By Caolán Magee and Edna Mohamed
- Iran’s government says it will stand firm against US sanctions, and rely equally on diplomacy and defence to protect its interests.
- The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps of Iran (IRGC) claims that it maintains firm control over the Strait of Hormuz, accusing US leaders of spreading false statements regarding the passage to sway energy prices.
‘Israeli settlers move freely’ in West Bank, while Palestinians struggle to protect property
The latest Israeli settler attacks in Qusra are part of an escalating campaign of settler violence that is making daily life in the occupied West Bank increasingly painful for Palestinian residents, reports journalist Sarah Abu Alrob from Ramallah.
Speaking to Al Jazeera, Alrob said attacks on Palestinian property in the occupied territory have become a “daily” routine.
“Palestinians wake up to dozens of reports of attacks all over the occupied West Bank – including Israeli settlers attacking Palestinians physically, destroying their belongings and stealing their livestock,” she said.
“It makes it really difficult for Palestinians to sustain their livelihood and protect their houses, while Israeli settlers are able to move freely and occupy more and more land,” she added.
Responding to the latest report of Israeli settlers besieging a Palestinian home in Qusra, Alrob said: “When Israeli settlers attack a specific house or area, they do not just aim to take over the one establishment. Their larger goal is to take over the whole surrounding area.”
Successive Israeli air attacks hit Lebanon’s al-Mansouri
Two successive Israeli air raids have hit the southern Lebanese town of al-Mansouri, according to the country’s National News Agency (NNA).
Another Israeli air raid occurred near the town of Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh, the agency added, without mentioning casualties from either of the attacks.
Iran defence chief calls for key to defensive power – unity
Iran’s acting Defence Minister Majid Ibn Reza says the country will not stop strengthening its defensive capabilities, according to the IRIB news agency.
“Our mission at the Defence Ministry is to build power for Iran, safeguard the security of the nation and develop defensive capabilities that deter the enemy from any miscalculation or designs against this land,” he said.
Ibn Reza said national unity is “the most important part of our defensive power”, adding that if an enemy targets Iran, it will face “a united nation”.
“We will spare no effort or sacrifice to achieve a strong Iran,” he said. “We pledge that as long as this mission rests on our shoulders, we will not leave the trench.”
His remarks come amid repeated calls from senior Iranian officials, including Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, to preserve national unity and social cohesion.
