Sixteen soldiers from Yemen’s government forces were killed and sixteen others injured in clashes with Houthi rebels in the western province of Hodeidah, according to officials and medical sources cited by Al Jazeera. The fighting occurred in the Jabal Dabbas area and was described as one of the deadliest confrontations in recent years. Government-aligned minister Walid al-Qudaimi said the soldiers died defending their land and dignity.

Medical sources reported that sixteen bodies and twenty-two wounded soldiers were taken to a local hospital. A government military official stated that the Houthis launched an attack on Friday night, seizing several government positions, but government forces regained control of those areas early Saturday morning.

The conflict between Houthi rebels and Yemen’s internationally recognized government has continued since 2015. The Houthis currently control the capital Sanaa, much of northern Yemen, and the strategic port city of Hodeidah.

Millions of Iranians gathered in Tehran on Monday for the funeral and mourning rally of former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in a joint U.S.-Israeli attack on February 28. The procession began early in the morning at the Grand Mosalla religious complex, where Khamenei’s body had been kept for two days for public tribute. His coffin was later brought to Freedom Square as mourners, dressed in black and carrying red flags symbolizing revenge, vowed to avenge his death.

State media IRIB described the gathering as one of the largest in modern history, with streets of Tehran overflowing with mourners. The funeral followed days of national mourning that began on Friday, attended by foreign dignitaries. Security was tightened across the capital amid warnings of overcrowding. Khamenei’s son and current Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei did not attend due to security threats from Israel.

The funeral procession will continue through Qom and Iraq before Khamenei’s burial in Mashhad on Thursday. Iranian authorities view the massive turnout as a message of strength and resistance following the recent war with the United States and Israel.

Tensions between India and Pakistan have intensified following the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT). As Pakistan seeks to raise the issue internationally, Chinese political analyst Victor Gao stated at a seminar in Islamabad that if India uses water as a weapon against Pakistan, China could influence the flow of rivers originating from Tibet. Gao highlighted China’s strategic position along transboundary Himalayan rivers, emphasizing its geographical significance.

The comment comes as Pakistan continues efforts to draw global attention to India’s suspension of the treaty. Meanwhile, India reaffirmed on Thursday that the Indus Waters Treaty remains suspended and that its stance has not changed. New Delhi maintains that the suspension is a response to Pakistan’s continued support for cross-border terrorism.

India further stated that its current position will remain unchanged until terrorism ceases, signaling a prolonged diplomatic standoff over water-sharing and regional security concerns.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has rejected claims that Italy played a major role in the United States’ military operation against Iran. She stated that Italy did not participate in the conflict and that its military bases were only used for logistical purposes. Her remarks came after NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte told Fox News that nearly 500 US aircraft had flown from Italian bases as part of the ‘Epic Fury’ operation.

Speaking to reporters during a France-Italy summit in southern France, Meloni described Rutte’s comments as exaggerated and oversimplified, saying he had failed to distinguish between different types of authorized flights. She added that if Italy had truly joined the war, US President Donald Trump would not have repeatedly expressed frustration over Italy’s lack of support.

The exchange comes amid diplomatic tension between Italy and the United States over the Iran issue. Earlier, Trump accused Italy of insufficient support for the operation, prompting Italy’s foreign minister to cancel a planned visit to Washington after calling Trump’s remarks serious and offensive.

China and Russia have announced plans to conduct joint maritime patrols across parts of the Pacific Ocean following their annual naval exercise this month. According to a statement from China’s Ministry of Defense, the exercise, named 'Joint Sea-2026', will take place in the coastal waters and airspace near Qingdao, a key naval base in eastern China. The ministry said the patrols aim to address security challenges jointly and maintain regional peace and stability.

The announcement comes about two months after Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to China, during which he described bilateral relations as reaching an 'unprecedented height'. Chinese President Xi Jinping called the partnership 'unbreakable'. China and Russia have held regular 'Joint Sea' exercises since 2012, with last year’s drill taking place near Vladivostok, followed by joint patrols in the Pacific.

No details were provided on the number of warships, aircraft, or personnel involved in this year’s exercise. The statement underscores continued military cooperation between Beijing and Moscow amid ongoing global tensions.

Iran has reopened Bandar Abbas International Airport in the country’s south after a four-month closure caused by damage from a joint US-Israel airstrike. According to Fars News Agency, commercial flights resumed on Saturday afternoon when a passenger aircraft from Mashhad landed at the airport, marking the restart of operations.

Bandar Abbas, the capital of Hormozgan Province, lies on the strategic Strait of Hormuz, about one thousand kilometers south of Tehran. The airport had been closed for repairs and reconstruction following the bombing that left it damaged.

Iranian authorities said that regular flights connecting Tehran, Shiraz, and Yazd will gradually resume over the coming days, restoring full domestic connectivity through the southern hub.

Saudi Arabia has deported 12,292 foreign nationals for violating residency, labor, and border security laws, according to a statement from the Interior Ministry cited by Gulf News on Sunday. The deportations are part of intensified nationwide operations aimed at curbing illegal stay and border-related offenses.

The ministry further reported that 16,912 individuals have been referred to their respective diplomatic missions to obtain travel documents, while 4,174 others are completing ticketing and reservation procedures before deportation. Authorities warned that aiding illegal border crossers—through transport, shelter, or any form of assistance—is a serious crime punishable by up to 15 years in prison, fines of up to one million Saudi riyals, and confiscation of vehicles or property used in the offense.

Between June 25 and July 1, joint security operations detained 15,591 people, including 7,759 for residency violations, 4,488 for border security breaches, and 3,344 for labor law offenses.

Six commercial vessels changed their planned routes in the Strait of Hormuz due to patrols by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy, according to maritime intelligence firm Windward. The ships were originally scheduled to pass through the Omani corridor but diverted to alternative routes following the IRGC’s presence in the area.

Windward reported that two of the ships moved toward Iran, while the remaining four returned deeper into the Gulf region. The IRGC naval units have been issuing radio warnings to vessels navigating outside the routes Iran designates as ‘safe.’ These warnings are part of the IRGC’s ongoing patrol operations in the strategic waterway.

The report highlights increased monitoring and control by Iranian forces over maritime movements in the Strait of Hormuz, a key global shipping passage. The situation underscores heightened caution among commercial operators transiting the area.

The Lebanese army has neutralized four large unexploded Israeli bombs and munitions left behind after recent airstrikes in southern Lebanon. According to an official military statement, bomb disposal experts carried out the operation in the Nabatieh region’s Mifdoun area and in the Bint Jbeil district’s Baraashit, Kafr Dunin, and Shaqra towns. The bombs were safely defused as part of ongoing efforts to clear remnants of the attacks.

The army urged residents in affected areas to remain on high alert and to immediately report any suspicious objects or explosive materials to the nearest military camp or authority. The statement emphasized public safety amid continuing risks from unexploded ordnance in the aftermath of Israeli strikes.

The clearance operation reflects Lebanon’s continued efforts to secure civilian areas following cross-border hostilities, though the source did not specify the timing or scale of the preceding attacks.

Tehran’s Applied Science and Technology University professor Mostafa Khoshcheshm told Al Jazeera that Iran will not be deceived by any potential memorandum of understanding or negotiations with the United States and Israel. He stated that the large turnout at the funeral of Iran’s Supreme Leader sent a clear message that Iranians remain aware of ongoing hostility from those nations.

Khoshcheshm emphasized that regardless of whether a nuclear agreement is reached in the coming weeks or months, Iranians expect continued hostile actions against their country. He described these as hybrid warfare tactics, including economic pressure, sanctions, cyberattacks, soft warfare, assassinations, sabotage, and possibly military strikes by the United States and Israel.

He added that the mass participation in the funeral demonstrated the Iranian people’s support for their government and their commitment to the goals and policies declared by the Supreme Leader.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi stated that normalization of relations with Israel will not be possible until Israel ends its occupation of Palestinian territories. Speaking on Sunday, Sisi emphasized that lasting peace and genuine stability cannot be achieved without ending occupation, halting aggression, restoring rights to their rightful owners, and ensuring security for all.

Sisi, whose country became the first Arab state to sign a peace treaty with Israel in 1979, reiterated that a comprehensive peace agreement between Israel and Palestine is the only solution to the Middle East crisis. He said that fair peace would allow the region’s people to live in stability and prosperity.

The Egyptian leader also urged the international community to uphold the Gaza ceasefire that took effect in October 2025, claiming that more than a thousand Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks since the truce began.

A cargo ship was attacked off the coast of Yemen in the Red Sea, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO). The agency reported receiving a distress signal from the vessel located about 30 nautical miles southwest of the port city of Hodeidah. The incident occurred on July 5, 2026, and authorities have begun investigating the circumstances surrounding the attack.

UKMTO has advised ships operating in the area to navigate with caution and to report any suspicious activity. The organization issued safety guidance to vessels transiting the region as part of precautionary measures following the incident.

No country or group has claimed responsibility for the attack so far, and details about the extent of the damage or casualties remain unknown.

Israel’s Transport Minister Miri Regev has confirmed that the country deployed Iron Dome missile defense batteries in the United Arab Emirates during its ongoing war with Iran. Speaking to Army Radio, Regev said the deployment took place at the beginning of the conflict, as the UAE recognized ballistic missiles as one of the major threats.

Regev’s statement marks the first public confirmation by an Israeli official following an April report by U.S. outlet Axios about the deployment. In May, U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee also confirmed that a battery had been stationed in the Gulf nation. The UAE’s Ministry of Defense reported that Iran launched around 550 missiles and 2,200 drone attacks on the country during the war.

The confirmation underscores growing military coordination between Israel and the UAE amid heightened regional tensions linked to the Iran conflict.

Maher Abdul Latif Yunis, a Palestinian who spent 40 years in Israeli prison, has died at the age of 68. He passed away early in the morning, according to reports. Yunis was arrested by Israeli authorities in 1983 for participating in armed resistance against Israeli occupation and for his involvement with the Fatah movement. His funeral is scheduled to take place in his hometown, Ara, after the noon prayer.

Initially sentenced to death, Yunis’s punishment was later commuted to life imprisonment, and in 2012 it was reduced to a 40-year term. He was released on January 19, 2023, after completing his sentence. Yunis was considered one of the most prominent figures in the Palestinian prisoner movement. During his imprisonment, he lost his father in 2008, who himself had previously spent eight years in Israeli detention.

Born on January 6, 1958, in Ara village, Yunis completed his primary and secondary education there before studying at an industrial school in Hadera.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi held separate meetings in Tehran with delegations from Hamas and Hezbollah, where warnings were issued about teaching Israel a lesson. The meetings took place on Saturday in the Iranian capital, coinciding with the delegations’ visit to attend the funeral of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iran’s Foreign Ministry confirmed the discussions in an official statement.

The Hamas delegation, led by Leadership Council head Mohammad Darwish, expressed condolences over Khamenei’s death and briefed Aragchi on the situation in Gaza and the West Bank. Darwish praised Iran’s longstanding support for Palestine and congratulated Tehran on its military and diplomatic achievements amid ongoing conflict. In a separate meeting, Hezbollah’s senior political official and former Lebanese MP Mohammad Fneish conveyed condolences on behalf of Secretary-General Naim Qassem and commended Iran’s role during recent hostilities with the United States and Israel.

Aragchi thanked both delegations, reaffirmed Iran’s support for an independent Palestinian state, and praised Hezbollah’s resistance. He also paid tribute to late Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and said Iran would continue efforts to maintain the ceasefire in Lebanon.