Дата публикации: 19-08-2026 11:40:57

Iran warns Gulf states against assisting US
Welcome back to the Daily Briefing.This is Ezgi Akin, filling in for Gabrielle. In today’s edition:Iran warns Gulf states against assisting US Netanyahu yields to Trump on GazaTurkey slams Israel's 'untenable' claims after strikes on Syrian baseFrance to expel two Iranian diplomatsThanks for reading,Ezgi (ezgi_akin)Iran warns Gulf states against assisting US as UAE cuts trade tiesShips are docked along a pier at the Khor Fakkan Container Terminal, the only natural deep-sea port in the region and one of the major container ports in Sharjah Emirate, along the Gulf of Oman, on July 14, 2026. — AFP via Getty ImagesIran warned Gulf states on Wednesday against assisting US military operations, saying any such support would amount to participation in Washington’s campaign against Tehran. Iranian Armed Forces Chief of Staff Maj. Gen. Ali Abdollahi said Iran was closely monitoring US military activity at bases across the region and cautioned governments hosting American forces against facilitating their operations, according to Iran’s Mehr news agency. The warning came hours after the United Arab Emirates halted trade, commercial exchanges and financial transactions with Iran on Tuesday after accusing Tehran of launching two ballistic missiles toward the country, in the sharpest escalation between the Gulf neighbors since the spring. Iran denied responsibility. Emirati authorities said one missile landed in UAE territorial waters and another in international waters in an attack on maritime navigation. The incident follows a series of attacks on UAE-linked vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, including three involving ADNOC ships within a week, as tensions rise over Iran’s efforts to control shipping routes through the strategic waterway. Adam Lucente has details.Listen to a breakdown of the top headlines on today’s episode of the Middle East Minute podcast with Adam Lucente.Netanyahu yields to Trump on Gaza, betting Hamas won’t disarmIsraeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, (C-R), and his wife, Sara, (C-L) cast their ballot at his party Likud's main polling station during primary elections ahead of Israel's general election in October in Jerusalem on Aug. 17, 2026. — Ohad Zwigenberg / POOL / AFP via Getty ImagesIsraeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agreed Monday to move forward with the Trump administration’s Gaza plan after talks with US envoy Jared Kushner, despite deep Israeli doubts that Hamas will disarm.Under the plan, Israel will retain control of more than half of Gaza for now and avoid striking Hamas except in response to immediate threats, while US Gen. Jasper Jeffers will oversee the disarmament process. Israel also secured a key concession: Its forces will not begin withdrawing until Hamas has surrendered its weapons. Netanyahu nevertheless warned that international mechanisms could constrain Israel’s ability to respond quickly to emerging threats and objected to possible Turkish and Qatari roles in Gaza’s reconstruction and security arrangements. Read Ben Caspit’s analysis.Turkey slams Israel's 'untenable' claims after strikes on Syrian baseAbu al-Duhur airbase following strikes, Syria, Aug. 18, 2026. REUTERS/Stringer Turkey rejected Israeli claims that Syria was preparing to allow Turkish troops to deploy at the Abu al-Duhur air base, after Israel struck the facility near the Turkish border on Tuesday. Netanyahu’s office said a Turkish deployment would violate existing security understandings and threaten Israel. Ankara called the allegations “untenable,” accusing Israel of using them to justify attacks violating Syrian sovereignty. The strikes further sharpen tensions between Turkey and Israel over Syria, where Ankara backs President Ahmed al-Sharaa and is training Syrian forces. US envoy Tom Barrack said Washington was working to strengthen deconfliction arrangements among Turkey, Israel and Syria.France to expel two Iranian diplomats: foreign ministerFrance's Foreign Affairs Minister Jean-Noel announced that the two Iranian diplomats will be expelled — Benoit TessierFrance will expel two Iranian diplomats in retaliation for Tehran’s decision to bar two French diplomats from returning to Iran, Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said Tuesday. Iran announced earlier this week that it banned the two French diplomats because they violated the Vienna Convention by engaging in contacts and programs supporting Iranian civil society, activities Tehran considered interference in Iran’s internal affairs.Barrot said the move followed the “intolerable” treatment of the French officials, including a cultural attache, who Paris says were detained and questioned for several hours in Tehran on July 19 in violation of diplomatic immunity. France also accused Iranian security officials of physically abusing one diplomat. Iran has denied mistreatment, saying they were briefly questioned for allegedly interfering in the country’s internal affairs under the guise of contacts with civil society.
eakin@al-monitor.com
Wed, 08/19/2026 - 07:40



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