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WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump has confirmed that his surprise plane switch during his departure from Turkey last month was carried out on the advice of the Secret Service, amid concerns over a potential threat linked to Iran. Trump said the aircraft he had initially been expected to travel on could have faced a “greater risk,” adding that he does not trust Iran. His remarks came after reports revealed that his departure from Ankara following the NATO summit involved an elaborate security operation. According to reports, Trump publicly boarded Air Force One in front of cameras, creating the impression that he would fly out of Turkey on the presidential aircraft. However, he was later secretly transferred to a smaller C-32A military aircraft. The move was reportedly carried out using an airport catering truck to conceal his transfer. Journalists and some White House staff reportedly remained under the impression that Trump was aboard Air Force One. Reporters were also instructed to keep their window shades closed, adding to the secrecy surrounding the operation. Trump said he followed the Secret Service’s instructions when the aircraft change was made and did not challenge the security decision. The unusual operation reportedly stemmed from heightened concerns over Iranian threats against the US president. Trump’s latest comments have now confirmed key details of the previously undisclosed flight arrangement. The episode has drawn attention because of the extraordinary measures used to conceal the president’s movements. It also highlights the heightened security concerns surrounding Trump amid continuing tensions between Washington and Tehran. For a president whose movements are normally tracked closely by the media and security officials, the covert transfer from one aircraft to another remains one of the most unusual presidential travel episodes of the year.

RAMALLAH: Tensions across the occupied West Bank intensified on Monday as Israeli forces reportedly destroyed water pipelines, detained Palestinians and ordered families to leave their homes ahead of a planned demolition. While a new settlement plan near Jerusalem raised fresh concerns over the expansion of Israeli settlements. The latest developments have added to growing pressure on Palestinian communities already facing restrictions on movement, damage to agricultural land and disruptions to basic services. Palestinian human rights activist Aref Daraghmeh said Israeli forces destroyed water pipelines in the Atouf and Ras al-Ahmar areas of Tubas governorate. The areas, located in the northern Jordan Valley, have experienced repeated military operations in recent months. According to Daraghmeh, agricultural land has been cleared, water networks damaged and artesian wells filled in, causing significant losses for farmers who depend on the land and water supplies for their livelihoods. The destruction of water infrastructure has particular significance in the Jordan Valley, where Palestinian farming communities rely heavily on limited water resources. Brothers detained during raid In another operation in the northern Jordan Valley, Israeli forces detained two Palestinian brothers in the Ein al-Hilweh area, according to local sources cited by Anadolu. Meanwhile, Israeli troops raided the village of Tell, southwest of Nablus, and ordered residents to leave several homes ahead of the planned demolition of a house belonging to Palestinian Farouq Ramadan. Ramadan was killed on July 24 during an attack in the village, according to Palestinian sources. They said he had disarmed and killed one of the attackers before being shot dead. Three other members of his family were also killed and four Palestinians were injured during the incident, the sources said. Near Ramallah, agricultural land east of Jaljaliya village was also set on fire, Palestinian official news agency Wafa reported. Palestinian civil defence crews later brought the blaze under control. Village council head Osama Nazmi said an Israeli outpost had been established in the area about a year ago and that Palestinian homes belonging to residents from nearby Al-Mazraa Al-Sharqiya had subsequently been seized. New settlement plan raises alarm At the same time, Palestinian officials said Israel had advanced plans for a new settlement containing approximately 650 housing units south of Jerusalem. The Palestinian Jerusalem Governorate said Israel’s District Planning and Building Committee had deposited the plan for the proposed “Nofei Rachel” settlement. The project would cover approximately 27 dunams, or 6.7 acres, near Palestinian homes, according to the governorate. Palestinian authorities warned that the consequences would extend beyond the construction of the housing units, arguing that the development could affect Palestinian movement, urban growth and the ability of local communities to expand. They described the plan as part of a broader Israeli policy of expanding settlements and restricting Palestinian development. Israeli rights organisation Ir Amim separately said Israel had advanced three major settlement projects involving more than 3,400 housing units in East Jerusalem in recent weeks. The developments have renewed international concerns about settlement expansion. The United Nations and most countries regard Israeli settlements established in territory occupied since 1967 as illegal under international law. Critics say continued settlement construction threatens the possibility of establishing a viable Palestinian state alongside Israel. West Bank caught in wider conflict The latest events come as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict continues to reverberate across the region. According to figures cited by Palestinian authorities, violence in the West Bank has intensified alongside the wider war that began after the October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel. The situation has also drawn attention to the issue of Palestinian remains held by Israel. Report: Israel holds 1,700 Palestinian bodies Israel is holding the remains of around 1,700 Palestinians for possible use in future exchanges, Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported, citing two unnamed sources familiar with recent discussions within Israel’s security establishment. According to the report, Shin Bet chief David Zini supports retaining the bodies in case Israeli citizens are captured or disappear in the future. The Israeli military is also reportedly supportive of the position. Haaretz reported that most of the remains are believed to belong to Palestinians from Gaza who participated in the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel or subsequent fighting. However, the newspaper also reported that some of the bodies belong to Palestinians who were not involved in combat. The issue has raised legal questions inside Israel. Legal experts cited by Haaretz questioned whether authorities have the power to retain the remains of Palestinians who have not been proven to have taken part in fighting. The Palestinian National Campaign for the Retrieval of Martyrs’ Bodies and Disclosure of the Fate of the Missing said in October 2025 that Israel was holding around 1,500 bodies of Palestinians from Gaza at the Sde Teiman military facility in southern Israel. A crisis extending beyond borders The developments in the West Bank are unfolding against the backdrop of the devastating Gaza conflict. Palestinian health authorities say tens of thousands of Palestinians have been killed and injured since October 2023, while much of Gaza’s infrastructure has been destroyed or severely damaged. The reported destruction of water pipelines in the West Bank, the proposed settlement expansion and the continued disputes over Palestinian remains highlight how the conflict affects not only major political centres but also ordinary families, farmers and communities. For Palestinians living in areas such as Tubas, Nablus and the outskirts of Jerusalem, the immediate concerns are often deeply personal: access to water, the safety of their homes, the ability to farm their land and the uncertainty of what another military raid may bring. As settlement plans move forward and military operations continue, hopes for a reduction in tensions remain overshadowed by developments that are reshaping the landscape of the occupied West Bank.

BAGHDAD: The Iraqi government has announced that US forces will complete their withdrawal from Iraq’s Kurdistan region by September 30, marking another step in the planned transition of the American military mission in the country. According to foreign media reports, Iraqi and US officials held discussions in the Kurdistan region regarding the withdrawal and the transfer of military responsibilities. Under the plan, US military bases in Kurdistan will be handed over to Iraqi security forces following the departure of American personnel. The Iraqi government said the movement of US military equipment and personnel out of the region is already underway. The withdrawal is expected to take place in coordination with Iraqi authorities to ensure an orderly transition. The announcement comes as Baghdad and Washington continue implementing an agreement reached in 2024 on the gradual transition of the US-led military mission in Iraq. The agreement envisaged a phased reduction of the international coalition’s military role while strengthening Iraq’s own security capabilities. US forces have played a significant role in supporting Iraqi forces in the fight against Islamic State militants and in providing training, intelligence and logistical assistance. The latest withdrawal from Kurdistan is therefore likely to attract attention as Iraq assumes greater responsibility for securing military facilities previously used by US forces. The Iraqi government has not provided further details on the exact number of American troops or equipment involved in the latest phase of the withdrawal.

TEHRAN: Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei has reshuffled two key positions in the country’s security and political establishment, appointing Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr as his political adviser and former Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commander Mohsen Rezaei as his representative on the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC). The appointments were announced through messages attributed to Khamenei on social media on Sunday, according to reports, placing two veteran figures with extensive military and political experience in prominent roles at a sensitive moment for Tehran. In his message to Zolghadr, Khamenei cited his “valuable experience” while appointing him as a political adviser. Zolghadr has held several senior positions in Iran’s security establishment and previously served as secretary of the SNSC. The move follows Zolghadr’s departure from the council’s top administrative position. Reports said Rezaei has been appointed to replace him as secretary of the powerful security body, while also serving as Khamenei’s representative on the council. Rezaei is a veteran figure in Iran’s political and military establishment. He served as commander of the IRGC for much of the Iran-Iraq war era and has held a range of senior political positions. He has also previously run for Iran’s presidency. The latest appointments are drawing attention because the SNSC plays a central role in coordinating Iran’s defence, security and foreign-policy decisions. Although the council is formally chaired by President Masoud Pezeshkian, its work brings together senior political, military and security institutions. The timing of the reshuffle is particularly significant as Iran faces continuing pressure over regional security and negotiations surrounding the Strait of Hormuz. Recent diplomatic efforts have focused on arrangements for shipping through the strategically important waterway, making changes within Tehran’s security leadership especially closely watched. Both Zolghadr and Rezaei are associated with Iran’s security establishment and have extensive experience in military affairs. Analysts are therefore likely to watch closely for any indication that the appointments could affect Tehran’s approach to negotiations, regional security or relations with the United States. The reshuffle also strengthens the role of figures with longstanding links to the IRGC within the leadership structure. Rezaei had already served as a military adviser to Mojtaba Khamenei before taking on the latest assignment. For Zolghadr, the new position keeps him within the senior leadership circle despite his exit from the SNSC secretaryship. His experience in security and political affairs could allow him to continue playing a role in shaping policy from the Supreme Leader’s office. The appointments come at a critical time for Iran, with international attention focused on Tehran’s security posture and the future of the Strait of Hormuz. Whether the changes represent a broader adjustment in Iran’s negotiating strategy remains to be seen, but the elevation of two experienced security figures is likely to keep Tehran’s next moves under close scrutiny.