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

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  Report: Israeli fighter jets flew close to Iranian border in apparent attempt to provoke response

  by EditorMehdi on October 22, 2026

  Dozens of Israeli fighter jets flew close to Iran’s border earlier this week in a maneuver that may have been intended to provoke an Iranian military response, Israeli media reported Wednesday, citing US sources. Israel’s Channel 12 reported that the operation took place overnight Monday into Tuesday and involved dozens of fighter jets accompanied by Israeli Air Force refueling aircraft. According to the broadcaster, the aircraft flew over Syrian and Iraqi territory before turning back toward Israel after approaching the Iranian border at a very short distance. US sources told Channel 12 that Israel may have hoped Iranian forces would open fire on the aircraft, potentially providing a justification for launching an attack on Iran. US and Israeli officials described

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  Why Indonesia joined the Badr pact, and what it must do next

  by EditorMehdi on October 22, 2026

  On Wednesday, 21st  October, four Muslim-majority countries signed a new defence agreement in Doha, the capital of Qatar. Turkiye, Qatar, Pakistan and Indonesia call it the “Badr Memorandum of Understanding”. A memorandum of understanding is a formal promise to work together. It is not a full treaty, and it does not force any member to go to war for another. The name carries a message. As one Lebanese outlet reported, Badr means “full moon” in Arabic. For many Muslims, the word also recalls the Battle of Badr, a famous early victory in Islamic history. For Indonesia, the country with the largest Muslim population in the world, this is a quiet but important step. Jakarta sent its Deputy Defence Minister, Yusuf

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  Israel condemns Libya’s ratification of maritime agreement with Turkey as Ankara defends its legality

  by EditorMehdi on October 22, 2026

  Israel on Wednesday condemned the Libyan House of Representatives’ ratification of a maritime boundary agreement with Turkey, accusing Ankara of destabilising the Eastern Mediterranean, while Turkish officials defended the memorandum as legitimate under international law. The agreement, signed between Turkey and Libya, establishes a framework for demarcating maritime boundaries in an area of the Eastern Mediterranean believed to contain significant natural gas reserves. The ratification was approved by Libya’s eastern-based House of Representatives, operating in a region controlled by forces loyal to Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar. Haftar’s administration has strengthened relations with Ankara in recent years, despite its longstanding rivalry with Libya’s internationally recognised government in Tripoli. Israel’s Foreign Ministry strongly criticized the decision, stating that it “strongly condemns the

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  Iran accuses US and Israel of fueling regional insecurity, rejects blame for Gulf tensions

  by EditorMehdi on October 22, 2026

  Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei accused the United States and Israel on Wednesday of fueling instability in the Middle East through military attacks and violations of international law, rejecting Washington’s attempts to hold Tehran responsible for insecurity in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz. According to Iran’s Tasnim news agency, Baghaei said Washington bears responsibility for escalating regional tensions despite its calls for the international community to condemn Iran over developments in the Gulf. His remarks came in response to an appeal by the US secretary of state urging other countries to condemn Tehran. In a statement published in English on X, Baghaei accused the United States and Israel of bearing responsibility for the consequences of their

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  Israeli forces keep Salfit entrance closed for second day, disrupting healthcare access for thousands

  by EditorMehdi on October 22, 2026

  Israeli forces continued to block the main northern entrance to the occupied West Bank city of Salfit for a second consecutive day on Wednesday, restricting residents’ movement and preventing thousands of patients from accessing essential healthcare services. The entrance remains closed with an iron gate, obstructing travel between Salfit and surrounding Palestinian villages and towns. Local residents said the restrictions have prevented people from reaching medical facilities, government institutions and other essential services inside the city. Dr Haitham Mansour, director-general of the Salfit Health Directorate, warned that the repeated closure has deprived thousands of patients of healthcare services and disrupted the operations of medical facilities across the governorate. Mansour said the restrictions have prevented healthcare workers from reaching 13 clinics

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  Lebanese Parliament Speaker Berri rejects calls to repeal law boycotting Israel

  by EditorMehdi on October 22, 2026

  Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri said Wednesday that any attempt to repeal Lebanon’s 1955 law boycotting Israel would fail in parliament, rejecting growing pressure to amend the legislation. In remarks to the press, Berri challenged supporters of repealing the law to submit a formal legislative proposal, making clear his opposition to any move to abolish the boycott. “I am eagerly awaiting for someone to put forward a legislative proposal on this matter,” Berri said. His comments came amid reported US efforts to raise the issue with Lebanese lawmakers. According to the report, US Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa has discussed the possibility of repealing the boycott legislation during meetings with members of parliament. Some Lebanese expatriate groups have also reportedly

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  Iraq denies presence of Houthi bases on its territory

  by EditorMehdi on October 22, 2026

  The Iraqi government on Wednesday denied that the Houthis had any bases in Iraq. “There are no known Houthi bases in Iraq, and there is no need for government action or a decision on something that does not exist,” government spokesperson Haider al-Aboudi told the Iraqi News Agency (INA). He said some people continued to promote claims circulating on social media, adding that the presence of armed groups from other countries in Iraq violates the country’s constitutional principles. “Iraq will not be used to launch attacks on neighbouring countries or host armed groups involved in conflicts,” he said. READ: Araghchi says Saudi Arabia and Houthis have not responded to Iran’s mediation offer Al-Aboudi also said Iraq is closely coordinating with Turkey

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  After Mecca, why Badr? Because this pact builds, not binds

  by EditorMehdi on October 22, 2026

  Within hours of the ink drying in Doha, the label arrived: another “Muslim NATO.” It is the wrong label for the wrong agreement. On Wednesday, Turkiye, Qatar, Pakistan and Indonesia signed “Badr,” a defence-industry memorandum covering joint production, research and development, and military training. The defence ministers of Qatar, Pakistan and Turkiye signed it, with Indonesia represented by its deputy defence minister. It contains no mutual-defence clause. That is the clue. Mecca, signed on 7th August  by Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and Pakistan, is the collective-defence pact, where an attack on one is an attack on all, and this month it was activated after Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia. Badr does something different. Mecca settles who stands with whom. Badr asks

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  Trump’s Iran war is on an Israeli leash

  by EditorMehdi on October 22, 2026

  On October 21, the Financial Times reported that Benjamin Netanyahu had instructed his military to prepare a multi-day bombing campaign against Iran for the weekend of October 10—only for Donald Trump to block it until after the November 3 midterms . The operation would have targeted electricity plants, nuclear facilities, and regime sites, surpassing the intensity of the joint offensive launched in February. Trump’s opposition did not end the war. It rescheduled it. That distinction is the entire story. The veto is being presented as proof that Washington can restrain Jerusalem. In reality, it is a demonstration of an alliance leash—a tether that permits tactical friction while leaving the strategic architecture of the war untouched. Trump can pull the leash

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  Malaysia bans Waze for government employees over security concerns

  by EditorMehdi on October 22, 2026

  Malaysia has banned public sector employees from using the Waze navigation app over concerns about data security and its links to Israel, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has announced. The ban aims “to protect government information and users’ personal data from the threat of misuse by the Israeli regime”, Anwar’s office said in a statement on Wednesday, adding that the government was reviewing potential security threats linked to the app. The announcement followed a meeting of the National Cyber Security Committee, chaired by Anwar. In a Facebook post, he recommended using TuJu, a Malaysian mapping app developed by the country’s highway authority, as an alternative to Waze. READ: Malaysia, Indonesia reaffirm support for Palestine, holy sites of Jerusalem In a directive issued

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  Dead for fifteen years, yet Gaddafi still shapes political debate in a divided Libya

  by Marwa A on October 22, 2026

  Two days ago, on 20 October, Gaddafi’s supporters marked the fifteenth anniversary of his death. Killed and hurriedly buried in a secret grave whose location remains unknown to all but those who buried him, Gaddafi seems to have left behind a secret that the current order fears to reveal, as if his grave itself were a threat to the country’s disorder. Many Libyans believe that Gaddafi went to his grave taking the country with him. Denied the opportunity to give Gaddafi a proper public funeral, those who gathered for Saif al-Islam’s funeral came to mourn the son and, through him, the father. Killed in February this year, Saif left behind another unresolved question of political violence and accountability. Libya’s Public

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  Al-Azhar warns Gaza hospitals risk becoming mass graves as fuel supplies run low

  by EditorMehdi on October 22, 2026

  Al-Azhar, Egypt’s top Islamic authority, warned on Wednesday that dwindling supplies needed to operate electricity generators in Gaza Strip hospitals could put the lives of patients, wounded people and children at risk. It described hospitals being turned into mass graves as “a stain on humanity’s conscience” and called for urgent international action. In a statement, Al-Azhar said depriving medical facilities of electricity amounted to “a mass death sentence for innocent people and a fully-fledged war crime that violates all international laws and norms”. READ: Gaza hospitals face risk of power outages as generator oil runs out It urged the international community to act swiftly to allow aid into Gaza, open humanitarian corridors and end the blockade, which it said was worsening

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  The empty stadium illusion: Why banning Israeli fans is not enough

  by EditorMehdi on October 22, 2026

  The stadium is empty, but Israel is still in the game. Though any form of isolation of those responsible for genocide is welcome, the growing movement for a sports boycott of Israel has yet to translate solidarity into meaningful sporting isolation. Two recent developments illustrate this contradiction. The first is the decision by Alkmaar, a Dutch city north of Amsterdam, to bar visiting supporters of Israeli football club Hapoel Be’er Sheva from attending its 15th October Europa League match against AZ Alkmaar at the AFAS Stadium. The decision followed the violence surrounding the November 2024 Ajax–Maccabi Tel Aviv match in Amsterdam, when Israeli supporters were filmed chanting racist slogans, tearing down Palestinian flags and confronting local residents. Such behaviour is

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  2 killed, 2 injured after Saudi air defenses intercept drone targeting Aramco oil field

  by Marwa A on October 21, 2026

  Two foreign nationals were killed and two others injured Wednesday after Saudi air defenses intercepted a drone attempting to target a facility at Saudi Aramco’s Shaybah oil field in the country’s Eastern Province, the Energy Ministry said, Anadolu reports. A ministry official said Saudi air defenses intercepted the drone as it attempted to strike one of the facilities at the oil field, according to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA). Debris from the interception sparked a fire in a vehicle belonging to a contractor working at the field, outside the facility’s perimeter, the official said. The incident did not affect operations at the oil field, the ministry added. The official identified the two fatalities as Philippine and Nepalese nationals, while the

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  Hundreds sign letter supporting Irish author Sally Rooney, Faber over UK restrictions

  by Marwa A on October 21, 2026

  Hundreds of authors, actors and musicians have signed an open letter supporting Irish author Sally Rooney and her publisher, Faber, demanding an amendment to legislation that has prevented the sale of her books in the UK, Anadolu reports. The letter, which was published in the New Statesman, argues that the decision to stop distributing Rooney’s works in the UK raises concerns about freedom of expression following the government’s designation of Palestine Action as a terror organization. “Sally Rooney is a writer, not a terrorist. Her books must be available to the public,” said the letter. Signatories include authors Zadie Smith, Patrick Ness, Damian Barr and Juno Dawson; actors Paul Mescal, Daisy Edgar-Jones and Tilda Swinton; musician Kate Nash; filmmaker Jonathan

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  War Without End: How Israel Now Sees Its Future | Palestine This Week

  by EditorMehdi on October 21, 2026

  In this episode, we unpack Israel’s new national security doctrine of permanent war, the settler attack on a Washington Post journalist and EU diplomats, and eight Israeli parties’ unanimous rejection of a Palestinian state. Plus Trump’s endorsement of Netanyahu, Israel’s grip on the Latin American right and the backlash against Obama’s Belfast remarks.     WATCH: ‘Peace Requires Justice’: Why Washington and Tel Aviv Want Neither | Palestine This Week

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  Diplomatic efforts to end Sudan war intensify despite continued fighting: UN envoy

  by Marwa A on October 21, 2026

  Diplomatic efforts to end Sudan’s civil war are increasing despite continued fighting, the UN secretary-general’s personal envoy for Sudan said Wednesday, highlighting new confidence-building initiatives, Anadolu reports. “We also are witnessing more diplomatic efforts than earlier around Sudan,” Pekka Haavisto told reporters in Geneva following the sixth consultative meeting on Sudan, co-hosted by the UN and Switzerland. Responding to Anadolu’s question about concrete progress compared with previous meetings, Haavisto pointed to growing international engagement with Sudanese political actors. He highlighted a “successful” visit to Khartoum in September and meetings with political groups, women and youth representatives. However, Haavisto warned that some parties in Sudan still believed they could achieve a military victory. “We, the international community, are saying that there

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  US vice president sidesteps question on endorsing Netanyahu in Israeli election

  by Marwa A on October 21, 2026

  US Vice President JD Vance on Wednesday declined to endorse Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ahead of Israel’s elections, saying he was focused on the American midterm campaign, Anadolu reports. Speaking at a news conference in Cincinnati, Ohio, Vance was asked about his position on endorsing foreign political candidates. The question followed his recent interview comments and his previous support for Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and the political right in Germany. “I have endorsed one foreign candidate for election in my entire life, first of all, it didn’t go particularly well. As much as I’m very much an admirer of the prime minister, Orban,” Vance said. He stressed that his priority was supporting candidates in the US. “We’re in

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  Mayor Mamdani demands immediate release of New Yorkers detained by Israel

  by Marwa A on October 21, 2026

  New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani demanded the immediate release Wednesday of New Yorkers detained by Israel while accompanying Palestinian farmers during the olive harvest in the occupied West Bank, Anadolu reports. In a statement posted on the US social media platform X, Mamdani said Democratic US congressional nominee Brad Lander, rabbis and other New Yorkers had accompanied Palestinian farmers during the harvest before being detained by the Israeli government. “Harvesting olives is not illegal. The occupation is,” he said. He welcomed Lander’s release but said other New Yorkers remained in detention. “I am thankful that Brad has been released. But other New Yorkers remain detained, and they must be released immediately,” he said. Mamdani accused Israel of committing genocide

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  Iran’s Revolutionary Guards say preparing to unveil ‘father of all bombs’

  by Marwa A on October 21, 2026

  Iran is preparing to unveil a new weapon described as the “father of all bombs,” a spokesman for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said Wednesday, Anadolu reports. “We are in the stage of preparing to unveil the ‘father of all bombs.’ This is something new for the enemy,” Hossein Mohebi said in statements carried by Iran’s Young Journalists Club news agency. He did not provide further details about the weapon. On Friday, US President Donald Trump hinted at the possible use of the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast Bomb, also known as the “mother of all bombs,” to target Iranian nuclear facilities. Weighing around 9,800 kilograms (21,600 pounds), the GBU-43/B is one of the largest non-nuclear conventional bombs in

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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