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

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  Iran, Oman hold first joint Hormuz committee meeting in Muscat

  by Mehdi Editor on June 29, 2026

  Iran and Oman held the first meeting of a joint committee on the Strait of Hormuz in Muscat to discuss current issues related to the narrow sea passageway and its future management, the Iranian deputy foreign minister said on Monday. In a statement on US social media platform X, Kazem Gharibabadi, deputy foreign minister for legal and international affairs, said the meeting was held during his visit to Muscat with Abdulaziz Al-Hinai, ambassador-at-large at the Omani Foreign Ministry. “While reviewing current issues related to the strait, we exchanged views on the future management of the strait within the framework of Article 5 of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding and the sovereign rights of coastal states,” he added. READ: Oil prices rise

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  Azerbaijan calls on Israel to reconsider decision to recognize 1915 events as ‘genocide’

  by Mehdi Editor on June 29, 2026

  Azerbaijan on Monday criticized the Israeli government’s decision to recognize the so-called “Armenian genocide,” calling on Israel to reconsider the move, Anadolu Agency reports. The Foreign Ministry said in a statement that it was “seriously concerned” by the decision distorting historical facts surrounding the events of 1915. “It is unacceptable to distort historical facts about the events of 1915 and turn complex historical processes into the subject of political decisions far removed from legal and scientific foundations,” the statement said. The ministry stressed that such decisions do not contribute to reconciliation or mutual understanding but instead deepen existing divisions and hinder efforts to achieve lasting peace in the region. It urged the Israeli government to reconsider its decision and that

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  Turkish parliament speaker says ending Israeli aggression key to ensuring world peace

  by Mehdi Editor on June 29, 2026

  Turkish Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmus said on Monday that ending the Israeli government’s actions would not only allow Palestinians to live in peace but would also help secure world peace, Anadolu reports. Speaking at the opening of the NATO Parliamentary Summit in Istanbul, Kurtulmus said there could be no lasting peace in the world without peace in the Middle East and no peace in the Middle East without peace for Palestinians. “The end of these acts of aggression by the Israeli government would not only allow Palestinians to attain peace and tranquility, but would also mean securing world peace,” he said. Kurtulmus reiterated Turkiye’s support for the establishment of an independent and sovereign Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, adding

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  Israel rebrands Gaza displacement plan amid backlash over forced transfer concerns: Report

  by Mehdi Editor on June 29, 2026

  Israeli political and security officials replaced the term “voluntary migration” with “Free Movement Plan” when referring to plans to relocate Palestinians from the Gaza Strip, according to Israel’s Channel 13, amid international concerns over forced displacement. Citing unnamed informed sources, Channel 13 said instructions were circulated to relevant bodies, including security and intelligence institutions, “to reintroduce the initiative using language deemed more acceptable internationally.” Sources involved in contacts with concerned countries “expressed optimism that the change in terminology could help shift those countries’ positions and revive the plan after earlier setbacks,” the channel added. A senior Israeli official, whose name was not disclosed, acknowledged that Hamas “still exists” in the Gaza Strip and that Israel is seeking to push “as

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  US and Iran agree to suspend attacks, hold meeting in Qatar

  by Mehdi Editor on June 29, 2026

  The United States and Iran have agreed to suspend attacks against each other for the time being, according to US media reports citing senior officials. The two sides intend to hold a meeting in Qatar on Tuesday to resolve their dispute regarding the Strait of Hormuz. The two sides exchanged strikes in recent days despite signing a memorandum of understanding on 17 June aimed at ending the conflict that disrupted shipping through the strategic waterway. Under the memorandum, Tehran pledged to ensure the safe passage of commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, while Washington agreed to lift its blockade on Iranian ports. READ: US strikes Iran following attack on ship in Strait of Hormuz: CENTCOM A senior US official told

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  Israeli TV channel claims to obtain parts of Lebanon agreement’s secret security annex

  by Mehdi Editor on June 29, 2026

  Israeli Channel 12 claimed on Sunday evening that it had obtained parts of what it described as the “secret security annex” to the framework agreement between Beirut and Tel Aviv. The channel claimed the annex had remained undisclosed at the request of the Lebanese government, while permission had been given to publish its main provisions. According to the report, the annex states that the Israeli army’s withdrawal will not follow a fixed timetable but will instead depend on developments on the ground and assessments of the security situation, meaning there is no commitment to an automatic withdrawal. The channel also claimed that the annex grants the Israeli army freedom to carry out military operations within the so-called Yellow Line to

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  Egypt: Full Israeli withdrawal is key to stability in Lebanon

  by Mehdi Editor on June 29, 2026

  Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said on Sunday that a “full” Israeli withdrawal is the key to stability in Lebanon. His remarks came during a phone call with Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, during which they discussed developments in Lebanon and the wider region, according to a statement issued by the Lebanese Parliament Presidency. The call came two days after Lebanon and Israel signed a US-sponsored framework agreement in Washington providing for a phased Israeli withdrawal from all Lebanese territory. The process is set to begin with two pilot areas after verification that non-state armed groups have been disarmed, in an apparent reference to the Iran-backed Hezbollah. According to the statement, Abdelatty reaffirmed “Egypt’s commitment to stability in Lebanon” and

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  Oil prices rise as US-Iran tensions escalate

  by Mehdi Editor on June 29, 2026

  Oil prices rose slightly as hostilities between the United States and Iran continued for a fourth consecutive day, while Iran maintained its insistence on controlling the Strait of Hormuz. Brent crude futures rose 0.9 per cent to US$72.20 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude gained 1.3 per cent to US$70.09 a barrel. On Friday, oil prices fell to their lowest levels since the conflict began, with Brent closing at around US$72 a barrel and WTI settling at about US$69. Oil prices declined last week amid hopes that a 60-day ceasefire would allow oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz to resume. The strategic waterway carries around one-fifth of the world’s oil supplies. READ: US to continue targeting Iran

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  Hezbollah says framework agreement will not be implemented, insists on keeping its weapons

  by Mehdi Editor on June 29, 2026

  Lebanese MP Hassan Fadlallah, a member of Hezbollah’s Loyalty to the Resistance parliamentary bloc, said the group will continue to hold on to its weapons, describing them as essential for protecting and defending Lebanon. He also said what he called the “agreement of humiliation and disgrace” signed by the Lebanese authorities with Israel “will not be implemented”, accusing the government of surrendering national sovereignty and bowing to foreign pressure. Fadlallah delivered the remarks during a memorial ceremony organised by Hezbollah for Ali Al-Rida Haidar Faqih at Al-Sayyida Al-Zahra Hall in Ain Al-Delbeh, located in Beirut’s southern suburbs. The event was attended by religious figures, local dignitaries, residents, and the families of the martyrs. He said the resistance milieu was destined

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  Israeli forces open fire on civilians in southern Syrian village

  by Mehdi Editor on June 29, 2026

  Israeli forces opened fire on Syrian civilians on Sunday evening as they began withdrawing from the village of Abidin in Daraa province, southern Syria. The Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) reported that “Israeli occupation forces opened fire towards residents while withdrawing from the village of Abidin in the western Daraa countryside.” There were no immediate reports of injuries, and the Syrian authorities have not commented on the incident. Earlier on Sunday, the Israeli army set up tents on Tal al-Maghar, west of Abidin village, and in the Yarmouk Basin area in the Daraa countryside. Syrian media reported that Israeli forces fired live ammunition and illumination flares, targeting farmers near El-Tallah after a force of four armoured personnel carriers moved from

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  Iraq detains politicians, officials in anti-corruption crackdown

  by Mehdi Editor on June 29, 2026

  Iraqi security forces arrested politicians and senior officials early on Sunday as part of a broader anti-corruption campaign ordered by Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi, a ​government spokesperson said, Reuters reported. Elite Counter Terrorism Service units raided homes inside Baghdad’s heavily fortified ‌Green Zone in overnight operations, detaining multiple suspects, legal and security sources said. Iraq News Agency (INA), citing a senior official, said 47 suspects were detained, including members of parliament and government officials. Zaidi, who took office ​in May, has pledged to tackle entrenched corruption, which remains one of Iraq’s ​most persistent challenges despite repeated promises by successive governments to hold officials accountable. Sunday’s ⁠operation was launched on his direct orders after judicial authorities issued arrest warrants targeting what

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  Qalibaf, Berri discuss Lebanon ceasefire as speaker rejects Israel-Lebanon Framework Agreement

  by Mehdi Editor on June 29, 2026

  Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf and Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri discussed efforts to end the conflict in Lebanon during a telephone conversation, with both officials stressing the need to restore Lebanese sovereignty and accelerate the implementation of ceasefire arrangements. According to Iranian media, Qalibaf said ending the war in Lebanon and restoring the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity were among the principal issues addressed during the recent negotiations in Switzerland. He said these objectives form a key part of the first clause of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding reached between Iran and the United States. Qalibaf added that Iran’s priority is to end the conflict, facilitate the return of displaced people, end what he described as the occupation

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  Iran says it developed more advanced missiles and drones during 40-Day War

  by Mehdi Editor on June 29, 2026

  Iran said on Sunday that it developed and deployed more advanced drones and missiles during the recent 40-Day conflict, highlighting what officials described as continued progress in the country’s military capabilities despite the fighting. Iranian Army spokesperson Mohammad Akrami Nia said new military equipment entered service during the conflict after completing research and development. “We recently used new drones whose research and development phases had already begun, and we were able to deploy them during the war,” Akrami Nia said. He added that Iranian forces also employed upgraded missiles that he said were more advanced than those previously used by the country’s armed forces. READ: Iran urges US to set timeline for ‘unconditional’ Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon The remarks come amid

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  Report: US reassessing relationship with Israel under ‘America First’ policy

  by Mehdi Editor on June 29, 2026

  The United States no longer views Israel as an exceptional ally exempt from the Trump administration’s “America First” foreign policy approach, according to a report published by Politico. The publication, citing unnamed sources, said the administration is increasingly applying the same strategic principles to Israel that it applies to other US allies. An unnamed Israeli political adviser told Politico that Israel had assumed it would remain exempt from the “America First” doctrine. “We naively gambled on being exempt from the ‘America First’ principle,” the adviser said. “But this couldn’t last. We couldn’t remain an exception to all US foreign policy decisions for four years.” According to the report, US Vice President J.D. Vance has emerged as one of the administration’s

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  Gaza health ministry says death toll since ceasefire has risen to 1,041

  by Mehdi Editor on June 29, 2026

  The Gaza Strip witnessed renewed Israeli military aggression on Sunday as Palestinian health officials reported additional casualties and damage, more than eight months after the ceasefire agreement came into effect. According to the Gaza Ministry of Health, the death toll since the ceasefire began on October 11, 2025, has risen to 1,041 Palestinians, with 3,372 others injured. The ministry also reported that 786 bodies have been recovered during the same period. The ministry said three bodies and 43 wounded people were brought to hospitals across Gaza over the past 24 hours. It added that the overall death toll since the start of the war on 7th October 2023, has reached 73,054, with 173,480 people injured. Health officials said a number

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  Israeli forces begin paving settlement road near Bethlehem, uproot olive trees west of Jenin

  by Mehdi Editor on June 29, 2026

  Israeli bulldozers have begun paving a new settlement road on Palestinian-owned land near the village of Battir, west of Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank, according to local sources. Residents said the construction is taking place in the Al-Hanjaliya area and will provide access to a settlement outpost established on land belonging to the village. According to local accounts, the road project forms part of ongoing settlement expansion in the area and is expected to affect additional agricultural land while further restricting Palestinian access to their property. READ: Israeli forces continue land levelling in West Bank for planned military camp Battir, along with the neighbouring communities of Al-Walaja and Beit Jala, has witnessed increased settlement activity in recent months. Separately on

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  US to continue targeting Iran if Hormuz shipping is threatened: Envoy to UN

  by Marwa A on June 28, 2026

  The US will continue to target Iran’s military infrastructure if Tehran threatens international shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, US Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz said in an interview with Fox News on Sunday, Anadolu reports. “If the Iranian regime thinks for a second that President (Donald) Trump is going to sit by, stand by, while Iran continues to attack international shipping without a response, or our bases without a response, they’re sadly mistaken, and they saw that loud and clear over the last few nights,” Waltz said. He added that the US would “continue to, militarily, if needed, take down their infrastructure that they’re trying to use to illegally control an international waterway.” Waltz also said technical discussions

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  Iran urges US to set timeline for ‘unconditional’ Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon

  by Marwa A on June 28, 2026

  Iran urged the US on Sunday to set a timetable for Israel’s “unconditional” withdrawal from occupied Lebanese territories under a war-ending memorandum of understanding signed between Tehran and Washington, Anadolu reports. “Ending the war and military operations of the Zionist regime against Lebanon, as well as the withdrawal of occupiers from all occupied Lebanese territories, is a necessary condition for reaching a final and sustainable agreement to establish stability in the region,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Bagaei said in a news briefing carried by ISNA News Agency. Bagaei said Tehran considers safeguarding Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as “the dignity and security of all Lebanese people,” as “essential” for the durability of any agreement related to ending the

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  Israeli officer killed, soldier injured in southern Lebanon, military says

  by Marwa A on June 28, 2026

  The Israeli military said Sunday that one officer was killed and a soldier injured in a “clash” in southern Lebanon, Anadolu reports. A military statement said the slain officer was a platoon commander in the Golani Brigade’s 12th Battalion. The army said the officer was killed in a clash that occurred after a Hezbollah ambush near Deir Siryan in southern Lebanon. The military said another soldier was lightly wounded in the incident. According to Israeli military figures, at least 32 soldiers have been killed since the outbreak of war with Iran on Feb. 28. The military does not specify where casualties occur, but most have reportedly been recorded in southern Lebanon and along Israel’s northern border. Israel maintains strict censorship

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  Israeli army kills 2 people in southern Syria

  by Marwa A on June 28, 2026

  The Israeli army said Sunday that its forces had killed two people in southern Syria on Sunday, in the latest violation of the Arab country’s sovereignty, Anadolu reports. Israel’s public broadcaster KAN said army forces spotted the two individuals Saturday evening, claiming they had moved “unusually” within the so-called “security zone” established by Israel in Syrian territory following the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime. There was no immediate comment from Syrian authorities regarding the incident. Meanwhile, an Israeli force raided the village of Ain al-Eid in the southwestern Quneitra countryside on Saturday, setting up a military checkpoint and searching passersby and a resident’s home, according to the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA). SANA added that another Israeli force, consisting of

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  Israel’s Ben-Gvir faces US complaint over alleged war crimes: Rights group

  by Marwa A on June 28, 2026

  The Belgium-based Hind Rajab Foundation has filed a complaint with the US Justice Department accusing Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir of committing war crimes against Palestinians, including US citizens, the organization said, Anadolu reports. In a statement, the foundation said Ben-Gvir, who is expected to visit New York on July 7-8, had been accused of war crimes against Palestinians, including US citizens, and urged the Justice Department to open an investigation. The organization said its complaint had been submitted to the relevant US authorities. It alleged that Ben-Gvir had used his authority since taking office in 2022 to implement policies of “systematic torture, murder, abuse and forced displacement” across the occupied Palestinian territories, particularly through the Israeli Prison Service.

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  Saudi Aramco helicopter crashes in Ras Tanura, killing 14 people

  by Marwa A on June 28, 2026

  A helicopter operated by Saudi oil giant Aramco crashed in Ras Tanura on Sunday, killing 14 people on board, the state news agency SPA reported, Anadolu reports. All of the deceased were Saudi nationals, SPA said, citing an official source from the Saudi Energy Ministry. A probe is underway to determine the cause of the incident, it added. Ras Tanura, situated on Saudi Arabia’s eastern coast along the Gulf, serves as one of the kingdom’s primary oil refining and export hubs. READ: China, Saudi Aramco discuss energy security, oil and gas cooperation

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  The end of ambiguity: How the Washington framework broke the post-Taif order

  by Marwa A on June 28, 2026

  The framework agreement signed in Washington on June 26 between the United States, Israel, and Lebanon is being analyzed in most capitals as a diplomatic development. In Lebanon, it is being experienced as something closer to a political earthquake. Within hours of the signing, Hezbollah’s secretary-general called it “null and void.” Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, the principal intermediary between Hezbollah and the state, called it “incitement to civil war.” Hezbollah supporters blocked roads in Beirut’s southern suburbs with burning tires. And Kataeb leader Samy Gemayel congratulated the president and prime minister on “an achievement accomplished by the Lebanese state.” The reactions do not describe a country debating the merits of an agreement. They describe a country discovering that the arrangement

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  FIFA could not hide Gaza

  by Marwa A on June 28, 2026

  The Palestinian national team did not qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Yet Palestine became one of the tournament’s defining presence, not through goals or victories, but through the constant display of Palestinian flags in the stands, expressions of solidarity with Gaza, and chants that echoed across stadiums, host cities, and public viewing areas around the world. This phenomenon went far beyond isolated gestures of support. The 2026 World Cup confirmed that Palestine has secured a place in the global political conscience. In the United States, the principal military and diplomatic ally of Israel, thousands of fans turned football stadiums into platforms calling for a ceasefire in Gaza and expressing solidarity with the Palestinian people. This was not unprecedented.

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  The banker of Baghdad: How Tom Barrack plans to starve Iran’s militia machine

  by Marwa A on June 28, 2026

  When President Donald Trump announced on 31 May that Tom Barrack would serve simultaneously as US Ambassador to Ankara, Special Presidential Envoy to Syria, and now Special Presidential Envoy to Iraq, the diplomatic community in Baghdad greeted the news with the mild interest one accords a routine reshuffling. They were wrong. Barrack is not arriving in the Iraqi capital with a briefing book and a handshake. He is arriving with a vault key — and the vault holds Baghdad’s oxygen. Since 2003, Iraq’s hydrocarbon revenues have been deposited into a dedicated account at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. When Baghdad needs hard currency, the Treasury arranges for physical dollar banknotes — sometimes as much as $13 billion in

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  Israeli army to begin pilot withdrawal from southern Lebanon: Report

  by Mehdi Editor on June 27, 2026

  The Israeli army is preparing to begin the pilot phase of its withdrawal from southern Lebanon as early as Sunday under a recently signed framework agreement between Beirut and Tel Aviv, according to Israeli media reports. The withdrawal is expected to begin from one of the two “pilot zones” specified in the agreement, Israel’s public broadcaster KAN reported. KAN said no official details have been released on the locations or timetable for the withdrawal. “Under the agreement, a direct communication channel is also expected to be opened between Israel and Lebanon,” the broadcaster said. On Thursday, Lebanon and Israel signed a US-sponsored framework agreement stipulating a phased Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory, beginning with two pilot areas. READ: Hezbollah chief rejects

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  Lebanese foreign minister hails framework deal with Israel as ‘victory for diplomacy’

  by Mehdi Editor on June 27, 2026

  Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef Raggi on Saturday described the framework agreement signed with Israel as a victory for diplomacy, Anadolu reports. During a phone call with his Jordanian counterpart Ayman Safadi, Raggi thanked Amman for its support, saying the US-brokered agreement “marks a victory for diplomacy and for the authority of the state and its institutions above all else,” according to the Lebanese Foreign Ministry. For his part, Safadi expressed hope that the agreement would serve Lebanon and its people while helping “restore stability, reinforce the state’s sovereignty over its entire territory, and enable Lebanon to live in peace and security,” the ministry said. In a separate statement, Jordan’s Foreign Ministry said Safadi described the agreement as “an important step”

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  Lebanon’s Washington framework entrenches power, not order

  by Mehdi Editor on June 27, 2026

  Diplomacy often celebrates the signing of agreements. History judges whether those agreements change realities or merely rename them. The trilateral framework negotiated in Washington between Lebanon, Israel and the United States belongs, at least in its current form, to the latter category.  Marketed as the ‘beginning of the beginning’ of a pathway towards peace, the arrangement appears less a diplomatic breakthrough than a sophisticated mechanism for managing instability. Rather than resolving the conflict, it institutionalises its underlying asymmetries, transforming peace into a conditional privilege rather than a reciprocal obligation. Even the framework’s architects have stopped short of calling it a final settlement, acknowledging that it remains only an experimental process built around phased implementation and ‘pilot’ security zones. The central

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  2 Palestinians killed, 7 injured in Israeli strike on Gaza displacement tents

  by Mehdi Editor on June 27, 2026

  Two Palestinians, including a woman, were killed and seven others injured on Saturday in an Israeli drone strike targeting two displacement tents west of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, in the latest reported violation of a ceasefire in place since October 2025. Islam Hassan Abu Shamala, a Palestinian woman, was among those killed in the strike, while seven others were injured, medical sources told Anadolu Agency. Witnesses said an Israeli drone struck two adjacent tents on Al-Rashid Street near the entrance to Roni Street in the Al-Mawasi area west of Khan Younis. READ: 3 police members among 5 Palestinians killed in Israeli attacks on Gaza amid ceasefire violations They added that the strike destroyed both tents, damaged nearby shelters,

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  Palestinian president urges Jerusalem churches to reject Israeli municipal tax, warns of threat to Christian presence

  by Mehdi Editor on June 27, 2026

  Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Saturday urged churches and Christian institutions in occupied East Jerusalem to reject Israeli efforts to impose the municipal property tax known as “Arnona,” warning that the move threatens the city’s Christian presence and its historic and legal status. “Arnona” is an Israeli municipal property tax levied on real estate based on its size, location and use. Palestinians in East Jerusalem also refer to it as the “area tax,” and it is considered one of the main financial burdens imposed on residents. Abbas sent letters to Pope Leo XIV, Jordan’s King Abdullah II, French President Emmanuel Macron, Russian President Vladimir Putin, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and several European leaders regarding the situation in Jerusalem and what

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  Hundreds rally in Stockholm against Israeli strikes on Gaza

  by Mehdi Editor on June 27, 2026

  Hundreds of demonstrators gathered in central Stockholm to protest Israeli airstrikes on Gaza and restrictions on humanitarian aid entering the enclave on Saturday, Anadolu Agency reports. The protesters, responding to a call by several civil society organizations, accused Israel of violating the ceasefire reached on Oct. 10, 2025, and demanded an immediate end to military operations. Demonstrators carried banners reading “Children are being killed in Gaza,” “Schools and hospitals are being bombed,” and “End the blockade on food.” They also urged the Swedish government to halt arms sales to Israel. READ: UNICEF: More than 260 Palestinian children killed in Gaza since ceasefire began A street theatre performance was staged in Odenplan Square to highlight the humanitarian situation in Gaza. According to

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  Hezbollah chief rejects Lebanon-Israel deal, demands Israeli withdrawal

  by Mehdi Editor on June 27, 2026

  Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem on Saturday rejected the framework agreement signed between Lebanon and Israel under US sponsorship, and called for Israel’s withdrawal from Lebanese territory in line with the Iranian-US memorandum of understanding, Anadolu reports. In a statement, Qassem made his first comments on the framework agreement signed in Washington at the conclusion of the fifth round of negotiations between Beirut and Tel Aviv on Friday. “This agreement is null and void, and the provisions of the Iranian-American memorandum of understanding must be implemented,” he said. Qassem also warned against linking an Israeli withdrawal to the disarmament of the resistance across all of Lebanon, calling it “a very dangerous proposal that crosses all red lines.” READ: Netanyahu says Israeli army

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  The arrogance of the “Guardian”: How Velayati turns falsehoods into foreign policy

  by Mehdi Editor on June 27, 2026

  Few Iranian officials embody the regime’s contempt for facts as brazenly as Aliakbar Velayati. His rhetoric recalls the early days of Ayatollah Khomeini, when mythmaking and paternalistic posturing were presented as historical destiny. Velayati—longtime adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader—does not merely distort reality; he delivers these distortions with the tone of a self‑appointed custodian of the region, a man who believes he can issue certificates of legitimacy to neighboring states. Months ago, he claimed—without a hint of embarrassment—that Iran had always enjoyed “friendly relations” with the Arab Gulf sheikhdoms, and that Tehran was responsible for “liberating Muscat from Portuguese occupation.” This week he went further, declaring that the stability of Arab states along the Gulf is owed to Iran’s “centuries‑long

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  Demonstrators rally in Amsterdam against killings of Gazan children in Israeli attacks

  by Mehdi Editor on June 27, 2026

  Demonstrators gathered in the Dutch capital of Amsterdam on Saturday, June 27, to protest the killing of children in Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip, Anadolu reports. Protesters displayed the photos of killed Gazan children, and left kids’ shoes and toys inked in red outside Amsterdam Central Station to symbolize their belongings. According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, as of Thursday, Israeli ceasefire violations have so far killed 1,031 Palestinians and injured 3,309 others. Since October 2023, the Israeli offensive in Gaza has killed over 73,000 Palestinians and injured over 173,000, and caused widespread destruction affecting 90% of civilian infrastructure. READ: UNICEF: More than 260 Palestinian children killed in Gaza since ceasefire began

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  Arab nations condemn Iranian drone attack on Bahrain

  by Mehdi Editor on June 27, 2026

  Several Arab countries on Saturday condemned a reported Iranian drone attack on Bahrain, calling it a violation of sovereignty and a setback to regional de-escalation efforts, Anadolu reports. The reactions came in separate statements from the foreign ministries of Jordan, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar after Bahrain’s Foreign Ministry said the kingdom had been targeted in an Iranian drone attack, the first such incident since Washington and Tehran signed a memorandum of understanding on June 18. Early Saturday, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it had targeted US positions in the region in response to a US strike on Iran. The UAE Foreign Ministry condemned what it described as “Iranian aggressive attacks” on Bahrain, calling them a “flagrant

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  Trump subjected Netanyahu, Israel to ‘unprecedented humiliation’, former Israeli minister says

  by Mehdi Editor on June 27, 2026

  Former Israeli Justice Minister Daniel Friedmann said Saturday that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s political weakness had enabled US President Donald Trump to lead both Netanyahu and Israel through an “unprecedented journey of humiliation,” Anadolu reports. Writing in the Israeli newspaper Maariv, Friedmann assessed the consequences of the war in the Gaza Strip and its impact on Israel’s international standing and global image. Fallout from Gaza war, global perception shift Friedmann said the images seen by millions worldwide are “a devastated Gaza Strip, dead and wounded children, and people wandering among the rubble, living in tents under the scorching sun or heavy rain.” “There are those in Israel who believe all this serves Israel’s interests and has strengthened its deterrence,” he

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  Iranian football team captain slams FIFA over ‘unfair’ competition, says ‘it’s disaster World Cup’

  by Mehdi Editor on June 27, 2026

  The captain of the Iranian National Football Team has criticized FIFA and its president, Gianni Infantino, over their handling of football’s biggest tournament, the World Cup, calling the treatment his team has been subjected to “unfair,” Anadolu reports. “It’s a disaster World Cup; a disaster,” Mehdi Taremi told reporters after a third group stage draw with Egypt early Saturday, lamenting that FIFA has been unable to solve the problems they have faced since the start of the tournament on June 11. “They (FIFA) have to solve every problem here, but unfortunately, they couldn’t solve since the beginning.” Taremi added: “Mr. Infantino came to our changing room after first game and he said, ‘it’s just the beginning,’ but it’s group stage finishes

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  Iran, Egypt discuss US diplomatic negotiations, regional developments

  by Mehdi Editor on June 27, 2026

  Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and his Egyptian counterpart Badr Abdelatty discussed regional developments and ongoing diplomatic negotiations between Tehran and Washington during a phone call, according to statements from both sides, Anadolu reports. In a post on his Telegram account on Saturday, Araghchi said the two ministers reviewed regional developments and the diplomatic track with the US as part of efforts to preserve peace and stability. Egypt’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the call took place on Friday “as part of following up on developments in the negotiating track between Iran and the United States.” READ: Iranian lawmaker says US strikes during talks will lead to ‘retreat and regret’ Abdelatty stressed the importance of continuing talks between Iran and

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  Israeli drone hits southern Lebanon despite framework agreement

  by Mehdi Editor on June 27, 2026

  An Israeli drone struck an area in southern Lebanon on Saturday despite a framework agreement reached between Lebanon and Israel in Washington, according to Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency (NNA), Anadolu reports. The agency said the drone targeted an intersection near Farah Amusement Park in the town of Nabatieh al-Fawqa in Nabatieh Governorate. No casualties were immediately reported. In a separate incident, NNA said Israeli forces advanced toward the outskirts of Kfar Shouba in the Hasbaya district while opening fire with medium and heavy machine guns. The incidents occurred despite a framework agreement reached at the conclusion of the 5th round of US-sponsored negotiations between Lebanon and Israel in Washington on Friday. READ: Far-right Israeli minister urges ending Lebanon ceasefire after troops

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  Ironic fates: Bolton, Trump and mishandling classified documents

  by Mehdi Editor on June 27, 2026

  Former US national security advisor John Bolton and the President Donald J. Trump share traits neither probably knew they had.  The latter, for one, is far more war mongering than he let on to American voters, evidenced by his recently failed, disastrous foray into attacking Iran.  Bolton, on the other hand, has been a consistent war addict, the neocon’s preferred position in projecting US power through what the British used to call might.  Earlier in June, Trump had the fantastic gall to say this about the man who had a brief stint as his own moustachioed national security advisor from 2018 to 2019: “I never thought [Bolton] was a smart person, that he was a radical right in terms of

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  Palestinian injured, 2 arrested in Israeli raids across occupied West Bank

  by Mehdi Editor on June 27, 2026

  A Palestinian was injured and two others were arrested Saturday as the Israeli army carried out raids across several areas of the occupied West Bank, accompanied by occupiers’ attacks and the closure of roads and town entrances, Anadolu reports. The latest incidents came a day after Israeli forces arrested 10 Palestinians from the village of Burqa, east of Ramallah, and burned about 10 dunams (2.5 acres) of olive groves. The Jerusalem Governorate said in a statement that a young Palestinian suffered facial injuries, while several others, including children and elderly people, were overcome by tear gas after Israeli forces stormed a wedding celebration in the town of Hizma, northeast of Jerusalem, and fired a tear gas canister directly at attendees. In

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  Bahrain says Iranian drones targeted its territory early Saturday

  by Mehdi Editor on June 27, 2026

  Bahrain announced Saturday that its territory was targeted by Iranian drone attacks, calling it “a blatant violation” of its sovereignty and international law. The Bahraini Foreign Ministry, in a statement carried by the Bahrain News Agency, condemned the attack, saying it involved “a number of Iranian drones,” without disclosing the exact location or nature of the target. The ministry said the incident early in the day endangered civilian lives and undermined regional efforts to de-escalate tensions, reaffirming Manama’s “full and legitimate right to defend its sovereignty” and calling on the UN Security Council to hold Tehran accountable. READ: US strikes Iran following attack on ship in Strait of Hormuz: CENTCOM The attack came hours after the US said its forces struck

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  Gaza boy succumbs to injuries from Israeli attack

  by Mehdi Editor on June 27, 2026

  A Palestinian child died early Saturday from injuries sustained in an Israeli attack days ago in the southern Gaza Strip, a medical source told Anadolu. The report comes amid Tel Aviv’s continued breaches of an ongoing ceasefire agreement that took effect last October. The source at Nasser Hospital said 10-year-old Walid Youssef Abu Jazar died from wounds he suffered days earlier in an Israeli strike on the al-Mawasi area west of Khan Younis in southern Gaza. Separately, local sources and eyewitnesses reported a limited incursion by Israeli military vehicles east of Al-Maghazi and Deir al-Balah, along with the westward displacement of yellow concrete blocks in a new expansion of areas under Israeli control. The sources said two Israeli tanks and

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  From Zion Mules in 1915 to a Foreign Legion in 2026: Mercenaries and the IDF

  by Mehdi Editor on June 27, 2026

  For  seventy five years, the Israeli army has marketed itself as the ‘most moral army’ in the world, in what is known in Zionist terminology as ‘purity of arms’, which allegedly guarantees ethical conduct even in the fog of war.   Beneath this carefully constructed mythology lies an unpleasant reality:  the army is increasingly relying on foreign fighters and private contractors; what legal experts classify as mercenaries. Reports that a new ‘Foreign Legion’ unit is being contemplated, or even officially created within the Israeli army are currently circulating widely.   The outsourcing of the army’s operations relies on new American firms like UG Solutions and Safe Reach Solutions, which are deeply linked to the lineage of the notorious Blackwater, (founded in

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  Top Pakistani, Iranian diplomats reaffirm commitment to regional peace in wake of new strikes

  by Mehdi Editor on June 27, 2026

  Pakistan and Iran on Friday reaffirmed their commitment to promoting lasting peace and stability in the region during a telephone call between their top diplomats following new attacks as US-Iranian peace talks continue, Anadolu reports. Speaking with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, Pakistan’s Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to play a constructive role in advancing regional and international peace, according to a statement by Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry. Araghchi expressed appreciation for Pakistan’s continued support for the peace process. He also thanked Islamabad for facilitating the safe and smooth repatriation of Iranian crew members and fishermen to Iran. The two agreed to remain in close contact as both countries continue diplomatic efforts. READ: IRGC says it

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  FACTBOX – Key points in US-mediated framework between Israel, Lebanon

  by Mehdi Editor on June 27, 2026

  Lebanon and Israel signed a US-sponsored “framework deal” in Washington on Friday, concluding the fifth round of negotiations aimed at resolving outstanding disputes between the two sides, including Israel’s continued occupation of parts of southern Lebanon, Anadolu Agency reports. Details of the framework were not announced during the signing ceremony, but the full text was later published by the US Department of State. The framework affirms a shared goal of achieving “lasting peace and security” in Lebanon and declares the sides’ “ambition to end conflict between them, ensure the sovereignty and security of both countries, and establish peaceful neighborly relations between the two countries.” Israel continues to occupy areas in southern Lebanon, some held for decades and others seized during

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  Iranian lawmaker says US strikes during talks will lead to ‘retreat and regret’

  by Mehdi Editor on June 27, 2026

  A senior Iranian lawmaker said Saturday that US strikes on Iran during talks exposed Washington’s lack of commitment to diplomacy and ceasefire understandings, Anadolu reports. Ibrahim Azizi, the head of parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, said the US “once again attacked Iran in the middle of negotiations.” “The failed US president has shown he has no commitment to the principles of negotiation or a ceasefire,” said Azizi. READ: US strikes Iran following attack on ship in Strait of Hormuz: CENTCOM He said the “reckless violation” of the ceasefire would, “as always, lead to retreat and regret” for the US. “The blame game does not work anymore,” he added. His remarks came hours after Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)

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  Why the new Emir Abdelkader Chair at Oxford University will do so much to unite the Arab World with the West

  by Mehdi Editor on June 27, 2026

  When teaching at Oxford University, the oldest in England, I was regularly served meals on High Table underneath a magnificent portrait of Queen Elizabeth I. The 16th Century work by court artist Nicholas Hilliard is in the dining Hall at Jesus College – where I lectured in French – alongside paintings of others linked with the great seat of learning, including former British Prime Minister and alumnus Harold Wilson. A framed image of T.E.Lawrence, the fabled “Lawrence of Arabia”, was of particular interest to me. He was due to become an academic at Oxford, after reading History at Jesus but, thanks to a university scholarship, Lawrence was able to head to the Middle East, to learn Arabic, and take part in archeological digs. All

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  IRGC says it targeted US military positions in region after strikes in south

  by Mehdi Editor on June 27, 2026

  Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said early Saturday that its naval forces targeted US military positions in response to American “aggression” in the country’s south, Anadolu reports. In a statement aired by state television, the IRGC said the US violated commitments linked to the ceasefire and carried out airstrikes on Iranian coastal areas. The IRGC said its naval forces responded by targeting US military positions across the region. It warned that any repeat of the attacks would be met with a “broader and stronger” response. The IRGC added that arrangements governing navigation through the Strait of Hormuz fall under understandings reached with Iran, accusing Washington of attempting to violate the commitments through “provocations.” Earlier, the US Central Command (CENTCOM)

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  US strikes Iran following attack on ship in Strait of Hormuz: CENTCOM

  by Mehdi Editor on June 27, 2026

  The US carried out strikes inside Iran in response to an attack on a commercial ship transiting the Strait of Hormuz, the US’ military Central Command (CENTCOM) said Friday, Anadolu reports. It said a US aircraft struck Iranian missile and drone storage sites, as well as coastal radar facilities. Four targets along the Iranian coast bordering the Strait of Hormuz and Qeshm island were struck with six US aircraft, a senior US official told Fox News. US President Donald Trump wrote on his social media platform, Truth Social, that Tehran launched at least four one-way attack drones at ships. He said American forces intercepted three, while one struck a cargo ship, causing damage, and described the attack as a “foolish