US Flies Two B-52s Over Gulf In Mission to Deter Iran

 A US Air Force Boeing B-52 Stratofortress long-range bomber - AFP
A US Air Force Boeing B-52 Stratofortress long-range bomber - AFP
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US Flies Two B-52s Over Gulf In Mission to Deter Iran

 A US Air Force Boeing B-52 Stratofortress long-range bomber - AFP
A US Air Force Boeing B-52 Stratofortress long-range bomber - AFP

The United States deployed two B-52 long-range bombers over the Gulf on Thursday in what a US official said was a direct message of deterrence to Iran and its proxies.

The US military believes there is a heightened chance for Iranian actions or miscalculations, according to a senior US military official with knowledge of the region, NBC news reported.

His statement came after Iran threatened in recent days to respond to the assassination of its nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, who was killed near Tehran, in an attack blamed on the Israeli Mossad.

The official said the risk of miscalculation by the Iranians “"is higher than normal right now, it doesn't mean that they're going to do something. But, you know, we want to ensure that if they are contemplating some sort of an aggressive act, that they would they would think twice about it before they did it.”

“Our approach right now is we recognize that there are some potentialities for Iranian miscalculations with respect to how they might behave towards the United States."

The official warned that proxy groups could act against US forces in the region, including in Iraq, and that Iranian-aligned groups may act without Iran's direction or consent.

"It's not just Iran, but some of the proxies that we worry about, particularly in Iraq and the level of Iranian control over those proxies is something that certainly is debatable," he noted.

The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said that it had deployed B-52 bombers in the Middle East last month "at a short notice" to "deter aggression and reassure US partners and allies."



Norway Refuses to Toughen Investment Rules in Israeli Companies

 This picture shows the Palestinian village of Turmus Ayya, north of Ramallah in the occupied West Bank (foreground) and the Israeli settlement of Shilo (background) on June 1, 2025. (AFP)
This picture shows the Palestinian village of Turmus Ayya, north of Ramallah in the occupied West Bank (foreground) and the Israeli settlement of Shilo (background) on June 1, 2025. (AFP)
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Norway Refuses to Toughen Investment Rules in Israeli Companies

 This picture shows the Palestinian village of Turmus Ayya, north of Ramallah in the occupied West Bank (foreground) and the Israeli settlement of Shilo (background) on June 1, 2025. (AFP)
This picture shows the Palestinian village of Turmus Ayya, north of Ramallah in the occupied West Bank (foreground) and the Israeli settlement of Shilo (background) on June 1, 2025. (AFP)

The Norwegian parliament on Wednesday rejected moves to toughen rules on its sovereign wealth fund investing in companies operating in the occupied West Bank.

Lawmakers voted by 88 to 16 against a proposal to order the fund to withdraw from companies "that contribute to Israel's war crimes and the illegal occupation" of the West Bank.

Norway's sovereign wealth fund, fueled by vast revenue from the country's oil and gas exports, is the biggest the world and has nearly $1.65 trillion invested around the globe.

The government though is under pressure to use its financial clout to influence Israeli policy in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, where its settlement policy has been deemed illegal under international law.

In a letter signed by about 50 non-governmental organizations, Norway's main union LO called on the Labor government to ensure that the fund's investments were in line with the country's legal obligations.

The UN special rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories on May 20 urged Oslo to "fully and unconditionally divest from all entities linked to Israel's unlawful presence in the occupied Palestinian territory".

Francesca Albanese said Norway's fund held $121.5 billion -- or 6.9 percent of its total value -- in companies "involved in supporting or enabling egregious violations of international law in the occupied Palestinian territories".

Norwegian Finance Minister Jens Stoltenberg in response called for an end to violence, the liberation of Israeli hostages kidnapped on October 7, 2023 and the resumption of humanitarian aid.

But he said the fund's investments "do not violate Norway's obligations under international law".

The fund is regulated by a raft of ethical rules and has already divested from 11 companies because of their activities in the occupied West Bank.

In May, it withdrew its investment in Paz Retail and Energy, which distributes fuel in Israeli settlements.

Relations between Norway and Israel have soured since May 2024, when the country joined Spain and Ireland in recognizing the state of Palestine.