Emergency services deployed thousands of personnel as catastrophic wildfires merged on the outskirts of Madrid, forcing tens of thousands of residents to evacuate or shelter in place after destroying thousands of hectares and threatening residential areas across the Spanish capital's region.

Armed clashes erupted after 'Israeli' forces entered the city of Nablus in the occupied West Bank, according to local reports, as tensions remained high across the area.

Residents of Zawtar al-Gharbiyah inspect their damaged homes upon returning to the southern Lebanese village, one of the "pilot zones" where the Lebanese army is deploying as part of a US-backed deal with ‘Israel’.

Under the US-sponsored agreement signed last month, Lebanon's army is meant to disarm Hezbollah and the ‘Israeli’ military is to withdraw from "pilot zones" where Lebanese forces will subsequently deploy.

Footage released by the US military shows what US Central Command (CENTCOM) says are operations enforcing its naval blockade against Iran, including the boarding of a commercial tanker in the Arabian Sea and the disabling of another vessel in the Gulf of Oman.

Aerial views of neighbourhoods and houses destroyed by the violent fire that swept through Le Porge in Gironde.

Although the coming night is expected to be “conducive to the work” of the fire services, the threat posed by the massive blaze raging in Gironde “remains very serious”, with the fires having forced the evacuation of around 200,000 people, according to authorities.

Brazil's right-wing Liberal Party officially nominates Flavio Bolsonaro, the son of imprisoned ex-president Jair Bolsonaro, as its candidate for October elections.

He is set to face off against leftist incumbent Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, 80, who is seeking a fourth term and has gained momentum in recent weeks as the younger Bolsonaro faced a series of crises.

Firefighters look after animals as fires around Madrid rage on

Houthis claim missile and drone attacks on Saudi oil facilities

Helicopters carried out emergency medical evacuations following a deadly highway collision in Syria, transporting injured victims as rescue teams continued operations at the scene.

Massive wildfires near Madrid forced the evacuation of approximately 63,000 people as firefighters battled rapidly spreading flames and authorities issued emergency warnings.