World Echo

The Israeli army demolished several homes on Monday in the southern Lebanese town of Aitaroun and carried out an explosion in the town of Houla amid continuing violations of a framework agreement signed between Beirut and Tel Aviv. Lebanon's state-run National News Agency NNA reported that Israeli forces blew up several homes in Aitaroun. Israeli forces also carried out an overnight explosion in Houla in the Marjayoun district, the agency said, without specifying the target. The operations coincided with continued flights by Israeli drones over Beirut's southern suburbs. Read: Israeli defense minister threatens Iranian leaders as Iranians mourn Khamenei The latest incidents occurred despite an ongoing ceasefire and a US-sponsored framework agreement signed on June 26 between Lebanon and Israel, which provides for a phased Israeli withdrawal from all Lebanese territory, beginning with two unspecified pilot zones. Israel has continued military operations in Lebanon sin...

Pope Leo XIV on Saturday pressed Europe to do more to protect and integrate migrants as he visited Italy's Lampedusa island, a major port of call for those risking the perilous crossing from Africa. His trip to the migration frontline was a stark message to both EU and US leaders in a period of both growing intolerance and indifference. The Catholic Church's first US pope, who has clashed with President Donald Trump's administration over its treatment of migrants, chose to mark July 4, the United States' 250th anniversary of independence, at a migration hotspot. Leo's visit also comes just two weeks after the European Union's approval of new migrant rules allowing much broader detention powers and the creation of deportation centres outside the bloc. "From this far-flung corner of Europe on the Mediterranean Sea, one can more clearly perceive the momentous challenge that the phenomenon of migration poses to European societies," Leo told crowds...

Outgoing Prime Minister Keir Starmer said whoever succeeds him would have to devote as much time to international crises ​and diplomacy as he did, rejecting suggestions Britain's next leader ‌could focus more heavily on domestic issues. Starmer, who announced last month that he would step down after two years in office, said in a ​BBC interview on Friday that foreign and domestic policy ​could not be separated as Britain faced an increasingly ⁠volatile world. "There's often this discussion - what's the right balance ​between dealing with international affairs and dealing with domestic affairs? They're ​one and the same thing," he said. Asked whether a prime minister could spend less time on diplomacy than he had, Starmer replied: "No, I don't ​think it is possible." Starmer has faced criticism from some opponents over ​the amount of time he has spent on foreign policy. Lawmaker Andy Burnham, widely ‌expected ⁠to replace Starmer,...

Ukraine claimed Saturday that its strikes on Russian energy infrastructure have disabled 42.74% of the country's oil refining capacity as of early July. Ukraine's General Staff said on Telegram that its forces struck eight Russian oil refineries over the past month. It said more than 60 storage tanks had been destroyed or critically damaged, including 58% containing oil products and 42% containing crude oil. The military claimed the industry's losses had reached $13.5 billion since August 2025. "Consequences for the aggressor: Fuel crisis. Reduction in production," it said, claiming that repair work has been repeatedly delayed because Russia cannot obtain the necessary spare parts and equipment. Read: Russia bombards Kyiv in one of war's biggest strikes, at least 21 people killed Russia has not yet responded to Ukraine’s claims, and independent verification of the allegations remains difficult due to the ongoing war. Due to recent Ukrainia...

The Saudi-led coalition supporting Yemen's internationally recognised government vowed Saturday to respond "with unprecedented determination and force" to any attempt to target Saudi Arabia or violate Yemen's sovereignty, following threats from Yemen's Houthi group. Coalition spokesperson Turki al-Malki said in a statement that Houthi threats against the kingdom were "merely an attempt to divert attention away from their grave violations against the brotherly people of Yemen." He accused the group of trying "to export the economic disasters and Yemeni suffering they have caused," while also deflecting attention from the rejection they face from Yemeni tribal and social groups onto neighbouring countries. Read: Reporter killed by car bomb in Yemen Al-Malki said Saudi Arabia, the coalition, and international partners had worked to ease Yemeni suffering caused by the Houthi takeover and to resolve the crisis through a roadmap accepted by ...

Current and former United States officials believed that Israel might have been plotting to kill Iran’s top negotiators during sensitive ceasefire talks this spring, the US daily The New York Times reported on Thursday. The newspaper, citing American officials, said Washington was concerned that Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf could have been targeted when negotiations intensified in April. According to the report, the Trump administration was so concerned that it asked other countries in the region to warn Tehran about the possibility that Israel could target the two officials. Read: Iran warns US, Israel against attacks ahead of funeral processions for Khamenei US officials reportedly believed any assassination attempt after negotiations began in earnest in April would have ended the talks and reignited the conflict. The report said Washington learned that at least Ghalibaf had been placed on an Israeli targe...