Israel strikes Lebanon, U.S./Israeli forces attack Iraq, Mojtaba Khamenei issued his first written statement, waves of Iranian strikes targeting Gulf, Nepal ex-rapper elected

Following the deaths of his predecessors, Iran’s new leader has pledged to maintain maritime blockades and regional strikes, resulting in millions of displaced civilians and widespread infrastructure damage in Lebanon, Iraq, and the Gulf states. Amidst this regional instability, a U.S. refueling plane crashed in Iraq, and a French soldier was killed in a separate drone attack. Transitioning to international legal and political developments, a Russian court sentenced fifteen men to life in prison for the 2024 Crocus City Hall terror attack. Finally, the report highlights a significant political shift in Nepal, where a youth-led party achieved a landslide victory on an anti-corruption platform.