German airline Lufthansa has announced the cancellation of 20,000 short-haul flights across Europe this summer. The airline attributes these cuts to a doubling of jet fuel prices since the US-Israel coalition initiated strikes on Iran in February 2024, rendering many routes unprofitable. Other carriers, including KLM-France and Delta, have also reduced services or increased fares.
The Israel Defense Forces has issued 30-day military detentions and removed two soldiers from combat duty after one was filmed vandalising a Jesus statue in Debel, southern Lebanon. Six other soldiers present will face separate action. The incident, widely condemned, occurred during ongoing Israeli military operations that have displaced over a million Lebanese and killed more than 2,290 civilians.
US President Donald Trump has declared that the US will not lift its blockade on Iranian ports until a comprehensive agreement is secured with Tehran, asserting the US is 'winning' the conflict. This announcement precedes the expiry of a temporary US-Iran ceasefire, with doubts surrounding a second round of peace talks in Pakistan.
