Saudi Arabia Targets Pro-Iranian Militias in Iraq
While tensions have largely subsided in the Middle East regarding the Iranian conflict, it is the Yemeni front that appears most active this Monday, July 27, with new Houthi rebel attacks on oil facilities in Saudi Arabia.
In this context, the Saudi kingdom is currently being targeted by other pro-Iranian groups based in Iraq. The Saudis intercepted drones launched from Iraqi territory and, at the same time, called on Iraqi authorities to prevent such attacks carried out by these 'terrorist' groups — all the more so as the new government has expressed its willingness to better manage its internal situation.
Once again, Iran is proving that it uses its proxies according to a well-oiled plan, likely taking advantage of American hesitation.
But why target Saudi Arabia in particular at a time of relative calm?
Other incidents have also been reported since the United States halted its strikes against Iran last Friday.
The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Navy announced on Monday that it had prevented six vessels from passing through the Strait of Hormuz, as they were attempting to 'transit via routes not authorized by Iranian authorities.'
Earlier in the day, state television had reported an 'incident' involving a vessel, without providing further details, AFP noted.
Meanwhile, the Israeli military announced it had intercepted two drones near the Jordanian border, before they could enter Israeli territory.
In southern Lebanon, the Israeli army accused Hezbollah of launching at least one drone into the highly contested area of Ali el-Taher in an attempt to gather intelligence on its soldiers. Several security incidents were recorded in the area on Monday.
The Shia party had not conducted any operations since the ceasefire announced in Islamabad.
Netanyahu in Washington
In the meantime, the West Bank continues to flare up with clashes between settlers and residents, and tensions are running extremely high.
Another troubling incident in recent hours: the Ukrainian attack on an Iranian vessel in the Caspian Sea, which resulted in casualties, continues to stir controversy in Iran.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi not only harshly criticized Kyiv in a post on X, but also accused Israel of having orchestrated the attack in order to draw Europe into the Iranian conflict.
It is against this particularly tense backdrop that the Israeli Prime Minister was due to travel to Washington on Monday, where he is scheduled to meet with President Donald Trump on Tuesday.
On the eve of that meeting, the Israeli newspaperIsrael Hayomreported that Mr. Netanyahu is expected to firmly resist any American pressure for a withdrawal from Gaza, Syria, or southern Lebanon.
According to the Israeli newspaper, the Prime Minister would make clear that Israel's security needs must take precedence over all other considerations, as the region continues to be shaken by overlapping conflicts and fragile diplomatic initiatives.
This stance is likely to deepen the rift between the two leaders, as President Trump has already publicly called on Mr. Netanyahu to withdraw his troops from Lebanon and Syria.
It would also undermine the ongoing negotiations with Lebanon, which are expected to lead to a gradual withdrawal of the Israeli army from southern Lebanon, in parallel with a deployment of the Lebanese army, on condition that Hezbollah is demilitarized in these so-called 'pilot' zones.
The Lebanese army had already deployed in a southern village last Tuesday — Zawtar el-Gharbiya, in the Nabatiyeh region.
For official Lebanon, represented by President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, who are pressing ahead with direct negotiations with Israel (the next round is scheduled for August 4 in Rome), certain hardline Israeli statements are damaging, even if they are part of the usual posturing driven by domestic (electoral) and international calculations.
These extremist Israeli positions are all the more regrettable given that the framework agreement signed by the Lebanese and Israeli parties on June 26 continues to be targeted on the Lebanese domestic scene by campaigns waged by the Iranian axis.
Beyond the usual criticism from Hezbollah, Parliament Speaker and Amal leader Nabih Berry issued a statement on Monday in which he reiterated his rejection of any direct negotiations with Israel, expressing pessimism about the framework agreement and stating that the initial deployment of the Lebanese army to Zawtar el-Gharbiya only deepens his pessimism. He called for American, Saudi, and Iranian sponsorship of the situation in Lebanon.
The US-Iran negotiations
Monday was also marked by a visit to Beirut by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk, during which he stated that his office "has documented widespread violations of international law, some of which could constitute war crimes."
Receiving Mr. Türk at Baabda, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun stressed that "the ongoing destruction being carried out by Israel in southern Lebanon risks undermining the implementation of the Lebanese-Israeli framework agreement."
Finally, regarding the US-Iran negotiations, Iran — through its Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei — denied that any direct negotiations with the United States are currently underway, acknowledging only that messages have been exchanged through intermediaries.
The Iranian official also took the opportunity to lash out at repeated American statements claiming that Iran is desperately seeking to return to the negotiating table.
Reverting once again to its characteristic arrogance toward the United States, Iran's Foreign Ministry emphasized that "Iran will never allow the United States to decide the timing of war or peace"!