Middle East Tech & Security: Israel’s forces seized Beaufort Castle in southern Lebanon, a Crusader-era site, and Netanyahu ordered the IDF to “expand the incursion,” underscoring how battlefield control of historic terrain keeps shaping modern conflict narratives. Diplomatic Tech: The Pentagon’s ongoing UFO/UAP declassification push includes decades of military sensor data and videos, with a UFO investigator warning “something is imminent,” while the material still lacks official extraterrestrial confirmation. Syrian Finance: Syria’s central bank extended the deadline for exchanging old banknotes by 30 days (effective July 1), continuing the currency redenomination rollout aimed at stabilizing the pound. Regional Air Defense Watch: MISBAR traced the first known appearance of Turkey’s HISAR air defense system in Sudan after RSF footage matched the HİSAR-A platform’s radar and launcher layout. Governance & Tech Policy: A new wave of debate targets AI facial scanning used to estimate asylum seekers’ ages, as critics warn it can enable discrimination. Syrian Society & Accountability: Investigators and officials continue to clash over the Tadamon massacre case and claims about handling materials tied to the fate of Dr. Rania al-Abbasi’s children. Energy & Industry: Morocco ranked among top Arab steel producers, with Syria listed among countries relying heavily on electric arc furnace capacity.