The Cradle

The Mecca Alliance: A regional shield or Washington’s new front? The new defense alliance risks drawing Ankara into Washington's regional agenda, turning a potential security partnership into a confrontation with Iran and Yemen. By @MaliGuller READ thecradle.co/articles-id/408…

London tourism expo promotes Israeli agency linked to theft of Palestinian land READ thecradle.co/articles-id/408…

BREAKING | Reports of a US attack on Jask, southern Iran

Israeli-linked influence campaign exploits islamophobia to sway European elections: Report READ thecradle.co/articles-id/408…

US transfers Patriot air defense system from Texas to Israel: Report READ thecradle.co/articles-id/408…

'Polite letters do not shift Iran's position': Tehran comments on Vance's communication READ thecradle.co/articles-id/408…

Iran launches first export freight train from Qom to China amid US naval blockade READ thecradle.co/articles-id/408…

Alleged drone attack sinks Israeli vessel off Bulgarian coast READ thecradle.co/articles-id/408…

Iran has not responded to Vance’s letter, insists on seven conditions —— Iran has not yet responded to a letter sent by US Vice President JD Vance to the secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, Mohsen Rezaei, Tasnim News Agency reported, dismissing circulating media speculation as inaccurate. According to the newspaper, Tehran has received the letter but has not issued a response so far. Iran continues to insist that Washington implement its seven conditions, stressing that it will not accept any position that undermines the framework it has established.

Israeli election deadlock: Who will win, and does it even matter? | Ep. 277 nitter.cf/i/broadcasts/1vJpPNMwy…

Israeli election chief calls Netanyahu’s fraud claims 'baseless' READ thecradle.co/articles-id/408…

BREAKING | Saudi warplanes kill at least 8 people and injure 5 others, most of them women and children, in an airstrike targeting a civilian’s home in Maqbana district, Taiz Governorate, Yemen.

Israel occupation forces maintain siege of Hebron for seventh straight day READ thecradle.co/articles-id/408…

UPDATE | Brent crude futures fell by $1.55, or 1.34%, to $113.77 per barrel by 13:14 GMT, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures dropped $2, or 1.95%, to $100.78 a barrel.

VIDEO | Earlier today, a commercial vessel belonging to the Zim shipping company was targeted by unmanned vessels in the Black Sea shortly after departing from Haifa.

Hezbollah chief rules out disarmament, says Lebanon–Israel deal 'null and void' READ thecradle.co/articles-id/407…

Palestine's Abbas hopes new Israeli government will pave way for renewed dialogue —— Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said on Thursday he hoped the formation of a new Israeli government would pave the way for renewed negotiations. “For many years now, we have been extending a hand to the Israeli side in order to achieve peace with them, so that Israel and Palestine may live in security, stability and peace,” Abbas said during a meeting with Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides in Nicosia. “We hope that, immediately after a new Israeli government is formed, we will be able to engage in dialogue together,” he added.

Hegseth fires Pentagon's top war planner amid preparations to reignite war on Iran READ thecradle.co/articles-id/407…

Qatar rejects Israeli allegations of election interference as ‘ridiculous and dangerous’ —— Qatar’s Foreign Ministry spokesmanon Thursday dismissed allegations “made by certain Israeli politicians and their contacts in the media” that Doha had interfered in Israel’s elections. “We categorically deny allegations that Qatar has interfered in Israeli elections or funded any activities intended to influence their outcome,” spokesman Majed al-Ansari said. “They accuse Qatar of buying off Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli political left and now, in this latest campaign, the Arab vote ... These accusations are ridiculous and dangerous in equal measure.” Mansour Abbas, leader of the Arab Israeli Raam party, has also rejected the allegations. “Qatar should not be used as a scapegoat for the political failures of certain Israeli politicians,” Ansari said in a post on X. “None of this will distract us from our important role as a mediator,” he added.

The Israeli Election Committee said the Knesset elections were conducted in accordance with the law, dismissing allegations of systematic violations of electoral integrity as baseless. It added that more than 97% of the votes had been counted, with no change to the composition of the political blocs.