5:30 PM GMT – 01/072025
Israel Intercepts Missile Fired from Yemen as Houthi Attacks Continue
The Israeli army announced on Tuesday that it successfully intercepted a missile launched from Yemen toward Israeli territory, the latest in a series of attacks by Iran-aligned Houthi forces. Israel has threatened Yemen’s Houthi movement with a naval and air blockade if their attacks persist, following months of missile and drone launches targeting both Israel and international shipping routes in the Red Sea. Since the outbreak of the Gaza war in October 2023, the Houthis, who control most of Yemen, have disrupted global trade with their maritime attacks, though Israeli forces have intercepted most projectiles or they have fallen short of their targets.
4:49 PM GMT – 01/07/2025
Trump Lifts US Sanctions on Syria While Maintaining Measures Against Assad
President Donald Trump has signed an executive order terminating the US sanctions program on Syria, a move aimed at ending the country’s international financial isolation and supporting reconstruction efforts following its civil war. The order, described by US Special Envoy Thomas Barrack as “the culmination of a very tedious, detailed process,” maintains sanctions on ousted former president Bashar al-Assad, human rights abusers, and entities linked to chemical weapons, ISIS, and Iranian proxies. Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani welcomed the decision, stating it would “open the door of long-awaited reconstruction and development,” while the White House indicated it would review terrorism designations and monitor Syria’s progress on normalizing ties with Israel and addressing terrorist groups.
4:08 PM GMT – 01/07/2025
US Proposes November Deadline for Hezbollah Disarmament in Lebanon
Lebanese officials are drafting a response to a US-proposed roadmap that demands Iran-backed Hezbollah relinquish all weapons across Lebanon by November in exchange for Israeli troop withdrawal and an end to military operations. The six-page document, delivered by US Special Envoy Thomas Barrack during his June 19 visit to Beirut, outlines a phased disarmament approach that would unlock reconstruction funds and establish a UN-overseen mechanism for prisoner releases. While Lebanon has formed a committee to formulate a reply, Hezbollah’s Secretary General Naim Qassem has publicly urged resistance to US and Israeli pressure, stating “we have the right to say ‘no’ to them,” though sources indicate the group has not refused to cooperate with Lebanese officials.
3:35 PM GMT – 01/07/2025
More than 170 humanitarian organizations have called for the dismantling of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a U.S. and Israeli-backed aid distribution system that has been linked to over 500 civilian deaths near distribution centers since late May. The coalition, including major groups like Oxfam, Doctors Without Borders, and Save the Children, claims Palestinians face “an impossible choice: starve or risk being shot” when attempting to access food aid, with medical reports indicating fatal chest and abdominal wounds rather than warning shots. While the GHF defends its approach, claiming to have delivered over 52 million meals in five weeks, the Israeli military has acknowledged civilian casualties at distribution centers and issued new instructions following what it calls “lessons learned.”
2:08 PM GMT – 01/07/2025
A UN report by Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese has identified more than 60 companies allegedly supporting Israeli settlements and military operations in Gaza, including major arms manufacturers, technology firms, and heavy machinery suppliers. The 27-page document calls for companies to cease dealings with Israel and seeks legal accountability for executives involved in alleged violations of international law, claiming these “lucrative” business relationships help sustain what she terms a “genocidal campaign.” Israel has strongly rejected the report as “legally groundless and defamatory,” maintaining its actions in Gaza constitute self-defense following the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack that killed 1,200 people and resulted in 251 hostages.
12:07 PM GMT – 01/07/2025
Foreign ministers from G7 nations have expressed support for the recent Israel-Iran ceasefire while urging a return to negotiations for a comprehensive deal addressing Iran’s nuclear program. The call comes after recent escalations where Washington struck Iranian nuclear sites and Iran targeted a U.S. base in Qatar, before President Trump announced a ceasefire on June 13 to halt the conflict. G7 ministers also condemned threats against Rafael Grossi, the head of the UN nuclear watchdog, which came after the IAEA’s 35-nation Board of Governors declared Iran in breach of its non-proliferation obligations for the first time in nearly two decades.
