News Digest — 7/29/26
US, Saudi Militaries Attack Iranian-Backed Militias In Iraq Following Iranian Strikes On US Bases
“US and Saudi fighter aircraft struck multiple terrorist logistics and weapons sites across eastern Iraq in a strong response to over 30 IRGC- directed aerial drone attacks in the last 72 hours,”
CENTCOM’s announcement came shortly after reports from Arabic media of “unexplained explosions at a Popular Mobilization Front (PMF) base,” in Iraq. The PMF is composed of about 67 Iranian-backed armed militias.
The Saudi Defense Ministry added that the strikes “reaffirm the Kingdom’s legitimate right to defend itself,” adding that it “does not seek escalation but will respond to any aggression it faces,” in a post on X on Wednesday (29th).
Jordanian air defenses shot down five missiles launched from Iran, the state news agency reported early on Wednesday morning (29th).
Hours earlier, Iran launched multiple ballistic missiles towards US military bases across the Middle East, CENTCOM confirmed in a post on X.
“IRGC forces launched multiple ballistic missiles from Iran in an attempted surprise attack on US forces based in the Middle East,” the post explained.
The IRGC “fired ballistic missiles at US air bases and the US military Central Command center in Jordan,” Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said on Iranian state media.
A US official told The Jerusalem Post that Iran had launched at least four ballistic missiles towards a US military base in Jordan, adding that “this was a major attack.”
Shortly before CENTCOM confirmed that the IRGC had launched a number of ground-to-ground missiles at US bases across the region, Iranian negotiator Sayed Mohammad Marandi announced that Iran was “fully prepared for all out war,” in a post on X.
The US military carried out nightly strikes on Iran from July 8 through July 24, but has since paused the campaign to allow US and Iranian negotiators to discuss reopening the Strait of Hormuz. However, there is more skepticism than optimism about the halt in the attacks. The prevailing view is that the pause is tactical rather than genuine.
Trump, Netanyahu Project Unity On Iran After White House Meeting
President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emerged from an 80-minute White House meeting Tuesday (28th) expressing strong agreement on Iran, as both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to preventing Tehran from acquiring a nuclear weapon while the administration weighs its next move.
Netanyahu described the talks as one of the most productive he has held with an American president.
“I have just concluded an excellent meeting with President Trump,” Netanyahu said. “It was a conversation marked by full partnership, mutual support, and a shared understanding of our common goal: ensuring that Iran never obtains a nuclear weapon. It was one of the best conversations I have ever had with a president of the United States.”
According to Israeli officials, Iran dominated the discussions, which took place as Trump considered whether to continue diplomatic efforts or authorize additional military action.
A senior Israeli official said Netanyahu presented Israel’s assessment that Iran has rebuilt elements of its nuclear infrastructure and other strategic capabilities, arguing that further strikes may be required.
“We are at a critical juncture,” the official said. “President Trump will make a decision soon about the path forward. We are not pressuring him, but neither are we burying our heads in the sand. Netanyahu presented him with Israel’s perspective.”
Israeli officials characterized the meeting as “very good” and “highly positive,” saying the two leaders also reviewed developments across the Middle East and reaffirmed the strength of the US-Israel alliance.
Unlike previous meetings between Trump and Netanyahu, the discussions were conducted entirely in an expanded format, without a private one-on-one session or a joint press conference afterward.
The American delegation included Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, CIA Director John Radcliffe and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff. Netanyahu was accompanied by National Security Adviser Shmuel Ben Ezra, Israeli Ambassador to the United States Yechiel Leiter, Chief of Staff Ido Norden, Military Secretary Guy Markizano, senior adviser Caroline Glick and diplomatic adviser Ophir Falk.
A White House Spokeswoman described the meeting as “positive and productive.” An Israeli official in Washington also said Trump did not ask Israel to withdraw from its security zones in Gaza, Lebanon or Syria during the talks.
Heated Clash At The UN: ‘Unthinkable Hypocrisy, Hamas Will Not Change’
Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, sharply criticized the UN Security Council’s demand that Israel allow dual-use materials into the Gaza Strip, arguing that such equipment is exploited by Hamas for terrorist purposes.
Speaking during a heated Security Council session on Tuesday (28th), Danon criticized the international community’s conduct and said Israel has decided to take matters into its own hands rather than wait for outside actors to confront terrorism in Gaza.
The ambassador said that while Israel has fulfilled all of its commitments, Hamas has consistently refused to disarm and remains committed to its strategy of terrorism.
“Israel will not wait forever,” Danon said. “We understand that if we do not disarm Hamas, no one else will.”
Continuing his remarks before the Council, Danon reviewed developments in the conflict with Hamas and stressed Israel’s sole responsibility for protecting its citizens.
“For months, the world waited for Hamas to change. It did not change. It refused to disarm, rejected every proposal, and continued to choose terrorism,” he said. “Israel understands that others still refuse to acknowledge that no one will disarm Hamas on our behalf. The responsibility rests with us, and we will fulfill it. Hamas will be disarmed so that it can no longer threaten the citizens of Israel or the future of the region.”
A central focus of the debate was the demand by several Security Council members that Israel lift restrictions on the entry of dual-use materials to the Gaza Strip.
Danon responded with particularly sharp criticism, pointing to Hamas’ documented use of civilian resources for military purposes.
“The hypocrisy of some members of this Council is beyond comprehension,” he said. “You demand that Israel allow materials into Gaza that Hamas turns into rockets and tunnels, and then express surprise that it continues to rearm itself. Hamas itself has boasted about turning water pipes into missiles. Israel will not serve as a supplier of raw materials to a terrorist organization. As long as Hamas controls Gaza, we will not allow it to rearm, nor will we provide it with the tools for the next massacre.”
Egypt, Turkey and Pakistan Forge A New Political-Security Axis – Yoni Ben Menachem
The London-based daily Asharq Al-Awsat reported on July 19 that Egypt had concluded a joint military exercise with Turkey that brought together Egyptian airborne and commando units alongside Turkish special forces, part of an accelerating process of military rapprochement between Cairo and Ankara.
The two countries signed a framework agreement on military cooperation during Turkish President Erdogan’s visit to Cairo in February. Within a few months, the two militaries have conducted several joint exercises across air, land and sea.
Senior Israeli security officials noted that Egypt also held a series of operational meetings with the Pakistani Navy and has conducted a series of joint exercises over the past year. From Egypt’s perspective, Pakistan represents a partner of considerable strategic value.
According to senior Israeli security officials, the weakening of Iranian influence across several regional arenas, uncertainty surrounding future American engagement, the continuation of regional conflicts, and growing cooperation over trade routes and energy corridors are all driving Middle Eastern states to seek new regional security arrangements.
Senior security officials say Egyptian officials have assured their American counterparts that expanding cooperation with Ankara and Islamabad should not be interpreted as the formation of an anti-Israel alliance.
Nevertheless, Israeli security officials argue that the growing series of joint exercises, defense agreements, and high-level military exchanges among Egypt, Turkey and Pakistan indicates that a much broader strategic partnership is quietly taking shape. They are gradually building interoperable capabilities across the air, maritime, and special operations domains.
Senior Israeli security officials say a new Sunni axis is emerging, preparing to fill the strategic vacuum expected to be left by the collapse of the Iranian-led Shiite “Axis of Resistance” following the anticipated fall of the regime in Tehran.
The writer, a veteran Arab affairs and diplomatic commentator for Israel Radio and Television, is a senior Middle East analyst for the Jerusalem Center.
(jcfa.org)
The Syria Deal: An Opportunity Israel Cannot Afford To Trust – Dr. Carmit Valensi
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s statement that Damascus is working toward a security agreement with Israel deserves serious scrutiny. While this could represent a strategic opportunity – opportunity must not be confused with certainty.
The Syrian regime remains fragile, its control over the country is partial, and figures with jihadist backgrounds have been incorporated into state institutions. It would therefore be a mistake to portray al-Sharaa as a man of peace who has undergone a complete transformation or reject all dialogue on the grounds that it must necessarily be a trap.
The right question is not merely whether al-Sharaa is a partner, but whether an arrangement can be designed that will protect Israel even if his intentions change or if his government is not strong enough to enforce its commitments. Renewed dialogue with Damascus should therefore not be based on trust in al-Sharaa or his intentions. It should rest on an agreement that reduces risks and formally safeguards Israel’s essential security interests from the outset.
Effective security arrangements and the demilitarization of southwestern Syria must be established. The area must be free of heavy weapons, strategic systems, armed militias and any foreign military presence that threatens Israel.
The Druze issue must be included among Israel’s demands. These should include guarantees of security and political representation, as well as an end to severe sectarian violence.
In the Middle East, a good agreement is measured not only by the intentions expressed on the day it is signed, but by its ability to withstand violations the next day.
The writer is head of the Syria research field at the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS)
Survey Finds Many Iranians Support Netanyahu And Oppose Islamic Republic
A new survey by the Netherlands-based research institute GAMAAN found that more than half of respondents in Iran view Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu favorably, while many also expressed support for US and Israeli military action against the Islamic Republic, reflecting widespread opposition to the country’s ruling regime rather than broad backing for foreign leaders.
The survey, titled “Iranians’ Attitudes Toward the 2026 Protests and War,” was conducted from June 20 to June 27, 2026, using a weighted sample of 31,450 literate Iranian respondents. The project was carried out in collaboration with Psiphon, Lantern and MahsaNet and reports an approximate 95% credibility level with a conservative credibility interval of plus or minus three percentage points.
According to the findings, more than half of those surveyed expressed a favorable opinion of Netanyahu.
About 40% said they viewed US and Israeli military operations against the Islamic Republic as a form of “humanitarian intervention” intended to help Iranians remove the regime.
At the same time, the survey found the public remained divided over the military campaign. Forty-eight percent rejected the characterization of the strikes as humanitarian intervention, while 42% described them as “military aggression against Iran.”
GAMAAN said support for Netanyahu and the military campaign appears to stem largely from dissatisfaction with the Islamic Republic rather than endorsement of foreign political leaders.
The survey also pointed to exiled opposition figure Reza Pahlavi as an influential factor, noting his public meetings with Netanyahu in Jerusalem on the subject of regime change.
His favorable ratings, the institute said, suggest some Iranians are willing to align with Western and Israeli leaders if doing so advances efforts to remove the current government.
The survey found that 60% of respondents said they were satisfied that the Islamic Republic had been weakened during the war, while 52% said they were not saddened by the assassination of former supreme leader Ali Khamenei in February.
Twenty-four percent said they had no opinion on Khamenei’s death and another 24% said they were saddened.
Only 13% of respondents said they wanted Iran to remain under the Islamic Republic.
Twenty-eight percent preferred a republican system, including 17% favoring a non-federal republic and 11% a federal republic. Another 34% favored a monarchy, with 25% supporting a non-federal monarchy and 9% a federal monarchy.
Previous GAMAAN surveys found that between 80% and 92% of Iranians opposed the regime.
