
Israeli military preparing enforcement plan to prevent future threats from Iran, defense minister says
He said the military must be prepared, both in intelligence and operations, to ensure Israel has air superiority and to prevent Tehran from reestablishing its previous capabilities.
He made his remarks following a 12-day air war between the longtime enemies in June, after Israel launched an air strike campaign on Iran, and Tehran retaliated with missiles and drones.
Israel and Iran agreed to a US-brokered ceasefire that ended hostilities on 24 June.
Israeli attacks killed 935 people in Iran, Tehran said, while Iran's attacks killed 28 people in Israel.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Middle East Eye
2 hours ago
- Middle East Eye
UK High Court rejects bid to halt Palestine Action terror list ban
The High Court in London has rejected an attempt to temporarily block the UK government's move to ban Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation, following an appeal by the group's co-founder. Lawyers representing Huda Ammori, co-founder of the pro-Palestinian direct action group, appeared before the court on Friday to challenge the decision by Home Secretary Yvette Cooper to proscribe the group under terrorism laws. But after the hearing. judge Mr Justice Chamberlain said: "I have concluded that the harm which would ensue if interim relief is refused but the claim later succeeds is insufficient to outweigh the strong public interest in maintaining the order of force. 'In reaching this decision I have borne in mind my assessment of the merits of the claim at this early stage.' The ban is scheduled to take effect this weekend. A further hearing is scheduled for 21 July when thr group is expected to apply for a judicial review to overturn the ban. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters Palestine Action, known for targeting companies involved in the Israeli arms trade, has denied any links to terrorism and described the government's move as politically motivated. During the hearing, lawyers for Ammori criticised the government's assessment, highlighting that plans to proscribe the group had been in place as early as March, well before last month's incident claimed by the group at RAF Brize Norton where two military planes were sprayed with red paint. "Why move to proscribe before then? They put their bodies on the line between the genocide and violations of international law and the munitions and airplanes," said Blinne Nessa Aine Ni Ghralaigh, one of Ammori's legal representatives. "The context for why the Home Secretary has proscribed Palestine Action is materially relevant - and that is the situation in Gaza. It is an annihilation, it is a genocide, according to rights groups, leading academics, scholars, and many states including Ireland." Aine Ni Ghralaigh added that the proscription could cause 'irreparable harm' to individuals and civil society groups, warning that vague and ambiguous language in the order could lead to widespread self-censorship and a broader chilling effect on protest and free expression. Friday's hearing aimed both to pause the implementation of the ban and to determine whether Palestine Action can mount a full legal challenge against the proscription order. Israel's war on Gaza: Who are Palestine Action? Read More » The government's order to proscribe the group followed a vote in Parliament on Wednesday, during which MPs approved the order. Alongside Palestine Action, the proscription order also included the Maniacs Murder Cult, a neo-Nazi group, and the Russian Imperial Movement, a white supremacist organisation. The move came after Palestine Action activists broke into RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire last month using electric scooters and sprayed two RAF planes with red paint. Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the act as 'disgraceful,' while the Ministry of Defence claimed the activists caused £7 million in damages. Following the parliamentary vote, Palestine Action criticised the Home Secretary for "bundling our domestic civil disobedience protest group in with two violent neo-Nazi militias". "Many MPs told us that, as a consequence, they felt they did not have the option to vote against the measure," the group said in a statement. Ten Labour MPs, including Liverpool MP Richard Burgon, voted against the government. Burgon warned that the ban risked 'criminalising thousands of volunteers and supporters.' Outside the High Court on Friday, hundreds gathered to protest the government's designation of Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation. The court proceedings came a day after four activists linked to the RAF Brize Norton protest were denied bail at Westminster Magistrates' Court. The defendants - Amy Gardiner-Gibson, 29; Jony Cink, 24; Daniel Jeronymides-Norie, 35; and Lewie Chiaramello, 22 - were charged with conspiracy to commit criminal damage and conspiracy to enter a prohibited place for purposes prejudicial to national safety. District Judge Daniel Steinberg denied bail over concerns that the four might commit further offences if released. They are due to appear at the Central Criminal Court on 18 July for a plea hearing. During Thursday's bail hearing, several supporters were ejected from the courtroom after chanting 'Free, free Palestine' as proceedings concluded.


Gulf Today
2 hours ago
- Gulf Today
Russia first country to recognise Taliban govt
Afghanistan's government said on Thursday that Russia had become the first country to officially recognise its rule, calling it a "brave decision". The Taliban swept back to power in 2021 after ousting the foreign-backed government and have imposed an austere version of Islamic law. They have keenly sought official international recognition and investment, as the country recovers from four decades of war, including the Soviet invasion from 1979 to 1989. The announcement was made after Afghanistan's Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi met Russia's ambassador to Afghanistan, Dmitry Zhirnov, in Kabul on Thursday. "This brave decision will be an example for others... Now that the process of recognition has started, Russia was ahead of everyone," Muttaqi said in a video of the meeting on X. The flag of Afghanistan flutters at its embassy in Moscow on Friday. Reuters "Russia is the first country which has officially recognised the Islamic Emirate," Taliban foreign ministry spokesman Zia Ahmad Takal told AFP, using the government's name for their administration. Muttaqi said it was "a new phase of positive relations, mutual respect, and constructive engagement", the foreign ministry posted on X. Russia's foreign ministry added on Telegram: "We believe that the act of official recognition of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan will boost the development of productive bilateral cooperation between our countries in several areas." It highlighted potential "commercial and economic" cooperation in "energy, transportation, agriculture and infrastructure". 'Fight terrorism' The ministry said that Moscow hoped to continue helping Kabul "reinforce regional security and fight against the threats of terrorism and drug-trafficking". Moscow has taken recent steps to normalise relations with the Taliban authorities, removing them from a list of "terrorist organisations" in April and accepting a Taliban ambassador in Kabul. In July 2024, Russian President Vladimir Putin called the Taliban "allies in the fight against terrorism". Russia was the first country to open a business representative office in Kabul after the Taliban takeover, and has announced plans to use Afghanistan as a transit hub for gas heading to Southeast Asia. 'Allies' Only Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates recognised the Taliban during their first stint in power from 1996 to 2001. This time, multiple other states, including China and Pakistan, have accepted Taliban ambassadors in their capitals, but have not officially recognised the Islamic Emirate since the end of the then-insurgency's two-decade war with US-led NATO troops. There has been limited but growing engagement with the Taliban authorities, particularly from regional neighbours, but also major global players China and Russia. China on Friday said it welcomed Russia's decision. An official gestures next to the flag of Afghanistan as he stands on the balcony of the Afghan embassy in Moscow on July 4, 2025. AFP "As a traditional friendly neighbour of Afghanistan, the Chinese side has always believed that Afghanistan should not be excluded from the international community," foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said. However, restrictions on women and girls, barring them from education and squeezing them from public life, have been key sticking points for Western nations. Multiple Afghan women activists were quick to condemn Russia's recognition. The move "legitimises a regime that bans girls from education, enforces public floggings, and shelters UN-sanctioned terrorists", said Mariam Solaimankhil, former member of Afghanistan's parliament. "The move signals that strategic interests will always outweigh human rights and international law." Senior Taliban figures remain under international sanctions, including by the United Nations. Another former MP in Kabul, Fawzia Koofi, said any recognition of the Taliban "will not bring peace it will legitimise impunity" and "risk endangering not just the people of Afghanistan, but also global security". Agence France-Presse


Middle East Eye
2 hours ago
- Middle East Eye
Hamas says its holding consultations on Gaza truce proposal
Hamas has said it is holding consultations with other Palestinian groups on a proposed truce with Israel. "The movement is conducting consultations with leaders of Palestinian forces and factions regarding the proposal received... from the mediators," Hamas said in a statement early on Friday. Two previous ceasefires mediated by Qatar, Egypt and the US have seen temporary halts in fighting, coupled with the return of Israeli captives in exchange for Palestinian prisoners and detainees. Hours earlier, Netanyahu vowed to bring home all Israeli captives held in Gaza. "I feel a deep commitment, first and foremost, to ensure the return of all our abductees, all of them," Netanyahu said. Trump said on Thursday he wanted "safety for the people of Gaza". "They've gone through hell," he said. A Palestinian source familiar with the negotiations told AFP earlier this week there were no fundamental changes in the latest proposal compared to previous terms presented by the United States. The source said the proposal "includes a 60-day truce, during which Hamas would release half of the living Israeli captives in the Gaza Strip - thought to number 22 - in exchange for Israel releasing a number of Palestinian prisoners and detainees". Out of 251 captives taken by Palestinian groups during the 7 October 2023 surprise attack, 49 are still held in Gaza, including 27 whom the Israeli military says are dead.