Moldova expels Russian diplomats , Ukraine is unwilling to have China mediate, the Netherlands transfers F-16s to Ukraine, Venezuelan police surround the Argentine embassy, and the Security Council holds an emergency meeting due to escalating tensions in the Middle East… these are some of the prominent international events of the past 24 hours.
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| Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was assassinated on July 30 while in Tehran for the Iranian president's inauguration, raising the risk of a widespread conflict in the Middle East. (Source: Reuters) |
The World & Vietnam newspaper highlights some of the day's most prominent international news.
Asia- Pacific
*China unexpectedly appoints commander of military region overseeing South China Sea: China has appointed a new military commander for the southern region – a surprising move following recent clashes in the South China Sea that have heightened tensions with the US and its allies in the region.
Chinese state media reported on July 31 that General Wu Yanam has been appointed commander of the Southern Theater Command. The Southern Theater Command oversees military strategy in the South China Sea. Wu Yanam replaces the previous commander, Wang Xiubin, 60 years old.
No official reason has been given for General Wang Xiubin's departure, nor his next steps. Wang Xiubin was first revealed as the head of the Southern Theater Command in July 2021, when he was promoted to general. His last public appearance in that capacity was in April 2024, when he met with visiting French officials. (Bloomberg)
*India summons Sri Lankan ambassador to protest maritime collision: The Indian Ministry of External Affairs summoned the Sri Lankan ambassador on August 1st to protest the collision between an Indian fishing vessel and a Sri Lankan naval ship that resulted in the death of one fisherman and the disappearance of another.
The collision occurred five nautical miles north of Katchatheevu – a disputed island between India and Sri Lanka. In a statement, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs said New Delhi has always emphasized the need to resolve issues concerning fishermen in a humane manner.
For his part, Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Ali Sabry stated that Colombo does not want the issue to escalate and is seeking to cooperate with New Delhi to find a solution. (Reuters)
*South Korea and the U.S. conduct drills simulating the integration of nuclear and conventional capabilities: South Korean officials confirmed on August 1st that South Korea and the U.S. held their first-ever drill this week simulating the integration of Seoul's conventional military capabilities with Washington's nuclear capabilities.
The three-day “Iron Mace 24” exercise, which concluded on the morning of August 1st at Camp Humphreys of the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) in Pyeongtaek, 60 km south of Seoul, was held after the two countries signed a joint guidance document on nuclear deterrence last month. Extended deterrence refers to the U.S. commitment to defending allies with its full military capabilities, including nuclear weapons.
The drills were conducted amid Pyongyang's accelerated ballistic missile programs aimed at bolstering its nuclear weapons deployment capabilities. (Yonhap)
*Russia conducts exercises on disputed island with Japan: On August 1st, the Interfax news agency, citing a statement from the Russian Ministry of Defense, reported that the country's missile forces conducted exercises on Matua Island, part of the Kuril Islands, which are disputed with Japan (Tokyo calls them the Northern Territories).
According to the statement, the soldiers practiced maneuvering and camouflage their vehicles on Matua Island. Soviet troops occupied four islands off the coast of Hokkaido, Japan, at the end of World War II, and they remain under Moscow's control. The dispute over the islands has prevented the two countries from signing a peace treaty. (Reuters)
*North Korea wants to resume nuclear talks with the Trump administration: Reuters reported on July 31 that if Donald Trump wins the US presidential election, North Korea plans to resume nuclear talks with the Trump administration.
This information emerged after an interview with Ri Il Gyu, a senior North Korean diplomat who recently defected to South Korea. According to him, North Korea has identified relations with Russia, the United States, and Japan as its top foreign policy priorities for the coming years. Ri explained that North Korean diplomats are hoping for a resumption of nuclear program talks to lift sanctions and receive economic support.
On July 29, South Korea warned that North Korea could test a nuclear weapon before the US election. The last time North Korea tested a nuclear weapon was in September 2017. (Reuters)
Europe
*Moldova summons ambassador, expels Russian diplomat: The Moldovan Foreign Ministry announced on August 1st that it had expelled one diplomat and summoned the Russian ambassador to deliver a formal protest note after Moldovan law enforcement agencies arrested two officials on charges of treason and collusion with foreign powers.
A Moldovan security source confirmed that two suspects were arrested on July 30 on suspicion of providing information to the Russian Deputy Defense Attaché in Chisinau, the capital of Moldova. (Reuters)
*Russia leaves open all possibilities for cooperation in resolving the Ukraine crisis: Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stated that Moscow is ready to cooperate with all parties to find ways to facilitate a resolution of the crisis in Ukraine, taking into account Russia's interests and the current realities.
Commenting on Vatican Secretary of State Pietro Parolin's recent visit to Ukraine, Zakharova noted that his statements were generally consistent with the Vatican's reconciliation efforts. Zakharova stated: "...Our country is ready to cooperate with all those who seek to facilitate a peaceful resolution of the Ukrainian crisis, taking into account Russia's interests and current developments." (Sputnik)
*Netherlands transfers 6 F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine: The Times , citing a source, reported that the Netherlands has transferred six fourth-generation F-16 light multirole fighter jets to Ukraine.
According to The Times , in addition to these six fighter jets, Kyiv will soon receive a batch of F-16s from the Danish government. Previously, the Telegraph also reported that the Ukrainian armed forces had conducted their first flight in an F-16 fighter jet.
The photo, posted on a Telegram channel called "Military Informer," also serves as evidence that the F-16 fighter jets, which the West pledged to deliver to Ukraine, have indeed arrived in the country. (AFP)
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*Poland launches security operation on border with Belarus: Poland has begun the "Podlaskie Safe" operation on its border with Belarus, under which Warsaw will deploy additional troops and military equipment to protect the border.
Polish Defense Minister Vladislav Kosinyak-Kamysh stated that responsibility for this operation lies with the 18th Mechanized Division. He said that the situation on the border between Poland and Belarus has recently deteriorated. At the same time, on August 1st, Poland launched an operation codenamed "Dawn in the Air" to strengthen air defenses on its eastern border.
In mid-2021, thousands of migrants flocked to the Polish-Belarusian border hoping to reach EU countries. Since then, hundreds of illegal immigrants have attempted to cross the border into Poland each month. The Polish authorities have tightened border security, deployed troops, and cracked down on illegal immigration attempts, while blaming Minsk for the migration crisis. (Sputnik)
*Ukraine does not want China to mediate the conflict with Russia: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on July 31 that Kyiv does not want China to act as a mediator in the conflict with Russia, but hopes that Beijing will exert greater pressure on Moscow to end the war.
Zelensky said: “If China wants to, it can force Russia to end this war. I don’t want China to act as a mediator. I want China to put pressure on Russia to end the war.” Zelensky also stated: “Just as the U.S. and the European Union are putting pressure on Russia, the more influence a country has, the more pressure it should exert on Russia.” (Reuters)
*Russia ready to shoot down Ukrainian F-16 fighter jets: The Kremlin announced on August 1st that Russian forces are ready to shoot down the first batch of F-16 fighter jets that the Netherlands recently transferred to Ukraine, while asserting that this type of fighter jet will not be a "magic bullet" for Kyiv's military.
Earlier, on July 31, Lithuanian and US officials confirmed that Ukraine had received its first F-16 fighter jets, equipped with 20 mm cannons and capable of carrying bombs, rockets, and missiles. (TASS)
Middle East – Africa
*Security Council holds emergency meeting over escalating tensions in the Middle East: On the afternoon of July 31 (New York time), the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) held an emergency meeting to discuss the dangerous escalation of tensions in the Middle East.
The meeting was held at the request of Iran and supported by Russia, China, and Algeria. At the meeting, UN Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo reaffirmed the urgent need to de-escalate regional tensions and urged the UN's most powerful body to "take swift and effective diplomatic action."
The Security Council convened the meeting amid escalating tensions in the Middle East following Israel's airstrike on Beirut, Lebanon, and the assassination of a senior Hamas leader in Iran. (Al Jazeera)
*China hopes for the early establishment of an independent Palestinian state: Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on August 1st that China hopes the Palestinian factions can establish an independent state as soon as possible.
Responding to a question about the assassination of the Hamas leader in Iran, Lin Jian stated: "China earnestly hopes that all Palestinian factions, on the basis of internal reconciliation, will establish an independent Palestinian state as soon as possible." (Al Jazeera)
*Iran asserts its right to retaliate against Israel legitimately: Iranian Acting Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani spoke by phone with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on August 1st to discuss bilateral relations and the latest developments related to the death of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh.
During the phone call, Iran's top diplomat declared: "In violating the territorial integrity and national security of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Israeli regime assassinated Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh." According to Kani, Israel's actions are contrary to international law and the principles of the United Nations Charter. The acting Iranian Foreign Minister emphasized that Tehran has the legitimate right to respond decisively and proportionally.
For his part, the Turkish Foreign Minister condemned the assassination of the Hamas leader as a blatant violation of Iran's red lines and territorial integrity, and affirmed that Ankara would do everything possible to support Tehran's legitimate initiative. (Mehrnews)
*US calls on Middle Eastern parties to end escalation: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on August 1st called on “all parties” in the Middle East to end “escalating actions” and achieve a ceasefire in Gaza, after Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh was killed in an attack that Iran blamed on Israel.
Speaking to reporters in Mongolia, Blinken said that achieving peace “begins with a ceasefire, and to successfully achieve that goal, it first requires all parties to negotiate (and) cease any escalatory actions.”
Earlier, on July 31, Secretary of State Blinken affirmed that the US was not involved in the assassination of Haniyeh. The Hamas political leader was killed in an Israeli airstrike on his residence in Tehran, as he was attending the inauguration of Iranian President-elect Masoud Pezeshkian. (AFP)
*Israeli Prime Minister resolutely refuses to stop the Gaza campaign: Speaking on July 31, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu emphasized: “For months, we have continuously received calls from within and outside the country to end the war… I have not heeded those calls before, and I will not heed them today.”
Prime Minister Netanyahu also warned the people about “difficult days” ahead. Netanyahu declared: “We are ready for any scenario; we will stand united and resolutely confront any threat.”
This statement comes after Israel launched airstrikes on the southern outskirts of Beirut and the assassination of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran. Hamas blamed Israel and the US for Haniyeh's death and vowed not to let the attack go unpunished. (Spuntiknews)
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*Iran and regional allies discuss retaliation against Israel: Five sources familiar with the matter said senior Iranian officials met with representatives of their regional allies from Lebanon, Iraq, and Yemen on August 1 to discuss possible retaliation against Israel. This move comes after Israel assassinated Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran.
The Middle East is facing the risk of escalating conflict between Israel, Iran, and their allies following the assassination of Haniyeh in Tehran on July 31 and the killing of a senior Hezbollah commander on July 30 in an Israeli attack on the outskirts of Beirut, Lebanon. (Al Jazeera)
America-Latin America
*Prison riot in Nevada, USA: Prison officials in Nevada reported that a riot at a high-security prison in the state resulted in the deaths of three inmates and the hospitalization of nine others.
According to the source, the riot occurred on the afternoon of July 30 (local time) at the Ely Jail, a maximum-security prison located in a town about 400 km north of Las Vegas. The Nevada Governor's office stated that the riot was related to gang violence. No correctional officers were injured in the riot. Ely Jail officials said the prison was placed on lockdown following the incident.
Ely prison has a capacity to hold up to 1,183 inmates and employs more than 400 staff members. (Reuters)
*US and EU hold emergency meetings after Hamas leader assassination: The Financial Times reports that US and EU diplomats have held emergency meetings in the Middle East to prevent the risk of a full-scale war following the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, the head of the Politburo of the Palestinian Hamas movement.
According to the source, the meetings aimed to persuade Iran not to retaliate against Israel or take symbolic actions.
Earlier on July 31, the Palestinian Hamas movement announced the death of Haniyeh, the head of the movement's Politburo, following an Israeli attack on his residence in Tehran. Hamas accused Israel and the United States of assassinating Haniyeh and vowed retaliation for the attack. (FT)
*Venezuelan police surround Argentine embassy in Caracas: On July 31, Argentine media reported that Venezuelan police are currently surrounding the Argentine embassy in Caracas.
This is the second time Venezuelan police have surrounded the Argentine diplomatic mission in Caracas after cutting off the power to the building on July 29. It is expected that on August 1, all Argentine diplomatic staff in Venezuela, along with six Venezuelan citizens granted asylum by Buenos Aires and residing at the embassy since the end of March, will leave Caracas.
Currently, the Argentine Embassy has only eight staff members. The Argentine ambassador left Caracas after President Javier Milei's government accused Venezuelan authorities of fraud in the July 28 election and refused to recognize the results, which showed President Nicolás Maduro as the winner. Immediately, the Venezuelan government demanded that Argentine diplomatic staff leave Venezuela within 72 hours. (AFP)
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