USA

By Sabiu Abdullahi

U.S. President Donald Trump has pledged that the United States will take action after Iran allegedly brought down an American Apache helicopter during a patrol operation over the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump disclosed the development on Tuesday through a post on his Truth Social platform. He said military officials informed him that the incident took place overnight and involved what he described as a “highly sophisticated Apache Helicopter.”

The president stated that both pilots aboard the aircraft survived and did not suffer any injuries.

Trump wrote: “I have just been informed by our Great Military that last night the Iranians shot down one of our highly sophisticated Apache Helicopters while patrolling over the Strait of Hormuz.

“There were two pilots involved, both are safe and uninjured. Nevertheless, the United States must, of necessity, respond to this attack. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”

The reported incident is expected to heighten tensions between the United States and Iran. It comes amid ongoing concerns over security in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important oil transit routes.

Neither the U.S. military nor Iranian authorities had immediately provided additional details on the incident at the time of this report.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

United States President Donald Trump has granted a presidential pardon to former Republican Congressman Stephen Buyer, who was convicted of insider trading and served nearly two years in prison.

The pardon, dated Thursday, was made public by the White House late on Friday.

Buyer, a former representative from Indiana, received a 22-month prison sentence in 2023 after a federal court found him guilty of making illegal stock trades based on confidential information obtained while he worked as a consultant and lobbyist after leaving Congress. The court also ordered him to surrender more than $350,000 in profits linked to the trades and pay a $10,000 fine. He was released from prison in 2025.

The US Supreme Court declined to hear Buyer’s appeal in May, issuing its decision without comment.

In the pardon document, Trump granted “a full, complete, and unconditional pardon” to Buyer. The president pointed to Buyer’s service as a judge advocate general in the US Army and his years in Congress, describing his public record as “distinguished and highly productive”.

Responding to the decision, Buyer said the pardon “corrects a politically motivated prosecution” and that it was “horrific to be imprisoned for a crime that I did not commit”. He has consistently denied any wrongdoing.

Trump had previously signaled support for Buyer’s pardon request. On May 31, he shared two letters on his Truth Social platform that urged him to grant clemency to the former lawmaker, who is also a Gulf War veteran.

Buyer served as a House prosecutor during the impeachment trial of former President Bill Clinton in 1998. He also worked on Trump’s presidential transition team in 2016, where he focused on veterans’ affairs.

One of the letters, signed by more than 40 former Republican members of Congress, argued that Buyer was “targeted by the deep state” because of his role in Clinton’s impeachment proceedings.

“Like you, Mr President, Steve has been the victim of lawfare conducted by the Biden Administration,” the former lawmakers wrote in an April 2025 letter.

A separate letter from five current Republican members of the House of Representatives stated that a pardon would help deliver justice in Buyer’s case. The June 2025 letter was signed by Tom Cole of Oklahoma, Ken Calvert of California, Marlin Stutzman of Indiana, Jack Bergman of Michigan and Pete Sessions of Texas.

Buyer, 67, was convicted over trades connected to the $26.5 billion merger between T-Mobile and Sprint, which was announced in 2018. Prosecutors also linked him to illegal trading involving consulting firm Navigant before its planned acquisition by Guidehouse became public.

Under the US Constitution, the president has broad authority to grant pardons for federal offences. While a pardon does not remove a criminal conviction from a person’s record, it is often viewed as an act of mercy or a remedy for perceived injustice.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

An Israeli air strike in southern Lebanon has killed Brigadier General Wissam Sabra and two other senior Lebanese military personnel, amid growing regional tensions linked to the ongoing conflict involving Israel, the United States and Iran.

According to the Lebanese military, Sabra was travelling in a convoy on a road between Kfar Tebnit and Khardali when the strike occurred. The two other victims were identified as Captain Elie Khoury and soldier Hussein Ghozal.

The Lebanese presidency condemned the attack, describing it as “a blatant violation” of the country’s sovereignty. President Joseph Aoun said the strike was “aimed at thwarting all efforts to reach a solution”, while Prime Minister Nawaf Salam called it “a heinous crime and an attack on Lebanon and all Lebanese people”.

The Israeli military later acknowledged carrying out the attack and said the vehicle involved was “moving suspiciously”. It added that the incident remains under review.

The killing of Sabra, a 54-year-old father of three, is one of the deadliest incidents involving the Lebanese army in recent years. The attack comes at a sensitive time as diplomatic efforts continue to seek an agreement involving the United States, Iran, Hezbollah, Lebanon and Israel.

Jordan also condemned the strike and called for an immediate halt to Israeli military operations in Lebanon. A spokesperson for Jordan’s Foreign Ministry, Fouad Majali, described the attack on the Lebanese military convoy as “a blatant violation of the sovereignty, security, and stability” of Lebanon.

Majali extended condolences to the Lebanese government and the families of those killed. He also reaffirmed Amman’s “unwavering support” for Lebanon.

According to Jordan’s official Petra news agency, Majali “also stressed Jordan’s support for the Lebanese government’s efforts to assert its sovereignty over all Lebanese territory, reactivate its national institutions, and ensure that weapons are solely in the hands of the state”.

Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi reportedly delivered what was described as an “important message” from Islamabad to Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khomeini. He also urged an end to the war involving Iran, Israel and the United States.

Elsewhere, demonstrations in support of Palestinians took place in several countries. Hundreds of people marched through Manchester in the United Kingdom carrying Palestinian flags and demanding that the British government withdraw support for Israel. Protesters displayed a banner reading “End the Israeli Occupation”.

The march coincided with the 59th anniversary of the 1967 Naksa, when Israel occupied the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip.

In Tunisia, demonstrators gathered in the city of Bizerte to protest Israel’s military campaign in Gaza. Participants placed symbolic coffins marked with red paint in a public square to highlight the humanitarian situation in the territory.

In Scotland, activists from the group Red Card Glasgow held a vigil outside Hampden Park Stadium to honour Palestinian footballers killed during the conflict. Participants placed wreaths, football shirts and Palestinian scarves at the venue.

The latest developments highlight continuing instability across the region as diplomatic efforts to ease tensions face significant challenges.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

At least one person was killed and 63 others sustained injuries after an Iranian drone struck a passenger terminal at Kuwait International Airport on Wednesday, amid renewed hostilities involving Iran and US forces in the Gulf region.

Indian authorities confirmed that the victim was an Indian national, while several other citizens were among those injured in the attack.

Kuwait’s military strongly condemned the incident and described it as an act of “criminal Iranian aggression”. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, however, blamed US actions for the escalation. The group alleged that American forces had targeted a tanker and a communications tower on Qeshm Island, prompting a response.

The latest violence has raised concerns about the stability of the April 8 ceasefire that halted more than a month of fighting triggered by US-Israeli airstrikes on Iran. Although the truce has largely remained in place, occasional exchanges of fire have continued.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Tehran of “playing with fire”.

“Iran surely knows what the (US) president has said, that if necessary, there’ll be a full-scale return to military action,” Netanyahu warned in an interview with US channel CNBC, referring to threats made by Donald Trump.

Kuwaiti health ministry spokesman Abdullah al-Sanad said 63 people received medical treatment for injuries sustained in the attack. He noted that the casualties suffered “including head wounds, cerebral haemorrhages, amputations and injuries resulting from explosions”.

Following the strike, Kuwaiti authorities temporarily suspended air traffic and redirected incoming flights to alternative destinations. Flight operations later resumed through Kuwait Airways.

The airport has come under attack on several occasions during the conflict and had only returned to full operations earlier this week.

Kuwait said it detected 30 ballistic missiles and drones launched during what it described as “heinous Iranian aggression”. The country also rejected claims from Tehran that its territory and airspace had been used for attacks against Iran.

A resident living near the airport, Hassan Sheikh, recounted hearing multiple explosions overnight.

“For the first time, my children felt how serious the situation was,” he said.

Bahrain also reported overnight drone attacks, while the United Arab Emirates called for a “cohesive Gulf stance” among neighbouring states in response to Iran.

Although Iran’s Revolutionary Guards did not claim responsibility for the airport strike, they accused Kuwait and Bahrain of assisting US military operations. The group said it had targeted “the Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait, which hosts helicopters”.

Iran’s chief negotiator in talks with the United States, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, warned that any “aggression will be met with a decisive, regrettable, and proportionate response”.

Meanwhile, the US military said it had “successfully defeated” several Iranian missile and drone attacks directed at Kuwait and Bahrain. It also confirmed carrying out strikes on Iran’s Qeshm Island.

Bahraini authorities reported intercepting three Iranian missiles and several drones.

The escalation coincided with diplomatic efforts in Washington, where US, Israeli and Lebanese officials held discussions aimed at ending the parallel conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.

According to the Lebanese embassy in Washington, a proposed US-backed arrangement would initially cover Israeli attacks on Beirut and Hezbollah operations against Israeli territory.

Neither side has publicly endorsed the proposal. Senior Hezbollah official Mahmud Qomati said in a written statement that the group “will not accept a partial ceasefire”.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington wanted the Lebanon talks to remain separate from negotiations involving Iran, although Tehran has repeatedly linked both conflicts.

Israeli forces have expanded ground operations in Lebanon, marking their deepest advance into the country in two decades.

Lebanese authorities said Israeli strikes on Wednesday killed at least nine people in southern Lebanon, including two paramedics. Another airstrike reportedly targeted a vehicle near Beirut.

Hezbollah claimed responsibility for a rocket attack against Israeli troops in northern Israel, stating that the action was a response to what it described as Israeli violations of an existing ceasefire.

A truce intended to halt fighting in Lebanon was scheduled to take effect on April 17, but both sides have continued military operations.

Israeli officials have maintained that attacks on northern Israeli communities by Hezbollah could trigger strikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs. They say the position is supported by Washington.

Netanyahu also said Trump shared his objective of disarming Hezbollah in order to “save Lebanon”.

By Uzair Adam

A senior adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, has warned that Tehran would respond with a massive wave of missile and drone attacks if the United States carries out further military strikes against the country.

Mohsen Rezaei, a military adviser to Khamenei, issued the warning on Wednesday in a post on X, declaring that any new aggression by Washington would trigger an immediate and forceful response.

“Every shot fired and every attack will be met with a deluge of missiles and drones,” Rezaei wrote, adding that “the aggressor will swiftly be punished.”

The warning comes in the wake of recent US strikes targeting an Iranian tanker and facilities on Qeshm Island.

The attacks reportedly heightened tensions in the region and were followed by retaliatory strikes on Kuwait and Bahrain.

The latest exchange of threats has further raised concerns about a wider escalation of hostilities in the Middle East.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Iran has suspended indirect negotiations with the United States amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, citing Israel’s military operations in Lebanon as the reason for the move.

According to a report published on Monday by Iran’s state-aligned Tasnim news agency, Tehran halted the exchange of messages with Washington after Israeli forces expanded their military campaign in southern Lebanon despite an earlier ceasefire arrangement.

Iran had reportedly agreed to Pakistan-mediated discussions with the United States on the condition that a regional ceasefire would be maintained. However, recent developments in Lebanon, including Israel’s capture of the historic Beaufort Castle over the weekend, have heightened tensions across the region.

The report stated that Iranian authorities were angered by what they described as continued Israeli incursions and an expanding presence in Lebanese territory.

“Tehran is stopping the negotiations and exchange of messages through a mediator,” Tasnim reported, citing top-tier intelligence sources.

Iran has also demanded an “immediate cessation of hostilities” in Lebanon and Gaza before any future dialogue with Washington can resume.

In addition to suspending talks, Tehran and allied groups across the region, including the Houthis in Yemen and Iraqi paramilitary factions, have indicated they are prepared to “activate other fronts.”

The warning includes threats to disrupt maritime traffic through the Bab al-Mandab Strait and close the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping route that handles a significant share of the world’s oil exports.

The growing conflict has attracted international concern. France has called for an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council to address Israel’s expanding military operations in Lebanon.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot described the situation as “unacceptable,” stating that “nothing can justify the prolongation of Israeli military operations in Lebanon and its increasingly deep occupation of Lebanese territory.”

British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper also expressed concern over the conflict. She said Israel’s military actions were “deeply damaging” and warned that continued hostilities could undermine stability across the Middle East.

The suspension of talks comes after a fragile ceasefire reached between Tehran and Washington in April. The truce followed a period of direct confrontation involving Iran, the United States and Israel.

Both sides had reportedly been discussing an extension of the ceasefire and possible progress on Iran’s nuclear programme before the latest escalation.

Meanwhile, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed that it conducted what it described as “measured and deliberate strikes” against Iranian assets over the weekend.

CENTCOM said the attacks were in response to “aggressive Iranian actions,” including the reported downing of an American MQ-1 Predator drone.

Iran, however, maintained that the drone had entered its airspace, prompting retaliatory action.

Analysts say the combination of intensified fighting in Lebanon, the collapse of diplomatic contacts between Tehran and Washington, and threats against major maritime corridors has increased fears of a broader regional crisis with potential consequences for global trade and energy supplies.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

A joint military air operation involving the Nigerian Armed Forces under Operation HADIN KAI and the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) has killed 21 suspected fighters of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) in Borno State.

Military sources confirmed that the strike took place on May 30 in Arege, Kukawa Local Government Area. The target was a suspected terrorist base identified through intelligence reports that indicated insurgent activity in the area.

Security analyst and counter-insurgency expert, Zagazola Makama, reported that surveillance and reconnaissance missions first established the presence of ISWAP members before the air raid was authorised.

The operation focused on a camp believed to be used by the group to coordinate and plan attacks across the Lake Chad region. The strike left 21 fighters dead and caused major disruption to the group’s operations in the area.

Military officials explained that the mission forms part of ongoing security cooperation between Nigeria and the United States. The partnership aims to dismantle terrorist networks, destroy hideouts, and reduce the operational strength of insurgents in the North-East.

They further described the attack as intelligence-led and carefully planned to maximise impact on the identified target.

According to the sources, the success of the operation reflects growing collaboration between Nigerian security forces and international partners in the fight against terrorism.

The officials also expressed confidence that continued coordinated strikes would weaken insurgent activity around the Lake Chad Basin, where terrorist groups have continued attempts to regroup and launch attacks on nearby communities.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Iran’s Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, has issued a fresh message that centred on reducing American influence in the Middle East and promoting a new regional order.

The statement came through Iran’s state television. Khamenei has not appeared publicly on video since he became the country’s supreme leader.

In his latest remarks, Khamenei said countries in the Middle East would no longer serve as “a shield” for American military installations. He also declared that the United States would no longer enjoy a “safe haven” in the region.

The comments reflect one of Tehran’s long-standing positions during the conflict in the region. Iranian authorities have repeatedly argued that the American military presence in the Middle East should come to an end. Iran has also maintained that it would respond to any threat it identifies against its interests.

Khamenei also praised what he described as the success of the “axis of resistance”, which includes groups allied with Iran in countries such as Lebanon. According to him, Iranian-backed forces have delivered lessons to both the United States and the “Zionist entity”.

He further urged Muslim nations and other countries to build partnerships that would influence the future political and economic direction of the region and the wider world.

“With sincerity and purity, I invite all Islamic countries and governments to friendship and cooperation for the common good,” Khamenei stated.

The message strongly emphasised Iran’s desire for a new balance of power in the Middle East that would reduce Washington’s role in regional affairs.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The United States military has confirmed fresh strikes on targets in southern Iran despite ongoing diplomatic talks between Washington and Tehran in Qatar.

According to the US Central Command (CENTCOM), the operation targeted what it described as threats against American troops in the region. The strikes happened while senior Iranian officials were in Doha for negotiations aimed at securing a broader peace agreement.

CENTCOM described the operation as “self-defence strikes”.

“Targets included missile launch sites and Iranian boats attempting to emplace mines,” Navy Captain Tim Hawkins, a CENTCOM spokesperson, said in a statement to Al Jazeera late on Monday.

“US Central Command continues to defend our forces while using restraint during the ongoing ceasefire.”

The US military did not release additional details about the operation.

Iranian sources told Al Jazeera that members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) had earlier targeted a vessel at sea before the US response. The sources also claimed that several IRGC personnel died in the attacks.

The latest military action comes even though a ceasefire between the United States and Iran has officially remained in effect since April 8.

Al Jazeera correspondent Alan Fisher, reporting from Washington, DC, said the incident could affect ongoing diplomatic efforts to end the US-Israel conflict involving Iran. He noted that President Donald Trump appeared eager to secure an agreement.

“There have been a number of skirmishes like this, particularly just after the start of the ceasefire. At the time, Trump said he didn’t consider these to be a breach of the ceasefire,” Fisher said.

“There is very limited information coming from the US side; we don’t know the extent of the operation,” he said.

“It’s hard to say whether this skirmish is unusual.”

Earlier on Monday, a senior Iranian delegation arrived in Doha to address obstacles delaying a permanent peace agreement. The delegation included Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf.

Trump later said negotiations were “proceeding nicely”, although he stressed that Washington would only accept a major agreement.

“It will only be a Great Deal for all or, no Deal at all — Back to the Battlefront and shooting, but bigger and stronger than ever before — And nobody wants that!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

The US president also linked the talks to efforts aimed at persuading more Muslim-majority countries to establish formal relations with Israel through the Abraham Accords.

“It may be possible that one or two have a reason for not doing so, and that will be accepted, but most should be ready, willing, and able to make this Settlement with Iran a far more Historic Event than it would, otherwise, be,” Trump wrote.

The Abraham Accords, signed in 2020 during Trump’s first term, led to diplomatic ties between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Morocco. Sudan also agreed to normalise relations with Israel, although the agreement has not yet received formal approval.

In another social media post, Trump said he expected Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile to either be handed over to the United States or “destroyed in place or, at another acceptable location, with the Atomic Energy Commission, or its equivalent, being witness to this process and event”.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry acknowledged that progress had been made in discussions with Washington, but officials insisted that a final agreement was still some distance away.

“To say that we have reached a conclusion on a large portion of the issues under discussion would be correct. However, to say that this means an agreement is on the verge of being signed is not something anyone can claim,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said.

Baghaei also told reporters in Tehran that the current discussions were focused on ending the conflict rather than Iran’s nuclear activities, which he said were not under discussion “at this stage”.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Five people lost their lives on Monday after two teenage shooters opened fire at the Islamic Centre of San Diego in California, United States, authorities said.

The incident, which investigators believe may have been motivated by hate, claimed the lives of three victims and the two teenage suspects.

Police identified the attackers as youths aged 17 and 18. Authorities said they arrived at the mosque complex around 11:40 am local time. A security guard and two other men outside the worship centre were shot dead during the attack.

Officials later discovered the two suspects dead inside a vehicle. Investigators believe they died from self-inflicted gunshot wounds.

The Islamic Centre of San Diego is considered the largest mosque in San Diego County.

San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl disclosed that the Federal Bureau of Investigation and local security agencies had launched a hate crime investigation into the shooting.

According to police, the mother of one of the suspects contacted authorities about two hours before the attack. She reportedly informed officers that her son, whom she described as suicidal, had left home with three firearms and her vehicle.

Authorities said the teenager was with another youth, and both suspects wore camouflage clothing.

Wahl explained that officers had already started searching for the pair near a shopping mall and the suspect’s high school before emergency reports emerged from the mosque.

Investigators also recovered a note from the teenager’s residence, although police declined to disclose its contents.

“We have never experienced a tragedy like this before,” the mosque’s imam and director, Taha Hassane, told reporters.

“It is extremely outrageous to target a place of worship,” he added.

Authorities stated that dozens of officers responded to the active shooter alert within minutes. Television footage showed armed tactical teams surrounding the mosque complex as helicopters monitored the area from above.

Police confirmed that officers did not discharge their weapons during the operation.

Investigators linked the mosque attack to another nearby shooting in which a landscaper survived after a bullet reportedly struck his safety helmet.

Children at the Bright Horizon Academy, an Islamic school located within the mosque complex, were evacuated safely. Authorities confirmed that no students were harmed.

The shooting happened only days before Muslims around the world prepare to observe Eid al-Adha and embark on the annual Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca.