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

• 
  Trump’s Tug-of-War with Iran: A Forever Game of Perpetual Attrition

  by Mehdi Editor on September 1, 2026

  On the international political stage, war does not always manifest as a decisive confrontation that births a triumphant victor and leaves a shattered loser. Instead, the conflict between Donald Trump’s administration and the regime of Velayat-e Faqih in Tehran has devolved into a tedious, exhausting tug-of-war, a game of mutual attrition where neither side collapses to the ground. Every time the rope stretches to its absolute limit, leading the world to fear an imminent snap, the board resets to the same maneuvering square. Trump threatens “limited” military strikes, crafted by U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) and defense officials to neutralize Iran’s radar and missile capabilities near the Strait of Hormuz, only to reassure global markets with dry irony that “maritime traffic

• 
  WHO warns of deteriorating water quality, rising disease risks in Gaza ahead of winter

  by Mehdi Editor on September 1, 2026

  The World Health Organization on Tuesday voiced concern over the deteriorating water quality and the disease risks rising with it in Gaza ahead of the upcoming winter, Anadolu reports. “What is extremely worrying for us is that the quality of the water is deteriorating,” Reinhilde Van de Weerdt, the WHO representative for the occupied Palestinian territory, told the weekly press briefing in Geneva. She noted that microbiological contamination has almost tripled this year, while laboratory capacity remains limited, allowing authorities to detect and track only essential microbiological contaminants in the water and the environment. “From the more than 6,500 samples that were tested, we went from just under 6% contamination in January to almost 20% last month, just last August,” Van

• 
  Occupier violence in West Bank serves Netanyahu, allies: Former Israeli premier

  by Mehdi Editor on September 1, 2026

  Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak said Tuesday that occupier violence in the West Bank serves Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his political partners, Anadolu reports. Speaking to Israel’s 103 FM radio about escalating occupier attacks against Palestinians in the West Bank, Barak said the damage was “huge” and that while the public may not fully understand it, “the prime minister and his ministers understand what is happening.” “There is actual encouragement from senior ministers in the government, a blind eye from other parts of the political system and disregard by some executive bodies as a result of indirect pressure,” he said. Barak warned that a single incident could ignite the occupied West Bank and be used to cancel Israel’s general

• 
  Qatar calls for de-escalation after Iranian attacks on UAE, Jordan

  by Mehdi Editor on September 1, 2026

  Qatar on Tuesday called for de-escalation and a return to negotiations between Iran and the US following Iranian attacks against the United Arab Emirates and Jordan, Anadolu reports. “The return of escalation in the region is in no one’s interest,” Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari told a press conference in Doha, calling for calm and a return to negotiations. Ansari also called for an end to Israeli escalation in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, accusing Tel Aviv of exploiting regional developments to impose a new reality in Palestine, Lebanon and Syria. READ: Qatar pledges support to ease hardships facing Iranian people He said Doha is working with all partners to reach a peaceful solution and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

• 
  Belgium’s Leuven mayor refuses to host Europa League match against Israeli club

  by Mehdi Editor on September 1, 2026

  The mayor of the Belgian city of Leuven, Mohamed Ridouani, has refused to allow Belgian football club Union Saint-Gilloise to host Israeli side Hapoel Beer Sheva at the city’s Den Dreef Stadium in a UEFA Europa League match scheduled for Oct. 22, Anadolu reports. Ridouani cited public safety and security concerns for his decision, saying the match could not be held in Leuven even behind closed doors, Belgian daily Le Soir reported on Tuesday. “Union is welcome here, but in this specific case, it’s an Israeli team, and I’m consistent on that point,” Ridouani said during a municipal council meeting. READ: Belgium approves import ban on goods from occupied Palestinian territories He recalled that he had previously refused to allow Belgium’s women’s

• 
  Syria says foreign policy focused on restoring ties with Europe as Denmark reopens embassy

  by Mehdi Editor on September 1, 2026

  Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani said Tuesday that Syria’s foreign policy is focused on restoring relations with all European countries, including Denmark, as Copenhagen reopened its embassy in Damascus after a 14-year closure, Anadolu reports. Shaibani held talks in Damascus with his Danish counterpart Lars Lokke Rasmussen to discuss strengthening bilateral relations and cooperation. “Our foreign policy focuses on restoring relations with all European countries, including Denmark,” Shaibani told a joint press conference with Rasmussen, as cited by Syrian Alikhbariah TV. He said the Syrian policy had received a positive response from European countries seeking to develop relations with Damascus. “Denmark stood with the Syrian people in difficult moments and continues to support them in the new phase,” Shaibani said. He

• 
  Iranian president criticizes UN response to Israeli actions in Gaza, Lebanon

  by Mehdi Editor on September 1, 2026

  Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Tuesday criticized the UN and its Security Council over their response to Israeli actions in Gaza and Lebanon, saying the international body had failed to effectively address major threats to the international order, Anadolu reports. Addressing the “SCO Plus” meeting held as part of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Council of Heads of State summit in Kyrgyzstan’s capital Bishkek, Pezeshkian said the world is facing military aggression, genocide, war crimes, terrorism and what he called illegal sanctions. “The performance of the United Nations and the UN Security Council in dealing with these developments, including in Gaza, Lebanon and the recent aggression against Iran, has been very disappointing,” he said. Pezeshkian accused the US and Israel of violating

• 
  Guterres urges end to Israeli strikes in Gaza, occupier violence in West Bank

  by Mehdi Editor on September 1, 2026

  UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday called for an end to Israeli strikes in Gaza and occupier violence in the West Bank, Anadolu reports. “In Gaza, the ceasefire must be respected,” Guterres said at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit. He called for the immediate removal of obstacles to humanitarian aid. The ceasefire in Gaza took effect last October. Since then, Israel has killed more than 1,320 Palestinians and injured more than 4,385 others, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. The Israeli army has killed more than 73,000 people and injured over 174,000 others in a brutal offensive in Gaza since October 2023. He also said “settler attacks and settlement expansion must end” in the occupied West Bank. The UN said in August

• 
  Finland extends defense agreement with Israel until 2034: Report

  by Mehdi Editor on September 1, 2026

  Finland and Israel have “quietly” signed an extension to a memorandum of understanding on defense materiel cooperation that will remain in force until 2034, according to Finnish public broadcaster Yle on Monday, Anadolu reports. The memorandum is intended to facilitate cooperation between the two countries on the research, development and procurement of military equipment. The agreement was originally drawn up in 2013, and its previous period of validity was approaching its end. Finland reportedly proposed extending it in early 2024. Unlike the previous five-year terms, the latest memorandum extends the cooperation for 10 years, through 2034. Yle reported that the arrangement has attracted little public attention because Finland’s Defense Ministry did not announce it. The broadcaster also noted that the memorandum

• 
  Over 100 families evacuated in Tunisia as wildfires spread

  by Mehdi Editor on September 1, 2026

  Tunisian authorities have evacuated more than 100 families in the central Kairouan province and in Siliana in the country’s northwest due to wildfires, officials said late Monday, Anadolu reports. Member of parliament Nabil Al-Hamdi said 100 families were evacuated from Mount Qaytoun in Kairouan’s El Oueslatia district after a fire that first started on Mount Bargou in Siliana. Speaking to the state news agency TAP, Al-Hamdi said strong winds helped the fire spread and pushed the flames close to residential areas, prompting authorities to evacuate families and house them inside a school. In Siliana, Regional Commissioner for Agricultural Development Jamal Al-Farchichi said strong winds caused the Mount Boulemane fire to expand and reach the Ain Bousadia area in Bargou district on

• 
  Israeli occupiers attempt to set fire to mosque in northern West Bank

  by Mehdi Editor on September 1, 2026

  Israeli occupiers attempted to set fire to a mosque in the northern West Bank early Tuesday, in the latest attack in the occupied territory, according to the official Palestinian news agency Wafa. Local sources told Wafa that the occupiers tried to break into the Nur al-Din Zengi Mosque in the town of Bazariya, northwest of Nablus. After failing to force open the mosque’s doors, they set fire to a room near the mosque and sprayed racist slogans at the site. The Palestinian Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs condemned the attack, describing the targeting of mosques and places of worship as a “dangerous and systematic escalation” aimed at provoking Muslims. READ: Israeli rabbi calls for Palestinians’ expulsion from occupied West Bank

• 
  Tehran has enough foreign currency, Iran central bank chief tells Trump

  by Mehdi Editor on September 1, 2026

  Iran has sufficient foreign currency despite intensified US sanctions and economic pressure, Central Bank Governor Abdolnasser Hemmati said Tuesday, Anadolu reports. Addressing US President Donald Trump, Hemmati said: “Iran has foreign currency, and it has enough.” Speaking at a conference in Tehran, Hemmati said the central bank was ready to inject $2 billion into the foreign exchange market, according to the semi-official Tasnim News Agency. Rejecting US claims of an economic collapse, he said Iran continues to collect foreign currency revenues and receivables and has domestic reserves and other resources whose details he said cannot be disclosed. Hemmati said Iran’s economic system continues to function despite new sanctions, while attributing the rial’s recent depreciation largely to what he called psychological

• 
  US university students associate Israel with ‘genocide’ against Palestinians

  by Mehdi Editor on September 1, 2026

  University students in the US state of New York increasingly identify the word “genocide” as their primary association with Israel, highlighting a shift in the nation’s international standing among young Americans, Anadolu reports. The military operations, seizures, and human rights violations in Gaza and the occupied West Bank have led many to question the nation’s international legitimacy. Interviews conducted at Manhattan-based New York University (NYU) and Columbia University revealed consistent primary associations among the youth. Samuel, a student at NYU, told Anadolu that his first thought is the genocide Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is committing against the Palestinian people. He listed his top three associations as “Netanyahu, genocide and Palestine.” Another NYU student named Maddy, with a troubled expression reflecting

• 
  Israeli security agency chief on secret Washington visit for ‘sensitive’ talks with FBI: Report

  by Mehdi Editor on September 1, 2026

  The head of Israel’s Shin Bet security agency secretly traveled to Washington for talks with FBI officials on “sensitive issues,” Israeli media reported Monday. Channel 13 said David Zini left for the US capital for meetings with his counterparts at the FBI. An unnamed source told the broadcaster that the talks would involve “sensitive issues,” without providing further details. Neither Israel nor the US has announced the visit. READ: Leaked recording attributed to Shin Bet chief sparks political controversy in Israel The trip comes days after Yair Netanyahu, the son of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, was urgently evacuated from the US over what Israel’s public broadcaster KAN described as a “significant threat.” KAN said Saturday that Shin Bet confirmed the

• 
  ‘Propping up apartheid’: UK failing legal duties on Palestine, new briefing warns

  by Mehdi Editor on September 1, 2026

  A hard-hitting new legal briefing has accused Britain of breaching binding legal duties under the International Court of Justice’s July 2024 advisory opinion, which found that Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territory is unlawful and must end “as rapidly as possible”. Published by the International Centre of Justice for Palestinians (ICJP) and the Labour Muslim Network, Priority Measures for UK Policy on Palestine sets out six priority areas in which it says the UK’s foreign and domestic policies are “not consistently adhering” to the law.  The six priority areas are illegal Israeli settlements; the funding and protection of the UN agency for Palestine refugees, UNRWA; the protection of Palestinian access to religious sites, including Al-Aqsa Mosque and Christian holy sites in

• 
  Palestinian Authority: Health of female prisoners deteriorating as repression escalates in Israeli Jails

  by Mehdi Editor on September 1, 2026

  The health of several Palestinian female prisoners in Israeli prisons is deteriorating amid increased raids, searches and punitive measures, the Commission of Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs said on Monday. The authority said in a statement that reports and testimonies from prisoners documented harsh detention conditions, including overcrowding, shortages of basic necessities, poor-quality food and medical neglect, alongside repeated raids, searches and disciplinary measures. It said the conditions were adversely affecting the prisoners’ physical and psychological health, with several cases of illness reported at Damon Prison and Israeli interrogation centres. READ: Ben-Gvir’s visit to Palestinian female prisoners’ cells draws criticism Among them is Abeer Ouda from Tulkarm, who suffers from oesophageal and back problems and asthma, according to the authority. She had

• 
  All Christian schools in Jerusalem suspend classes as Israel denies permits to over 70 teachers, staff

  by Mehdi Editor on September 1, 2026

  All Christian schools in Jerusalem announced Monday evening that they will suspend classes starting Tuesday after Israel failed to renew entry permits for more than 70 teachers and staff, preventing them from reaching their schools, Anadolu Agency reported. The new academic year in Israel and Jerusalem is scheduled to begin Tuesday. In a statement, the Christian schools in Jerusalem said that as they prepared to open for the 2026-2027 academic year, they were surprised by the “failure to renew entry permits for more than 70 teachers and employees from our educational, administrative and support staff, suddenly and without prior warning.” They said the failure to renew the permits prevented the teachers and employees from reaching their schools and directly affected

• 
  Iraq prime minister rejects extension of International Coalition presence beyond 30th September

  by Mehdi Editor on September 1, 2026

  Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi has rejected a proposal to extend the presence of some International Coalition forces in Iraq beyond 30th September, government spokesperson Haider al-Aboudi said on Monday. “The prime minister rejected a proposal to extend the presence of some International Coalition forces beyond 30th September,” al-Aboudi said, according to the Iraqi News Agency (INA). He added that the government was closely monitoring regional developments and that “Iraq will not be part of the conflict.” Al-Aboudi said the withdrawal process was proceeding smoothly, including the transfer of sites previously used by Coalition forces to Iraqi security forces. He described 30th September as a significant milestone for Iraqi sovereignty and said the date was expected to mark the complete

• 
  Report: Israeli army closed most investigations into suspected looting by soldiers in Gaza and Lebanon

  by Mehdi Editor on September 1, 2026

  The Israeli military has closed most of the investigations it opened into suspected looting by soldiers during operations in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon, with only two cases resulting in indictments, according to data reported by Israeli newspaper Yediot Aharonot. The figures were released following a freedom of information request submitted by Israel’s Movement for Freedom of Information, the newspaper reported. According to the military’s response, the Military Police opened 25 investigations into suspected looting in Gaza between 2023 and mid-2026. Three were opened in 2023, 19 in 2024, two in 2025 and one during the first half of 2026. Only two of the Gaza investigations resulted in indictments, both filed in 2025, according to the report. Both cases were

• 
  Iranian president says Tehran to reciprocate if US honors commitments

  by Mehdi Editor on September 1, 2026

  Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Tuesday that Tehran would immediately reciprocate if the US returned to its commitments under the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, according to the presidency, Anadolu reports. “I state clearly that if the United States returns to its commitments under the memorandum, the Islamic Republic of Iran will immediately reciprocate,” Pezeshkian said in an address to the 26th summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Kyrgyzstan’s capital Bishkek. He accused Washington of failing to honor the agreement less than two weeks after signing it, saying US violations were met with a proportionate response from Tehran. Pezeshkian said the agreement came after 40 days of fighting and nearly three months of negotiations mediated by Pakistan and Qatar.

• 
  Ship traffic through Strait of Hormuz falls to around five vessels per day

  by Mehdi Editor on September 1, 2026

  Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz fell to around five commodity vessels per day over the weekend, according to shipping data released on Monday, amid continuing concerns over potential attacks on vessels using the strategic waterway. Data from maritime analytics firm Kpler showed that traffic through the strait was largely limited to relatively small vessels, including two liquefied gas tankers. One of the tankers exited the strait using a route through Iranian waters, while another sailed overnight toward India, according to the data. READ: Iran says it controls Strait of Hormuz and has stopped 30 ships from crossing The figures represented a sharp decline from Friday, when 14 vessels transited the strait. Friday’s traffic included a supertanker carrying approximately two

• 
  Hamas accuses Israel of escalating Gaza attacks and violating ceasefire

  by Mehdi Editor on September 1, 2026

  Hamas on Monday accused Israel of intensifying military operations across the Gaza Strip, saying the latest attacks amounted to a continuing military campaign rather than isolated incidents and constituted violations of the ceasefire agreement. In a statement, Hamas cited the demolition of homes in southern Gaza, reported Israeli fire toward fishermen off the coast of Gaza City and attacks on civilians in several areas of the enclave. The group said at least five Palestinians were killed and several others wounded in Monday’s attacks. Palestinian reports said five people were killed in an Israeli airstrike in western Gaza City. READ: 1,014 Palestinian athletes killed by Israel during Gaza genocide: Sports official Hamas described the latest Israeli actions as a “systematic policy of

• 
  Israeli poll: Smotrich’s party falls below threshold as Eisenkot overtakes Netanyahu

  by Mehdi Editor on September 1, 2026

  A new opinion poll published by Israel’s Channel 12 on Monday evening showed major shifts in the political landscape ahead of a possible election, with Gadi Eisenkot’s Yashar party remaining in first place with 24 Knesset seats, compared with 23 for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud.  Naftali Bennett’s B’Yachad party came third with 15 seats, followed by Yair Golan’s Democrats with 11 and Avigdor Lieberman’s Yisrael Beytenu with nine. The poll also showed United Torah Judaism, led by Moshe Gafni, winning eight seats, the Otzma Yehudit party led by Itamar Ben-Gvir eight, the Joint List led by Yousef Jabareen seven, and Shas seven. READ: Smotrich calls for removal of 40 Palestinian memorials in West Bank within 24 hours The new People

• 
  Podcast by Jasim Al-Azzawi with Joe Kent: Can Trump maneuver his way out of the corner he painted himself into?

  by Mehdi Editor on September 1, 2026

  WATCH: Podcast by Jasim Al-Azzawi with Kelley Beaucar Vlahos:The D-Day Sanctions Against Iran: Will They Work or Backfire?

• 
  UKMTO: Incident involving oil tanker and military forces in Arabian Sea

  by Mehdi Editor on September 1, 2026

  The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency said on Monday evening that it had received a report of an incident involving an oil tanker and military forces in the Indian Ocean. In a post on X, UKMTO said the incident took place in the Arabian Sea, south-east of Muscat, Oman. The agency advised vessels to consider the latest maritime security information and maintain awareness of the evolving operational environment.  UKMTO added that that authorities are aware and relevant investigations remain ongoing.” READ: Iran says US strikes on Kharg Island did not stop oil production Iran said on Monday evening that it had shot down another US MQ-9 Reaper drone east of the Strait of Hormuz.  Iran’s Fars news agency reported that

• 
  Israel isolates detained Palestinian journalist Bushra al-Tawil in Ramle prison

  by Mehdi Editor on September 1, 2026

  The Palestinian Prisoners’ Club said on Monday that Israeli authorities had transferred Palestinian journalist and detainee Bushra Al-Tawil, 33, from Damon Prison to solitary confinement at Ramle Prison, about six months after her arrest and subsequent placement in administrative detention. The non-governmental group said in a statement that Al-Tawil, from the city of Al-Bireh, was arrested in February 2026 and later placed in administrative detention. She has previously been detained several times. Al-Tawil’s experience of detention began in 2011, when she was 18, with most of her previous detentions involving administrative detention, according to the statement. The Prisoners’ Club said her father, detainee Jamal Al-Tawil, remains in Israeli prisons. He is among the prominent Palestinian detainees who have been repeatedly

• 
  Food shortages, collapsing services worsen conditions in Sudan’s El Obeid

  by Mehdi Editor on September 1, 2026

  The humanitarian situation in Sudan’s city of El Obeid is extremely poor and continues to deteriorate, according to eyewitnesses, as civilians displaced by fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) continue to arrive from surrounding rural areas. UN reports say more than 15,000 families have arrived since mid-July, adding to more than 200,000 people who arrived during the first half of the year, according to government figures cited by Save the Children, an international humanitarian organisation. Maryam, a humanitarian volunteer, said the situation was harsh and steadily worsening as the city receives displaced people every day, adding that El Obeid has become shockingly overcrowded. READ: Sudanese army deploys brigade in Blue Nile state amid fighting with

• 
  Syrian Sovereign Fund, UAE developer sign $7B deal for major Damascus project: Report

  by Mehdi Editor on August 31, 2026

  The Syrian Sovereign Fund and UAE real estate developer Arada signed a deal worth around $7 billion on Monday for a major residential and commercial project in Damascus, Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) reported. The “New Damascus” project will cover some 4 million square meters (43 million square feet) and include 11,000 residential units, according to SANA. It will also include hotels, healthcare and educational facilities, offices, commercial spaces and recreational areas, the agency said. The deal marks Arada’s first project in Syria and was signed in Damascus by Ahmed al-Khushaybi, the company’s CEO; and Mohammed al-Khayyat, CEO of the sovereign fund’s real estate development sector. Mazen al-Salhani, chairman of the Syrian Sovereign Fund, said the agreement also includes plans

• 
  Germany faults Israel over closed probe into World Central Kitchen strike

  by Mehdi Editor on August 31, 2026

  Germany on Monday criticized Israel for not pursuing a criminal investigation into the deadly 2024 strike on a World Central Kitchen convoy in Gaza, Anadolu reports. “We regret the IDF (Israel army) announcement on Aug. 19, 2026, that it would not initiate an investigation into the incident involving employees of the organization World Central Kitchen,” a German Foreign Ministry spokesman said in a statement. The spokesman said the German government expects Israel to comply with its humanitarian and international legal obligations. “This also includes the investigation and prosecution of violations of international humanitarian law,” he said. “The government continues to call for a transparent and comprehensive investigation into the incident by the competent Israeli authorities,” he added. The Israeli army

• 
  Jerusalem private schools suspend classes over Israeli entry permit restrictions

  by Mehdi Editor on August 31, 2026

  Palestinian private schools in occupied East Jerusalem announced Monday that they will suspend classes starting Tuesday until further notice, protesting Israel’s failure to renew entry permits for a large number of teachers and staff from the occupied West Bank, Anadolu reports. The decision came as the 2026-2027 school year is scheduled to begin Tuesday in Jerusalem. Private school owners said in a statement that the suspension was prompted by Israeli authorities’ failure to renew entry permits for “a large number of teachers and staff without prior notice.” They said schools’ lack of preparedness in health, hygiene, security and safety measures posed an additional obstacle to the start of a safe and stable academic year. Classes will resume “immediately after all

• 
  UN ‘very concerned’ over Gaza civilian deaths as Israel continues ceasefire breaches

  by Mehdi Editor on August 31, 2026

  The UN expressed concern Monday over the rising civilian deaths in Gaza amid continued Israeli airstrikes and military operations that have repeatedly violated the enclave’s ceasefire, Anadolu Agency reports. “We continue to remain very concerned about the impact on civilians because of the continued Israeli airstrikes,” UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric told reporters. Dujarric highlighted reports that a young boy was among recent fatalities and that a strike damaged the Al-Aqsa Hospital compound in Deir al-Balah. Medical sources said a 3-year-old child and a young man were killed over the weekend when Israeli forces shelled a group of civilians. Dujarric stressed that civilians and civilian infrastructure “must always be protected.” The UN also warned that preparations for the upcoming rainy season

• 
  Turkiye, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia agree to further institutionalize cooperation under Mecca defense pact: Joint statement

  by Mehdi Editor on August 31, 2026

  Turkiye, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia agreed on Monday to take steps to further institutionalize their cooperation under the Mecca Agreement for Joint Defense, according to a joint statement issued after the first meeting of the Strategic Political and Defence Committee in Istanbul, Anadolu reports. “Acting with a sense of regional ownership, the three countries reiterate their determination to work together within the framework of the Mecca Agreement to achieve sustainable peace and stability in their region,” the statement said. “To that end, they will continue to support efforts towards de-escalation and restraint to encourage peaceful resolution of crises,” it added. The three countries agreed to further institutionalize their cooperation “in a manner that would enhance their solidarity, ensure the credibility

• 
  Trump ‘sending message’ to Iran with Kharg bombing video: US vice president

  by Mehdi Editor on August 31, 2026

  US Vice President JD Vance said on Monday that US President Donald Trump is utilizing social media to deliver a warning to Iranian leadership following the release of a video depicting the destruction of strategic infrastructure, Anadolu reports. “I think that he’s sending a message to the Iranians,” Vance told reporters at Joint Base Andrews. Vance characterized Trump’s message as saying Iran was “behaving like a terrorist country” and warned that if the attacks did not cease, “there are going to be some consequences.” Vance noted that Trump remains committed to using “a lot of tools at our disposal” to protect maritime transit. READ: US to respond to Iranian attacks on forces in Middle East: Trump The remarks follow a post

• 
  Far-right Israeli minister storms Al-Aqsa Mosque under police protection

  by Mehdi Editor on August 31, 2026

  Far-right Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied East Jerusalem on Monday under police protection, with circulating images showing him performing prayers inside, Anadolu reports. Ben-Gvir entered the compound accompanied by police guards and several Israeli occupiers, an official from the Islamic Endowments Department in Jerusalem told Anadolu Agency on condition of anonymity. Images circulated on social media showed the minister performing prayers in the eastern section of the mosque. Ben-Gvir, the leader of the far-right Jewish Power party, has stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound several times, drawing widespread Palestinian, Arab, Islamic and international condemnation. READ: Ben-Gvir’s visit to Palestinian female prisoners’ cells draws criticism Monday’s incursion came nearly two months before Israel’s general elections,

• 
  Israeli explosions cause collapse of part of Al-Qantara mountain in Lebanon: Report

  by Mehdi Editor on August 31, 2026

  A series of powerful Israeli explosions caused part of Al-Qantara mountain in southern Lebanon to collapse Monday, the Lebanese National News Agency reported. The collapse followed several “powerful and consecutive” Israeli blasts that shook the area in the Marjayoun district, according to the news agency. Israeli drones also flew at low altitude over several towns in the Tyre district and over Beirut’s southern suburbs, it said. Earlier Monday, the agency reported that Israeli forces carried out a major blast near Beaufort Castle in the Nabatieh district, while artillery fire struck several nearby towns. Beaufort Castle, a 12th-century landmark overlooking the Litani River near Arnoun, has long held strategic importance because of its elevated position. READ: Lebanon welcomes Araghchi, urges Iran to

• 
  EASA extends flight warning for Gulf until September 30

  by Mehdi Editor on August 31, 2026

  The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has extended its flight warning for the Gulf region until September 30, 2026, due to increasing geopolitical risks in the region, Anadolu reports. The Cologne-based agency updated its warning under the Conflict Zone Information Bulletin for the Middle East and the Gulf on Monday. Accordingly, the civil flight warning over the Gulf, covering the airspace of Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and the UAE, has been extended until September 30, 2026. The new advisory came after military tensions between the US and Iran escalated for the first time since the end of July. EASA has also narrowed its general recommendation that previously advised avoiding all airspace of the countries in question. READ: US to respond to Iranian

• 
  5 Palestinians killed, several others injured in Israeli attacks on Gaza

  by Mehdi Editor on August 31, 2026

  Five Palestinians were killed and several others injured Monday in Israeli attacks in various parts of the Gaza Strip, amid the Israeli army’s continued violations of a ceasefire agreement in place since October 2025, Anadolu reports. Three Palestinians were killed and several others injured when an Israeli drone struck a civilian vehicle in the Tal al-Hawa neighborhood of southern Gaza City, a medical source told Anadolu Agency. Their bodies were taken to Al-Shifa Hospital. Earlier Monday, two Palestinians were killed and others injured when an Israeli drone strike targeted the entrance of a residential building near Gaza Municipality Park in central Gaza City, a medical source told Anadolu Agency. In another incident, the Palestinian Red Crescent Society said in a

• 
  Saudi Arabia committed to activating Mecca defense pact mechanisms: Defense minister

  by Mehdi Editor on August 31, 2026

  Saudi Arabia is committed to activating mechanisms under the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement to strengthen integration and advance security and stability, Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman said Monday, Anadolu reports. “I was pleased to lead the Kingdom’s delegation in the first Meeting of the Strategic Political Defense Committee,” Prince Khalid said on US social media platform X. “We affirmed our commitment to activating the Makkah Joint Defense Agreement pathways in a way that strengthens integration and advances security and stability,” he added. READ: Saudi Arabia reaffirms no normalisation with Israel without Palestinian state Türkiye is hosting the inaugural meeting of the Strategic Political and Defense Committee, established under the agreement to provide strategic direction for its implementation. The committee brings together

• 
  1,014 Palestinian athletes killed by Israel during Gaza genocide: Sports official

  by Mehdi Editor on August 31, 2026

  The number of Palestinian athletes killed by Israel in its genocide on the Gaza Strip has risen to 1,014, including players, coaches, referees and Palestinian Football Association officials, a Palestinian sports official told Anadolu Agency. The toll increased after Jabalia Services Club player Abdel Fattah Abu al-Aish was killed Saturday when an Israeli strike hit an electric motorcycle operated by a private delivery company in Gaza City’s Tal al-Hawa neighborhood, Palestinian Sports Media Federation Secretary-General Mustafa Siam said. Abu al-Aish had been preparing with his team to compete in the Thousand Martyrs’ Cup, a tournament organized by the Palestinian Football Association that was scheduled to begin Sept. 4, Siam said. His death comes amid “continued Israeli attacks on Palestinian sports,”

• 
  US interested in ‘continuing war,’ Iranian president says in talks with India’s Modi

  by Mehdi Editor on August 31, 2026

  Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Monday said that the US was interested in “continuing the war,” in remarks during a meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Anadolu reports. The two leaders met in Kyrgyzstan’s capital Bishkek on the sidelines of the 2026 Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit, according to Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency. Iran adhered to its commitments stemming from a Pakistan-mediated framework deal with the US, Pezeshkian said, accusing Washington of not fulfilling its commitments. “However, we continue to try to realize the path of agreement and understanding and believe that the continuation of the war is neither in our interest, nor in the interest of the region, nor in the interest of humanity,” he said. The solution

• 
  Israel establishes new illegal settlement southeast of Jenin in occupied West Bank

  by Mehdi Editor on August 31, 2026

  Israeli authorities established a new illegal settlement on land in the Jenin governorate in the northern occupied West Bank on Monday, according to the official Palestinian news agency Wafa. The settlement, named “Noa,” was established south of the “Ganim” and “Kadim” settlements on Palestinian land southeast of Jenin, Wafa said. “A ceremony marking the establishment of the settlement was held in the presence of several Israeli ministers and Knesset members,” it said. The agency added that the move reflects “growing official Israeli support for settlement expansion in the occupied Palestinian territories.” Wafa warned that the new settlement was established “amid the escalating Israeli settlement project in the northern West Bank, particularly in areas from which Israeli settlements were evacuated in

• 
  56 days before Israeli elections, Prime Minister Netanyahu grows weaker: Analysis

  by Mehdi Editor on August 31, 2026

  With 56 days left until Israel’s elections, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appears increasingly weakened as his rivals gain ground, Anadolu reports. Israel’s Knesset elections are scheduled for Oct. 27, with polls showing declining support for Netanyahu and his Likud party. Netanyahu views the vote as decisive for his political and personal future as he faces charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust. In addition to corruption charges, Netanyahu has faced an International Criminal Court arrest warrant since 2024 on charges related to war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Gaza Strip. He sees remaining in power as protection from a possible criminal conviction, as Israel’s Central Court continues to hear the corruption case against him. Netanyahu hopes the election

• 
  Mecca defense agreement launches process for ‘new regional security, cooperation architecture’: Turkish foreign minister

  by Mehdi Editor on August 31, 2026

  The Mecca defense agreement has launched a process to establish a “new security and cooperation architecture” in the region, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Monday, Anadolu reports. Speaking in Istanbul following the first meeting under the trilateral agreement between Turkiye, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, Fidan said: “With this agreement, the process of testing a new security and cooperation architecture in our region has begun.” Regional countries urgently need to act together for security, stability, prosperity and lasting peace, he added. Fidan attended the meeting at Istanbul’s Ciragan Palace alongside Turkish National Defense Minister Yasar Guler and Chief of General Staff Gen. Selcuk Bayraktaroglu. Pakistan’s delegation included Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif and army chief Field

• 
  Trump calls for war crimes trial of Iranian leadership over alleged protesters’ deaths

  by Mehdi Editor on August 31, 2026

  US President Donald Trump on Monday said the Iranian leadership should face trial for crimes against humanity following allegations that it has killed over 100,000 protesters, Anadolu reports. “They must be tried for war crimes against humanity,” Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social. He characterized Iran as “officially a failed nation” with a leadership in “total disarray.” “They have no Navy, they have no Air Force, they have no currency,” the US president claimed. “It is dead,” he said, noting that the only assets remaining for Tehran are “fake news” from the US and a “willingness to kill their protesters,” alleging a death toll of 100,000 demonstrators. There has been no independent confirmation of the alleged 100,000 deaths.

• 
  Israeli army demolishes 3 Palestinian buildings, detains 7 in West Bank

  by Mehdi Editor on August 31, 2026

  The Israeli army demolished three Palestinian buildings and detained seven Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, according to witnesses and Palestinian sources. Witnesses told Anadolu Agency that Israeli military units raided the Taawun Ulwi area of Nablus in the northern West Bank. Israeli forces demolished a home belonging to Palestinian Omar Saad, claiming it was built in Area C. Saad said he had received a demolition notice on Friday, adding that the three-story house had been home to three families on each floor, with a total of 10 people living in the building. READ: Smotrich calls for removal of 40 Palestinian memorials in West Bank within 24 hours He said he would continue to remain on the site even if the

• 
  Iraqi premier rejects proposal to keep some international coalition forces beyond Sept. 30

  by Mehdi Editor on August 31, 2026

  Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi has rejected a proposal to keep some international coalition forces in Iraq beyond Sept. 30, government spokesman Haider al-Aboudi said Monday, Anadolu reports. Speaking at a press conference cited by the Iraqi News Agency (INA), Al-Aboudi said the government is continuing procedures and commitments to restrict weapons, regulate their use and unify decision-making. He said talks with factions are “proceeding regularly,” adding that the process will be completed before Sept. 30. “State decisions are built on the basis of national interests,” Al-Aboudi said, describing the talks as positive and adding that the next stage would be based on cooperation and mutual interests. He said Al-Zaidi rejected a proposal for some coalition forces to remain after Sept.

• 
  Scottish government urged to fully implement sanctions against Israel

  by Mehdi Editor on August 31, 2026

  The Scottish Greens have called on Scotland’s first minister to fully implement boycott and sanctions measures against Israel in his upcoming Programme for Government, according to media reports on Monday, Anadolu reports. “The Programme for Government must be the moment that changes. We need clear commitments and a plan to end Scotland’s complicity in the systemic abuse of Palestinians,” Scottish Greens MSP Patrick Harvie was quoted by Scottish daily The National as saying. The call comes after the Scottish Greens repeatedly urged First Minister John Swinney to end contracts with companies identified by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk as being involved in Israeli settlement activity in the occupied West Bank. The Greens are also calling for local authorities

• 
  Israel, Greece sign €3B defense deal for ‘multi-layered’ air defense network

  by Mehdi Editor on August 31, 2026

  Israel and Greece have signed an approximately €3 billion ($3.5 billion) defense deal, dubbed “Achilles Shield,” to provide Greece with its first integrated, “multi-layered” air defense network, Anadolu reports. The system will integrate Israel’s Spyder, Barak MX and David’s Sling air defense systems, the Israeli Defense Ministry said in a statement. The agreement was signed in Tel Aviv in the presence of senior officials from both countries, the ministry said. A separate €26 million ($30 million) deal was also signed for Rafael’s Drone Dome systems “to defend strategic sites against UAVs and drones and to reinforce existing defenses.” The two countries will also “expand industrial defense cooperation, including the transfer of knowledge and technology to the local industry,” the statement added.

• 
  Israeli police clash with ultra-Orthodox Jew protesters over military service

  by Mehdi Editor on August 31, 2026

  Israeli police and ultra-Orthodox Jewish protesters clashed in Tel Aviv on Monday during a demonstration against military service, Anadolu reports. In a statement, the police said demonstrators blocked roads near the Tel Hashomer recruitment office as officers moved to disperse the anti-draft protest. Officers repeatedly warned demonstrators through loudspeakers before accusing them of “disturbing public order,” blocking roads and clashing with police, it said. Video footage showed police officers forcibly removing protesters from a street near the recruitment office in Tel Hashomer. The Jerusalem Post reported that dozens of ultra-Orthodox protesters tried Monday morning to block roads leading to the recruitment office. The protest aimed to prevent the recruitment of ultra-Orthodox Jews into the army. The demonstrators slept on the ground

• 
  US to respond to Iranian attacks on forces in Middle East: Trump

  by Mehdi Editor on August 31, 2026

  US President Donald Trump said Monday that the United States will retaliate against Iran following missile and drone attacks on American forces in Jordan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). “We’re going to hit them hard. There will be a response,” Trump told Fox News. He noted that US air defense systems intercepted most of the incoming fire. One missile was identified as “not going to hit anything significant,” and US forces allowed it to pass through the airspace, Trump said. READ: US strikes Iranian launchers on Larak Island, marking first attacks in weeks The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said early Monday it had struck the King Hussein and Azraq airbases in Jordan with ballistic missiles while also targeting Al