By Phil Stewart and Idrees Ali

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. President Donald Trump's goal of re-occupying Bagram air base in Afghanistan might end up looking like a re-invasion of the country, requiring more than 10,000 troops as well as deployment of advanced air defenses, current and former U.S. officials say.

Trump, speaking to reporters on Thursday during a trip to London, said "we want that base back" and cited what he called its strategic location near China.

"It's an hour away from where China makes its nuclear weapons," Trump said.

By Patricia Zengerle

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -A group of U.S. senators introduced on Thursday the first Senate resolution to urge recognition of a Palestinian state, further signaling a shift in Washington sentiment toward Israel nearly two years into its war with Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

By Michelle Nichols

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The United States vetoed on Thursday a draft United Nations Security Council resolution that would have demanded an immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire in Gaza and that Israel lift all restrictions on aid deliveries to the Palestinian enclave.

The text, drafted by the elected 10 members of the 15-member council, would also have demanded the immediate, dignified and unconditional release of all hostages held by Hamas and other groups.

By David Latona and Andreas Rinke

MADRID (Reuters) - Germany will reach a decision on whether to back European Union sanctions against Israel before a European Union meeting in Copenhagen in October, Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on a visit to Madrid on Thursday.

The UN Security Council will vote Friday on whether to reimpose sanctions on Iran over its nuclear program, the Council's rotating presidency said, after Britain, France and Germany triggered the vote.

The three European countries, signatories to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action intended to stop Tehran obtaining nuclear weapons, allege that Iran has broken its promises under that 2015 treaty.

By Michelle Nichols and Maya Gebeily

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) -The United Nations Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen announced on Thursday that he would step down "in the near future" after more than six years in the role and as Syria undergoes a historic transition following the ouster of former leader Bashar al-Assad last year.

He told the U.N. Security Council that Secretary-General Antonio Guterres had accepted his resignation.

PARIS (Reuters) -French President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday that the reimposition of United Nations sanctions on Iran would happen by the end of September because Tehran had not been serious in its talks with European powers to avert them.

When asked in an interview on Israel's Channel 12 whether the so-called snapback mechanism would take place he said:

"Yes. I think so because the latest news from the Iranians is not serious," Macron said.

(Reporting by John Irish; Editing by Aidan Lewis)

The UN Security Council will vote Friday on whether to reimpose sanctions on Iran over its nuclear program, the Council's presidency said, after Britain, France and Germany triggered the process that led to the vote.

The three European countries, signatories to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) intended to stop Tehran obtaining nuclear weapons, allege that Iran has broken its promises under the 2015 treaty.

CHEQUERS, England (Reuters) -U.S. President Donald Trump said he disagreed with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer over recognising a Palestinian state, speaking following a bilateral meeting on Thursday during his state visit.

Asked at a press conference about recognising a Palestinian state, Trump said: "I have a disagreement with the prime minister on that score, one of our few disagreements, actually."

Starmer said he and Trump agreed on the ultimate aim of peace in the region.

By Emma Farge and Olivia Le Poidevin

GENEVA (Reuters) -The United States and Israel have sent complaint letters to top U.N. officials contesting the impartiality of their staff over the Gaza war, documents showed, as hundreds of U.N. staff protested outside its European headquarters on Thursday.

U.N. staff carried placards saying "Peace for Gaza" and "Not a Target". They laid over 370 white roses next to a memorial plaque in Geneva to represent each U.N. aid worker killed in the nearly two-year war.