Russia’s military has claimed control over the eastern Ukrainian city of Kostyantynivka as part of its ongoing offensive in the Donetsk region. The announcement was made by Russian Armed Forces Chief Valery Gerasimov during President Vladimir Putin’s visit to a command post in Ukraine. Gerasimov stated that Russian southern forces were continuing their offensive to take full control of Donetsk and that Kostyantynivka, a key stronghold in the Sloviansk–Kramatorsk–Kostyantynivka defense line, had been ‘liberated.’ Russia’s defense ministry also shared footage on Telegram showing soldiers raising the national flag in the city.

Ukraine’s General Staff, however, denied Russia’s claim on Saturday, saying that Kostyantynivka remained under Ukrainian control. The Ukrainian military did not provide further details about the situation or comment on Russia’s statements. Independent verification of the battlefield situation or either side’s claims was not possible according to the report.

The conflicting statements highlight the ongoing uncertainty surrounding control of key areas in the Donetsk region, where both sides continue to wage intense battles for strategic positions.

Iran is holding an unprecedented six-day mourning program across five cities in Iran and Iraq for former supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed four months ago in a joint U.S.-Israel attack. Tehran expects between 10 and 20 million people to participate in the funeral and burial ceremonies. During this period, discussions have intensified about various aspects of Khamenei’s life and teachings.

In his autobiography ‘Cell Number 14,’ Khamenei wrote extensively about his wife, Mansoureh Khojasteh Bagherzadeh, praising her courage and resilience. He described how she remained steadfast during repeated raids by SAVAK agents and his multiple arrests, showing no fear or weakness. Khamenei noted her patience during his imprisonment, her modest lifestyle before and after the revolution, and her refusal to seek luxury or jewelry, instead donating valuables to charity.

The publication of these reflections has drawn renewed attention to Khamenei’s personal values of simplicity, endurance, and devotion, which continue to shape public remembrance during the national mourning period.

Iran’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations has accused the United States of fostering a “culture of impunity” by refusing to accept responsibility for the 1988 downing of Iran Air Flight 655. In a post on social media platform X, the mission recalled that on July 3, 1988, a US Navy vessel shot down the civilian airliner over the Persian Gulf, killing 290 passengers, including 66 children. The mission said that instead of accountability, the US president at the time awarded medals to the naval personnel involved.

The post further alleged that this pattern of impunity continues, citing the US refusal to take responsibility for a Tomahawk missile strike on a school in Minab that killed 168 children. Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi also marked July 3 as a day of remembrance for what he called a crime that claimed innocent lives and was compounded by the US failure to apologize or hold anyone accountable.

The United States has not issued any immediate response to these latest accusations.

According to the Gaza Health Ministry, at least 73,090 Palestinians have been killed in the Gaza Strip since Israel’s military campaign began in October 2023. Another 173,550 people have been injured during the same period. The ministry’s latest report states that since the ceasefire in October 2025, 1,031 people have been killed and 3,309 injured.

In the occupied West Bank, Israeli forces and settlers have killed 1,179 Palestinians since October 2023, while at least 12,532 others have been injured. Over 24,000 Palestinians have been detained by Israeli forces during this time, with 9,299 currently held in Israeli prisons. Among them, 3,244 are under administrative detention without formal charges.

Israeli authorities have confirmed the deaths of at least 90 Palestinian prisoners in custody. International human rights organizations have repeatedly expressed concern over ongoing operations, mass arrests, and prisoner deaths in the West Bank.

Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that Russia and the United States, as the world’s two largest nuclear powers, bear a special responsibility for ensuring global security and stability. The statement was reported by Turkey-based Anadolu Agency on Saturday. According to information released by the Kremlin, Putin made the remarks in a congratulatory message to U.S. President Donald Trump on the occasion of the 250th anniversary of American independence.

In his message, Putin said that the signing of the Declaration of Independence marked not only the birth of the United States but also a significant milestone in world history. He recalled that Russia had unconditionally supported the North American colonies in their struggle against British rule and noted that Moscow and Washington had been allies during both World Wars.

Putin expressed hope that constructive, equal, and mutually beneficial relations between Moscow and Washington would serve the interests of both nations and the broader international community.

On July 4, 2026, the United States marked the 250th anniversary of its independence while Iran began the funeral ceremonies for its late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. His death, caused by a joint U.S.-Israeli attack, had triggered a war that Washington hoped would alter the Middle East’s balance of power in its favor. Instead, Iran’s institutions remained intact, and the conflict failed to achieve U.S. strategic goals.

The coincidence of the U.S. Independence Day and Khamenei’s funeral date was not officially planned, as Iran’s religious and national calendars determine such events. Yet, the timing carried symbolic political significance. Millions in Iran and Iraq gathered to bid farewell to a leader viewed as a lifelong opponent of U.S. dominance.

The report also cited historian John Glubb’s theory that empires pass through stages of expansion and decline, though it cautioned against treating this as inevitable. As the U.S. enters its 250th year, it faces pressures linked to imperial overstretch, debt, waning global influence, and a political class still acting as if the unipolar era never ended.

Russian officials said on Saturday night that Ukraine carried out a drone attack on an oil terminal at the port of St. Petersburg. Governor Alexander Beglov reported that the city faced a large-scale drone assault, with air defenses shooting down 72 drones. One drone reportedly crashed in the Peterhof area. The attack damaged an oil terminal in the Kirovsky district, but authorities later brought the situation under control, and no casualties were reported.

Local Telegram channels had earlier shared reports of a fire at the port’s oil terminal. Russia’s Defense Ministry separately claimed that its forces destroyed or downed a total of 389 Ukrainian drones across several regions, including Crimea, as well as over the Azov and Black Seas. Ukraine has not commented on the incident, and the Russian claims could not be independently verified.

The incident highlights the continuing escalation of drone warfare between Russia and Ukraine, with both sides reporting frequent aerial attacks on infrastructure and military targets.

Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi has warned that Tehran will not tolerate the military presence of non-regional powers in the Strait of Hormuz. His statement came as France and the United Kingdom announced their readiness to deploy joint forces to ensure safe navigation through the vital waterway.

In a post on social media platform X, Gharibabadi said Iran considers itself responsible for the security of the strait and will take any military activity there seriously. He emphasized that the security of the Strait of Hormuz lies in the hands of the coastal nations and warned that those who create problems will face consequences.

France and the United Kingdom, in a joint statement, described the Strait of Hormuz as a crucial maritime route for the global economy. They said ensuring safe passage for all nations’ vessels is a matter of global importance and confirmed that Oman has agreed to cooperate with them to maintain maritime safety in the area.

At least 13 countries refrained from attending the funeral of Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, reportedly due to intense pressure from the United States. According to Iran’s Tasnim News Agency, the countries that stayed away include several from Eastern Europe, Africa, the Persian Gulf, and East Asia. Some governments later attempted to explain their absence through diplomatic channels, but Tehran rejected those explanations.

The report cited an unnamed senior source claiming that US officials conducted a five-day “comprehensive campaign” to discourage foreign delegations from traveling to Tehran for Khamenei’s memorial. On June 26, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio allegedly issued a secret directive instructing all American embassies to warn host governments that attending the funeral would be considered an “unfriendly act” and could harm bilateral relations. Two Arab diplomats told Tasnim that Rubio personally discussed the issue with at least five Arab foreign ministers, while US ambassadors in Africa reportedly warned that participation could jeopardize American development aid.

The funeral took place four months after the start of Iran’s war with the United States and Israel, drawing millions of mourners across the country.

Yemen’s Houthi Ansarullah movement has threatened to strike Saudi Arabia’s airports and key installations, accusing Riyadh of violating Yemeni airspace. In a statement on Friday, July 3, the group claimed that a Saudi warplane attempted to block the landing of an Iranian civilian aircraft at Sana’a International Airport. Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Sari warned that any further Saudi aggression would trigger ground and maritime attacks on Saudi targets.

According to Al Jazeera, Sari said the attempted intrusion occurred at 5:20 a.m. local time and was repelled by Houthi forces. He asserted that the Iranian aircraft, carrying over two hundred stranded, injured, and ill passengers, later landed safely in Sana’a and returned to Tehran with a delegation. The Houthis stated they remain ready for any confrontation and are working to break the Saudi-U.S. blockade.

The warning follows a recent large-scale prisoner exchange between the Saudi-backed Yemeni government and the Houthis. Despite a UN-brokered truce in 2022 that reduced major clashes, tensions remain high as Yemen’s conflict continues to cause severe humanitarian suffering.

Thousands of mourners gathered in Tehran’s Enghelab Square and Grand Mosalla Complex to attend the funeral of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Many carried red flags, a traditional Shia symbol representing bloodshed and a call for revenge. The crowd chanted slogans including “Death to America” and demanded retribution for Khamenei’s killing.

According to Mohammad Eslami, a researcher at the University of Tehran quoted by Al Jazeera, Khamenei’s followers raised the red flags as a sign of their demand for revenge. He explained that they want the Iranian government to punish those responsible for killing their supreme leader. Eslami added that Khamenei was not just an ordinary national leader but a figure of far greater significance.

The event underscored the depth of public mourning and the symbolic use of religious imagery in expressing collective anger and loyalty toward Khamenei’s legacy.

US President Donald Trump’s renewed interest in purchasing Greenland has revived historical discussions about America’s territorial expansion through land acquisitions. Historians note that the United States has a long tradition of expanding its borders by buying territories rather than seizing them by force. Trump’s stated rationale for seeking Greenland’s ownership centers on national security, and he has expressed a preference for negotiation over coercion.

The article outlines key historical land purchases that shaped the modern United States. These include the 1803 Louisiana Purchase from France, which doubled the nation’s size; the 1848 acquisition of Mexican territories following the Guadalupe Hidalgo Treaty; the 1853 Gadsden Purchase from Mexico; the 1867 purchase of Alaska from Russia; and the 1917 acquisition of the Virgin Islands from Denmark. Each transaction reflected strategic, economic, or security motivations.

Historians draw parallels between Trump’s Greenland proposal and earlier US acquisitions, suggesting continuity in Washington’s approach to securing strategic territories through financial means rather than military confrontation.

Iran has begun the funeral ceremonies for its late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in a joint U.S.-Israeli attack on February 28. Authorities expect around 20 million mourners to attend the farewell events in Tehran and other cities. To feed the massive crowd, Iran’s Basij paramilitary force has prepared 50 million loaves of bread through 16 mobile bakeries. The government has also deployed 2,500 ambulances, 21 helicopters, 100 drones, and arranged 20,000 classrooms for accommodation.

Tehran has implemented its largest-ever traffic plan, banning private vehicles and installing over 6,000 water sprinklers at the Mosalla complex to mitigate the July heat. The Interior Minister said the goal is to stage the largest farewell ceremony in Iran’s history, showcasing the Islamic Republic’s endurance and resistance. However, the large-scale event has caused severe traffic congestion and fuel shortages in the capital.

Foreign dignitaries from Pakistan, China, Turkey, Russia, and other countries attended the ceremony, while no Western officials were invited. Khamenei’s son and current Supreme Leader Mojtaba Ali Khamenei did not attend due to security threats from Israel.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) issued a strong warning on Friday, saying any attack or attempt to strike Iran in the coming days would be met with a severe response. The warning comes as the country prepares for the funeral of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The IRGC stated that any hostile action against Iran would provoke a harsher and more destructive retaliation than before.

The alert follows remarks by Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz, who said Iran’s new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei was a potential assassination target. Iran fears possible attacks during the funeral, which is expected to draw millions of mourners and foreign dignitaries. Reuters footage showed increased security patrols in Tehran, and Iran announced a complete closure of its airspace on Monday.

Former Israeli intelligence officer Danny Citrinowicz told media that Iran is concerned about threats from both air and ground. The country also faces internal risks from Kurdish, Arab, and Baluch separatist groups, as well as the exiled opposition group Mujahideen-e-Khalq, which Tehran accuses of past attacks.

France and the United Kingdom have declared their readiness to send a joint military force to the Strait of Hormuz to ensure safe maritime navigation. In a joint statement issued on Friday, French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said they are prepared to form a multinational military mission to protect vessels of all nations using the vital waterway.

The statement emphasized that the Strait of Hormuz is a crucial maritime route for the global economy, and ensuring the safety of all ships passing through it is of worldwide importance. It also noted that Oman has agreed to work with France and the United Kingdom to maintain secure navigation in the area.

However, the report added that the Omani government has not yet made any official comment on the matter.