Israel Strikes Hezbollah Targets in Lebanon After Missile and Drone Attacks 
Russia Signals Openness to U.S. Security Guarantees for Ukraine at Geneva Peace Talks 
Trump to Address Nation as U.S. Launches Strikes in Iran, Axios Reports 
AI is already creeping into election campaigns. NZ’s rules aren’t ready 
EU Urges Maximum Restraint in Iran Conflict Amid Fears of Regional Escalation and Oil Supply Disruption 
Trump Warns Iran as Gulf Conflict Disrupts Oil Markets and Global Trade 
Macron Urges Emergency UN Security Council Meeting as US-Israel Strikes on Iran Escalate Middle East Tensions 
Failure of US-Iran talks was all-too predictable – but Trump could still have stuck with diplomacy over strikes 
HHS Adds New Members to Vaccine Advisory Panel Amid Legal and Market Uncertainty 
Suspected Drone Strike Hits RAF Akrotiri Base in Cyprus, Causing Limited Damage 
Argentina Tax Reform 2026: President Javier Milei Pushes Lower Taxes and Structural Changes 
Does international law still matter? The strike on the girls’ school in Iran shows why we need it 
Trump Launches Operation Epic Fury: U.S. Strikes on Iran Mark High-Risk Shift in Middle East 
Australia Rules Out Military Involvement in Iran Conflict as Middle East Tensions Escalate 
Trump Announces U.S. Strikes on Iran Navy as Conflict Escalates 
Trump Says U.S. Combat Operations in Iran Will Continue Until Objectives Are Met 
Israel Launches Fresh Strikes on Iran After Death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei 
Iraq has been caught in the crossfire in the conflict between the United States and Iran, the tensions having escalated over recent months. The White House announced that US President Joe Biden would be meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhemi this month.
The White House announced Friday that Biden would be hosting Kadhemi at the White House on July 26 in an effort to reaffirm the strategic partnership between both countries. Ahead of the announcement, Kadhemi spoke with US envoy Brett McGurk regarding the withdrawal of US troops from Iraq. To note, around 3,500 international troops are stationed in Baghdad, 2,500 of which are from the US.
The troops are stationed in the region in order to deter the Islamic State extremist group since 2014. When the two leaders meet, Kadhemi is expected to push for a concrete timetable on US troop withdrawal. However, the withdrawal may take years to fully implement.
This follows the increasing drone and rocket attacks on American targets in Iraq over the recent months. The meeting between the Iraqi PM and McGurk came a little after 14 rockets were launched at the Ain al-Assad airbase, which hosts American troops in western Iraq, along with three other rockets that were fired near the US embassy in Baghdad.
The attacks have been pinned as being caused by pro-Iranian militia groups. The US also launched airstrikes on Iran-backed militia facilities along the Iraq-Syria border.
Biden will also be meeting with another world leader as he is set to meet with Jordan’s King Abdullah II this week at the White House. King Abdullah II would also become the first Arab leader to meet with the new US president. Relations between King Abdullah and Biden would likely be warmer this time after experiencing a strain with Biden’s predecessor Donald Trump.
The king hopes to have a better relationship with Biden, whom he met when he was still vice president to Barack Obama. “Jordan will be looking at a friend in Joe Biden,” said political analyst Osama al-Sharif, speaking with Al Jazeera. “The president will publicly recognize the Hashemites’ special role in East Jerusalem and reinstate Jordan’s role as a key interlocutor in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.”
