Dominic Tierney, senior fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute and professor of political science, said the ongoing Iran war highlights another example of the United States’ inability to conduct wars with clear strategy and success. Speaking on NPR’s ‘Weekend Edition Saturday,’ he described the conflict’s uncertain future and linked it to a decades-long pattern of U.S. military stalemates since World War II.

Tierney argued that Washington and its military leadership have overestimated their capacity to destroy Iran’s nuclear capability or trigger regime change through internal uprising. Instead, he said, such efforts have strengthened Iran’s current government. He noted similarities between the present situation and his 2018 article in The Atlantic, which discussed how U.S. policies often unintentionally bolster Iran’s position.

Discussing the conflict’s possible end, Tierney warned that any diplomatic resolution could take years, citing Vietnam and Afghanistan as examples of prolonged U.S. withdrawals. He said the United States remains in the middle of this crisis and must prepare for a difficult and extended process to find a way out.

Turkey is considering transferring its Russian-made S-400 air defense system to the United Arab Emirates to remove US objections and reopen the way for purchasing F-35 fighter jets, according to the Wall Street Journal citing US and regional officials. The move follows discussions during a recent NATO summit, where US President Donald Trump indicated he might reconsider lifting the ban on Turkey’s participation in the F-35 program.

Turkey was excluded from the F-35 program in 2019 after buying the S-400 from Russia, as Washington feared the coexistence of both systems could expose sensitive data about the US aircraft to Moscow. Implementing the transfer plan faces major hurdles, including the need for Russian approval and support from the US Congress, where opposition to selling F-35s to Turkey remains strong.

The outcome of the plan depends on negotiations among Russia, the United States, and Turkey. The issue arises amid regional security concerns, as Gulf states seek to strengthen air defenses following Iranian drone and missile attacks.

The United States has resumed airstrikes against Iran less than a month after announcing a ceasefire, a move ordered by President Donald Trump that analysts warn could trigger a long-term conflict. The decision follows the collapse of a memorandum of understanding signed in Versailles on June 17 aimed at ensuring lasting peace and addressing economic challenges. Iran has retaliated with drone and missile attacks on US allies in the Persian Gulf, escalating tensions in the region.

Critics argue the agreement was a temporary tactic by Washington to stabilize oil prices while maintaining pressure on Tehran. With midterm elections approaching in November, experts say the renewed conflict could damage the Republican Party’s prospects as rising fuel and living costs anger voters. Commentators, including American Conservative editor Curt Mills, have described Trump’s actions as driven by personal motives that could lead to electoral defeat.

Former US military and diplomatic officials warn that the strikes could evolve into a ground operation, drawing the country into another protracted war. They also highlight the administration’s lack of experienced Iran specialists and urge renewed diplomatic coordination with NATO allies.

Russia launched airstrikes on Kyiv following a Ukrainian drone attack that destroyed e-commerce warehouses in Moscow and Tambov regions. The Russian assault injured several people, with conflicting casualty reports from different authorities. Kyiv’s military administration reported one death, while the city’s mayor Vitali Klitschko mentioned seven injuries and no fatalities. Fires broke out across multiple districts, damaging residential and commercial buildings.

The escalation comes in the fifth year of the war, as Ukraine faces both relentless Russian attacks and internal political turbulence following sudden changes in military leadership. President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine’s drone strikes targeted logistics sites supplying banned components for drone production. Russia claimed to have intercepted hundreds of Ukrainian drones aimed at Moscow in recent days.

Meanwhile, rare protests erupted across Ukrainian cities for a third consecutive day after Zelensky dismissed Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov. The move, part of a government reshuffle, sparked public discontent amid ongoing military pressure and speculation about possible changes in top command.

An Israeli military analyst has stated that Turkey is unlikely to receive U.S. F-35 fighter jets even if it sells its Russian-made S-400 missile defense system to Qatar or the United Arab Emirates. The report, published by Eurasian Times on July 19, 2026, follows Turkish media claims that Ankara is exploring the sale to lift U.S. sanctions. Turkey’s defense ministry confirmed that multilateral discussions on the issue are ongoing.

The United States expelled Turkey from the F-35 program and imposed CAATSA sanctions after Ankara purchased the S-400 system from Russia, citing risks to the aircraft’s stealth technology. Although U.S. President Donald Trump recently suggested reconsidering the sanctions and F-35 sales, former Israel Aerospace Industries vice president Shai Gal noted that such approval requires consent from Congress, the Pentagon, and intelligence agencies, making it unlikely within Trump’s term.

Analysts also argue that removing the S-400 will not erase U.S. mistrust, as Russian experts were involved in its operation. Israel and Greece have voiced opposition to any F-35 sale to Turkey, warning it could upset the regional military balance.

Iran has carried out large-scale destructive drone attacks on two US military bases in Kuwait, according to a statement from the Iranian army. The announcement, broadcast on state-run IRIB, said that Iranian drones struck an ammunition depot at Camp Al Adiri and targeted Patriot and air defense radar systems at Ali Al Salem Air Base.

Major General Ali Abdollahi, commander of Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, warned that any act of aggression or brutality would be met with a decisive and destructive response. The statement framed the attacks as retaliation against what Iran described as US aggression.

The report, citing Al Jazeera as its source, did not provide details on casualties, damage assessments, or any official response from the United States or Kuwaiti authorities.

Israel’s security forces have enlisted prominent Jewish rabbis to help counter Iranian espionage and recruitment efforts inside the country. The initiative follows reports that Iranian agents are using the internet and social media to lure Israelis into photographing sensitive sites, hiding weapons, or carrying out attacks. Rabbi Igal Cohen, a member of Israel’s Chief Rabbinical Council, released a video warning followers not to fall into such traps, calling the acts both criminal and religiously forbidden. The campaign also involves other influential figures from the ultra-Orthodox community, including Israel Cohen, who helped connect rabbis with security officials.

Authorities have opened more than 60 espionage-related cases in recent months involving soldiers, civilians, and members of various communities. Investigations reveal that Iranian operatives often use Telegram and fake SMS messages to target individuals, offering money for seemingly harmless photos before demanding sensitive military or infrastructure information. Several arrests have been made, including a U.S. student, Israeli soldiers, and civilians accused of leaking data or plotting attacks.

One of the most notable cases involves two brothers accused of using ChatGPT to forge intelligence documents and spread false claims about Iran’s president’s death, allegedly for payment in digital currency. Their court hearing is scheduled for Sunday.

Since the onset of the war between Iran and the United States, the number of American soldiers killed has risen to sixteen. The latest incident occurred on Saturday in Jordan, where an Iranian attack claimed the lives of two US troops. More than 430 soldiers have been injured, and one remains missing.

The first fatalities were reported on March 1, when six US soldiers were killed in a drone strike by Iran at a civilian port in Kuwait. On the same day, another soldier wounded in an Iranian attack on Saudi Arabia’s Prince Sultan Air Base later died. Subsequently, on March 12, six more soldiers were killed when a fuel supply aircraft supporting a US military operation in Iraq crashed.

Additionally, on July 1, a US Navy pilot died when a helicopter went down in the Arabian Sea. The Navy stated there was no indication that the crash resulted from enemy action.

International human rights group Fortify Rights has reported that at least 140 people have died in Malaysia’s immigration detention centers since the government began a strict crackdown on undocumented migrants in 2024. The organization based its findings on data released by Malaysia’s Home Ministry in Parliament, noting that between 2021 and 2025, a total of 465 detainees died, including 393 men, 60 women, and 12 minors. Fortify Rights called for an independent investigation into the deaths, citing overcrowding, medical neglect, and inhumane conditions as major causes.

According to the group, the intensified operations against undocumented migrants and refugees have led to a surge in arrests, with 22,045 people currently held in facilities designed for 21,530. The Home Ministry attributed the deaths to diseases such as sepsis, leptospirosis, and meningitis, but Fortify Rights argued that poor sanitation, contaminated water, and delayed medical care worsened these conditions. Interviews with former detainees revealed allegations of severe neglect, punishment for requesting treatment, and reliance on basic painkillers instead of proper medical care.

Fortify Rights urged Malaysia to comply with international human rights standards, including the UN’s Nelson Mandela Rules, ensuring equal and timely healthcare for all detainees and accountability for preventable deaths.

Iran has warned that it will deliver a devastating response to any act of aggression or brutality by the United States. Major General Ali Abdollahi, commander of the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, issued the warning on July 19, 2026, emphasizing that any U.S. attack would be met with a decisive and destructive reply.

Abdollahi pledged to strengthen unity among Iran’s armed forces, citizens, and officials, asserting that the country would make the United States pay a heavier price than in past conflicts. In a statement, he accused Iran’s enemies of attempting to sow division and discord between the Iranian people and their leaders following a series of military setbacks.

The remarks, reported by Middle East Eye, reflect Tehran’s continued stance of resistance amid tensions with Washington, underscoring its readiness to respond forcefully to perceived threats.

Human rights organizations have warned that anti-Muslim violence in the United Kingdom has reached an emergency level, calling for urgent government intervention. The Muslim Council of Britain documented 18 incidents of violence against Muslims across the country in June alone, including stabbings, mosque arson, vehicle fires, hate graffiti, and harassment of worshippers. Amnesty International described the rising trend of hate crimes as having reached a critical stage.

The British Muslim Trust had earlier warned of a worrying increase in anti-Muslim attacks, reporting 27 assaults on mosques between July and October of the previous year. Rights groups have criticized the government for failing to take sufficient measures to address the escalating situation. Amnesty International urged the government to publish a comprehensive national strategy to combat Islamophobia and to take immediate action against far-right networks inciting violence both online and offline.

Critics have questioned why the government has not yet convened an emergency “Cobra” meeting, despite some of the attacks being investigated as acts of terrorism.

The US Department of Justice has announced a major international crackdown called 'Operation Hard Ball', aimed at dismantling Indian-run criminal networks operating across North America, Europe, and Asia. Conducted jointly by law enforcement agencies from the US, Canada, and Europe, the operation led to charges against 37 suspects and the arrest of 24 individuals from several countries. Authorities seized about one thousand kilograms of cocaine and methamphetamine, along with heroin, weapons, and large sums of cash. The investigation identified three major syndicates based in India, including one allegedly controlled by jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi.

The operation has reignited attention on the 2023 killing of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada, which had earlier triggered a diplomatic rift between India and Canada. A US federal indictment now accuses Bishnoi and his associate Goldy Brar of orchestrating the murder, indirectly implicating Indian networks but not the government itself. India has consistently denied involvement, calling such claims baseless.

The case has intensified scrutiny of alleged state-backed transnational repression, with Western governments expressing concern over cross-border targeting of dissidents. The outcome of ongoing legal proceedings may influence India’s global image and its relations with democratic allies.

At least 50 people have been killed and more than 500 injured in new US airstrikes across Iran since June 27, according to the Iranian Ministry of Health. The ministry’s public relations chief, Hossein Kermanpour, stated on social media that the victims include five women and two minors under 18. Among the injured are 32 women and 18 children or adolescents.

The attacks come amid escalating hostilities between the United States and Iran, with both sides carrying out strikes targeting each other’s interests across the Middle East. Despite a memorandum of understanding signed in June under Pakistan’s mediation aimed at ending the conflict and achieving a lasting peace agreement, military confrontations have continued.

In response to the US strikes, Iran’s military has launched missile and drone attacks on US allies in Kuwait, Jordan, Bahrain, and Oman for seven consecutive days, causing significant damage to oil and gas facilities in those countries.

Major General Ali Abdollahi, commander of Iran’s Khatam al-Anbia Central Headquarters, issued a stern warning to the United States, saying any act of aggression or brutality would be met with a decisive and destructive response. In a statement published by Iranian state media, he described the United States as the 'Great Satan' and an 'enemy that is criminal, treacherous, and deceitful.'

Abdollahi emphasized strengthening unity among Iran’s armed forces, citizens, and government officials. He pledged that the United States would be forced to pay a higher price than in past conflicts. According to him, after repeated failures in military confrontations, the enemy is now attempting to create division and discord between the Iranian people and their leadership.

He further stated that Iran’s defense capabilities form the solid foundation of peace and security for the nation’s courageous people across all regions, from south to north and east to west.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei warned that the United States would face an “unforgettable lesson” from Tehran and its regional allies. His statement, broadcast on state television and reported by Al Jazeera on Saturday, accused Washington of violating last month’s memorandum of understanding, calling President Donald Trump’s signature “worthless and ineffective.” Khamenei said repeated breaches by the “Great Satan” proved that pressure and dominance were inherent to American policy.

The warning came as US forces intensified attacks on Iranian civilian infrastructure, including bridges, railways, and water treatment plants, despite the Islamabad agreement. Since February 28, US strikes have reportedly targeted a school in Minab, killing over a hundred children, and also hit Iran’s nuclear facilities. In retaliation, Tehran launched successful strikes on Kuwaiti infrastructure, prompting Kuwait to urge residents to conserve electricity.

The US Central Command confirmed on social media that its operations in Iran had continued for seven consecutive nights under President Trump’s orders, now entering the eighth day. Iranian officials have demanded an immediate halt to air raids, warning that continued attacks could trigger a full-scale war across the Gulf region.