Category: Politics

In the wake of a delayed fighter jet deal with Russia and rising regional tensions, Iran is ramping up negotiations with China to acquire Chengdu J-10C multirole fighter jets in a bid to urgently modernise its ageing air force. The move reflects Tehran’s strategic pivot towards more affordable and quickly deliverable options as it grapples with the fallout from recent aerial offensives and long-standing military constraints. 🔻 What’s Behind the Shift? ✈️ Russian Su-35 Deal Stalled Iran had previously signed a deal with Russia for 50 Su-35 fighter jets in 2023. However, only four aircraft have reportedly been delivered so far. Delays, likely worsened by sanctions, logistical bottlenecks, and the ongoing Russia–Ukraine war, have prompted Iran to seek alternatives. 🇨🇳 Why the Chinese J-10C? 💥 Security Tensions Push Urgency The recent joint Israeli-American airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites exposed the inadequacy of Iran’s air defence and fighter response, according to a report in Khorasan. Iran’s air force was unable to react effectively, intensifying pressure on Tehran to rapidly upgrade its aerial capabilities. 📜 Decades-Old Interest Renewed Iran’s interest in the J-10 dates back to 2005, when talks reportedly began for 150 aircraft. However, payment disagreements (with Iran offering oil and gas instead of foreign currency) and a then-active UN arms embargo derailed the deal. Those barriers have since eased, and talks have reportedly resumed in earnest, with Iran now eyeing 36 J-10C jets. 🌍 Geopolitical Implications If finalised, this would mark a significant milestone in China–Iran defence cooperation and could tilt regional power balances, especially as Iran’s rivals — including Israel, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE — continue to modernise their own air forces. The J-10C acquisition could also bolster Iran’s military-industrial partnerships with China, as both nations seek to counterbalance Western influence in the Middle East and beyond. ✅ In Summary This acquisition could mark a turning point for Iran’s struggling air force — and a new chapter in Asian defence dynamics.

At least 95 Palestinians were killed on Monday following a series of Israeli airstrikes across Gaza, with devastating attacks reported on a seaside cafe, a school sheltering displaced families, food distribution points, and the courtyard of a hospital. The violence marks another bloody chapter in Israel’s 22-month-long war on the besieged enclave. Deadly Strike on Gaza City Cafe Among the worst-hit areas was Al-Baqa cafeteria in northern Gaza City, where 39 people, including women, children, and journalist Ismail Abu Hatab, died in a sudden airstrike. Witnesses described horrific scenes. “We found people torn apart,” said local resident Yahya Sharif. “It was a birthday party. No politics, no military links. Just families trying to find relief from the heat.” The bombing left a large crater and destroyed the entire structure. Al Jazeera’s Hani Mahmoud confirmed that no warning was issued before the strike. Attacks on Schools, Food Sites, and Hospitals Elsewhere in Gaza City, at least 13 people were killed at a food distribution warehouse in the Zeitoun neighbourhood. Another Israeli strike hit the Yafa School, which had been sheltering hundreds of displaced people. Evacuation warnings reportedly gave residents just five minutes to flee. In central Gaza, Israeli forces targeted the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital courtyard in Deir el-Balah, where thousands had taken refuge. “The blast was just 10 meters from us,” said Al Jazeera’s Tareq Abu Azzoum. “There was no warning. This hospital has now been targeted at least ten times.” Gaza’s Government Media Office condemned the attack as a “systematic crime” against the territory’s collapsing health system. Attack on Aid Sites in Khan Younis In southern Gaza, at least 15 Palestinians were killed and over 50 wounded while waiting for food at a distribution point operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) in Khan Younis. Nearly 600 civilians have been killed in similar aid site attacks since GHF, backed by the U.S. and Israel, took charge of limited deliveries in late May. The Israeli military acknowledged civilians were harmed at these sites and claimed that lessons were being implemented. However, Haaretz reported that Israeli soldiers admitted to deliberately firing at civilians, even when they posed no threat. Forced Displacement and Ground Escalation Reports also indicate Israeli tanks entered the Zeitoun suburb of Gaza City, shelling civilian areas and prompting more evacuation orders in northern Gaza. Over 80% of Gaza’s territory is now either militarised or under displacement threats, according to the United Nations. “Explosions never stopped; they bombed schools and homes. It felt like earthquakes,” said Salah, a father of five from Gaza City. “We keep hearing about a ceasefire in the news, but all we see is death.” The escalating violence, home demolitions in Khan Younis, and renewed forced evacuation warnings have sparked fears of a new ground invasion by Israeli forces. As international talks for a potential ceasefire continue, the humanitarian situation in Gaza remains dire, with hospitals overwhelmed, food shortages deepening, and civilians left with nowhere safe to turn.