Iran Backs Hamas, But Denies Involvement in ‘Al-Aqsa Storm’

A massive anti-Israel propaganda mural hangs on a wall in Vali-e Asr Square, Tehran (AP)
A massive anti-Israel propaganda mural hangs on a wall in Vali-e Asr Square, Tehran (AP)
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Iran Backs Hamas, But Denies Involvement in ‘Al-Aqsa Storm’

A massive anti-Israel propaganda mural hangs on a wall in Vali-e Asr Square, Tehran (AP)
A massive anti-Israel propaganda mural hangs on a wall in Vali-e Asr Square, Tehran (AP)

While Iran has denied involvement in the “Al-Aqsa Storm” operation, senior Iranian officials have reaffirmed their support for Hamas’ attack on Israel.

A high-ranking leader in Iran’s Revolutionary Guards stated that the special forces unit tasked with protecting Tehran is prepared for external operations.

However, a hardline deputy has emphasized that Iran cannot directly participate in the war and will instead utilize “resistance forces” against Israel.

Iranian denial of involvement in the Hamas-launched operation against Israel was voiced by Iran’s representative to the UN in New York, before it was reiterated by Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani.

Those who threaten Iran should know that any “foolish move” will face a “devastating response,” said Kanaani.

The spokesperson also denied accusations of involvement in Hamas’ attack on Israel, saying Iran has no role in decision-making by any regional party, including the Palestinian nation.

Kanaani made the statements during a news conference in Tehran on Monday in reaction to US Republican Senator Lindsey Graham’s recent anti-Iran rants.

Graham had called for Israel and the US going after Iranian oil refineries and oil infrastructure, which is the lifeblood of the Iranian economy.

Kanaani responded to allegations of Iranian involvement by saying that such claims follow Israel’s humiliating loss and are intended to excuse Washington’s and its Western allies’ backing for Tel Aviv’s escapades.

In other news, Iran has called for an emergency meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) as fighting between Hamas and Israeli forces raged following a weekend assault on Israel.

“Tehran has called for an emergency meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to discuss regional developments,” said Kanaani.

The Iranian mission at the UN had also issued a statement discussing Iran’s “firm support for Palestine.”

However, at the same time, they stated, “We did not participate in the Palestinian response, and this action is exclusively Palestinian.”

The mission emphasized that the “success” of Hamas’ operation was due to its element of surprise, which represented the “greatest failure” for Israeli security agencies.



Japan: US Marine Arrested on Suspicion of Murdering Woman

Military Osprey aircraft are seen at the US Marine Corps' Futenma Air Base in Ginowan City, Okinawa Prefecture, where the suspect involved in the robbery and murder is stationed (Reuters)
Military Osprey aircraft are seen at the US Marine Corps' Futenma Air Base in Ginowan City, Okinawa Prefecture, where the suspect involved in the robbery and murder is stationed (Reuters)
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Japan: US Marine Arrested on Suspicion of Murdering Woman

Military Osprey aircraft are seen at the US Marine Corps' Futenma Air Base in Ginowan City, Okinawa Prefecture, where the suspect involved in the robbery and murder is stationed (Reuters)
Military Osprey aircraft are seen at the US Marine Corps' Futenma Air Base in Ginowan City, Okinawa Prefecture, where the suspect involved in the robbery and murder is stationed (Reuters)

A US Marine stationed on Japan's southern island of Okinawa was arrested on suspicion of the murder of a Japanese woman, police said on Sunday.

The suspect "killed the 39-year-old woman at a hotel in Naha and stole her wallet on Saturday," a local police spokesman told AFP.

US Ambassador George Glass posted on social media that he had spoken with Japan's foreign ministry and Okinawa's governor to offer "our sincere condolences and pledging full cooperation as the investigation continues".

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi called the crime "exceptionally brutal and vicious" on X.

The government has urged the US "to provide maximum cooperation with the investigation, enforce stricter discipline among US military personnel, and take thorough measures to prevent the recurrence of similar crimes," Takaichi said.

Public broadcaster NHK and other Japanese media outlets, citing investigation sources, reported that CCTV footage from near the scene showed a foreign man entering a room with a woman and later leaving with her belongings.

Police then found the 20-year-old man, who matched the description of the suspect seen in the footage, and asked him to accompany them voluntarily to a local police station where he was arrested, NHK reported.

He reportedly denied the charges.

The United States has around 54,000 military personnel stationed in Japan, mostly on Okinawa.

A series of crimes including rapes, assaults, hit-and-run and drink-driving accidents by US personnel have long sparked protests on Okinawa and have been a frequent thorn in relations between close security allies Japan and the US.

Last year, a Japanese court sentenced a US Marine accused of choking and attempting to rape a woman in her 20s to seven years in prison.

In 2017, a former US Marine and civilian military base worker was sentenced to life in prison for the rape and murder of a local woman in Okinawa.

In the same year, US Forces in Japan banned all personnel from consuming alcohol after a drunken US Marine crashed his vehicle into a mini-truck, killing its 61-year-old local driver.


US Carrier George H.W. Bush Visits Thailand after Middle East Deployment

The USS George H.W. Bush arrives near Phuket Deep Sea Port before docking for a rest stop following a long deployment in the Middle East, in Phuket, Thailand, October 4, 2026. REUTERS/Sooppharoek Teepapan
The USS George H.W. Bush arrives near Phuket Deep Sea Port before docking for a rest stop following a long deployment in the Middle East, in Phuket, Thailand, October 4, 2026. REUTERS/Sooppharoek Teepapan
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US Carrier George H.W. Bush Visits Thailand after Middle East Deployment

The USS George H.W. Bush arrives near Phuket Deep Sea Port before docking for a rest stop following a long deployment in the Middle East, in Phuket, Thailand, October 4, 2026. REUTERS/Sooppharoek Teepapan
The USS George H.W. Bush arrives near Phuket Deep Sea Port before docking for a rest stop following a long deployment in the Middle East, in Phuket, Thailand, October 4, 2026. REUTERS/Sooppharoek Teepapan

The US aircraft carrier George H.W. Bush arrived off Thailand's resort island of Phuket on Sunday with about 4,800 personnel aboard for a rest-and-recreation break after months of supporting US operations in the Middle East.

The Nimitz-class carrier had been operating in the Arabian Sea during the ⁠conflict with Iran, ⁠according to multiple media reports.

The carrier will anchor offshore, while crew members are expected to come ashore through Phuket Deep Sea ⁠Port and spend time on the popular southern resort island from October 4 to 9, local media reported.

The visit follows a five-day port call by the US carrier Abraham Lincoln at Laem Chabang in eastern Thailand last month, with about 5,000 sailors ⁠and ⁠Marines aboard.

A local mayor had estimated each US service member from the Lincoln could spend up to 3,000 baht ($89) per day during the visit, Reuters reported.

Thailand is the United States' only treaty partner in mainland Southeast Asia.


US Coast Guard Finds Debris from Medical Plane Carrying 6 People

A detail view of the US Coast Guard Cutter Valiant in Miami Beach, Florida, US March 6, 2025. REUTERS/Marco Bello/File Photo
A detail view of the US Coast Guard Cutter Valiant in Miami Beach, Florida, US March 6, 2025. REUTERS/Marco Bello/File Photo
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US Coast Guard Finds Debris from Medical Plane Carrying 6 People

A detail view of the US Coast Guard Cutter Valiant in Miami Beach, Florida, US March 6, 2025. REUTERS/Marco Bello/File Photo
A detail view of the US Coast Guard Cutter Valiant in Miami Beach, Florida, US March 6, 2025. REUTERS/Marco Bello/File Photo

The US Coast Guard said on Saturday it found debris from a medical transport plane that went missing while flying from Bermuda to Boston, with the six people on board still unaccounted for.

The Federal Aviation Administration told the Coast Guard in the early hours of Saturday that it had lost contact with a Gulfstream G100 with the tail number C-GRJP, the Coast Guard said in a news release.

"Coast Guard search crews located a debris field that has been confirmed to be associated with the missing aircraft," it said.

"Crews are continuing to search for the six people who were aboard the aircraft."

The plane carried four Canadian nationals and two Bermudian nationals, the Coast Guard said.

The aircraft operated by Canada-based Latitude Air Ambulance went missing around 1:30 am (1530 GMT), company spokesman Clarence Togeretz told AFP.

"It was carrying two pilots, two medical staff, one patient and a family member," Togeretz said.

The company has a fleet of 10 planes that provide repatriation and medical evacuation services, flying people back home from anywhere in the world, its website says.

The Coast Guard said search efforts would continue throughout the night and scheduled a news conference on Sunday morning to provide an update.