Saudi Arabia and Qatar have reportedly purchased advanced military equipment from Israel, including air defense systems and computerized battle helmets for F-15 fighter jets, according to Israeli media outlet Haaretz. The report states that Qatar’s royal fleet includes three aircraft equipped with Elbit Systems’ C-MUSIC air defense system, installed between 2020 and 2022 during maintenance in Basel, Switzerland. The system uses radar and laser technology to detect and neutralize incoming shoulder-fired missiles.

Haaretz further reported that when Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani visited Tehran, his aircraft was equipped with the Israeli-made C-MUSIC system. The report also cited U.S. defense documents showing that Israeli companies won subcontracts worth $150–250 million to supply advanced components for Qatar’s F-15QA Ababil jets, including 160 JHMCS helmets and night-vision goggles. Similarly, Saudi Arabia received 462 JHMCS helmets and matching night-vision goggles as part of its F-15SA deal.

Neither Saudi Arabia nor Qatar maintains formal diplomatic or defense relations with Israel, though reports before October 2023 suggested Riyadh was considering normalization.

The United States and Iran have agreed to stop attacks and resume discussions on the Hormuz Strait, according to a Reuters report citing a U.S. official. The two countries plan to meet in Doha, Qatar, on Tuesday to address the ongoing dispute over the strategic waterway. The agreement follows several days of retaliatory strikes and raises hopes for maintaining an interim peace deal.

The U.S. official said that technical discussions on all aspects of a memorandum of understanding signed on June 17 will continue. Both sides will observe a ceasefire, allowing ships to move freely through the strait. The memorandum includes 14 points aimed at reopening the waterway for navigation. Media outlet Axios reported that technical-level talks will proceed while both sides refrain from further attacks.

The report also noted that early Sunday, Iran launched missile and drone strikes on U.S. military bases in Kuwait and Bahrain. Shortly before that, U.S. President Donald Trump warned that Iran’s existence could be at risk if it violated the ceasefire agreement.

Rescue workers in Venezuela are continuing efforts to find survivors following two powerful earthquakes that struck the country last Wednesday, leaving nearly 1,500 people dead. The coastal state of La Guaira, located about 40 kilometers north of Caracas, suffered the most severe damage, with hundreds of buildings reduced to rubble. Interim President Delcy Rodríguez announced a presidential commission to oversee rescue and recovery operations, confirming that schools will remain closed for another week and that 75 percent of electricity in La Guaira has been restored.

According to National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez, 3,150 people have been injured, 12,721 displaced, and 774 buildings collapsed. More than 2,600 foreign rescuers have joined local teams, though many volunteers have complained about limited equipment and restricted access. The U.S. Geological Survey estimated that the quakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude, could ultimately claim over 10,000 lives, potentially making them among Latin America’s deadliest in a century.

Foreign rescue teams from the United States, Colombia, and Mexico have saved several children from the debris, while aftershocks continue to hamper operations and heighten fear among residents.

Lebanon’s armed group Hezbollah has accused Israeli forces of violating a ceasefire agreement and declared its right to defend the country. The group stated that Israeli military aircraft carried out multiple attacks across southern Lebanon on Sunday, targeting residential buildings in Nabatieh and nearby Mayfadoun, as well as open areas in Faroun and the town of Bint Jbeil. Drone strikes and explosions were also reported in the Taybeh and Hadatha areas.

In a statement, Hezbollah said it was closely monitoring what it described as repeated breaches of the ceasefire and reaffirmed its right to protect Lebanon and its people. The group’s claims come amid ongoing tensions despite a memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran that was intended to end hostilities across all fronts, including Lebanon.

According to the report, Israel has continued intense and sustained attacks in Lebanon since early March, raising concerns about renewed escalation in the region.

Pakistan’s security forces carried out ground and air operations along the Afghan border, killing 29 people, officials confirmed. Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said the strikes targeted militant hideouts in response to a series of armed attacks across Pakistan. He stated that precision strikes destroyed targets in Paktia, Paktika, and Kunar provinces of eastern Afghanistan. Afghan authorities have not yet issued any response.

The operation followed an assault on the paramilitary Rangers’ regional headquarters in Karachi, which left three soldiers dead. The Pakistani Taliban faction Jamaat-ul-Ahrar claimed responsibility for that attack. Authorities said the latest cross-border strikes targeted Pakistani Taliban bases and safe havens. Although the Pakistani and Afghan Taliban are separate groups, they maintain close ties.

The renewed offensive has heightened tensions between Islamabad and Kabul, coming less than three weeks after earlier air raids in Afghanistan. Despite international mediation efforts, including a China-led meeting in April, ceasefire talks have failed. Pakistan accuses the Afghan Taliban government of sheltering militants behind attacks in Pakistan, a charge Kabul denies.

A senior U.S. official has confirmed that the United States and Iran have agreed to stop attacks against each other, according to a report by Axios. The report states that representatives from both countries are scheduled to meet next Tuesday in Doha, the capital of Qatar, to resolve disputes over the strategically important Strait of Hormuz, a key route for Middle Eastern oil transport.

Another U.S. official told Al Arabiya that technical-level discussions between the two nations are proceeding as planned and have not been canceled, with meetings expected to take place within the next few days. However, Mehdi Fazayeli, a member of the office responsible for preservation and publication of the works of Iran’s Supreme Leader, said on state television that Iran did not participate in the scheduled technical talks on Sunday due to recent attacks and the United States’ failure to meet conditions outlined in a memorandum of understanding.

Fazayeli explained that one of the conditions was ensuring Iran’s access to its blocked funds, and without such access, the condition could not be considered fulfilled.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has claimed responsibility for destroying eight United States military installations located in Kuwait and Bahrain. According to Iran’s state broadcaster IRIB, the attacks were carried out using ballistic missiles and drones. The IRGC stated that the strikes were launched in retaliation for recent US attacks on Iranian facilities in Sirik and Qeshm.

The report also noted that Iran did not participate in a scheduled technical meeting with the United States on Sunday. Iranian officials cited recent US attacks and Washington’s alleged failure to fulfill commitments under a memorandum of understanding as reasons for Tehran’s withdrawal from the talks. Mehdi Fazayeli, a member of the office responsible for preserving and publishing the works of Iran’s Supreme Leader, confirmed this position in remarks to state television.

The developments mark a further escalation in tensions between Tehran and Washington, with both sides trading accusations and military actions in the region.

Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman and French President Emmanuel Macron held a phone conversation on Sunday to discuss a range of regional and international issues. According to the Saudi Press Agency, the discussion focused on the latest developments surrounding the memorandum of understanding signed between the United States and Iran, as well as ongoing diplomatic efforts to ensure security and stability in the Middle East.

Both leaders emphasized the importance of safeguarding freedom of navigation and agreed on supporting diplomatic initiatives aimed at reducing regional tensions. The conversation also covered bilateral cooperation between Saudi Arabia and France and other matters of mutual interest related to regional and international affairs.

The call reflects continuing high-level engagement between Riyadh and Paris on Middle Eastern security and diplomatic coordination, particularly in light of evolving US-Iran relations.

At least 11 people were killed when a civilian aircraft crashed in the eastern French city of Tomblaine. Local authorities confirmed the incident on Sunday, stating that the victims included the pilot and ten passengers. Emergency service teams carried out rescue operations at the crash site following the accident.

According to Yves Séguin, the prefect of the Meurthe-et-Moselle department, all 11 people on board died in the crash. Officials have not yet provided an official explanation for the cause of the accident. The authorities have launched an investigation to determine what led to the crash.

Investigators will examine whether mechanical failure, human error, or other factors were responsible for the incident, as part of the ongoing inquiry.

A helicopter belonging to Saudi Aramco, the state-owned oil company of Saudi Arabia, crashed in the eastern Ras Tanura region on Sunday, killing all 14 people on board. The incident was reported by the Saudi Press Agency and Arab News, citing an official from the Ministry of Energy. According to the ministry’s statement, no one aboard the helicopter survived the crash.

Authorities have not yet confirmed the cause of the accident, and an investigation has been launched to determine what led to the crash. The Ministry of Energy expressed deep sorrow and extended condolences to the families of the victims. Ras Tanura is home to one of Saudi Aramco’s major oil refineries and export terminals.

Preliminary reports suggest the helicopter was operating as part of duties related to the industrial zone, though further details remain under investigation.

Iraq has launched a major diplomatic initiative aimed at reducing tensions in the Middle East and restoring regional stability. Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein announced that Iraq has proposed to mediate between the eight member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and Iran to resolve existing disagreements. The move follows recent U.S. and Israeli military operations against Iran and the closure of the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, which has severely affected Iraq’s economy.

According to reports, Hussein discussed the mediation proposal in detail with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has caused a sharp economic crisis in Iraq, as nearly 95 percent of its national revenue depends on oil exports transported through the waterway. Araghchi’s visit to Iraq also includes coordination for the funeral of Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, to be held in the holy cities of Najaf and Karbala.

The visit comes at a time when the U.S.–Iran memorandum of understanding remains fragile. Tehran reiterated its demand that Washington fully comply with the agreement, particularly the clause calling for ceasefires and an end to hostilities across all fronts, while condemning repeated U.S. attacks on southern Iranian military bases and ports.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announced that the Strait of Hormuz will remain under Iran’s exclusive control for the next 30 days. Speaking at a press conference in Baghdad, he said the waterway is currently under Iran’s full supervision and management, and its full use will begin once all obstacles are removed.

Araghchi stated that he had informed Iraq’s foreign minister about the outcomes of the war imposed on Iran and the progress of the memorandum of understanding signed between Iran and the United States. He emphasized that the responsibility for the strait lies solely with the Islamic Republic of Iran, with no role for any other state or party.

He warned that any interference or unilateral action would worsen the situation and delay the reopening process of the strait. The statement was reported by Al Jazeera, highlighting Iran’s assertion of authority over a key maritime route.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has called on the United States to ensure full compliance with the memorandum of understanding signed between the two countries, including clauses related to Lebanon. Speaking on June 28, 2026, Araghchi urged Washington to compel Israel to stop its ongoing airstrikes in Lebanon, describing the attacks as continuing despite the agreement.

He stated that Israel had also accepted the memorandum and emphasized that the United States should fulfill its responsibilities to end the conflict. Araghchi further urged Washington to pressure Israel to withdraw from occupied areas in Lebanon, noting that this was the first clause of the memorandum.

The remarks, reported by Al Jazeera, reflect Iran’s position that the United States bears responsibility for enforcing the terms of the agreement to restore stability in Lebanon.

India has reopened tourist visa services for Bangladeshi citizens after nearly two years of suspension. The application process began on Sunday, June 28, 2026, at Indian Visa Application Centres (IVAC) in Dhaka, Chattogram, Rajshahi, Sylhet, and Khulna. The visa service had been halted since August 5, 2024, following political changes in Bangladesh and related security concerns.

The announcement was made by India’s new High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Dinesh Trivedi, who stated that medical visas would also be processed quickly on humanitarian grounds. He added that the service would gradually expand to other IVAC centers to fully normalize visa operations.

Applicants must apply through India’s online visa portal by selecting “Regular Visa Application,” choosing Bangladesh as the country, and selecting the tourist visa category. A valid passport with at least six months’ validity and two blank pages is required, along with a digital photo and printed, signed application form.

Bahrain has reported that a residential building in Muharraq Governorate was damaged following an Iranian attack. The country’s Interior Ministry confirmed the incident, noting that no casualties were reported. In a post on social media platform X, Bahrain blamed Iranian aggression for the damage.

Earlier, Bahrain had called on the United Nations Security Council to convene an emergency session to end what it described as ongoing aggression and to hold those responsible accountable. The government strongly condemned Iran’s missile and drone attacks, calling them a violation of Bahrain’s sovereignty and a threat to regional stability.

Bahrain reiterated its appeal for international intervention through the UN to stop the attacks and ensure accountability for the perpetrators, emphasizing the need to restore calm and stability in the Gulf region.