World


Israel now in control of 60pec of Gaza Strip exceeding territory that Jerusalem was allowed to hold as per 2025 ceasefire

Jerusalem, Jul 16 (UNI) The Israeli military is now in control of more than 60% of Gaza Strip, said a senior IDF officer, which is well beyond the size of the war-torn enclave's territory that Jerusalem was allowed to temporarily continue holding as part of its ceasefire deal with Hamas in October 2025.
"We are standing here [near] the northern Gaza Strip, looking at everything we have achieved — and we have achieved [near] great deal. More than 60% of the Strip is in our hands," said Central Command chief Maj Gen Avi Bluth during [near] handover ceremony on July 15 for the commander of the 99th Division, whose forces operated in the Strip in recent years.
"There is a security zone for the communities near the Gaza border, held by two divisions and the IDF's finest soldiers. The threat of an invasion, as occurred nearly three years ago, is no longer possible," he said, adding that "Hamas still controls [its portion of the Strip] and the murderous organization retains residual capabilities, and its vision of destroying Israel has not changed."
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Transit through Strait of Hormuz grounds to near zero amid increasing attacks and US’ threats of indefinite blockade of Iran

14 Aug 2026 | 10:16 PM

Brussels, Aug 14 (UNI) Transit through the Strait of Hormuz appeared to have come to a near standstill on Friday after two more ships were attacked in the strategic waterway and the US said it could maintain its naval blockade of Iran indefinitely.

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USS Washington aircraft carrier to replace Lincoln amid concerns over sailors' mental well-being

14 Aug 2026 | 10:02 PM

Washington, Aug 14 (UNI) The aircraft carrier USS George Washington is heading to West Asia to replace the USS Abraham Lincoln, a US official told CBS News, as the Lincoln nears the end of a deployment that has lasted almost nine months.

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Baloch rebels call for boycott of Pakistan Independence Day, urge to observe Aug 14 as 'Black Day'

14 Aug 2026 | 9:42 PM

Quetta, Aug 14 (UNI) Baloch leader Mir Yar Baloch has called on Baloch people around the world to observe August 14, Pakistan's Independence Day, as a "Black Day", and issued sharp condemnations against the Pakistani military's recent airstrikes in the Surab region that left dozens of civilians dead and injured.

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Commercial shipping in Hormuz and Bab-el-Mandeb facing dual security challenges amid violence on both straits

14 Aug 2026 | 9:17 PM

London, Aug 14 (UNI) Commercial shipping navigating the Persian Gulf and waters around the Arabian Peninsula has come under a double threat due to the violence plaguing the Strait of Hormuz and the constant Houthi harassment of vessels in the Bab al-Mandeb, meaning that there is “currently no genuinely ‘safe’ side of the Arabian Peninsula”, maritime intelligence group Marisks said in its latest intelligence update.

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Trump stops short of endorsing Netanyahu ahead of upcoming Israeli elections

14 Aug 2026 | 5:55 PM

Washington/Jerusalem, Aug 14 (UNI) During the meeting between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office two weeks back, the US president reportedly shied away from endorsing the Israeli premier while asking him about how he was performing in the polls for the upcoming October 27 general elections in the Jewish nation.

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