United News of Bangladesh

Israel carried out airstrikes early Monday targeting ports and facilities held by Yemen’s Houthi rebels, prompting the group to retaliate with missile fire aimed at Israel, officials said. The escalation follows an attack Sunday on the Liberian-flagged bulk carrier Magic Seas in the Red Sea, which caught fire and took on water, eventually forcing its crew to abandon the vessel. The Magic Seas, owned by Greek interests, was reportedly struck by bomb-laden drone boats after an initial assault involving small arms fire and rocket-propelled grenades. Although Houthi media reported on the incident, the rebels have yet to claim responsibility. Their confirmation of attacks often comes hours or days later. A renewed Houthi campaign against shipping in the Red Sea could draw US and Western forces back into the conflict, especially after President Donald Trump launched a major airstrike campaign against the rebels earlier this year. The attack also comes amid heightened tensions in the Middle East, as negotiations for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war remain uncertain and Iran considers whether to resume nuclear talks following recent American airstrikes on its nuclear sites. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is also traveling to Washington to meet with Trump. Israel strikes Houthi-held ports and seized ship The Israeli military confirmed that it had struck ports under Houthi control, including Hodeida, Ras Isa, Salif, and the Ras Kanatib power plant. “These ports are used by the Houthi terrorist regime to transfer weapons from the Iranian regime, which is employed to carry out terrorist operations against the state of Israel and its allies,” the Israeli military said. Israel also targeted the Galaxy Leader, a vehicle-carrying ship seized by the Houthis in November 2023 at the start of their Red Sea attacks linked to the Israel-Hamas war. “Houthi forces installed a radar system on the ship and have been using it to track vessels in the international maritime arena to facilitate further terrorist activities,” the Israeli military said. The Galaxy Leader, which sails under a Bahamian flag, is linked to an Israeli billionaire. No Israelis were on board at the time of its seizure, and the ship was operated by Japanese firm NYK Line. The Houthis acknowledged Israel's strikes but did not provide details on the damage. Rebel military spokesperson Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree claimed that Houthi air defenses “effectively confronted” the Israeli attacks, though no evidence was provided. Israel has launched multiple strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen, including a naval strike last month. While both Israel and the United States have targeted Houthi-controlled ports in the past — including a US strike in April that killed 74 people — Israel is now operating independently as the rebels continue to target Israel with missiles. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned of more strikes if Houthi attacks continue. “What’s true for Iran is true for Yemen,” Katz said. “Anyone who raises a hand against Israel will have it cut off. The Houthis will continue to pay a heavy price for their actions.” Turkey sends firefighting planes to Syria as raging wildfires devastate border regions Houthis retaliate with missile strike on Israel Following the Israeli strikes, the Houthis fired a missile at Israel. The Israeli military said it attempted to intercept the missile, but it appeared to make impact. No casualties or significant damage were immediately reported. Sirens were activated in the West Bank and along the Dead Sea. Crew abandons stricken vessel after Houthi attack The attack on the Magic Seas, which was en route to Egypt's Suez Canal, occurred about 100 kilometers southwest of Hodeida, a port city under Houthi control. According to the UK’s Maritime Trade Operations center, an armed security team aboard the ship initially repelled gunfire and rocket-propelled grenade attacks. However, the vessel was later hit by additional projectiles. Private maritime security firm Ambrey said eight skiffs attacked the vessel before bomb-laden drone boats struck it. Two drone boats reportedly hit the ship, while armed guards destroyed two others. The Maritime Trade Operations center confirmed that the ship was taking on water and its crew abandoned it. They were rescued by a passing vessel. The U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet referred questions to Central Command, which acknowledged awareness of the incident but provided no further details. Yemen's exiled government blamed the Houthis for the attack. “The attack also proves once again that the Houthis are merely a front for an Iranian scheme using Yemen as a platform to undermine regional and global stability, at a time when Tehran continues to arm the militia and provide it with military technology, including missiles, aircraft, drones, and sea mines,” Yemen’s Information Minister Moammar al-Eryani said on social media platform X. The ship’s owners have not commented on the incident. Houthi campaign linked to Israel-Hamas conflict The Houthis have repeatedly launched missile and drone attacks on commercial and military vessels in the Red Sea in response to Israel’s military operations in Gaza. The group’s al-Masirah satellite channel acknowledged the latest ship attack but provided no further comment. Ambrey noted that the Magic Seas fits the Houthis’ typical target profile but did not elaborate. Between November 2023 and January 2025, the Houthis have attacked over 100 merchant ships using missiles and drones, sinking two vessels and killing four sailors. Their campaign has severely disrupted Red Sea trade, through which $1 trillion in goods normally passes each year. While Red Sea shipping has recently increased, the Houthis had paused maritime attacks until the US launched airstrikes against them in March. That campaign ended weeks later, though the Houthis have continued occasional missile attacks on Israel. On Sunday, the Houthis claimed to have launched another missile toward Israel, which the Israeli military said it successfully intercepted.

Brazil is hosting a two-day summit of the BRICS bloc of developing economies, where topics like Israel’s attack on Iran, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, and U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade tariffs are expected to be addressed cautiously. Analysts say the lack of unity within the expanded BRICS, which doubled its membership last year, could limit its ability to emerge as a powerful alternative in global affairs. They also believe the summit’s moderate agenda reflects an effort to avoid drawing unwanted attention from Trump’s administration. Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has placed issues such as artificial intelligence and climate change at the center of the summit, though several key leaders are absent. In his opening speech on Sunday, Lula warned, “We are witnessing the unparalleled collapse of multilateralism,” adding that the meeting is taking place “in the most adverse global scenario” of all four times Brazil has hosted the summit. He called on BRICS nations to promote peace and mediate conflicts. “If international governance does not reflect the new multipolar reality of the 21st century, it is up to the BRICS to contribute to its renovation,” Lula said. Notably absent from the summit is China’s President Xi Jinping, marking the first BRICS summit he has missed since taking power in 2012. Russian President Vladimir Putin is also absent but will join via videoconference, avoiding travel due to an international arrest warrant related to the invasion of Ukraine. Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian and Egypt’s Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi are also missing from the gathering in Rio de Janeiro. Three joint statements expected This year’s restrained approach marks a sharp contrast with last year’s summit in Kazan, Russia, where the Kremlin pushed to develop alternatives to U.S.-dominated financial systems to bypass Western sanctions following the Ukraine invasion. A source familiar with the summit’s negotiations said some members are pushing for stronger language regarding Gaza and Israel’s attack on Iran. The source requested anonymity as they were not authorized to discuss the talks publicly. “Brazil wants to keep the summit as technical as possible,” said Oliver Stuenkel, a professor at the Getulio Vargas Foundation think tank. Observers now expect only a vague final declaration on Russia’s war in Ukraine and other Middle East conflicts. According to Stuenkel, the absence of Putin and Xi, who have advocated for a stronger anti-Western stance, makes it easier for Brazil and India to steer the summit toward non-alignment. A Brazilian government official told The Associated Press that the summit is expected to produce three joint statements and a final declaration, “all of which less bounded by current geopolitical tensions.” The official spoke anonymously as they were not authorized to speak publicly. João Alfredo Nyegray, a geopolitics professor at the Pontifical Catholic University in Parana, noted that the BRICS summit could have presented an alternative to global instability but is unlikely to do so. “The withdrawal of Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and the uncertainty about representation from Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE confirm the difficulty for the BRICS to establish themselves as a cohesive global leadership pole,” Nyegray said. “This moment demands high-level articulation, but we are actually seeing dispersion.” Turkey sends firefighting planes to Syria as raging wildfires devastate border regions Avoiding Trump’s tariffs Brazil, which currently chairs the bloc, has set six strategic priorities: global healthcare cooperation; trade, investment, and finance; climate change; governance for artificial intelligence; peace and security; and institutional development. The country has opted to focus on less controversial areas, such as strengthening trade and health cooperation, especially after Trump’s return to the White House, said Ana Garcia, a professor at the Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro. “Brazil wants the least amount of damage possible and to avoid drawing the attention of the Trump administration to prevent any type of risk to the Brazilian economy,” Garcia explained. While Lula on Sunday called for reforming Western-led global institutions, a central policy for the bloc, Brazil is eager to avoid becoming a target for Trump’s tariffs — a situation it has so far mostly avoided. Trump has warned he would impose 100% tariffs against the bloc if it takes steps to undermine the U.S. dollar. ‘Best opportunity for emerging countries’ Founded by Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, the BRICS group expanded last year to include Indonesia, Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, and the United Arab Emirates. The bloc also created a new category for 10 “strategic partner” countries, including Belarus, Cuba, and Vietnam. With this rapid expansion, Brazil has placed institutional development on the summit agenda to better integrate new members and improve cohesion. Despite the absence of key leaders, the summit remains important for emerging economies, especially amid the instability fueled by Trump’s tariff policies, said Bruce Scheidl, a researcher at the University of São Paulo’s BRICS study group. “The summit offers the best opportunity for emerging countries to respond, in the sense of seeking alternatives and diversifying their economic partnerships,” Scheidl said. For Lula, the summit provides a temporary respite from domestic political challenges, including falling approval ratings and clashes with Congress. It also gives Brazil the opportunity to advance climate negotiations ahead of COP 30, the United Nations climate conference scheduled for November in Belém, in the heart of the Amazon.

At least 33 Palestinians were killed in Israeli airstrikes across Gaza, health officials said Sunday, as Israel's military confirmed it struck over 100 targets in the besieged enclave within the past 24 hours. The latest wave of strikes comes as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu prepares to travel to Washington for White House talks aimed at advancing ceasefire negotiations. Meanwhile, an Israeli official said the country’s security cabinet approved the delivery of humanitarian aid to northern Gaza, where residents face severe food shortages. The official, who spoke anonymously as they were not authorized to brief the media, declined to provide further details. In a separate development, Yemen’s Houthi rebels claimed responsibility for launching ballistic missiles at Israel’s Ben Gurion airport overnight. However, the Israeli military reported intercepting the missiles. U.S. President Donald Trump has proposed a plan for an initial 60-day ceasefire, which would include a partial release of hostages held by Hamas in exchange for increased humanitarian aid into Gaza. The proposal envisions further talks to reach a comprehensive end to the 21-month conflict. Dozens of Gaza Targets Hit According to Mohammed Abu Selmia, director of Gaza City's Shifa Hospital, 20 people were killed and 25 injured when Israeli strikes hit two houses in the area. In southern Gaza’s Muwasi region, where many displaced families live in makeshift tents, airstrikes killed 13 more Palestinians, officials at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis confirmed. Five of the victims were members of the same family, the hospital added. While the Israeli military did not comment on specific strikes, it said its forces targeted 130 sites across Gaza in the past day. These included Hamas command centers, storage facilities, weapons depots, and rocket launchers. The military also claimed to have killed several militants in northern Gaza. The war began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas militants launched a deadly attack on Israel, killing approximately 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. Israeli airstrikes kill 14 Palestinians in Gaza, another 10 people die seeking food Israel's military response has killed more than 57,000 Palestinians so far, with over half of the casualties being women and children, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. The ministry, under Hamas rule, does not distinguish between civilian and combatant deaths. Despite this, the U.N. and international organizations consider its figures the most credible source for casualty data. Ceasefire Negotiations Continue The renewed strikes come as ceasefire discussions appear to be progressing. Netanyahu’s office announced that an Israeli delegation would travel to Qatar on Sunday for indirect negotiations, though it accused Hamas of demanding “unacceptable” amendments to the current proposal. The Qatar talks are scheduled just before Netanyahu’s planned Monday visit to Washington for a meeting with U.S. President Trump to further discuss the ceasefire framework. It remains uncertain whether a deal will be finalized ahead of the White House talks. Trump hints Gaza ceasefire deal possible next week Hamas is demanding firm guarantees that any temporary ceasefire will lead to a complete end to the war and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. Previous rounds of negotiations have faltered over Hamas’ insistence on such assurances, while Netanyahu has repeatedly stated Israel would resume military operations until Hamas is fully dismantled. Source: Agency 

Turkey has sent two firefighting planes and additional equipment to neighboring Syria to help tackle ongoing wildfires, even as the country struggles to contain blazes within its own borders, officials said Saturday. According to Raed Al Saleh, Syria’s Minister of Emergency and Disaster Management, Turkey also dispatched 11 fire trucks and water-carrying vehicles to assist in putting out fires in Syria’s northwestern Latakia province. He noted in a post on X that “unexpected wildfires in Turkey” delayed their deployment by nearly a day. Wildfires have been raging across parts of Turkey since June 26. Turkish Forestry Minister Ibrahim Yumakli announced Saturday that crews had managed to bring 10 major fires under control in the western part of the country. However, an injured forestry worker died, marking the third fatality from the wildfires in Odemis, Izmir province. Turkey to export 48 of its nationally produced fighter jets to Indonesia Authorities believe many of the fires in Izmir were sparked by faulty power lines. In Turkey’s southern Hatay province, near the Syrian border, firefighters continued battling a blaze that broke out Friday afternoon in the Dortyol district. The flames quickly spread due to strong winds, according to state-run Anadolu Agency. Governor Mustafa Masatli said around 920 homes were evacuated as a precaution. Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya confirmed that 44 individuals had been detained in connection with 65 wildfires across the country. Blazes across Turkey, Syria, and Greece over the past week have been driven by soaring temperatures, dry conditions, and powerful winds, leading to widespread evacuations and damage to hundreds of homes in Turkey alone. Meanwhile, the Syrian Civil Defense has raised concerns over the presence of unexploded ordnance in some wildfire zones, remnants of the country’s years of conflict. Experts warn that climate change is exacerbating the frequency and intensity of summer wildfires across the eastern Mediterranean region.

Iran’ s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Saturday made his first public appearance since the 12-day war between Israel and Iran began, attending a mourning ceremony on the eve of Ashoura. State television broadcast footage on Saturday showing Khamenei greeting worshippers at Tehran’s Imam Khomeini Mosque during a ceremony held ahead of Ashura, the significant Shia religious observance. Khamenei’s last appearance had been via pre-recorded speeches aired during the Iran-Israel conflict, which began on June 13 and saw the killing of several senior Iranian military commanders and nuclear scientists. The war began after Israel launched a surprise assault targeting Iranian nuclear and military sites. In retaliation, Iran carried out aerial strikes on Israel. The conflict lasted 12 days, during which Khamenei delivered three video messages, fueling speculation that he had gone into hiding in a secure bunker. Iranian media extensively covered Khamenei’s public appearance on Saturday, with state TV airing footage of jubilant supporters reacting to his presence. In the video, Khamenei is seen turning to senior cleric Mahmoud Karimi, urging him to perform the patriotic song "O Iran," which has gained renewed popularity amid the recent conflict. Israeli airstrikes kill 14 Palestinians in Gaza, another 10 people die seeking food The event took place at the Imam Khomeini Mosque, named after the founder of the Islamic Republic. State television also invited citizens to submit videos sharing their reactions to Khamenei’s reappearance in public. The supreme leader's appearance comes as Iran observes Muharram, a month of mourning in the Shia Muslim calendar. Ashura, which falls on July 6 this year, marks the martyrdom of Prophet Muhammad’s grandson, Imam Hossein, and is traditionally attended by the country’s top religious leaders. Russia becomes first state to recognise Afghanistan's Taliban government On June 26, in a previously recorded speech broadcast on state TV, Khamenei declared that Iran would not surrender to Israel, despite US President Donald Trump’s demands. The United States entered the conflict on June 22 by launching airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites. The American operation involved 125 military aircraft targeting key facilities in Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan. Iran’s judiciary later reported that the 12-day conflict resulted in over 900 deaths. #With inputs from Agencies  

Israeli airstrikes killed 14 people in the Gaza Strip, while a separate incident left 10 more Palestinians dead as they tried to access food in the war-ravaged enclave, hospital officials in Gaza told on Saturday. Meanwhile, two American aid workers from the Israel-supported Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) were wounded in southern Gaza during an attack at a food distribution point. The organization blamed Hamas for the assault but did not provide any evidence to support the claim. The latest wave of violence comes as U.S.-mediated ceasefire efforts to end the nearly 21-month conflict show signs of progress. Hamas gave a “positive” response to Washington's latest proposal for a 60-day ceasefire on Friday night but stressed that further negotiations were necessary to settle implementation details. The group is seeking assurances that the temporary truce would eventually lead to a full cessation of hostilities and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. U.S. President Donald Trump has been pressing for a breakthrough and plans to host Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House next week to advance the talks. Palestinians killed in southern Gaza Israeli airstrikes targeted tents in the Muwasi area along the southern Mediterranean coast of Gaza, killing seven people, including a Palestinian doctor and his three children, according to Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis. Additionally, four more people were killed in the town of Bani Suheila in southern Gaza, while three others died in separate airstrikes across Khan Younis. The Israeli military has not yet commented on these incidents. In a separate development, eight Palestinians were killed near a Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) food distribution site in the southern city of Rafah, the hospital reported. Another Palestinian was killed near a different GHF site in Rafah. It remains unclear how close the victims were to the aid distribution locations. GHF denied the killings happened near their sites. Previously the organization has said no one has been shot at its sites, which are guarded by private contractors but can only be accessed by passing Israeli military positions hundreds of meters away. The army had no immediate comment, but has said it fires warning shots as a crowd-control measure and it only aims at people when its troops are threatened. One Palestinian was also killed waiting in crowds for aid trucks in eastern Khan Younis, officials at Nasser Hospital said. The United Nations and other international organizations bring in their own supplies of aid. It was unclear to which organization the aid trucks the Palestinians were waiting for belonged to, but the incident did not appear to be connected to GHF operations. Crowds of Palestinians often wait for trucks and unload or loot their contents before they reach their destinations. These trucks must pass through areas under Israeli military control. The Israeli military did not immediately comment on the incident.

US President Donald Trump has expressed optimism over the prospects of a Gaza ceasefire, saying a breakthrough could come as early as next week. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump welcomed Hamas's statement that it had responded to a US-brokered ceasefire proposal "in a positive spirit."  However, he noted he had yet to receive a full briefing on the status of the negotiations. Meanwhile, Israeli military attacks have intensified across the Gaza Strip, leaving at least 18 Palestinians dead since midnight, according to Gaza health officials. International charities, NGOs call for end to controversial Israeli-backed aid group in Gaza In Gaza City's Zeitoun neighbourhood, an Israeli strike hit al-Shafi’i School, killing at least five people and wounding several others. In central Gaza, Israeli forces also bombed the Abu Breik family home in the Maghazi refugee camp, killing two people. The overnight assault included an attack on tents sheltering displaced civilians in al-Mawasi, which left at least seven dead. The Palestinian Information Center and Quds News Network report the overall death toll from Israeli operations across Gaza has reached 18 in the past few hours. More updates are expected. Source: ALJAZEERA

Hamas announced it is prepared to begin negotiations “immediately” on a ceasefire proposal for Gaza, where over 50 people were reportedly killed in the latest phase of Israel’s offensive, according to the local civil defence agency. Islamic Jihad, a group aligned with Hamas, also voiced support for truce discussions but insisted on “guarantees” to ensure the process results in a lasting ceasefire. The statement followed internal consultations among Palestinian factions and came ahead of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s scheduled visit to Washington on Monday. U.S. President Donald Trump has been advocating for an end to the conflict, now in its 21st month. 82 Palestinians killed in Gaza, including 38 people waiting for aid, authorities say Gaza’s Health Ministry reports that Israel’s military campaign has resulted in at least 57,268 deaths and 135,625 injuries. In contrast, the October 7, 2023, attacks in Israel claimed approximately 1,139 lives and led to the capture of over 200 individuals.   Source: with input from Al Jazeera

Pro-Palestinian activist group Palestine Action on Friday sought to block the British government’s decision to ban the organization under anti-terrorism laws, following a high-profile incident in which activists broke into a military base and vandalized two planes. The ban, which was approved by Parliament earlier this week, is scheduled to take effect at midnight. Once in force, membership in the group or support for its actions will be considered a criminal offense, punishable by up to 14 years in prison. Raza Husain, a lawyer representing Palestine Action co-founders Huda Ammori, argued against the decision in court on Friday. “My client had never encouraged harm to any person at all,” Husain told the court. He also read a statement from Ammori, saying: “We ask you, in the first instance, to suspend until July 21 what we say is an ill-considered, discriminatory and authoritarian abuse of statutory power which is alien to the basic tradition of the common law and is contrary to the Human Rights Act." Justice Martin Chamberlain is expected to announce his decision at the conclusion of Friday’s hearing. 82 Palestinians killed in Gaza, including 38 people waiting for aid, authorities say The British government’s move to ban the group follows a break-in at the Royal Air Force base in Brize Norton last month, where activists damaged two military planes using red paint and crowbars. The protest targeted the UK government’s continued military support for Israel amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Authorities estimated the damage at approximately 7 million pounds ($9.4 million), and four people have been charged in connection with the incident. The suspects, aged between 22 and 35, face charges of conspiracy to commit criminal damage and conspiracy to enter a prohibited place for purposes prejudicial to the interests of the United Kingdom. During a hearing at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Thursday, no pleas were entered. The four are scheduled to appear before the Central Criminal Court on July 18. Following the break-in, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper announced plans to proscribe Palestine Action as a terrorist organization. She described the vandalism of the military aircraft as “disgraceful” and added that the group had a “long history of unacceptable criminal damage.”

At least 15 Palestinians were killed in Israeli airstrikes on Gaza early Friday, while 20 more died in shootings as they waited for humanitarian aid, according to a hospital morgue that received their bodies. The latest casualties come as the UN human rights office reported Friday that it has recorded 613 deaths near humanitarian convoys and aid distribution points in Gaza, operated by an Israeli-backed American organization since its operations began in late May. Ravina Shamdasani, spokesperson for the UN rights office, said the agency could not yet attribute responsibility for the killings. However, she stated, “it is clear that the Israeli military has shelled and shot at Palestinians trying to reach the distribution points” run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. Among those killed in Friday’s airstrikes were eight women and a child, Nasser Hospital confirmed. Of those shot dead while waiting for aid, two were killed near distribution points in Rafah, while 18 others died near trucks delivering supplies in southern Gaza. The Israeli military has not yet commented on the latest strikes. Separately, the military confirmed that one Israeli soldier was killed in combat in northern Gaza and that an investigation is underway. More than 860 Israeli soldiers have been killed since the conflict began, including over 400 during ground fighting inside Gaza. 94 Palestinians killed in Gaza, including 45 waiting for aid The surge in violence comes amid renewed diplomatic efforts to halt the war, which has stretched into its 21st month. Hamas announced Friday that it is holding discussions with other Palestinian factions regarding a ceasefire proposal presented by Egyptian and Qatari mediators. US President Donald Trump said Tuesday that Israel had agreed to terms for a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza and called on Hamas to accept the proposal before conditions worsen. Hamas said its final response to the mediators will be given after consultations with other Palestinian groups are completed. The Gaza Health Ministry reports that the Palestinian death toll in the enclave has surpassed 57,000. The ministry does not distinguish between civilian and militant casualties but says over half of the dead are women and children. The war began when Hamas-led militants launched an attack on southern Israel, killing approximately 1,200 people and taking around 250 hostages. Since the opening of aid distribution sites in Gaza in May, Palestinian witnesses and the Health Ministry say hundreds have been killed or wounded by Israeli troops while attempting to access supplies. The Israeli military insists it has only fired warning shots, denies targeting civilians intentionally, and says it is investigating reports of harm to non-combatants.