The United States is reducing its military presence in Saudi Arabia as tensions between Washington and Riyadh escalate over the ongoing war with Iran. Reports from multiple media outlets, including The Wall Street Journal and The Times of Israel, indicate that Saudi Arabia’s refusal to allow the use of its bases and airspace for a planned US operation, codenamed 'Project Freedom', has strained bilateral relations. The operation aimed to weaken Iran’s control over the Strait of Hormuz, but was canceled after Saudi denial.

The Wall Street Journal reported that the White House reacted angrily to Riyadh’s stance, threatening to suspend the supply of missile interceptors that Saudi forces use against Iranian drones and missiles. US officials confirmed that Washington is now considering scaling back its military footprint in the kingdom. The diplomatic chill was further underscored when US Secretary of State Marco Rubio skipped Saudi Arabia during a Gulf tour, and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman declined to attend the G7 summit in France.

The reports suggest that Saudi Arabia’s frustration stems from its limited influence over US policy despite close ties, and from fears that prolonged conflict with Iran could destabilize the region and global energy markets.

At least eight Buddhist monks were killed and 14 others injured when a pickup truck struck a group of pilgrims in northeastern Thailand on Thursday. The accident occurred in Mukdahan province, about 600 kilometers northeast of Bangkok, as 35 monks were walking toward Ubon Ratchathani province on a 260-kilometer pilgrimage. Five monks died at the scene, and three more succumbed to injuries in hospital, according to Mukdahan governor Warayan Bunnarath.

Security footage released by the Ruam Jai Mukdahan Rescue Association showed the monks walking in a line along the roadside when the pickup lost control and veered into them. Police said the vehicle was being driven by an 11-year-old boy, who has been taken into custody. Child protection officials are expected to question him once they arrive.

Authorities said the cause of the crash remains under investigation. Some monks reported seeing the truck swerving before it left the road and hit them.

A group of Israeli settlers forcibly entered the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in East Jerusalem’s Old City under heavy police protection, according to a report published on July 2, 2026. The Palestinian state news agency Wafa said the settlers performed Talmudic religious rituals inside the mosque compound during the incursion.

The Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, located on a hilltop in East Jerusalem, was captured by Israel during the 1967 Six-Day War and later annexed, a move not recognized by most of the international community. The site holds deep religious significance for Muslims worldwide as Islam’s third holiest site, encompassing both the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the seventh-century Dome of the Rock, from where Muslims believe the Prophet Muhammad ascended to heaven.

The report cited Al Jazeera as its source but did not provide details about any immediate response or consequences following the settlers’ entry.

India will send a high-level delegation to attend the funeral of Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, according to Al Jazeera. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs announced that Minister of State for External Affairs Shri Pavitra Margerita and Bihar Governor Syed Ata Hasnain will travel to Iran on Friday to represent India at the ceremony.

A statement from the ministry said the high-level representation underscores the long-standing civilizational ties and people-to-people connections between India and Iran. It also reflects the strong foundation of political and economic relations between the two countries.

Khamenei’s funeral and mourning ceremonies will begin on Saturday in Tehran and conclude on July 9 in Mashhad, his hometown, where he will be buried.

Gaza has reached 1,000 days since the start of the war, with violence continuing despite a ceasefire that took effect on October 10. According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, at least 1,053 Palestinians have been killed and more than 3,400 injured since the ceasefire began, including over 350 women and children. More than two million Palestinians remain displaced, living amid widespread destruction.

Under the ceasefire, Israeli forces initially controlled over half of Gaza but have since expanded their control, aiming to hold 70 percent of the territory. Movement in and out of Gaza remains severely restricted, and post-war reconstruction and disarmament efforts have stalled. The International Committee of the Red Cross said much more needs to be done to restore even a semblance of normal life.

The United Nations has warned that Israel’s territorial expansion in Gaza is increasing deadly risks for civilians, especially in areas without clear boundaries. Since October 7, 2023, a total of 73,066 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.

Iran has tightened security across the country ahead of the funeral and burial of former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in a joint attack by the United States and Israel. The Iranian military has been placed on high alert to ensure safety during the ceremonies.

Brigadier General Mohammad Akraminia stated that additional forces have been deployed to protect senior officials and religious and political figures arriving from various countries to attend the funeral. He added that Iran’s ground, naval, and air forces have increased their presence along border areas to maintain control over the security situation.

According to Akraminia, Iran’s air defense units are maintaining continuous surveillance over the country’s airspace. Khamenei was killed on February 28 in the joint attack, and Iran is now preparing for his funeral and burial four months after his death.

More than 400 militants were killed in a military operation against armed groups in Burkina Faso, according to an army statement released on June 30. The clashes occurred in the Gayéri area of the Sirba region and in Solhan and Sebba of the Liptako region after coordinated attacks on several military positions last Tuesday. The army said the assaults were repelled with support from the air force.

The statement claimed that the attackers were armed groups supported by France, noting that the government had earlier announced the severance of diplomatic ties with France. During the counteroffensive, the army reported destroying over 250 motorcycles and seizing 353 weapons of various calibers, along with ammunition and communication equipment. Three soldiers were also killed in the operation.

The army added that operations are continuing to locate those who fled and to ensure the safety of civilians in the affected regions.

Police in South Africa have arrested more than 900 people during anti-immigrant protests held across the country. The arrests were confirmed on Wednesday following demonstrations on Tuesday, most of which remained peaceful. However, several areas experienced violence, looting, and gunfire. National Police Commissioner Tebello Mosikili said 120 marches took place nationwide, with police intervening in 12 of them to restore order.

Authorities reported that those detained face charges including illegal residence, incitement of violence, harboring undocumented migrants, and robbery. In Johannesburg’s Alexandra township, one person was killed during looting at small foreign-owned shops known locally as “spaza shops.” Additional police forces were deployed in five of the country’s nine provinces, and soldiers were stationed in Johannesburg’s Hillbrow area, where two people were injured in shootings.

Police also launched an investigation into the death of a foreign national in Durban, who reportedly jumped from a building before the protests began. The demonstrations were organized to mark a deadline set by an anti-immigrant movement demanding that undocumented migrants leave South Africa, amid rising anti-immigrant tensions in recent months.

Since the war between the United States, Israel, and Iran began in late February, the global energy sector has faced severe disruption. Oil prices have fluctuated sharply, and the Strait of Hormuz—through which about one-fifth of global oil and LNG passes—has come under tight Iranian control, forcing suppliers to seek alternative routes. Governments from Tokyo to London have taken emergency measures to shield citizens from rising energy costs. Although peace talks between Washington and Tehran have raised hopes for stability, experts believe the conflict has permanently altered the global energy landscape.

Analysts cited by Al Jazeera note that new pipelines and security systems are being planned, while shipping through the Strait remains risky despite a June memorandum pledging safer passage. Attacks on commercial vessels have deepened fears, reducing traffic and pushing exporters to rely more on land pipelines in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Iraq. The war has also accelerated a global shift toward renewable energy, with countries investing more in wind, solar, and hydro power.

Experts say China, the United States, and Qatar stand to benefit most. China dominates renewable equipment manufacturing, while the US and Qatar are strengthening their positions as reliable LNG suppliers.

A new report by the US-based Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), released on Wednesday, states that combined military casualties from both sides in the Russia-Ukraine war have surpassed two million. According to the study, since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, Russian forces have suffered around 1.4 million total casualties, including between 400,000 and 450,000 soldiers killed. The total figure includes those killed, wounded, and missing.

The report further estimates that Ukrainian military casualties range between 525,000 and 625,000, with 125,000 to 150,000 soldiers killed. CSIS notes that the number of Russian soldiers killed in this conflict is more than four times the total number of US soldiers killed in all wars since World War II.

The study also highlights that during the first half of the current year, the casualty ratio between Russian and Ukrainian forces reached approximately 8 to 1, underscoring the heavy toll of the ongoing conflict.

US Vice President JD Vance stated that the United States will not resume military operations against Iran unless there is a clear objective or necessity. Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Vance emphasized that President Trump would not redeploy American forces to Iran unless absolutely required. He warned that any attempt by Iran to rebuild its nuclear program or target commercial vessels would prompt Washington to reconsider its current strategy.

According to the report, the US administration is focusing on continuing discussions with Iran in good faith. In June, both countries reached a memorandum of understanding aimed at permanently ending the war that began in late February, reopening the Strait of Hormuz, and lifting the US blockade on Iranian ports. Negotiations for a final agreement are still ongoing.

Earlier on Wednesday, President Trump said that Iran’s nuclear disarmament process was “progressing well,” indicating cautious optimism about the diplomatic track between the two nations.

At least eight people were killed and 34 others injured in Russian missile and drone attacks on Kyiv, Ukraine’s capital, according to local authorities. The strikes occurred overnight and early Thursday, hitting more than 30 locations across the city. The attacks came shortly after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned of an impending large-scale assault by Moscow.

Kyiv’s military administration chief, Timur Takachenko, confirmed the casualties, while Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported that several residential buildings were damaged. One nine-story apartment building was heavily hit, trapping residents inside, and part of another multi-story building collapsed due to the explosions. Klitschko said the city was targeted by both ballistic missiles and drones.

The attacks mark another escalation in the ongoing conflict, with widespread damage to civilian infrastructure in Kyiv. Emergency services were deployed to rescue trapped residents and assess the extent of destruction.

Venezuela’s interim president Delcy Rodríguez has declared seven days of national mourning after twin earthquakes killed 2,295 people across the country. The disaster, described as the strongest in a century, struck a week ago, leaving hopes of finding more survivors fading. According to National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez, more than 11,000 people were injured and around 13,000 left homeless. The United Nations estimates that about 50,000 people remain missing.

The northern city of La Guaira, near Caracas, suffered the worst damage, with collapsed buildings marked with a red “D” to indicate no survivors. Despite rescue efforts, the country’s long-standing economic crisis and weakened infrastructure have hampered response operations. Anger has grown among residents over poor state management, while food and water shortages have triggered clashes in shelters and widespread looting. Four police officers were arrested for theft from debris sites.

The International Organization for Migration called the situation “extremely complex.” The World Food Programme appealed for $50 million to feed 500,000 people over three months, and the World Health Organization warned of potential outbreaks of measles and diphtheria due to low vaccination rates.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that the country will deliver an immediate and firm response to any threat. In a post on social media platform X on Wednesday, he emphasized that the terms of the ‘Islamabad Understanding’ memorandum are clear and open to all. Araghchi added that the U.S. president has pledged to keep Tel Aviv under control, warning that if this directive is ignored, Iran will respond appropriately.

The Iranian top diplomat reiterated that any threat against the nation’s people or leadership would be met with swift and strong retaliation. His remarks followed comments by Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz, who had referred to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a statement suggesting his death was inevitable. Araghchi dismissed Katz’s remarks as “ridiculous.”

The exchange underscores heightened rhetoric between Iran and Israel following recent tensions, with both sides signaling readiness to defend their positions.

A US Navy MH-60S Seahawk helicopter made an emergency landing in the Arabian Sea on Wednesday, leaving one service member missing and three others injured. The US military confirmed that the injured personnel are in stable condition and that there are no indications the incident was caused by hostile action.

According to the US Navy’s Fifth Squadron, warships and equipment have been deployed in the area to search for the missing pilot. An investigation has been launched to determine the cause of the accident. The helicopter had been deployed from the aircraft carrier USS George H. W. Bush operating in the region.

Experts noted that performing an emergency landing at sea is highly dangerous even for experienced pilots, as helicopters risk overturning due to their heavy weight upon water impact. The incident occurred amid intermittent clashes in the region despite an ongoing truce between the United States and Iran, keeping US forces on high alert.