US President Donald Trump has reportedly threatened military action against Oman over its negotiations with Iran aimed at managing commercial shipping through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, according to regional officials.

The warning comes as Oman works with Iran on a proposed arrangement to restore and manage maritime traffic through the waterway, which has been severely disrupted during the US-Iran conflict.

Washington has objected to parts of the proposed arrangement, particularly provisions that would give Iran and Oman a joint role in managing shipping through the strait. US officials have also opposed any arrangement that could allow Iran to exercise greater control over maritime traffic or impose fees on vessels.

The Strait of Hormuz is a critical route for global energy supplies, making any prolonged disruption a major concern for oil markets and international shipping. Reuters reported that oil prices have already been pushed higher as markets price in the possibility of a prolonged crisis around the waterway.

Trump’s reported threat comes amid stalled US-Iran negotiations and growing tensions over how the strait should be reopened. The 60-day negotiation period between Washington and Tehran has expired without a broader agreement.

The development has also raised concerns about US relations with Oman, which has played a key role as a diplomatic intermediary between Washington and Tehran.

Brent crude prices climbed above $91 a barrel on Tuesday, reaching their highest level in three weeks as renewed concerns over Middle East tensions and oil supply supported the market.

Brent crude futures were up 59 cents, or 0.7 per cent, at $91.46 a barrel at 16:31 GMT, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude rose 75 cents, or 0.9 per cent, to $85.25 a barrel.

Both benchmarks touched their highest levels in three weeks during Tuesday’s trading session. Reuters later reported that Brent settled at $91.02 a barrel, while WTI settled at $84.94.

The rise came as hopes for a lasting US-Iran agreement weakened and concerns grew over the continued disruption around the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial route for global oil shipments. Iran has indicated that the waterway will remain closed until certain conditions are met, adding to supply concerns.

The United Arab Emirates has strongly condemned Israeli airstrikes on the Abu al-Duhur military airbase in Syria’s Idlib province, describing the attack as a “flagrant violation” of international law and Syrian sovereignty.

In a statement, the UAE Foreign Ministry said it “rejects in the strongest terms” the violation of Syria’s sovereignty and threats to its security and stability.

The ministry said the continued Israeli military action on Syrian territory also breached the 1974 Separation of Forces Agreement, which it said Israel is required to respect.

The UAE called on the international community to take immediate steps to halt repeated Israeli attacks on Syrian territory and prevent further escalation that could deepen regional tensions and threaten international peace and security.

The condemnation follows Israeli strikes on Abu al-Duhur on Tuesday. Syrian state media reported that eight strikes hit the runway and storage facilities at the airbase, causing material damage but no reported casualties.

The strikes have drawn criticism from several regional and international actors. Turkey also condemned the attack, while US envoy Tom Barrack described it as an “unnecessary escalation” that does not contribute to regional stability.

Israel later said the strikes were linked to concerns over a potential Turkish military deployment at the base, claiming that such a move could threaten its security.

A major wave of Israeli airstrikes hit areas in southern Lebanon, amid growing signs of strain in the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah.

The strikes came after several days of renewed exchanges of fire between the two sides, including clashes near Ali Taher Ridge.

Only about 3 per cent of Gaza’s cropland is currently both accessible to farmers and undamaged, according to a geospatial assessment by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and UNOSAT.

The assessment found that just 448 hectares (1,100 acres) of cropland were both accessible and undamaged as of June 24, down from 601 hectares (1,490 acres) in October last year. That represents a decline of more than a quarter.

The report attributed the reduction mainly to continued bombardment and restricted access to farmland since the “ceasefire”, with the westward expansion of Israel’s “Yellow Line” cited as a major factor. The line separates the civilian zone from areas under Israeli military control.

## Rafah worst affected

Gaza’s southern city of Rafah was the worst affected, with 97.2 per cent of its cropland now inaccessible to farmers, according to the assessment.

The findings highlight the growing challenges facing agricultural production in the enclave, even in areas where farmland and other agricultural infrastructure remain physically intact.

“The loss of access to farmland is further shrinking the space available for farmers to produce food, even where agricultural assets remain physically intact,” said Rein Paulsen, director of FAO’s Office of Emergencies and Resilience.

Paulsen called for urgent measures to restore safe access to farmland and ensure the availability of agricultural supplies in Gaza.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said Israel and Syria have agreed to maintain the “status quo” on security matters, following Israeli air strikes on the Abu al-Duhur airbase in Syria’s northwestern Idlib province.

The Israeli prime minister’s office said on X that Syria had been “on the verge of breaching” the existing security arrangement by allowing Turkish troops to deploy at an airbase near Aleppo.

“Israel repeatedly warned Syria that such a deployment would pose a threat to Israel’s security. Syria chose to ignore these warnings,” the statement said.

“Israel will not tolerate threats to its security and would welcome a return to the status quo,” it added.

The statement came after Israeli air strikes targeted the Abu al-Duhur airbase, about 70 kilometres (43.5 miles) east of the Turkish border. The facility has been out of service as a dedicated military airfield since 2013 and has changed hands several times during Syria’s 14-year civil war.

Israel has not officially claimed responsibility for the strikes. However, Syria, the United States and Jordan have all described the attack as an Israeli strike.

US special envoy for Syria Tom Barrack said earlier Tuesday that Israel’s concerns over a possible Turkish deployment at the base could be “accurate or misplaced”.

The Israeli statement did not provide details on when or how the alleged agreement with Syria was reached.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei has rejected the United Arab Emirates’ claim that missiles were launched from Iranian territory towards the UAE, Iranian state media reported on Tuesday.

Baghaei denied Tehran was responsible for the alleged missile launches, disputing the UAE’s account amid heightened tensions between the two countries.

The UAE has suspended commercial and financial transactions with Iran until further notice following Iranian attacks, the country’s Foreign Ministry said.

The move marks a significant escalation in tensions between Abu Dhabi and Tehran, following a series of alleged Iranian attacks involving UAE-linked vessels and threats to maritime navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.

The UAE said on Wednesday that a missile alert issued earlier in the day was triggered by two ballistic missiles launched from Iran that were assessed to be targeting maritime navigation.

According to the UAE Ministry of Defence, the missiles were detected approaching from Iran but ultimately fell into the sea.

The ministry said it remains on a high state of alert and is fully prepared to respond to any threats to the country’s security and safety.

The UAE had earlier issued warnings urging residents to follow official safety instructions after its air defence systems detected a missile threat.

France will expel two Iranian diplomats in the coming days following what Paris described as an attack on two French diplomats in Tehran last month, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said Tuesday.

In a post on X, Barrot said the move came after the French diplomats were “scandalously and deliberately assaulted” in Tehran on July 19.

Barrot also said the Iranian people were bearing the brunt of the latest escalation in the Middle East. He pointed to what he called the “bloody repression” of protests in Iran in January 2026, as well as ongoing military strikes linked to the US-Iran conflict.

The French foreign minister said Paris would continue to support the Iranian people, including artists, scientists and researchers, despite the worsening tensions between France and Tehran.

The diplomatic expulsions are likely to further strain relations between France and Iran amid the wider regional conflict and growing international pressure on Tehran.

A ballistic missile launched by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels struck a house in al-Akmah village in the Maqbanah district west of Taiz, according to the media centre affiliated with Yemen’s internationally recognised government.

The incident comes amid a recent escalation in Houthi attacks across western and southern Yemen, including strikes targeting areas held by government-aligned forces.

The latest strike adds to growing concerns over renewed fighting in Yemen, with the United Nations warning that the country faces its highest risk of returning to full-scale conflict since the 2022 truce.

Eight Israeli airstrikes hit the runway at the Abu al-Duhur air base in Syria’s northwestern Idlib province early Tuesday, causing material damage but no reported casualties, according to Syrian state television.

The strikes targeted the military facility amid heightened tensions in Syria. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said foreign fighters had previously been stationed at the base but were recently asked to leave.

Turkey, a key backer of Syria’s government, had also been involved in rehabilitating the air base, according to the monitoring group.

The Israeli military has not publicly claimed responsibility for the strikes.

US envoy to Damascus Tom Barrack said Washington was “deeply concerned” by the confirmed Israeli airstrikes, describing them as an “unnecessary escalation” that did not contribute to regional stability.

“Unnecessary escalation” did not appear to deter further activity at the facility, with new explosions reported at Abu al-Duhur after Barrack’s comments.

Footage shared online showed a thick plume of smoke rising from the air base following the reported explosions.

The latest strikes add to growing concerns over Israel’s military activity in Syria, where Ankara and Washington have been pushing for greater stability following years of conflict.

The targeting of a facility reportedly undergoing rehabilitation with Turkish backing could further complicate relations between Israel and Turkey, which has emerged as a major regional player in post-war Syria.

The USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier has completed its 54th refuelling operation while deployed in the US Fifth Fleet’s area of operations, according to a post from the carrier’s official X account.

The aircraft carrier said it spent 140 hours operating alongside nine ships from the US Naval Air Transport Command during the operation. It received more than 20 million gallons (over 75.7 million litres) of fuel, along with 10,261 pallets containing food, spare parts and other supplies, as well as 2,103 triwalls of mail.

The operation comes as the USS Abraham Lincoln prepares to return to the United States after a nine-month deployment.

During its deployment, the carrier took part in US military operations against Iran amid escalating tensions in the Middle East.

The Trump administration has faced criticism over conditions aboard the carrier during the extended deployment, with concerns raised about the strain placed on sailors during the lengthy mission.

Critics say the US is pressing Iran for concessions that were never part of the original agreement, arguing that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have overestimated Washington’s leverage. The criticism comes amid growing frustration over the Trump administration’s handling of the Iran crisis, with calls for officials to abandon unrealistic expectations and address the consequences of the strategy they pursued.

The Pentagon is considering reducing its military presence at major bases in the Gulf following the Iran war, as Iranian strikes exposed vulnerabilities at key US installations, according to reports.

One option under consideration is to shift some American forces westward towards locations in Jordan, Israel or Saudi Arabia rather than rebuilding damaged facilities in the Gulf.

The discussions reflect a broader reassessment of the US military posture in the region after Iranian attacks demonstrated the risks facing large American bases.

No final decision has been made, and the Pentagon could still choose to maintain or rebuild its existing Gulf presence.

The potential changes come as Washington reviews its regional strategy and weighs how best to protect US troops and assets while maintaining its ability to respond to threats across the Middle East.

Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has shared a video showing what he described as the construction of a dedicated execution facility for Palestinian detainees.

In a post on Telegram, Ben-Gvir said the facility was being developed following the passage of legislation introducing the death penalty for certain detainees in the occupied Palestinian territories.

“We promised – we are keeping it,” Ben-Gvir wrote, claiming that his government had fulfilled pledges to impose harsher prison conditions and advance the death penalty for what he called “terrorists”.

“And now the death row and hanging facility are also starting to take shape,” he added.

Ben-Gvir described the development as a historic moment, writing: “We are making history.”

The move has drawn attention amid growing international concern over Israel’s treatment of Palestinian detainees and conditions in its prisons.

Israeli forces allegedly marked Palestinian detainees with numbers on their foreheads and other parts of their bodies during raids in the occupied West Bank, according to Israel’s Haaretz newspaper.

The report said Israeli forces raided around 100 buildings in Qabatiya, south of Jenin, on Monday as part of an operation targeting two Palestinians accused of planning attacks.

Palestinian sources, however, said the number of people detained during the raids was higher than the figure reported by the Israeli military.

Local reports also alleged that some detainees were beaten by Israeli soldiers during the operation.

Several Palestinians who were taken for questioning were later released with numbers reportedly written on their faces and other parts of their bodies.

The allegations come amid heightened Israeli military operations across the occupied West Bank, where raids and arrests have increased alongside wider regional tensions.

The reported treatment of detainees has drawn concern over the conduct of Israeli forces during security operations in Palestinian areas.

UAE air defence systems have detected a missile threat targeting the country, the Ministry of Defence said, urging residents to follow safety warnings and updates issued through official channels.

The ministry said any loud sounds heard in the country could be caused by air defence systems intercepting incoming threats.

It also reaffirmed that the UAE’s armed forces are fully prepared to respond to any threat and protect the country’s sovereignty, security and stability.

The UAE’s defence ministry said its air defence systems detected a missile threat, as tensions continue to rise across the Middle East.

In a post on X, the ministry said the threat had been detected by the country’s air defence systems but did not provide further details about the source, location or whether any missile was intercepted.

The announcement comes amid heightened regional tensions and increased military activity linked to the wider conflict involving Iran and its neighbours.