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

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  Iran says over 940 schools damaged in US-Israeli attacks

  by Marwa A on April 12, 2026

  Iran said Sunday that 942 schools have been damaged in US-Israeli attacks across the country since Feb. 28, Anadolu reports. Government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani told a press conference that the damaged buildings will need between two and three months to be rebuilt. The US-Israeli assault also destroyed 125,640 civilian units, including 100,000 homes, 20,500 shops, and 339 health centers, she added. Mohajerani indicated that rebuilding the damaged civilian units is expected to take between three and 24 months. She noted that citizens whose homes were damaged in the attacks can take advantage of housing loan opportunities to rebuild their units. More than 3,000 people have been killed in US-Israeli airstrikes on Iran since Feb. 28. Tehran launched retaliatory strikes on

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  The US attack on Iran is a wrecking ball aimed at its foundations

  by Marwa A on April 12, 2026

  In Washington, the phrase “restoring deterrence” functions as a foreign policy reflex. The logic appears straightforward: strike Iran’s assets, degrade its proxies, and demonstrate that the United States remains the unassailable guarantor of regional order. It is a satisfying narrative. It is also a profound strategic blind spot. The military campaign the United States has waged against Iran is not merely a gamble on containing a troublesome regime. It is a wrecking ball that has swung past its intended target and smashed directly into the economic and political foundations of America’s own allies. From the industrial heartland of Europe to the energy-dependent economies of Asia and the fragile states of the Gulf, the costs of this conflict have been outsourced

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  UK will not join US blockade of Strait of Hormuz

  by Marwa A on April 12, 2026

  The UK will not participate in a US blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, according to local media, following US President Donald Trump’s remarks about blockading the critical shipping route, Anadolu reports. “We continue to support freedom of navigation and the opening of the Strait of Hormuz, which is urgently needed to support the global economy and the cost of living back home,” said a government spokesperson, according to Sky News. “The Strait of Hormuz must not be subject to tolling,” the official added. The official noted that London is “urgently working” with France and other partners to build a broad coalition to safeguard freedom of navigation. Trump had earlier said that the UK was sending minesweepers to help clear

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  Lebanon says 35 killed in Israeli attacks over past 24 hours, death toll rises to 2,055

  by Marwa A on April 12, 2026

  Lebanon’s Health Ministry said Sunday that 35 people were killed and 152 wounded in Israeli strikes over the past 24 hours, Anadolu reports. In a statement, the ministry said the new fatalities brought the death toll since March 2 to 2,055, with 6,588 others injured. The victims include 252 women and 165 children, while 1,120 and 644 others were injured, respectively, it added. The Israeli army has pounded Lebanon with deadly airstrikes since Hezbollah launched a cross-border attack on March 2 amid escalating regional tensions following a joint US-Israeli offensive on Iran. On Saturday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to escalate attacks across Lebanon unless Hezbollah is disarmed and a peace agreement “that endures for generations” is reached. Lebanon’s

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  Does diplomacy through the use of military force always succeed?

  by Marwa A on April 12, 2026

  In a surprising development, US President Donald Trump announced in the early hours of Wednesday morning a two-week ceasefire with Iran, contingent upon the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to navigation. Trump’s announcement came shortly before the expiration of the deadline he had set for striking Iranian infrastructure and power plants, threatening to “obliterate Iranian civilization” unless Iran agreed to a deal. Despite this, Washington had previously set April 9th ​​as the deadline for ending the war, a date Israel deemed insufficient at the time, requiring additional weeks. So, has the US strategy of diplomacy under military pressure succeeded in achieving its objectives? Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform: “Subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to

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  Trump says other nations will assist US in naval blockade against Iran

  by Marwa A on April 12, 2026

  US President Donald Trump on Sunday said the other countries will be assisting the US in a naval blockade against Iran after Saturday’s talks with Tehran in the Pakistani capital Islamabad failed to produce a deal to end weeks of war in the Middle East, Anadolu reports. In an interview with Fox News, Trump said: “Well, we’re going to be blockading. It’ll take a little while, but it’ll be effective pretty soon.” “We think that numerous countries are going to be helping us with this also, but we’re putting on a complete blockade. We’re not going to let Iran make money on selling oil to people that they like and not people that they don’t like,” Trump said. The blockade

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  How the Iran war turned civilian lifelines into bargaining currency

  by Marwa A on April 12, 2026

  The most revealing thing about the 8 April ceasefire was not that it paused, for the moment, threatened attacks on Iran’s bridges, power stations and other essential infrastructure. It was that such targets had become bargaining language at all. On Truth Social, Donald Trump threatened to destroy bridges and electric power plants if Tehran did not meet his deadline over Hormuz. On 5 April, Easter Sunday, he widened the warning again, turning infrastructure itself into the object of coercive diplomacy. Tehran answered by threatening Persian Gulf energy and water systems if Iran’s own civilian lifelines were hit. By the time the ceasefire arrived, the region had already crossed a line: civilian life was no longer just exposed to war; it

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  Global Sumud Flotilla sets sail again from Barcelona to Gaza with double participation

  by Marwa A on April 12, 2026

  The Global Sumud Flotilla, formed to break Israel’s blockade on the Gaza Strip, deliver humanitarian aid and raise global awareness about the enclave, is setting sail from Barcelona again after a year, this time with nearly double the participation, Anadolu reports. Created in… pic.twitter.com/5cSXLWloVV — Middle East Monitor (@MiddleEastMnt) April 12, 2026 The Global Sumud Flotilla, formed to break Israel’s blockade on the Gaza Strip, deliver humanitarian aid and raise global awareness about the enclave, is setting sail from Barcelona again after a year, this time with nearly double the participation, Anadolu reports. Created in 2025 by NGO representatives, activists and volunteers from various countries, the flotilla is launching its second mission to Gaza. It is notable that the largest

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  2 dead bodies arrive at Gaza hospitals, death toll surges to over 72,320

  by Marwa A on April 12, 2026

  Two Palestinian bodies and eight wounded people arrived at hospitals across the Gaza Strip over the past 24 hours, raising the death toll from Israel’s military campaign since October 2023 to 72,329 people and 172,192 injured, the Health Ministry said Sunday, Anadolu reports. A ministry statement said that the two bodies included one newly reported death and one recovered from the rubble, without giving further details on the circumstances. The Israeli military has continued to violate the ceasefire that took effect on Oct. 10, 2025, through shelling and gunfire that have caused more deaths and injuries. According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, at least 750 people have been killed and 2,090 others injured since the ceasefire, while 760 bodies have been

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  Varying degrees of silence over colonialism and annexation

  by Marwa A on April 12, 2026

  Speaking at the inauguration ceremony of a settlement in Benjamin, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said that Israel will expand in Gaza, the occupied West Bank, Lebanon and Syria, widening its non-existent borders. The comments are the latest in a series of threats made by Smotrich in which bombing on a scale similar to that in Gaza is being promoted as the step for land appropriation. The international community cannot say it wasn’t warned after Smotrich’s detailed explanation of colonial expansion in the region. Expanding Israel’s borders is repeatedly asserted. Yet not one single leader has linked Israel’s military and political strategies to implementing the Zionist concept of Greater Israel. One example of tacit silence was reported by Sydney Criminal

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  South Korean president vows respect for ‘universal human rights’ amid online exchanges with Israel

  by Marwa A on April 12, 2026

  South Korean President Lee Jae Myung on Sunday reiterated his stance on respecting universal human rights amid an online diplomatic exchange between Seoul and Tel Aviv, following his posting of a video linked to Israel, local media reported, Anadolu reports. Lee, in a post on US social media platform X, reaffirmed his call to uphold human rights, two days after sharing a 2024 video showing members of the Israel Defense Forces mistreating a Palestinian boy. His move drew criticism from Israel. “The sovereignty of each nation and universal human rights must be respected, and wars of aggression must be rejected, which is both the spirit of our constitution and an international norm,” Lee wrote. “The principle of putting oneself in

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  Iran says it identified 3,375 people killed in US-Israeli attacks

  by Marwa A on April 12, 2026

  The head of Iran’s Legal Medicine Organization said 3,375 people killed in US-Israeli airstrikes have been identified using scientific and specialized methods, the state broadcaster IRIB reported Sunday, Anadolu reports. Abbas Masjedi Arani said the fatalities, from Feb. 28 to April 7, included 2,875 men and 496 women, with no details on the remaining four people. Some foreigners were among those killed, including individuals from Afghanistan, Syria, Pakistan, China, Iraq, and Lebanon, he added, without giving an exact figure. He said the identification process was carried out through advanced forensic procedures by the state-affiliated organization. The US and Israel launched a joint offensive on Iran on Feb. 28, killing dozens of top military officials, including then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, before

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  Israeli ministers hint at possible resumption of attacks on Iran

  by Marwa A on April 12, 2026

  Israeli ministers on Sunday hinted at a possible resumption of attacks on Iran, with Energy Minister Eli Cohen saying that Tehran could be hit if no agreement is reached, Anadolu reports. “The nuclear issue is international, and it’s good that (US President Donald) Trump has set the red lines on the issue,” Cohen told the Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronoth. “If there is no deal, Iran can be hit,” he added. Regarding Lebanon, where the Israeli army has expanded its attacks, Cohen said Israel should not only strike army forces, but also Lebanon’s facilities and infrastructure. “I have said this in the cabinet. I do not see a high chance of success for these negotiations,” he said, as Tel Aviv and

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  Reshaping the geographic space in the vicinity of East Jerusalem: Dynamics of spatial isolation and the fragmentation of the urban fabric

  by Marwa A on April 12, 2026

  Al-Baidar Organization for the Defense of Bedouin Rights and Targeted Villages affirms that the on-the-ground realities in the area extending between Al-Sawahra al-Sharqiya, Abu Dis, and Al-Eizariya, along with the surrounding small and scattered Bedouin communities, indicate a gradual transformation in the nature of the demographic and political geography. This area is increasingly moving toward greater spatial fragmentation and structural isolation. Rather than forming a continuous urban and social extension within a unified geographic fabric, these towns have, in practice, become more akin to isolated population units, separated by physical barriers and an accumulation of regulatory and security measures. In this context, the central role of military gates and both fixed and mobile checkpoints—established at the entrances, exits, and vital

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  Global Sumud Flotilla ships docked in Barcelona ahead of second voyage to Gaza

  by MI on April 11, 2026

  Global Sumud Flotilla ships were at the docks in Barcelona on Saturday, before setting off for Gaza on Sunday, Anadolu reports. Formed to break the blockade on Gaza and deliver humanitarian aid, the flotilla will sail this time with expanded participation, with its largest participation coming from Spain. Around 70 boats carrying up to 1,000 volunteers from 70 countries are expected to depart on April 12, nearly doubling the size of the previous mission in September 2025. Flotilla spokesperson Pablo Castilla said the initiative aims to condemn international complicity in Israel’s actions in Gaza, demand accountability, and establish a humanitarian corridor by sea and land. READ: London police arrest 92 at Palestine Action support rally He said international attention on Gaza

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  London police arrest 92 at Palestine Action support rally

  by MI on April 11, 2026

  London police arrested 92 people on Saturday, during a demonstration in Trafalgar Square supporting ‘Palestine Action,’ a group previously designated as a proscribed organization in the UK, Anadolu reports. Approximately 500 protesters staged a sit-in to challenge the ban on the group, which is known for targeting companies doing business with Israel. Nearly two hours into the rally, the London Metropolitan Police intervened, physically removing protesters from the square and conducting searches. The crowd included diverse groups, such as anti-Zionist Jewish organizations, Holocaust survivors’ families, and activists dressed in historical Suffragette attire. READ: Activists block Rheinmetall factory to protest arms supplies to Israel The protest follows a complex legal battle regarding Palestine Action’s status. The group was banned in July 2025

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  140 heritage sites in Iran damaged in US-Israeli attacks

  by MI on April 11, 2026

  About 140 historical sites across 20 provinces were damaged in US-Israeli attacks between Feb. 28 and April 7, with losses estimated at 7.5 trillion tomans (around $49 million), Iran’s state news agency IRNA reported. Reza Salehi Amiri, Iran’s minister for cultural heritage, tourism and handicrafts, said the figures are based on preliminary assessments and may be revised as further evaluations continue. He said Tehran recorded the highest number of affected sites with 63, followed by Isfahan with 23 and Golestan with 12. The minister added that the attacks caused widespread damage to cultural assets across multiple regions during the reporting period. The US and Israel launched a joint offensive on Iran on Feb. 28. Tehran retaliated with drone and missile

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  Iran-US talks move to text exchanges after face-to-face round in Islamabad

  by MI on April 11, 2026

  One round of face-to-face talks between Iran and the United States has concluded in Islamabad, with the two sides now exchanging written texts on key issues under discussion, Iranian media reported. Iran’s state media IRIB, citing a source close to the negotiating team, reported another round of talks could take place later tonight or on Sunday. Expert teams from both sides are currently engaged in drafting and exchanging texts as negotiations move forward. The latest development comes after earlier confirmation that the United States, Iran and Pakistan held a trilateral face-to-face meeting in Islamabad, according to a senior White House official. READ: Pakistani Premier Sharif holds separate talks with US’ Vance, Iranian delegation ahead of Islamabad Talks Talks between Iran and

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  Palestinian children face abuses in Israeli detention: Report

  by MI on April 11, 2026

  Palestinian children held in Israeli detention have faced alleged abuses, with conditions said to have worsened since Oct. 7, 2023, a Save the Children report said, according to the daily De Standaard on Saturday, Anadolu reports. The report says around 350 Palestinian children are currently held in Israeli detention, including both pre-trial and administrative detention without charge. It alleges that children have been subjected to physical violence, prolonged interrogations and poor detention conditions, including overcrowding and limited access to family contact. According to the report, access for humanitarian organizations to detention facilities has been restricted, limiting independent monitoring of conditions. READ: Israeli Knesset passes law mandating death penalty for Palestinian prisoners  Save the Children called for an end to the detention

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  France backs Islamabad talks on Mideast war settlement

  by MI on April 11, 2026

  The French foreign minister said on Saturday that France supports the ongoing Iran-US talks in Islamabad aimed at ending the war in the Middle East, according to the broadcaster BFM, Anadolu reports. “We support these negotiations, we hope they produce the best possible effects,” Jean-Noel Barrot said. He briefly addressed the discussions in Islamabad on a settlement to the armed conflict in the Middle East during an event organized at the Cite universitaire de Paris (Paris International University Campus). Pakistan is hosting the landmark negotiations, dubbed the “Islamabad Talks,” seen as the most significant Washington-Iran talks since 1979, aimed at ending the broader regional conflict amid a fragile two-week ceasefire brokered earlier this week. Nearly 3,000 Iranians were killed in

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  The Nightfolk: Ibn ‘Arabi Behind the Veil of Night

  by MI on April 11, 2026

  The night plays an important role in many Muslim cultures and religious beliefs. During Ramadan Muslims will often do nightly prayers called Tarawih, where they can ask for forgiveness and receive rewards. On one night, in the last 10 days of Ramadan, Muslims try to discern when the Night of Power or Laylat Al-Qadr is. According to Islamic beliefs, this is the night when the Holy Quran was first revealed and where Muslims can receive extra blessings for prayers and good deeds done during this time. While this demonstrates some nights have special significance in normative Muslims beliefs, some Muslim scholars think the night has even more importance than this. Twelfth century sufi poet, scholar, and philosopher Muhyi Al-Din Ibn

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  Nizar Amidi elected Iraq’s president

  by MI on April 11, 2026

  Nizar Amidi was elected Iraq’s president after winning 227 of 249 votes in parliament’s 2nd round on Saturday, becoming the country’s 6th president since 2003, Anadolu reports. Iraqi parliament elected Amidi, the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) candidate, as the country’s new president on Saturday, succeeding former President Abdul Latif Rashid. Amidi’s victory came after he secured a majority of votes in the second round of parliamentary voting, following the failure to reach a two-thirds majority in the first round, an Anadolu correspondent reported. Amidi won the runoff election with 227 votes, compared to 15 votes for his opponent, Muthanna Amin, with seven invalid ballots. Following the official announcement of the results, he was invited to take the constitutional oath

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  From the Strait of Hormuz to global markets: The chain reaction of war on energy security

  by MI on April 11, 2026

  Energy in the Middle East is once again being shaped not only by markets, but by war. As direct confrontation between Iran, the United States and Israel enters a new phase, the implications are no longer confined to the battlefield. Instead, they are unfolding across global energy markets, shipping routes and supply chains, creating a ripple effect that extends far beyond the region. At the center of this unfolding dynamic lies the Strait of Hormuz — one of the world’s most critical energy chokepoints. A significant share of global oil flows through this narrow passage, making it not just a geographic corridor, but a strategic variable in times of conflict. Even limited disruption in this route would trigger immediate consequences:

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  US revokes green cards of Iranian nationals with alleged regime ties

  by MI on April 11, 2026

  US Secretary of State Marco Rubio ordered the termination of lawful permanent resident status for three Iranian nationals accused of having ties to figures associated with Iran’s regime, the State Department said in a statement on Saturday, Anadolu reports. The individuals — Seyed Eissa Hashemi, Maryam Tahmasebi, and their son — were arrested earlier this week by federal agents and are currently in custody of the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement pending removal proceedings, according to the statement. “The Trump administration will never allow America to become a home for foreign nationals tied to anti-American terrorist regimes,” the department said. Last week, Rubio terminated the legal status of the niece and grandniece of deceased Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Maj. Gen.

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  Ceasefire exemptions and quarries of death: Israel’s war on Lebanon

  by MI on April 11, 2026

  In the Devil’s Dictionary, Ambrose Bierce defines peace as a period of cheating between two periods of fighting.  The Israeli version of a ceasefire might be defined as a moment of war deceptively halted to enable conflict to continue.  War as cosplay and camouflage.  Under such fragile conditions, military objectives can still be pursued with a ruthlessness offensive to international law, custom and common sense.   Seeing as Israel was a central, if not the central power in pushing the crime of aggression on February 28 against Iran, wooing with seductive voice and lurid promise a deranged egoist in the White House (glory and oil awaits thee, Mr President), not to mention the dedicated thorn in any Middle East peace process

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  US navy ships cross Strait of Hormuz for first time since Iran war: Axios reporter

  by MI on April 11, 2026

  Several US navy ships on Saturday crossed the Strait of Hormuz, marking the first instance of such an event since the beginning of US-Israeli war with Iran on Feb. 28, Anadolu reports. According to Axios reporter Barak Ravid on US social media company X, a US official confirmed the development, noting that the move was not coordinated with Iran. The development came as Pakistan is holding the negotiations to end the extensive Middle East armed conflict that started with the US-Israeli offensive on Iran on Feb. 28. Pakistan mediated a two-week US-Iran ceasefire earlier this week. The Iran war disrupted flows through the Strait of Hormuz, a key artery for global crude and LNG trade, resulting in a severe energy

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  Not radicalism but rivalry: Why autocrats fear the Brotherhood

  by MI on April 11, 2026

  The Washington Post has published many fine pieces over the years. This piece, published on March 25, 2026, entitled “The Mideast pushed out the Muslim Brotherhood. Here’s where it landed” (https://wapo.st/4v2kHhF), is not one of them. It is instead an illustration of a broader and troubling pattern in which influential Western platforms reproduce, often uncritically, the anxieties of autocracy in the language of security analysis. The author, Tareq Alotaiba, presented to readers as a fellow at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at Harvard University, is no disinterested scholar. His work does not merely coincide with the strategic posture of the United Arab Emirates. It reproduces it. The UAE is a dynastic state where dissent is treated as

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  US ‘clearing out’ Strait of Hormuz: Trump

  by MI on April 11, 2026

  The US has begun operations to clear out the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping route, US President Donald Trump said on Saturday, Anadolu reports. “We’re now starting the process of clearing out the Strait of Hormuz as a favor to Countries all over the World, including China, Japan, South Korea, France, Germany, and many others,” Trump said on Truth Social. He asserted that sea mines were the only threat that remained for vessels going through the strait, adding that all 28 of Iran’s mine-laying vessels were “lying at the bottom of the sea.” Trump’s remarks came as US and Iranian delegations are holding Pakistan-mediated talks in Islamabad, aimed at ending the broader regional conflict amid a fragile two-week

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  Israel imposes restrictions in East Jerusalem amid Holy Saturday observances

  by MI on April 11, 2026

  Israeli forces turned parts of East Jerusalem, including Old City and Damascus Gate, into a militarized zone on Saturday, setting up checkpoints during Holy Saturday observances at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. The official Palestinian news agency Wafa, citing local sources, said the Israeli forces set up checkpoints on roads leading to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in the Old City, limiting access for Holy Saturday services. They also checked the IDs of some young men and barred them from entering. The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem urged Christians on Friday to attend Holy Saturday services at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Israeli officials had previously closed the church for 40 days, citing alleged security concerns amid

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  Saudi Arabia, Qatar to provide $5B financial assistance to Pakistan amid debt repayment obligations to UAE

  by MI on April 11, 2026

  Saudi Arabia and Qatar will provide Pakistan $5 billion in financial assistance, enabling Islamabad to avert stress on the country’s weak foreign reserves while making external payments by June, sources told Anadolu on Saturday. The development comes as Islamabad is set to repay a $3.5 billion debt to the UAE by the end of the month. Riyadh has assured Islamabad of its financial support amid mounting external pressures and rising costs linked to the ongoing tensions in the Middle East. Saudi Finance Minister Mohammed bin Abdullah Al-Jadaan met with Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday night in Islamabad. The meeting, attended by senior Pakistani officials, including Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Chief of Army Staff Gen. Asim Munir, focused

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  The illusion of a substitute: Turkey is not the region’s replacement for Iran

  by MI on April 11, 2026

  Whenever the question of Iranian influence in the Middle East arises, Turkey is often presented as a ready-made alternative. The logic seems straightforward: if Iran’s power diminishes, Ankara will naturally step forward to fill the void. However, this assumption is based on a misleading comparison between two countries whose regional ambitions are built on fundamentally different foundations. Iran exercises influence as a revolutionary system that operates beyond the boundaries of the state. Despite its growing regional activism, Turkey still largely behaves as a nation-state seeking strategic leverage rather than ideological expansion. Some analysts have begun to frame the issue precisely in these terms. Ilan Giladi, of the University of Haifa, argued in an article published in Haaretz that Turkey could

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  Pakistani Premier Sharif holds separate talks with US’ Vance, Iranian delegation ahead of Islamabad Talks

  by MI on April 11, 2026

  Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday held separate talks with the US and Iranian delegations who are in the nation’s capital Islamabad to end the war that began on Feb. 28, expressing hope the negotiations would serve as a “stepping stone” for durable peace in the region, Anadolu reports. Sharif met with US Vice President JD Vance and his delegation after holding separate talks with the Iranian side led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf. In his meeting with Vance, Sharif commended the commitment of both delegations to “engage constructively,” and expressed the hope that these talks “would serve as a stepping stone toward durable peace in the region,” his office said. Vance and Qalibaf are in the Pakistani

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  Islamabad and the end of easy empire

  by MI on April 11, 2026

  History, when it chooses to humiliate power, does not bother with elegance — it stages spectacle. Islamabad — a capital long patronized, managed, and dismissed — now hosts the very powers that presumed they could redraw the region with missiles and press briefings. But let us be precise: this is not a meeting of equals. It is the convergence of aggressors and the state they failed to break. Washington and its Israeli ally waged war; Iran resisted — and refused collapse. What unfolds in Islamabad is not diplomacy by design, but necessity by failure: an American search for an exit from a war it could not win, and an Iranian willingness to talk only on terms that secure its position,

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  US-Iran talks to seek permanent ceasefire kick off in Islamabad

  by MI on April 11, 2026

  The first round of talks between the US and Iran opened in the Pakistani capital Islamabad on Saturday to seek a permanent ceasefire following a two-week temporary truce between the two warring sides, official sources told Anadolu. The two delegations are holding separate meetings with Pakistani officials at a five-star hotel in the capital to “make patch work” before direct talks between the two sides, the sources said. “We cannot say at the moment when will the two delegations sit face-to-face. At the moment, they are holding talks with Pakistani officials,” the sources added. The high stakes talks, dubbed the “Islamabad Talks,” began soon after separate meetings of the Iranian and the US delegations with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif

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  Israeli military activity in Lebanon continues despite talks scheduled for next week

  by MI on April 11, 2026

  Israeli army’s military activities in Lebanon continue despite an agreement between Tel Aviv and Beirut to hold a meeting on April 14 to secure a ceasefire and launch direct talks, Anadolu Agency reports. The Israeli warplanes breached the sound barrier over the Sidon area in southern Lebanon, the Lebanese state-run National News Agency (NNA) reported on Saturday. They also breached the sound barrier while flying at low altitude over Beirut, its suburbs, and other regions. The Israeli army also carried out a “large explosion” in the Markaba-Bani Hayyan area. Meanwhile, Hezbollah targeted the Ya’ara barracks with a rocket barrage and hit a gathering of Israeli soldiers and military vehicles in Kiryat Shmona, northern Israel. READ: Smotrich speaks about Israel’s intention to

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  Iraq: A gaping enigma and a global laughingstock

  by MI on April 11, 2026

  The Joke That Wrote Itself There is a particular category of political absurdity that defies satire, not because it is too subtle to mock, but because it is so shameless that any satirist attempting to embellish it would only shrink it. Iraq has once again gifted the world with such a moment. The Commander-in-Chief of Iraq’s Armed Forces, Iraqi PM Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani, recently issued a formal statement extending his thanks to the Ministry of Defense for successfully shooting down two drones that were heading to strike an Iraqi airbase. A routine enough communiqué, one might think, until one pauses to consider a small but catastrophic detail: the Commander-in-Chief also leads the Ministry of Defense. He also leads the Popular

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  China to send weapons shipment to Iran amid ceasefire with US: Report

  by MI on April 11, 2026

  US intelligence suggests China may supply Iran with new air defense systems in the coming weeks, even as a delicate ceasefire with Washington remains in place, CNN reported on Saturday citing sources familiar with recent assessments, Anadolu reports. The report claimed that Iran may be taking advantage of the ceasefire to restock certain weapons systems, with assistance from key international partners. According to the report, there are signs that Beijing is attempting to channel these shipments through third countries to conceal their true origin. The systems in question are shoulder-launched anti-aircraft missiles, known as MANPADS. These weapons posed an asymmetric threat to low-flying US military aircraft during the five-week conflict and could do so again if the ceasefire collapses. READ: China

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  US lost 8 Reaper drones in April in war with Iran: Report

  by MI on April 11, 2026

  The US has lost eight MQ-9 Reaper drones in the Middle East since April 1, raising the total number lost in the Iran conflict to 24, CBS reported. According to the recent report, the financial impact is estimated at around $720 million, since each Reaper drone can cost $30 million or more depending on the model. The MQ-9 Reaper, produced by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, is an unmanned aircraft used for intelligence gathering, surveillance, reconnaissance, and precision strike missions. Data compiled by CBS News indicates that the US and Israel have carried out strikes on more than 13,000 targets across Iran since launching joint operations on Feb. 28. The same data showed that Iran has hit targets in 12 countries

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  Former US secretary of state says Netanyahu repeatedly pressed US presidents to strike Iran, only Trump agreed

  by MI on April 11, 2026

  Former US Secretary of State John Kerry said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had repeatedly urged US administrations to carry out military strikes on Iran, but previous presidents declined, Anadolu reports. Speaking in an interview on The Briefing with Jen Psaki on Friday, Kerry said he had participated in multiple discussions with Netanyahu, noting: “He wanted us to strike.” He said the Israeli premier presented the proposal directly to former President Barack Obama, adding: “President Obama refused. President Joe Biden refused. President George W. Bush refused.” Kerry said: “The only president who has agreed to this, obviously, is President Trump.” Referring to recent reporting, Kerry said Netanyahu made a detailed case for military action, describing it as “a four-point pitch.”

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  US Vice President Vance arrives in Pakistan for Islamabad Talks with Iran

  by MI on April 11, 2026

  A US Air Force Two carrying a delegation led by Vice President JD Vance arrived in Pakistan’s capital Islamabad on Saturday for high-stakes talks with Iran to end the Middle East conflict amid the ongoing two-week ceasefire, government sources told Anadolu. Another two aircraft carrying US delegation members and journalists also landed at the Nur Khan Airbase in Rawalpindi, just next to the capital Islamabad, the sources added. Other members of the US delegation include special envoy Steve Witkoff and President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner. It is the first time since 2011 that any US vice president has visited Pakistan. READ: Iran parliament speaker says ‘good intentions but no trust’ ahead of US talks The Iranian delegation, led by the

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  Iran parliament speaker says ‘good intentions but no trust’ ahead of US talks

  by MI on April 11, 2026

  Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqher Qalibaf said Saturday that Tehran has “good intentions but no trust” ahead of negotiations with the US, according to the Tasnim News Agency. “Unfortunately, our experience of negotiating with the Americans has always been met with failure and breach of contract,” Qalibaf said when he touched down at the Islamabad Airport. “Twice in less than a year, in the middle of negotiations, despite the good intentions of the Iranian side, they attacked us and committed numerous war crimes.” Qalibaf stressed that Iran is ready to reach an agreement if the US demonstrates sincerity. “In the upcoming negotiations, if the American side is ready to make a real agreement and grant the rights of the Iranian

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  Israel kills 6 in fresh airstrike on central Gaza refugee camp

  by MI on April 11, 2026

  At least six people were killed and several others injured in an Israeli airstrike targeting a police station in the Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza, Palestinian media reported early Saturday. According to the reports, Israeli warplanes struck the police facility in the camp, marking another violation of the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. The attack resulted in the deaths of six people, while many others were wounded. The Israeli army has not immediately commented on the airstrike. The latest attack comes as Israel continues to violate the ceasefire by attacking Gaza. READ: Smotrich speaks about Israel’s intention to expand in Syria, Lebanon and Gaza

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  The Islamabad opening: Translating the ceasefire into a process

  by MI on April 11, 2026

  Islamabad is ready to host something that, until recently, seemed almost unthinkable: direct, high-level talks between the United States and Iran. The city is under tight security, senior delegations from both sides have arrived, and regional representatives are also in town as Pakistan hosts what is being described as the highest-level US-Iran engagement since 1979. Regional partners have already signalled support for Pakistan’s diplomatic role, and that matters. This is not a meeting that emerged out of nowhere. It is the visible culmination of a broader process in which Islamabad steadily positioned itself as a venue, a facilitator, and, above all, a state willing to create diplomatic space when the region was sliding toward wider war.  That wider process deserves

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  Death toll from Israeli attacks on Lebanon since March 2 rises to 1,953

  by Marwa A on April 10, 2026

  The death toll from Israeli attacks on Lebanon since March 2 has risen to 1,953, with 6,303 injured, Lebanon’s Health Ministry said Friday, Anadolu reports. In a statement, the ministry said the wave of Israeli attacks on April 8 killed 357 people and injured 1,223 others. It added that the figures remain preliminary as rescue teams continue clearing rubble, noting that a large number of remains require DNA testing to confirm the identities of victims. A US State Department official told Anadolu on Thursday that the US will host direct talks between Israel and Lebanon next week as part of ongoing ceasefire negotiations. The expected talks come after US President Donald Trump on Tuesday announced a two-week ceasefire with Iran,

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  Israeli tanks shell Daraa province in southern Syria

  by Marwa A on April 10, 2026

  Israeli forces shelled the area surrounding the town of Jamla in Daraa province, southern Syria, Alikhbaria TV reported on Friday, Anadolu reports. Israeli tanks are shelling the area around the town of Jamla in the western Daraa countryside, the channel reported, without providing further details. Syrian authorities had not commented on the report as of 1855GMT. Israeli forces target Syrian territory almost daily, carrying out ground incursions, particularly in rural areas of Quneitra and Daraa in southern Syria, detaining civilians, setting up checkpoints to search and question passersby, and damaging agricultural land. Israel has illegally occupied most of Syria’s Golan Heights since 1967 and, following the ouster of the Bashar al-Assad regime in December 2024, announced the collapse of the

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  Israel’s death penalty for Palestinian prisoners akin to Hitler’s policies: Turkish president

  by Marwa A on April 10, 2026

  Israeli parliament’s decision to impose the death penalty on Palestinian prisoners is “essentially no different from Hitler’s policies against Jews,” Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday, Anadolu reports. “What is being done is discrimination, it is racism, it means implementing in Israel a worse version of the apartheid regime that was overthrown in South Africa in 1994,” Erdogan said at a meeting of the International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP) Women’s Wing. He said that imposing the death penalty only for Palestinians amounts to “apartheid’ and turns law into an “instrument of racist fascism.” READ: Palestinian centre warns of “legalised killing” under prisoner execution law

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  Trump says Iran has ‘no cards’ other than Strait of Hormuz ahead of negotiations

  by Marwa A on April 10, 2026

  US President Donald Trump sought to diminish Iran’s negotiating position ahead of critical weekend talks in Islamabad, Pakistan, saying Friday that its only point of leverage is the Strait of Hormuz, Anadolu reports. “The Iranians don’t seem to realize they have no cards, other than a short term extortion of the World by using International Waterways. The only reason they are alive today is to negotiate!” the US president said on his Truth Social platform. The allusion to “international waterways” is likely a reference to the Strait of Hormuz, which Tehran restricted during the conflict to ramp up pressure on the US and Israel. “The Iranians are better at handling the fake news media, and ‘public relations,’ than they are

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  Israel says over 18,000 bombs dropped on Iran during war

  by Marwa A on April 10, 2026

  Israel said Friday it dropped more than 18,000 bombs on Iran during a 40-day war that began on Feb. 28, Anadolu reports. In a statement on the US social media company X, the Israeli army said it carried out “more than 1,000 offensive air sorties” against Iran during the conflict. According to previously released military data, dozens of fighter jets participated in each airstrike. The army said more than 10,800 airstrikes were conducted, hitting over “6,700 components and 4,000 targets,” without providing further details. On Thursday, Israel’s Finance Ministry estimated the cost of 40 days of war with Iran and Lebanon at around $17.5 billion, according to Channel 12. Pakistan, together with Türkiye, China, Saudi Arabia and Egypt, managed to

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  Starmer urges Trump to stay in NATO as Mideast tensions ‘define us for a generation’

  by Marwa A on April 10, 2026

  British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Friday urged US President Donald Trump to remain committed to NATO, warning that continued US support for the alliance is “in America’s interests,” after the president issued his latest threat to withdraw, Anadolu reports. Starmer’s remarks came as he concluded a three-day visit to the Middle East, where discussions with Gulf leaders were dominated by the fragility of a ceasefire in the region and the future of key strategic routes such as the Strait of Hormuz. In a recorded pooled TV interview in Qatar, Starmer confirmed he had a call with Trump Thursday evening, but suggested he had avoided directly repeating his recent criticism that he was “fed up” with the president’s role in

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  Trump, Netanyahu hold ‘tense’ phone call before Israel sought ceasefire talks with Lebanon: Report

  by Marwa A on April 10, 2026

  US President Donald Trump held a “tense” phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday, CNN reported Friday, Anadolu reports. Citing a US and Israeli source familiar with the matter, CNN reported the conversation came shortly before Israel announced it would seek direct ceasefire talks with Lebanon. The Israeli source told CNN that Netanyahu came to understand that if he did not call for direct talks with Lebanon, Trump might simply declare a ceasefire. The call marked at least the third conversation between the two leaders this week in which Lebanon featured prominently. Earlier in the week, they spoke ahead of Trump announcing a two-week ceasefire with Iran. During that exchange, Netanyahu reportedly urged that Lebanon not be