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Israel FM Tells French, British Counterparts He Expects Allies to Attack Iran if it Strikes

Britain's Foreign Secretary David Lammy attends the 57th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting at National Convention Center, in Vientiane, Laos, July 26, 2024. REUTERS/Chalinee Thirasupa/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights
Britain's Foreign Secretary David Lammy attends the 57th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting at National Convention Center, in Vientiane, Laos, July 26, 2024. REUTERS/Chalinee Thirasupa/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights
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Israel FM Tells French, British Counterparts He Expects Allies to Attack Iran if it Strikes

Britain's Foreign Secretary David Lammy attends the 57th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting at National Convention Center, in Vientiane, Laos, July 26, 2024. REUTERS/Chalinee Thirasupa/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights
Britain's Foreign Secretary David Lammy attends the 57th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting at National Convention Center, in Vientiane, Laos, July 26, 2024. REUTERS/Chalinee Thirasupa/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights

Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz told his French and British counterparts Friday that his country expects support "in attacking" Iran if it strikes Israel.

"If Iran attacks, we expect the coalition to join Israel not only in defense but also in attacking significant targets in Iran," Katz told his French and UK counterparts during their visit to Israel.

The visit by Britain's David Lammy and France's Stephane Sejourne to Israel comes as a new round of Gaza ceasefire talks was underway in Doha, an effort to end 10 months of fighting in the Palestinian enclave and bring 115 Israeli and foreign hostages home.

The talks came as Iran appeared on the point of retaliating against Israel following the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran on July 31.

"This is a dangerous moment for the Middle East," Lammy said in a statement. "The risk of the situation spiralling out of control is rising. Any Iranian attack would have devastating consequences for the region."

Britain and France are calling for a diplomatic solution to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza and restore peace along the Israeli-Lebanese border, the British foreign ministry said.

"It's never too late for peace. We must at all costs avoid a regional war, which would have terrible consequences," French foreign minister Sejourne said in a statement.

The visit by the duo marks the first UK-France joint visit to Israel in more than 10 years.

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World

Erdogan Warns of Iran War Spillover, Stresses Türkiye’s Neutrality

 Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (Turkish Presidency) 
 Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (Turkish Presidency) 
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Erdogan Warns of Iran War Spillover, Stresses Türkiye’s Neutrality

 Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (Turkish Presidency) 
 Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (Turkish Presidency) 

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday warned of the risk of a widening war in Iran, stressing that his government’s priority is to steer the country through the current regional turmoil unharmed and keep it away from escalating conflict.

Erdogan placed primary responsibility for the war on Israel’s government, describing the conflict as “illegitimate” and saying it has “not only turned the region into a battlefield but has also burdened all of humanity with economic costs”.

“We must not forget that every drop of blood shed in this war will prolong the time Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu remains in power,” he stated.

Speaking at a meeting of the parliamentary group of the ruling Justice and Development Party, Erdogan said one of the greatest risks facing the region is not only the continuation of the war, but also the danger of it expanding into a broader regional conflict.

He stressed that retaliatory attacks targeting energy, transport and civilian infrastructure are increasing that risk.

Erdogan added that the conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran, which began on Feb. 28, has entered its first month and continues with rising levels of threat and danger.

He continued that the war with Iran does not serve the vision of global peace but undermines it, stressing that diplomacy, dialogue and compromise are the best available means to resolve the crisis, and that common ground should be sought instead of clinging to extreme demands.

‘Path to peace’

The Turkish president expressed hope that a path to peace could be opened without further bloodshed.

“We will continue to do everything in our power, even if it requires putting ourselves at risk,” he stated.

He noted that Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan had taken part in a four-way meeting with his counterparts from Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Pakistan, where concerns over the Iran war and steps to end it were discussed.

Erdogan added that Defense Minister Yasar Guler, intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin and other officials are making intensive efforts within their respective fields.

“If there is even a glimmer of hope to end the bloodshed, silence the guns and resolve problems through diplomacy, it is our duty to seize that opportunity,” he said.

Incirlik claims denied

Meanwhile, Türkiye’s presidential communications directorate’s Center for Combating Disinformation denied claims circulating on social media that US B-1B Lancer bombers had used the Incirlik air base in the southern province of Adana.

In a statement posted on X, the center said the claims were misleading and that the images and videos being shared were old, dating back to routine training activities, and were unrelated to current regional conflicts.

It urged the public not to be misled by anonymous claims or provocative content from unofficial sources.

 

 

World

Earthquake Off Indonesia Topples Buildings, Kills 1 Person and Sets Off Small Tsunami

A man inspects debris at the site of a damaged building following an earthquake in Manado, North Sulawesi province, Indonesia, April 2, 2026. REUTERS/Tonny Rarung
A man inspects debris at the site of a damaged building following an earthquake in Manado, North Sulawesi province, Indonesia, April 2, 2026. REUTERS/Tonny Rarung
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Earthquake Off Indonesia Topples Buildings, Kills 1 Person and Sets Off Small Tsunami

A man inspects debris at the site of a damaged building following an earthquake in Manado, North Sulawesi province, Indonesia, April 2, 2026. REUTERS/Tonny Rarung
A man inspects debris at the site of a damaged building following an earthquake in Manado, North Sulawesi province, Indonesia, April 2, 2026. REUTERS/Tonny Rarung

An undersea magnitude 7.4 earthquake toppled buildings in parts of northern Indonesia, sent people fleeing from their homes, killed at least one person and generated a small tsunami Thursday.

Strong shaking lasting 10 to 20 seconds was felt in Bitung in North Sulawesi province as well as in Ternate city in neighboring North Maluku province, according to the Disaster Management Agency. The provinces border the Molucca Sea, where the quake was centered.

Initial assessments showed light to severe damage in parts of Ternate, including a church and two houses. In Bitung, damage assessments were still underway, the agency said.

“We had just woken up and suddenly the earthquake hit... we all ran out of the house,” Bitung resident Marten Mandagi said. “The shaking was very strong,”

Indonesia's Search and Rescue Agency reported a 70-year-old woman died in a building collapse in North Sulawesi's Manado city and another resident was injured. At least three injured people were hospitalized in Ternate, The Associated Press said.

Videos released by the rescue agency showed damaged structures and flattened houses, while television stations broadcast scenes of people rushing outside and gathering in streets to avoid the risk of collapsing buildings.

Dozens of aftershocks followed, including one of 6.2 magnitude. Authorities are continuing to gather information on damage and possible victims from multiple areas, particularly remote villages, as they work to assess the scope of the disaster.

Tsunami waves up to 75 centimeters (30 inches) above normal tides were recorded at several monitoring stations around the Molucca Sea coast. Indonesia’s meteorological agency lifted its tsunami warning hours after the quake, and the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said there was no destructive threat to the country, which is north of the quake’s epicenter.

Indonesia, a vast archipelago of more than 280 million people, sits on major seismic faults and is frequently hit by earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.

World

Australia PM Says Iran War Objectives Met, 'Not Clear' What More to Achieve

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese warned the months ahead "may not be easy" because of the Middle East war. William WEST / AFP/File
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese warned the months ahead "may not be easy" because of the Middle East war. William WEST / AFP/File
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Australia PM Says Iran War Objectives Met, 'Not Clear' What More to Achieve

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese warned the months ahead "may not be easy" because of the Middle East war. William WEST / AFP/File
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese warned the months ahead "may not be easy" because of the Middle East war. William WEST / AFP/File

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Thursday the original aims of the war in Iran had been met and it was not clear what more remained to be achieved.

Albanese called for de-escalation, noting that US-Israeli attacks had degraded Iran's air force, navy and military industrial base, reported AFP.

"Now those objectives have been realized it is not clear what more needs to be achieved or what the end point looks like," he said during a speech in the capital Canberra.

"What is clear is that the longer the war goes on the more significant the impact on the global economy will be."

Australia, reliant on imported fuel and holding roughly 37 days' supply of petrol, has sought to soften the impact of soaring prices by cutting petrol taxes and pledging $680 million in loans to businesses.

Albanese has previously said Australia is not a participant in the war.

Defense Minister Richard Marles said Thursday Canberra was in talks with Britain and France on how it can contribute to opening the Strait of Hormuz, through which one-fifth of the world's oil passes in peacetime.

Iran has effectively closed the vital strait since US-Israeli strikes on February 28 sparked a larger regional conflict, causing global oil and gas prices to soar.

"We have an interest in the Strait of Hormuz being open. It is a function of when conditions allow any of these steps to take place. And those conditions don't exist right now," Marles said in an interview with Sky News Australia.

Marles said Australia will attend a multi-nation meeting convened by Britain.

Albanese's comments Thursday came as US President Donald Trump gave a speech laying out his view of the war, vowing two to three more weeks of "extremely hard" strikes against Iran.

Trump said the United States was aiming to crush Iran's military, end the Iranian republic's support for regional armed groups and prevent it from obtaining a nuclear bomb.

"I'm pleased to say that these core strategic objectives are nearing completion," Trump said in a 19-minute televised speech.