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

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  Egyptian president says military support for Saudi Arabia does not include attacks on Yemen

  by Marwa A on October 21, 2026

  Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said Wednesday that Egypt’s military support for Saudi Arabia does not include launching attacks on Yemen, stressing that Cairo’s role is limited to defending the Kingdom’s territory and borders, Anadolu reports. Sisi made the remarks during a session titled “Security of the Nation and Citizens” on the third day of the Egypt Forum 2026, attended by Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, ministers and senior officials, according to a statement from the Egyptian presidency. “The Egyptian military effort is intended to defend the Kingdom’s territory and does not include an attack on Yemen,” Sisi said. He explained that Egypt’s military role involves defending Saudi Arabia’s territory and borders, as well as those of any other Arab country

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  Gaza’s Karate Federation revives 1,000 athletes despite war, blockade, and scarce resources

  by EditorMehdi on October 21, 2026

  WATCH: A protest against the detention of Tunisian activists from the Sumud Flotilla

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  Pro-Palestine protests sweep Latin America as Brazil’s presidential race intensifies

  by EditorMehdi on October 21, 2026

  Thousands of demonstrators have taken to the streets across Latin America in solidarity with Palestine, as Brazil approaches a closely contested presidential runoff between President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, known for his pro-Palestinian stance, and pro-Israel Senator Flávio Bolsonaro. The demonstrations formed part of a global campaign involving more than 200 organisations in over 60 countries, calling for an end to arms transfers to Israel and stronger international measures to hold it accountable for violations of international law. Organised by the Global Alliance for Palestine, the international mobilisation brought together trade unions, student movements, human rights organisations and grassroots solidarity groups. Demonstrations and solidarity activities took place in Brazil, Mexico, Chile, Uruguay and Peru, as activists called for increased

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  Iranian president says Washington cannot expect dialogue with Tehran while issuing threats

  by EditorMehdi on October 21, 2026

  Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Wednesday that the US cannot expect dialogue with Iran while at the same time issuing threats, Anadolu reports. Washington “must recognize the rights of our nation and stop their bullying and aggression, then we can sit together and talk,” Pezeshkian said in remarks carried by the state-run IRNA news agency. “You cannot block all the roads and threaten and at the same time want to talk,” he added. Accusing the US of “reneging” on its commitments, the Iranian president said: “I believe that one should not enter into a pact lightly, but once a pact is made, one must remain committed to it until the end – even if it proves disadvantageous.” READ: Iran’s president says

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  Israeli airline suspends ticket sales to Morocco’s Marrakech over security request

  by EditorMehdi on October 21, 2026

  Israeli airline Arkia announced Wednesday that it had suspended ticket sales for flights to the Moroccan city of Marrakech “until further notice” at the request of security authorities, without specifying the reasons for the decision, Anadolu reports. The daily Yedioth Ahronoth reported that the airline halted ticket sales for flights to Marrakech following a request from Israeli security authorities. The newspaper quoted the company as saying it was in contact with the relevant authorities and security agencies to discuss whether flights on the route could continue operating. The discussions also cover the implications of the decision for flights for which tickets have already been sold, the newspaper reported, without specifying what would happen to those flights. Arkia is examining alternatives

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  Turkiye, Qatar, Indonesia and Pakistan sign defense cooperation pact

  by EditorMehdi on October 21, 2026

  Turkiye, Qatar, Indonesia and Pakistan have signed the Badr memorandum to strengthen defense cooperation and develop strategic partnerships, the Turkish National Defense Ministry said in a statement on Wednesday, Anadolu reports. The agreement was signed Wednesday in Doha, the capital of Qatar, by the defense ministers of the four countries. The signatories were Turkish National Defense Minister Yasar Guler, Qatar’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defense Affairs Sheikh Saud bin Abdulrahman bin Hasan Al Thani, Indonesian Deputy Defense Minister Yusuf Jauhari and Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif. The ceremony was also attended by Haluk Gorgun, head of Turkiye’s Presidency of Defense Industries. READ: Turkiye urges international community to act against Israel’s violations of international law Multi-layered cooperation

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  Netanyahu ‘completely lacks legitimacy’ to launch new war ahead of elections: Opposition leader Golan

  by EditorMehdi on October 21, 2026

  Yair Golan, leader of Israel’s opposition Democrats party, said Wednesday that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “completely lacks the legitimacy” to launch a war ahead of Oct. 27 legislative elections, Anadolu reports. His remarks came after The Financial Times reported that US President Donald Trump had rejected Netanyahu’s plan to strike infrastructure and nuclear facilities in Iran, a military campaign that was reportedly set to begin on Oct. 10. Trump opposes any military escalation ahead of the Nov. 3 midterm congressional elections in the US, fearing negative repercussions for the Republican Party’s electoral prospects, according to the report. Golan, also a former deputy chief of staff of the Israeli army, said in a post on US social media platform X:

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  Gaza’s fragile internet lifeline: Nattat’s battle to keep his neighbourhood connected

  by EditorMehdi on October 21, 2026

  For Ali Nattat, the day begins with a look at the sky. In Gaza, the sunlight falling on his solar panels determines whether he can keep his neighbourhood connected to the outside world. Unlike many homes nearby, Nattat’s modest house survived the airstrikes. It now houses a small internet network that supports his family and provides work for five employees. For displaced families and people working remotely on his street, it also provides a vital means of communication. The network runs entirely on solar energy. Nattat has four small panels of his own and uses additional panels borrowed from a neighbour in exchange for free electricity. Together, they charge salvaged batteries that keep the equipment running after sunset. But the

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  Israel demolishes building housing 35 Palestinians near Qalandia: Jerusalem governorate

  by EditorMehdi on October 21, 2026

  Israeli forces demolished a seven-apartment building housing 35 Palestinians near Qalandia refugee camp, north of occupied East Jerusalem, on Wednesday, beating homeowners and smashing a vehicle in the area, the Jerusalem Governorate said, Anadolu reports. In a statement, the Palestinian governorate said Israeli bulldozers demolished a residential building in the Al-Wad area near a quarry adjacent to Qalandia camp, citing construction without a permit. The building contained seven apartments housing 35 Palestinians, who were left homeless following the demolition, it said. The official Palestinian news agency WAFA reported that the demolished apartments belonged to the Abu Laba family. The governorate added that Israeli forces beat the homeowners and smashed a vehicle during the demolition. No immediate information was available on

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  Trump administration bars prominent Spanish politician from Puerto Rico after Gaza flotilla activism

  by EditorMehdi on October 21, 2026

  Former Barcelona Mayor Ada Colau on Wednesday accused US President Donald Trump’s administration of preventing her from traveling to Puerto Rico because of her activism against Israel’s war in Gaza, Anadolu reports. “Milei can enter Spain to talk about cuts, but those of us who denounce genocide and defend human rights cannot enter the US, or other territories it has appropriated through colonialism,” Colau wrote on Instagram, referring to Argentine President Javier Milei’s visit to Spain. Colau, a candidate for the left-wing Frente Amplio alliance in Spain’s forthcoming general election, criticized Trump’s immigration policies and accused him of disregarding Puerto Rico’s sovereignty. “What a curious kind of freedom Trump defends,” she wrote, accusing the US president of deciding the fate

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  Gulf states hold extraordinary meeting in Riyadh to boost military coordination, readiness

  by EditorMehdi on October 21, 2026

  Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states held an extraordinary meeting in Riyadh on Wednesday to discuss strengthening cooperation and coordination among their armed forces amid continued attacks by Yemen’s Houthi group on Saudi Arabia, Anadolu reports. The meeting was held by the GCC Armed Forces Operations and Training Committee, according to a statement from the UAE Defense Ministry. The GCC comprises Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman. The ministry said the extraordinary meeting took place at the headquarters of the GCC General Secretariat but did not disclose the names of the participants. It said the meeting discussed “several issues aimed at strengthening joint military cooperation in operations and training,” as well as “developing coordination and integration mechanisms” among

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  When Israeli Jewish mob terror makes Western headlines

  by EditorMehdi on October 21, 2026

  Twice recently, Israeli Jewish mob terror in the occupied West Bank broke through the international media’s wall of self-censorship: first, when the mobs attacked Israeli soldiers, and again when they brutally beat The Washington Post photographer Heidi Levine. The irony is damning. Attacking Israeli soldiers is news; violence against a Western journalist becomes international headlines and may even force Israel to stage a token, rotating door arrest, for PR consumption. But when Israeli soldiers and Jewish mobs terrorize Palestinian farmers, torch their cars, burn their olive trees, and drive them from their land, coverage too often disappears into the background. The day following the vicious attack on the American journalist, another Israeli Jewish mob attacked a delegation of European diplomats

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  Malaysian premier reiterates call for justice for Palestinians, condemns Gaza genocide

  by EditorMehdi on October 21, 2026

  Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on Wednesday reiterated his call for “peace and justice” for the Palestinians, and an “unequivocal” condemnation of the genocide in Gaza, Anadolu reports. ​​​​​​​In a post on US social media platform X, Anwar also reaffirmed his country’s opposition to the “indiscriminate” bombing of southern Lebanon, calling for urgent efforts to prevent the widening Middle East conflict from spreading further. “Malaysia’s position is clear. We remain steadfast in our call for peace and justice for the Palestinian people, in our unequivocal condemnation of the genocide in Gaza, and in our opposition to the indiscriminate bombing of southern Lebanon.” READ: Gaza hospitals face risk of power outages as generator oil runs out Expressing Kuala Lumpur’s “great” concern on

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  Gaza hospitals face risk of power outages as generator oil runs out

  by EditorMehdi on October 21, 2026

  Gaza’s hospitals face the risk of power outages after supplies of oil needed to operate their electricity generators ran out, the Health Ministry warned on Wednesday, cautioning that generator failures could disrupt critical and life-saving medical services, Anadolu reports. In a statement, the ministry said the remaining generators were operating under “complex engineering and technical conditions and faced the risk of immediate mechanical failure and deterioration.” It warned that the shutdown of the generators would “disrupt power supplies to numerous vital departments and units providing life-saving care.” The ministry said hospitals require more than 2,500 liters of oil per month to operate their electricity generators. READ: UN: 950,000 displaced people in Gaza face flood risks this winter It added that it

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  Israel’s Katz vows to strike Beirut’s southern suburbs over any rocket and drone fire

  by EditorMehdi on October 21, 2026

  Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned Tuesday that any rocket or drone fire targeting Israel would prompt strikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs, Anadolu reports. In a post on the US social media platform X, Katz said Israel could expand its occupation toward the Nabatieh and Litani areas if Lebanon’s Hezbollah group joined an Iranian attack. He warned that residents of any newly seized territory would be evacuated and the areas permanently incorporated into what Israel calls its security zone in Lebanon. Katz also ruled out an Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon until Hezbollah was disarmed throughout the country. In an acknowledgment of the scale of destruction, Katz said Israeli forces had demolished more than 60 Lebanese villages containing 23,000 homes,

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  Calls for Irish University to end its collaboration with Israel

  by EditorMehdi on October 21, 2026

  The deep irony involved in studying human rights and international law in a university which continues to have a research partnership with an Israeli institute which collaborates closely with the Israel Defence Force (IDF) was highlighted during a sold-out conference on the west coast of Ireland this week. The ‘Voices for Palestine’ conference at the Aras na nGael centre in Galway city centre was organised by the Campus Anti Genocide Coalition (CAGC) in opposition to the University of Galway’s continued research partnership with Technion, the Israeli public research university which maintains deep collaborative ties with Israel’s security forces. Speakers at the event included three members of the Gaza Sumud Flotilla, all graduates of the University of Galway, who were abducted

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  Building digital resilience: Qatar, Iraq and the new Gulf–Europe fibre corridor

  by EditorMehdi on October 21, 2026

  Qatar’s Ooredoo is working to establish a new data route from the Persian Gulf to Turkiye and Europe through Iraq. On 7th October 2026, its international connectivity arm, OFN, signed an agreement with Iraq’s iQ Networks to acquire several pairs of dark fibre across the country. The route is intended to connect with Ooredoo’s planned Fibre in Gulf (FIG) subsea cable system. The agreement is part of Ooredoo’s wider commitment of more than $500 million to international cable and connectivity projects. That figure covers the broader programme; it is not the stated cost of the Iraq agreement alone.  FIG is planned as a subsea loop connecting Qatar, Oman, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Iraq. Ooredoo says

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  Araghchi says Saudi Arabia and Houthis have not responded to Iran’s mediation offer

  by EditorMehdi on October 21, 2026

  Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran had received no response from Saudi Arabia or Yemen’s Houthi movement to its initiative to mediate between the two sides. In a televised interview, Araghchi said the initiative aimed to establish common ground for dialogue, but neither side had responded. He said the initiative involved contacts with both Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s Ansar Allah movement, the Houthis’ official name, in an effort to ease regional tensions. Araghchi proposed the mediation initiative in mid-October as military operations in Yemen escalated and Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia intensified. READ: Araghchi: Europe paying price for miscalculations, just like US

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  Newspaper: Syria, Saudi Arabia discuss deploying thousands of fighters to Yemen

  by EditorMehdi on October 21, 2026

  A Syrian military delegation has discussed, in Saudi Arabia, deploying about 10,000 Syrian fighters, and possibly foreign combatants, to Yemen to fight the Houthi movement, Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar reported, citing Yemeni sources. The delegation reportedly included Brigadier General Khaled Khattab, former commander of the Ansar al-Tawhid faction and head of the 82nd Division, and Brigadier General Haitham al-Ali, known as Abu Muslim, commander of the Third Corps and a former member of Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham. Reuters and Axios reported on 7 October that Riyadh and Damascus had discussed sending Syrian forces to Yemen. Axios estimated the potential deployment at 10,000 to 20,000 fighters, with the 84th and 90th divisions among the options. However, Syrian presidential media adviser Ahmed Zaidan denied

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  Iran’s Revolutionary Guard says 3 oil tankers hit naval mines in Strait of Hormuz

  by EditorMehdi on October 21, 2026

  Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has said three more oil tankers struck mines it had planted in the Strait of Hormuz. In a statement, the IRGC said two tankers it described as violating its rules caught fire and were disabled after mines planted by its naval personnel exploded at what it called an illegal crossing point in the southern part of the strait. It also reported that a large oil tanker it described as violating its rules exploded and caught fire after hitting a naval mine in the southern Strait of Hormuz. The tanker was carrying more than two million barrels of crude oil and had switched off all its radar and navigation systems, the statement said. READ: Iran says

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  Iran insists enriched nuclear material must remain in country, sets conditions for US talks

  by EditorMehdi on October 21, 2026

  Iran has reaffirmed that all enriched nuclear material must remain on its territory, warning that negotiations with the United States will not resume unless Washington takes concrete steps to meet Tehran’s demands. The position was outlined during meetings between senior Iranian officials and Pakistan’s army chief, amid ongoing diplomatic efforts to ease tensions between Tehran and Washington. During his meeting with the Pakistani military official, the secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council stressed that enriched nuclear material would remain inside Iran and that Tehran would not enter negotiations without practical measures from the United States to fulfil its conditions. Meanwhile, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Ghalibaf said there was “nothing new to say to Washington,” insisting that the United

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  Jerusalem church leaders say lack of accountability fuels Israeli occupiers’ attacks in West Bank

  by EditorMehdi on October 21, 2026

  Jerusalem’s church leaders said Tuesday that impunity is emboldening Israeli occupiers to carry out attacks in the occupied West Bank, condemning a recent assault on Palestinian farmers and European diplomats, Anadolu agency reported. In a statement, the Patriarchs and Heads of Churches in Jerusalem denounced Saturday’s attack by masked Israeli occupiers on Palestinians harvesting olives in Taybeh, a predominantly Christian village northeast of Ramallah. The assault also targeted foreign visitors, including European diplomats and officials who had come to show solidarity with Palestinian communities facing repeated attacks. The church leaders stressed that the assault was not an isolated incident, warning of widespread violence against Palestinian villages in recent weeks, particularly during the olive harvest season. READ: Israel uses occupier violence to

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  Revived Eilat-Ashkelon pipeline could introduce new dynamics in the politics of the Middle East

  by EditorMehdi on October 21, 2026

  Israel has proposed reviving the Ashkelon-Eilat pipeline to divert oil cargo away from the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab al-Mandeb in the Red Sea. The war between Saudi Arabia and the Ansar Allah Houthis continues to disrupt oil exports, particularly for Saudi Arabia, at the Red Sea port of Yanbu. Saudi Arabia has been using its Yanbu port, which has a long pipeline exporting its own oil. The plan proposes a new pipeline from Saudi Arabia that will join its Ashkelon-Eilat pipeline in the Red Sea via Jordan.   According to reports in Haaretz and other outlets, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu offered Israeli military assistance to help Saudi Arabia fight the Iran-backed Houthis, viewing it as a potential pathway toward normalisation. 

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  Turkey says troops will remain in Syria and Iraq until border security is guaranteed

  by EditorMehdi on October 21, 2026

  Turkish Defence Minister Yaşar Guler said Tuesday that Turkish forces would remain deployed in Syria and Iraq until border security is fully guaranteed and threats to the country’s security have been eliminated. In written responses to journalists, Guler reaffirmed Ankara’s intention to maintain its military presence in both neighbouring countries, saying any decision to reconsider troop deployments would depend on security developments. “We are maintaining our military presence in Iraq and Syria,” Guler said. “Once we are certain that the necessary conditions regarding regional and border security have been met, the status of our deployment sites and our presence in the region will be reviewed.” Turkey has maintained military forces in northern Syria and Iraq for years, primarily to counter

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  Israel extends Al-Aqsa Mosque entry ban on Sheikh Ekrima Sabri for another six months

  by EditorMehdi on October 21, 2026

  Israeli authorities on Tuesday extended a ban preventing Sheikh Ekrima Sabri, the preacher of Al-Aqsa Mosque and head of the Supreme Islamic Council in Jerusalem, from entering the mosque for another six months. According to Quds Press, Israeli authorities delivered the extension order to Sabri’s lawyer, prohibiting the senior Palestinian religious figure from entering Al-Aqsa Mosque until 19th April 2027. The decision marks the latest extension of restrictions imposed on Sabri, who has been barred from entering the mosque since August 2024. An official from Sabri’s office, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Israeli authorities had repeatedly renewed the ban, with the previous order scheduled to expire in October. READ: Sheikh Raed Salah urges Palestinians to maintain presence at Al-Aqsa Mosque

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  Red Cross warns of catastrophic conditions in Gaza, calls for urgent medical evacuations

  by EditorMehdi on October 21, 2026

  The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has warned that the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip remains catastrophic, urging the international community to intensify its response and ensure that patients requiring specialised medical treatment can be evacuated abroad. ICRC Director-General Pierre Krähenbühl described conditions in Gaza as “hell on earth” in statements on Tuesday, saying Palestinians have endured prolonged suffering amid severe shortages of medical care, clean water and adequate shelter. Krähenbühl said many families continue to live in tents under extremely difficult conditions, facing persistent uncertainty about their safety and future. He also highlighted the anguish of Palestinian families who remain unaware of the fate of missing relatives, including those believed to be buried beneath the rubble

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  UN: 950,000 displaced people in Gaza face flood risks this winter

  by EditorMehdi on October 21, 2026

  Around 950,000 displaced people in the Gaza Strip are living in areas at medium to high risk of flooding, including more than 400,000 facing a high risk, the United Nations said on Tuesday. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said “Available supplies could partially assist only 18 per cent of the 294,250 families requiring shelter assistance for the rainy season.”         On 17 August, the Gaza government media office said 2.15 million displaced Palestinians, representing 509,393 families, are living in “dire” humanitarian conditions. More than 800,000 of them are staying in tents unfit for “human habitation”, it added. READ: Winter rains deepen Gaza’s humanitarian crisis as displaced families face severe shelter shortages In September, the office warned that

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  Gaza resistance security force reports ambush targeting ‘collaborator’ group in Rafah

  by EditorMehdi on October 21, 2026

  Rad’a, a force affiliated with Gaza’s resistance security apparatus, said its members ambushed a group it accuses of collaborating with Israel in al-Mawasi, Rafah, on 8 October, inflicting casualties. In a statement published on its Telegram channel on Tuesday, the force said its members clashed with the group near Abu Hafez well at a distance of about 20 metres, despite intensive aircraft activity in the area. It added that Israeli forces fired artillery shells and smoke grenades during attempts to evacuate the dead and wounded from the scene. They also shelled Palestinian homes and tents in the surrounding area, injuring several civilians. Rad’a said it would continue pursuing groups it accuses of collaborating with Israel. It also praised Palestinians who

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  Kuwaiti bowlers praised for refusing to face Israeli players at World Championships

  by EditorMehdi on October 21, 2026

  Kuwaitis and Palestinians have praised Kuwait’s men’s and women’s bowling teams for refusing to face Israeli players in the last 16 of the World Championships in Germany, describing the decision as a principled rejection of normalisation with Israel and a show of support for the Palestinian cause. Activists said the withdrawal was a moral stance against granting Israel sporting legitimacy at international events. Sheikh Talal Mohammed Al-Sabah, president of the Kuwait Bowling Federation and the International Bowling Federation, praised the performance of Kuwaiti players at the tournament, saying it reflected the team’s progress and had exceeded expectations. READ: UEFA probes Israeli player for allegedly spitting at Ireland coach He said the results were the product of the players’ commitment and determination

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  Iran’s president says US must lift sanctions, end threats before negotiations

  by EditorMehdi on October 20, 2026

  Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Tuesday that the US must end pressure and threats and lift sanctions before any negotiations, Anadolu reports. “All regional problems, from escalating tensions to disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, stem from US warmongering,” Pezeshkian said during a meeting in Tehran with Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, according to remarks carried by Iranian state broadcaster IRIB. “The Americans must explain why they started the war and embroiled themselves and the world in it,” he said. On the prospect of talks, Pezeshkian said: “Before any negotiations, they must first end the pressure and threats and lift sanctions.” Munir arrived in Tehran on Tuesday, accompanied by a delegation of officials. READ: Vance acknowledges ‘failures’ in US

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  Iran says supertanker carrying over 2 million barrels of oil hit mine near Hormuz

  by EditorMehdi on October 20, 2026

  A supertanker carrying more than 2 million barrels of crude oil exploded and caught fire after striking a naval mine south of the Strait of Hormuz, the Navy of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said Tuesday, Anadolu reports. In a statement carried by state broadcaster IRIB, the navy said the vessel was committing violations and that it had switched off all its radar and navigation systems. OPINION: Trump can strike Iran again. He cannot bomb Hormuz open The tanker ignored warnings from the IRGC Navy and was trying to leave the strait through an “unauthorized southern route” when it struck the mine, according to the statement. The navy did not identify the vessel or provide details about its flag,

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  UN warns about ‘deteriorating’ situation in Yemen’s Taiz as road closures block vital supplies

  by EditorMehdi on October 20, 2026

  The UN on Tuesday warned that the humanitarian situation in Yemen’s Taiz is worsening, as road closures and insecurity block vital supplies from reaching millions, Anadolu reports. Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric told a news conference that “road closures and insecurity are preventing vital supplies, including fuel, from entering the city and surrounding areas, leaving millions of people at risk of losing access to essential goods and services.” Dujarric said the situation in Taiz “is deteriorating,” citing colleagues on the ground. “We and our partners are doing everything possible to support people in need and help bring essential goods, services and medical supplies into Taiz,” he said. READ: US envoy says ground intervention in Yemen ‘appears pointless,’ urges regional alliances He stressed, however,

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  Israeli attacks kill 6 Palestinians, including 2 children, in Gaza despite ceasefire

  by EditorMehdi on October 20, 2026

  Six Palestinians, including two children and a married couple, were killed and eleven injured in Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, in the latest violations of an effective ceasefire. A Palestinian was killed and another injured in an Israeli strike near al-Sawarha cemetery, west of the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza, medical sources told Anadolu Agency. One Palestinian was seriously injured in an Israeli drone strike on the al-Qasasib area of the Jabalia refugee camp in the north, according to medical sources. Another Palestinian was killed in an Israeli strike in the Zeitoun neighborhood southeast of Gaza City, medical sources told Anadolu. A Palestinian child was also killed by Israeli army fire in the Wadi Gaza area

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  Israel’s Ben-Gvir boasts of Gaza’s destruction, mocks Palestinian residents in AI-generated video

  by EditorMehdi on October 20, 2026

  Israeli far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir boasted Tuesday of the destruction of the Gaza Strip and mocked Palestinian residents in a campaign video released ahead of parliamentary elections, Anadolu reports. Ben-Gvir, leader of the far-right Jewish Power party, posted the AI-generated clip on US social media platform X, presenting a vision of Gaza in 2030 based on the widespread destruction inflicted by his government. The video shows the enclave as a ghost town, with its schools, infrastructure and port destroyed. A scene showing a donkey is followed by the party’s message: “You’d have to be a donkey to stay in Gaza,” mocking Palestinians who remain. Ben-Gvir has repeatedly demanded occupying Gaza, displacing its Palestinian population and establishing Israeli settlements

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  Israeli army chief excluded from secret Netanyahu-Hegseth meeting: Report

  by EditorMehdi on October 20, 2026

  Israeli public broadcaster reported Tuesday that Army Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir was excluded from a secret meeting between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in southern Israel, Anadolu reports. “Chief of Staff Zamir did not attend the unusual meeting held last night at an airbase in the south, nor was he summoned,” KAN said about the meeting on Monday. Netanyahu, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz, Hegseth and other officials attended the meeting, it said. KAN did not explain why Zamir was not invited to the previously unannounced talks at Ovda Airbase. Israeli media reported Tuesday that Netanyahu met Hegseth secretly the previous day at an Israeli Air Force base in southern Israel. READ: Rights group urges

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  Israeli tanks spotted near former governor’s office in Quneitra, southern Syria

  by EditorMehdi on October 20, 2026

  Israeli tanks were observed maneuvering near the former governor’s office in the southern Syrian city of Quneitra on Tuesday, Anadolu reports. On Sunday, Syria’s Foreign Ministry condemned escalating Israeli incursions into Quneitra and neighboring Daraa province alongside increased helicopter, reconnaissance and warplane activity over southern Syria. The ministry described the operations as a “flagrant violation” of Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, warning that continued Israeli incursions threatened security and stability while obstructing reconstruction and recovery efforts. READ: Israeli army opens fire on water tanker, drives away shepherds in southwestern Syria It urged the international community to take action to halt the violations and press Israel to comply with international law and relevant UN resolutions. Israeli forces have carried out repeated incursions

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  Rights group urges US to arrest Israeli commander linked to Hind Rajab’s killing

  by EditorMehdi on October 20, 2026

  A rights group has asked the US Justice Department to arrest and prosecute an Israeli military commander it links to the 2024 killing of 5-year-old Hind Rajab in the Gaza Strip, Anadolu reports. The Brussels-based Hind Rajab Foundation (HRF) said Sean Glass, who it said is in the US, commanded the “Vampire Empire” Company of the 52nd Armored Battalion, part of the 401st Armored Brigade. “HRF’s investigation places him and his troops in the direct vicinity of Hind’s vehicle during the killing,” it said in a statement Monday. “Today, Glass walks free in the United States.” The foundation accused Glass of war crimes and genocide under US law. It alleged that he “most likely gave the order to open fire”

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  French prosecutors seek suspended prison sentence, ban on office for MEP Rima Hassan

  by EditorMehdi on October 20, 2026

  French prosecutors sought a 10-month suspended prison sentence on Tuesday and a two-year ban on holding public office for European Parliament member Rima Hassan for a deleted social media post citing one of the perpetrators of a deadly 1972 attack at Tel Aviv airport, broadcaster FranceInfo reported. The prosecution argued that Hassan’s post amounted to “glorification of terrorism,” saying it “trivialized” the attack and “praised its perpetrator.” The prosecutor’s office also rejected Hassan’s claim that the case was politically motivated, calling the alleged offense “flagrant” and denying that the proceedings were brought because of her political views. READ: French associations seek court order to halt shipment to Israeli arms company Hassan, a member of the left-wing La France Insoumise party, has

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  German activists block arms factories over weapons exports to Israel

  by EditorMehdi on October 20, 2026

  Pro-Palestinian activists blocked entrances to several German arms manufacturing sites on Tuesday, protesting the country’s continued weapons exports to Israel, Anadolu reports. The coordinated sit-ins were organized by the group Peacefully Against Genocide. Protesters targeted multiple locations of weapons manufacturers, including Rheinmetall facilities and a General Dynamics site. In Berlin, demonstrators staged a sit-in in front of Rheinmetall’s plant in Wedding. Laila Fuisz of Peacefully Against Genocide said in a statement that for three years people in Palestine have been killed daily. “For three years Israel has been committing a genocide against Palestinians,” she said. Despite that, the German government continues to approve weapons deliveries to Israel and companies such as Rheinmetall produce at full speed, Fuisz stressed. READ: Germany urges

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  Saudi Arabia launches 2026-27 archaeology season in AlUla, Khaybar

  by EditorMehdi on October 20, 2026

  Saudi Arabia has launched its 2026-27 Archaeology Season across AlUla and Khaybar, focusing on research, excavation and conservation in one of the most significant archaeological landscapes in the country’s northwest, Anadolu reports. The Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) said in a statement on Monday that the season builds on previous years of archaeological research, excavation, documentation and conservation and is aimed at advancing knowledge of the region’s history while developing Saudi expertise in archaeology and cultural heritage. According to the state news agency SPA, the program combines fieldwork, specialized studies, digital documentation, conservation, community engagement and capacity building. The commission said this year’s research will focus on early human presence, ancient Arabian kingdoms and oasis communities, travel and pilgrimage routes,

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  UK to deploy Typhoon fighter jets to Saudi Arabia for defensive missions

  by EditorMehdi on October 20, 2026

  The UK will deploy Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter jets to Saudi Arabia to protect its cities and critical infrastructure against Houthi attacks, the British government announced Tuesday, Anadolu reports. The aircraft will conduct defensive missions to protect Saudi airspace against missile and drone attacks but will not carry out offensive strikes against the Houthis, according to a government statement. The UK will also deploy an RAF A400M transport aircraft to facilitate the movement of defense materiel within Saudi Arabia. Military advisers will be sent to support Saudi staff officers, the government said. READ: Saudi Arabia postpones future investment initiative until 2027 following Houthi attacks London will also extend air-to-air refueling support for Saudi defensive air operations, including operations targeting Houthi

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  More than 250,000 displaced in Yemen since August as fighting escalates: UNHCR

  by EditorMehdi on October 20, 2026

  More than 250,000 people have been displaced in Yemen between Aug. 1 and Oct. 17 as hostilities intensified across the country, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) said Tuesday, Anadolu reports. The figure rose from nearly 213,000 previously reported, with Taiz remaining at the center of the displacement crisis, accounting for 76% of departures and hosting 52% of those newly displaced. Lahj in southwestern Yemen hosts 23% of the newly displaced population, followed by Aden in the south with 13%, according to UNHCR. “Shelling intensified in Taiz, including in residential areas and around health facilities, while insecurity and restrictions along key routes continue to constrain humanitarian access and movement,” the agency said in a statement. “In Aden, strikes were reported, including

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  FIFA suspends Egypt coach Hossam Hassan for 3 matches after criticizing World Cup refereeing

  by EditorMehdi on October 20, 2026

  FIFA suspended Egypt head coach Hossam Hassan for three matches following comments he made after the team’s World Cup round-of-16 defeat to Argentina, the Egyptian Football Association announced Monday, Anadolu reports. Forward Mostafa Zico was also handed a five-match ban, it added. The sanctions stem from Egypt’s 3-2 defeat to Argentina in Atlanta, US, on July 6 during the World Cup. “The Egyptian Football Association received the decisions of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee regarding Hossam Hassan, the national team coach, Ibrahim Hassan, the team manager, and player Mostafa Zico,” the association said in a statement. Ibrahim Hassan was suspended for three matches. The association said it had requested “the detailed reasons and justifications for the decisions” from FIFA to assess

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  US envoy says ground intervention in Yemen ‘appears pointless,’ urges regional alliances

  by EditorMehdi on October 20, 2026

  US special envoy Tom Barrack said Tuesday that Washington is providing logistical support to Saudi Arabia, but a US ground intervention in the conflict involving Yemen’s Houthis “appears pointless,” Anadolu reports. Speaking at the Global Security Forum in Doha, Qatar, Barrack, who serves as US ambassador to Türkiye and special presidential envoy for Syria and Iraq, said President Donald Trump supports Saudi Arabia logistically amid escalating hostilities between the kingdom and the Houthi group. He also urged Middle Eastern countries to establish regional alliances rather than rely on Washington to resolve their problems. Barrack said the US was redefining its role in the Middle East, moving away from direct control and intervention toward supporting regional countries in managing their own security.

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  Israel uses occupier violence to ‘ethnically cleanse’ Palestinians from West Bank: Amnesty

  by EditorMehdi on October 20, 2026

  Amnesty International warned Monday that the massive escalation of state-backed Israeli occupier violence is aimed at “ethnically cleansing” Palestinians from the occupied West Bank, saying the attacks are not isolated incidents but a “central policy of the Israeli state,” Anadolu reports. The London-based rights group called on countries to impose sanctions on Israeli officials involved in serious violations of international law, ban trade with illegal Israeli settlements and halt the supply of weapons and security equipment to Israel. The statement came in response to attacks carried out by Israeli occupiers in recent days against Palestinian farmers in the West Bank, as well as European diplomats and an American photojournalist working for The Washington Post. “Amnesty International has long been sounding the

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  Olive theft is just one component of Israel’s colonial structure

  by Marwa A on October 20, 2026

  Observations have become the only way in which the UN feigns intervention against Israeli colonial violence. A recent press release published by the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) noted the increased violence by Israeli settlers against farmers during the olive harvest. The UN Special Rapporteurs who signed the press release described how preventing Palestinian farmers from accessing their land is resulting in economic hardships, displacing Bedouin and herding communities, and undermining Palestinian food sovereignty. It also noted that Israel altered its policy this year to prevent Palestinians from harvesting olives on land that has been classified as ‘State land’. “The experts urged Israel to ensure that its forces protect Palestinian farmers from settler attacks, refrain

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  The unravelling alliance – when Israel’s interests clash with America’s

  by Marwa A on October 20, 2026

  The relationship between the United States and Israel has long been presented as an alliance founded on shared democratic values, strategic interests and an enduring commitment to regional security. But beneath this familiar narrative, a more difficult question is emerging: what happens when an ally’s regional ambitions begin to undermine the wider interests of the superpower that sustains it? The United States is a global power with responsibilities extending far beyond Israel. It must protect maritime trade, maintain energy security, manage relations with major powers, reassure its regional partners and prevent conflicts from spiralling into wider wars. Israel, meanwhile, has increasingly pursued a security doctrine centred on military dominance, pre-emptive action and the persistent neutralisation of perceived threats. These objectives

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  Italian engineering firm withdraws from Jerusalem cable car project amid continued opposition

  by Marwa A on October 20, 2026

  An Italian engineering consultancy has withdrawn from a planned cable car project near Jerusalem’s Old City, becoming the fifth foreign company to pull out of the initiative amid longstanding legal, environmental and political objections. According to a report published Monday by the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, the Jerusalem Development Authority had announced plans to contract Italian firm Engineering Ropeway ROPES to provide technical consulting services for the project. The company subsequently confirmed to Italian media that it would no longer participate. About a month earlier, the authority’s tender committee had approved an exemption from the competitive bidding process, arguing that no Israeli company possessed the expertise required to provide the project’s specialised engineering services. However, the Italian consultancy later reversed its

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  Netanyahu says Ben-Gvir will hold prominent ministerial position in next government

  by Marwa A on October 20, 2026

  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday that National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir would hold a prominent position in any future government he forms, following a public dispute over whether Ben-Gvir’s far-right Otzma Yehudit (Jewish Power) party would be included in the next governing coalition. In a video circulated on social media, Netanyahu told residents of the Israeli city of Lod that “Ben-Gvir will be a prominent minister” in the government he hopes to establish after the 27th October parliamentary elections. Netanyahu did not specify which portfolio Ben-Gvir would receive. Ben-Gvir currently serves as national security minister and leads Otzma Yehudit. The remarks came a day after Ben-Gvir accused Netanyahu’s office of assuring several European Union countries that his party

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  Saudi Arabia postpones future investment initiative until 2027 following Houthi attacks

  by Marwa A on October 20, 2026

  Saudi Arabia has postponed its flagship Future Investment Initiative (FII) conference until next year following a series of deadly attacks and the suspension of operations at Riyadh’s international airport, organizers announced Monday, Anadolu reports. The annual investment forum, organized by the Future Investment Initiative Institute, had been scheduled to take place in Riyadh from 26th-29th October, attracting international political leaders, investors and senior business executives. According to Reuters, organisers confirmed the postponement amid heightened security concerns following attacks on the Kingdom in recent weeks, as regional hostilities continue to escalate. Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported that the decision represents a setback for Saudi Arabia’s efforts to attract foreign investment, diversify its oil-dependent economy and advance its economic reform agenda. A consultant