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Erdogan’s wife urges Melania Trump to speak up for Gaza’s children

By
IFP Media Wire
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Gaza War

Emine Erdogan asked Donald Trump’s spouse to write to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to show mercy to Gaza’s children.

In a letter presented to Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Alaska Summit earlier this month, she appealed to him to make peace in Ukraine for the sake of the children.

Turkey’s First Lady wrote: “I have faith that the important sensitivity you have shown for the 648 Ukrainian children who have lost their lives in the war will be extended to Gaza as well, where, in the span of two years, 62,000 innocent civilians, including 18,000 children, have been brutally killed.”

“As a mother, as a woman, and as a human being, I deeply share the sentiments expressed in your letter, and I hope that you will give the same hope to the children of Gaza, who also yearn for peace and tranquillity,” Emine wrote to Melania.

Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has tried to act as a mediator between Russia and Ukraine during the war, which is in its fourth year.

On Tuesday, he accused Israel of using hunger as a weapon in Gaza, stating the images coming from the Palestinian enclave were worse than “Nazi camps”.

The United Nations on Friday officially declared a famine in Gaza, which Netanyahu dismissed as a “blatant lie”.

Iran observes martyrdom anniversary of Imam Reza with massive pilgrimage

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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The northeastern city of Mashhad, home to the revered Imam’s shrine, has become the focal point of mourning and devotion.

According to official reports, millions of pilgrims, including visitors from abroad, arrived in Mashhad by the eve of the martyrdom anniversary, on Saturday evening.

Among them, thousands made the journey on foot, a powerful gesture of reverence and spiritual commitment, as confirmed by the governor of Khorasan Razavi province.

Similar mourning rituals and gatherings are taking place in cities across the country, including Qom, where Imam Reza’s sister, Hazrat Masoumeh, is buried.

The nationwide observance reflects the deep emotional and religious significance of the occasion.

Imam Reza was martyred in 818 AD, poisoned by the Abbasid ruler Caliph Ma’mun. His martyrdom anniversary, which falls on August 24 this year, is recognized as a national holiday in Iran, drawing millions into collective remembrance.

China ready to dispatch peacekeeping troops to Ukraine: Welt

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IFP Media Wire
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China Army

However, China is prepared to do so only “if the peacekeeping forces were deployed on the basis of a mandate from the United Nations (UN),” the sources told Welt.

China is the latest country to wade into the discussion of what peacekeeping forces could be deployed to Ukraine in the future, and under what conditions, as U.S.-mediated peace talks between Russia and Ukraine stumble.

In the past week, the discussions have heavily focused on what security guarantees could be offered to Ukraine.

Ukraine has stressed the need for robust security guarantees backed by international support as part of any peace negotiations, noting that Russia has repeatedly violated its international agreements, including prior agreements to respect Ukraine’s sovereignty.

According to Welt, reactions to China’s announcement were mixed, with some believing that a coalition of countries beyond Ukraine’s traditional Western allies would make the prospect of peacekeeping forces more acceptable to Russia.

On the other hand, “there is also a danger that China primarily wants to spy on Ukraine and, in the event of a conflict, will take a clearly pro-Russian position instead of a neutral position,” a senior EU diplomat familiar with the ongoing discussions told Welt.

Sending foreign troops to Ukraine as part of support offered by a group of allies known as the “Coalition of the Willing” is one of several proposals that have been put forth to ensure that a ceasefire is respected in the event of a deal with Russia.

Around ten European allies are willing to send troops to Ukraine, Bloomberg has recently reported. The U.K., France, Lithuania, and Estonia have publicly declared their readiness to provide troops on the ground.

The United States has ruled out sending its own troops to Ukraine though has said it is open to offering other security guarantees.

Russia, however, has rejected the idea of stationing European troops in Ukraine. Doing so would amount to “foreign military intervention,” which Moscow won’t support, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has stated.

Pentagon barred Ukrainian long-range attacks in Russia with US missiles: WSJ

By
IFP Media Wire
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Russia Ukraine War

The unannounced high-level Defense Department approval process has prevented the use of Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) against targets inside Russia since the late spring, an unnamed official said.

U.S. President Donald Trump has said that Ukraine had “no chance of winning” if not permitted to attack Russia and criticized former U.S. President Joe Biden for not letting Kyiv “fight back, only defend.”

Despite this, Trump has previously stated he disagreed “very vehemently” with the previous White House administration’s decision to permit Ukrainian long-range strikes against Russia with U.S. weapons.

The review mechanism was developed by the Pentagon’s policy undersecretary, Elbridge Colby, and oversees Ukraine’s use of American-made weapons and European weapons, which rely on U.S. intelligence and components, WSJ reported.

In addition to the review process for missile strikes, a rating system has been reportedly implemented to assess whether the U.S. has enough stock of a particular weapon. Red, yellow, and green categories were introduced by Colby to help decide what weapons may be supplied to Ukraine.

The new review process applies to the British long-range Storm Shadow missiles due to its reliance on U.S. targetting data, a British offical and two U.S. officials said.

On at least one occasion, Ukraine has planned to use ATACMS against a target within Russian territory but was denied approval, two U.S. officials noted.

Ukraine last received a shipment of ATACMS authorized by the former White House administration in the spring, unnamed U.S. officials told WSJ.

Despite Trump’s recent remarks that Ukraine can not win the war against Russia without fighting back, U.S. officials have stated Trump’s statement does not signal a policy change. Trump may change his mind and permit expanded offensive operations against Russia, one senior White House official told WSJ.

Kyiv has proposed buying U.S. weapons worth $90 billion as part of security guarantees, as Ukraine and its allies aim to maintain interest from the White House.

The proposal aims to secure U.S. security guarantees and cement Washington’s long-term commitment to Ukraine by tying Kyiv’s defense needs to a boost for American industry.

The plan would reportedly be financed by Ukraine’s European allies, which would fund the purchase of U.S. weapons.

Ukraine first received shorter-range versions of ATACMS in the fall of 2023. In the spring of 2024, the U.S. began supplying upgraded models with a range of up to 300 kilometers. At the time, Kyiv was only permitted to deploy these missiles against targets in occupied Ukrainian territory.

US warns of Daesh, al-Qaeda expansion, commends partners in Iraq, Syria, Somalia

By
IFP Media Wire
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Daesh

The embassy, citing remarks shared by the State Department’s Bureau of International Organization Affairs on US social media company X, commended UN member states that have sustained counter-terrorism pressure in Iraq, Syria and Somalia, saying these efforts have constrained Daesh operations.

Responding to the US concerns, Iraqi military spokesman Sabah al-Numan told the state news agency INA that Daesh no longer poses a threat inside Iraq, describing the terrorist group as “paralyzed” thanks to the vigilance and daily operations of security forces.

He stressed that Iraq’s borders are fully secured and that regional tensions will not directly impact the country’s stability.

Dorothy Shea, the US Ambassador to the UN, told the Security Council this week that Washington has intensified its counterterrorism campaign globally, targeting Daesh and al-Qaeda leadership, infrastructure and financial networks.

“Notable successes have included the elimination of high-ranking Daesh attack planners in Somalia, Iraq and Syria, and the transfer into US custody of the man allegedly responsible for the Abbey Gate terrorist bombing in Afghanistan,” she stated, adding, “These actions demonstrate our unwavering commitment to dismantling terrorist organizations and protecting international security.”

At least 13 US soldiers were killed in a suicide bombing at Kabul airport in Afghanistan in August 2021. The attack was claimed by Daesh.

Shea added that the US continues to work with allies through intelligence sharing and joint operations in order to strengthen global security and prevent the spread of extremist ideologies.

EU says Putin ‘laughing’ at Trump’s Russia-Ukraine peace attempts

By
IFP Media Wire
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Vladimir Putin

Kallas, the EU’s foreign policy chief, said the president’s push to end the conflict in Eastern Europe is “welcome,” but that the Russian leader is less likely to come to the negotiating table since he “has achieved what he wanted” during last week’s summit in Alaska with U.S. officials.

“Putin is just laughing, not stopping the killing but increasing the killing,” Kallas stated during her interview on BBC Radio 4.

Kallas noted it is “clear” the Kremlin does not want to get to a peace deal, and added that “any promises that Putin has given so far, he hasn’t kept.”

Trump met with Putin last week in Anchorage, Alaska, where the two delegations discussed a potential peace agreement to end the Russia-Ukraine war that has been raging since February 2022.

Earlier this week, Trump met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and seven European leaders at the White House. Trump also called Putin on the phone Monday, trying to advance the peace talks and push for a bilateral meeting between the Russian leader and Ukraine’s president.

Moscow is not prepared to agree to a huddle between Putin and Zelensky, according to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

“Putin is ready to meet with Zelensky when the agenda is ready for a summit, and this agenda is not ready at all,” the Russian top diplomat told NBC News.

Russia has demanded Ukraine not be allowed to join NATO and that Kyiv cede some territory the Kremlin’s military has conquered as part of any peace agreement. Ukraine has rejected both demands, with Zelensky insisting Kyiv needs security guarantees that would prevent another incursion by Moscow.

Lavrov previously questioned Zelensky’s legitimacy and called the security guarantees’ inclusion as part of a potential peace agreement “hopeless.”

Zelensky met with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte on Friday. They discussed “what next joint steps of ours can provide Ukraine and all of Europe with greater security and bring the real end of the war closer.”

Kallas contended Friday that it was “clear before the meeting that he [Putin] wants the picture, but he got so much more. He got such a welcoming in America.”

Iranian envoy urges UN chief, UNSC to condemn terror attack on police

By
IFP Media Wire
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Amir Saeed Iravani

Iravani made the appeal on Friday in identical letters addressed to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and rotating UN Security Council President Eloy Alfaro de Alba, while emphasizing that any double standards or selective approach in condemning terrorism is unacceptable and only undermines the credibility of the Security Council.

Earlier in the day, five members of the Iranian law enforcement forces were killed in a terror attack. The terrorists targeted two police patrol units in the Daman District of Iranshahr County as the security forces were on duty.

A manhunt has been launched to arrest the assailants, who escaped the scene after the shooting attack.

Iravani pointed out that the so-called Jaish al-Adl terrorist group has openly and unequivocally claimed responsibility for the deadly assault.

This crime follows another vicious terrorist attack on July 26, when three armed assailants from the Jaish al-Adl militant outfit attacked the Sistan and Balouchestan provincial courthouse in Zahedan, Iran’s permanent representative to the United Nations said.

In that deliberate attack against civilians, six innocent individuals, including a mother and her six-month-old baby, tragically lost their lives and 24 others sustained injuries, he continued.

“These appalling crimes, which have deliberately targeted law enforcement officers, civilians, and even children, are a flagrant violation of international law, including international humanitarian law. They expose once again the inhumane, terrorist, and extremist nature of the Jaish al-Adl and the serious threat it poses to peace and security in the region,” Iravani stressed.

The senior Iranian diplomat further noted that the terrorist group continues to operate with links to and support from Daesh-Khorasan (Daseh-K) Takfiri terror outfit as well as foreign sponsors in blatant impunity.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran calls on the Security Council and the UN secretary-general to condemn this heinous terrorist act in the strongest possible terms and without any ambiguity,” Iravani stated.

“Any double standards or selective approach in condemning terrorism is unacceptable and only undermines the credibility of the Security Council,” he said, adding, “Furthermore, those who provide support, shelter, or any facilitation to such terrorist groups bear full responsibility for their crimes and must be held fully accountable.”

US general whose report on Iran nuclear facilities angered White House fired

By
IFP Media Wire
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Pentagon

The Pentagon firings on Friday, which, according to US officials who spoke to the Reuters and Associated Press (AP) news agencies, also include two other senior military commanders, are the latest moves by the Trump administration to purge officials at the Department of Defense .

It was not immediately known on what grounds Lieutenant General Jeffrey Kruse, who led the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) since early 2024, was fired.

But President Trump had previously decried the agency’s initial findings on US strikes against Iran.

The initial DIA assessment – which was widely reported on by US media – contradicted claims by Trump that the strikes totally destroyed the nuclear sites, drawing the ire of both the president and officials within his administration.

Kruse “will no longer serve as DIA director”, a senior defence official said on condition of anonymity on Friday, without providing an explanation for the general’s departure.

Prior to becoming director of the DIA, Kruse served as the adviser for military affairs for the director of national intelligence, and also held positions including director of intelligence for the coalition against the ISIL (ISIS) group.

Hegseth also fired Vice Admiral Nancy Lacore, who is chief of the Navy Reserve, as well as Rear Admiral Milton Sands, a Navy SEAL officer who oversees Naval Special Warfare Command, according to officials who spoke to both AP and Reuters.

All three military officials said they did not know why they were fired by the Trump administration, which has demanded loyalty across the government.

“The firing of yet another senior national security official underscores the Trump administration’s dangerous habit of treating intelligence as a loyalty test rather than a safeguard for our country,” stated US Senator Mark Warner, who is the vice chair of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence.

Since beginning his second term in January, Trump has overseen a purge of top military officers, including the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Charles “CQ” Brown, whom he fired without explanation in February.

Other senior officers dismissed this year include the heads of the US Navy and Coast Guard, the general who headed the National Security Agency, the vice chief of staff of the US Air Force, a Navy admiral assigned to NATO, and three top military lawyers.

The chief of the US Air Force also made a surprise announcement on Monday that he planned to retire only halfway through his tenure.

Hegseth has insisted the president is simply choosing the leaders he wants in top positions, but Democratic lawmakers have raised concerns about the potential politicisation of the traditionally neutral US military.

Earlier this year, Hegseth additionally ordered at least a 20 percent reduction in the number of active-duty four-star generals and admirals in the US military, as well as a 10 percent cut in the overall number of general and flag officers.

News of Kruse’s firing came two days after Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard announced that she was revoking – on Trump’s orders – the security clearances of 37 current and former US intelligence professionals.

Gabbard has also announced the first major overhaul of her office since its creation, slashing personnel by more than 40 percent by October 1 and saving more than $700m per year.

Trump again threatens Russian sanctions if Ukraine war doesn’t end

By
IFP Media Wire
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Trump

“I’m not happy about anything about that war — nothing, not happy at all,” Trump said Friday, adding, “I think over the next two weeks, we’re going to find out which way it’s going to go. And I better be very happy”.

He said he would then make a decision “whether or not it’s massive sanctions or massive tariffs or both — or do we do nothing and say, ‘it’s your fight’”.

The threat, which came in response to questions from reporters in the Oval Office, is the latest case of Trump’s whipsawing stance toward Russia and Putin. Trump had demanded a ceasefire before he met with Putin in Alaska a week ago, but said after the meeting he was hopeful about the prospects for a deal.

But the likelihood of a truce dimmed again in the days since the summit, with Russian officials noncommittal about a possible meeting between Putin and Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky.

Officials have also said Russia should have a say in security arrangements for Ukraine.

Speaking at a news conference with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in Kiev on Friday, Zelensky reiterated his readiness for both a bilateral leaders’ meeting with Putin as well as a trilateral format including Trump.

“He is currently the only person who can stop Putin,” Zelensky said in Kiev.

It wasn’t immediately clear how seriously to take the latest threat.Trump often suggests that something will happen in “two weeks” when he’s looking to buy time. Last month, Trump threatened 100% tariffs on Russia if it did not comply with his calls for a truce, and on July 28, he gave Russia 10 days to reach a ceasefire with Ukraine.

That deadline came and went without action. And Trump’s own team has offered contradictory views about possible sanctions.

In an interview with NBC News last Sunday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated he didn’t think “new sanctions on Russia are going to force him to accept the ceasefire”.

Even as Trump threatened Russia anew on Friday, he held up a photo of himself and Putin from their Alaska summit and said he would sign it for the Russian leader. Trump also raised the possibility Putin could attend the 2026 World Cup, which is being held in the US, Mexico and Canada.

“He’s been very respectful of me and of our country, but not so respectful of others,” Trump said, adding, “That’s a man named Vladimir Putin, who I believe will be coming, depending on what happens.”

The Russian leader on Friday also offered praise for his US counterpart, calling the Alaska summit “just the start of a full recovery of our relations”, with the US. However, the outcome depends on numerous Western nations and the US is “bound by its obligations” to its partners, including NATO, he noted.

“But I am sure that leadership qualities of the current president, President Trump, are a good guarantee that the relationships will be restored,” Putin stressed at a meeting with nuclear scientists in the city of Sarov, where the first Soviet nuclear bomb was made.

Ukraine official says Zelensky ready to discuss territory with Putin

By
IFP Media Wire
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Zelensky

In an interview with NBC News, Ukraine’s First Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Kislitsa reiterated that the country’s population “is categorically against trading our land for peace.”

“I think President Zelensky made it very clear he’s ready to sit down with President Putin and discuss it, and the beginning of the conversations on the territorial issue is the contact line that is currently there,” he said.

While publicly the Ukrainian leader has rejected the idea of any territorial concessions to Russia, several media reports claimed that he could agree to freeze the current front lines as part of a possible settlement.

Kislitsa also weighed in on the issue of Western security guarantees to Ukraine, noting that US officials are “working very hard” to draft an agreement.

“Ideally, we may have the first draft sometime early next week, and then… the political leadership has to decide how we do work with these drafts,” he added.

His comments followed reports that European nations are likely to provide “the lion’s share” of any forces involved in security guarantees, while the US could potentially take over the overall command.

Moscow has not ruled out security guarantees for Kiev but also maintains that any deployment of Western troops to Ukraine is out of the question.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said that Moscow could agree to direct talks with Zelensky, but before any meeting could take place, “all issues that require top-level deliberations should be worked through.”

Russia has also voiced concern about Zelensky’s authority to sign any binding agreements, given that his presidential term expired more than a year ago.

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