WATCH PRESS TV NEWS HEADLINES

Here is a brief look at Press TV Newsroom's headlines from 09:00 GMT to 17:00 GMT, June 29, 2018.

Fight against terror

The Syrian army is engaged in an offensive to dislodge terrorists from the southern province of Dara’a. Syrian forces reportedly took control of a strategic town after days of heavy fighting with militants. The town of Harak is a few kilometers away from the city of Dara’a. Meanwhile, dozens of families have left Dara’a province through three humanitarian corridors amid ongoing clashes between the army and the terrorists. The offensive began on June 19th. President Bashar al-Assad has pledged to take back every inch of Syria from terrorists.

EU refugee deal

European Union leaders have struck a deal to tackle the refugee crisis. The agreement was reached following political divisions that deepened with the rise of anti-immigrant parties in many countries, like Italy. The new government in Rome had threatened to torpedo any immigrant deal that did not meet its demands. Italy had pushed for other EU states to have a share in new arrivals.

Criticizing US nuke policy

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif says the US foreign policy has caused suffering for the American people. In a statement, Zarif slammed Washington for its adventurism in Iraq and Afghanistan and support for Israel. He stressed that Washington's “wasteful expansion” of its nuclear arsenal will only exacerbate the suffering of American people. Zarif also slammed Washington's zero-tolerance policy of separating migrant children from their parents at the southern border. Iran’s top diplomat condemned the White House for suppression and imprisonment of protesters. The reaction was in response to remarks made by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo about recent protests against economic issues in Tehran. Zarif said people who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.

Imminent victory in Dara’a: Nasrallah

The leader of Lebanon’s resistance movement Hezbollah has rejected Saudi Arabia’s claim that Hezbollah members are fighting in Yemen. Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah says Hezbollah will proudly acknowledge what he described as its fighters’ martyrdom, no matter where they are killed. He says Arab members of the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen should follow the example of Malaysia and leave the military alliance. Nasrallah says the Saudis and their western and regional allies have suffered a heavy defeat in Yemen’s port city of Hudaydah. Hezbollah’s chief also spoke of the situation in Syria’s south. He said foreign-backed militant groups are on the cusp of collapsing there. Nasrallah added that a very big victory for the Syrian army is imminent.

Turkey ignores US demand

Turkey says it will not end trade ties with Iran, defying a call by the United States to cut oil imports from Iran. Turkey’s Foreign Minister says Ankara will support US decisions only if they aim to promote peace and stability. Mevlut Cavusoglu also says being an ally of Washington does not mean Turkey has to follow every US decision. The top Turkish diplomat described Iran as a good neighbor. Earlier this week, a senior US official said Washington had urged its allies to cut to zero all oil imports from Iran. The US aims to step up pressure on Iran following Washington’s unilateral withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal.

MSF criticizes EU refugee deal

International medical charity Doctors Without Borders has condemned the EU’s new deal on refugees. The group also known as MSF said the agreement will block people at Europe’s doorsteps. The MSF stressed that the deal’s aim is to stop even the most vulnerable people from entering Europe. It also said the accord demonizes search and rescue operations by NGO’s. Earlier, EU leaders sealed a deal following hours of talks overnight in Brussels.