Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi: Iran will use its best efforts to secure the region, particularly the Strait of Hormuz, and will not allow any disturbance in shipping in this sensitive area. Almost a fifth of the oil consumed globally passes through the strategic waterway in the Gulf.
Sparking pushback from several countries, Jason Greenblatt says peace plan cannot rely on global consensus, inconclusive international law and "unclear" UN resolutions. US President Trump hopes to "soon" decide whether to release plan before or after Israel's September election, he says.
Speaking at memorial for soldiers killed in 2014's Operation Protective Edge, PM Netanyahu says 50-day conflict was a "clear moral campaign of self-defense." Israel is "trying to reach calm, but is preparing to embark on a campaign – a large-scale military operation that will deliver a blow against Hamas and Islamic Jihad," he warns.
In speech marking fifth anniversary of 2014 Gaza conflict, Hamas military spokesman accuses Israel of misleading, lying about missing Israelis, remains of fallen IDF soldiers. "We warn that the file of the prisoners may be subject to closure completely as in the case of Ron Arad," he says.
Syria claims air-defense systems activated against Israeli strike on Tal al-Hara, strategic hill south of Damascus, where Hezbollah, Revolutionary Guard forces are stationed. According to Arab media reports, military base was completely decimated in attack.
