Amnesty warns of rising executions in Iran amid Israel conflict

Dozens of US military aircraft have been tracked flying toward the Middle East in recent days, as Washington weighs possible involvement in the conflict between Israel and Iran, Sky News reported citing flight data.

Between Monday and Thursday, 52 US military planes were observed over the eastern Mediterranean, with 25 passing through Chania airport on the Greek island of Crete—an eightfold increase compared to early June.

The aircraft included transport, refueling, and reconnaissance planes. Forbes McKenzie, head of McKenzie Intelligence, said the activity suggests "the build-up of warfighting capability" in the region.

Additional fighter jets, including F-22 Raptors and F-35s, have also been reported, though their movements are typically not reflected in public tracking data.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have arrested a German national, Marek Kaufmann, for alleged spying near restricted military and nuclear sites in Markazi province, state-owned Mehr News reported Friday.

Mehr released a video showing Kaufmann, described as a dual-national Jewish tourist cycling through the region, speaking after his detention. In the footage, he says he was aware he was near a military area and that taking photos or videos was not allowed. He adds that he sent his location to a friend. The video is heavily edited and does not include a clear confession.

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Mehr released a video showing Kaufmann, described as a dual-national Jewish tourist cycling through the region, speaking after his arrest. In the footage, he says he was aware he was near a military area and that taking photos or videos was not allowed. He adds that he sent his location to a friend. The video is heavily edited and does not include a clear confession.

At one point, Kaufmann says his Garmin device, a brand of smartwatch, told him to take a detour. Immediately after, the narrator says “someone was in charge of how he navigates” and alleges that he was receiving instructions from “American and Jewish commanders.” The narrator, Ameneh Sadat Zabihpour, was sanctioned by the United States in 2022 for working with Iranian intelligence agencies to produce forced confessions.

Iranian officials accuse Kaufmann of gathering intelligence on sensitive military sites, including missile silos, drone routes, and airbases. Mehr said he was detained by IRGC intelligence operatives in an area marked with warning signs.

Foreign detentions escalate amid Israel-Iran conflict

His arrest comes amid a broader wave of detentions targeting foreign nationals in Iran since the start of Israel’s strikes on Iran on June 13. In recent days, a European national was arrested in northwestern Iran for allegedly attempting to spy on sensitive areas, according to IRGC-affiliated Tasnim News.

In another case, Tasnim reported that two foreign nationals were detained in Karaj, west of Tehran, for allegedly working as Mossad agents. Authorities said the two had shared the locations of state media offices and a government official’s residence with a handler in Germany.

The rising number of detentions has triggered concern across Europe and the United States. A US State Department cable, reported by The Washington Post, cited unconfirmed reports of Americans being detained and noted that many US nationals faced delays and harassment while trying to leave Iran.

The US Virtual Embassy in Tehran has urged American citizens to depart immediately, warning that airspace closures and regional hostilities make conditions increasingly dangerous. While some land borders remain open, Washington has said it cannot ensure safe passage or offer evacuation support.

France has also condemned Iran’s detention of foreign nationals. In May, it announced plans to bring a case against Iran before the International Court of Justice over the prolonged imprisonment of two French citizens. French officials have described the detentions as politically motivated and part of a broader pattern of so-called “hostage diplomacy,” a charge Tehran denies.

A senior United Arab Emirates official urged a rapid end to the Iran-Israel war, warning that a prolonged conflict would bring a “very difficult aftermath” for the region.

Anwar Gargash, diplomatic advisor to President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, said the war is undermining efforts by regional states to build a stable and prosperous regional order.

“The longer a war takes, the more dangerous it becomes,” Gargash told reporters, adding that the conflict is “setting back” the entire Gulf region.

He called for de-escalation and said there is still a path back to negotiations.

The commander of Iran’s Quds Force arms transfer unit, Behnam Shahriari, was killed while traveling in western Iran, more than 1,000 kilometers from Israel’s border, the Israel Defense Forces said Saturday in a post on its official X account.

The IDF said Shahriari was responsible for transferring weapons and funds to proxy groups including Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis, and played a central role in supplying rockets used against Israel during the current war.

His death, the IDF said, dealt a major blow to Iran’s regional network and the ability of its allies to rebuild after Israeli military operations.