United News of Bangladesh

U.S. President Donald Trump's suggestion that Syria should take on Hezbollah instead of Israel has sparked concern in both Lebanon and Israel, despite Syria insisting it has no plans to intervene. As the White House has become increasingly critical of Israel's prolonged military campaign against the Iran-backed Hezbollah group in Lebanon, Trump has repeatedly argued that Syria's new Islamist-led government would be better suited to deal with the militant organization. Speaking on the sidelines of the G7 summit earlier this month, Trump said Israel's war against Hezbollah had gone on for too long and resulted in too many civilian deaths. "You don't have to knock down an apartment house every time you're looking for somebody," Trump said, adding that Syria could "do a better job" of handling Hezbollah. He later repeated the idea in an interview with Fox News, saying he was considering letting Syria take over the task because he believed Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa's government could carry out more targeted operations. The White House declined to provide further details, referring to Trump's previous public remarks. Syria, however, quickly rejected suggestions that it was preparing for any military action in Lebanon. In a speech in Damascus on June 13, al-Sharaa said reports claiming Syria planned to intervene were false. Instead, he said Syria supports a permanent end to the fighting, stronger Lebanese state institutions and closer economic cooperation between the two countries. In a later interview with Emirati broadcaster Al Mashhad, al-Sharaa said Trump's comments had been misunderstood. He said Syria had proposed peaceful solutions to Washington focused on ending the conflict and helping stabilize both Lebanon and Syria through political, economic and social measures, not military action. Although al-Sharaa previously led insurgent forces fighting former Syrian President Bashar Assad during Syria's civil war, his government has repeatedly said since taking power in December 2024 that it is focused on rebuilding the country rather than seeking revenge against Hezbollah, which had supported Assad during the conflict. Syria also stayed out of the recent war involving Israel, the United States and Iran, while reinforcing its border with Lebanon to prevent weapons smuggling and avoid the conflict spilling across its territory. At one point in March, Syria accused Hezbollah of firing artillery shells into Syrian territory, an allegation the Lebanese group denied. The tensions later eased after mediation efforts by Turkey, according to Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan. Al-Sharaa has also said he remains open to dialogue with Hezbollah and even offered to help mediate discussions among Lebanon's political factions over the future of the group's weapons. Despite Syria's denials, Trump's proposal has revived old fears in Lebanon, where many people still remember Syria's military presence in the country that lasted until 2005. There are also concerns that sectarian violence in Syria could spread across the border. Analysts have questioned the practicality of Trump's proposal. Randa Slim, director of the Middle East Program at the Washington-based Stimson Center, said the idea reflected a poor understanding of the situation on the ground. She said Syria is still struggling to rebuild after years of war, while its security forces remain fragmented and include foreign Islamist fighters with uncertain loyalties. Israel is also watching developments closely. Since al-Sharaa came to power, Israeli forces have taken control of a strip of southern Syria and remain wary of the country's new leadership. Israeli officials are also monitoring growing competition between Israel and Turkey, a key supporter of Syria's new government, over influence in Syria. An Israeli official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said senior security officials met this week to discuss the situation. While Israel is concerned about Syria potentially regaining political influence in Lebanon, the official said its main security focus remains Hezbollah.  

US President Donald Trump said the proposed agreement with Iran remains unfinished and warned that military action could resume if Tehran fails to comply with its commitments. Speaking during a meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on the sidelines of the G7 summit on Wednesday, Trump stressed that Washington retained the option of returning to military operations if the agreement proves unsatisfactory. He also dismissed reports suggesting the United States would invest in Iran or support a reconstruction fund for Tehran as part of a broader settlement. Earlier in the summit, Trump reiterated that Iran would not be allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon under any future agreement. On regional security issues, the US president criticised Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the ongoing conflict in Lebanon, saying Israel needed to act more responsibly. During a joint appearance with the Emir of Qatar, Trump said the fighting between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah group had continued for too long and was causing excessive loss of life. His remarks came as Israel and Hezbollah continued exchanging attacks despite the US-Iran agreement announced on Sunday night. Turning to the war in Ukraine, Trump said he held a productive meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and renewed his call for Russia to reach a peace agreement. He also indicated that additional sanctions targeting Russian oil exports could be imposed in the near future if efforts to end the conflict fail to progress. The comments came as G7 leaders wrapped up discussions in France, with global security issues, including Iran, Ukraine and the Middle East, dominating the summit agenda. Source: BBC

U.S. President Donald Trump said Thursday he had called off new military strikes on Iran, claiming a breakthrough in negotiations to end the war just hours after the American leader threatened to escalate the conflict by seizing control of Iran’s oil industry. Trump has said multiple times in recent weeks that the warring parties have been on the cusp of a deal without anything coming to fruition. A spokesperson for Iran’s Foreign Ministry said in a live phone call on state television that mediators were active and nothing had been finalized to end the conflict that began Feb. 28 when the U.S. and Israel jointly attacked Iran. Trump opened an Oval Office event Thursday afternoon saying: “We just made a great settlement of the war with Iran.” He offered scant details, other than to say he expects an agreement to extend a fragile ceasefire that started in April to be finalized “over the next few days.” Extending the terms of the ceasefire gives U.S. leaders more time to negotiate over Iran’s nuclear program, the main reason Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu used to justify launching the war. Netanyahu’s office said Thursday that Israel is not a party to the emerging agreement between the U.S. and Iran. The announcement came after two days of back-and-forth attacks between the U.S. and Iran had pushed the Middle East closer to the resumption of a full-scale war. Trump had threatened further escalation earlier Thursday, posting on social media that the U.S. would hit Iran “VERY HARD TONIGHT” and take “total control” of its oil and gas industries. A few hours later, Trump posted on social media that significant points in the negotiations “have been brought to the highest level of Iranian leadership and approved.” Esmail Baghaei, the spokesperson for Iran’s Foreign Ministry, said in his phone call on state television that text of a deal is “mostly finalized.” “The problem is that the contradictions in America’s position has caused turbulence to this process,” he said Thursday night. A major sticking point in negotiations has been Iran’s nuclear program, which the U.S. and Israel fear could lead to an atomic weapon, but which Tehran says is for peaceful purposes. Another key issue is Iran’s stranglehold on the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping lane for transporting oil and natural gas. Trump again moves quickly from threats to negotiating Trump’s rapid shift Thursday from dire threats to promoting peace negotiations again underscored his whipsaw approach to the war. He suggested on Monday that a deal to end the conflict could be reached in a matter of days. Then back-and-forth strikes rattled the Middle East this week. The first involved attacks between Iran and Israel, followed by the two rounds of fire between the U.S. and Iran, which targeted countries where U.S. troops are based. The U.S. strikes began after Trump blamed Iran for downing an American attack helicopter near the Strait of Hormuz. Both pilots were rescued safely. Iran’s Foreign Ministry said the U.S. attacks had “effectively rendered the ceasefire ... meaningless,” without saying it was abandoning it. After Trump threatened more attacks were to come on Thursday, Iran’s parliamentary speaker, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, responded on social media that “wrong strategies and impulsive decisions” would wreak havoc on energy markets and “create an endless quagmire that you will be stuck in for years.” It wasn’t the first time Trump threatened escalation before giving negotiations another chance. In April, he warned Iran that “a whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again” if it didn’t agree to his terms, before extending a ceasefire.

US President Donald Trump has confirmed that he described Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as “crazy” during a phone conversation earlier this week, expressing frustration that Israel’s military operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon were complicating ongoing efforts to reach a peace agreement with Iran. In an interview released Wednesday on The New York Post’s “Pod Force One,” Trump acknowledged tensions with Netanyahu but emphasized that their relationship remains strong. “We’ve worked very well together. I like Bibi a lot. And I work very well with him,” Trump said, referring to the Israeli leader by his nickname. Trump said he was “a little bit perturbed” by Israel’s actions in Lebanon, which he believes have hindered diplomatic progress with Tehran. The remarks come as the US administration faces increasing pressure to end the regional conflict amid concerns over rising energy prices, economic uncertainty and their potential political impact ahead of midterm elections. Despite the challenges, Trump said negotiations involving Iran were continuing, although he declined to provide a clear timeline for a resolution. He noted that the strategically important Strait of Hormuz could remain closed through the US Labor Day holiday on Sept. 7 but expressed confidence that the situation would likely be resolved sooner. “I think this will resolve itself fairly quickly,” Trump said. The US president also said Iran’s Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, is playing a role in ongoing peace discussions despite reportedly suffering injuries in an earlier airstrike. According to Trump, Iranian officials continue to seek Khamenei’s approval on key decisions. Meanwhile, tensions remained high in Lebanon. An Israeli strike hit a vehicle on a busy highway south of Beirut on Wednesday, just hours before a second round of Lebanon-Israel talks in Washington. It was not immediately clear whether the targeted individual was killed. The strike came days after Lebanon and Israel reached a US-mediated understanding under which Israel agreed not to target Beirut’s southern suburbs and Hezbollah pledged to halt attacks on northern Israel. The arrangement was reached shortly after Israel had announced plans for major strikes near the Lebanese capital. The US State Department said progress had been made during the first day of talks on Tuesday. Lebanon is seeking a broader nationwide ceasefire, while Israel is demanding the immediate disarmament of Hezbollah before ending military operations and withdrawing troops from several Lebanese towns and villages. Shortly after Wednesday’s strike, the Israeli military reported intercepting what it described as a hostile aircraft originating from southern Lebanon, though it did not directly blame Hezbollah. The group has not claimed responsibility for any cross-border attacks since the recent agreement was reached.

A US federal appeals court panel has ruled that a Pentagon policy illegally barred transgender people from serving in the military, marking another legal setback for President Donald Trump’s agenda. A divided three-judge panel of the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit said the policy was designed to exclude individuals based on gender identity. However, the ban will remain in place for now as legal proceedings continue, after the US Supreme Court previously allowed its enforcement to begin. The ruling limits its immediate impact to protecting transgender service members who are already in the military and part of the lawsuit. It does not allow new transgender recruits to join. The court also paused implementation of its decision to give the administration time to seek further review. The decision partially upholds a 2025 ruling by US District Judge Ana Reyes, who found that Trump’s executive order excluding transgender troops likely violated constitutional protections. Following that ruling, the administration appealed after an injunction was issued in favour of active-duty transgender service members and individuals seeking to enlist. The appeals court narrowed that order, extending protection only to those already serving. Another related case in Washington state had also ruled against the ban, but that decision was blocked by the Supreme Court. The policy stems from a January 2025 executive order signed by Trump, which argued that transgender identity conflicts with military discipline and readiness. In response, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth introduced a rule that generally disqualifies people diagnosed with gender dysphoria from serving. The condition refers to distress caused when a person’s gender identity does not match their sex assigned at birth. Writing for the majority, Judge Robert Wilkins said the policy appeared to be motivated by an attempt to target a politically unpopular group, namely transgender people. The ruling was welcomed by LGBTQ rights advocates. Jennifer Levi of GLAD Law called it a strong validation of the plaintiffs’ position and their service to the country. The Pentagon has not yet commented on the ruling, though Hegseth indicated on social media that the administration plans to appeal further, referencing the US Supreme Court. In a dissenting opinion, Judge Justin Walker said courts should not interfere in military decisions regarding troop eligibility, arguing that such authority lies with Congress and the president as commander in chief. Judge Judith Rogers agreed with the majority that the policy was unlawful but said she would also have allowed transgender individuals seeking enlistment to proceed in the case.

US President Donald Trump on Monday has said he urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to pull Israeli troops back from Lebanon’s capital Beirut and also held talks with Hezbollah representatives, claiming the group had agreed to stop firing at Israeli forces. In response, Netanyahu told Trump that Israel would continue strikes on Beirut if Hezbollah keeps launching attacks against Israeli cities and civilians, according to a statement from the Israeli prime minister’s office. The statement added that Israeli military operations in southern Lebanon would proceed as planned. Meanwhile, Iran’s chief negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, warned that Tehran could take a tougher stance if Israeli attacks on Lebanon continue. During talks with Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, Ghalibaf said Iran would not only suspend its negotiation process with the United States but could also enter into direct confrontation with Israel if the conflict escalates further. Despite the warning from Tehran, Trump said negotiations between the United States and Iran were continuing rapidly. On the ground, hostilities persisted in Lebanon. The country’s National News Agency reported ongoing Israeli air strikes in southern Lebanon late Monday, with reports of casualties. According to Lebanon’s Health Ministry, Israeli military operations in Lebanon since March have killed 3,433 people and injured 10,395 others. Source: Al Jazeera

Large images of Donald Trump have appeared on auto-rickshaws across New Delhi as part of a US campaign to celebrate the 250th anniversary of American independence. The posters feature Trump’s portrait alongside the Statue of Liberty and the slogan “Happy Birthday America!” Around 100 auto-rickshaws carrying the posters have been seen on the streets of the Indian capital in recent weeks, turning the city’s three-wheelers into mobile advertisements for the US celebration. The campaign was launched last month by Sergio Gor, the US ambassador to India. In a social media post, the United States Embassy in India described the initiative by saying, “Freedom is on the move … literally!” and encouraged residents to look out for the vehicles across Delhi. The campaign comes as Washington seeks to strengthen ties with India after tensions over Trump’s tariff policies, which increased duties on several Indian exports. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is also expected to visit New Delhi this weekend. For many rickshaw drivers, however, the campaign has little personal significance. Driver Ganesh Kumar said he initially declined to place the poster on his vehicle but later agreed after organisers offered him a packet of tea. Another driver, Pradeep Kumar, said he accepted the poster mainly because it helped cover a torn canopy on his auto-rickshaw. Asked about the image, he said he recognised Trump but knew little else about him.

U.S. President Donald Trump said he has decided to hold off on a planned military strike against Iran, citing ongoing negotiations that could potentially end the conflict. Speaking at the White House on Monday, Trump said a “very major attack” scheduled for Tuesday had been postponed to allow time for diplomatic efforts. “There seems to be a very good chance that they can work something out. If we can do that without bombing the hell out of them, I’d be very happy,” he said, after first announcing the decision on social media. Trump added that the delay came at the request of key Gulf allies, who believe a deal with Iran could be reached within days. He said leaders from Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates had urged him to give negotiations more time. Despite pausing the strike, Trump warned that the U.S. military remains prepared for a large-scale operation if talks fail. “I have instructed the military to be ready to move forward with a full assault on a moment’s notice if an acceptable deal is not reached,” he said. Trump has repeatedly warned that the fragile ceasefire reached in mid-April could collapse if Iran fails to reach an agreement. Over the weekend, he cautioned Tehran that time was running out to act. While expressing optimism about current negotiations, Trump acknowledged that past efforts to reach a deal had faltered. “This is a very positive development,” he said, adding, “there were times before when it looked like a deal was close, but nothing happened. This is a little bit different.” The president has previously delayed or reversed decisions on military action to allow diplomacy to proceed, although strikes were eventually launched earlier in the conflict after initial hesitation. Meanwhile, tensions remain high across the region, with Iran and allied groups accused of launching drone attacks targeting Gulf states. Trump has also held recent discussions on the situation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

US President Donald Trump said American and Nigerian forces have killed a senior leader of the Islamic State group in Nigeria during a joint mission carried out Friday. In a late-night social media post, Trump said Abu Bakr al-Mainuki, whom he described as the group’s second-in-command globally, was killed while hiding in Africa. He claimed al-Mainuki was closely tracked through intelligence sources. An official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said al-Mainuki played a key role in IS operations and financing and had been plotting attacks against the United States and its interests. Trump’s trip to China: Taiwan, a new framework for relationship and flattery for Xi Nigerian President Bola Tinubu confirmed the strike, saying al-Mainuki and several lieutenants were killed at a compound in the Lake Chad Basin. Military spokesperson Sani Uba described the raid as a complex air-land operation conducted over three hours without casualties. He called it the most significant counterterrorism success in the region since 2015. Born in Borno in 1982, al-Mainuki later led IS’s West Africa branch. Analysts say his global rank remains unverified, though some believe he rose within IS leadership this year. But He was sanctioned by the U.S. in 2023. The operation follows a US-Nigeria security partnership launched last year to tackle militancy in the region.

US President Donald Trump on Monday said the ceasefire with Iran is “on life support,” rejecting Tehran’s latest proposal to end the conflict and describing it as “totally unacceptable.” Speaking at an unrelated White House event, Trump also termed Iran’s response to a US-backed peace plan as “stupid” and “unbelievably weak,” though he noted that a diplomatic resolution remains “very possible.” Iranian officials, however, pushed back against Washington’s position. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said the US had made “unreasonable demands,” while Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf warned that Tehran is prepared to respond to “any aggression.” Ghalibaf said the US should accept Iran’s proposal, cautioning that any alternative approach would be “inconclusive” and could impose greater costs on American taxpayers if delays continue. Amid the diplomatic tensions, the US and the UK have imposed new sanctions targeting Iranian individuals and entities. Meanwhile, violence continues elsewhere in the region. Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon reportedly killed four people in Nabatieh, including a 78-year-old woman and her 11-year-old grandson. The Israeli military says it is targeting positions linked to Hezbollah, which in turn claimed to have carried out 20 attacks against Israel. UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher expressed concern over the escalating impact on civilians, citing more than 100 Israeli strikes within 24 hours. With tensions persisting on multiple fronts, the already fragile ceasefire between Washington and Tehran appears increasingly uncertain. Source: Al Jazeera