Trump demands compensation from Iran after Iran demands compensation from the United States. There is still no progress on the US-Iran peace agreements and the opening of the Strait of Hormuz. Trump continues to assert that the United States controls the Strait of Hormuz: “We control it 100%. Can they cause problems? Yes. But they don’t have the money; they don’t pay their soldiers.”
Following the recent agreement between Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan, three triangles of new strategic alliances have formed between the Middle East and West Asia: Turkey-Pakistan-Saudi Arabia: a Sunni alliance; Iran-Yemen-Lebanon: a Shiite alliance; Israel-Azerbaijan-United Arab Emirates: a pro-Israel alliance. These alliances risk leading to an escalation in the region that could last for years if immediate action is not taken.
Haaretz reported that Israel is withholding the bodies of 1,700 Palestinians, and the head of the Shin Bet is among those opposing their release, arguing that they may be needed for future negotiations. Most of the bodies belong to Palestinians from the Gaza Strip, in addition to those of 13 prisoners from the Israeli territories.
Palestinian organizations, including JLAC and the National Campaign for the Recovery of Palestinian Bodies, say that Israel’s official justification for using bodies as a bargaining chip to secure the return of Israeli soldiers has collapsed following the return of living prisoners and the remains of Israeli soldiers. They argue that continuing to withhold bodies has become a form of collective punishment and retaliation, inflicting further suffering on families.
The IDF announced in a statement that: “Forces of the 99th Division managed to identify a sniper belonging to the Hamas organization, who posed a direct threat, near the ‘Yellow Line’ area where Israeli forces are deployed in the northern Gaza Strip. Immediately after identifying the sniper, forces opened fire on him with the aim of eliminating the threat, and he was confirmed to have been injured.”
Tensions remain high between Lebanon and Israel. Lebanon fears that the negotiation process could drag on indefinitely, without a clear timetable or established deadlines. According to Ad-Diyar, Beirut fears that such a scenario would allow the Israelis to gain additional time to strengthen their control over several strategic points. Lebanese authorities, therefore, are trying to closely link progress in the diplomatic process to improvements on the ground.
According to the newspaper, “Israel’s refusal to expand the ‘pilot zones,’ in particular, is justified by the need to complete security checks and inspections in the initial zones (from which they have not yet withdrawn). However, from the Lebanese perspective, this position is perceived as a way to limit the Lebanese army’s freedom of maneuver and delay the expansion of state control over these zones.
Israeli public radio and television states that Lebanon is refusing to start negotiations anytime soon in protest at Israel’s failure to extend the withdrawal zones. Israeli public radio and television, citing sources, also reports that setting the date for the next round of negotiations with Lebanon has been delayed due to tensions between the two sides.
Ad-Diyar: “The Lebanese side has informed Washington that, before the next round, it seeks guarantees from the Israeli side regarding the cessation of all demolition and blasting activities, along with a commitment to expand the ‘pilot zones’ to include two more model areas, one of which is the which is Bint Jbeil”.
A Syrian court has issued a death sentence for Bashar al-Assad, his brother Maher al-Assad, and his cousin Assad Najib Atif. The Trump administration brokered an agreement between Israel, Syria, and the IAEA to dismantle “Site 99,” which houses nuclear material, according to Axios, citing sources. The facility is believed to contain nuclear material from the Al-Kibar nuclear reactor project. The Syrian material contains yellowcake, a uranium ore powder that, after reprocessing, can be used for enrichment in the nuclear fuel cycle. According to Axios sources, they pose a threat as components of a “dirty bomb.”
The Russian Foreign Ministry: “The signing of a memorandum of understanding with Syria regarding our bases in Hmeimim and Tartus is an important step in military cooperation. Reaching an agreement on Russian bases in Syria will further boost the development of relations with Damascus.”
New satellite images show that, following the Yemeni drone attack on the Jizan oil refinery in southern Saudi Arabia on August 5, another large oil storage tank was targeted and caught fire. Fifteen Saudi tankers are returning to the Persian Gulf to load more oil after completing their voyages in East Asia. Relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia are about to be tested, as they will likely attempt to enter the Persian Gulf with American assistance using the southern/Omani route.
Khamenei officially appointed Ahmad Vahidi as commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Ali Ozmei as commander of the IRGC Navy. Hussein Taaba, former IRGC intelligence chief, was appointed commander of the Basij. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian congratulated General Ali Abdollahi and General Kioumars Heidari on their appointments as commander and deputy commander of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, emphasizing the need to strengthen the country’s coordination, preparedness, and defense capabilities.
In separate messages, Pezeshkian stated that the extensive command experience of both military commanders will provide an important foundation for carrying out their new responsibilities.
Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi had a phone call with his German counterpart, Johann David Wadephul: “The instability that has developed in the Strait of Hormuz is solely the result of the military aggression of the United States and the Israeli regime against Iran, and the world must hold the US ruling elite accountable for the consequences of the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, both in security and economic terms.”
The Iranian Foreign Ministry proposes a way to test the new alliance between Turkey, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia.
Pakistani Interior Minister Senator Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi arrived in Iran on August 11. During his visit, the Pakistani Interior Minister met with Iranian officials to discuss bilateral issues and issues of mutual interest. Last month, Naqvi hosted his Iranian counterpart, Eskandar Momeni, in Islamabad.
And now a look at the military scenario, updated at 3:30 PM on May 11. The Americans continue to reduce the number of tanker aircraft based at Ben Gurion Airport, which is very close to ceasefire levels. According to data released by CENTCOM on August 9, US forces diverted 55 merchant ships, conducted inspections on two vessels to verify their compliance, and disabled two vessels that did not comply.
The “Ansar Allah” group attacked a Saudi merchant ship in the Strait of Bab el-Mandeb. Saudi mercenaries in Yemen: “Four sailors killed and four wounded in an Ansar Allah attack on a merchant ship in Bab al-Mandab.” IDF forces opened fire toward the eastern areas of the city of Khan Yunis, in the southern Gaza Strip, on the night of August 10.
Looting and destruction of Palestinian homes in the West Bank continues: Burqa, northwest of Nablus in the northern West Bank, was attacked; Al-Wad Street in the city of Qalqilya in the northern West Bank. Extremist Israeli settlers attacked the Palestinian community of Ka’abneh, east of the village of Al-Taybeh, east of Ramallah, attacking residents and solidarity activists. Journalists are prevented from entering the areas southwest of Nablus in the northern West Bank where looting and demolitions of Palestinian homes are taking place. On August 11, Israeli forces attacked the village of Kafr Qud, northwest of Jenin. A house was raided in Kfaret, west of Jenin. More arrests were made in Qalqilya, in the northern West Bank. The town of Tamoun, south of Tubas, was attacked. Ambulances called to assist the wounded were systematically blocked. Al-Mughayir, northeast of Ramallah, in the West Bank, was attacked again. Indiscriminate destruction continued in the West Bank, under the pretext that homes lacked Israeli building permits. Israeli demolition vehicles raided the village of Al-Zuweidin, south of Hebron, in the West Bank, to carry out demolitions.
Things are no better in southern Lebanon. An Israeli drone dropped two sound bombs on the outskirts of Kafra. Israeli drones conducted intensive overflights of Beirut and its suburbs. Israeli artillery bombardment against Al-Mansouri. Explosive material dropped on Ali Al-Taher. An explosion was recorded between Al-Taybeh and Deir Seryan. An explosion was recorded on the outskirts of Al-Mansouri and artillery bombardment. More explosions in Houla in the direction of Markaba. Two airstrikes on Al-Mansouri. Israeli artillery bombardment against the outskirts of Zawtar al-Sharqiya. An Israeli drone targeted a car on the outskirts of Nabatieh, in southern Lebanon.
Large-scale unrest and protests have erupted in Kurdish-majority areas of northeastern Syria following attacks on displaced Kurdish civilians returning to Serekaniye (Ras al-Ayn). In Kobane, protesters stormed the headquarters of the local administration associated with Ahmed al-Sharaa (Julani), and large demonstrations also took place in Qamishli and along the M4 highway near Tel Tamer. The protests followed reports of attacks against civilians in the first convoy of displaced families returning to Serekaniye, perpetrated by the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army.
The Syrian resistance announces a rocket attack against an Israeli position in Daraa. We announce the attack on the Israeli base on the western outskirts of Daraa, with a precise strike.
Damage caused by the Iranian attack on separatist bases in Erbil on August 11.
Yemeni forces launched ballistic missile and drone attacks against Saudi-backed separatist forces for three consecutive nights. The Saudi oil tanker attacked yesterday from Yemen was escorted by two Italian frigates. Yemeni forces attacked using missiles.
It is understood that in the August 9 attack, three explosions were heard south of Hodeidah, following a Houthi attack on Saudi-backed mercenaries. According to Yemeni mercenaries loyal to Saudi Arabia, the port of Mocha was targeted by the Houthis with over 20 drones. Saudi Arabia launched two drone strikes against the same Houthi positions as two days ago in Wadi al-Mashawwat, in the Ghumar district of the Sa’da region, an Ansarullah stronghold in northern Yemen.
On August 11, a U.S. helicopter attack was recorded against a Panamanian-flagged vessel in the Strait of Hormuz. The Wall Street Journal reported: U.S. forces attacked the Panamanian-flagged vessel “Villa Nova” in the Strait of Hormuz using a helicopter. All 17 crew members are safe and sound.
According to Israel’s Channel 15: “Every night, the Iranians launch two to five drones at ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz. The US administration has maintained absolute silence about the drone attack that targeted the US base in Kuwait last week. This indicates a deliberate modus operandi, in which attacks are not made public to avoid escalation.”
Antonio Albanese e Graziella Giangiulio
Follow our updates on Geopolitical Gleanings - Spigolature geopolitiche: https://t.me/agc_NW and on our blog The Gleanings of AGCNEWS - Le Spigolature di AGCNEWS: https://spigolatureagcnews.blogspot.com/
