LiveLive Updates August 26, 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 formatSubscribeAugust 26, 2026UpdatesRussia's Putin and Syria's Sharaa discussed deepening ties, Kremlin says Russian President Vladimir ‌Putin and Syrian President ⁠Ahmed al- Sharaa ⁠on Wednesday spoke by phone and discussed deepening political dialogue ‌and cooperation in trade ‌and other areas, the Kremlin said.It said in a statement that the two leaders had ⁠noted the importance of an August 9 ‌memorandum ⁠of understanding ‌to settle the future of Russia's bases ⁠at Tartous and Hmeimim after 18 months of ‌negotiations.Iran says Qatar is unaware of fate of missing Iranian pilotsIran says Qatar has told Tehran it does not know the fate of Iranian pilots who went missing after their aircraft were downed during an operation in Qatar, and has urged Doha to step up efforts to determine their whereabouts, state-affiliated Tasnim reported Wednesday. Iran said earlier this month that three of the four missing pilots were believed to have been captured alive by Qatari forces. Tehran has called on the International Committee of the Red Cross to help establish their status.The pilots went missing after two Iranian Su-24 aircraft were downed on March 2 while returning from a mission targeting U.S. forces in Qatar, according to Iranian officials. One of the four pilots was later confirmed dead, while the fate of the other three remains unclear.U.K.'s Burnham weighs trade ban on West Bank settlements, report saysBritish Prime Minister Andy Burnham is considering a ban on trade in goods and services with Israeli settlements in the West Bank, The Telegraph reported, as his government weighs tougher measures against Israel over its planned construction in the West Bank E1 area.Burnham and Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband have drawn up a sanctions regime that would prohibit trade with settlements, according to the report, which cited government sources. The plan could be announced within weeks, although Downing Street said reports about the measures remained speculation.The move would mark a tougher approach toward Israel than that of Burnham's predecessor, Keir Starmer, and comes after Israel advanced plans to build some 3,300 homes in E1, an area between Jerusalem and the Jordan Valley. Critics of the project say construction there could sever the northern and southern West Bank and undermine the territorial contiguity needed for a future Palestinian state.British Prime Minister Andy Burnham attends a meeting of the so-called Coalition of the Willing group, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine on Monday. Credit: Valentyn Ogirenko/REUTERSBritish Prime Minister Andy Burnham attends a meeting of the so-called Coalition of the Willing group, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine on Monday. Credit: Valentyn Ogirenko/REUTERSMore than 140 Labour lawmakers have signed an open letter calling for a trade ban on settlement goods, while the issue is expected to feature prominently at the party's conference next month.But Labour Friends of Israel has warned that a settlement-only trade ban would be extremely difficult to enforce and could become a "de facto boycott of all of Israel." The group also warned that such a move could harm Britain's interests and relations with the Israeli opposition.The proposed measures could also complicate ties with U.S. President Donald Trump's administration. Washington previously warned Ireland over legislation seeking to ban trade with Israeli settlements.Burnham has already pledged further sanctions against Israel, while Miliband recently described the E1 plans as "unacceptable" and said they would undermine prospects for a two-state solution. Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar accused him of using a "patronising tone" and damaging bilateral relations.IDF chief Zamir meets U.S. Air Force commander for 'regional assessment'IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir met Sunday with U.S. Air Force commander Gen. Kenneth Wilsbach to discuss the regional situation and military cooperation, the IDF said.Israeli Air Force chief Maj. Gen. Omer Tischler also attended the meeting. According to the IDF, the commanders discussed "the regional assessment, advancing lessons learned from the joint campaign, and future areas of cooperation."הרמטכ”ל, רב-אלוף אייל זמיר, נפגש ביום ראשון עם מפקד חיל האוויר האמריקאי, גנרל קנת’ וילסבאק, יחד עם מפקד חיל האוויר, אלוף עומר טישלר.