Israel

More than six months of Israel's military offensive in Gaza has turned the Palestinian territory into a "humanitarian hellscape", U.N. chief Antonio Guterres said Thursday, also warning that one wrong move could see the Middle East devolve into a wider war as United States sank a long-shot Palestinian bid for full United Nations membership, vetoing a Security Council vote.

A handout image grab made available by the Iranian state TV, the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), shows a live picture of the city of Isfahan

Iran's state media reported explosions in the central province of Isfahan Friday, as U.S. media quoted officials saying Israel had carried out retaliatory strikes on its arch-rival.

Israel was mere moments away from an airstrike on April 1 that killed several senior Iranian commanders at Iran's embassy complex in Syria before it told the United States what was about to happen.

Iran's failed missile attack against Israel offers the latter an opportunity to reverse the negative environment on the public relations front.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday painted a dark picture of the situation in the Middle East, warning that spiraling tensions over the war in Gaza and Iran's attack on Israel could devolve into a "full-scale regional conflict."

Türkiye announced that it has renamed the Incirlik Tanker Base as "10th Main Jet Base Command," in line with the needs of the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK), a move that will allow the deployment of F-16 jetfighters on the facility, according to a statement by the Defense Ministry.

Republican Congressman Mike Johnson from Louisiana has made a significant pivot in his stance on foreign aid, potentially swaying conservative opinion in favor of supporting aid to Ukraine, according to reports from US media outlets.

Iran's top diplomat said Thursday his country has told the United States that it is not seeking escalation after an unprecedented attack on Israel.

Harsher fines are being considered for stockpiling and exorbitant prices, Trade Minister Ömer Bolat has unveiled, noting that respective legislation will be submitted to parliament.

"We have completed our work as part of the efforts to fight excessive price increases. Soon we will forward it to parliament," Bolat said in an interview with private broadcaster CNN Türk.

Israel launched more deadly strikes on besieged Gaza on Thursday as world powers watched nervously whether the country would retaliate against a weekend attack by its arch enemy Iran.

The Israeli army said it had bombed dozens of targets in the Palestinian coastal territory of 2.4 million people, more than six months into the bloodiest ever Gaza war.