers compared with the same period last year.
Exit polls in Germany show the AfD winning 44.5% of the vote in Saxony-Anhalt, while Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s party fell to just 18.5%.
The United States reportedly used Navy SEAL divers for roughly four months to locate and neutralize Iranian mines in the Strait of Hormuz, according to the Financial Times. Despite President Donald Trump’s declaration, experts warn that the threat to shipping has not yet been eliminated.
The United States has kept Libya at its highest travel advisory level and urges Americans to stay away. For those who go anyway, the guidance includes preparing a will, an escape plan, and even leaving DNA samples behind for identification purposes.
Hossein Shariatmadari, the Iranian leader’s representative and editor of the conservative Iranian newspaper Kayhan, has called for attacks on undersea internet cables running through the Strait of Hormuz, including cutting them entirely.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Moscow and Kyiv must ultimately reach an agreement themselves, while other countries could help facilitate the process. He said the United States, China, and other nations are prepared to support a settlement.
Iran reportedly warned that it would respond forcefully if Israel launches a large-scale operation on the Ali Taher Ridge in southern Lebanon, where Israel believes dozens of Hezbollah operatives are trapped in underground compounds.
Syria is promoting an overland route and oil pipeline from the Gulf to the Mediterranean that could reduce reliance on the Strait of Hormuz. The U.S. is increasing maritime security in the region, while Trump is considering declaring an end to the war.
The U.S. is extending its military deployment in the Middle East, keeping roughly 50,000 troops in the region alongside warships and fighter squadrons. President Donald Trump is considering declaring the war over while maintaining economic pressure on Iran.
Peru has announced it is severing diplomatic relations with Iran. Officials in Lima accuse Tehran of escalating conflicts in the Middle East, disrupting shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, and obstructing oversight by the International Atomic Energy Agency.
A Spanish police intelligence report says Moroccan security forces helped direct the wave of migrants who crossed into Ceuta in late July. Its findings conflict with Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s claim that the events were accompanied by a Russian-Israeli disinformation campaign.
The IDF is preparing for the possibility that Iran may attempt a surprise attack on Israel, strengthening its defensive and early-warning capabilities. At the same time, scenarios are taking shape for an independent Israeli response or a joint operation with the United States.
A man in his 30s from Husniyya was arrested in a joint police and Shin Bet investigation on suspicion of identifying with ISIS. Investigators say he watched tutorials on combat, weapons use, missile and drone production, and trained in preparation for joining the organization abroad.
