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EU Calls on All Parties to Exercise Restraint in Middle East 

A man rides a bicycle along the empty promenade on Tel Aviv's beachfront, Friday, June 13, 2025. (AP)
A man rides a bicycle along the empty promenade on Tel Aviv's beachfront, Friday, June 13, 2025. (AP)
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EU Calls on All Parties to Exercise Restraint in Middle East 

A man rides a bicycle along the empty promenade on Tel Aviv's beachfront, Friday, June 13, 2025. (AP)
A man rides a bicycle along the empty promenade on Tel Aviv's beachfront, Friday, June 13, 2025. (AP)

European Union leaders called on Friday for restraint from all parties in the Middle East.

"The reports emerging from the Middle East are deeply alarming," European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on social media platform X.

"Europe urges all parties to exercise maximum restraint, de-escalate immediately and refrain from retaliation. A diplomatic resolution is now more urgent than ever."

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said in a statement that "diplomacy remains the best path forward, and I stand ready to support any diplomatic efforts toward de-escalation."

Antonio Costa, President of the European Council, which represents national governments of the EU's 27 member states, also called for restraint on X.

Israel launched large-scale strikes against Iran on Friday, saying it had attacked nuclear facilities, ballistic missile factories and military commanders at the start of a prolonged operation to prevent Tehran from building an atomic weapon.

Iran has promised a harsh response and Israel said it was working to intercept about 100 drones launched towards Israeli territory in retaliation.

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World

Putin, Lukashenko Hold Talks on Friday at Tense Point in Ukraine War

Russian President Vladimir Putin makes a video address to participants of the 13th Forum of Regions of Russia and Belarus at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia June 26, 2026. (Sputnik/Gavriil Grigorov/Pool via Reuters)
Russian President Vladimir Putin makes a video address to participants of the 13th Forum of Regions of Russia and Belarus at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia June 26, 2026. (Sputnik/Gavriil Grigorov/Pool via Reuters)
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Putin, Lukashenko Hold Talks on Friday at Tense Point in Ukraine War

Russian President Vladimir Putin makes a video address to participants of the 13th Forum of Regions of Russia and Belarus at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia June 26, 2026. (Sputnik/Gavriil Grigorov/Pool via Reuters)
Russian President Vladimir Putin makes a video address to participants of the 13th Forum of Regions of Russia and Belarus at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia June 26, 2026. (Sputnik/Gavriil Grigorov/Pool via Reuters)

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko held talks on Friday, the Kremlin said, and discussions were expected to focus on the war in Ukraine.

Meeting at Putin's Valdai residence in northwestern Russia, the two leaders addressed trade and economic cooperation, the implementation of joint projects and issues of regional security.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov earlier told state news agency ‌TASS that ‌no press statements or document ‌signings ⁠were planned after the ⁠meeting.

The meeting follows mounting tension between Belarus and Ukraine, whose president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, says he believes Putin is trying to get Lukashenko to step up his support for Russia in the conflict.

Moscow and Minsk deny that, and Belarus says it ⁠is Ukraine and the West that are ‌fueling tensions. Lukashenko said ‌on Thursday he had met representatives of Zelenskiy and ‌warned them not to try to drag his ‌country into war.

Putin and Lukashenko are close allies and meet frequently. The Kremlin has accused Ukraine of threatening the sovereignty of Belarus after Zelenskiy last Friday gave ‌Minsk a week to remove signal relay stations he said were being used ⁠to help guide ⁠Russian attacks.

The Kremlin said on Monday that Putin and Lukashenko were expected to discuss Zelenskiy's remarks "in the foreseeable future".

On Wednesday, Zelenskiy said the relay stations had stopped working, although there was no independent confirmation of this.

While Lukashenko has not sent Belarusian troops to fight alongside Russia, he let Putin use Belarus as a launchpad to attack Ukraine in February 2022 and later agreed to let Russia station tactical nuclear missiles on Belarusian territory.

World

115 Vessels, 2,500 Seafarers Evacuated from Strait of Hormuz Since Tuesday, Says UN Maritime Head

Vessels at the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from Musandam, Oman, June 24, 2026. (Reuters)
Vessels at the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from Musandam, Oman, June 24, 2026. (Reuters)
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115 Vessels, 2,500 Seafarers Evacuated from Strait of Hormuz Since Tuesday, Says UN Maritime Head

Vessels at the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from Musandam, Oman, June 24, 2026. (Reuters)
Vessels at the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from Musandam, Oman, June 24, 2026. (Reuters)

A total of about 115 vessels and 2,500 seafarers have been evacuated from the Strait of Hormuz since Tuesday, the head of the UN maritime body said Friday.

International Maritime Organization secretary-general Arsenio Dominguez gave the update after the IMO on Thursday suspended its efforts to evacuate some 600 ships and 11,000 sailors, following an attack on a vessel in the Gulf of Oman.

Dominguez told an online press conference that "115 (vessels) have evacuated in the last three and a half days, representing around 2,500 seafarers that have now safely left the Strait of Hormuz" since the UN began its safe-passage program Tuesday.

Dominguez said that following "consultations with some countries, particularly in the region", he took the decision to pause evacuations of those trapped because of the US-Iran war.

Yet vessels continued to use a non-Iranian-approved passage, tracking platforms showed Friday.

Formal evacuation of crews is being carried out via two routes -- one close to the Omani coast and the other near to the Iranian coast.

Neither is the traditional passage established by the IMO in 1968 as part of the Traffic Separation Scheme aimed at reducing collision risks in the Strait of Hormuz.

This is because of mines located in the usual traffic route.

In the memorandum of understanding signed by Iran and the United States last week aimed at ending the war, Tehran committed to clearing the mines from the area within 30 days.

World

Trump Says Iran Attacks on Ships a ‘Foolish Violation’ of the Ceasefire

Vessels at the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from Musandam, Oman, June 26, 2026. (Reuters)
Vessels at the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from Musandam, Oman, June 26, 2026. (Reuters)
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Trump Says Iran Attacks on Ships a ‘Foolish Violation’ of the Ceasefire

Vessels at the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from Musandam, Oman, June 26, 2026. (Reuters)
Vessels at the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from Musandam, Oman, June 26, 2026. (Reuters)

US President Donald Trump on Friday blamed Iran for carrying out a drone strike on a cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz, calling it a “foolish violation” of the ceasefire agreement with the US. 

Trump said one drone hit the upper deck of the ship and “damage was done,” but the ship was able to proceed. He added that the US shot down three other drones. 

His post on social media did not identify the ship or the time of the strike, but on Thursday the British military said a vessel was hit by a projectile off the coast of Oman. 

It comes during a fragile time for the US and Iran as they work to negotiate a permanent end to the war.