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

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  Iran says Oman meeting canceled at Saudi Arabia’s request

  by Mehdi Editor on September 14, 2026

  Iran said on Monday that a planned meeting in Oman involving foreign ministers from Gulf countries and Tehran was canceled at Saudi Arabia’s request, Anadolu reports. Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baqaei told a press briefing that Riyadh requested the meeting should not take place for the time being. “The report that Saudi Arabia requested that the meeting not be held for now is correct,” Baqaei said, according to state news agency IRNA. He rejected attempts to link Iran to recent developments between Saudi Arabia and Yemen, saying Yemen’s problems have “long-standing roots.” Baqaei also categorically denied US claims that Iran was involved in an attack on a Saudi oil pipeline from Iraqi territory, accusing Washington of seeking to deepen divisions among

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  Qatar to help determine fate of 3 Iranian pilots: Red Crescent Society

  by Mehdi Editor on September 14, 2026

  Qatar has agreed to help determine the fate of three Iranian pilots whose whereabouts remain unclear, Iran’s state news agency IRNA reported on Monday. The case dates back to March 2, when two Iranian Su-24 fighter jets went down during attacks on a military base in Qatar. Iran says three pilots were captured alive, while another was killed. Iranian Red Crescent Society chief Pir Hossein Kolivand said there was evidence suggesting that the three pilots may be in Qatar and asked the Qatar Red Crescent Society to use its channels to obtain information about their status. READ: Qatari Prime Minister set to visit Tehran in bid to reduce regional tensions Kolivand said the Qatar Red Crescent Society should seek information about

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  Israel kills 2 in Gaza, raising death toll from genocide to 73,786: Health Ministry

  by Mehdi Editor on September 14, 2026

  Gaza’s Health Ministry said Monday that two more Palestinians were killed in the past 24 hours, bringing the death toll from Israel’s genocide over nearly three years to 73,786, Anadolu reports. In its daily statistical report, the ministry said hospitals in the enclave received two new bodies and 25 injured people over the past 24 hours. The ministry did not provide details on the circumstances of the deaths and injuries, while the Israeli army continues to violate the ceasefire agreement in force since Oct. 10, 2025. READ: UN chief denies plans to transfer Gaza education system to UNESCO Israeli violations of the agreement have killed 1,372 Palestinians and injured 4,659 others since Oct. 11, 2025, according to the statement. The overall death

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  Israeli settler seen abusing 5 Palestinian children in Hebron

  by Mehdi Editor on September 14, 2026

  A video circulating on Sunday evening showed an armed Israeli settler abusing five Palestinian children in Beit Ummar, in the Hebron governorate of the occupied West Bank. According to Palestine TV, which is state-owned and published the video on its digital platforms, “an armed settler threatened and detained a group of young men in Beit Ummar, Hebron”. The video shows the settler near a Palestinian home pointing his weapon at five children, shouting at them and forcing them to raise their hands. READ: Israeli settlers call for Oslo accords to be scrapped in response to sanctions There was no immediate comment from the Israeli authorities on the incident. During August 2026, Israeli settlers carried out 628 attacks in the occupied West

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  Ansar Allah, Gaza, and the great Gulf contradiction

  by Mehdi Editor on September 14, 2026

  Half a billion Arabs inhabit a region drowning in weapons. There are millions of men under arms, fleets of American and European combat aircraft, missile batteries, intelligence agencies, foreign bases and defense budgets large enough to make the arms trade look like a branch of theology. Then came Gaza, and the grand architecture of Arab power was exposed as something altogether less impressive: an immense arsenal wrapped around a profound crisis of political will. For years, Palestinians in Gaza have been slaughtered, ethnically cleansed, starved of basic necessities and driven through ruined cities while the Israeli state has prosecuted a genocidal military campaign whose human consequences are visible to the world in almost unbearable detail. Even after the October 2025

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  Gaza Health Ministry says WHO to stop diesel supplies to over 20 hospitals

  by Mehdi Editor on September 14, 2026

  Gaza Health Ministry Director-General Munir al-Bursh said Monday that the World Health Organization (WHO) has decided to stop supplying diesel to more than 20 hospitals and health centers in the besieged coastal enclave due to a funding shortfall, Anadolu reports. “In light of the severe shortage of fuel and oils, and the failure to deliver the minimum needed to operate hospitals and health centers in the Gaza Strip, the WHO announced the suspension of diesel supplies to more than 20 hospitals and health centers, starting Sept. 19, due to a lack of funding,” Bursh said in a statement. There was no immediate comment from the WHO on the decision cited by Gaza’s Health Ministry, although the organization has warned in

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  US ready to supply nuclear fuel to Iran if nuclear issue resolved, Energy Secretary says

  by Mehdi Editor on September 14, 2026

  US Energy Secretary Chris Wright said the United States would be prepared to provide Iran with nuclear fuel if the Iranian nuclear issue is resolved. Bloomberg quoted Wright as saying: “We can supply fuel from outside the country.” Wright linked the offer to Iran’s nuclear programme, which he claimed is aimed at developing a nuclear weapon, although Iran has repeatedly said it has never sought to acquire one. “They could join the community of nations again and bring peace and prosperity to their people,” he added. READ: US links Chinese satellite imagery to Iranian strike that killed 3 soldiers: Report The comments come as the United States plans what has been described as “decisive strikes” against Iran’s underground nuclear facilities, after

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  Likud seeks to bar two Arab lists from Israel’s next Knesset election

  by Mehdi Editor on September 14, 2026

  Israel’s Likud party, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, said on Sunday it plans to submit requests to prevent the Joint List and the United Arab List (Ra’am) from running in the next Knesset election, scheduled for October. “Likud will submit requests to prevent the Joint List and Ra’am from taking part in the election,” the party said in a statement. It claimed that “there is no place in the Knesset for those who insult Israeli army soldiers and cannot say that Hamas and Hezbollah are terrorist organisations”. Likud also described the two Arab lists as “supporters of terrorism” as part of its attack on Gadi Eisenkot, leader of the Yashar party. The party claimed the two lists were Eisenkot’s

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  Oman FM announces postponement of Iran-Gulf states meeting in Salalah

  by Mehdi Editor on September 14, 2026

  Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi announced on Sunday that a regional meeting scheduled to be held in Salalah on Monday has been postponed “to ensure consensus”. Albusaidi wrote on X: In the interests of consensus the regional meeting set for tomorrow in Salalah has been postponed. We remain committed to fostering dialogue that supports stability and lasting cooperation in our region,”  The meeting was due to take place in Salalah on Monday, with the participation of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states and Iran, as part of efforts to de-escalate tensions and open direct dialogue channels between the two sides amid the ongoing US-Iran war, which began in February, and reciprocal attacks in the Strait of Hormuz. Former Qatari Prime

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  Israeli culture minister seeks to revoke citizenship of ‘NAZA’ film directors

  by Mehdi Editor on September 14, 2026

  Israeli Culture and Sports Minister Miki Zohar said on Sunday evening that he would seek to revoke the Israeli citizenship of the directors of the Israeli film NAZA, after it won the Jury Prize at the 83rd  Venice International Film Festival. The film was directed by Oscar-winning Israeli journalists Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor (Britain). Some critics had tipped it for the festival’s Golden Lion for best film after it received a 25-minute standing ovation following its premiere. In a statement, Zohar said: “As culture minister, I will act immediately to revoke the Israeli citizenship of these despicable creators for treason against the state.”   READ: New documentary exposes Israeli military’s AI-driven killing system in Gaza Zohar described NAZA’s win at the

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  UN chief denies plans to transfer Gaza education system to UNESCO

  by Mehdi Editor on September 14, 2026

  The United Nations has categorically denied reports that it plans to transfer the education system in the Gaza Strip from the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) to UNESCO. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres made the denial in response to a private message from former UNRWA official Khalil Al-Halabi, who asked about reports that the agency’s education programme in Gaza would be transferred to UNESCO. Al-Halabi told Quds Press: “A report about the United Nations’ intention to transfer UNRWA’s education programme to UNESCO raised serious concerns for me. I therefore contacted Guterres through his personal email, as I have done before, to ask about the matter. He replied with an outright denial, saying, ‘Absolutely not.’” Al-Halabi added: “No

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  Sudan says electricity interconnection capacity with Egypt increased to 75 MW

  by Mehdi Editor on September 14, 2026

  Sudan’s Ministry of Energy and Petroleum has announced that the electricity interconnection capacity between Sudan and Egypt has been increased to 75 megawatts, as the two countries move ahead with plans to expand cross-border power supplies. The ministry said the additional capacity is intended to help stabilise electricity supplies in Sudan and support residential and agricultural activities, particularly in the country’s Northern State. Sudanese and Egyptian officials have also agreed to accelerate the second phase of the electricity interconnection project, which is expected to raise transmission capacity to 300 megawatts. Further phases are planned with the aim of eventually increasing the interconnection capacity to 1,000 megawatts, according to the ministry. READ: Nearly 100,000 displaced in Sudan’s Blue Nile state since January

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  Turkey’s FM says Israeli strikes on Syria are indirectly benefiting ISIS

  by Mehdi Editor on September 14, 2026

  Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Sunday said Israeli military operations in Syria of weakening the country’s capabilities and indirectly benefiting ISIS, as he held talks with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani in Damascus. Speaking at a joint press conference, Fidan argued that Israeli strikes were undermining efforts to stabilize Syria and strengthen its institutions. “Israel constantly targets Syria’s capabilities, thereby indirectly supporting ISIS,” Fidan said. “Israeli attacks undermine policies aimed at stability and positive developments in Syria.” Fidan also strongly criticized Israel’s broader regional policies, accusing it of pursuing territorial expansion at the expense of neighbouring countries and calling for greater international pressure on the Israeli government. READ: UK sanctions on Israeli settlements to cover East Jerusalem, Syria’s Golan Heights:

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  Syria raises fuel prices by up to 40% amid higher import costs and refinery maintenance

  by Mehdi Editor on September 14, 2026

  Syria raised prices for petroleum products on Sunday by between approximately 9 and 40 percent, with the government attributing the increases to higher global procurement costs and maintenance work at the Baniyas refinery. Under a new price schedule issued by the Standing Committee for Setting Prices of Petroleum Products and Mineral Resources, the price of diesel increased by 40 percent, from 125 to 175 Syrian pounds per litre. The price of 95-octane gasoline rose from 152 to 195 pounds per liter, an increase of approximately 28.3 percent, while 90-octane gasoline increased from 147 to 185 pounds, or about 25.9 percent. The price of a domestic gas cylinder increased from 1,470 to 1,600 pounds, an increase of around 8.8 percent. Industrial

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  Report: Israel raises naval readiness as Houthis gain ground near Bab el-Mandeb

  by Mehdi Editor on September 14, 2026

  Israel has stepped up the readiness of its naval forces amid growing concern over advances by Yemen’s Houthi group near the strategic Bab el-Mandeb Strait, the Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth reported Sunday. The daily said Israel’s security establishment is closely monitoring developments after the Houthis expanded their presence along Yemen’s Red Sea coast and strengthened their position around the key waterway. Israeli assessments cited by the newspaper said the withdrawal of Yemeni government forces from Perim, also known as Mayyun Island, at the entrance to the strait had significantly increased the Houthis’ ability to influence maritime traffic. The development has raised concern in Israel over potential threats to commercial shipping through Bab el-Mandeb, which narrows to about 18 kilometers (11

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  Palestinian sources: Marwan Barghouti proposes unified Fatah list for legislative elections

  by Mehdi Editor on September 14, 2026

  Imprisoned Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti has proposed forming a unified electoral list bringing together different factions and currents within the movement ahead of the Palestinian legislative elections, according to Palestinian officials. The reported initiative comes as Fatah faces efforts to consolidate competing electoral lists ahead of the deadline for registering candidates for the upcoming vote. According to Palestinian officials cited in the report, Barghouti conveyed the proposal through two lawyers who recently visited him in prison. The initiative calls for a single electoral list under the Fatah name that would include the movement’s official leadership as well as the Democratic Reform Current led by Mohammed Dahlan. READ: Fatah official Jibril Rajoub calls for presidential election before legislative vote It would also

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  Palestinian embassy announces agreement for free heart surgeries for children in Egypt

  by Mehdi Editor on September 14, 2026

  The Palestinian Embassy in Cairo announced on Sunday that it had reached an agreement with the Swiss United Hope Foundation to provide free heart surgeries for eligible Palestinian children in Egypt. The agreement was reached during a meeting between the embassy’s chargé d’affaires, Ambassador Naji al-Naji, and United Hope Foundation President Cyril Morsel, according to a statement from the embassy. Under the agreement, Palestinian children requiring cardiac surgery will be assessed for treatment, with eligible patients receiving operations at no cost. The embassy said the procedures would be carried out by a specialized medical team of surgeons and physicians in accordance with established medical standards. READ: 2 Palestinians killed, 13 injured in Israeli drone strike on vehicle in Gaza Dr. Wael

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  Palestine’s energy sovereignty: Who controls the switch?

  by Mehdi Editor on September 14, 2026

  In Gaza, keeping a medical device running can depend on access to engine oil. A Reuters report published on 10 September 2026 describes shortages of lubricants, spare parts and fuel threatening generators serving hospitals and residential neighbourhoods. Equipment designed for emergencies carries the burden of everyday electricity supply, without assured maintenance. This raises a fundamental question for Palestinian reconstruction: who controls whether infrastructure keeps working? Financing power plants and purchasing generators are essential. But energy security requires Palestinians to make decisions about supplying, repairing and expanding their electricity system. The central problem is the gap between owning equipment and controlling its use. Resources offshore, dependence onshore Gaza Marine illustrates this gap. With estimated reserves exceeding one trillion cubic feet, the

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  Yemen bans entry, circulation of all Iranian goods, products

  by Mehdi Editor on September 13, 2026

  Yemen’s internationally recognized government decided Sunday to ban the entry and circulation of all Iranian goods and products, according to the state-run Saba news agency. The National Committee for Regulating and Financing Imports approved the measure during a meeting chaired by Central Bank of Yemen Governor Ahmad Ghaleb, who also heads the committee. The committee said the decision was taken “in accordance with the requirements of the higher national interest.” It instructed relevant authorities to take the necessary measures to implement the ban, each within its respective jurisdiction and in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. The statement did not specify when the ban will take effect or provide further details on the Iranian products affected. READ: Over 82,000 displaced from

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  Nearly 100,000 displaced in Sudan’s Blue Nile state since January amid fighting: UN agency

  by Mehdi Editor on September 13, 2026

  Nearly 100,000 people have been displaced in Sudan’s southeastern Blue Nile state since January amid escalating fighting between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), the UN International Organization for Migration (IOM) said Sunday. The IOM said an estimated 99,277 people, representing 19,497 families, were displaced from different parts of Blue Nile state between Jan. 11 and Aug. 23, 2026. The figure represents a 66% increase from the agency’s previous update on May 21, when 59,742 displaced people were recorded. Nearly half of those displaced, or 47%, are children under the age of 18, the agency said. The IOM said 39,570 people were displaced from Geissan locality, 32,515 from Kurmuk and 27,192 from Bau. READ: Drone strikes killed 1,120

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  1 missing, 13 rescued after vessel attacked off Oman in Strait of Hormuz

  by Mehdi Editor on September 13, 2026

  India on Sunday said 13 crew members were rescued, while one remains missing after an attack on a vessel off the coast of Oman in the Strait of Hormuz, Anadolu reports. India’s Ministry of External Affairs, while condemning the attack on the commercial vessel “MT El Gaia,” said 14 Indian crew members were on board when the attack happened and one remained missing. “Our Embassy in Oman is closely monitoring the situation and proactively coordinating with the Omani authorities in the ongoing Search and Rescue operation. We thank the Omani authorities for their support in rescuing our nationals,” the ministry said. New Delhi, while calling for “immediate de-escalation of tensions and pursuance of dialogue and diplomacy to bring peace to

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  Saudi Arabia issues emergency alerts of ‘potential danger’ in southwestern areas

  by Mehdi Editor on September 13, 2026

  Saudi Arabia’s Civil Defense issued emergency alerts of a “potential danger” on Sunday in the southwestern city of Abha and Khamis Mushait governorate, before later announcing that the threat had passed in both areas, Anadolu reports. The warnings were issued through the kingdom’s National Early Warning Platform for Emergencies, according to Civil Defense statements. Authorities first activated an alert in Khamis Mushait, warning residents of a “potential danger” without specifying its nature. A similar alert was later issued in Abha, also in southwestern Saudi Arabia. The Civil Defense subsequently announced that the danger had passed in both Khamis Mushait and Abha. READ: Saudi foreign minister says kingdom’s security ‘not open to compromise’ The statements did not provide further details on the

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  37 Palestinian journalists held in Israeli jails, rights group says

  by Mehdi Editor on September 13, 2026

  Israel is holding 37 Palestinian journalists in its prisons, including 19 under administrative detention without charge or trial, the Palestinian Prisoner Society said Sunday. The nongovernmental group said all 37 journalists were detained following the start of the Gaza genocide in October 2023. It said Israel continues to target Palestinian journalists through arrests, prison sentences, solitary confinement and prosecution over their work and freedom of expression. Among the latest detainees are journalists Muath Ammarna and Sabri Jibrin, who were arrested Thursday after Israeli forces raided their homes in Bethlehem in the southern West Bank. The group said Ammarna has been repeatedly targeted by Israeli authorities and is now being detained for the third time over his journalistic work. It also

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  Over 82,000 displaced from Yemen’s western coast since early September: UN migration agency

  by Mehdi Editor on September 13, 2026

  More than 82,000 people have been displaced from Yemen’s western coastal provinces since the beginning of September due to ongoing fighting, including more than 2,000 who have reached Djibouti, the UN International Organization for Migration (IOM) said Sunday, Anadolu reports. The IOM said in a statement that it had recorded 82,164 displaced people since the beginning of September alone, as fighting continues along Yemen’s western coast in the provinces of Taiz, Al Hudaydah and Lahj. “Over 2,000 people fleeing the hostilities have reached Djibouti’s northern shores so far, landing at scattered points along the coast near Obock,” it added. Earlier Sunday, Djibouti’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Diaa-Eddin Bamakhrama, said around 1,400 Yemenis had arrived in the country over the previous

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  Trump forecasts end to Iran war around November US midterm elections

  by Mehdi Editor on September 13, 2026

  US President Donald Trump claimed Sunday that Tehran “wants to make a deal” to end the war, forecasting a rapid decline in domestic fuel costs once hostilities cease, Anadolu reports. “Look, it could end before the midterms, but it’ll end after the midterms,” Trump told reporters in Ireland, where he attended the Amgen Irish Open golf tournament hosted at his Trump International Golf Links resort. He added that gasoline prices are “going to drop like a rock” following the conclusion of the hostilities. US gasoline prices averaged $4.31 a gallon Sunday, up from $4.07 a month earlier and $3.19 a year ago, according to the American Automobile Association (AAA). The US leader noted that Iranian officials are “calling constantly” to

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  Saudi foreign minister says kingdom’s security ‘not open to compromise’

  by Mehdi Editor on September 13, 2026

  Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan said Sunday that the kingdom will not accept any threat to its security, warning that continued escalation in the region risks widening the confrontation, Anadolu reports. In an address to the BRICS summit in the Indian capital New Delhi, bin Farhan expressed Saudi Arabia’s appreciation for the invitation to participate in the summit, according to Saudi state-run Al Ekhbariya television. “The integrity of the Kingdom’s territory and its sovereignty are not open to compromise, and we will not accept the targeting of our territory or facilities under any pretext or designation,” he stressed. ​​​​​​​He also warned that “continued escalation in the region is widening the scope of the confrontation.” The top diplomat said

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  Why the world needs faith, the only remaining sanctuary of serenity

  by Mehdi Editor on September 13, 2026

  The age-old debate between faith and atheism emerged alongside the very first stirrings of human consciousness. It is a centuries-long conflict that has consumed rivers of ink and fueled fierce intellectual battles, yet its historical calculus has yielded nothing tangible to alter the core of human suffering. Atheists have gained little from their denial save for a life beneath a cold, glass sky, adrift in a mechanical, purposeless cosmos. Meanwhile, believers—of all stripes—have walked away with the ultimate prize: spiritual reassurance and inner tranquility. Today, tossed by the mounting waves of anxiety, the digital-age human frantically scrambles to find selfhood and validate existence. In a world where purely material solutions have thoroughly exhausted their promises, humanity no longer needs faith

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  BRICS must reject ‘occupation, settler colonialism,’ and ‘settler terrorism’: Malaysian premier

  by Mehdi Editor on September 13, 2026

  BRICS must reject “occupation, settler colonialism,” and “settler terrorism,” as Israel’s “aggression” in the Middle East has affected “far beyond” those directly involved, the Malaysian prime minister told the bloc’s annual summit in New Delhi on Sunday. “BRICS must say plainly and unequivocally that occupation, settler colonialism and, more pointedly, ‘settler terrorism’ cannot become destiny, and that no life weighs less for where it is lived,” Anwar Ibrahim said, according to a statement on the US social media platform Facebook. “We cannot speak of inclusive growth and prosperity while war drives energy prices higher and threatens the sea lanes on which our economies depend,” he said. Anwar said Israel’s “aggression” in the Middle East has affected “far beyond” those directly

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  Iran says Monday’s meeting in Oman to focus on new maritime route in Strait of Hormuz

  by Mehdi Editor on September 13, 2026

  Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said a planned meeting in Oman on Monday will focus on a new maritime route through the Strait of Hormuz, Anadolu reports. Araghchi told the London-based Arabic-language news outlet Al-Araby Al-Jadeed that the meeting will be held in the Omani city of Salalah with the participation of Iran, Iraq and five Gulf countries. He said the gathering was initially envisaged as a meeting of eight countries bordering the Gulf, but Bahrain had decided not to participate, leaving seven countries at the talks. “The main, and indeed the only, agenda of this meeting is the new maritime route in the Strait of Hormuz,” Araghchi said. He said Tehran and Muscat had finalized an agreement on establishing the

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  Over 1,500 fighters killed in month-long Yemen clashes: Pro-government force

  by Mehdi Editor on September 13, 2026

  More than 1,500 fighters from both sides were killed in month-long clashes between Yemeni government forces and the Houthi group along the country’s western coast, according to local media on Sunday. Aljoumhouriya TV, citing a statement by the government-aligned National Resistance, said the fighting from Aug. 9 to Sept. 10 left more than 500 of its forces dead and around 1,500 wounded. It claimed that more than 1,000 Houthi fighters were also killed and thousands more wounded during the same period. The casualty figures could not be independently verified. According to the statement, the fighting began with Houthi missile strikes and attacks involving drones and explosive-laden boats before intensifying along fronts stretching from Hays to al-Kadha, Maqbanah and al-Barh. The

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  Israeli army preparing for broader military escalation in occupied West Bank: Media

  by Mehdi Editor on September 13, 2026

  The Israeli army is preparing for a broad escalation in the occupied West Bank in the coming days that could include taking control of additional Palestinian refugee camps and conducting large-scale military operations, Israeli media reported Sunday. Israeli security officials estimate that the political leadership could push for the seizure of additional refugee camps and broader operations, particularly in the northern West Bank, according to Walla news report. The officials cited growing friction on the ground amid the expansion of illegal Israeli settlements and occupier outposts as one of their main concerns. READ: Israeli forces raid Palestinian journalist’s home in northern West Bank Walla said Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz could press the army to take control of more refugee camps

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  2 children among 11 Palestinians arrested in Israeli raids in West Bank

  by Mehdi Editor on September 13, 2026

  The Israeli army arrested 11 Palestinians, including two children, during raids across the occupied West Bank on Sunday, according to the official Palestinian news agency Wafa. Israeli forces detained two children, aged 14 and 15, after raiding their homes in Bethlehem in the southern West Bank, Wafa said. In the northern Jenin governorate, the army arrested eight Palestinians during raids on Jenin city and several towns and villages, which also involved searches of homes and field interrogations. READ: Israeli army arrests 33 Palestinians in occupied West Bank, including 2 journalists Israeli forces also detained a Palestinian after raiding his home in Tammun, south of Tubas. Israeli military raids and attacks by occupiers have intensified across the occupied West Bank since the

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  Gaza hospital generators stop operating amid shortages of fuel, oil: Health Ministry

  by Mehdi Editor on September 13, 2026

  Several electricity generators at hospitals in the Gaza Strip have stopped operating due to shortages of oil, spare parts and fuel, the Health Ministry said Sunday, Anadolu reports. The ministry said several generators had stopped working in recent days, warning that shortages of generator oil were making it increasingly difficult to maintain electricity supplies at hospitals. It said the limited quantities of oil recently allowed into Gaza by Israel were only sufficient for emergency needs, while hospitals require around 2,500 liters per month. READ: Israeli forces raid Bethlehem hospital and assault patients, visitors “The remaining generators are operating around the clock under difficult technical and mechanical conditions and are unable to meet the electricity needs of all life-saving departments,” the ministry said.

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  Israel wins the battlefield. It is losing the bench and the ballot box

  by Mehdi Editor on September 13, 2026

  Israel can still win the war in Gaza. It cannot win the argument that follows it. That is the gap accountability advocates keep pointing to, and it is the gap Israel’s own allies in Europe are now widening. The war has split into three fronts. The military one, in Gaza, Israel controls. The legal one, in The Hague, and the diplomatic one, across European capitals, are slipping away. Military power buys territory. It does not buy legitimacy. And legitimacy, not tanks, is what determines whether a state can trade, arm itself, and sit at a table after the guns fall silent. South Africa’s genocide case was the catalyst. It turned a bilateral war into a multilateral legal question, and once

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  Iran’s Revolutionary Guards reject Trump’s claim of US control over Strait of Hormuz

  by Mehdi Editor on September 13, 2026

  Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) rejected US President Donald Trump’s claim that Washington controls the Strait of Hormuz, warning that US vessels approaching the strategic waterway would face a response from Iranian forces, Anadolu reports. “If that is the case, go ahead, bring one of your warships within 100 kilometers,” Col. Ali Mohammadi, the IRGC Navy’s deputy for political affairs, was quoted by the semi-official Fars News Agency as saying Saturday evening, referring to Trump’s claim. Mohammadi said US forces know their vessels would face a response if they approached, claiming a similar incident had occurred in recent days. He also claimed that major foreign militaries have remained beyond the Gulf of Oman for months and that no US troops

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  Israel launches fresh airstrikes, artillery attacks on southern Lebanon

  by Mehdi Editor on September 13, 2026

  Israeli forces launched fresh airstrikes and artillery attacks on several areas of southern Lebanon on Sunday, according to the state-run National News Agency (NNA), Anadolu reports. Israeli warplanes struck the Ali al-Taher forest on the outskirts of Nabatieh al-Fawqa before carrying out another strike on the town less than 15 minutes later. The aircraft then launched two consecutive strikes on Kfar Tebnit, followed by a third strike on the town less than half an hour later. READ: Israeli attacks damage 22.5% of agricultural land in southern Lebanon Another Israeli airstrike targeted the vicinity of al-Dabsha hill on the outskirts of Nabatieh al-Fawqa, while Zawtar al-Sharqiyah came under Israeli artillery fire. No immediate information was available on casualties or damage. The attacks

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  Iran says leaving nuclear treaty, revising nuclear doctrine ‘easily achievable’

  by Mehdi Editor on September 13, 2026

  Iran’s withdrawal from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and a revision of its nuclear doctrine are “easily achievable,” an Iranian parliamentary spokesman said Sunday. Abbas Goudarzi, spokesman for the Iranian parliament’s presiding board, told the semi-official Fars News Agency that Tehran’s differences with the US are “fundamental,” arguing that those advocating peace with Washington are seeking to impose “surrender.” He said trusting the US would amount to accepting “deception,” adding that only “the language of force and the logic of power” works in dealing with Washington. Goudarzi also warned that any negotiations that weaken what Iran calls the “resistance front” or give its adversaries an opportunity to regroup would constitute a “strategic mistake.” READ: Iran says ‘US attack’ on commercial vessel

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  2 Palestinians killed, 13 injured in Israeli drone strike on vehicle in Gaza

  by Mehdi Editor on September 13, 2026

  Two Palestinians were killed and 13 others injured in an Israeli drone strike targeting a vehicle in southern Gaza City on Sunday, a medical source told Anadolu Agency. The source said an Israeli drone struck a civilian vehicle in the Tel al-Hawa neighborhood, killing two Palestinians and leaving 13 others with various injuries. Witnesses told Anadolu that the drone fired at least two missiles at the vehicle, killing its two occupants immediately and injuring nearby passersby. Separately, Israeli forces fired artillery shells toward Palestinian homes northeast of the Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza, according to local sources. READ: New documentary exposes Israeli military’s AI-driven killing system in Gaza Israeli military vehicles also opened heavy fire toward buildings and tents housing

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  From maximum pressure to maximum leverage: What a US-Iran nuclear deal should look like

  by Mehdi Editor on September 13, 2026

  The nuclear confrontation with Iran is again moving in two opposite directions. On 9 September, the International Atomic Energy Agency’s Board of Governors referred Iran to the UN Security Council over alleged breaches of its non-proliferation obligations, the first such referral in two decades. A day later, Donald Trump warned Tehran against renewed activity near the Pickaxe Mountain complex close to Natanz. Yet diplomacy has not disappeared. Oman is preparing talks involving Iran and Gulf states over the future of the Strait of Hormuz, while Iran and the UAE have joined other BRICS members in calling for restraint and a political resolution to the wider regional conflict. The coexistence of escalating nuclear pressure and continuing diplomatic activity points to the

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  Pro-Palestinian protesters rally in Paris over Gaza war

  by Mehdi Editor on September 13, 2026

  A pro-Palestinian demonstration was held in Paris on Saturday, with protesters calling for a boycott of Israel and an end to the European Union’s partnership agreement with the country, Anadolu reports. Organized by CAPJPO-EuroPalestine, the protestors carried Palestinian flags and banners calling for a boycott of companies accused of supporting Israel over the war in Gaza. Since Israel launched its genocidal war on the Gaza Strip on Oct. 8, 2023, more than 73,800 Palestinians have been killed and over 174,700 injured. The offensive has also damaged or destroyed around 90% of the enclave’s infrastructure. READ: Pro-Palestinian protesters march in Paris with olive branches and kites

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  Iraq announces phased reopening of Iran border crossings for passengers, trade

  by Mehdi Editor on September 13, 2026

  Iraq announced Sunday a phased resumption of passenger and commercial traffic through several border crossings with Iran, according to Iraqi media. Iraq’s Security Media Cell said passenger entry through the al-Shaib and Shalamcheh crossings resumed at 6 a.m. local time (0300GMT) Sunday, the Iraqi News Agency (INA) reported. Commercial traffic through Shalamcheh will resume at 6 a.m. Monday, followed by the Mandali crossing at the same time Tuesday and al-Shaib on Thursday. The statement said passenger and commercial traffic with Iran had not been interrupted at the Zurbatiyah and al-Mundhiriyah crossings, which continue to operate around the clock. READ: Iraqi Prime Minister dismisses Maysan police chief after drone strikes on Saudi pipeline Separately, an Iranian local official in Khuzestan province said

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  Egypt’s Sisi calls on Iran to halt escalation, seek peaceful settlement

  by Mehdi Editor on September 13, 2026

  Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Sunday called on Iran to make every possible effort to halt regional escalation and reach a comprehensive and sustainable peaceful settlement to the crisis, according to the Egyptian Presidency, Anadolu reports. Al-Sisi made the remarks during a meeting with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on the sidelines of the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi. He reiterated Egypt’s firm support for efforts to restore stability in the region, saying any settlement should safeguard the sovereignty of regional countries and protect their peoples and resources. The Egyptian president also stressed the need to halt any attacks on Arab countries, citing the principles of good-neighborly relations and the historical and cultural ties among the peoples of the

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  Iran says ‘US attack’ on commercial vessel in Gulf kills 1, injures 3

  by Mehdi Editor on September 13, 2026

  One person was killed and three others were injured in a “US attack” on an Iranian commercial vessel in the Gulf near Qeshm Island in southern Iran early Sunday, according to a local official. Iranian state broadcaster IRIB, citing Qeshm Governor Amir Teymouri, described the incident as an attack by the “US terrorist enemy.” Teymouri said the vessel was struck at around 5 am local time (0130GMT) in the area of Hengam Island and the Shib Deraz coast of Qeshm Island. No further details were immediately available about the vessel or the circumstances of the attack. Separately, the UK Maritime Trade Operations said Sunday that a vessel transiting the Strait of Hormuz was struck by an unidentified munition, with no

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  Israeli forces raid Palestinian journalist’s home in northern West Bank

  by Mehdi Editor on September 13, 2026

  Israeli forces on Saturday raided the home of Palestinian journalist Ali al-Samoudi in the northern occupied West Bank, beat his son, and gave him one hour to turn himself in, according to local sources. Al-Samoudi, 59, was not at his home in Jenin during the raid. It was not clear whether he would comply. He was released on April 30 after spending a year in Israeli administrative detention. Al-Samoudi said he had suffered severe weight loss due to food deprivation and accused Israeli prison authorities of abuse, torture, and denial of basic rights. Israeli forces detained Palestinian journalists Sabri Mousa Jibril and Muath Ammarna on Thursday after raiding their homes in Bethlehem in the southern West Bank. READ: Smotrich says Israel

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  Podcast by Jasim Al-Azzawi with John Fozzie Miller: The stalemate in Gulf grinds on, what will Trump do next?

  by Mehdi Editor on September 13, 2026

  WATCH: Podcast by Jasim Al-Azzawi with Retired Col. Bill Keegan: Trump: We have defeated Iran, so why is the IRGC keep fighting?

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  Indonesia must not become a platform for Israeli business

  by Marwa A on September 12, 2026

  Israeli companies are increasingly operating in Indonesia. They are using Indonesian locations, Indonesian creative talent and Indonesian commercial networks to promote their businesses in a country that does not recognise Israel and has stood with Palestine for decades. This growing commercial presence deserves far more scrutiny than it has received. SwiftOptics provides a clear example. The Israeli eyewear company describes itself as an “extreme eyewear” brand and has produced promotional content in Indonesia, including a video filmed in Nias with Indonesian creator @frank_videography. Its vice president, Yehonatan Dadon, has also posted photographs and videos from Nias, Lombok and Bali. This is not simply about an eyewear advertisement. It is about the increasingly visible presence of Israeli business in Indonesia and

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  Super Sparta: Israel’s new military dependence on America

  by Marwa A on September 12, 2026

  Is Israel really moving towards military self-reliance – or is the US-Israel “special relationship” being transformed into something even more deeply integrated? Benjamin Netanyahu’s declaration that Israel must become a “Super Sparta” was presented as a response to growing international isolation. The message was stark: if Israel could no longer depend upon an international order willing to arm it, finance it and defend its policies indefinitely, then it would have to become sufficiently militarised and economically self-reliant to withstand the pressure. Israel, Netanyahu suggested, would have to produce more of what it needs and reduce its vulnerability to foreign governments that might eventually impose arms restrictions or other forms of pressure. But there is a fundamental contradiction at the heart

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  Israeli drone strike injures 9 Gazans in new ceasefire violation

  by Marwa A on September 12, 2026

  Nine Palestinians were injured Saturday in an Israeli drone strike in southern Gaza, a medical source said, in what it described as a new violation of the ongoing ceasefire agreement, Anadolu reports. The source said the strike targeted a gathering of civilians near tents sheltering displaced people in the Al-Mawasi area of Khan Younis. Several tents were damaged in the attack, witnesses said. Separately, the Israeli army carried out artillery shelling east of the Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza, east of Gaza City and near the Jabalia refugee camp in the north. No information was yet available about casualties. Israeli naval forces also opened fire on Palestinian fishing boats off the coast of Gaza City. ​​​​​​​Since Israel launched its

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  Iraqi Prime Minister dismisses Maysan police chief after drone strikes on Saudi pipeline

  by Marwa A on September 12, 2026

  Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi dismissed the police chief of the southeastern Maysan province Saturday and ordered investigations into the directors of its security agencies following drone strikes on a major pipeline in Saudi Arabia, Anadolu reports. Military spokesman Sabah al-Numan said in a statement that al-Zaidi, in his capacity as commander-in-chief of the armed forces, had “ordered the dismissal of the Maysan provincial police chief.” The prime minister also ordered the directors of the province’s security agencies to be transferred from their posts and referred for investigation, the statement added. Al-Numan said the directives were issued “in light of the recent security breaches that occurred in the province,” without specifying their nature. The measures came hours after al-Zaidi ordered

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  GAFP slams Israeli entry ban on its chair, Jeremy Corbyn MP, and British public figures

  by Marwa A on September 12, 2026

  The Global Alliance for Palestine (GAFP) has issued a press statement strongly condemning the decision by the Israeli government to ban its Steering Committee Chairman, Jeremy Corbyn MP, alongside eleven other British public figures, from entering Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories. GAFP said; “This decision directly follows news that the UK government will impose trade restrictions and import bans on goods produced in illegal West Bank settlements. In reality, this entry ban will change nothing. It will not silence Jeremy Corbyn, nor will it deter any of those targeted from continuing their resolute fight for Palestinian rights, justice, and self-determination. Instead, this ban serves only to expose the arbitrary and aggressive measures the Israeli administration routinely employs in an