Category World News

This week, the United States’ military involvement in the Middle East grew once more after its warplanes bombed at least three of Iran’s nuclear facilities.

Seven B-2 stealth bombers, each worth about $2.1 billion, dropped at least 14 million-dollar bunker-buster bombs on Fordow and Natanz, according to a briefing from US General Dan Caine, chairman of the joint chiefs of staff.

More than 125 US aircraft, including bombers, fighters, tankers, surveillance aircraft, and support crews, all spent hundreds of millions of dollars on deployment and operation.

More than any other country in the world, including China, spends almost seven times as much on its military as Russia does, compared to the next nine combined.

According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), the US spent $997 billion on its military in 2024, which accounts for 37% of all military expenditures worldwide.

US-led wars have a high human cost.

About 940, 000 people have died in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, Syria, Yemen, and other post-9/11 conflict areas as a result of US-led wars since 2001, according to an analysis from Brown University’s Watson Institute of International &amp, Public Affairs.

In addition to indirect deaths, those that result from a lack of access to food, medicine, or war-related diseases, are not included. The total death toll, including direct and indirect deaths, is estimated to be between 4.5 and 4.7 million, up from 3.6 to 3.8 million, according to estimates.

At least 30 000 US military personnel, contractors, and allies were killed in addition during that time. This includes at least 7, 052 soldiers, 8, 189 contractors, and 14, 874 allied troops.

Half a million people were killed in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

In response to the attacks of September 11 and the removal of the Taliban from power, the Afghan war broke out on October 7, 2001. Less than two years later, on March 20, 2003, the US and its allies launched the Iraqi war in an effort to end Saddam Hussein’s alleged WMDs and oust him from power. No WMD stockpiles were ever discovered, though.

The Afghanistan conflict, which lasted almost 20 years, led to an estimated 243 000 direct deaths, including those who were killed in Pakistan’s bordering regions, marking the longest military engagement in US history. During the war, about 315, 000 people died directly in Iraq.

According to the Watson Institute, at least 558, 000 direct deaths occurred between October 2001 and August 2021.

US-led wars have an economic cost.

The US has reportedly provided $ 5.8 trillion in funding its more than 20-decade war.

This includes $ 2.1 trillion in interest payments on loans made to pay for the war, $ 1.1 trillion in loans made by Homeland Security, $ 884 billion to increase the DOD base budget, $ 465 billion for veterans’ medical care, and $ 1.2 trillion in interest payments made on loans taken out of loans to fund the war.

US military spending continues to be a source of revenue

Over the next 30 years, the US is anticipated to spend at least $2.2 trillion on obligations relating to veterans’ care in addition to the $ 5.8 trillion already spent.

Since 2001, US wars have cost the country an estimated $8 trillion.

US funding of Gaza’s genocide by Israel

According to Brown University’s Watson Institute, Israel has consistently been the largest recipient of US foreign aid, having received at least $251.2 billion in inflation-adjusted dollars since 1959. A 10-year memorandum of understanding that runs through 2028 has been a commitment by the US to give Israel $3.8 billion annually since 2016. The majority of it is designated as foreign military funding.

However, the US provided an additional $ 17.9 billion in military aid to Israel in the year following the attacks in October 2023, making that figure the highest annual total ever. This includes $ 4. 5 billion in military financing, $ 4. 5 billion for missile defense, and $ 4. 5 billion for restocking US stocks with weapons for Israel.

The human cost of Gaza’s genocide by Israel

As of June 24, 2025, the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza reported the most recent casualty figures:

• At least 56 people confirmed dead, 077.
• Injured: at least 131, 848

Since March 18 Israel broke the ceasefire:

• At least 5 of 759 people confirmed dead.
• Injured: at least 19, 807

Another ten thousand people are feared to be buried beneath the rubble.

Two Palestinians who fled Gaza during the genocide share their resurrected stories on The Stream today.

They are unable to identify their true purpose. Donald Trump, the US president, criticized Israel-Iran ceasefire violations in an extraordinary four-letter outburst. Trump said he would make an effort to stop further planned attacks by directing the bulk of his anger toward Israel.

Iran is portrayed as a hateful nation by Donald Trump, who claims that Iranians even chant “death to America” there. But does the Iranian obsession with American tragedy mean anything else, or both? It is explained by Soraya Lennie.

Ramallah, occupied West Bank – Early on a recent Sunday morning, Saher figured he had a rare opportunity. Expecting Israeli forces to be distracted by the fallout from Iranian rocket attacks, he started to climb Israel’s separation wall.

He needed about 15 minutes to get to the other side. But as he climbed, an Israeli patrol suddenly appeared.

“I panicked, let go of the rope, and fell.”

He dropped from the top of the wall – a concrete barrier, in some places 8 metres (26 feet) high, which cuts through the occupied West Bank. Saher fell 4 metres (13 ft).

“For a moment, I thought I had died,” the 26-year-old recalled. “I heard voices in Hebrew. Then pain started creeping through my body.”

A Palestinian ambulance crew eventually transported Saber to Ramallah Hospital, where he was diagnosed with multiple rib fractures and fitted with a brace.

The Palestinian construction worker was trying to cross into Israel to reach his job in the city of Rishon LeZion. He spoke to Al Jazeera on condition of anonymity, fearing reprisal for trying to enter Israel without permission.

Before Israel’s war on Gaza began following the October 7 attack on Israel, about 390,000 Palestinian workers relied on jobs in Israeli territory. But after the war started, Israeli authorities revoked their work permits and forced them to leave. As the war drags on, and amid Israeli military actions in the occupied West Bank, some Palestinians – mostly in the construction and hospitality sectors – have been risking their lives to get back to Israel for temporary work.

With crossing points closed and fewer smugglers willing to take people by car since October 2023, many have had only one perilous option left: to scale the wall. That option has now become deadlier, as Israel employed tighter security amid its conflict with Iran and the escalating regional tensions. The wall is now heavily monitored by drones, sensors and military patrols.

‘Two fires’

With unemployment in the occupied West Bank at critical levels, desperation is pushing people to climb the wall.

“Oh God, let me die and relieve me of this torment,” said Ahed Rizk, 29, as he lay on a bed in Ramallah Hospital. The recently married construction worker was in anguish, and not only physically: He is now unable to provide for his family.

Rizk, who is from a village near Ramallah, lost the use of both legs after falling from the separation wall during an attempt to enter Israel in mid-June. One of his legs is now paralysed; the other was shattered by the fall.

He underwent a six-hour surgery after falling from a height of about 5 metres (16 ft). The rope he had been climbing snapped under his 140kg (309-pound) weight.

“This wasn’t my first time entering for work,” he said. “But it was the most dangerous. I used to go with smugglers and pay a fee, but when the war started, chaos spread. There were no vehicles and soldiers were everywhere.

“I knew I was caught between two fires,” he added, referring to the risk of being killed while trying to enter Israel and the hardship of not being able to work to support his family.

Rizk said dozens of workers had been gathered near the wall between the town of ar-Ram and occupied East Jerusalem. Without a ladder tall enough to reach the top of the wall, they used a shorter ladder and a rope tied to the other side. But as Rizk climbed, the rope broke.

“I landed on another young man who was climbing. He had bruises. I lost both legs. The others went to work. My cousin ran when the [Israeli] army approached. I was left alone.”

‘No choice’

Shaher Saad, the secretary-general of the Palestinian General Federation of Trade Unions (PGFTU), says Palestinians have been forced to attempt dangerous crossings for years.

“Decades of high unemployment have left thousands with no choice,” he told Al Jazeera.

But since the war in Gaza began, crossings have grown deadlier, Saad said. Palestinians have been shot by Israeli forces or fallen to their deaths.

At least 35 Palestinian workers have died attempting to cross into Israel for work in 2025, Saad said. It is unclear how many of those were shot and how many died as a result of falling.

Saad attributes the deaths to Israel’s tightened restrictions, which prevent workers from accessing authorised avenues to employment.

Conditions in Israeli work sites are often poor, he added. “Most sites lack basic safety standards. Workers aren’t given protective gear. Some injuries are also due to the lack of awareness about safety procedures.”

Deepening social marginalisation

Israel’s strategy through restrictions on movement and military actions is to exacerbate inequality between Israelis and Palestinians, said Sari Orabi, a Ramallah-based independent political analyst and researcher.

“It imposes restrictions on movement and access to resources, forcing civilians to choose between hunger and physical danger,” Orabi told Al Jazeera.

“This policy of geographic division and military control deepens social marginalisation and increases dependence on aid. It fosters a state of helplessness and poverty.”

In the village of Ni’lin, west of Ramallah, Otham al-Khawaja, a 37-year-old father of three, described how, as he tried to climb the wall in March, Israeli forces opened fire. The tiler by trade fell, breaking both of his legs, but believes he would have been shot had he not fallen.

He had scaled the wall several times before that because he feared not being able to provide for his family. “Fear sometimes clouds judgement,” he reflected.

Al-Khawaja underwent surgery to insert metal rods into his legs. After three months of treatment, he was able to walk again, though not like before.

“God wrote me a new life,” he said, grateful to have survived.

“You will never appreciate life until you face death. Then you learn to accept whatever comes your way.”

The world is appreciative of the ceasefire reached by Israel and Iran, but it is still concerned about how fragile the situation is.

Despite reports that Israel and Iran had reached a deal early on Tuesday to implement the overnight, phased ceasefire plan, which President Trump announced, both sides threatened immediate retaliation if one side violated the deal, and tensions continue to be high.

Defense Minister Israel Katz announced a ceasefire violation shortly after Israel signaled its intention, and he claimed he had ordered the military to strike Tehran.

Trump then instructed Israel to “don’t drop those bombs” in a social media post!

These events have only added to the confusion caused by the ceasefire’s complicated schedule.

Iran has already stated that it intends to return to normal with its nuclear program right away.

Israel claimed that intelligence reports that Tehran was close to developing nuclear weapons spurred its first strikes on Iran on June 13. On Saturday, the US attacked Iran’s nuclear facilities, and it said something similar.

In light of these uncertainties, the world has been optimistic but cautious because the truce is still fragile, and voices are raising that a ceasefire be be called for once more to put an end to the conflict in Gaza.

Iran

The Supreme National Security Council, Iran’s top security body, claimed Israel had been forced to “unilaterally accept defeat and accept a ceasefire.”

Tehran’s forces “keep their hands on the trigger” in response to “any act of aggression by the enemy,” the statement read.

Israel

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed that Israel had accomplished the objectives it had set when it launched its surprise attack on Iran on June 13 to annihilate its missile and nuclear arsenal.

Israel has accepted President Trump’s request for a bilateral ceasefire, he said, “in light of the achievement of the objectives of the operation and in full coordination with him.”

Netanyahu continued, “Israel thanks President Trump and the United States for their support in defense and their participation in eradicating the Iranian nuclear threat.”

Yair Lapid, the leader of Israel’s opposition, stated on X that a ceasefire is also necessary right now in Gaza.

“There should close things there as well at this.” To end the conflict and free the hostages. He argued that Israel needs to begin rebuilding.

United States

Trump’s ceasefire efforts have divided US politicians.

“President Trump did it all, utterly unthinkable.” Donald J. Trump was the only thing that the American people had to win, making the world a safer place. “CEASEFIRE” Nancy Mace, a Republican representative from South Carolina, added X.

“I believe the president really hit the reset button and said, Look, let’s actually bring about long-term peace in the region. According to US Vice President JD Vance, that’s always been his intention.

The president of the United States, according to Democratic representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, admitted that he had unilaterally declared war on the continent without the consent of Congress. It is prohibited. She claimed that it is unconstitutional.

“And for me, while the president is posting something about a ceasefire, I believe what he also posted was an official declaration that this was war,” he continued. And I believe it needs to be taken very seriously into account.”

Qatar

Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani claimed that his nation contacted Iran to assist with the mediating of the ceasefire at the US’s request.

Qatar “welcomes” the ceasefire, he said, but it’s concerned about alleged violations.

We hope that the ceasefire will last and that diplomacy will prevail, he said, adding that the violations of the ceasefire that we witnessed this morning are unacceptable.

Al Thani added that Qatar and Egypt have been facilitating ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas in “the next two days” with Qatar and Egypt.

He added, “We hope that Israel doesn’t use the Iran ceasefire to continue attacking Gaza.”

Egypt

The Egyptian government’s ministry of foreign affairs welcomed the truce, saying it “could represent a turning point in ending the military conflict between the two countries and restoring calm to the region.”

Lebanon

Nawaf Abdallah Salim Salam, the prime minister of Lebanon, expressed his gratitude for “manuevering to prevent being dragged into the Israel-Iran war.”

Jordan

Jordan applauded the ceasefire and emphasized how significant it is in reducing regional tensions.

The Jordanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Sufyan Qudah, who emphasized the need to keep the ceasefire agreement safe from further deterioration.

He also demanded that Gaza’s current ceasefire be reached.

Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia welcomed Trump’s announcement that the parties had reached a cease-fire agreement, according to the statement.

Russia

Moscow hoped “that this will be a sustainable ceasefire,” according to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, who stated that “if a ceasefire has indeed been achieved, this can only be welcomed.”

China

China has stated that it is willing to work with the international community to keep Middle East peace and stability and does not want tensions to escalate.

Beijing is urging all parties involved to reach a political settlement at a timely time, according to a spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who spoke to a regular press conference.

European Union

Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, stated that the bloc “welcomes” the announcement. It represents a significant step in the direction of restoring peace in a conflict-stricken area. She urged Iran to “engage seriously in a credible diplomatic process” and said that this must be our collective top priority.

France

The Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs issued a statement urging Iran to immediately engage in negotiations that will lead to an agreement that addresses all issues involving its nuclear and ballistic programs and destabilizing activities.

Germany

Chancellor Friedrich Merz urged Iran and Israel to “heed” the call while “giving thanks” to Qatar and other countries in the region for their “prudence” during the “dramatic” past days.

“It would be a very positive development if this ceasefire were to occur following the US’s decisive military strikes against Iran’s nuclear facilities. According to Merz, it will make the Middle East and the entire world safer.

Airspace

After the conflict ended, airspace across the Middle East resumed, including those in Qatar, Iraq, Oman, the United Arab Emirates, and Syria.

Now that backlogs are available, airlines must deal with them.

Oman Air reported that its flight schedules were reinstated as a result of last night’s cancellations due to regional tensions.

The immediate priority is getting those passengers’ significant backlogs cleared and flying them to their destination, according to a Virgin Australia spokesperson. There are currently more than 25 000 impacted passengers in Doha.

Markets

As Trump announced the ceasefire, oil prices increased by 3 percent, global stock prices increased, and the dollar increased.

The dollar dropped 0.77 percent to 145.0% overnight as a result of the ceasefire’s announcement. The euro rose 0.2 percent to $1.1602.