No. of Recommendations: 6
A couple nuggets from this piece. First, that, as Joe Kent said, Trump is escalating his demands on Iran, which further obstruct negotiations. Second, Israel is expanding military operations in Syria, as well as Lebanon.
Iran says it does not trust US as Trump toughens terms
Iran's chief negotiator warned the United States is not to be trusted Sunday, saying Tehran would not agree to any deal with Washington unless it fully secures Iranian rights.
Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf's remarks came as reports emerged that US President Donald Trump had sent a tougher peace proposal back to Iran, and underlined the rift that the parties still need to close.
Israeli said Sunday that troops had also crossed the Litani river and raised the Israeli flag over the strategic medieval fortress of Beaufort in southern Lebanon.
"The capture of Beaufort is a dramatic stage and a dramatic shift in the policy we are leading. We have broken the barrier of fear. We are taking the initiative, we are operating on all fronts –- in Syria, in Gaza, in Lebanon," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said.https://currently.att.yahoo.com/news/politics/arti...Syrian media confirms Israeli advances in Syria.
Israeli occupation forces conduct incursions in Quneitra and Daraa provinces
Quneitra, May 31 (SANA) Israeli occupation forces entered an area in Quneitra province in southern Syria on Sunday, setting up a temporary checkpoint and searching passersby before withdrawing, local sources said.
The force, consisting of two military vehicles, advanced along the road linking the village of Saida al-Golan and Mazraat al-Basali. Israeli soldiers stopped and searched people passing through the area before pulling back.
In Daraa, an Israeli force established a temporary checkpoint at the eastern entrance to the village of Maariya in the Yarmouk Basin area. Troops stopped and searched pedestrians, private vehicles and public transport before later withdrawing.
Muwaffaq Mahmoud, head of the Maariya and Abdeen municipality, told SANA that four Israeli military vehicles arrived in the area on Sunday morning carrying what he estimated to be around 150 soldiers. The force established a checkpoint near the telephone exchange at the eastern entrance to the village and searched people, vehicles and passing minibuses.
Mahmoud said there were no reports of arrests or detentions before the troops withdrew from the area.https://sana.sy/en/syria/2320442/The Israeli aggression is on our dime, while the kabuki dance with Iran continues.
Steve
