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The Cradle is an online news magazine covering West Asian geopolitics from within.
❗️BREAKING | US warplanes launch three airstrikes on Al Jawf governorate and two on Marib governorate in western Yemen.
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INFOGRAPHIC | Since the start of Operation Al-Aqsa Flood in October 2023, Yemeni Armed Forces have downed 19 US MQ-9 Reaper drones. The US Department of Defense estimates the cost of each Reaper at approximately $33 million.
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Iran and the US: The price of a deal or the cost of war across West Asia?
As the Trump administration ramps up pressure on Iran, the likelihood of a regional war hinges less on military posturing and more on whether Washington prioritizes strategic de-escalation or seeks to upend the regional balance entirely.
❗️Lebanese President Joseph Aoun to Al Jazeera (2/2):
_ "We are coordinating with the Syrian leadership to control the border and hope to form committees to demarcate both land and maritime borders."
_ "We support forming a military, civil, and technical committee to secure Lebanon's southern border."
_ "We support returning to the 1949 Armistice Agreement (with Israel)."
_ "The issue of normalization with Israel was not raised with us, and Lebanon remains committed to the decisions of the Beirut Summit and the Riyadh Conference."
_ "The State of Qatar stood by Lebanon and helped end the presidential vacuum through the five-member committee."
Iraq signs major pipeline deal with Turkiye, Italy to boost oil exports
The new deal comes as Washington has been pressuring the Iraqi government to reduce its energy dependence on Iran
⭕️ American punk rock band Green Day shows solidarity with Palestine at Coachella
While headlining Coachella on Saturday, the band drew attention to the plight of Palestinian children through their 2004 song Jesus of Suburbia.
“Runnin’ away from pain, like the kids from Palestine / Tales from another broken home,” frontman Billie Joe Armstrong sang, modifying the original lyrics, which were “Runnin’ away from pain when you’ve been victimized.”
Last month, Armstrong also changed another line in the same song, singing “Am I retarded, or am I just J.D. Vance?”—a shift from the original “am I just overjoyed?” referencing the US vice president.
❗️SANA:
Interim Syrian President Ahmad Al-Sharaa, and His Excellency the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, Mr. Asaad Al-Sheibani, receive Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, and his accompanying delegation at the People's Palace in the capital, Damascus.
⭕️ Israeli Settlement Minister Orit Strook has been accused of sexual and physical abuse by her daughter, Shoshana Strook, who also named her father and one of her brothers in the allegations.
Shoshana went public with the claims in a social media post, stating that she had filed an official complaint in Italy.
“After a long period of doubt, extreme emotional states, and a lot of guilt, I wanted to share that I experienced sexual abuse by both of my parents and one of my brothers,” she wrote.
She further accused her parents of physically abusing her younger siblings, saying: “After years of beatings and guilt, I finally spoke out. The memories are overwhelming, but I need justice.”
Strook has repeated multiple claims accusing Hamas of sexual violence on 7 October.
The Strook family has faced public controversy in the past. In 2007, Orit's son, Zviki Strook, was reportedly charged with kidnapping and torturing a Palestinian minor.
Israeli occupation forces violently raid a store adjacent to Jenin Governmental Hospital, forcibly removing Palestinian employees at gunpoint in broad daylight.
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⭕️ Iraq signs Italy-Turkiye deal for major subsea oil pipeline to boost export capacity
Iraq’s oil ministry announced a new agreement with Italian offshore contractor Micoperi and Turkiye's Esta to build a subsea oil pipeline capable of exporting 2.4 million barrels per day (bpd) through its southern ports. The move is part of Iraq’s broader strategy to raise its oil production capacity to over six million bpd by 2029. Oil ministry undersecretary Bassem Mohamed Khodeir recently noted that this goal will be achieved through intensified exploration and drilling, including a redevelopment deal with BP for four major oil and gas fields in Kirkuk.
❗️Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam arrives at the People's Palace in Damascus and begins talks with self-appointed Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa.
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❗️Gaza Ministry of Health:
_ "39 martyrs (38 new martyrs, 1 martyr recovered), and 118 injuries arrived at Gaza hospitals during the past 24 hours"
_ "The death toll from the Israeli aggression has risen to 50,983 martyrs and 116,274 wounded since 7 October 2023."
_ "The death toll and injuries since 18 March 2025 has reached 1,613 martyrs and 4,233 injuries."
⭕️ Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto announced that Qatar plans to invest $2 billion in Indonesia’s newly established sovereign wealth fund, as part of efforts to accelerate the country’s economic expansion.
Speaking on Sunday, he described his meeting with Qatar’s Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani as “productive,” noting that Qatar will channel its investment into the Danantara Indonesia fund.
The Danantara Indonesia fund, launched by Prabowo in February, is part of a broader initiative to raise annual GDP growth from five to eight percent, alongside sweeping government spending cuts.
With an initial capital of $20 billion, the fund will take over state ownership stakes in various government-run enterprises. It marks Indonesia’s second sovereign wealth vehicle, following the Indonesia Investment Authority, which was established in 2021 and manages $10.5 billion in assets.
⭕️ US President Donald Trump said on Sunday that a decision on Iran would be made soon, following what both Washington and Tehran described as "positive" and "constructive" discussions in Oman the day before. The two sides have agreed to meet again later this week.
Speaking to reporters while flying on Air Force One, Trump—who has previously warned of possible military action if no agreement is reached to curb Iran’s nuclear program—said he had held talks with his advisers on the matter and anticipated reaching a decision quickly.
"We'll be making a decision on Iran very quickly," Trump said.
According to Axios, citing two sources familiar with the matter, a follow-up round of nuclear negotiations between the US and Iran is expected to take place the coming Saturday in Rome.
❗️Israeli occupation forces stormed Jenin Government Hospital and abducted a Palestinian man earlier today.
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❗️Statement by Hamas:
"The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) affirms that the movement’s leadership is carefully and responsibly reviewing the proposal it has received from the brotherly mediators, and will deliver its response as soon as the necessary consultations are completed.
The movement reiterates its firm position that any forthcoming agreement must include: a permanent ceasefire, the complete withdrawal of the occupation forces from the Gaza Strip, a genuine prisoner exchange deal, the launch of a serious reconstruction process for what the occupation has destroyed, and the lifting of the unjust blockade on our people in Gaza."
WATCH | Will Trump Fold on Iran the Way He Did on China?
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Hamas ready to release all captives in exchange for 'serious deal, end to war'
The latest round of ceasefire negotiations in Cairo ended without an agreement, while Israel escalates its attacks on civilians in Gaza
❗️Lebanese President Joseph Aoun to Al Jazeera (1/2):
_ "The army is doing its duty and is prepared to assume responsibility for border control. Israel must be pressured to comply."
_ "The army is doing its duty south of the Litani River by dismantling tunnels and confiscating weapons without objection from Hezbollah."
_ "The army has not deployed across the entire southern border area due to the Israeli occupation of five points."
_ "We need a national security strategy that fortifies Lebanon and from which a defense strategy emerges."
_ "The decision to restrict arms to the state has been made and will be implemented through dialogue, not force."
_ "Dialogue about arms monopoly will be bilateral between the presidency and Hezbollah."
_ "Messages have been exchanged with Hezbollah to address the issue of the state's monopoly on weapons."
_ "Hezbollah is aware of Lebanon's interests, and international and regional circumstances are helpful in this regard."
'Hamas not defeated, reserves forces overstretched': Israeli army chief
Hamas retains a force of 20,000 fighters, while Israel’s reservists are increasingly unresponsive to mobilization orders
❗️Lebanon’s National News Agency:
“South Lebanon Council team escaped from a booby-trap set by the Israeli enemy inside a house in Shamaa, southern Lebanon.”
❗️Reports that a number of wounded Israeli soldiers were evacuated from Gaza by military helicopters.
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❗️Joint Qatari-Egyptian Statement:
– "We reaffirm the centrality of the Palestinian cause as the Arab world’s primary concern."
– "We reiterate our unwavering support for the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, particularly their right to an independent, sovereign state."
– "We strongly support efforts to achieve Palestinian national reconciliation and emphasize the need for unity among Palestinian factions."
– "We endorse the Gaza reconstruction plan and look forward to an international conference hosted by Egypt to advance this initiative. At the same time, we express grave concern over the continued escalation in Gaza."
– "We stress the urgent need for sustained joint efforts to secure an immediate ceasefire and ensure humanitarian aid delivery."
– "We stress the importance of calming efforts, most notably mediation with the US to reach a ceasefire in Gaza."
– "We express deep concern over the ongoing armed conflict in Sudan and emphasize the necessity of halting military operations to prevent further humanitarian catastrophe."
– "We welcome the continuation of indirect negotiations between the US and the Iran."
– "We support all peaceful efforts aimed at de-escalating tensions in the region and enhancing security and stability."
US must halt 'contradictory policies': Iran comments on nuclear talks
Talks between Washington and Tehran have been coupled with ongoing US sanctions and threats of an attack on Iran
❗️The Israeli army claims to have discovered a weapons depot in Rafah, southern Gaza, releasing photos of rusty ammunition.
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❗️Quds Brigades, Gaza:
"Our fighters managed to snipe a Zionist sniper who was on top of Al-Muntar Hill in the Shujaiya neighborhood, east of Gaza City."
❗️Al Mayadeen correspondent:
"Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam arrives in Damascus on an official visit, heading a delegation that includes the ministers of foreign affairs, defense, and interior."
⭕️ Hamas media advisor Taher al-Nono says the movement is ready to release all Israeli captives in exchange for “a serious swap deal, an end to the war, the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, and the entry of humanitarian aid.”
“The problem is not the number of hostages, but that the occupation shirks its commitments, disrupts the ceasefire, and continues the war.”
Talks in Cairo, led by Hamas official Khalil al-Hayya and mediated by Egypt and Qatar, ended without real progress, according to an AFP source. Israel’s Ynet reported a new proposal offering the release of 10 hostages in return for US guarantees of talks on a second-phase ceasefire. Nono stressed that “the resistance’s weapons are a red line and are not up for negotiation."
❗️Al Mayadeen citing local sources:
"The Israeli army set up a military post in the village of Al-Hamidiyah in Quneitra’s countryside, southern Syria, and raised both the Israeli flag and the flag of the Paratroopers Brigade."
US strikes on Yemeni ceramics factory leave dozens of casualties
Washington’s war on Yemen has taken a heavy toll on civilians but has failed to stop Sanaa from continuing military operations