Professor Robert Pape on Iran War:

We are not on a path of peace. We are on a path… the war is metastasizing.

What you see are troop movements… going in one direction.

There’s not troop movements coming out. There’s troop movements going in.

Former U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on Iran War:

You will only resolve this through a negotiation.

They’re not going to surrender. We’re obviously not about to.

They’ve got to get to that table. There’s got to be space… to reach an agreement.

Brazilian President Lula:

Donald Trump has no right to wake up in the morning and threaten a country.

Israel says Netanyahu will soon speak with Lebanon’s president Joseph Aoun, according to an Israeli official.

Zelensky and the people of Ukraine have been awarded the “Four Freedoms Award” in the Netherlands.

Britain may face food shortages this summer if the Iran war continues.

Officials warn that disruption in the Strait of Hormuz could reduce carbon dioxide (CO₂) supplies, which are essential for food production, packaging, and drink manufacturing.

This could lead to shortages of items like chicken, pork, and fizzy drinks, though not a complete lack of food—mainly reduced variety in shops.

Source: The Times

Türkiye will host talks this week on regional security cooperation with Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and possibly Egypt.

The meeting, involving foreign ministers including Hakan Fidan, will take place during the Antalya Diplomacy Forum.

Source: Bloomberg

Pete Hegseth quoted a fake Bible verse from Pulp Fiction during a Pentagon sermon.

Pro-Israel megadonor Miriam Adelson donated $40 million to Republican super PACs to help the party maintain control of Congress.

Source: Bloomberg

BREAKING: The U.S. appears to have ended its military presence in Syria with the last convoy leaving the Qasrak base in the northeast.

Control of the area is now shifting to Syrian forces.

This effectively ends the U.S. ground presence that began in 2014.

NEW: Türkiye announces it will increase its number of commando brigades.

New brigades will be structured differently from existing ones, designed to better match current threats and modern operational concepts.

Earlier reports speculate on targets like adding 15 new brigades.

German‑based media group Axel Springer SE, which is acquiring The Daily Telegraph, outlined mandatory “core values” for staff.

These include explicit support for Israel.

Some quotes from his letter to the staff:

There is no such thing as neutral journalism.

We support the right of Israel to exist.

NOTE: Axel Springer also owns media groups like Bild, Die Welt, Politico, and Business Insider.

SOURCE

David Ignatius:

Trump plays both good cop and bad cop at the same time.

He didn’t want to keep fighting this war. He wants to end it.

He’s using the blockade for an economic chokehold.

Trump is waiting for Iran to tap out.

The U.S. has promised substantial economic aid to Iran, all kinds of inducements to get them to cross what one official called “the golden bridge into the future.”

Europe could have “maybe 6 weeks or so (of) jet fuel left,” according to Fatih Birol of the International Energy Agency, due to supply disruptions linked to the Iran conflict and blockages around the Strait of Hormuz.

He warned of possible flight disruptions, saying “some of the flights… might be canceled as a result of lack of jet fuel.”

Birol called the situation “the largest energy crisis we have ever faced.”

Source: AP

NATO's Rutte:

Winning is now a distant dream for Putin.

He is understanding that his economy is in a bad shape.

NEW: After more than 48 days of a near-total internet shutdown in Iran, limited access is beginning to return, with users now able to use Google search again.

Source: RKhanizadeh (at X)

Pope Leo XIV:

Jesus told us, “Blessed are the peacemakers,” but woe to those who manipulate religion in the very name of God for their own military, economic, or political gain, dragging that which is sacred into darkness and filth.

Pope Leo XIV:

The masters of war pretend not to know that it takes only a moment to destroy. Yet often a lifetime is often not enough to rebuild.

They turn a blind eye to the fact that billions of dollars are spent on killing, on devastation, yet the resources needed for healing, education, and restoration are nowhere to be found.

Pope Leo XIV:

The world is being ravaged by a handful of tyrants.