The United States and Iran have agreed to extend the 60-day ceasefire provided for by the Islamabad Memorandum, according to Anadolu news agency. The agreement was originally scheduled to expire on August 17.
EU countries are unlikely to be able to impose sanctions against Israel in September, European newspaper Politico reports. The British government is preparing to announce a new policy package in September that could include a ban on goods from Israeli settlements entering British markets.
The European Union issued a statement warning Israel: “The violence, intimidation, and destruction of homes and property by settlers in the West Bank must end. We call on Israel to take concrete measures to prevent settler violence and ensure accountability for those responsible for these crimes.”
According to CNN, the U.S. State Department has ordered U.S. embassies in the Middle East to prepare plans to continue operations with reduced staffing levels, due to fears of a possible resumption of the conflict with Iran. Additionally, employees evacuated from Middle East missions are being offered more opportunities to complete their assignments.
Maersk CEO Vincent Clerc has not ruled out the possibility of the Danish shipping company resuming full traffic through the Suez Canal in 2026.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry accused Turkey of hypocrisy, saying that Ankara continues to control territory in Syria and Cyprus while criticizing Israel’s military actions. The minister stated that the Turkish leadership has no right to lecture on international law. According to Reuters, Israel and Lebanon have agreed that the United Kingdom, Italy, Switzerland, and Indonesia can participate in an international mechanism to verify and ensure Hezbollah’s disarmament. These countries could reportedly help define the mechanism’s scope, provide personnel to monitor its implementation, or send military personnel to observe or participate in inspections to confirm Hezbollah’s disarmament.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed anger over potential new British sanctions on Israel, saying in a statement: “You can call Britain ‘the Islamic Republic of Great Britain.’ Some have said that the first Islamic republic to possess nuclear weapons will be ‘the Islamic Republic of Great Britain.’ We will ensure that there is not another one, you know, in Iran.”
Israel’s Kan Channel reports that following Katz’s statement that he had instructed the Israeli army to prepare for a long-term presence in Lebanon, the U.S. State Department stated that “a permanent Israeli military presence in southern Lebanon is not part of the agreement.” Israeli War Minister Israel Katz, commenting on the events in Qusra, said: “The riots and violence inflict very serious damage on our relations with our friends.”
From Gaza, Husam Badran, a member of the Hamas political bureau, said: “Hamas will participate in the legislative council elections within the broadest possible national coalition.” The Resistance Committees in Palestine said: “We appreciate the position of the Secretary of the Iranian Supreme National Security Council on the need to end the wars throughout the region.”
An Israeli security official quoted by Haaretz called the West Bank a “gunpowder canister that could explode at any moment,” emphasizing that settler terrorist attacks are pushing the army to its limits and that it is unable to respond to every incident.
From Lebanon, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam says his account on the X platform has been hacked and that his statement condemning Israeli attacks in southern Lebanon has been deleted. A cabinet meeting has been called for this afternoon, attended by Deputy Prime Minister Tarek Mitri and Camille Abousleiman.
A Boeing 737-700 BBJ, a government VIP aircraft owned by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and operated by Royal Jet, made brief visits to Iran. Specifically: Boeing 737-7KK (A6-RJA) belonging to “UAE Royal Jet.” The plane flew from Abu Dhabi to Mehrabad Airport in Tehran and Payam Airport in Karaj on August 11 and 12, with each flight lasting about an hour. On August 11, the plane took off from Abu Dhabi and headed for the Tehran area, where it remained for about an hour. On August 12, the same plane returned, this time landing at Karaj/Payam Airport, located about 40 km west of Tehran. It remained there for only 30 minutes before departing. A theory circulating on social media suggests that the plane was transporting cash to Iran.
The United Arab Emirates itself clarified the facts, announcing the release of frozen Iranian assets worth several billion dollars held in UAE banks, including 2 tons of gold worth $283 million. According to Iranian sources: “The goal was to prevent Iran from targeting the UAE in the future.” An Iranian media outlet linked to British intelligence reported: “The UAE delivered 1.5 tons of gold to Iran by air, worth $200 million.”
At the same time, a cargo plane, identified as Iranian, was seen taking off from Tianjin Airport, China, headed for the Iranian capital, Tehran.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi criticized the United States: “They have been making errors of judgment for a long time due to intelligence failures. One example is the war against Iran. Now, an even more serious error of judgment in the Strait of Hormuz. Worse than fake news is disinformation.” He continued his argument with France: “Countries like France should stop lecturing the world about ‘human rights’ and international law. This is blatant and shameful hypocrisy. Your support for Israel’s genocide in Gaza and your aggressive actions against Iran have destroyed any moral credibility you thought you possessed.”
The Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs: “We condemn Netanyahu’s statements regarding the permanent annexation of the Golan Heights by Israel and his denial of the existence of an independent Palestinian state. The land of Palestine belongs to the Palestinian people, and no racist illusion of the Zionist entity can change this reality. The Golan Heights are part of Syrian territory, and no colonial ambition can alter its historical and legal status.”
Talks between Tehran and Muscat continue, as confirmed by Iranian officials, and are progressing positively, having made progress on several levels.
And now a look at the military scenarios, updated at 3:30 PM on August 13. The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) reports that US forces have diverted 59 commercial vessels, disabled three vessels, and conducted inspections aboard two vessels to ensure compliance.
Israeli media reports: “As part of efforts to support the Israeli military’s readiness for all scenarios, thousands of tons of military equipment have arrived in Israel. The Ministry of Defense has completed the reception and unloading of another cargo ship in the port of Haifa, carrying thousands of tons of military equipment and combat vehicles. The shipment includes, among other things: D9 bulldozers, Humvees, JLTV armored vehicles, Oshkosh trucks, and many other pieces of equipment.”
Almog Boker, analyst for Hadashot 12: “For the third consecutive day, the Israeli army has launched attacks and killed Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. The Israeli army recently targeted a Hamas battalion commander in Khan Younis.”
One person was killed and one was injured following a motorcycle attack in the Hope neighborhood, west of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip. Raids deep into the Gaza Strip raise questions about a possible return to proactive attacks. The political class reiterates its rejection of the “Peace Council” roadmap and accuses Hamas of violating the terms of its probationary period. Palestinian Red Crescent: 35 patients and 36 companions evacuated from Gaza via Rafah.
Abu Riyad Kmei, the Gaza Governorate’s police director, was killed in a bomb attack on his car in the Sheikh Ajlin neighborhood, south of Gaza City, wounding three. Israeli artillery shelling north of the Bureij refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip. Shelling near the Al-Rahma Mosque in the Al-Amal neighborhood, west of Khan Younis (Rasd al Maidan), left one dead and one seriously injured; a motorcycle was hit. Gunfire from warships occurred off the coast of Rafah and Khan Younis in the Gaza Strip. A civilian tanker attempts to extinguish a fire after its jeep was hit southwest of Gaza City. One person was killed and several others injured in a car bomb attack on Al-Rashid Street in Gaza.
The mayor of Qusra in the West Bank after settler attacks: “The Israeli authorities have asked Palestinian families to evacuate their homes. The IDF prevented us from reaching the Al-Tubasi family, besieged in the city. We have asked the besieged families in the city to remain in their homes and not to evacuate. We fear that the settlers will occupy the homes of the besieged families after their departure.” In the afternoon, the IDF brought military reinforcements to the village of Qasra, south of Nablus. Settlers are positioning prefabricated houses to establish a new settlement outpost on the land of the village of Al-Nazleh Al-Sharqiyeh, north of Tulkarm. The IDF confiscated excavation equipment from a citizen of the city of Idhna, while it was being used in the Hamsa area, west of Dura, south of Hebron.
Israeli attacks continue in Lebanon: artillery shelling and Hostile raids in the direction of the town of Buyout al-Sayyad; arrests in the town of Hadata. On the afternoon of August 13, renewed artillery bombardment of Mazraat Beit El Sayyad.
The al-Jawlani/al-Sharaa militias are firing artillery and heavy weapons across the Syrian-Lebanese border, claiming they are military exercises. Local sources in Quneitra report: “A patrol belonging to Israeli forces has infiltrated the town of Al-Rafid, in the southern countryside of Quneitra, in the occupied Syrian territories.”
The Turkish Ministry of Defense announces: “Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan are planning joint military exercises within the framework of the ‘Mecca Agreement’ and aim to strengthen defense cooperation.” Saudi Arabia decides to close (Abha International Airport – Jizan International Airport – Najran International Airport)
The UAE Ministry of Defense: encourages women to enlist in military academies due to a significant shortage of male recruits.
Houthi forces are clashing with Saudi forces in Yemen’s western coastal region. Forces loyal to Saudi Arabia claim the Yemeni army has introduced explosive-laden drones and used them against them for the first time. Saudi artillery bombarded several areas in the Baqim border district of Sa’ada.
AnsarAllah suicide attacks targeted military supplies destined for Saudi-backed militias in the port of Al-Mokha. The Houthis also targeted a Saudi militia camp in the Al-Abr desert, in Hadhramaut, with a drone attack. This resulted in the death and wounding of approximately 17 soldiers. This afternoon, fresh Saudi artillery bombardments were reported in several areas of the Baqim border district of Sa’ada, Kumayl.
Ambrey Maritime Security: We are participating in the salvage operation of an oil tanker in distress off the coast of Oman, and rescue vessels are en route to the site of the incident. Over one million barrels of oil have leaked from the Russian tanker “Caroline Business,” which suffered a breakdown near the coast of Oman. This spill has polluted Qabil Island since the explosion that disabled the vessel in June. Today, reports emerged that the pollution has finally reached the coast of Oman, approximately 200 kilometers north of the leak’s origin. The Sultanate of Oman’s Environment Agency has reported a rapid spread of pollution due to seasonal winds, which are threatening the areas of Ras Madrakah and Masirah Island. No party has yet claimed responsibility for the explosion that disabled the tanker.
Iranian Basij militia leader Hussein Taeb: “The false and misleading American claims regarding the transit of merchant ships through the Strait of Hormuz, which reflect the desperation and impotence of that country’s armed forces, are nothing but lies. It is reiterated that, as in the past, the Strait of Hormuz remains under the complete control and supervision of the Islamic Republic of Iran. No merchant ship or oil tanker can and will not pass through this strait safely without the permission and supervision of the powerful Iranian armed forces.”
The Iranian Ministry of Intelligence reports that two organized cells affiliated with Takfiri terrorist groups linked to US and “Israeli” intelligence services were identified in Sistan-Baluchestan province upon their entry into the country. Before the two cells could carry out acts of sabotage, four terrorists, members of one of the cells, were arrested, while two others were killed.
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/
