Middle East Monitor Latest news from the Middle East and North Africa

• 
  Sudan’s Joint Force says operations commander killed in North Kordofan state

  by EditorMehdi on November 3, 2026

  Sudan’s Joint Force, an armed coalition fighting alongside the national army against the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), announced Tuesday that one of its operations commanders had been killed in North Kordofan state. Citing the force, Sudan News Agency reported that Brig. Gen. Haroun Mursal Abu Tikka was killed in the Umm Shaeira area. The force noted that he had taken part in several battles and military fronts, including in Khartoum and North Kordofan, but provided no further details about the circumstances or timing of his death. READ: Sudan accuses Ethiopia of direct involvement in drone war, presents evidence The Joint Force comprises armed movements that signed a peace agreement with the government in Khartoum in October 2020. It has been

• 
  Iran says US response to its demands ‘not convincing’

  by EditorMehdi on November 3, 2026

  Iran said Tuesday that Washington’s response to its demands was “not convincing,” insisting that the Strait of Hormuz would reopen only after the US fulfilled seven Iranian conditions, Anadolu reports. “The US response to Iran’s rights and demands was not convincing,” Supreme National Security Council Secretary Mohsen Rezaei said on US social media platform X. “They must respond fully and explicitly to Iran’s seven conditions and fulfill them. Only then will the Strait of Hormuz be reopened,” he added. READ: US approves Qatar-presented draft deal with Iran: Sources Tehran’s reported seven conditions include a ceasefire across the Middle East, the release of Iranian assets frozen abroad and the lifting of sanctions on Iran’s oil sector. The demands also include ending the

• 
  Former US general investigated over alleged leaks on Ukraine, Iran: Report

  by EditorMehdi on November 3, 2026

  A former senior US military official is under federal investigation over allegations that he leaked classified information about Ukraine and Iran to journalists, Axios reported Tuesday. Former Army Lt. Gen. Brett Sylvia, who served as the Pentagon’s top military planner, faces a possible court-martial following his dismissal last week by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, according to the report. Sylvia was dismissed as part of the administration’s crackdown on unauthorized disclosures. According to an internal Pentagon report cited by Axios, Sylvia allegedly failed four polygraph tests and acknowledged the incidents during two video-recorded interviews lasting more than two hours. Investigators reportedly said that Sylvia shared sensitive information with Wall Street Journal reporter Michael Gordon, including details of US military assistance to

• 
  Turkiye’s intelligence chief visits UAE for talks on regional security

  by EditorMehdi on November 3, 2026

  Turkiye’s National Intelligence Chief Ibrahim Kalin has paid an official visit to the UAE, according to a Turkish official on Tuesday, Anadolu reports. Kalin was received in Abu Dhabi on Monday by UAE Vice President Mansour bin Zayed, Turkish Ambassador to Abu Dhabi Lutfullah Goktas said in a post on US social media platform X. UAE National Security Adviser Tahnoun bin Zayed and Secretary-General of the Supreme Council for National Security Ali al-Shamsi also attended the meeting, Goktas said. The discussions focused on joint efforts to strengthen regional security and stability, he added. “We believe that our strategic partnership with the UAE will make a significant contribution to strengthening regional security and peace,” Goktas noted. READ: Islamic world must stand firmly

• 
  US approves Qatar-presented draft deal with Iran: Sources

  by EditorMehdi on November 3, 2026

  The US has approved a draft memorandum of understanding presented to Iran by Qatari mediators Monday, sources familiar with the matter said Tuesday, Anadolu reports. “The mediation team briefed Saudi Arabia and the UAE on the memorandum, which they also approved,” the sources told Qatari newspaper Al-Araby Al-Jadeed. The newspaper said Washington and Tehran have made concessions regarding Iran’s nuclear program and frozen assets. “Tehran will announce a concession on its nuclear program in return for Washington announcing the release of part of Iran’s frozen assets,” the sources said, noting that the announcements would be made simultaneously. READ: Trump says ‘not looking to kill lots of people’ in Iran after midterms Discussions are underway on arrangements for both sides to announce

• 
  Trump says ‘not looking to kill lots of people’ in Iran after midterms

  by EditorMehdi on November 3, 2026

  US President Donald Trump said Tuesday that he is “not looking to kill lots of people” in Iran following the midterm elections, while warning that Washington would take decisive action if necessary, Anadolu reports. “Look, I’m not looking to, you know, kill lots of people, but if we have to, we’ll have to,” Trump told Fox News amid reports that US was weighing strikes on Iran following the polling. Trump said American forces struck a newly completed Iranian anti-aircraft installation overnight after monitoring its construction for over two months. “Just a minor attack. It wasn’t war.” READ: Iran delivers ‘firm, rational’ response to US, says ‘ball in America’s court to prevent war’ Citing a US official, local media reported that the

• 
  Israel’s ultra-Orthodox Shas party to recommend Netanyahu to form next government

  by EditorMehdi on November 3, 2026

  Israel’s ultra-Orthodox Shas party said Tuesday it would recommend that President Isaac Herzog task Benjamin Netanyahu with forming the next government, Anadolu reports. Shas said in a statement that it would recommend another term for Netanyahu, citing his “clear and uncompromising statement on his continued support and commitment to regulating the status of Torah students,” according to the daily Yedioth Ahronoth. The statement did not elaborate on the proposed arrangements. The announcement comes ahead of Herzog’s consultations with parliamentary parties, scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday, to determine which lawmaker he will task with attempting to form a government. READ: Israeli opposition leaders recommend Eisenkot for prime minister, vow to form ‘national emergency government’ Earlier Tuesday, Israeli opposition leaders agreed to recommend

• 
  Islamic world must stand firmly against Israeli atrocities in Palestine: Turkish vice president

  by EditorMehdi on November 3, 2026

  The Islamic world must take a resolute stance against Israeli atrocities and support Palestine through concrete actions, Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz said on Tuesday, Anadolu reports. Yilmaz made the remarks while chairing the closing session of the 42nd Ministerial Meeting of the Standing Committee for Economic and Commercial Cooperation of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (COMCEC) at the Istanbul Congress Center. “Despite the declaration of a ceasefire, the Netanyahu administration’s continuation of massacres on flimsy pretexts at every opportunity, the failure to transition to the next phase of the ceasefire, and the obstruction of humanitarian aid increase the suffering of our Palestinian brothers day by day,” Yilmaz said. “As the Islamic world, we must stand most strongly against this

• 
  Trump pledges end to US aid for Israel by year’s end

  by EditorMehdi on November 3, 2026

  US President Donald Trump said Tuesday that Washington will stop providing financial aid to Israel by year’s end under an agreement reached with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Anadolu reports. “Netanyahu and I have made a deal that we give Israel $4 billion a year, and we made a deal months ago that we’re stopping, and they’re fine with it because, you know, they’ve become a very successful country that are not in need, and we won’t be paying any more to Israel,” Trump told Fox News. He added that Washington would still provide assistance if needed, describing Israel as a regional partner with whom the US has maintained “a tremendous relationship,” with Tel Aviv being the smaller partner. Military

• 
  Israeli opposition leaders recommend Eisenkot for prime minister, vow to form ‘national emergency government’

  by EditorMehdi on November 3, 2026

  Israeli opposition leaders agreed Tuesday to recommend Yashar party head Gadi Eisenkot to President Isaac Herzog to form the next government, vowing to replace Benjamin Netanyahu’s administration with a “national emergency government.” The agreement was reached following a joint meeting of opposition party leaders in Herzliya in west-central Israel ahead of the start of consultations at Herzog’s residence on Wednesday, The Jerusalem Post reported. The statement said all participating parties will recommend Eisenkot to Herzog to form the next government, and their negotiating teams will immediately begin drafting policy guidelines and coalition agreements needed to establish the new cabinet. “The party leaders are coordinated and will act immediately to replace the ‘Oct. 7 government’ with a national emergency government,” the

• 
  Iran says 3 oil tankers hit naval mines, catch fire in Strait of Hormuz

  by EditorMehdi on November 3, 2026

  Three oil tankers struck naval mines and caught fire while navigating “unauthorized” routes through the Strait of Hormuz, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy said Tuesday, Anadolu reports. The Tasnim News Agency, citing a statement from the IRGC Navy’s public relations office, said the three tankers experienced explosions and severe fires after entering “unauthorized” shipping routes with their navigation and identification systems switched off. The incidents occurred in the early hours of Tuesday, with the resulting fires illuminating the eastern section of the strait throughout the night, according to the statement. The IRGC said the tankers had been abandoned near the southern shores of the Strait of Hormuz and remained engulfed in flames. It said Iranian regulations governing navigation

• 
  Plane from Israel makes emergency landing in Bulgaria after emailed threat

  by EditorMehdi on November 3, 2026

  A plane arriving from Israel made an emergency landing at Sofia Airport on Tuesday following a threat received by email, Bulgarian National Radio (BNR) reported, citing Interior Ministry Secretary General Lyubomir Nikolov, Anadolu reports. Authorities did not initially disclose the airline, flight details, number of passengers or the aircraft’s exact route. The content of the email threat was also not made public. It was not immediately clear whether it referred to a possible explosive device. READ: Israeli airline suspends ticket sales to Morocco’s Marrakech over security request Bulgarian authorities are expected to provide further details about the incident and the security measures taken. On Monday, a Wizz Air flight from London to Sofia was diverted to Budapest following a bomb threat.

• 
  Israeli forces demolish five Palestinian businesses in occupied West Bank

  by EditorMehdi on November 3, 2026

  Israeli forces accompanied by heavy machinery raided the Haska Road area northwest of Hebron in the occupied West Bank on Tuesday, demolishing five Palestinian-owned commercial businesses, according to local sources. Israeli forces routinely demolish Palestinian homes and structures on the grounds that they lack construction permits. Palestinian, Israeli and international rights groups say such permits are rarely granted to Palestinians, while Israeli settlement construction continues to receive approvals. READ: Israeli forces demolish East Jerusalem building as occupiers injure 2 Palestinians in West Bank Nearly 750,000 Israeli occupiers live in 156 illegal settlements and around 360 outposts across the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, according to Palestinian figures. Palestinian estimates showed that Israeli occupiers carried out 1,369 attacks across the occupied West

• 
  Israel’s Arab Joint List, Democrats agree to coordinate efforts to replace Netanyahu government

  by EditorMehdi on November 3, 2026

  Leaders of the Arab Joint List and Israel’s Democratic Party agreed Tuesday to coordinate efforts to replace Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government following their first meeting since last week’s Knesset elections, Anadolu reports. Joint List Chairman Yousef Jabareen and parliamentary group leader Ahmad Tibi met Democrats leader Yair Golan to assess the political situation following the Oct. 27 election results and discuss coordination between their blocs, the Arab Joint List said in a statement. According to preliminary results, Netanyahu’s bloc won 53 seats in the 120-member Knesset, while opposition parties secured 48 seats. Arab parties won 19 seats, with the Joint List securing 11 and Ra’am obtaining eight. The two sides stressed their “shared interest in using the parliamentary majority

• 
  UN Population Fund says over 13,000 pregnant women lack essential healthcare in Yemen’s Taiz

  by EditorMehdi on November 3, 2026

  More than 13,000 pregnant women in Yemen’s Taiz region lack essential healthcare as intensified fighting disrupts medical services, the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) warned on Tuesday, raising concerns over the possible closure of the city’s main maternity hospital, Anadolu reports. Francesco Galtieri, UNFPA’s Yemen representative, told reporters in Geneva via video link from Aden that nearly 300,000 people have been displaced since August, with displacement from the western coast and Taiz tripling. He said more than half of those displaced are women and children, while women head 33% of displaced families. Of the 27 designated emergency maternal and newborn hospitals, only five remain partially functional, leaving more than 147,000 women and girls of reproductive age with severely restricted access to

• 
  Israeli opposition leaders meet for 1st time since elections, agree to back Eisenkot for prime minister

  by EditorMehdi on November 3, 2026

  Israeli opposition leaders met Tuesday for the first time since last week’s parliamentary elections and agreed to back Yashar party head Gadi Eisenkot for prime minister, according to local media. The meeting was attended by Eisenkot, former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett of the Together party, Yisrael Beytenu leader Avigdor Liberman, Yair Golan of the Democrats, and opposition leader Yair Lapid, The Jerusalem Post reported. According to the newspaper, the meeting took place amid disagreements and political deadlock between the rival blocs, with neither side currently having a clear majority to form a government. Following the meeting, Bennett called for the swift formation of a new government and pledged his party’s full support for Eisenkot. READ: Israel’s Eisenkot rules out joining Netanyahu-led

• 
  China urges against military escalation as Iran says ‘ball in America’s court to prevent war’

  by EditorMehdi on November 3, 2026

  China on Tuesday urged against renewed military escalation, hours after the US launched strikes against Iran’s Qeshm Island, while Tehran said the “ball” was “in America’s court to prevent war,” Anadolu reports. “China believes that military means are not the solution. They will only lead to escalation that serves no one’s interest. It is hoped that relevant parties will stick to peace, resolve disputes through dialogue and negotiation, and restore peace and tranquility in the Middle East and the Gulf region at an early date,” Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning told reporters in Beijing. Mao was responding to a question about whether she was concerned about any possible resumption of US or Israeli attacks on Iran after the US midterm elections

• 
  Qatar says US, Iran studying proposals aimed at reaching agreement

  by EditorMehdi on November 3, 2026

  The US and Iran are studying proposals aimed at paving the way for an agreement as mediation efforts to bridge differences between the two sides continue, Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari said on Tuesday, Anadolu reports. “Efforts to bridge the gap between the two sides of the crisis, the United States and Iran, are still ongoing,” Ansari said at a news briefing carried by the Doha-based Al Jazeera television. He said Washington and Tehran are considering proposals presented as part of efforts to develop the conditions needed to reach an agreement. The spokesman said the Iranian and US sides continue to show commitment to the negotiating track. He said Qatar is working closely with its partners in the region

• 
  Iran vows military response without ‘geographical limits,’ outlines 5 conditions for regional security

  by EditorMehdi on November 3, 2026

  Iran’s top military commander warned Tuesday that the country’s armed forces would respond to any threat without “geographical limits,” outlining five conditions for establishing lasting security, Anadolu reports. Maj. Gen. Abdollahi, chief of staff of Iran’s Armed Forces and commander of the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, said the material and non-material assets of Iran’s adversaries were within the reach of its military forces, according to state broadcaster IRIB. He said Iran had emerged as a “fourth center of global power” through its control of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital energy chokepoint, and its ability to determine the rules governing access to the waterway. Abdollahi outlined five conditions that Tehran considers essential for establishing lasting security. The first condition calls

• 
  Saudi Aramco’s adjusted net income rises 9% in Q3

  by EditorMehdi on November 3, 2026

  Saudi Aramco posted a 9% year-on-year rise in its third-quarter adjusted net income to $31.2 billion, supported by operational flexibility and stronger refining margins, the state energy giant said Tuesday, Anadolu reports. Cash flow from operating activities reached $38.7 billion during the July-September period, while free cash flow rose to $28.2 billion from $23.6 billion in the same quarter last year. Aramco’s board declared a third-quarter base dividend of $21.9 billion, up 3.5% year-on-year, to be paid in the fourth quarter, it said. Downstream adjusted earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) surged 234% year-on-year, driven by stronger refining margins. President and CEO Amin Nasser highlighted that geopolitical instability and attacks targeting key energy infrastructure had exacerbated global supply security concerns

• 
  14 students, 8 education workers killed in Israeli attacks on Gaza in October

  by EditorMehdi on November 3, 2026

  At least 14 school students and eight education workers were killed in Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip in October, the Education Ministry said on Tuesday, Anadolu reports. The ministry said in a statement published late Monday that the slain students were aged between 6 and 16. Among education workers killed by Israeli fire were four teachers, three employees of the Islamic University who died in an attack on the university grounds, and a female academic killed in an Israeli strike on a residential apartment. The ministry also documented injuries among children, school and university students and education workers in attacks targeting schools and makeshift educational tents last month. “Israeli gunfire toward residential neighborhoods and educational facilities also caused classes

• 
  Iran says talks with Saudi Arabia continue, seeks regional security free of ‘foreign military presence’

  by EditorMehdi on November 3, 2026

  Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tuesday that Tehran continues dialogue with Saudi Arabia as it seeks new regional security arrangements led by countries in the region and “away from any foreign military presence,” Anadolu reports. “We have no hostility toward the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council,” Araghchi said on US social media company X. “We appreciate the positive role played by Qatar and Oman and continue our dialogue with Saudi Arabia,” he added. “Our goal is to reach new regional security arrangements established by the countries of the region themselves, away from any foreign military presence,” Araghchi said. In an interview with the Doha-based Al Jazeera television on Monday, Araghchi said Iran had discussed new regional security structures

• 
  Israel seizes over 26 dunams of Palestinian land in occupied West Bank

  by EditorMehdi on November 3, 2026

  Israeli authorities have issued a military order to seize more than 26 dunams of Palestinian land northwest of Ramallah in the occupied West Bank, a Palestinian commission said on Tuesday, Anadolu reports. “The military order, issued on Oct. 28, places 26.473 dunams (6.54 acres) of land in Deir Nizam, Umm Safa and Atara under Israeli military control for what Israel described as ‘military purposes’,” the Palestinian Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission said in a statement. “The land is designated for a route called the Ateret–Neve Tzuf emergency axis, intended to provide connectivity between Israeli settlement sites in the area,” it added. The order will remain in effect until the end of 2028 and grants the Israeli military exclusive possession of

• 
  Podcast by Jasim Al-Azzawi with David Miller: From Israel to the Caribbean: Britain’s Moral Reckonings

  by EditorMehdi on November 3, 2026

  A nation that loudly audits its modern speech while stubbornly dodging its historical debts sits squarely on the docket on today’s Jasim Azawi Show. When former Bristol professor David Miller was sacked after student accusations, an employment tribunal delivered a landmark ruling establishing that anti-Zionist beliefs are protected under law—proving Britain can untangle political dissent from prejudice when forced to look in the mirror. Yet when the descendants of enslaved peoples demand tangible justice for centuries of forced labor, Downing Street responds with symbolic apologies and closed coffers: admission without restitution, regret stripped of repair. From academic halls to the Caribbean, Britain readily convenes tribunals for contemporary outrage while drawing a hard financial line against the colonial atrocities that built

• 
  Iran delivers ‘firm, rational’ response to US, says ‘ball in America’s court to prevent war’

  by EditorMehdi on November 3, 2026

  Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf said Tuesday that Tehran has delivered a “firm and rational” response to Washington, stressing that the US must now decide whether to prevent another war, Anadolu reports. Speaking during a parliamentary session, Qalibaf, who is also leading Iran’s negotiating team in talks with the US, said Tehran remained prepared for both diplomacy and military confrontation. “Iran has delivered a firm and rational response to the American side, and now the ball is in America’s court to prevent war,” he said. He stressed that Iran’s armed forces remained at the highest level of defensive readiness. “If Washington makes another strategic mistake, it should know that this time it will face a new battlefield and will

• 
  Israeli army twisted truth on Gaza, says former military press staffer

  by EditorMehdi on November 3, 2026

  A former member of the Israeli army spokesperson’s unit said Monday that the military manipulated the truth about its operations in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, describing her own role in shaping information released to the media, Anadolu reports. Ayelet Kroizer said innocent Palestinians were labeled “terrorists” and military statements were tailored to strengthen public support and secure international legitimacy for army operations. She made the remarks in a post on the US social media platform X announcing her appointment as spokesperson for Breaking the Silence, an Israeli organization that publishes former soldiers’ testimonies about military abuses in the occupied Palestinian territories. “During my service, I manipulated the details released to the media. I saw how the word ‘terrorist’

• 
  UN relief chief says Yemen’s civilians paying ‘brutal price’ as Taiz runs low on supplies

  by EditorMehdi on November 3, 2026

  The UN’s relief chief warned Monday that Yemen’s civilians are bearing the cost of an escalating conflict, with nearly 300,000 people displaced since August, Anadolu reports. “Yemen’s civilians are paying a brutal price for this escalating conflict,” said Tom Fletcher in a post on the US social media platform X. Fletcher said roads are closed and supplies are running out in the besieged city of Taiz, home to around 1 million people, where water production has halved and food prices have soared by at least 50%. Hospitals are running out of fuel and medicines, he added. He said he spoke with Yemen’s Foreign Minister Afrah Abdulaziz Al-Zouba about the crisis, adding that humanitarian partners have reached nearly 260,000 displaced people,

• 
  Israel’s Eisenkot rules out joining Netanyahu-led government, even at Trump’s request: Report

  by EditorMehdi on November 3, 2026

  Yashar party leader Gadi Eisenkot has ruled out joining a government led by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, even at the request of US President Donald Trump, Israel’s public broadcaster KAN reported Monday. The broadcaster, citing unnamed sources, said Eisenkot made the remarks during a recent closed-door meeting. “I will not sit in a government led by Netanyahu,” he was quoted as saying. “If Trump invites me, I will respect the president and attend, but I will stress that this concerns internal Israeli affairs, and I will prevent any interference,” Eisenkot added, according to KAN. The remarks came after Netanyahu said he was open to talks on a broad government but insisted that he should lead it, rejecting a coalition

• 
  US carries out ‘defensive’ strikes on Iran’s Qeshm Island: Report

  by EditorMehdi on November 3, 2026

  The US military carried out “defensive” strikes against Iran’s Qeshm Island on Monday, local media reported, citing a US official. “This was a defensive measure for Iranians using surface to air missiles against US assets,” the official was quoted as saying. The attack, which was first reported by The Wall Street Journal, comes as President Donald Trump has sought to downplay the prospect of a renewed large-scale military confrontation with Iran following Tuesday’s midterm elections. “We had a war with Iran. We won,” Trump told reporters Monday. “I don’t know if you even call it a war because we haven’t been doing any fighting for months.” However, US officials told the Journal that American forces have continued conducting smaller-scale strikes

• 
  Netanyahu says he is open to broad Israeli government but insists on leading it

  by Marwa A on November 2, 2026

  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday he was open to talks on forming a broad government but insisted that he should remain prime minister, Anadolu reports. Likud “aspires to form a broad government with our partners and with any party that wishes to do so and does not support terrorism,” Netanyahu said on US social media platform X. “I am open to holding a dialogue on the matter,” he added. Netanyahu claimed that “the public in Israel does not want a government that is dependent on Ra’am and the Joint List,” referring to the two Arab parliamentary lists. “From day one our hand has been extended to establish a broad national government,” he said. Netanyahu also claimed a mandate

• 
  UK defence secretary accuses Iran of ‘bare-faced cheek’ over terrorist labels for British armed forces

  by Marwa A on November 2, 2026

  UK Defence Secretary Wes Streeting on Monday accused Iran of “bare-faced cheek” after Tehran branded the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force “terrorist organisations,” Anadolu reports. The Iranian move, which also included labelling MI6 a “hostile group,” came in response to the British decision to outlaw support for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Responding to Tehran’s move during a joint news conference in Berlin with German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius, Streeting said Iran had a record of “state-sponsored terrorism.” “The charge levelled at the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force by Iran doesn’t really dignify a response,” he said, adding that he was minded to put press clippings of the accusations in his downstairs toilet “as a trophy.” He

• 
  Russia expresses ‘deep concern’ over reports of planned new military action against Iran

  by Marwa A on November 2, 2026

  Russia on Monday expressed “deep concern” over reports of planned new military action against Iran, Anadolu reports. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said the situation surrounding Iran, which she described as having been subjected to unprovoked aggression by the US and Israel, remained “complex.” “The conflict remains unresolved; it resonates with and is intertwined with other crises unfolding across the Middle East,” she said. Zakharova stressed the need to intensify diplomatic efforts to normalize the situation and expressed support for mediators working to advance negotiations. She added that Moscow remained ready to help identify mutually acceptable solutions and assist in their implementation. “We hope that the situation in the Strait of Hormuz will soon return to normal, with due

• 
  Tehran engaged in ‘intensive shuttle diplomacy’ through Qatari, Pakistani mediators: Foreign minister

  by Marwa A on November 2, 2026

  Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Monday that Tehran is engaged in intensive diplomatic contacts through Qatari and Pakistani mediators, involving dozens of telephone calls and “intensive shuttle diplomacy,” Anadolu reports. Speaking to Iran’s state news agency IRNA at the conclusion of a visit to Turkmenistan, Araghchi said Tehran had presented a clear plan and conditions for a diplomatic resolution, leaving the next step to Washington. “We have announced our specific conditions and presented our formulated plan; now everything depends on how much political rationality prevails on the American side and whether there is a will to take the wise path of diplomacy or, as in previous instances, to drag the situation toward aggression and military operations,” he said. Araghchi

• 
  Saudi-led coalition intercepts 2 drones over Riyadh region

  by Marwa A on November 2, 2026

  The Saudi-led coalition announced on Monday that it had intercepted and destroyed two drones over the Riyadh region in central Saudi Arabia, without identifying who launched them, Anadolu reports. “Two drones intercepted and destroyed in the Riyadh region,” coalition spokesman Turki al-Maliki said in a post on US social media company X. Al-Maliki did not say whether the interception resulted in casualties or material damage. Earlier Monday, the spokesman said air defenses had intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile launched by the Houthi group toward Saudi Arabia’s southern region. Saudi Civil Defense had earlier issued an all-clear for the cities of Abha and Najran and the governorates of Khamis Mushait and Taif following warnings in those areas. It did not

• 
  Greece bans protest over docking of Israeli cruise ship

  by Marwa A on November 2, 2026

  Greek authorities on the Aegean island of Syros banned a protest against an Israeli-owned cruise ship scheduled to dock Tuesday, daily Kathimerini reported Monday, Anadolu reports. The Coast Guard said the planned demonstration against the docking of the Crown Iris, which can accommodate up to 2,000 passengers and 650 crew members, could lead to disturbances, including clashes between protesters and tourists. The statement said demonstrations could still take place at alternative locations away from the waterfront. It added that holding the protest at the initially designated locations “posed a severe threat to public security due to the potential of serious crimes being committed, particularly against human lives, bodily integrity and property … and to the area’s social and economic activity.”

• 
  Iran’s national security chief, Russian president discuss regional developments, reaffirm strategic cooperation

  by EditorMehdi on November 2, 2026

  Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Secretary Mohsen Rezaei and Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed regional and international developments in a telephone call, Iranian state broadcaster IRIB reported Monday. The discussions focused particularly on West Asia, according to the broadcaster. During the call, Rezaei expressed appreciation for remarks by Putin and other Russian officials praising Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and other prominent national figures, as well as their support for the Iranian people’s resilience, the report said. Both sides stressed the importance of continuing strategic cooperation in accordance with the roadmap outlined by the two countries’ leaders. IRIB provided no further details on specific regional issues discussed or measures to advance bilateral cooperation. READ: Putin offers Russian mediation to end

• 
  When the World Sleeps: Stories, Words and Wounds of Palestine

  by Marwa A on November 2, 2026

  UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese’s book When the World Sleeps: Stories, Words and Wounds of Palestine (Hardie Grant Books, 2026) opens with excerpts from her speech to the UN General Assembly on 30 October 2024. “Those of you who have not uttered a word about what is happening in Gaza demonstrate that empathy has evaporated from this room,” Albanese stated. As months turned into years, the international community proved Albanese right. The book was written at a time when Albanese was sanctioned by the US as a “specially designated national”. In the introduction, Albanese writes of the contradictions emanating directly from the UN, which refused to use the word genocide when referring to Gaza. “The system that represses the Palestinians

• 
  Israeli opposition parties back Eisenkot to form government, Arab parties expected to follow

  by Marwa A on November 2, 2026

  Israeli opposition parties have decided to recommend that President Isaac Herzog task Yashar leader Gadi Eisenkot with forming the next government during consultations scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday, Anadolu reports. The Democrats, led by Yair Golan, announced their decision Monday in a statement carried by public broadcaster KAN, following similar announcements by former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett’s Together party on Sunday and Avigdor Lieberman’s Yisrael Beytenu on Monday. According to an Anadolu correspondent, the Joint List, a three-party Arab alliance led by Yousef Jabareen, and the United Arab List, led by Mansour Abbas, are expected to announce similar recommendations. If all opposition and Arab parties back Eisenkot, he could receive recommendations from 67 lawmakers in the 120-member Knesset, compared with

• 
  Oil prices plunge 6% as US-Iran diplomacy eases supply fears

  by EditorMehdi on November 2, 2026

  Oil prices fell about 6% on Monday as diplomatic efforts to end the US-Iran conflict eased concerns over further disruptions to oil shipments from the Gulf, Anadolu reports. International benchmark Brent crude fell $6.90, or 6%, to $106.50 a barrel as of 1400GMT, while US benchmark West Texas Intermediate dropped $6.25, or 6%, to $97.87 a barrel. Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei approved the government’s pursuit of talks to end the conflict, Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency reported. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said Monday that Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi had traveled to Doha to exchange messages with Washington through Qatari mediators. READ: Shell profits double as Middle East conflict pushes up energy prices Baghaei said Iran’s proposal linked

• 
  Lieberman backs Eisenkot for Israeli premier, rules out coalition with Netanyahu

  by EditorMehdi on November 2, 2026

  Israeli opposition leader Avigdor Lieberman said Monday that he would recommend Gadi Eisenkot to form the next government, ruling out joining a coalition with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu or supporting a minority administration following last week’s inconclusive parliamentary elections, Anadolu reports. Speaking at a news conference Monday in Modi’in in central Israel, Lieberman said his Yisrael Beiteinu party would recommend Eisenkot, the leader of Yashar party, for prime minister and support Yair Lapid for Knesset speaker, according to The Jerusalem Post. “I will not sit in a government with Netanyahu,” Lieberman said, expressing opposition to forming a minority government. He warned that such an administration could collapse within a year and pave the way for Netanyahu’s return to power. Lieberman

• 
  Oil tanker catches fire after hitting naval mine east of Strait of Hormuz, says Iranian Navy

  by EditorMehdi on November 2, 2026

  An oil tanker caught fire after striking a naval mine in a restricted area east of the Strait of Hormuz, the Iranian Navy said Monday, Anadolu reports. In a statement, the Navy’s public relations office said the tanker had entered a “prohibited and unsafe” zone with its navigation systems switched off. The Navy warned tanker owners against attempting to cross restricted waters without coordination or with their identification systems disabled. READ: US denies Iran’s claim that it destroyed US sea drone in Strait of Hormuz It said shipowners should learn from the fate of vessels that enter prohibited areas after switching off their identification systems, warning that such actions could result in mine strikes and fires. The statement did not identify

• 
  Israel’s newly elected Knesset to hold inaugural session on Nov. 10

  by EditorMehdi on November 2, 2026

  Israel’s newly elected Knesset will hold its inaugural session on Nov. 10, during which lawmakers will be sworn in and elect a parliamentary speaker, the parliament announced Monday, Anadolu reports. In a statement, the Knesset said the opening session would begin at 4 pm local time (1400 GMT), with President Isaac Herzog and other guests of honor in attendance. The announcement follows last Tuesday’s parliamentary elections, which failed to produce a clear majority in the 120-member legislature. According to preliminary results, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s bloc secured 53 seats, while opposition parties won 48 and Arab parties obtained 19. At least 61 seats are required to secure a parliamentary majority. The official election results are expected to be announced Wednesday.

• 
  Iran is turning deterrence into a weapon of escalation

  by EditorMehdi on November 2, 2026

  On 31 October, Iran’s Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, instructed the armed forces to answer any future threat with an immediate and effective response, “without geographical restrictions”. He also ordered commanders to update the list of American and Israeli material and non-material assets within Iran’s reach, while strengthening intelligence, doctrine and domestic defence capabilities. The significance lies less in the threat itself than in the strategic logic behind it. Tehran is not claiming that it can match the United States aircraft for aircraft, ship for ship or dollar for dollar. It is signalling something more consequential: American military superiority may not translate into a controllable conflict or a decisive political outcome. Iran wants the costs of renewed attacks to extend beyond

• 
  Israeli army withdraws from Hebron after 10-day operation

  by EditorMehdi on November 2, 2026

  The Israeli army withdrew from the entire occupied West Bank city of Hebron after a 10-day siege and military operation, local authorities said Monday, Anadolu reports. Hebron Governor Khaled Dudin said Palestinian security forces had regained control across the city following the Israeli withdrawal. Dudin said families forced to leave their homes during the operation could begin returning, while authorities and security forces were monitoring developments to ensure a safe return. READ: Israeli army declares Hebron neighborhood closed military zone amid raids The Israeli army launched the operation on Oct. 23 after an armed attack it attributed to two Palestinians. Two Israeli soldiers were killed and three others injured, while Israeli forces killed the two alleged attackers. During the operation, Israeli

• 
  Syrian foreign minister receives Lebanese delegation for talks on refugee returns

  by EditorMehdi on November 2, 2026

  Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani received a Lebanese delegation led by Deputy Prime Minister Tarek Mitri in Damascus on Monday for talks focused on Syrian refugees and ways to facilitate their return. The meeting was held at Tishreen Palace in the capital and attended by Syrian Higher Education and Scientific Research Minister Marwan al-Halabi, Education Minister Mohammad Abdulrahman Turko and Social Affairs and Labor Minister Hind Kabawat, Syria’s SANA news agency said. The visit follows previous talks and aims to continue the work of joint committees formed by the two sides to address shared issues, according to SANA. Bilateral ministerial sessions have begun to discuss issues within each ministry’s area of responsibility and move from general discussions toward practical measures,

• 
  Arab parties in Israeli Knesset meet to coordinate efforts to replace Netanyahu government

  by EditorMehdi on November 2, 2026

  Arab parties represented in Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, held their first meeting Monday since last week’s elections to coordinate efforts to replace Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, ahead of consultations on forming a new administration, Anadolu reports. The meeting came two days before Israeli President Isaac Herzog is scheduled to begin consultations on Wednesday with parties elected to the 120-member Knesset to determine which lawmaker should be tasked with forming a government. Arab parties secured 19 seats in last Tuesday’s elections, while Netanyahu’s bloc won 53 seats and opposition parties obtained 48, according to preliminary results. Neither bloc secured the 61 seats needed for a parliamentary majority. Ahmad Tibi, head of the Joint List’s parliamentary bloc, posted a photograph of

• 
  Jordan’s king calls Israel’s expansionist ambitions ‘biggest threat’ to region’s future

  by EditorMehdi on November 2, 2026

  Jordan’s King Abdullah II said Monday that Israel’s expansionist ambitions pose the greatest threat to the region’s future, stressing that regional security and stability cannot be achieved without Palestinians securing their rights to their land, Anadolu reports. “Israeli expansionist ambitions remain the greatest threat to the region’s future and its hopes,” Abdullah said in a speech to parliament. He pointed to the continuing humanitarian catastrophe in the Gaza Strip and Israeli attacks in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, despite international calls to halt Israeli violations. He stressed that there could be no security or stability in the region without recognizing the Palestinian people’s rights to their land. “Those who believe tyranny grants legitimacy are mistaken, and those who

• 
  20 civilians killed, injured in Houthi missile attack on health center in Yemen: Media

  by EditorMehdi on November 2, 2026

  At least 20 civilians were killed and injured Monday in a Houthi missile attack on a health center in Yemen’s southwestern Lahj province, according to government-run media, Anadolu reports. State-run Saba satellite channel reported that a missile strike targeted the Al-Suqya health center in the Al-Mudaribah and Al-Arah district of Lahj province. The broadcaster did not provide a breakdown of the fatalities and injuries or further details about the attack. The Houthi group did not immediately comment on the report. Lahj province borders Yemen’s temporary capital, Aden, to the north and west, making it a strategically important area connecting the city with other provinces. The province also borders Taiz, Al-Dhale, Abyan and Al-Bayda, while some of its districts lie near

• 
  Iran says it continues exchanging messages with US through mediators

  by EditorMehdi on November 2, 2026

  Iran said Monday that it continues exchanging messages with the US through mediators, while stressing that its revised seven-stage diplomatic proposal could be fully implemented within two days, Anadolu reports. Speaking at a weekly press conference, Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said diplomatic contacts between Tehran and Washington were ongoing, with Iran’s existing proposal remaining the basis for indirect negotiations. He said the initiative was discussed extensively during an Iranian delegation’s visit to New York, with Tehran subsequently receiving Washington’s views through mediators. Baqaei said the original seven-stage proposal had been condensed into a plan that could be implemented within two days, describing the shortened timeline as a “demonstration of Iran’s goodwill and constructive approach” toward diplomacy. He added that

• 
  Peace, stability in Mideast require joint efforts, Chinese president tells Omani sultan

  by EditorMehdi on November 2, 2026

  China’s President Xi Jinping on Monday called for joint efforts to maintain peace and stability in the Middle East, warning against turning the Gulf region into an arena for major-power rivalry and geopolitical conflicts, according to state media. Xi made the remarks during talks with Oman’s Sultan Haitham bin Tariq at Beijing’s Great Hall of the People, Xinhua News reported. Xi said the Middle East and Gulf regions should “not become a wrestling ground for major-country rivalry and geopolitical conflicts,” stressing that regional peace and stability require joint efforts by all parties. He added that China was willing to strengthen communication and coordination with Arab and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, including Oman, to help restore regional peace and achieve