Israeli forces shot and killed a 20-year-old Palestinian man during a raid in the southern West Bank city of Hebron on Tuesday evening, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. The victim, identified as Mohammad Rajeh Nasrallah from Al-Dhahiriya, was taken to Dura Hospital with a gunshot wound to the abdomen and was pronounced dead shortly after. Another Palestinian was injured in the same operation, while at least three others were arrested in Bethlehem, the Wafa news agency reported.

The report said Israeli forces have continued widespread night raids and arrests across the occupied West Bank, detaining Palestinians regardless of alleged offenses. Thousands remain imprisoned without charge under harsh conditions, with reports of torture and deaths in custody. The Israeli human rights group B’Tselem stated that at least 84 Palestinians, including one child, have died in detention since October 2023.

Elsewhere, Israeli troops detained 10 people in Amatin near Qalqilya, raided homes in Nablus, and arrested several residents. Settlers also uprooted 200 olive trees near Turmus Ayya, north of Ramallah, as attacks on Palestinian land and livelihoods persisted.

The United States has released two Russian crew members who were detained after their tanker was seized in the North Atlantic Ocean earlier this month. According to Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova, the sailors have been freed and are returning home to Russia. However, the fate of the remaining crew members aboard the vessel remains unclear.

U.S. authorities had detained the Russian-flagged tanker, alleging it was part of a 'shadow fleet' transporting oil from countries such as Venezuela, Russia, and Iran in violation of U.S. sanctions. Washington has indicated that legal action could be taken against the crew, while Moscow has condemned such a move as unacceptable, accusing the U.S. of escalating tensions and endangering international maritime navigation.

Earlier reports stated that the tanker was intercepted near Venezuela’s coast while under Russian naval escort. To prevent U.S. seizure during its operations against Venezuela, the vessel was reportedly reflagged and renamed under Russian jurisdiction.

Israel has shifted its stance on the Gaza ceasefire after recovering all hostages taken to the enclave. The Israeli government now insists that Hamas must fully disarm before any further progress can be made toward the next phase of the ceasefire. This marks a tougher position from Israel following the hostage recovery.

Hamas has publicly refused to surrender its weapons. Two Hamas officials told Reuters that neither the United States nor mediators have presented any detailed or concrete disarmament proposal. Israeli minister and former intelligence chief Avi Dichter warned that disputes over disarmament could reignite conflict in Gaza, saying the issue might have to be resolved by Israeli forces through military means.

A White House document released last week indicated that the Trump administration seeks the immediate elimination of heavy weapons in Gaza and a phased registration and removal of personal arms under an interim technocratic administration to ensure local security.

Iran has executed a man convicted of spying for Israel, according to the judiciary’s media outlet Mizan. The execution took place on Wednesday, and the individual was identified as Hamidreza Sabet Esmailipour. He had been arrested on April 29, 2025, and was accused of working for Israel’s intelligence agency Mossad by transferring secret documents and sensitive information. The death sentence was carried out after the Supreme Court upheld the verdict and all legal procedures were completed.

Iran, which has long been engaged in covert conflict with Israel, has previously executed several individuals accused of collaborating with Israeli intelligence. Authorities claim these individuals assisted Israel’s clandestine operations inside Iran. Analysts noted that the number of such executions has risen significantly since last year, particularly after Israeli and U.S. attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities in June, which intensified Tehran’s security operations.

The report suggests that Iran’s recent actions reflect heightened internal security measures amid ongoing regional tensions and direct confrontations with Israel and the United States.

Turkey has announced the start of a large-scale reconstruction and resettlement program in Syria, focusing on residential areas devastated during the years of conflict under the Assad government. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan made the announcement in a speech on Tuesday, according to TRT World. He said that cities destroyed by bombings during Bashar al-Assad’s rule would be prioritized for rebuilding.

Erdoğan stated that improvements in Syria’s security and stability would have positive effects across neighboring countries and the wider region. He also welcomed a recent decree by Syria’s new administration that guarantees basic rights for Kurdish citizens who had lost their citizenship during Assad’s regime. The Turkish president called for unity and warned against any attempts to inflame ethnic divisions.

Erdoğan added that Turkey is closely coordinating with Syria’s new government to respond to humanitarian aid requests from Kurdish communities living beyond its borders.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has pledged to stand by Cuba following reports that Mexico halted oil shipments to Havana. The commitment came after several media outlets, including Bloomberg and Reforma, reported that a planned January shipment had been canceled. Mexico, one of Cuba’s main oil suppliers, had continued deliveries through December. Sheinbaum declined to confirm or deny the reports but said at a press conference that providing or selling oil to Cuba for humanitarian reasons was Mexico’s sovereign decision.

Cuba, facing a severe energy crisis and U.S. trade sanctions, relies on allies for low-cost oil. Venezuela had been a major supplier of crude oil to Cuba, but U.S. President Donald Trump stated he would stop those shipments. Mexico’s government is reviewing the potential risk of conflict with the United States if it continues supplying oil to Cuba.

Asked whether Mexico would resume shipments, Sheinbaum avoided a direct answer, saying any decision would be announced in due course, while reaffirming that “Mexico will stand with Cuba.”

Five civilians were killed in a landmine explosion in northern Syria near the Tishrin and Kara Kozak dams, according to a statement released by Syrian authorities on Tuesday. The victims were reportedly returning to their village when the explosion occurred. Officials said the mines had been planted by the YPG group before withdrawing from the area.

The statement accused the YPG of preventing civilians from reaching government-controlled zones by laying landmines on roads, endangering thousands of lives. The Aleppo Media Directorate also reported that the group had blocked humanitarian aid deliveries and restricted access to several villages, including Al-Jada, Al-Qubba, and Tal Ahmar.

In response, the Aleppo Response Central Committee, in coordination with the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Syrian Arab Red Crescent, has sent food, medical supplies, and essential relief to the Ain al-Arab area.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned on Wednesday that Venezuela’s interim president, Delcy Rodriguez, could face the same fate as ousted former president Nicolas Maduro if she fails to comply with US conditions. Speaking before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in Washington, Rubio said Rodriguez is well aware of Maduro’s downfall and that Washington believes her personal interests align with US objectives. He emphasized that the US is prepared to use force if other means fail, citing President Donald Trump’s earlier remarks.

Rubio strongly defended the January 3 US commando raid in Caracas that captured Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, who were later taken to the United States to face drug trafficking charges. He described the operation as a success that avoided American casualties or a prolonged military occupation. Venezuelan authorities, however, claimed that over a hundred Venezuelan and Cuban nationals were killed while trying to resist the raid.

President Trump is reportedly pressuring Rodriguez to ensure her government acts in favor of US oil company interests, according to the report.

The United States has announced plans to conduct a military exercise in the Middle East amid ongoing tensions with Iran. According to the US Central Command’s Air Forces Central, the drill aims to demonstrate the ability to rapidly deploy, expand, and conduct air operations in the region. The announcement was reported on Tuesday, with the exercise described as part of efforts to strengthen coordination with regional partners and enhance readiness for potential crises.

US President Donald Trump referred to the operation as a powerful “armada,” led by the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln. However, no details were released regarding the exact schedule, location, or specific military assets involved in the exercise. Analysts cited in the report suggested that the move signals an increase in US military pressure on Iran and serves as a show of strength.

The exercise underscores Washington’s intent to reinforce its strategic presence in the Middle East while maintaining readiness for any escalation involving Iran.

Biman Bangladesh Airlines is set to resume direct flights between Dhaka and Karachi on Thursday, marking the restoration of air connectivity between Bangladesh and Pakistan after 14 years. The inaugural 162-seat flight will depart from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 8 p.m. and is fully booked. Managing Director and CEO Dr. Shafiqul Rahman confirmed that the flight will take about three hours to reach Karachi.

According to airline officials, Biman had suspended operations on the Dhaka-Karachi route in 2012. The plan to reopen the route emerged after the formation of an interim government in 2024. Following official approval from the Bangladeshi government, Pakistan’s Civil Aviation Authority granted Biman permission to operate flights until March 30, 2026, subject to review.

Under the new authorization, Biman must strictly follow designated routes and operational protocols. Karachi airport has allocated a separate slot for the airline, and detailed flight information must be shared before each departure. Officials from both sides expect the route to strengthen bilateral connectivity and cooperation.

Israel’s High Court has ordered the forced eviction of Palestinian residents from the Batn al-Hawa area of Silwan in occupied East Jerusalem. The court also directed that the properties be transferred to Israeli settlers, according to Middle East Monitor. The ruling has raised fears among Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem of further forced displacement.

Silwan, located near Jerusalem’s Old City, has long been a focal point of Israeli settlement activity and demolition policies. Thousands of Palestinians live in the area, which has seen accelerated house demolitions and evictions. In the nearby al-Bustan neighborhood, Israel plans to build a park called “King’s Garden,” demolishing dozens of homes and threatening many more.

Human rights organizations have stated that Israel’s actions in Silwan are part of a broader policy aimed at displacing Palestinian residents. East Jerusalem remains surrounded by concrete walls and barbed wire, much of it built on West Bank land. Israel claims the barrier is for security, while Palestinians and the United Nations view it as part of a land seizure strategy.

The United States has started releasing Venezuelan funds that were frozen under sanctions, according to interim president Delcy Rodríguez. Speaking on state television from Caracas, Rodríguez said the assets owned by the Venezuelan people are being gradually freed and will be used to purchase medical equipment for hospitals from the United States and other countries. She did not specify the total amount being released.

Venezuela has been under strict US sanctions since 2019, following the disputed 2018 re-election of former president Nicolás Maduro. During Donald Trump’s first term, Washington froze large sums of Venezuelan assets abroad, which Maduro in 2022 claimed totaled about 30 billion dollars. After Maduro was ousted in a US military operation on January 3, Rodríguez’s interim government reached several agreements with Washington. Rodríguez said a framework of mutual respect and courtesy has been established with President Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

As another sign of improving ties, the US announced that former diplomat Laura F. Dogu will serve as chargé d’affaires in Venezuela, marking a step toward restoring full diplomatic relations severed in 2019.

Iran has announced the closure of its airspace over the Strait of Hormuz to conduct live-fire military exercises amid escalating regional tensions. According to a notice published on Tuesday, the drills will take place from January 27 to 29 within a circular area of five nautical miles in radius. The notice also stated that airspace up to 25,000 feet above ground level in the designated area will be restricted and considered hazardous during the exercise period.

The United States has said that all options, including military action, remain on the table in dealing with Tehran. In response, Iranian officials warned that any U.S. attack would be met with a “swift and extensive” reaction. The Strait of Hormuz is a strategically vital waterway through which a significant portion of the world’s energy supply passes.

An Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commander further cautioned that if neighboring countries allow their territory, airspace, or waters to be used for attacks against Iran, they will be regarded as enemies.

Iran has issued a warning to neighboring countries following the arrival of a US aircraft carrier in Middle Eastern waters. On Tuesday, an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commander stated that if any neighboring nation allows its territory, airspace, or waters to be used for attacks against Iran, Tehran will consider that country an enemy. The statement was reported by TRT World.

Mohammad Akbarzadeh, the IRGC Navy’s deputy for political affairs, emphasized that while neighboring states are considered friends, any cooperation in hostile actions would change that status. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump announced that another naval fleet is moving toward Iran and expressed hope that Tehran would agree to a deal with Washington.

The increased US military activity in the Gulf region and Trump’s remarks have heightened concerns about potential escalation between Washington and Tehran. Iranian officials have repeatedly warned that any attack on their country would be met with a strong response and urged neighboring states not to allow their territories to be used for military operations against Iran.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has declared that the kingdom will not permit the use of its airspace or territory for any military operation against Iran. The statement came during a phone conversation with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, as reported by Saudi state news agency SPA on Tuesday, January 28, 2026. The crown prince emphasized that Saudi Arabia supports dialogue-based solutions to regional disputes and prioritizes diplomacy over conflict.

According to Iranian media, President Pezeshkian told the Saudi crown prince that Tehran welcomes any process under international law that helps avoid war. The United Arab Emirates had earlier announced a similar stance, refusing to allow its airspace or waters to be used for military actions against Iran. The developments come amid heightened regional tension following U.S. President Donald Trump’s statement that a military armada was moving toward Iran, though he expressed hope it would not be used.

Human rights groups have alleged that thousands were killed in Iran’s recent protest crackdowns, calling it the worst since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, claims denied by Iranian authorities.