LiveLive Updates July 12, 2026Share to FacebookShare to XArticle printing is available to subscribers onlyPrint in a simple, ad-free formatSubscribeComments: Zen reading is available to subscribers onlyAd-free and in a comfortable reading formatSubscribeJuly 12, 2026UpdatesU.S. CENTCOM says Strait of Hormuz is 'open to all vessels' following U.S. strikesU.S. Central Command announced that the Strait of Hormuz is "open to all vessels seeking to lawfully transit the international waterway" following U.S. strikes on coastal Iranian bases."Iran does not control the international waterway used by commercial vessels to globally transport goods and energy," CENTCOM said.U.S. CENTCOM announces the Strait of Hormuz is 'open for transit.' Credit: U.S. CENTCOMU.S. CENTCOM announces the Strait of Hormuz is 'open for transit.' Credit: U.S. CENTCOMRECAP: Qatar condemns Iranian attacks on its territory and other Arab countriesHere are Sunday's updates:■ Israeli far-right lawmaker Tzvi Succot, chair of the Knesset Education Committee, visited a school in Rahat, the largest Arab city of Israel, on Sunday after the municipality announced it would shut down all educational institutions in protest of his visit. The municipality described the visit as a political provocation, saying it had been arranged without coordination with the city's leadership or education officials.■ A pilot plan for the phased deployment of Lebanon's army in the country's south has yet to be scheduled because the Lebanese military refuses to coordinate directly with Israel and will not enter any area before Israeli troops withdraw, Lebanon's Al Mayadeen newspaper reported, citing an official source in Beirut.■ Qatar condemned Iran's attacks on its territory and other Arab countries, calling them a serious escalation that complicates efforts to contain tensions in the region, the Foreign Ministry said.■ U.S. ‌Senator Lindsey ⁠Graham died on Saturday evening after a brief ‌and ‌sudden illness, the communications director for his ⁠office said in ‌a ⁠post ‌on X early on ⁠Sunday. ■ The U.S. Central Command said it completed a third round of strikes against Iran on Saturday, hitting approximately 140 Iranian military targets with precision munitions.■ Iran's IRGC said on Sunday it struck and disabled a second vessel in the Strait of Hormuz, targeted the U.S. strategic air base at Al Udeid in Qatar with ballistic missiles, destroying its fighter jet maintenance center and command and control facility and destroyed logistical support centers and refueling platforms for U.S. aircraft carriers at the Port of Duqm in Oman.■ Qatar's former ruler, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, died at age 74, the state news agency reported.Iraqi prime minister to visit Washington on Monday; oil and gas deals expectedIraqi Prime Minister ‌Ali al-Zaidi will travel ⁠to Washington on ⁠Monday at the head of an official delegation after an official ‌invitation, government spokesperson Haider ‌al-Aboudi said in a press conference on Sunday.Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi in May. Credit: Ahmed Saad/ REUTERSIraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi in May. Credit: Ahmed Saad/ REUTERS"The agreements to be signed will include several memorandums of understanding ⁠in the oil and gas sector ‌as Iraq prepares ⁠to ‌bring in various U.S. companies that will ⁠provide momentum to increase oil production capacity," al-Aboudi said.Israeli municipality shuts schools as far-right MK Tzvi Succot visits city, sparking protestsIsraeli far-right lawmaker Tzvi Succot, chair of the Knesset Education Committee, visited a school in Rahat, the largest Arab city of Israel, on Sunday after the municipality announced it would shut down all educational institutions in protest of his visit.The municipality described the visit as a political provocation, saying it had been arranged without coordination with the city's leadership or education officials.According to Succot's office, the visit was intended to examine the education system's programs for preventing violence, cooperation between schools and police and school curricula.Video from Rahat showed Succot holding an Israeli flag while accompanied by police as residents shouted, "Go home!" at him. Succot responded by asking why Israeli flags were not displayed at the city's schools, saying the law requires them and accused residents of contributing to crime that had prompted nearby kibbutzim to build security fences and strengthen local defenses.Last month, Succot visited Umm al-Fahm, where schools were also shut down in protest.Report: No date set for Lebanese army deployment in pilot zone, official saysA pilot plan for the phased deployment of Lebanon's army in the country's south has yet to be scheduled because the Lebanese military refuses to coordinate directly with Israel and will not enter any area before Israeli troops withdraw, Lebanon's Al Mayadeen newspaper reported Sunday, citing an official source in Beirut.IDF presents probe into soldier Gur Kehati's death in LebanonThe IDF on Friday presented the family of soldier Gur Kehati with the findings of its investigation into the incident in southern Lebanon in which he was killed, more than a year and a half after it occurred.Kehati was killed by Hezbollah while serving in a unit tasked with escorting Ze'ev Erlich, a 71-year-old civilian and amateur archaeologist who entered a combat zone in southern Lebanon to visit ancient sites in violation of explicit orders. Erlich was also killed in the incident.The investigation, however, did not address key questions at the center of the incident, including the purpose of the mission the force was sent on and its operational significance. It also offered no criticism of the fact that the team dispatched on the mission had been assembled hastily.Gur Kehati Credit: IDF SpokespersonGur Kehati Credit: IDF SpokespersonAhead of the next election, Netanyahu seeks to brand Turkey as Israel's new enemy | EditorialThe election is approaching, and the "Mr. Security" campaign has begun. In a calculated move, Benjamin Netanyahu last week launched a blitz of interviews, phone calls and statements in an attempt to block the sale of F-35 jets to Turkey. If and when this move materializes (Donald Trump still faces fierce opposition in Congress and the Senate), Netanyahu will always be able to say, "I warned and cautioned, I did everything possible."In doing so, he intensified his anti-Turkish rhetoric and now portrays the Turks as the main strategic threat to Israel, the Middle East, Europe and even the U.S. One regional power declines, another rises; one enemy weakens, another continues to strengthen.Netanyahu meeting with Erdogan at the UN in New York in 2023. Credit: Turkish Presidency Press Office/AFPNetanyahu meeting with Erdogan at the UN in New York in 2023. Credit: Turkish Presidency Press Office/AFPRead the full articleIn the NewsQatar's Former Ruler Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani Died at Age 74Netanyahu, Israeli Leaders Across the Spectrum Mourn Sudden Death of Sen. 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