Trump on Iran:

I think the Middle East, believe it or not, is coming together.

We're getting rid of the bully of the Middle East.

Iran was the bully of the Middle East. They bullied Iraq. They bullied every country. There was fear all over the Middle East.

There is no fear anymore.

Trump on NATO Ankara Summit:

It was phenomenal. It was a love fest, to be honest.

They loved the United States. They even like me, but they love the United States.

It was incredible.

Trump on Iraq's PM:

This man is going to be a great leader. I knew what I was doing.

Mark my words.

BIG: Trump told Netanyahu in a phone call Thursday that Israel should begin pulling its forces out of Syria and also redeploy from parts of southern Lebanon, according to U.S. and Israeli officials.

Trump argued the Israeli military presence in Syria is fueling tensions and risking escalation, telling Netanyahu, "They don't want you there. You should redeploy." He made a similar appeal regarding Lebanon.

Source: Axios

Netanyahu:

There are no longer terrorist armies on our borders.

We have created security zones around Gaza and inside Gaza, around Lebanon and inside Lebanon, and around the Golan and inside Syria.

Netanyahu:

Like Israel's previous wars, the War of Revival revealed the extraordinary strength of our young generation.

We, in the government, made thoughtful and courageous decisions to act step by step against those who sought our destruction.

A U.S. official says American forces have been carrying out airstrikes in Iran for the past several hours.

Source: ABC News

Ukraine claims 116 Russian vessels hit in 9 days in the Sea of Azov.

At peak, they were hitting one vessel roughly every two hours.

Targets are mostly shadow fleet tankers, bulk carriers, tugs, and ferries supplying occupied Crimea.

Satellite imagery shows vessel traffic in the Azov dropping by over 55%.

Pro-Israel influencer Eyal Yakoby worked with Brad Parscale's influencer network, Influenceable, on multiple Israel-related campaigns.

Source: TIME

Iran's Deputy FM Kazem Gharibabadi:

The United States came and violated all of its commitments under this Memorandum of Understanding.

Actually, I should use a stronger word. The term "violation" might not even be adequate.

With the action the US announced tonight — the termination of the lifting of Iran's naval blockade — the United States has essentially cast aside all of its commitments under the Islamabad Understanding.

It has completely dismantled the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding.

Iran's IRGC:

Not a single drop of oil or gas will be exported from this region as long as America's malicious actions continue.

These attacks will only delay the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

Editor-in-chief of Russia Today, Margarita Simonyan:

Tell me: in these five years, has a single Russian missile flown anywhere into Europe? No.

Has a single Russian tank driven anywhere into Europe? No.

Has even a single Russian combat aircraft flown anywhere into Europe? No.

And how many European missiles, tanks, and aircraft have flown, driven, or landed in Russia during all this time? Thousands.

Russia has not touched Europe in the slightest.

Source: DIE WELTWOCHE

Editor-in-chief of Russia Today, Margarita Simonyan:

The Eiffel Tower — we don't actually like it, you know. It looks pretty ugly. We don't want it.

Every time we actually — for some reason — conquered European capitals: we conquered Paris in 1812. We conquered Berlin twice. What did we do? We went back. Because we love Mother Russia. We don't want to stay there. We don't like it there. We like it here.

We just want you to leave us alone. Just leave us alone. Stop tormenting our people. Leave us alone.

We are not Alexander the Great. We are not Genghis Khan. We are not Napoleon. We are certainly not Hitler, for God's sake.

Source: DIE WELTWOCHE

NEW: CENTCOM protested to IDF after Israel's Transport Ministry banned additional American refueling tankers from landing at Ben Gurion Airport.

CENTCOM called the decision a direct blow to US operational needs amid the escalation with Iran.

The ban came after the number of US tankers parked at Ben Gurion reached 33 — occupying civilian aircraft stands and raising concerns about disrupting summer travel.

Transport Minister Miri Regev justified the decision by citing a prior cabinet agreement capping US aircraft at the airport at 20, and said the Americans could use Israeli military air bases instead.

Iran hit a Kuwaiti naval vessel tonight, wounding four military personnel.

Kuwaiti army confirmed the injured are receiving medical treatment and are in stable condition.

Zelensky struggles with a plastic water bottle, fully detaching the screw cap, and setting it aside.

Under the EU's Single-Use Plastics Directive, bottle caps must stay physically attached.

French soldiers from the Pacific performed haka dance in front of the Arc de Triomphe during the Bastille Day parade today.