⚡️🇮🇱— In an excerpt from CBS 60 Minutes, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu discussed alleged Chinese involvement in support of Iran’s remaining military capabilities during an interview with CBS News’ Major Garrett.

➡️ Asked whether China is providing materially valuable military support to Iran, Netanyahu said: “China provided a certain amount of support and specific components for missile manufacturing. But I can't say more than that.”

Pressed on whether this concerned him, he replied: “Well, I didn't like it.” When asked if such support is ongoing, he added: “Could be. Could be. I don't want to speak for China.”

➡️ The exchange took place in the broader context of Iran’s still active missile production capacity, with Netanyahu suggesting that external supply chains remain a factor sustaining Tehran’s arsenal despite Israeli and U.S. strikes, according to the interview transcript.

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⚡️🇮🇱🇺🇸— Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel should begin gradually ending its reliance on U.S. military aid, calling for a “re-examination” of the financial relationship with Washington and arguing that Israel should eventually reduce American military support to zero.

“I want to draw down to zero the American financial support,” Netanyahu said, referring to the roughly $3.8 billion Israel receives annually. “I think that it's time that we weaned ourselves from the remaining military support.” He said he has already discussed the proposal with U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli officials, suggesting the process should begin immediately and be completed over the next decade, according to his statements from CBS 60 Minutes.

ℹ️ The comments come as political resistance to foreign aid — including aid to Israel — grows within parts of both the Republican and Democratic parties in the United States ahead of the expiration of the current 10-year aid framework signed during the Obama administration.

➡️ Analysis surrounding the remarks suggests the proposal could be aimed at preempting a future political battle in Washington over renewing large-scale military aid packages. Israeli officials and pro-Israel lobbying groups are increasingly aware that continued bipartisan consensus on unconditional aid is no longer guaranteed, while debate inside the Republican Party has expanded beyond traditional foreign policy lines toward broader opposition to overseas spending.

➡️ The assessment also argues that shifting away from grant-based aid could provide Israel greater strategic and legal flexibility. Unlike U.S. military grants, direct arms purchases are less exposed to restrictions tied to American funding laws, potentially allowing Israel broader procurement options while maintaining access to U.S. weapons, joint defense projects and diplomatic backing.

💡Analysts further noted that reducing dependence on American aid aligns with a long-standing strategic current inside Israel favoring greater autonomy in regional military operations and expanded use of domestic defense production to stimulate the Israeli economy and arms export sector, according to Mondoweiss and cross-checked reports.

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⚡️🇫🇷🇰🇪— French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in Kenya ahead of the Africa Forward Summit, a gathering aimed at presenting France’s new approach toward Africa, which Paris describes as a shift from the legacy of “Françafrique” toward a partnership of equals.

➡️ Held for the first time in an Anglophone African country, the summit comes after the completion of France’s military withdrawal from West Africa last year amid declining regional influence and growing criticism from African leaders over what they described as a heavy-handed French presence.

➡️ The two-day summit beginning Monday is expected to bring together around 30 heads of state. Macron stated that France may “disagree” with certain West African governments but “never disagrees with the people.”

🔗 On Sunday, France and Kenya also signed 11 agreements covering sectors including nuclear energy, transport modernization and sustainable agriculture, investments aimed at strengthening “human capital” and supporting innovation linked to Africa’s growing youth population, according to France 24 and AP report.

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⚡️🇮🇱— The Israeli army: Alexander Globanov, a tanker driver in the 6924th Transport Battalion, was killed near the Lebanese border.

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⚡️🇮🇷🇮🇱— Iranian media: Iranian judiciary sentences a person to death for alleged intelligence collaboration with Israel.

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⚡️🇪🇺🇮🇱— The EU's foreign policy chief: I expect a European agreement today to impose sanctions on extremist Israeli settlers.

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🚨🇮🇱🇱🇧— Israeli army: Warning issued to residents of 9 towns and villages in southern Lebanon and the western Bekaa Valley to evacuate within a 1000-meter radius.

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⚡️🇮🇱🇱🇧 — Israeli Army Radio, citing military sources: Hezbollah has about 100 qualified operators of explosive drones (FPV), and we have been able to assassinate less than 10 of them.

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⚡️🇮🇷— Iranian Foreign Ministry: We are only demanding our country's right to end the war

➡️Washington still has unreasonable demands.

➡️We hope our Chinese friends will seize the opportunity to warn of the consequences of illegal US actions.

➡️Tehran is simply seeking to secure its rights and has presented responsible proposals to Washington.

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⚡️🇮🇱🇮🇷🇺🇸— Israeli Minister of Culture and Sports Miki Zohar: I hope Trump will quickly realize that Iran is not a partner for talks. The regime in Iran must be overthrown, and we will not agree to any deal that does not include the removal of the nuclear threat.

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⚡️🇮🇱🇺🇸🇮🇷— Yedioth Ahronoth: Netanyahu will hold a security meeting this afternoon against the backdrop of the crisis in talks between Tehran and Washington.

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⚡️🇺🇸🇦🇷🇨🇳— Argentina reportedly halted the completion of a major Chinese telescope project in the Andes after pressure from the Trump administration over concerns the facility could be used for military purposes.

➡️ The telescope, estimated at around $50 million and considered significant for astronomical research due to the region’s high-quality observation conditions, was blocked by the government of President Javier Milei before completion.

➡️ The report added that Chile also suspended a separate large-scale Chinese astronomical project in the Atacama Desert last year following pressure from Washington over similar concerns, according to The New York Times.

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🚨🇱🇧🇮🇱— Residents in the Western Galilee reported heavy smoke near the border area, with local security updates stating a large fire is ongoing near Alma al-Shaab on the Lebanese side of the frontier, according to Channel 12.

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⚡️🇱🇧🇮🇱— A Lebanese diplomatic source said President Joseph Aoun instructed Ambassador Karam not to discuss agenda items proposed by the Lebanese side unless Israel halts its military actions in southern Lebanon, according to Asas and reported by Bint Jbeil Ch.

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⚡️🇮🇱🇱🇧— Israeli military officials in the last few hours confirmed that an Iron Dome system was hit by a drone strike launched by Hezbollah, according to Israeli Army Radio.

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🚨🇮🇱🇱🇧— Three Israeli soldiers were reportedly lightly wounded after an explosive drone strike in southern Lebanon. The soldiers were evacuated to hospital for treatment and their families were notified, according to Channel 12.

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⚡️🇱🇧🇱🇧— Hezbollah bloc MP Hassan Az-Zein rejected the idea of a “security belt” or buffer zone in southern Lebanon, saying the resistance would prevent Israel from consolidating control over Lebanese territory and keep it “in a state of confusion and fear.”

➡️ Calling for a reassessment of state policy, Az-Zein said relying solely on negotiations without military deterrence against Israel amounted to a “political scandal.” He also demanded an end to Israeli attacks, including assassinations, and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from all Lebanese territory.

➡️ He added that international backing for Lebanon’s right to defend itself was increasing alongside growing condemnation of Israeli actions, according to the statement.

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⚡️🇮🇷🇺🇸🇮🇱🇱🇧— Bloomberg, citing sources: Iran insists any agreement must lead to an immediate cessation of fighting in Lebanon.

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⚡️🇮🇷— Bloomberg, citing sources: Tehran demanded the lifting of the naval blockade, the easing of sanctions, and the retention of some control over navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.

➡️Iran's demands included the release of its frozen assets and the lifting of US sanctions on its oil exports.

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🚨🇱🇧— Heavy machine gun fire was heard in the Wadi Hassan valley on the outskirts of Majdal Zoun, coinciding with artillery bombardment targeting the area, according to Al-Manar correspondent.

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🚨🇮🇱— According to preliminary investigations, the Israeli soldier killed yesterday by an explosive drone was operating a tank transporter and was inside a military site when the drone struck him, Hebrew newspaper Maariv reported.

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