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Pentagon seeks $80B from Congress for Iran war costs amid budget debate

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US-POLITICS-CONGRESS-DOD-HEGSETH US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth testifies during a House Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Defense hearing to examine the 2027 budget for the Department of Defense on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, on May 12, 2026 (photo credit: SAUL LOEB / AFP via Getty Images) The  Pentagon  is seeking an additional $80 Billion from Congress to cover the cost of the Iran war, as US President Donald Trump's  ratings fall  and Americans face steeper economic pressure, the  Associated Press  reported on Tuesday. While an official request by the White House Office of Management and  Budget  has yet to be made to Congress, US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Deputy Defense Secretary Stephen Feinberg have been lobbying senators for the funds.

Morocco, Albania, and Greece join Gaza International Stabilization Force for Phase II peacekeeping

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Moroccan officers join Gaza stabilization force planning in Israel. (photo credit: Courtesy: Board of Peace) A small number of Moroccan planning officers have already arrived to take part in discussions related to the future International Stabilization Force for Gaza (ISF Morocco, Albania, and Greece will join the International Stabilization Force ( ISF ) in  Gaza , which will handle peacekeeping operations during the Trump administration's Phase II of the ceasefire, the  Jerusalem Post  has learned. There is still no specific information on the timing of deployments to the three new countries, but by mid-January, reports indicated that Morocco would team up with Indonesia as the two largest peacekeeping forces.

A Call to Save Lebanon': Lebanese leaders urge action against Iranian interference

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Hezbollah supporters hold flags and posters during a rally in Beirut's southern suburbs, Lebanon June 10, 2026. (photo credit: REUTERS/MOHAMED AZAKIR) More than 400 Lebanese public figures, including politicians, religious leaders, and other prominent figures, have declared their support for a campaign advocating Lebanese sovereignty in opposition to both  Iranian interference  and the Israeli presence in the country on Monday. The ‘A Call to Save Lebanon’ initiative asserts the need for civilians to publicly support Beirut, legitimate institutions, diplomatic processes and an end to both Iranian interference and Israel’s presence in southern Lebanon. Notably, this end to Iranian interference calls for only state actors to hold arms, addressing the yet-to-be-implemented March law ordering the demilitarization of the Iran-backed terrorist organization  Hezbollah . Founded in 1982 with the support of Iran’s  Islamic Revolutionary Guards , Hezbollah has long drawn ...

F-15 pilot saw Iran's 'jellyfish' drone formation when jet was shot down during Epic Fury

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A US Air Force F-15 fighter jet during an exercise, March 28, 2023; illustrative. (photo credit: Christof Stache/AFP via Getty Images) A US fighter jet pilot  who was shot down over Iran  in April during the height of Operation Epic Fury claims he saw a formation of Iranian drones flying in a shape resembling a jellyfish, four sources familiar with the matter told CNN on Tuesday. The F-15 pilot told intelligence officials that he observed the "multiple Iranian  drones , moving as one" during a debriefing following their rescue by US Special Forces. “Multiple drones interconnected and moving as one with smaller drones below the bigger drones like legs... real alien s***,” one of the sources familiar with the pilot's account told CNN.

Israel smuggled Starlink systems into Iran, former PM Bennett says

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Former prime minister Naftali Bennett speaks during a press conference in Tel Aviv, June 15, 2026 (photo credit: AVSHALOM SASSONI/FLASH90) Former prime minister Naftali Bennett said Israel smuggled Starlink internet receivers into Iran to help anti-government protesters, but claimed the effort was later halted by the current government. Israel smuggled  Starlink  internet receivers into Iran to help anti-government protesters, former prime minister  Naftali Bennett  said on Tuesday. However, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government failed to follow through on the plans, Bennett added. Bennett told an audience at the JNS International Policy Summit in Jerusalem that he had initiated a "process of acquiring and smuggling into Iran tens of thousands of Starlink receptors that would allow continuity of the internet and social networks." Starlink, owned by Elon Musk's SpaceX, provides satellite internet connections. Iran has previously accused Israel and the Un...

US, Iranian delegations express optimism as technical talks in Switzerland conclude

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IRAN'S FOREIGN Minister Abbas Araghchi attends a quadrilateral meeting between the U.S., Iran, Pakistan, and Qatar at the Lake Lucerne Summit, aimed at advancing a deal to end the Middle East conflict, at Buergenstock Resort Lake Lucerne, near Stansstad, Switzerland, June 21, 2026. (photo credit: REUTERS/Nathan Howard/Pool) The US- Iran  technical talks in Switzerland have concluded successfully, and will allow both sides to move toward negotiations at higher levels, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi announced on Tuesday. The next stage of talks will be overseen primarily by senior officials on both sides, including Iran’s Parliamentary Speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf,  Iran's  Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, and Vice President of the United States, JD Vance. The conclusion of the first session of talks was initially announced in a joint statement on Monday morning by mediators Qatar and Pakistan. According to the two countries, the talks were con...

Rubio heads to Gulf to sell Iran deal amid regional concerns

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US Secretary of State Marco Rubio gives a thumbs up as he departs at the Liszt Ferenc International Airport in Budapest, Hungary, February 16, 2026. (photo credit: ALEX BRANDON/POOL VIA REUTERS) Gulf Arab leaders are expected to press Marco Rubio over a draft Iran agreement they fear could reshape regional security and boost Tehran’s power. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio  faces a delicate mission this week pitching Washington's Iran peace deal to  Gulf  Arab leaders who fear excessive concessions will strengthen Tehran and reshape the region's security balance and oil flows. Rubio will meet them in the  United Arab Emirates  on Tuesday, before traveling to Kuwait and Bahrain, where he will meet officials from the Gulf Cooperation Council, a grouping of monarchies that also includes Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Oman.