The Cradle is an online news magazine covering West Asian geopolitics from within.
Among those killed in the army vehicle explosion caused by unexploded ordnance left behind by Israel, are Lebanese army soldiers Jawdat Noura and Ali Ahmad.
Читать полностью…Hamas turns ‘military disadvantage into opportunity’ in Gaza: Report
An Israeli soldier was killed and others wounded over the weekend for the first time in months, as Hamas’s armed wing works to save its strength through hit-and-run guerilla tactics
⭕️ Hamas's Qassam Brigades confirms in a statement that its fighters carried out the "Breaking the Sword" ambush east of Beit Hanoun in the northern Gaza Strip on Saturday. During the ambush, an Israeli military "Storm" jeep was targeted with an anti-armor shell, resulting in confirmed casualties. When a support force rushed to assist, it was hit by an anti-personnel explosive device, causing further deaths and injuries. The Brigades also targeted a newly established Israeli position with RPGs and mortar shells.
This follows yesterday's announcement about targeting a Merkava 4 tank and a D9 military bulldozer with two Al-Yassin 105 shells east of the al-Tuffah neighborhood, east of Gaza City.
⭕️ What appears to be a leaked memo published by The Media Line reveals that Iraq’s Parliament has requested the arrest of Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa, formerly known as "Abu Mohammad al-Jolani," due to his past involvement with Al-Qaeda in Iraq and his role in committing massacres there.
This request, sent to Baghdad's Public Prosecutor, comes as part of efforts to prevent Sharaa from attending the Arab League Summit in Baghdad next month.
The letter, sent by Iraq’s Council of Representatives to the Office of the Public Prosecutor in Baghdad, calls for an investigation and possible arrest of Sharaa if he enters Iraqi territory.
❗️Bread and blood: A photo captured from the site of Israel's recent attack on a gathering of civilians in Al-Shati' refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip, which killed and injured several Palestinians.
Читать полностью…❗️Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs:
"We consider the occupation’s practices against Christians to be racist and discriminatory, falling within the broader context of targeting Jerusalem and its Christian and Islamic holy sites.
In a dangerous precedent, the occupation prevented the Vatican’s ambassador to the State of Palestine from entering the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem to celebrate Holy Saturday.
We call on the international community to break its silence and make a genuine effort to protect Jerusalem and its holy sites, as they are an inseparable part of the land of the State of Palestine."
❗️Until Victory = an empty slogan.
Signs bearing photos of Israeli military casualties and the slogan "Until Victory" were vandalized and defaced outside the "Tel Aviv – Savidor" train station.
Alongside the defaced images, protest slogans were written, including:
– "Enough exploitation of their memory in a disgusting propaganda campaign."
– "Most of those killed would have supported the release of prisoners."
– "Until Victory = an empty slogan."
(Israel Hayom)
⭕️ The death toll from the Ras Issa Oil Port Massacre, carried out by the United States of America on 17 April, 2025, has risen to 80 civilians, with at least 150 more injured, according to Al-Masirah.
The port, which had a storage capacity of 3 million barrels of crude oil, was completely destroyed.
❗️The Ministry of Health in Gaza reports that "44 martyrs and 145 injuries arrived at Gaza Strip hospitals during the past 24 hours."
Читать полностью…❗️Sanaa's National Defense Council held a meeting today, chaired by President of the Supreme Political Council Mahdi al-Mashat, to discuss the latest developments and the US aggression against Yemen.
(Saba)
❗️Secretary-General of Iraq's Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq, Qais al-Khazali:
"There are relations between the two neighboring countries, Iraq and Syria, and the matter is a necessity, and in its interest, they share. However, the presence of the current Syrian regime's president in Iraq is previously a point of concern, as it could lead to repercussions if the law is implemented and arrests are made by the military forces before it is applied, in light of the existence of an arrest warrant against him. It is necessary for there to be an immediate arrest of the individual in question, and action must be taken accordingly with the judicial decisions issued by the Iraqi courts, respecting and adhering to them by everyone."
Israeli occupation forces have taken over a residential building in the town of Turmus Ayya, north of Ramallah in the occupied West Bank, detaining residents and turning it into a military barracks.
There are no clashes or resistance groups in the area.
❗️Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on talks with the US:
– "Relatively positive atmosphere in Rome has enabled progress on principles and objectives of a possible deal."
– "We made clear how many in Iran believe that the JCPOA is no longer good enough for us. To them, what is left from that deal are "lessons learned." Personally, I tend to agree."
– "The initiation of expert level track will begin in coming days with a view to hammer out details. After that, we will be in a better position to judge."
– "For now, optimism may be warranted but only with a great deal of caution."
❗️UPDATE | Israeli army confirms its first "combat fatality" in Gaza in over three months.
Warrant Officer G'haleb Sleiman Alnasasra, a Bedouin soldier, was killed in an ambush by resistance fighters in north Gaza.
The fighters emerged from a tunnel that was said to have been "cleared," firing an RPG at a military vehicle before detonating an explosive device. Three other soldiers, including a female officer, a combat medic, and another tracker, were severely wounded.
Pentagon confirms plan to cut troop presence in Syria to less than 1,000
US troops have occupied Syria's major oil fields since 2017, regularly looting the country's resources to fund its Kurdish proxies
❗️At least four people were killed, among them Lebanese army soldiers, and four others injured on the Qusaiba-Braikeh road, when an unexploded ordnance left over from the Israeli aggression exploded while being transported in a vehicle belonging to the Lebanese Army's Engineering Regiment, according to the Lebanese Civil Defense.
At least six people have been killed in south Lebanon today.
❗️More Israeli bombardment reported in the area between Jbaa and Basaliya, and Iqlim al-Tuffah, in south Lebanon.
Читать полностью…BREAKING | Reports of Israeli strikes on Arnoun, south Lebanon.
Читать полностью…⭕️ A Wall Street Journal (WSJ) report published earlier this week claims the US has issued the following demands for Syria in exchange for a limited easing of sanctions:
– Crack down on extremists operating in Syria.
– Expel Palestinian militant groups from the country and prevent them from raising funds there.
– Secure Syria’s chemical weapons stockpile and work with the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).
– Secure highly-enriched uranium and appoint a liaison to locate 14 Americans missing in Syria.
– Issue a public declaration against extremist groups.
– Take steps to prevent Syria from becoming a foothold for extremist organizations like ISIS.
– Implement measures to rebuild Syria’s economy and support the return of refugees.
If Syria meets these conditions, the US would reportedly then consider renewing diplomatic relations, removing terrorist designations from members of the new government, and extending existing sanctions waivers to allow the delivery of humanitarian aid.
❗️Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu:
"Since the start of the war, we have heard calls for its conclusion – for its conclusion by surrender. These calls have increased of late.
Were I to have given in to these calls: We would not have entered Rafah. We would not have seized the Philadelphi corridor.
We would not have carried out the pagers operation. We would not have eliminated Sinwar, Deif, Haniyeh or Nasrallah. We would not have created conditions for the fall of the Assad regime and a harsh blow to the Iranian axis. We would not have changed the face of the Middle East.
Therefore, I would like say a few words to you about Iran: I am committed to preventing Iran from having nuclear weapons. I will not give in on this; nor will I slacken or retreat on this, not even a millimeter."
Update | Lebanese Civil Defense reports one person killed in the Israeli strike on a car in Kawthariyet al-Siyad.
Читать полностью…Israel denies plans for imminent attack on Iranian nuclear facilities
Recent western media reports said US President Donald Trump rejected an Israeli plan for a joint attack on Iran
❗️The Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) announced that its Intelligence Directorate "obtained information about preparations for a new rocket attack towards the occupied Palestinian territories," and "raided an apartment in the Sidon-Zahrani area, seizing a number of missiles and their launch pads, and arresting several individuals involved in the operation."
Читать полностью…BREAKING | Israel carries out an attack on a vehicle in Kawthariyet al-Siyad in south Lebanon.
Читать полностью…⭕️ Pentagon turmoil: Three top officials fired amid leaks and controversies
The Pentagon is in turmoil as three top officials close to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have been fired, including his chief of staff, Joe Kasper, amid an ongoing leak probe. Senior adviser Dan Caldwell, deputy chief of staff Darin Selnick, and Stephen Feinberg's chief of staff, Colin Carroll, were also placed on leave and later terminated, adding to the chaos that has already plagued the department. This follows Hegseth’s controversial actions, including the release of sensitive information via a Signal chat about US military strikes on Yemen, as well as a visit by Elon Musk. The turmoil has left Hegseth without his top advisers and raised concerns about his leadership, with some even questioning whether he is suited to lead the Pentagon. (Politico)
Iran-US talks wrap up in Rome with agreement to establish framework for potential nuclear deal
Omani officials stated that the indirect talks are 'gaining momentum' after Tehran and Washington agreed to establish technical delegations to draft a potential replacement for the Obama-era JCPOA
❗️Scenes from the aftermath of the latest US attacks on Hodeidah, western Yemen.
Читать полностью…⭕️ According to military correspondent Doron Kadosh:
– At 12:58 p.m., resistance fighters fired an RPG at an unarmored Israeli vehicle traveling on an internal route in Beit Hanoun, near Nir Am and Mefalsim, in the Gaza buffer zone.
– Three combat reconnaissance soldiers were seriously injured in the RPG attack.
– The fighters reportedly emerged from a tunnel recently cleared by Israeli forces, part of ongoing operations in the buffer zone.
– A rescue force arrived shortly after the attack, led by the Northern Brigade commander, Col. A, with special forces and reconnaissance units.
– At 1:25 p.m., 30 minutes after the RPG attack, an explosive device hit the scouts' vehicle, killing one soldier and injuring two others.
– Air Force helicopters evacuated the wounded to hospitals, with a total of one soldier killed and five others seriously injured.
❗️BREAKING | US warplanes launch at least 13 airstrikes on Hodeidah port and airport in Yemen.
Читать полностью…🇾🇪 BREAKING | Yemeni Armed Forces announces the downing of a US MQ-9 drone over Sanaa Governorate, the 21st since 7 October, 2023.
Читать полностью…