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JERUSALEM, Israel: U.S. Ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, on Tuesday accused Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., of lying about consulting the American Embassy regarding his visit to the Biblical heartland of Israel.

Khanna visited the West Bank last week when he said his group was aggressively detained by Israeli settlers. Critics slammed his tour as political showmanship to advance a potential presidential campaign.

Huckabee took to X to reject the account of Khanna and his delegation, writing: "The left-wing activist who set up this stunt says ‘The embassy is involved.’ That is NOT TRUE. We did NOT know a member of Congress was coming. We would have said don't go to restricted zone. As FACTS come out, it's not helping the desired narrative. Not ‘held at gunpoint."’ 

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Speaking to Fox News Digital on Tuesday, the California lawmaker said that he was detained by Israeli settlers for seventy-five minutes on Wednesday while visiting the West Bank (also known by its Biblical names Judea and Samaria). Khanna claimed, "We had informed the Israeli embassy."

When asked about Ambassador Huckabee’s X post asserting the embassy did not know about his visit, he said "That is just false. He was misinformed."

Khanna responded to Huckabee on X, stating "Ambassador, we have always had a relationship of mutual respect despite political differences. The IDF [Israel Defense Forces] has now clarified it was not a restricted zone and Israeli papers have confirmed this. Deputy Chief of Mission David Brownstein in our embassy did a superb job in getting us out. We are safe because of him. Please thank him. We obviously notified our Embassy and Israel's embassy about the trip given we were in constant touch with David."

Khanna said the "violent settlers who detained us need to be prosecuted and the IDF officers who furthered that detention need to be investigated. There were these extremist settlers who parked their car in front of our van denying us exit — there was only one road — they brandished an M4 gun and kicked our tires."

Eitan Fischberger, an Israeli Mideast analyst, posted footage on X that he said debunked Khanna’s claims that he was violently detained. Fischberger wrote:" I encourage everyone to watch footage of Ro Khanna's supposedly violent ‘detainment,’ which was released by the crazed activists on his own team. What a glorious self-own."

Fox News Digital sent a follow-up press query to Khanna about the video footage. He said the post by Fischberger is "false" and provided his X post with video footage. He wrote:" When the IDF arrived, they sided with the settlers & continued our detention. They made a huge mistake." https://x.com/rokhanna/status/2075934812334915801?s=46

Khanna told Fox News that, "I told the Israeli government that I wanted to go on a Palestinian-led trip to the West Bank because I'd been [on] three trips to Israel. I had gotten Israel's perspective, and that this trip I was going to go to the West Bank for a Palestinian-led look for three days. They knew that. And the point is that just because an American politician wants to get the side of Palestinians that does not give Israel the right to have violent settlers detain Americans with a passport that gives Israel the right to have IDF detain us. It's not just me."

Dan Diker, president of the Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs, told Fox News Digital Khanna’s visit "appeared to be a publicity stunt in advance of his expected run for president in 2028. Let’s be honest, this was a publicity stunt."

The Mideast expert Diker added that "Khanna’s 72-hour visit to several PLO- PA [Palestine Liberation Organization-Palestinian Authority] villages in Judea and Samaria was carried out without any security or diplomatic coordination with Israel either of these is the embassy in Washington or the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem, or security forces in a particularly dangerous visit: his history of pro-Palestinian activism, and anti-Israel activism is well known."

Diker claimed that, "Khanna had publicly endorsed a Palestinian state following the Oct. 7 Iran-backed Palestinian Hamas massacre aligning with pro-Hamas, pro BDS [Boycott, Divestment, Sanction campaign against Israel] groups such as American Muslims for Palestine."

Hamas’ invasion of Israel on 10/7 resulted in the terrorist organization’s mass murder of over 1,200 people, including more than 40 Americans.

Khanna is also under fire from a fellow Democrat.

Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-NJ., wrote on X that "What’s appalling is that Ro ignored requests to meet 10/7 survivors and hostages, or to visit sites of the 10/7 terrorist attacks. Instead, riding the anti-Zionist wave, he used the trip as a presidential campaign cameo."

When Fox News Digital asked about Gottheimer’s criticism, including not meeting with 10/7 survivors, he said, "The purpose of this trip was a Palestinian-led tour through the West Bank."

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He noted that "I have been to Israel three times and met with hostage families."

In response to Gottheimer’s accusation that he used the visit as a "presidential campaign cameo," Khanna said "I do not know what he was talking about."

Israel’s Ambassador to the U.S., Yechiel Leiter, posted a lengthy response on X with respect to Khanna’s allegations that he was detained and his reported defamations of the Jewish state.

Leiter wrote, "Congressman Khanna was offered to coordinate his visit with the State of Israel — this goes beyond notifying of his presence in the country. He was offered in-depth coordination of his schedule to avoid misunderstandings, and he chose to ignore that offer. He also chose not to coordinate his visit with the U.S. embassy in Jerusalem."

Leiter added "To add insult to injury - the Congressman used this instance as an opportunity to tout ‘genocide’ and ‘apartheid’ libels to the press, propelling himself to the center of yet another anti-Israel media frenzy. The facts don't lie — this was a cheap, anticipated provocation, that could, and should have been avoided….I’d be happy to host Congressman Khanna at our embassy for an in-depth conversation on his grievances regarding Israel."

Khanna told Fox News Digital that his office contacted Ambassador Leiter’s office after he offered to meet with the him. The congressman referred to his X post to Leiter. "…I am happy to take you up on your offer to meet because I want to turn this incident into something constructive for ordinary people in Palestine," he wrote.

When asked about Leiter accusation that Khanna is defaming the Jewish state, Khanna said, "That’s what I believe happened and that’s what the U.N. believed happened."

Khanna said: "I want to be clear that I unequivocally reject Hamas terrorism and believe Israel has a right to exist. Hamas charter that calls for the destruction of Israel is appalling and why they are a terrorist group." When pressed if Hamas’ invasion on 10/7 was genocidal and if the Hamas Charter is a genocidal document because it calls for the extermination of Jews and Israel, Khanna said it is "violent antisemitism," and he repeatedly termed Hamas a terrorist organization but declined to call it a genocidal group.

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Khanna also told Fox News Digital that he believes the Islamic Republic of Iran, which finances Hamas, is a state-sponsor of terrorism.

An IDF spokesperson told Fox News Digital on Tuesday that "The initial inquiry indicates that IDF soldiers were dispatched to the Khirbet Zanuta area in the Judea Brigade following reports that foreign nationals had entered an area that was believed to be a closed military zone. At the same time, an additional report was received regarding a road being blocked by Israeli civilians."

The IDF spokesperson continued that "Upon arriving at the scene, the soldiers distanced the Israeli civilians away from the area and waited for confirmation that there was no security concern regarding the foreign nationals present at the location, and awaited confirmation that the area was not, in fact, a closed military zone. The convoy was then allowed to continue on its way. This process lasted several minutes. It should be emphasized that, throughout the incident, there was no physical confrontation or violence between those involved, and no such allegations were reported."

According to the IDF spokesperson, "The armed individual present at the scene was an IDF soldier who was on leave. The matter is under review, and the soldier will be addressed accordingly. It should also be noted that the visit had not been coordinated with the IDF in advance. We emphasize that prior coordination of diplomatic visits is intended to prevent incidents of this nature. Such coordination is particularly important in areas where there is a risk of security-related incidents. The required conduct when interacting with diplomats will be further clarified and reinforced."

The Press Service of Israel(TPS-IL) conducted an investigation of the public row. An Israeli security official told TPS-IL that Khanna’s delegation did not coordinate its arrival in advance. "They did not coordinate the visit," the official said. "Usually, advance notice is received." According to the official, visits by foreign lawmakers and other prominent delegations to sensitive areas of Judea and Samaria are generally coordinated with Israeli authorities. Such coordination allows authorities to assess access restrictions, security conditions and logistical arrangements. The official said Israeli civilian security personnel arrived and blocked the delegation before troops intervened. "Settlers arrived, blocked them, the army dispersed them and that was basically the end of the incident," the official said.

The source added that security forces sought to resolve the obstruction quickly after learning that the vehicles had been blocked.

Diker sees the 2028 Presidential election cycle as the magnet for attracting some candidates to Israel with their alleged anti-Israel personal agendas.

Diker said "The point here is that U.S. presidential politics, on the left flank of the Democratic party, now exploits what can be called Israel- cancellation, or the inversion of legitimacy between Hamas – PLO and Israel as part of the unresolved Palestinian question as a major national issue for the American people, not the Islamic Republic of Iran and its global terror proxies, and it’s interruption of global oil shipping, kidnapping the global economy, nor is the issue the ongoing Russia, Ukraine situation, the Chinese communist parties infiltration of technology and other assets in the West or the Islamic infiltration of America."

ISRAEL-GAZA BORDER: "Fire, fire, fire!" shouts a member of Kibbutz Bror Hayil’s local security squad, pointing his weapon at a fellow participant acting as a terrorist. The kibbutz is located adjacent to the Gaza border, from where thousands of Hamas-led Palestinians invaded Israel and massacred some 1,200 people on Oct. 7, 2023.

The exercise, attended by Fox News Digital, was the eighth training session conducted by Magen48 in partnership with the Israel Defense Forces — a full-scale drill involving the local civilian defense squad designed to prepare southern Israeli communities for scenarios similar to Oct. 7.

One of the scenarios simulated terrorists infiltrating the kibbutz kindergarten. With IDF forces en route, the civil defense squad had to respond while accounting for the presence of children, limited visibility and the need to neutralize the attackers while ensuring a safe evacuation. During the exercise, a simulated grenade detonated, injuring one member of the civil defense squad in the leg, while the others succeeded in neutralizing the terrorists.

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In earlier sessions, participants learned to operate weapons from behind cover while sitting, lying down, standing and moving. They are also trained to work in pairs and larger groups while developing communication skills. The exercises grew increasingly complex, with teams conducting drills inside buildings and responding to continuous emergency alerts.

Because the exercise took place inside a civilian community, no live ammunition was used. All weapons and equipment were secured to prevent accidental discharge. Residents were notified in advance of the drill.

Among the 47 participants were IDF soldiers and medical personnel from the Gaza Division’s Northern Brigade.

Magen48 instructor T., who could not reveal his full name for security reasons, said the Bror Hayil program initially presented significant challenges.

"The civil defense squad was made up of soldiers who had served in special forces alongside others who had never held combat roles in the military. Some were issued weapons they had never used during their service. Training begins with weapons familiarization, covering the basics of firearm operation and how to manipulate the weapon’s safety mechanisms," he said.

One lesson drawn from Oct. 7 was that many members of civilian security squads responded alone. "Whoever ran alone was not able to fend off terrorists," T. said, explaining that the training emphasizes locating another squad member before engaging whenever possible.

"The idea behind this project is to establish a unified operational language, so that if an incident occurs, nearby communities can join the response and coordinate effectively," he said.

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"The idea is that they are able to manage the event until forces arrive, then hand over control in an orderly manner while continuing to work together. They know the kibbutz, they work well as teams and they have undergone high-quality training that sharpened their skills."

Magen48, established in July 2024 and named for the 48 first responders killed on Oct. 7, has trained 1,500 civilians to respond to life-threatening emergencies, equipping them with the knowledge, skills and resources to contend with scenarios such as terrorist attacks, medical emergencies and fires.

Counterterrorism expert Ehud Dribben, who has 30 years of experience in the field, co-founded the organization with Ari Briggs and Mike Aron. As the three began planning to create a training facility, the IDF approached them to develop a program providing each of the 67 Gaza Envelope communities with 12 full training days annually. To date, Magen48 has conducted more than 550 training sessions.

The training exercise began with the community command center issuing an alert about eight terrorists infiltrating the kibbutz, prompting members of the civil defense squad to mobilize to their assigned defensive positions.

Briggs and Dribben designed the exercise around five key locations where the defense squad would ultimately need to concentrate its forces. Response times are measured, and every step — from alerting residents to engaging the terrorists and evacuating casualties — is closely monitored.

"The reports that emerged after Oct. 7 showed that civilian first responders were incredibly brave. They were prepared to do anything to protect their families, friends and communities, but they were not trained adequately and lacked the equipment they needed," Briggs said.

"Strong, well-trained civilian response teams don’t just improve security — they help bring communities back together, strengthen resilience and ensure these towns grow and have an amazing future," he added.

Retired British Col. Richard Kemp, who observed the training exercises, said the primary objective is to prevent another Oct. 7.

"I was in the British army for 30 years, so I understand the importance of defense and security for a country like Israel," he told Fox News Digital. "If you know that your enemy has a capability of any sort to endanger you, you have to be ready to deal with that capability through the kind of work that Magen48 is doing."

Kemp called the drill one of the most complex exercises he had witnessed.

"It’s really important that these drills take place to give the local community confidence that its security is a top priority and that forces are doing everything they can to prepare for another terrorist attack like the one we saw on Oct. 7," he said.

The U.S.-designated terrorist Houthi movement that controls northern Yemen condemned Saudi Arabia for allegedly targeting the Sanna airport with airstrikes, sparking a possible new front with Iran’s terror-proxy.

While the Houthis agreed to a 2022 truce with the Saudi-led coalition that opposes its rule, the Houthis have frequently disrupted commercial shipping in the Red Sea since they joined Hamas following its invasion of Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. The latest flare up of military strikes could lead to a resumption of war between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Houthis.

Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree called the attacks "blatant aggression" and said they had ended a period of de-escalation. He said Saudi Arabia would bear the consequences and that the attack would not go unanswered. The Houthis threatened to strike King Khalid Airport in Riyadh in Saudi Arabia. Iran's Press TV reported on its X account that, "Iran condemns Saudi attack on Sana'a airport as breach of law, Yemen sovereignty."

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The official slogan of the Houthi movement (Ansar Allah) is: "God is great, Death to America, Death to Israel, Curse upon the Jews, Victory to Islam."

Earlier on Monday, the government's defense ministry said the runway ⁠at Sanaa International Airport had been targeted to prevent an Iranian plane from landing. An armed forces spokesman later said the aircraft had landed at Houthi-controlled ​Hodeidah airport.

Salman Al-Ansari, a prominent Saudi geopolitical analyst, told Fox News Digital, "The Iranian-backed Houthi militia is now in a desperate position, attempting to demonstrate its usefulness to its Iranian masters amid the ongoing U.S.-Iran war."

He said, "This is an action taken by Yemen’s legitimate government in response to the violation of its airspace and sovereignty. It was not carried out by Saudi Arabia or the coalition. Yemeni forces struck the runway at Sana’a International Airport after the terrorist Houthi militia defied international law by allowing unauthorized Iranian flights into Yemen, despite measures intended to prevent the smuggling of weapons and explosives."

According to Al-Ansari, "The Houthis know that these flights can land normally if they follow the agreed-upon route through a Jordanian airport, for inspection purposes. The Houthis are currently at one of their weakest points, particularly after Yemen’s legitimate government consolidated effective authority over 80% of the country’s territory. This is a marked departure from the past, when the legitimate government was fragmented between two rival camps."

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Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Israel, Lebanon and other Sunni Gulf countries have expressed concerns about the Iranian regime's plan to establish a so-called "Shiite crescent" that stretches from Iran to Lebanon and includes such terrorist proxies as the Houthis and Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Al-Ansari noted that "By confronting the Houthis, Yemen’s legitimate government is not only defending its own sovereignty; it is helping safeguard the region and the wider world from Iran’s network of terrorist proxies."

Nadwa Al-Dawsari, an expert on Yemen and an associate fellow at the Middle East Institute, told Fox News Digital that, "The Houthis’ warning that the strike on Sana’a airport ‘will not go unanswered’ should be taken seriously. But the significance of the incident extends well beyond the prospect of retaliation.

She said, "The dispute was never really about civilian aviation or simply returning a Houthi delegation from Tehran. The Yemeni government had agreed to facilitate the delegation’s return aboard a Yemenia aircraft. The issue was the Iranian aircraft itself."

She added that "By proceeding with the Mahan Air flight despite Yemeni objections and ensuring that it reached Houthi-controlled Yemen anyway, Iran and the Houthis were sending a political message: Tehran intends to normalize direct and public ties with Houthi-controlled Yemen and is willing to challenge the restrictions that have governed access to the country since 2015."

The U.S. government sanctioned Mahan Air for its role in supplying weapons and technology to terrorist groups such as Hezbollah. 

Al-Dawsari said, "What we are increasingly seeing is a pattern in which Iran and its proxies create facts on the ground, betting that regional and international actors have little appetite for escalation and will eventually adjust to them. We have seen the same approach in the Strait of Hormuz."

She said, "The episode also highlights the Houthis’ growing importance within Iran’s regional network. While other members of the Axis of Resistance have been weakened in recent years, the Houthis have emerged as Tehran’s most capable and strategically important partners, particularly in the Red Sea and the Horn of Africa."

According to Reuters, the Saudi ​government's communication office did not immediately respond to the accusations.

Muhammad Al-Farah, a member of the Houthi Political Bureau, wrote on Telegram, according to the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI), that the alleged Saudi attack will lead to the Bab al-Mandab Strait joining the Strait of Hormuz with respect to disruption and possible closure. As a result, the price of a barrel of oil will rise to $200 and the attacks give the Houthis a reason to "strike back and liberate Yemen from occupation."

Fox News Digital sent press queries to the State Department.

Reuters contributed to this report.

A controversial United Nations agency is being investigated by U.S. officials for alleged ties to terrorism. The U.N. Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), the U.N. organization for Palestinian refugees, has more than 1,500 employees being probed for links to terrorism.

U.S. officials have increasingly called on U.N. member states to defund UNRWA after decades of concerns about its school materials promoting terror, the presence of Hamas tunnels beneath UNRWA schools and charges that staff members participated in the Hamas terrorist attacks of Oct. 7 against Israel.

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While the U.N. conducted its own UNRWA investigation in 2024 through the Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) following claims that 19 UNRWA employees were part of the Oct. 7. attacks, OIOS found insufficient evidence to support the participation of 10 employees. For the remaining nine, UNRWA terminated their contracts.

As the USAID Office of the Inspector General, a law enforcement agency separate from USAID, continues to investigate 1,500 UNRWA employees, it recently announced that it had referred a total of 108 current or former UNRWA staff to the State Department for suspension or exclusion from working with organizations that receive U.S. funds. Those members were found to be involved in the Hamas invasion of southern Israel, or were members of terrorist groups.

A U.S. diplomatic official briefed by USAID OIG investigators confirmed to Fox News Digital that at least 1,500 current or former UNRWA employees are under investigation for ties to foreign terrorist organizations in Gaza.

A senior U.S. official who spoke with Fox News Digital said that the USAID OIG investigation "smartly picked up where the U.N. failed" by looking beyond Oct. 7 participation. The official said the USAID OIG investigation is "critical, as U.S. taxpayers should never fund the salaries of aid workers that are members of a foreign terrorist organization." 

The senior official told Fox News Digital, "USAID OIG’s investigation is helping prevent terrorists from criss-crossing across aid organizations that have received or are seeking U.S. or Board of Peace funding."

Hamas was designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) in 1997 by the State Department, and as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist group (SDGT) in 2001.

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In the press release describing its effort, the USAID OIG said that individuals referred for debarment included "UNRWA school principals, teachers, security personnel, attendants, psychosocial counselors and medical professionals."

They included two deputy school principals, one of whom served as a Hamas deputy company commander and another of whom was a squad leader. USAID OIG additionally referred a teacher with "expertise as a sniper for Hamas," and one who tracked explosive device assignments. Another referred individual was a school principal assigned to a Hamas military manufacturing unit. Under his school, there were "three anti-tank positions and a tunnel shaft."

In the case of Oct. 7 involvement, the USAID OIG specifically mentioned a teacher ordered "to bring two anti-tank missiles to a prescribed location during the Oct. 7 terror attacks," and a deputy school principal charged with communications.

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The USAID OIG stated that it expects to make further referrals to the State Department in addition to "potential criminal referrals to the Department of Justice."

As a result of its investigations, the State Department has banned Hafez Mousa Mohammed Mousa from any future work with U.S. government entities. An UNRWA school principal, Mousa was working with the Hamas East Jabaliya Battalion and "coordinated communications with other suspected Hamas members during the Oct. 7 attacks," the USAID OIG report explains.

In response to Fox News Digital’s questions about whether it will blacklist other identified UNRWA employees, a State Department spokesperson said that "it is no surprise that another 100 UNWRA employees were determined to be involved in the barbaric Oct. 7 attack. President Trump and Secretary Rubio have affirmed time and time again that no State Department funding will be provided to UNWRA, which has been totally infiltrated by Hamas and terrorist sympathizers."

On July 1, the Board of Peace posted on X that UNRWA "has no place in the new Gaza."

An official briefed on developments with the Board of Peace told Fox News Digital that the USAID OIG’s investigations are "quite concerning to us."

The official explained that "we can’t really have an institution operating inside of Gaza where they're purportedly delivering aid and services to two million people but also allegedly participating in and supporting terrorism. That is anathema to creating a safe and prosperous Gaza for Gazans." Moving forward without UNRWA will require being "responsible and deliberate in terms of how we transition those services over to ensure there are no gaps in critical aid delivery, whether it's health services, vaccinations, food, or other goods."

Last month, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho) posted about the infiltration of UNRWA on X, saying, "It is time for the United States to take action to address this growing problem and the systemic radicalization in UNRWA facilities." Risch said he would work with the U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. "to root out the terrorist links at the U.N."

The U.S. Representative for United Nations Management and Reform, Ambassador Jeff Bartos, told a U.N. meeting in June on UNRWA funding, that it was time "to break this cycle."

"This year, you have the choice to stop underwriting an organization that has become a subsidiary of Hamas, whose employees took part in one of the most barbaric terrorist attacks in human history on Oct. 7, 2023," Bartos said. "This year, you have the choice to give the Palestinian people living in Gaza the opportunity to find durable solutions and prosper, instead of subjecting them to endless cycles of dependency and forever refugeehood."

Hamas' theft of aid is continuing to cause harm in Gaza. While not calling out Hamas by name, on Sunday, the U.N. Deputy Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process and Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territory Dr. Ramiz Alakbarov released a statement strongly condemning the "obstruction of humanitarian operations in Gaza by the de facto authorities." He noted that the previous day, "armed personnel affiliated with the de facto authorities forcibly entered the Abu Rashid food distribution point in Jabalia," and additionally "entered a [World Food Programme] warehouse and reportedly assaulted two truck drivers who were delivering humanitarian supplies."

Alakbarov said the incidents "are not isolated" and "reflect an increasingly dangerous pattern of intimidation, violence and obstruction, including smuggling attempts, targeting and abusing humanitarian operations."

Fox News Digital reached out to UNRWA for comment.

The United Kingdom on Monday blamed an Iran-linked proxy group for a string of antisemitic arson attacks targeting British Jewish sites, prompting the government to ban Tehran's powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and impose sweeping new powers to crack down on foreign-backed sabotage.

British officials said the Islamic Movement of the Companions of the Right (IMCR) publicly claimed responsibility for seven attacks this year targeting Jewish and Israeli-linked locations, as well as a Persian-language media outlet critical of Iran's government. According to the U.K. government, members of the IRGC's elite Qods Force were "almost certainly" directing the group's operations across Europe.

The attacks included fires at synagogues, Jewish charity ambulances and other Jewish community sites in London. No injuries were reported.

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Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the new measures send a clear message to foreign adversaries seeking to sow violence.

"We will never let Britain be a playground for states who want to spread fear, division and violence on our streets," Starmer said. "Anyone acting on behalf of those who threaten our national security should be in no doubt that there is no place for you in Britain."

If Parliament approves the designations later this week, anyone carrying out acts of sabotage — including arson — on behalf of the IRGC, IMCR or Russia's GRU Volunteer Corps could face life imprisonment. Supporting or assisting the groups could carry prison sentences of up to 14 years.

The British government said the new authorities, created under the National Security (State Threats) Act 2026, will make it easier for prosecutors to secure convictions because they will no longer have to prove a direct foreign government connection in every case.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood accused both Tehran and Moscow of relying on criminal proxies to conduct hostile operations inside the United Kingdom.

"Iran and Russia are using proxies and thugs to do their dirty work on our shores," Mahmood said. "I have rapidly designated three groups so those working for them will be tracked down and put behind bars."

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The government said IMCR emerged online earlier this year and has also claimed responsibility for attacks on synagogues in Belgium and the Netherlands. British intelligence officials say Iran-backed proxy groups have increasingly recruited members of criminal organizations to carry out sabotage, intimidation and physical attacks across Europe, often targeting Jewish communities and Iranian dissidents.

According to the U.K., MI5 identified at least 20 potentially lethal Iran-backed plots against individuals in Britain over the past year. The government has already sanctioned more than 550 Iranian-linked individuals and entities and has pledged £250 million ($334,662,500) over three years to strengthen security for Jewish communities, including increased protection for synagogues, schools and community centers.

Britain also designated Russia's GRU Volunteer Corps, saying the group acts as a proxy for Russian military intelligence by recruiting individuals online to conduct sabotage, arson and other hostile operations.

The crackdown comes just weeks after two Romanian men were sentenced to prison for stabbing a journalist working for a Persian-language television station in London, an attack a British judge said was carried out on behalf of the Iranian state.

Iran did not immediately comment on Monday's announcement, according to The Associated Press.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Ukraine's wartime government is getting another shake-up after Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko stepped down Sunday, with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy saying he has offered her a "new, important" role as he reshapes his administration during the ongoing war with Russia.

Svyrydenko announced her resignation in a statement on social media, saying she was "proud to have had the honor of leading the government during one of the most difficult periods in Ukraine's modern history." She said she had discussed "next steps" with Zelenskyy, but did not disclose what her next position would be.

"I remain ready to serve the Ukrainian state and carry out every task aimed at strengthening Ukraine's position, defending our national interests and bringing a just peace closer," Svyrydenko wrote.

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Zelenskyy, who has remained in office under martial law because wartime elections are prohibited, framed the move as part of a broader shift in Ukraine's governing strategy.

"Ukraine is changing its political strategy," Zelenskyy wrote in a social media post, adding that he had offered Svyrydenko the chance to lead "a new, important area" in Ukraine's relations with a key international partner.

The Ukrainian president said each major area of foreign policy would be assigned to an experienced official responsible for carrying out agreements reached with foreign leaders and advancing the interests of the Ukrainian people. He also announced planned changes to the country's top law enforcement leadership, though he did not immediately provide additional details.

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The reshuffle marks the fourth major reorganization of Zelenskyy's government since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, reflecting the president's repeated efforts to inject new momentum into his wartime administration.

Svyrydenko, who previously served as Ukraine's economy minister, was appointed prime minister in July 2025 at age 39 after playing a key role in negotiating a minerals agreement between Ukraine and the United States. The deal was widely viewed as a way to strengthen U.S. economic interests in Ukraine while reinforcing Washington's long-term commitment to the country's security.

Following the announcement, Zelenskyy met with several senior officials, including Energy Minister Denys Shmyhal, Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko and Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, signaling that additional changes to his government could be forthcoming.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Four Americans were reportedly caught in a fiery multi-vehicle crash in Mexico that left at least 10 people dead and about 10 others injured. 

The massive pileup happened Sunday after a tractor-trailer crashed into multiple vehicles on a highway in the western state of Jalisco, according to the Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection of Nayarit. 

While the agency reported 10 deaths, Mexico's Army, Air Force and National Guard said nine people were killed.

Jalisco Civil Protection told Reuters that four Americans suffered minor injuries and were transported to a local hospital.

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"Four patients in minor condition, all U.S. citizens, were transferred to the Arboledas Hospital in Guadalajara by a private ambulance from the highway," Jalisco Civil Protection said.

Reuters reported that two of those killed were minors.

Another two of the injured were identified as National Guard members who suffered serious injuries and were taken to a hospital in Guadalajara, according to Reuters. 

Videos circulating on social media appeared to show several vehicles engulfed in flames along the highway connecting Guadalajara and Tepic, sending multiple plumes of black smoke into the air. 

MISSOURI SKYDIVING PLANE CRASH THAT KILLED ALL 12 ABOARD IS A 'DEVASTATING LOSS,' COMPANY SAYS

According to Mexican officials, the crash happened when a tractor-trailer apparently suffered a brake failure and slammed into a line of vehicles that had stopped because of an earlier accident. 

"According to initial reports, a trailer reportedly suffered a failure in its braking system and ended up crashing into several vehicles that were stopped due to a prior incident," Mexico's Army, Air Force and National Guard said in a post on X. 

POPULAR FLORIDA SOCIAL MEDIA INFLUENCER KILLED IN DRIVE-BY SHOOTING WHILE INSIDE LUXURY SUV

The initial accident reportedly involved a rear-end collision between two tractor-trailers. As emergency crews responded, a third tractor-trailer crashed into the scene, according to the Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection of Nayarit. 

"As a result of this second impact, three private vehicles and two tractor-trailer trucks were completely destroyed by the fire," the authorities said. "Additionally, two other private vehicles and an official Dodge Charger unit belonging to the National Guard sustained material damage. "

Firefighters later extinguished the blaze, officials said. 

Local outlet El Financiero reported that the driver of the tractor-trailer was detained by the National Guard. 

Reuters contributed to this report. 

A massive fire ripped through a Bangkok pub early Monday, killing at least 27 people and injuring several others as patrons tried to flee the smoke-filled venue, officials said.

The blaze was reported around midnight at the Na Ladprao pub in the northern part of Thailand’s capital, The Associated Press reported, citing rescuers.

Video shared by first responders showed flames pouring from the front of the building and thick black smoke billowing into the sky as people scrambled to escape. 

NEARLY 100 MONKEYS ESCAPE ENCLOSURE, INVADE NEIGHBORHOODS AS OFFICIALS SCRAMBLE TO RECAPTURE THEM

Firefighters brought the fire under control in about 30 minutes, according to The Associated Press.

Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said at the scene that 27 people were killed and that several injured victims were taken to a hospital.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

AT LEAST 34 DEAD AFTER TOURIST BOAT CAPSIZES DURING VIOLENT THUNDERSTORM IN VIETNAM

A musician performing at the pub told Anutin he saw smoke coming from a circuit breaker near the stage shortly before the power went out, the prime minister said. 

Moments later, an explosion was heard, and thick smoke spread through the venue, The Associated Press reported.

Many of the victims were located in restrooms at the back of the pub, Anutin said.

PILOT DEAD, 13 INJURED AFTER SMALL PLANE CRASHES INTO TOWERING SKYSCRAPER

Photos from the aftermath showed heavy damage inside the building.

Deadly nightlife fires have struck Thailand in the past. In 2022, a fire at a music pub in eastern Thailand killed 14 people.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

A migrant wanted in connection with the brutal murder of an American mother in Ireland was in the country despite having his asylum application rejected, according to Irish media.

The man, described by Irish police as a "person of interest," was in the process of appealing the asylum decision and was allowed to remain in the country when Jamey Carney, 43, was beaten and suffocated in her home in Killarney, County Kerry, the Irish Mirror reported.

Despite his status, the outlet said he was still in the possession of his passport and left Ireland on a flight to Istanbul, Turkey, before Carney’s body was discovered Tuesday, triggering an international manhunt and a murder investigation.

It is unclear when his asylum application was refused or why it was denied. Irish police have refused to name the man.

AMERICAN MOTHER MURDERED IN IRISH TOURIST TOWN AS INTERNATIONAL MANHUNT TARGETS ALLEGED ASYLUM SEEKER

The reports are likely to intensify scrutiny of Ireland’s asylum system and why the man remained in the country after reportedly being denied asylum.

The Irish Mirror reported the Jordanian national had arrived in Ireland in 2024 and been living in a state-run migrant shelter in the idyllic town before spending increasing amounts of time at Carney’s home after they became romantically involved.

He first arrived in the United Kingdom before traveling through Northern Ireland and eventually settling in County Kerry, according to the Irish Mirror.

His social media accounts contain posts from the United Kingdom and Turkey in recent years.

Carney’s social media profiles described her as a "New Yorker in Ireland" and showed her with a man she identified as her partner and writing that they were a "mixed couple." Multiple Irish media outlets have identified the man as the person police are seeking, though Irish police have not publicly confirmed his identity or reported immigration status.

Fox News Digital asked Irish police and the Department of Justice to confirm reports that he had been refused asylum and was appealing that decision. Neither agency confirmed the reports.

HERE'S WHY IRELAND IS AT BOILING POINT OVER MASS IMMIGRATION

Detectives believe Carney died around 11 p.m. Monday, roughly 14 hours before her body was discovered, according to The Irish Independent.

Her body was found on Tuesday at around 1:30 p.m. local time by her 13-year-old daughter.

By that time, the man had boarded a flight to Istanbul having traveled 200 miles by bus to Dublin Airport.

Despite the manhunt entering its sixth day, police have yet to name or provide any details about the person on the run, drawing criticism on both sides of the Atlantic. Irish police said that investigators are working with international law enforcement partners as the murder investigation continues.

Detectives issued alerts to airports, ports, train stations and bus stations within just over an hour of Carney’s body being discovered, The Irish Independent reported. However, by then, the man had already left Ireland.

According to the Irish Mirror, investigators now fear he may already have traveled onward to his home country of Jordan, which does not have an extradition treaty with Ireland.

A law enforcement source told Fox News Digital the search is expected to be difficult because the man had a significant head start before investigators were alerted to Carney’s death.

Carney, a New York native, moved to Ireland in 2021 and has family living in the Killarney area.

The State Department told Fox News Digital it was providing consular assistance to the victim's family.

New German crime figures and an expanding investigation into an alleged sexual exploitation of teenage girls near the Nuremberg, Germany, central railway station are intensifying a broader European battle over migration, integration and whether officials have been too reluctant to confront patterns of organized sexual abuse.

Germany recorded 751 cases categorized as group rapes in 2025, according to the federal government’s response to a parliamentary inquiry submitted by the opposition Alternative für Deutschland party. All parties represented in the Bundestag German federal parliament may submit formal questions requiring government responses, a key tool through which opposition lawmakers scrutinize federal policy.

Police identified 1,087 suspects in the cases, including 509 German citizens and 578 non-German nationals. Syrians were the largest foreign-national group, with 110 suspects, followed by Afghans with 64, Iraqis with 46 and Turks with 44.

ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT SOCCER COACH WHO USED ALCOHOL AND DRUGS TO SEXUALLY ABUSE KIDS LEARNS FATE

The government cautioned that "group rape" is not a separate criminal offense or standardized police category. Officials generated the figures by filtering recorded rape cases in which suspects were listed as not acting alone. The numbers represent suspects identified during police investigations, not people convicted in court.

The figures emerged as investigators in Nuremberg, Germany, pursued allegations that vulnerable girls were deliberately drawn into a network involving affection, gifts, narcotics and sexual exploitation.

Bavarian police said in May that men operating around the city’s main railway station allegedly approached girls from unstable or vulnerable backgrounds, initially offering them attention, clothing or cosmetics. Investigators said some were later given hard drugs, including crystal meth, and that their resulting dependency was allegedly exploited to obtain sexual acts or other "services."

STEPDAD ACCUSED OF SEX ASSAULT AS COPS WIDEN PROBE INTO GIRL’S LETHAL BENADRYL INGREDIENT DOSE

The investigation, known as EKO Kajal, has continued to expand. Police said Tuesday that ten suspects were being held in pretrial detention in cases involving alleged sexual offenses against girls and young women and the distribution of drugs or medication to minors.

In the latest arrests, police alleged that a 21-year-old Syrian man raped two girls, ages 15 and 18, in a Nuremberg, Germany, apartment after they were given narcotics by a 40-year-old Syrian man. Both men were detained, but the accusations remain allegations and have not been adjudicated. 

Emma Schubart, a research fellow at the London-based Henry Jackson Society, told Fox News Digital that the Nuremberg, Germany, allegations bear similarities to grooming-gang cases uncovered in Britain, where girls were plied with drugs and alcohol before being repeatedly abused by groups of men.

"It’s a severe failure in both countries," Schubart said, arguing that the problem begins with insufficient screening and continues with inadequate integration after migrants arrive.

"The first step that both authorities in the U.K. and in Germany really are not doing is screening migrants effectively," she said. "But then, once the migrants are already here, the integration policy is completely lacking."

Schubart said the isolation of some immigrant communities can contribute to "ghettoization" and create environments in which criminal networks operate with limited scrutiny or cooperation with authorities.

She also challenged the argument that disparities in some sexual-offense statistics can be explained primarily by poverty.

POLYGAMOUS SECT LEADER CONVICTED ON STATE CHARGES AFTER GIRLS FOUND IN UNVENTILATED TRAILER

"Socioeconomic factors matter, but they absolutely do not fully explain the disparities," Schubart said. "Native Germans from similar socioeconomic backgrounds absolutely do not show equivalent rates in group sexual offending."

Schubart said she viewed the apparent intersection between drugs and sexual exploitation as an especially important parallel with Britain.

"In the U.K. and in Germany, it’s a very similar pattern where it’s basically drug trafficking that also involves sex trafficking," she said. "These drug-trafficking networks and cells operate across the country, not just in those cities where we see the crimes playing out."

Britain has spent years reckoning with grooming scandals in places including Rotherham, Rochdale, Telford and Oxford, England, where official reviews found that police, social workers and local authorities repeatedly missed or ignored evidence that vulnerable children were being systematically abused.

Baroness Louise Casey’s national audit, published by the British government in June 2025, concluded that inconsistent definitions, incomplete records and failures to collect ethnicity data made it impossible to establish the full national scale of group-based child sexual exploitation. It nevertheless found evidence of the disproportionate representation of Pakistani-heritage suspects in some local datasets and cases, while warning against extrapolating those findings to the entire country.

The British government later backed an independent inquiry intended to examine failures or obstruction by police, councils and other public bodies in relevant local areas.

Schubart argued that officials in both countries have sometimes avoided discussing offenders’ backgrounds out of concern that doing so could damage relations with minority communities.

"In the U.K., it’s usually the phrase ‘community relations,’" she said. "There’s a huge effort to not threaten community relations."

Germany’s ifo Institute reported in February 2025 that its analysis of district-level police data from 2018 through 2023 found no correlation between a rising foreign population and local crime rates, including in areas receiving more refugees.  

"We find no correlation between an increasing share of foreigners in a district and the local crime rate," ifo researcher Jean-Victor Alipour said when the findings were released. "The same applies in particular to refugees." Researchers said differences in suspect rates can be influenced by age, sex, urban concentration and other demographic factors.

Germany’s Syrian population also plays a significant role in sectors facing severe labor shortages. 

The German Medical Association reported that 7,959 Syrian citizens were working as physicians in Germany at the end of 2025, making Syrians the country’s largest group of foreign doctors.

The competing evidence presents European governments with a difficult test: investigating organized exploitation and demographic patterns without political hesitation, while avoiding the suggestion that hundreds of suspects define millions of immigrants.

The Toronto Police Service is investigating after gunfire broke out Saturday night at a large Latin street festival in Midtown Toronto, leaving at least two people dead and four others wounded.

Police said they received reports of a shooting at St. Clair Avenue West and Arlington Avenue at 8:12 p.m. local time and discovered an active shooter situation.

First responders found six people suffering from gunshot wounds, officials said. Two of the victims were pronounced dead at the scene.

USPS WORKER ARRESTED AFTER ALLEGED MASS SHOOTING THREAT AGAINST TEXAS PRIDE EVENT, FBI SAYS

It is unclear what led to the shooting, and authorities said suspect(s) are still "outstanding."

Following the shooting, the Toronto Transit Commission suspended train stops at the nearby St. Clair West station on Line 1 Yonge-University due to what officials described as a "security incident."

Regular transit service has since resumed.

FOUR DEAD AND 29 SHOT IN CHICAGO WEEKEND VIOLENCE AS LEADERS TOUT CRIME PROGRESS

Authorities urged the public to avoid the area and follow all directives from police at the scene.

The TD Salsa on St. Clair Festival, Toronto’s biggest Latin culture celebration, was celebrating its 22nd annual event in Toronto's Hillcrest Village.

The Toronto Police Service told Fox News Digital no further information is available.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

An international manhunt is in its fifth day after the murder of an American woman in Ireland, but Irish police have yet to name a suspect or provide any description of the man they are seeking — a decision drawing sharp criticism from many, including a former FBI agent and an Irish politician.

Jamey Carney, 43, a New York native who moved to Ireland in 2021, was found dead after suffering head injuries and suffocating in her home in the picturesque town of Killarney, County Kerry, late Monday, according to The Irish Times. The idyllic southwestern town is hugely popular among American tourists.

Before Carney's body was discovered Tuesday, the man Irish police describe as a "person of interest" had already traveled about 200 miles from Killarney to Dublin Airport and boarded a flight to Turkey, according to Irish police, suggesting authorities knew his identity but chose not to disclose it publicly.

Some Irish publications have reported that the person of interest is an asylum seeker originally from Jordan who came to Ireland in 2024 amid an influx of illegal immigrants descending on the island country.

AMERICAN MOTHER MURDERED IN IRISH TOURIST TOWN AS INTERNATIONAL MANHUNT TARGETS ALLEGED ASYLUM SEEKER

"How is the public supposed to help with locating the alleged suspect when Irish authorities won't even release his name?" former FBI Special Agent Nicole Parker wondered in an interview with Fox News Digital. "Time is of the essence. Every hour or day increases the chance the suspect disappears, destroys evidence or hurts others. Public help is critical. Withholding a photo, name or description for days while the suspect is on the run is counterproductive."

Parker said that if the roles were reversed and a non-U.S. citizen had been murdered in the United States, authorities would typically release identifying information immediately.

"Law enforcement — local, state and federal, including the FBI and U.S. Marshals — would aggressively release identifying information to the public," she said. "The public's help is often what leads to locating fugitives."

Irish broadcaster RTÉ reported police said they were not in a position to comment on the person's age, name or nationality for legal reasons, though authorities did not specify any such legal basis.

A 2015 immigration law protecting the identities of asylum seekers may explain why Irish police have not identified the person of interest, Gript.ie reported. According to the outlet, the law generally prohibits publishing the identities of asylum seekers to protect them from those they claim to be fleeing.

Fox News Digital asked Irish police to identify the person of interest and explain the legal basis for withholding his identity, but they declined to provide any new information, saying only that there were "no additional updates at this time."

Independent Dublin City Councilor Gavin Pepper, a critic of mass immigration into Ireland, slammed the decision not to publicly identify the person of interest. He said the failure to do so is a serious public safety concern.

"That man had a substantial head start," Pepper told Fox News Digital. "At the end of the day, it shouldn't matter what color your skin is. If you commit a heinous crime, your face should be all over every newspaper, every TV station. A manhunt is a manhunt."

Irish police are treating Carney's death as a murder.

WATCH: Harry Cole: American mom's murder highlights Ireland's immigration issues

HERE'S WHY IRELAND IS AT BOILING POINT OVER MASS IMMIGRATION

Pepper said that had authorities publicly released the person's identity sooner, law enforcement in the country where he landed could potentially have been waiting for him.

Not everyone agreed with emphasizing the man's reported immigration status.

Ruth Coppinger, a member of the Irish parliament with the Trotskyist political party People Before Profit, criticized media reports identifying the man as an asylum seeker, accusing some outlets of "stoking the flames of racism," according to Gript.ie. She argued in the Irish parliament that "the common denominator in violence against women is a man, not a nationality."

Several news outlets – including the New York Post, The Irish Mirror, Irish Independent and Irish Examiner -- identified the 28-year-old person of interest by name. Irish police and the Department of Justice declined to confirm his identity to Fox News Digital.

Carney's body was discovered by her 13-year-old daughter in an upstairs bedroom of their home just before 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, The Irish Times reported.

Irish police issued alerts to airports, ports, train stations and bus stations within just over an hour of Carney's body being discovered, the Irish Independent reported. However, the person of interest had already left Ireland.

The search is becoming increasingly difficult as the hours and days pass.

Irish police are now working with Interpol, Europol and Turkish authorities to try to locate the man after he flew to Istanbul. Detectives fear he may already have left Turkey with local assistance and traveled onward to Syria or his native Jordan, according to reports.

An Irish police source also told Fox News Digital they believe locating the man will be difficult because he had already fled the country. Investigators believe he first arrived in the United Kingdom before traveling to Ireland, according to reports.

The killing comes as Ireland grapples with a rise in violence against women. Gript.ie reported that eight women have died in violent circumstances in the country this year, matching the total for all of 2025. According to the outlet's analysis, only one of the identified or sought suspects in those cases was an Irish national.

Ireland does not record the ethnicity of those who commit crimes.

Carney was originally from Westchester County, just north of New York City. She moved to Ireland in 2021, according to the Irish Independent.

Her social media profiles described her as a "New Yorker in Ireland" and featured photos and videos of her with her daughter and a man she identified as her partner. In one recent post, she referred to them as a "mixed couple."

Carney's social media accounts also showed she supported the Free Palestine movement. Her Facebook bio described her as a "New Yorker in Ireland," included the phrase "Free Palestine," and read "Fk Ice," an apparent reference to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Several posts also showed the couple attending pro-Palestinian rallies together.

THOUSANDS MARCH IN DUBLIN AGAINST IRELAND'S MASS MIGRATION POLICIES AS MCGREGOR PURSUES PRESIDENTIAL BID

Posts on the social media accounts of the man named in media reports referred to Carney as "my love" and "my heart."

His accounts also contain posts from the United Kingdom and Turkey in recent years.

Carney's LinkedIn profile indicated she worked for a healthcare outsourcing company in Ireland after previously working as an insurance agent and real estate salesperson in the New York metropolitan area.

Carney's sister, Devon Bennett, described her as "an insanely caring human being" who "dedicated so much of herself, her energy and her time to fighting for the rights of others," according to the Irish Independent. Bennett said Carney was especially proud of her "brilliant daughter, Michaela."

"We grew up in New York, but she spent much of her best years with Michaela in Bergen County, New Jersey," Bennett told the outlet.

"Their true home, where they both felt they truly belonged, was the beautiful town of Killarney."

A devastating double-aviation crisis in the Bahamas, including a deadly North Andros plane crash and a separate aircraft fire on Friday, prompted the government to suspend flight operations for a local airline and launch a federal safety probe.

Shortly after 1 p.m. local time Friday, a Cessna 402 aircraft with Bahamian registration departed Lynden Pindling International Airport in Nassau bound for San Andros Airport.

The Aircraft Accident Investigation Authority (AAIA) said the plane "encountered difficulties" and crashed into bushes prior to landing.

MISSOURI SKYDIVING PLANE CRASH THAT KILLED ALL 12 ABOARD IS A 'DEVASTATING LOSS,' COMPANY SAYS

First responders, including the Royal Bahamas Police Force, Airport Authority and emergency medical personnel, rushed to the dense brush where the aircraft went down.

The Bahamas Musicians and Entertainers Union confirmed in a statement Saturday that 10 people died in the crash, including prominent members of the "The Pond Band" and a local DJ, whose artistry the union said "touched so many lives and helped to enrich the cultural fabric of The Bahamas."

Bahamian Prime Minister Philip Brave Davis said a sole survivor was pulled from the wreckage.

"Ann and I are praying for the families who are now facing unbearable grief," Davis wrote in a statement on X. "We are also praying for the survivor, whose recovery and care will remain in our thoughts."

EIGHT BELIEVED DEAD AFTER B-52 CRASHES SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF FROM EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE

The identities of those killed in the crash have not yet been released.

While the AAIA's preliminary reports initially indicated seven people were on board, officials are still establishing the facts of the flight manifest.

Just hours before the fatal crash in North Andros, a Flamingo Air flight en route to Mayaguana was forced to turn back to Nassau after the pilot reported a concern, according to the Ministry of Energy, Utilities and Aviation (MoET).

After the aircraft landed and passengers safely deplaned, the plane caught fire on the runway.

FORMER NFL QB ROBERT GRIFFIN III DESCRIBES HARROWING ENGINE FIRE ON UNITED FLIGHT

Following the two back-to-back safety incidents, the Civil Aviation Authority Bahamas (CAAB) temporarily suspended Flamingo Air's Air Operator Certificate, according to MoET officials.

"The suspension is a precautionary safety measure and should not be treated as an adverse compliance action against Flamingo Air," the agency wrote in a statement.

Investigators from the AAIA and inspectors from the CAAB remain at the scene in North Andros as they work to determine what caused the Cessna 402 tragedy.

Flamingo Air did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Ukraine’s intensifying campaign against Putin's oil industry is having a growing impact inside Russia, forcing one of the world’s largest energy producers to restrict diesel exports, pursue fuel imports and confront shortages stretching from occupied Crimea to cities deep in the country.

Inside Russia, the consequences are becoming increasingly visible. Former Russian opposition politician and commentator Maxim Katz said the shortages represent one of the first direct ways many Russians have experienced the consequences of the war — and could become particularly sensitive ahead of State Duma elections scheduled for September.

"This is the first time that Russians actually sees that the war has an effect on their day-to-day life — not only in the cost of fuel, but in its availability," Katz told Fox News Digital in a Zoom interview from Israel, where he lives in exile. "You cannot buy it. And that’s a big deal for Russia."

DRONE OFFENSIVE HITS RUSSIAN OIL TANKERS AND REFINERIES AT 'INDUSTRIAL SCALE' AS MOSCOW BANS DIESEL EXPORTS

Katz said elections in Russia are neither free nor competitive, but they still serve an important function for Putin by projecting public support to regional leaders, business figures and other members of the elite.

"If everybody sees in September that he has 20% support or 10% support, then questions begin about why he should appoint governors or control the system," Katz said. "That is something he does not want to deal with."

The fuel crisis, Katz argued, threatens Putin’s effort to portray himself as fully in control and to keep the cost of the war away from ordinary Russians.

"Putin tried to convince everybody that Moscow would continue to live its regular life and nobody would see the war," Katz said. "It was his war, not the war of ordinary Russians. But when the war comes home, this is a completely different story, and it changes the equation."

Katz also pointed to the striking reversal of Russia — historically one of the world’s largest exporters of oil and refined products — seeking fuel supplies from abroad. Reuters reported that Moscow had approached Kazakhstan about importing approximately 50,000 metric tons of gasoline after refinery outages reduced Russian gasoline output by roughly 25% from a year earlier.

The campaign reached a new milestone this week when Ukrainian drones struck the Omsk refinery, Russia’s largest, roughly 1,700 miles from Ukrainian-held territory. The facility temporarily halted processing after the attack, according to Reuters. Days later, another strike shut Russia’s Saratov refinery for the third time this year.

The expanding crisis raises a central question for Ukraine and its allies: Can attacks on the infrastructure that powers Russia’s military and economy alter President Vladimir Putin’s calculations — or will the Kremlin continue shielding its war effort while shifting the burden onto ordinary Russians?

"They have to buy fuel from Kazakhstan now," Katz said. "Russia is one of the biggest exporters of oil and oil products and always has been. This is crazy."

Still, Katz cautioned that the Kremlin would likely continue prioritizing military supplies even as civilian shortages worsened.

"He will find the fuel for the tanks. That is not the issue," Katz said. "The issue is his grip on Russia."

WATCH: FIGHTS BREAK OUT AT RUSSIAN GAS STATIONS AS PUTIN ADMITS FUEL SHORTAGES

Retired U.S. Air Force Gen. Philip M. Breedlove, former commander of U.S. European Command and NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe, said the effects are already becoming significant.

"Without question, Ukraine’s campaign against Russia’s oil and energy infrastructure is having a real and growing impact on the Russian homeland," Breedlove told Fox News Digital. "The reported reductions in fuel production are significant — close to a third by some estimates."

"These strikes are beginning to seriously impact not just the economy but the Kremlin’s ability to sustain its war effort and military operations," he added. "When Ukraine is able to hit large, high-value energy targets deep inside Russian territory, that changes the equation."

"Russia cannot effectively defend every refinery and energy facility across their enormous territory, and that is the core problem for Moscow," Breedlove said. "Every asset they deploy to defend their infrastructure are assets not deployed to the frontlines."

Moscow has already taken emergency measures. Russia banned diesel exports through the end of July as drone attacks forced unplanned refinery shutdowns and reduced domestic supplies. Seaborne exports of diesel and gasoline fell 39% in June compared with May and 46% from the previous year, according to Reuters.

RUSSIAN GENERALS' ASSASSINATIONS EXPOSE GROWING RIFT INSIDE PUTIN'S SECURITY APPARATUS

Ukraine’s ambassador to Israel, Yevgen Korniychuk, said American intelligence has played an important role in helping Kyiv penetrate Russia’s extensive air-defense network.

"You always have to give credit to the United States," Korniychuk told Fox News Digital. "U.S. intelligence is helping Ukrainian missiles and drones avoid Russian anti-missile defense."

The Wall Street Journal, citing U.S. officials, said in a 2025 report that "The U.S. will provide Ukraine with intelligence for long-range missile strikes on Russia’s energy infrastructure." Reuters, citing the Financial Times, also reported that "U.S. intelligence has helped Kyiv strike important Russian energy assets, including oil refineries, far beyond the front line, the newspaper said, citing unnamed Ukrainian and U.S. officials familiar with the campaign."

Fox News Digital reached out to the State Department and the White House to confirm the reports and the Ukrainian ambassador’s claims.

Korniychuk said the strikes are creating serious pressure inside the Russian system, even if they have not yet persuaded Putin to change course.

"The majority of the Russian leadership understands that this is a crucial problem, but Putin personally does not," he said. "The distance between him and the rest of the Russian leadership is growing tremendously. Even people he has trusted for many years understand that this is going nowhere, but that will not necessarily bring Putin to the same conclusion."

Retired Lt. Gen. Richard Newton, former U.S. Air Force assistant vice chief of staff, argued that the broader strategic picture is shifting in Ukraine’s favor.

"Throughout the conflict, the vast majority of the Russian homeland has been a sanctuary," Newton said. "However, over the last several months, Ukrainian drone attacks have reached deep inside Russia — up to 1,500 miles recently."

Newton said the pressure was arriving as Western support strengthened.

"That is a credit to President Zelenskyy, his military leadership and Ukraine’s defense industrial base," he said. "And it comes at the right time, with Europe now providing military capabilities and financial resources — and now, with renewed public support from President Trump."

Yet the strategy has limits. Russia continues to generate billions in energy revenue beyond the reach of Ukrainian drones.

Urgewald, a Germany-based nonprofit environmental and human-rights organization analysis of Kpler cargo data found that the European Union received 114 of the 118 cargoes shipped from Russia’s Yamal LNG project between January and May 2026 — about 97% of the project’s exports. The shipments totaled 8.37 million metric tons and had an estimated value of roughly $5.7 billion.

"Current trends show EU payments for Russian Yamal LNG are on course to reach almost $7 billion in the first half of 2026 alone," Alexander Kirk, a sanctions campaigner at Urgewald, told Fox News Digital. "These dollars support Russia’s war economy and help sustain Moscow’s aggression against Ukraine, including the drone and missile warfare terrorizing Ukrainian cities."

The figures capture the dual reality confronting Kyiv: Ukraine can damage refineries, disrupt domestic fuel supplies and force Moscow to divert resources, while Russia continues earning substantial revenue from global energy markets.

Amb. Korniychuk said Zelenskyy had given the military 40 days to substantially change the situation.

Katz cautioned that there was no way to predict whether Putin’s system was approaching collapse, but said authoritarian regimes can appear stable until they unravel with extraordinary speed.

He compared that uncertainty to the final months of the Soviet Union.

"Nobody before the August Putsch could even think that in three months from now there would be no Soviet Union," Katz said. "Systems like this — this is one of their common things — collapse quick."

For now, Ukraine’s strikes have not halted Russian military operations or forced Putin to negotiate. But they have reached deep into Russia, strained its fuel system and undermined the Kremlin’s effort to keep the war distant from its population.

The question being asked by analysts is no longer whether Ukraine can hit Russia’s economic engine, but how much sustained pressure that engine — and Putin’s political system — can withstand.

Israel’s leaders are publicly signaling that their country is prepared to strike Iran for a third time, while a U.S. official tells Fox News Digital that Washington remains closely coordinated with Jerusalem. 

"The IDF is on high alert and prepared to resume the campaign, regain air superiority, and carry out an independent Israeli strike against Iran to eliminate threats — even for a third time," Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Minister Israel Katz said Thursday at a graduation ceremony for the Israeli Air Force’s newest pilots.

"If we have to return, we will return with even greater force," Katz added.

ISRAEL DEFENSE CHIEF WARNS STRIKES ON IRAN COULD RESUME SOON, SIGNALS CAMPAIGN NOT OVER

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also warned Thursday that Israel’s campaign against Iran was not finished and said Tehran would not be permitted to obtain a nuclear weapon, regardless of any agreement reached with Washington.

"The war has not yet ended," Netanyahu said at the air force ceremony. "Alongside the old challenges, new challenges are emerging. Axes are falling, and axes are rising. We are paying attention to this. We are prepared for every scenario."

Two Israeli sources told CNN Friday that the Trump administration does not currently want Israel to participate in the latest U.S. strikes against Iran. 

"Netanyahu would really want to join the U.S. strikes, but the U.S. doesn’t want Israel involved at the moment," one of the sources told CNN.

A U.S. official denied the report, telling Fox News Digital, "This is fake news. The United States has a strong relationship with Israel, which contributed to the resounding success of Operation Midnight Hammer and Operation Epic Fury. We remain in close coordination with our Israeli partners."

Israel first launched a major campaign against Iran in June 2025, with the United States later joining the fighting by striking the Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan nuclear facilities. On Feb. 28, the two allies launched a new, coordinated military campaign against Iran.

While Israeli leaders are openly presenting the military as ready for another campaign, some Israeli officials and analysts say there is little appetite for renewed fighting unless it produces a clear strategic result.

The public warnings may overstate Israel’s desire to reenter the fighting, said Israeli analyst and journalist for Israeli newspaper Yedioth Aharonoth, Nadav Eyal. 

"On the record, Israel is signaling that it is prepared and even eager to strike Iran. But off the record, sources are saying that it is anything but that," Eyal told Fox News Digital. "The reason is clear: Any Israeli strike in Iran will lead to Iranian ballistic missile attacks against Israel."

US CLAWS BACK KEY CONCESSION TO IRAN AFTER FRESH ATTACKS ON COMMERCIAL SHIPS IN STRAIT OF HORMUZ

Eyal said the domestic political consequences could make Netanyahu reluctant to begin another round of fighting, particularly as Israel approaches another election.

"If these strikes are meant to provide meaningful, strategic change, it is something the prime minister can sell to the public," Eyal said. "But if the intention is only to use Israel as leverage, why should Israelis again experience a couple of weeks or more of sitting in safe rooms and losing their summer vacations, children’s day camps and summer camps? That could play out badly for the prime minister politically."

"The truth is that Israel was not really enthusiastic about another strike," he added. "That doesn’t mean it is not going to happen. If President Trump demands that Netanyahu join, it is very hard to see the Israelis saying no. But right now, I don’t see any passion for it."

The diplomatic outreach continued even as Trump declared that the ceasefire with Iran was over.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran has asked us to continue ‘talks.’ We have agreed to do so, but the United States has stated to them, in no uncertain terms, that the Cease Fire is OVER!" Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social.

A source with knowledge of the situation told Fox News that Qatari negotiators have traveled to Iran, in coordination with the United States, to meet with Iranian officials in an effort to de-escalate the situation and create the conditions for negotiations to resume.

On Thursday, Netanyahu and Trump spoke by phone, according to the Israeli prime minister’s office, which said the two agreed to continue coordinating across several regional fronts. Trump briefed Netanyahu on American operations in the Gulf, the statement said.

NETANYAHU REJECTS REPORTS OF A RIFT WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP, SAYS THE TWO REMAIN ALIGNED ON IRAN

The military warnings came as the Wall Street Journal reported Friday that Israel had provided the United States with intelligence about what is described as a fresh Iranian plot to assassinate Trump.

The developments follow renewed attacks on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, where U.S. naval officials said the maritime threat remained "severe." U.S. Naval Forces Central Command reminded commercial vessels Friday that an expanded southern route through the strait remained open and that no controlling authority could require ships to pay a fee for passage.

A U.S. official told Fox News on background that Iran’s attacks against commercial vessels were "acts of terrorism" and constituted failed performance under the memorandum of understanding between Washington and Tehran.

"The United States is still committed to finding a resolution, and technical talks continue," the official said. "Iran can never possess a nuclear weapon."

Brig. Gen. Yossi Kuperwasser, a former senior Israeli military intelligence officer who now heads the Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security, said Israel had never regarded the memorandum as an adequate guarantee.

"From Israel’s perspective, the MOU was never a good deal," Kuperwasser told Fox News Digital, speaking of the memorandum of understanding between the U.S. and Iran. 

"Israel should be on high alert, ready to face an Iranian attack and prepared to strike back if necessary," he added.

For now, Israel’s leaders appear to be leaving Iran — and Washington — with little doubt that they are prepared to act. Whether the United States allows Israel to join the renewed campaign, however, could determine whether the latest confrontation remains limited or develops into another full-scale regional war.

Fox News Digital reached out to the White House for comment. 

A 26-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of the murder of Ann Widdecombe, a former British member of Parliament and reality TV contestant, police said.

Widdecombe, 78, was found dead Thursday in her home on the edge of Dartmoor National Park in southwest England. Authorities said she died of serious injuries, Reuters reported.

The name of the suspect has not been released.

LABOUR MP PUTS CABINET 'ON NOTICE,' THREATENS TO TRIGGER LEADERSHIP CHALLENGE AGAINST STARMER BY MONDAY

"This is really shocking news, and my thoughts, I think all of our thoughts, will be with the family and friends of Ann Widdecombe at this awful time," Prime Minister Keir Starmer said. "Ann was a distinguished politician over many, many years with many achievements, and it’s a huge, huge loss."

Investigators don't believe the killing was politically motivated, Devon and Cornwall Police Assistant Chief Constable Matt Longman said.

"Our murder enquiry is in its early stages but moving at a significant pace," ​Devon and Cornwall Police said in a statement.

Starmer said the security of lawmakers was "of the utmost importance," and urged people to rise above political differences.

BRITISH PRIME MINISTER KEIR STARMER FACES POTENTIAL LEADERSHIP CHALLENGE FROM NEWLY-ELECTED ANDY BURNHAM

Widdecombe served in Parliament, but found fame after leaving office as a contestant on the Strictly Come Dancing and Celebrity Big Brother reality television shows. She later joined the Brexit Party and became a spokeswoman for the anti-mass migration Reform UK party.

In a post on X, former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson called Widdecombe "a heroic Brexiteer and a great speaker who could move Tory audiences to such ecstasy that she was a very hard act to follow."

Cloud9 Management, which represented Widdecombe for more than a decade, said her life was driven by her "strong Christian values and commitment to public service."

"She loved the cut and thrust of political debate and, 16 years after leaving Parliament, was still actively campaigning for Reform UK and offering forthright views on the hot topics of the day across numerous radio and television programmes (sic). Ann was a valued patron of many causes, particularly her animal charities," the company said in a social media post.

In the past decade, two serving British members of parliament have ​been murdered.

In the midst of the Brexit campaign of 2016, Labour lawmaker Jo Cox was shot and stabbed by a Nazi-obsessed loner. Conservative lawmaker David Amess was fatally stabbed in 2021 by a man inspired by the ‌Islamic State terror group.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

A flight instructor jumped to his death out of a small aircraft over Argentina, forcing the student pilot he was teaching to land the plane herself.

Leandro Andrés Bertazzo, 42, was on board a two-seat Cessna 150G on Saturday when he made the decision to jump out over the province of Córdoba, according to CNN, which cited its Argentinian affiliate TN.

"He made this tragic decision on board an aircraft with another person by his side," Eduardo Álvarez, director of the Flying Parrot Córdoba flying school where Bertazzo worked, told TN. "It’s impossible to think about it or understand it, but the human mind is so complex."

PILOT DECLARES MAYDAY BEFORE SEAPLANE COMES DOWN IN NEW YORK CITY’S EAST RIVER

Rosario, the 22-year-old student, later told authorities that Bertazzo told her, "You know what you have to do, carry on," before taking off his gear, opening the door and leaping out, according to Álvarez.

Opening the door of a plane midair is incredibly difficult. Álvarez said it would be akin to trying to open the door of a car traveling 124 miles per hour.

FRANTIC SEARCH UNDERWAY FOR CREW AFTER BOEING 737 WRECKAGE FOUND BY OFFICIALS

Álvarez said that Rosario managed to land the plane safely, despite being in "complete shock." There was no damage to the plane, according to TN.

Álvarez noted that Bertazzo had gone on a flight with another student earlier in the day.

Álvarez also told TN that Bertazzo had visited a psychiatric institute, something that was only known by his family prior to his death.

Prosecutors in Córdoba will lead the investigation into Bertazzo's death. The plane he jumped from is now in police custody.

The State Department condemned Iran’s intensified repression of Christians, including a Catholic woman on hunger strike in a prison known as one of the most brutal in the theocratic state.

The Trump administration statement on widespread human rights violations carried out by the Iranian regime coincides with new military strikes against it in response to Tehran’s attacks on commercial tankers in the Strait of Hormuz.

The Christian woman on hunger strike is 42-year-old Ghazal Marzban, who sits in Iran’s infamous Evin prison in Tehran, according to Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA). Iran sentenced Marzban, a Catholic, to nearly 10 years in prison for practicing her Christian faith, Iranian experts told Fox News Digital. Marzban’s physical health, as of late May, had deteriorated. Her current condition is not known.

IRAN REGIME ACCUSED OF KILLING 19 CHRISTIANS IN ANTI-REGIME PROTESTS AS PERSECUTION CONTINUES: WATCHDOG

It is unclear if the administration plans to ramp up pressure on Iran’s leaders for their widepsread persecution of religious minorities and opponents of the regime.

A State Department spokesperson told Fox News Digital, "We are aware of these reports. It is reprehensible that the Iranian regime continues to persecute religious minorities, including Iranian Christians."

Article 18, an organization that promotes religious freedom in Iran, noted that following Marzban’s conversion, the Islamic law graduate was banned from taking her bar entry examination. Her husband, who also converted to Christianity, has been denied medicine for his Parkinson’s disease, according to Article 18.

Fox News Digital sent a press query to Iran’s U.N. Mission about Marzban and the plight of practicing Christians in Iran.

The State Department spokesperson said, "In Iran, human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the freedoms of expression, peaceful assembly, association, and religion or belief, are completely ignored. The regime targets members of religious and ethnic minority groups and uses tactics like arbitrary arrest and torture to intimidate opponents and silence dissent."

After the regime reportedly murdered as many as 45,000 Iranian demonstrators within a 48-hour period in January, including as many as 22 Iranian Christians, the security forces of the regime arrested vast numbers of protestors.

PENCE COMMENDS TRUMP FOR WINNING FREEDOM OF BEIJING'S ZION CHURCH PASTOR EZRA JIN FROM CHINESE DETENTION

President Trump has cited the number of 45,000 Iranians killed by the regime. The State Department told Fox News Digital that Iran’s leaders should free those protesters still in detention.

"We reaffirm our unwavering solidarity with the people of Iran and call for the immediate and unconditional release of all political and wrongfully detained prisoners, including those facing persecution for peacefully exercising their fundamental freedoms," said the State Department spokesperson.

Lisa Daftari, an expert on Iran who is the editor-in-chief of The Foreign Desk, told Fox News Digital that the joint U.S.-Israel elimination of the former Supreme Leader of Iran, Ali Khamenei, in February, "Hasn’t eased pressure. On the contrary, we are seeing more escalation and the implementation of even more hardline influences."

Daftari said the "Arrests of Christians jumped from 139 in 2024 to 254 in 2025, alongside longer and more frequent sentences. At least 11 people received over a decade. After the recent war, authorities claimed they had ‘neutralized’ 53 elements, which is how they refer to evangelical Christians. That is because the Islamic Republic views conversion as a security threat."

Hengaw, an organization that monitors human rights violations in Iran, reported on its website on July 3 that the regime plans to seize the St. Peter Church in Tehran. Daftari said, "This is a large Christian compound with schools and family homes, and roughly 20 Armenian and Assyrian families are being expelled under a Revolutionary Court order that’s been sitting unused since 1998."

When asked about a policy response from the U.S., Daftari said, "If there’s going to be a response, it has to be targeted. That means sanctions on the specific judges, intelligence officials and IRGC [Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps] actors involved in cases like St. Peter Church and Marzban. And the transfer of church property to entities like EIKO [a business empire controlled by the late Khamenei] should be treated as state seizure, not an internal legal matter, and raised accordingly in international forums."

Ramin, whose real name cannot be disclosed due to "security reasons," an expert for Open Doors, a global Christian organization that aids persecuted Christians, told Fox News Digital, "The threatened confiscation of St Peter’s Evangelical Church in Tehran is deeply concerning and should not be viewed merely as a property dispute. It reflects a wider and long-standing pattern of pressure on Iran’s Christian communities, including recognized historic churches, Protestant communities, converts and reported cases involving Catholic converts."

Ramin added, "St Peter’s is one of Iran’s historic Protestant churches, and the reported eviction of families from the compound sends a clear message of intimidation to the wider Christian community. Together with the arrest, detention and sentencing of Christian converts, including those from Catholic backgrounds, this shows that the Iranian authorities continue to treat the peaceful Christian faith as a security concern rather than as a basic right to freedom of religion or belief."

RUBIO REVOKES IRANIAN OFFICIALS' US TRAVEL PRIVILEGES OVER DEADLY PROTEST CRACKDOWN KILLING THOUSANDS

Mansour Borji, the executive director of Article 18, told Fox News Digital that "The targeting of Christians whom the founders of the Islamic Republic viewed as an ideological threat began from the earliest days of the revolution. This included both Catholic and Protestant communities. Within days of the 1979 revolution, the Rev. Arastoo Sayyah, an Anglican priest, was murdered in his office. Foreign missionaries were expelled within the first year and Christian schools, hospitals and churches soon came under increasing pressure."

He added that, "Since 2008, Article18 has documented numerous confidential cases involving the arbitrary arrest of Catholic converts, harassment of church leaders, visa denials for clergy, the revocation of citizenship from a long-serving bishop and the confiscation and demolition of church property."

Borji continued, "The recent move against St. Peter’s Church is therefore not an isolated incident or a new development. It is part of a long-standing pattern of systematic pressure on independent Christian communities. The Islamic Republic is a totalitarian regime that has consistently sought to suppress any institution or community that operates outside its ideological control."

In the wake of the intensified persecution of Iranian Christians, he warned that "If the Islamic Republic regains the capacity to project its ideology with renewed confidence, the consequences are likely to extend across the region and beyond."

He urged that perpetrators "face targeted sanctions, visa restrictions and asset freezes under existing human rights mechanisms."

Borji said that "Governments, especially in the EU, U.K. and other trade partners, should also make religious freedom a consistent part of their engagement with Iran, rather than treating it as a secondary issue. Appeasing a regime that persecutes its own people has rarely produced moderation."

An Iranian official warned that the Islamic Republic will deliver a "hard slap" while another blatantly threatened the U.S. that "if you strike, you'll get hit," according to automatic translations from the two men's Persian-language posts on X.

Ebrahim Rezaei, whose profile on the social media platform indicates that he is a representative in Iran's Parliament and the spokesperson for the National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, wrote in a post on X, "The martyred Khamenei taught us not to fear America and showed that 'falsehood will perish.' Await the hard slap from the Iranians."

The speaker of Iran's Parliament, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, warned, "America still hasn’t learned that bullying and breaking promises are no longer cost-free. Let me put it plainly: if you strike, you’ll get hit. Don’t flail around pointlessly, or you’ll sink even deeper: the Strait of Hormuz will only open with 'Iranian arrangements,' not American threats."

Both of the men issued their posts on Wednesday after U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced more strikes against Iran.

"At the direction of the Commander in Chief, U.S. Central Command forces have started conducting additional strikes against Iran to further degrade their ability to threaten freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. The United States is holding Iran accountable for recent unjustified aggression against commercial shipping and civilian crews freely navigating a vital international waterway," CENTCOM had noted in a post on X.

TRUMP SAYS IRAN CEASEFIRE DEAL IS 'OVER' AFTER NEW ROUND OF STRIKES

The U.S. military later provided more information about the attacks.

"U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces completed an additional round of strikes against Iran, July 8, to further degrade Iran's ability to attack commercial shipping and innocent civilian mariners in the Strait of Hormuz," CENTCOM noted on Wednesday night.

"U.S. forces struck approximately 90 Iranian military targets including air defense systems, coastal surveillance assets, missile and drone storage sites, naval capabilities, and military logistics infrastructure along Iran’s coastline. The latest strikes follow successful execution of offensive strikes in Iran the night before," the announcement noted. "CENTCOM forces hit approximately 80 Iranian military targets July 7, including more than 60 Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps small boats, to impose heavy costs for Iran violating the ceasefire by attacking three commercial vessels navigating the Strait of Hormuz."

TRUMP DEMANDS END TO TRADE WITH KEY US ALLY, CALLS IT A 'WASTED CAUSE'

President Donald Trump indicated on Wednesday that, as far as he was concerned, the U.S.-Iran Memorandum of Understanding ceasefire was "over."

Kuwait and Bahrain have both reported coming under attack.

The Kuwait Army noted in a Thursday post on X, which was written in Arabic, "The Official Spokesman for the Ministry of Defense, Major General Saud Abdulaziz Al-Otaibi, stated that the armed forces detected, at dawn today, (3) ballistic missiles, (1) cruise missile, and (10) hostile drones within Kuwaiti airspace, which were successfully intercepted and dealt with."

TRUMP SAYS 'IRAN LIES AND CHEATS' AS IRGC EMERGES AS DOMINANT FORCE IN NEGOTIATIONS WITH US

The Bahrain Defense Force noted in a post that was in Arabic, "The General Command clarifies that, with firm resolve and high combat readiness, the Bahrain Defense Force's air defense systems confronted, intercepted, and destroyed several treacherous Iranian aerial attacks this morning, Thursday, July 9, 2026 CE."

Ukraine launched one of its broadest recent drone offensives against Russia’s maritime and energy networks this week, claiming strikes on 21 vessels in three days as attacks on major refineries deep inside Russia intensified pressure on Moscow’s fuel supplies.

The wave of attacks offered a striking display of Ukraine’s growing long-range capabilities.

On Wednesday, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met President Donald Trump at the NATO summit in Ankara, where Trump said the United States would allow Ukraine to manufacture Patriot air-defense interceptors and the two leaders discussed a potential drone agreement.

TRUMP SAYS US WILL LET UKRAINE MAKE PATRIOT MISSILES IN MAJOR POLICY SHIFT

Zelenskyy made air defense his top priority during the bilateral meeting and said the two governments had also begun working on a separate drone agreement.

"Air defense is the priority," Zelenskyy said. He described the emerging drone deal as "a very good beginning" and said he hoped to discuss additional details with Trump.

The timing allowed Zelenskyy to arrive at the summit with evidence that Ukraine’s domestic drone industry can threaten Russian assets far beyond the conventional battlefield.

UKRAINE’S BATTLEFIELD IS TRANSFORMING THE FUTURE OF NATO

Trump praised Zelenskyy as "very effective" and credited Ukrainian forces with successfully operating American weapons against Russia’s much larger military.

"He’s had the best equipment because he had our equipment," Trump said. "But somebody has to use that equipment. And you have a lot of brave people that are using that equipment."

Ukraine is increasingly forcing Russia to defend refineries, airfields, shipping routes and other infrastructure far beyond the front. Kyiv has not achieved a comparable breakthrough in the grinding ground campaign, and Russia continues to bombard Ukrainian cities. But repeated long-range strikes have begun disrupting fuel production and maritime logistics while imposing costs on parts of Russia that were once largely insulated from the fighting.

WATCH: FIGHTS BREAK OUT AT RUSSIAN GAS STATIONS AS PUTIN ADMITS FUEL SHORTAGES

On Tuesday, Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces said nine Russian-linked vessels were struck in the Sea of Azov on Wednesday, bringing the number targeted over 72 hours to 21.

Commander Robert "Magyar" Brovdi said the targets included 19 oil tankers, a cargo ship and a ferry operating near Russian-occupied Crimea, according to East2West news agency. He described the campaign against the fleet as reaching an "industrial scale."

Ukrainian and Russian officials confirmed that the overnight offensive targeted tankers, refineries, pipeline facilities and a military airfield across several Russian regions.

Ukraine says many of the vessels were part of Russia’s so-called shadow fleet and were being used to transport fuel to Crimea, the Black Sea peninsula Moscow seized and illegally annexed in 2014.

The maritime strikes were accompanied by attacks on the Saratov refinery and energy facilities in the Russian regions of Tatarstan and Bashkortostan. Russian authorities said one person was killed in Saratov.

Ukraine also said it struck the Borisoglebsk military airfield in Russia’s Voronezh region. The base has been used by Russian combat aircraft involved in attacks against Ukraine, according to Kyiv.

The latest wave followed a Ukrainian strike Monday on the Omsk refinery in Siberia, approximately 1,700 miles from Ukrainian-controlled territory. The facility is Russia’s largest oil refinery and processed about 460,000 barrels of crude per day last year, according to Reuters.

UKRAINE LAUNCHES WHAT APPEARS TO BE ONE OF ITS LARGEST DRONE ATTACKS AGAINST RUSSIA: REPORT

Two industry sources subsequently told Reuters that the Omsk facility had halted oil processing following the attack.

The disruption comes as parts of Russia face gasoline and diesel shortages attributed in part to repeated Ukrainian attacks on refineries and fuel depots.

Long lines have formed at filling stations in several cities, while some regions have introduced purchasing restrictions. Russia announced Wednesday that it was temporarily banning diesel exports through July 31 to protect domestic supplies.

The shortages have become one of the most visible ways the war is reaching ordinary Russians.

Margarita Simonyan, editor-in-chief of the Kremlin-funded RT network, acknowledged the hardships during an appearance on Russian state television and urged Russians not to respond by challenging the country’s leadership.

"There is no petrol," Simonyan said in a translated clip distributed by regional media.

Recalling food rationing after the collapse of the Soviet Union, she said: "We endured it. And we will endure it now."

Simonyan argued that Russia’s enemies wanted the population to react as it had during the 1917 revolution and "run off to overthrow" the czar.

"Yes, it is hard, yes, very hard," she said, urging Russians to remain calm.

The pressure on Russia’s energy infrastructure formed the backdrop to Zelenskyy’s Wednesday meeting with Trump at the Beştepe Presidential Compound.

Russia continued its bombardment of Ukraine during the summit, striking Kyiv and other cities with missiles and drones. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said storage facilities were burning in the capital’s Desnyanskyi district and reported another fire in the Sviatoshynskyi district.