Middle East

The purpose of the deal, orchestrated by Special US Envoy and Coordinator for International Energy Affairs Amos Hochstein, is to curb Iranian influence in the war-torn country.

After several similar incidents in recent months, authorities say the Iranian military was holding unannounced air defense drills amid rising tensions with Israel and the United States.

Quds Force architect Qasem Soleimani strove to “work closely with all these groups, regardless of their religious or political taste" with the aim of "bolstering the resistance against the Zionist regime in Palestine," Iranian media says.

The terrorist group apparently believes "killer Zionist dolphins" exist and are spying on its naval forces in the coastal enclave. Israel is often accused by its enemies of enlisting animals for espionage or other military purposes.

Shin Bet security agency says all suspects are Jews with Iranian heritage who were allegedly recruited over social media and asked to photograph sites across Israel, including the US Embassy.

"If the Zionists do something stupid and take a step against us we will see this as a sign that Allah decreed we should be attacked so that we could retaliate," Deputy IRGC Commander Ali Fadavi says.

With Arab countries now making financial and other agreements with Israel, Turkey finds itself isolated in the region and losing export markets.

Report says man arrested after Hamas security forces bug a phone conversation between him and an Israeli security officer who paid him for his part in the 2018 killing of Dr. Fadi al-Batsh in Malaysia.