Iraqi and Lebanese leaders condemned strikes in their countries they say were carried out by Israel, calling them an attack on national sovereignty and “similar to a declaration of war.” The United Nations urged restraint (Guardian) from all parties.
 
Israeli drones reportedly attacked a Palestinian base in Lebanon (WaPo) on Monday, shortly after the Iran-backed militant movement Hezbollah threatened to down any Israeli drones over Lebanon. Hezbollah said two drones that earlier crashed (NYT) south of Beirut were Israeli. Iraqi officials said Israel also carried out air strikes in Iraq (Reuters), near the Syrian border. Over the weekend, Israeli warplanes struck a military base in Syria, which the Israeli government said was to thwart a planned attack on its territory. The targets of the attacks are all linked to Iran-backed groups.

After France encouraged dialogue with Iran at the Group of Seven (G7) summit, U.S. President Donald J. Trump said he is open to meeting with (FT) Iranian President Hassan Rouhani. Rouhani said he will not hold talks with the United States unless it lifts sanctions against Iran.
 
Turkey: The country received a second shipment (Hurriyet) for its S-400 missile defense system from Russia today, the defense ministry said. Washington has warned Ankara that purchasing the system could subject it to U.S. sanctions.

The pharmaceutical company was ordered to pay the state of Oklahoma $572 million for intentionally downplaying the risks (NYT) of prescription painkillers. It is the first court-issued penalty for a drug manufacturer in the U.S. opioid crisis. There are more than two thousand pending lawsuits related to the crisis.
 
This CFR Backgrounder looks at the ongoing opioid epidemic.

The two countries plan to sign a new agreement (Guardian) at next month’s UN General Assembly that will facilitate trade on agricultural, industrial, and digital products, according to U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer. The countries’ leaders announced that they agreed to the deal in principle at the G7 summit in France.
 
Australia: The foreign ministry released a statement expressing concern over the arrest in China of academic Yang Hengjun on suspicion of espionage. Yang, an Australian citizen, has been detained since January.

India’s central bank approved a payment (FT) of more than $24 billion in dividends and surplus capital to the federal government, in a move that has sparked concerns over the bank’s independence.
 
Bangladesh: A Tunisia-based nongovernmental organization filed a complaint (Guardian) to the International Organization for Migration claiming that IOM officials and diplomats pressured Bangladeshi refugees in Tunisia to return home. The IOM has denied the allegation.
 
This CFR InfoGuide looks at the world’s swelling refugee population.

Iran’s judiciary sentenced Anousheh Ashouri, a British-Iranian woman, to ten years in prison (Reuters) on espionage charges, according to state media. It also upheld an espionage conviction against Aras Amiri, an Iranian woman who worked for a British charity.

Kenya exported its first crude oil shipment (AP) since it began pumping in 2018, according to government officials. The country expects to start commercial-scale production in 2024.
 
Cameroon: Tens of thousands of people have fled the country’s English-speaking regions after a weekend of violence in which more than forty people were killed (VOA), officials said. The renewed fighting comes after a separatist leader and nine of his followers were issued life sentences.

Ten countries have agreed to provide vaccination cards (Reuters) that will be recognized across the region to Venezuelan migrants beginning in October, health officials announced.
 
In Foreign Affairs, Amalia Perez and Selim Can Sazak write that Venezuelan state assets should be used to help Venezuelan refugees.
 
Brazil: The government said it will reject a $20 million aid package (AFP) from G7 nations to fight fires in the Amazon. Brazil’s environment minister had initially welcomed the assistance.