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The Cradle is an online news magazine covering West Asian geopolitics from within.
❗️The new Syrian flag was raised in front of the UN building in New York in the presence of Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani.
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❗️Israeli War Minister Israel Katz and Chief of Staff of the military Eyal Zamir held a meeting with US CENTCOM chief Michael Kurilla today focused on "several security and regional issues," according to Katz's office.
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⭕️ In an interview with Time, when asked about "the last hurdles of Saudi-Israeli normalization," US President Donald Trump emphasized his strong personal ties with Saudi leadership and highlighted a $1 trillion investment Saudi Arabia has agreed to make in the US economy.
Although he did not provide specific details on the remaining obstacles, Trump expressed confidence in his foreign policy "achievements" and suggested that Saudi Arabia is likely to join the Abraham Accords soon, predicting rapid progress.
⭕️ Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir said his views have evolved and that he traveled to the US to rehabilitate his image, speaking at an event in New York this week.
“This is one of the reasons I’m here in the US. My name is often mentioned in all kinds of ways that are not accurate or that were in the past,” he said. “I did a lot of things [that] came from one source — my love for Israel.”
During his speech, a protester burst into the room shouting, “Get the f*** out of New York, Itamar,” and “Palestine will be free.”
Ben Gvir responded to the protester saying, “It’s good that they’re allowed to shout. In Syria and Egypt, you cannot shout like this,” and adding, “In America and Israel, we allow people to shout and protest.”
Thousands flooded the streets of northern Yemen’s Saada governorate, rallying under the slogan ‘We stand with Gaza—despite the US and its crimes.’
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⭕️ The US military claims that a blast on Sunday near a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) world heritage site in Yemen's capital city of Sanaa was caused by a Yemeni missile and not an American airstrike.
The US said that the damage was caused by a "Houthi air defense missile" after reviewing "local reports, including videos showing Arabic writing on missile fragments found at the market."
Spain terminates multimillion deal with Israeli weapons maker
Coalition authorities in Madrid have stressed their commitment to 'the Palestinian cause and peace in West Asia'
Palestinians sing chants praising the Qassam Brigades during a funeral in northern Gaza.
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⭕️ During a visit to Moscow on Friday, Iranian Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad announced plans to enhance cooperation with Russia in sectors including agriculture and banking. Speaking on state TV, he also said that Iran is set to sign a $4 billion deal with Russian companies for the development of seven Iranian oilfields.
At a January meeting in the Kremlin, Russian President Vladimir Putin told Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian that Russia could eventually supply up to 55 billion cubic metres (bcm) of gas annually to Iran, beginning with smaller volumes of up to 2 bcm. That 55 bcm figure would match the capacity of the Nord Stream 1 pipeline to Europe, which was damaged by explosions in 2022 and has remained inactive since.
⭕️ TotalEnergies has shipped over 126,000 high-efficiency solar panels to Iraq to begin construction of the $820 million Shams Basra solar energy project in the Artawi field, aiming to generate 1,000 megawatts of electricity.
Part of a broader $27 billion deal, the project is among Iraq’s largest renewable energy initiatives and will help meet rising demand, especially during peak hours.
The panels arrived alongside 160 containers of equipment, including high- and medium-voltage cables, to support the project’s integration into Basra’s power grid. (Iraqi News)
⭕️ The International Monetary Fund (IMF) plans to work with Syria to facilitate its return to the global economic system, IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said in a statement on Thursday.
“Our intention is to, first and foremost, help them rebuild institutions so they can plug themselves in the world economy,” she said.
⭕️ In a statement, Hamas strongly rejected the outcomes of the Palestinian Central Council (PCC) meeting in Ramallah, calling it a major disappointment that deepens national division and ignores the unity and resistance needed amid Israel's ongoing war on Gaza and escalation in the occupied West Bank.
– Criticized the lack of action by official Palestinian institutions to stop the genocide in Gaza and settlement expansion, accusing the meeting of reinforcing unilateralism and disconnect from the Palestinian people's struggle.
– Recalled the widespread boycott of the meeting by key factions like the Popular Front (PFLP), National Initiative (PNI), Democratic Front (DFLP), and independent figures.
– Condemned Mahmoud Abbas’s insults against Palestinian resistance forces during the meeting, calling them inappropriate at a time that demands unity.
– Reaffirmed its call to rebuild the PLO on democratic and national foundations, hold comprehensive elections, and activate a unified leadership framework.
– Stressed the need for leadership that honors the sacrifices of the Palestinian people, not one that collaborates with the occupation or follows foreign agendas.
Gaza Update by RT correspondent Saed Swerki as of Friday, 25 April, 9:30 am
82 Palestinians killed in Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip since Thursday morning:
North Gaza (35 killed):
– 32 killed in a strike on a police center and a home sheltering displaced people in Jabalia.
– 3 killed and others injured in a strike on a tent for displaced families at the Safatawi junction west of Jabalia.
Gaza City (28 killed):
– 6 killed in a strike on the al-Sarafiti family home in Sheikh Radwan.
– 2 killed in Wadi al-Arais, Al-Zaytoun neighborhood.
– 5 bodies recovered from a strike on al-Tuffah neighborhood.
– 15 killed in a strike on an apartment in Al-Siddiq Tower, behind Al-Sahaba complex.
South Gaza (12 killed):
– 2 killed in a strike on the al-Najjar family home in Khan Yunis.
– 2 killed in a tent for displaced people in al-Mawasi area, Khan Yunis.
– Abdul Aziz Adel Abu Hani died from wounds after a previous strike on a tent in Khan Yunis.
– Asif al-Najjar killed and others wounded in a strike in Khan Yunis.
– 15-year-old Karam Raed Harb Abu Kawarik killed near al-Nasr Municipality in Rafah.
– 5 people from the Abu Taimeh family, including three children and a pregnant mother, killed near Al-Aqsa University in Khan Yunis:
Central Gaza (7 killed):
– 3 killed in a strike on a displaced family’s tent in al-Sawarha, west of Nuseirat.
– Ayman Mahmoud Basheer killed near Al-Bukhari Mosque in Deir al-Balah.
– 3 killed, including a child, in a drone strike on al-Zawaida.
BREAKING | International Criminal Court (ICC) reverses its November 2024 decision (ruling against Israel's objections to arrest warrants for PM Netanyahu and ex-defense minister Gallant) in favor of Israel.
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BREAKING | Eight injured after an explosive drone struck a farm on the Lebanese side of the town of Hawsh al-Sayyed Ali on the Syrian border.
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Indian, Pakistani troops exchange fire as UN urges 'maximum restraint'
A deadly terror attack by a militant group against Indian tourists in Pahalgam earlier this week has prompted calls for a violent response against Pakistan
⭕️ Trump blames Biden for the deaths of children in Gaza
In an interview with Time Magazine, Donald Trump blamed Joe Biden for the deaths of children in Gaza at the hands of Israel.
According to Trump, the reason is that "[Biden] allowed Iran to become rich" after it had been "broke."
To correct the interviewer, over 600 children in Gaza have been killed by Israel since it collapsed the ceasefire on 18 March, 2025.
❗️Statement by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ)
"After more than a year and a half of genocidal war waged by the usurping Zionist entity—backed by the US administration—against our people in the Gaza Strip and occupied West Bank, and despite the escalating violations and threats targeting Jerusalem and its holy sites, the Palestinian Liberation Organization’s (PLO) Central Council meeting came not in response to our people’s suffering, but rather in response to international and regional pressures aimed at creating a dual-position for the Deputy President of the Ramallah Authority and the Chair of the PLO Executive Committee.
Although the 32nd session raised slogans such as 'No to displacement, no to annexation; steadfastness in the homeland; saving our people in Gaza and ending the war; protecting Jerusalem and the West Bank; and yes to inclusive national unity,'—which reflect the critical state of the Palestinian cause—these were sidelined as if they were secondary or non-urgent matters. The speech by the head of the authority went even further, not only using inappropriate language but also adopting and promoting the narrative of the occupation by claiming that releasing prisoners would “remove pretexts” and “stop massacres,” even as the occupation continues rejecting all ceasefire proposals and the Authority itself fails to stop settler invasions and desecration of towns, villages, and holy sites in the West Bank.
It is astonishing that the Council’s meetings concluded without issuing a final statement reflecting its outcomes—underscoring that the true purpose of the meeting was to push through items aligned with external pressure, with no relation to the slogans it raised.
The boycott by numerous Palestinian factions and the exclusion of resistance forces, along with the absence of resolutions serving the Palestinian people, renders the Council’s outcomes irrelevant and void of any value—especially in light of the ongoing failure to implement the outcomes of many previous meetings.
We call on the Ramallah Authority to end its policy of betting on external powers and to cease confiscating the Palestinian national decision in service of partisan, factional, or personal agendas—at the expense of the interests of our people, our cause, and our holy sites."
❗️Al-Araby TV correspondent:
"At least 13 martyrs in Israeli raids on Gaza since dawn today."
⭕️ A new Ipsos poll reveals a major global sentiment shift: for the first time ever, more people say China will have a more positive impact on the world than the US.
22,715 people across 29 countries were surveyed.
Syria’s interim president ‘interested’ in joining Abraham Accords
The Israeli army has been bombing Syria relentlessly since the ousting of Assad, and has occupied large swathes of the country’s south
BREAKING | Al-Masirah:
"Six US air raids on the Hodeidah governorate, western Yemen."
⭕️ An exclusive report by Al-Monitor claims Turkiye has cut off electricity exports to Iraq due to more than $70 million in unpaid arrears.
The 300-megawatt power link, which became operational last fall, was halted roughly a week ago as Turkiye's energy minister Alparslan Bayraktar told Iraqi officials that Ankara was “not in the business of charity.”
The stoppage comes just before Iraq’s summer season, when demand for electricity spikes and Baghdad struggles to meet only 60% of its needs.
Iraq is now seeking a line of credit to resume purchases and has also asked both Turkiye and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) for more power.
Tensions remain between Baghdad and Ankara over a $1.5 billion arbitration ruling related to Kurdish oil exports via Ceyhan. Turkiye has reportedly asked Iraq to drop a second arbitration case, but Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani claims only parliament can make that decision — a claim Kurdish officials dispute.
❗️Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi will travel to Oman this evening (Friday) to lead a delegation in the third round of indirect talks with the United States, which are set to take place on Saturday. (IRNA)
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ICC drops dismissal of Israeli objection to arrest warrant against Netanyahu
The court’s Appeals Chamber said its previous decision was an ‘error of law’ and that it failed to address Israel’s entitlement to challenge the ruling
⭕️ China, Russia, and Iran held a joint meeting with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to discuss Iran’s nuclear program, Chinese state news agency Xinhua reported today.
The meeting, which took place on Thursday with IAEA representatives and the agency’s director general, followed a visit to Beijing by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi earlier in the week.
⭕️ The United States is preparing to present Saudi Arabia with an arms deal exceeding $100 billion. The package is expected to be announced during US President Donald Trump’s visit to the kingdom in May.
(Reuters)
❗️The Director General of the Ministry of Health in Gaza:
– "18 hospitals have gone completely out of service in the Strip.”
– "The occupation is deliberately targeting hospitals and health centers.”
– "50% of today’s martyrs are women and children.”
– "350,000 people with chronic illnesses are deprived of healthcare.”
❗️Al-Mayadeen correspondent:
"The explosive drone was launched from the western Homs countryside, and the Lebanese army is sending reinforcements as the sounds of gunfire are heard."
Puntland, a de facto autonomous region of Somalia, operates independently despite nominal federal oversight.
Two Somali sources stated that Puntland President Said Abdullahi Deni authorized the radar deployment without consulting Somalia’s federal government or Puntland’s parliament.
A third source with direct knowledge of the arrangement described it as a “secret deal,” adding that even senior Puntland officials—including cabinet members—were unaware of the agreement.