Israeli forces dismantle Gaza tunnel containing rockets as UN criticizes Iran executions

Israeli troops from the Paratroopers Brigade, operating under the Gaza Division, located an underground passage in the southern Gaza Strip that housed dozens of rockets linked to militant groups. The tunnel was cleared with the assistance of engineering units and the Yahalom special-forces unit, and the operation was captured on body-camera footage showing a military dog navigating the passage. The Israel Defense Forces said the demolition was part of ongoing efforts to eliminate terrorist infrastructure in the area and that forces remain deployed in accordance with the cease-fire framework.

Separately, United Nations human-rights chief Volker Türk warned that Iran has carried out at least 56 executions on national-security charges since March, including 27 related to anti-government protests. He expressed alarm at the rise in death sentences, the use of capital punishment to suppress dissent, and reports of confessions obtained through torture. Türk urged Iranian authorities to halt executions and move toward abolishing the death penalty.

Iranian analyst Behnam Ben Taleblu told Fox News that Tehran is increasing political pressure on the United States to gain leverage, describing the regime as unable to win a conventional military confrontation and instead engaging in a “battle of wills.” He noted that recent U.S. actions have softened earlier threats against Iran.

Qatar announced that mediators are making progress toward ending the regional conflict, although Tehran denied that any talks have begun.