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

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  US reinforces military presence in Middle East despite ceasefire

  by MI on April 10, 2026

  The United States is reinforcing its military presence in the region despite the ceasefire with Iran, with navigational data showing ongoing movements of cargo and refuelling aircraft toward the Middle East. According to available tracking data, US Air Force logistics and aerial refuelling operations have continued, indicating sustained operational readiness and strategic positioning. In parallel, the commander of US Central Command confirmed that the United States has temporarily halted offensive operations against Iran in line with the ceasefire agreement. He stated that US forces had achieved their core strategic objectives, claiming the destruction of Iran’s missile, naval, and drone capabilities, as well as its defence industrial base. READ: France signals possible review of EU-Israel agreement over Lebanon strikes The commander added

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  Lebanese Red Cross warns of worsening humanitarian crisis amid Israeli aggression

  by MI on April 10, 2026

  The Lebanese Red Cross has called for urgent international intervention as the humanitarian situation in Lebanon deteriorates amid ongoing Israeli aggression. The Lebanese Red Cross chief, Antoine Zoghbi warned in televised remarks that the scale of destruction is severe, noting that entire families have been wiped out by Israeli airstrikes. He said ambulance teams are facing major obstacles reaching affected areas, particularly those with high numbers of casualties, due to continued bombing and unsafe conditions on the ground. Zoghbi stressed that Lebanon’s health sector is on the verge of collapse, warning that if hospitals become inoperable, there will be an urgent need to establish field hospitals to handle the growing number of wounded. He urged the international community to provide

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  France signals possible review of EU-Israel agreement over Lebanon strikes

  by MI on April 10, 2026

  France has indicated that it may revisit discussions on suspending the EU-Israel Association Agreement following intensified Israeli aggression on Lebanon and ongoing violence in the occupied West Bank. French Foreign Ministry spokesperson Pascal Confavreux said that, given the seriousness of recent developments, Paris “cannot rule out reopening the discussion” on suspending the agreement, as well as considering national sanctions. He linked the potential move to what he described as the scale of Israeli strikes in Lebanon and settler violence in the occupied West Bank. Confavreaux stated that while Israel claims a right to self-defence, its actions are “not only unacceptable, but also disproportionate,” warning that they risk leading to a dead end. The remarks signal growing European concern over the

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  Houthi leader says operations escalating with “surprises” ahead

  by MI on April 10, 2026

  Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, head of the Ansar Allah (Houthi) movement in Yemen, stated that their military operations are escalating, warning that further steps will include “surprises and effective options” in line with evolving phases of confrontation. In remarks on Thursday, al-Houthi said that the Yemeni front has participated in joint operations, including missile and drone strikes against Israeli-controlled areas, describing these actions as part of a coordinated and long-term strategy. He pointed to the role of Hezbollah in Lebanon in shaping a “unified fronts” equation, highlighting the intensity of operations and resilience demonstrated during the current conflict. Al-Houthi also referred to the involvement of allied groups in Iraq, stating that they had joined coordinated efforts from the early stages of the escalation.

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  Trump reviews Lebanon ceasefire stance after Netanyahu call

  by MI on April 10, 2026

  CBS News reported that US President Donald Trump has reconsidered his position on including Lebanon in the ceasefire plan following a phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The network said that Trump had initially agreed that the Middle East ceasefire announced on Wednesday would apply across the region, including Lebanon.  However, the US position changed after the call between Netanyahu and Trump. According to CBS News, Mediators, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also indicated that Lebanon was part of the agreement. Israel intensified its air strikes on Wednesday, targeting around 100 sites within just ten minutes, resulting in hundreds of deaths and injuries, according to the Lebanese Civil Defence. It said the

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  Fragile Ceasefire: The Illusion of War’s End

  by MI on April 10, 2026

  The announcement of a ceasefire between the United States, Israel and Iran in April 2026 was widely framed as a moment of de-escalation in one of the most dangerous confrontations in the Middle East in recent years. Yet, a closer examination suggests something far less reassuring. The war may have slowed, but it has not ended. What has emerged is not peace, but a pause—fragile, conditional, and deeply uncertain. This ceasefire did not arise from a shared strategic vision or a genuine convergence of interests. Instead, it reflects a mutual recognition of risk. The prospect of a wider regional war—one that could disrupt critical global energy routes such as the Strait of Hormuz—created incentives for restraint. However, restraint is not

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  Gaza’s media office denies Board of Peace envoy’s claims on 602 aid trucks entering Strip

  by MI on April 10, 2026

  The Government Media Office in Gaza has denied remarks by Nikolay Mladenov, the “high representative for Gaza” at the so-called Board of Peace, claiming that 602 aid trucks entered the enclave on Thursday. Mladenov said in a post on X on Thursday evening that “602 trucks entered Gaza today with essential supplies for families who have waited too long.”     In response, the Gaza Government Media Office said in a statement that Malenkov’s figures were “false, inaccurate and lacked credibility.”  It added that official data for 9 April showed that only 207 trucks entered Gaza, including 79 carrying aid, while the rest were commercial goods for private companies, according to Palestinian commercial sources. The office said the number of trucks entering

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  Iran: ceasefire covers ‘axis of resistance’, vows not to abandon Lebanon

  by MI on April 10, 2026

  Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said the proposed ceasefire proposal includes Lebanon and the entire “axis of resistance”. He warned that any violations of the ceasefire would carry a “clear cost” and prompt strong responses. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian described Israeli strikes on Lebanon as a “blatant violation” of the ceasefire agreement. Pezeshkian said continued attacks would render negotiations meaningless, adding: “Our hands will remain on the trigger and Iran will not abandon its Lebanese brothers and sisters.” Earlier on Wednesday, Ghalibaf said Iran had been monitoring the ceasefire process with distrust, accusing the United States of breaching commitments even before talks began. He added that, as stated by the US president, a 10-point initiative proposed by Iran forms

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  Khamenei: Resistance fronts are a unified entity and vows retaliation

  by MI on April 10, 2026

  Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei said on Thursday that his country does not seek war, but will not give up its rights. In a statement read on Iranian state television and attributed to Khamenei, he said Iran would move the management of the Strait of Hormuz into a “new phase”, without providing further details. He added that Iran is determined to “take revenge” for its late Supreme Leader, stressing that all resistance fronts are considered a unified entity. Khamenei also called on Iranian citizens not to leave the streets, despite what he described as “negotiations with the enemy”. The remarks come after the United States and Israel launched an attack on Iran on 28 February, killing thousands, including Supreme Leader

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  No Iranian team in Pakistan or talks with US until attacks on Lebanon stopped: Report

  by MI on April 10, 2026

  The Iranian negotiating team has not arrived in the Pakistani capital Islamabad and has no plans to attend peace talks with the US until Israel stops bombing Lebanon, Iran’s Fars News Agency reported, citing a knowledgeable source. The news agency denied reports from some US media outlets that an Iranian negotiating delegation had arrived in Islamabad. Citing the unnamed source, the agency claimed that Iran has officially informed Pakistani authorities that it will not participate in peace talks with the US in Islamabad until a ceasefire is established in Lebanon. The Wall Street Journal had earlier reported that an Iranian delegation had arrived in Islamabad to begin negotiations with Washington. READ: Netanyahu orders direct talks with Lebanon amid ongoing strikes Iranian

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  9-year-old Palestinian girl killed by Israeli fire on Gaza school tent

  by MI on April 9, 2026

  A 9-year-old Palestinian girl was killed after being shot by Israeli forces while attending class in a tent set up for education at Abu Ubayda bin Jarrah School in northern Gaza, Anadolu reports. The child, identified as Ritac Abdurrauf Reyhan, was taken to Al-Shifa Hospital in critical condition but later died despite medical efforts. The incident occurred inside a temporary classroom tent with reports of panic among those present at the time of the shooting. More than 72,000 people have been killed and over 171,000 others injured in Israeli genocide in Gaza since October 2023. A ceasefire between Israel and Hamas was reached on Oct. 10, based on a 20-point peace plan proposed by US President Donald Trump. According to

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  Iran’s supreme leader vows ‘new phase’ in Hormuz management, demands war compensation

  by MI on April 9, 2026

  Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei said in a message Thursday that the management of the Strait of Hormuz will “certainly enter a new phase,” while vowing that Tehran will demand compensation for all war-related damages, Anadolu reports. The message, released by his office on the 40th day since the killing of his father, former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, described his death as a “heavy and historic blow” for the Iranian nation, and one of the most painful moments in its recent history. It portrayed the current phase as a continuation of his path and legacy. Strait of Hormuz Khamenei said Iran will move toward a new strategic phase with the Strait of Hormuz. “The management of

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  Iran’s foreign minister says ceasefire could hasten Netanyahu’s trial outcome

  by MI on April 9, 2026

  Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Thursday a region-wide ceasefire, including in Lebanon, could hasten the jailing of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In a post on US social media company X, Araghchi also warned that undermining diplomatic efforts could carry economic consequences, saying the US would bear responsibility if diplomacy is derailed. “If the US wishes to crater its economy by letting Netanyahu kill diplomacy, that would ultimately be its choice. We think that would be dumb but are prepared for it,” he wrote. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s criminal trial is set to resume on Sunday after weeks of emergency restrictions on Israel’s court system during the war with Iran, according to a court notice cited by the

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  UN envoy meets senior officials, tours civilian sites damaged by airstrikes in Tehran

  by MI on April 9, 2026

  UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ Personal Envoy Jean Arnault visited Tehran on Thursday, holding meetings with senior Foreign Ministry officials, according to the UN. Arnault met Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht Ravanchi and representatives of the Iranian Red Crescent, spokesperson Stephane Dujarric told reporters. Dujarric said Arnault described the meeting with the deputy foreign minister as “substantive” and hoped to continue consultations. Arnault was taken to civilian sites damaged in US-Israeli airstrikes, including a university and an apartment block that was destroyed. The envoy “heard views on the way forward” and reiterated Guterres’ commitment to supporting a peaceful settlement. Arnault is expected to continue his regional tour with visits to the Middle East, said Dujarric. On whether Arnault planned to travel

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  Netanyahu orders direct talks with Lebanon amid ongoing strikes

  by MI on April 9, 2026

  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday that he instructed officials to begin direct negotiations with Lebanon “as soon as possible,” despite ongoing Israeli airstrikes across the country, Anadolu reports. “In light of Lebanon’s repeated requests to open direct negotiations with Israel, I instructed at the Government meeting yesterday to open direct negotiations with Lebanon as soon as possible,” Netanyahu’s office said in a statement posted on US social media platform X. The statement added that the negotiations will focus on disarming Hezbollah and establishing “peaceful relations” between Israel and Lebanon. According to the US news portal Axios, a senior Israeli official said the talks are expected to begin next week. READ: Death toll from Wednesday’s Israeli strikes in Lebanon

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  Death toll from Wednesday’s Israeli strikes in Lebanon rises to 303: Health Ministry

  by MI on April 9, 2026

  Israeli airstrikes killed 303 people and injured 1,150 others across Lebanon on Wednesday, the Lebanese Health Ministry said Thursday, Anadolu reports. In a statement, the ministry said at least 110 children, women and elderly people were among those killed in Wednesday’s deadly strikes. Efforts are still ongoing to recover the bodies of the victims from under the rubble in several locations, the statement said. The ministry said the fatalities have brought the overall death toll from Israeli attacks since March 2 to 1,888 people, while 6,092 others have been injured. The Israeli army escalated airstrikes across Lebanon since Wednesday despite the announcement of a two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran. While Pakistani mediators and Tehran said the ceasefire

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  Nearly 450 Israeli occupiers storm Al-Aqsa after reopening since Feb. 28

  by MI on April 9, 2026

  A total of 448 Israeli occupiers stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied East Jerusalem on Thursday, the first day of its reopening after being closed since Feb. 28. An official from the Islamic Waqf Department in Jerusalem, who requested anonymity, told Anadolu that “448 (settlers) occupiers stormed the mosque compound during the morning period and after the noon prayer.” Eyewitnesses said the occupiers entered through Bab al-Magharibah on the western side of the compound, under heavy escort by Israeli police. They added that the incursions were accompanied by violations, including loud singing, dancing, and performing prayers. Israeli police had closed the mosque’s gates on Feb. 28, citing the need to prevent gatherings during wartime with Iran, in line with

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  Israel estimates $17.5B cost of 40 days of war on Iran, Lebanon

  by MI on April 9, 2026

  The Israeli Finance Ministry estimated the cost of 40 days of war on Iran and Lebanon at around $17.5 billion, the Israeli Channel 12 reported on Thursday, Anadolu reports. Direct military expenditures for the ongoing conflict with Iran and Hezbollah are estimated at around 40 billion shekels ($12.9 billion), the report said. Civilian costs are projected at around 13-14 billion shekels ($4.2-4.5 billion), bringing the total to roughly 54 billion shekels ($17.5 billion), the channel added. The figures are preliminary and expected to be updated, and do not include future reconstruction costs or losses to gross domestic product caused by the partial shutdown of the economy during the war. The Finance Ministry has also allocated about 7 billion shekels ($2.3

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  UAE oil giant says Hormuz still closed despite truce, 230 loaded oil vessels waiting to sail

  by MI on April 9, 2026

  The head of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) said Thursday that the Strait of Hormuz remains effectively closed despite a ceasefire, with Iranian restrictions still blocking normal energy exports and around 230 loaded oil vessels waiting to sail, Anadolu reports. In a LinkedIn post, ADNOC CEO Sultan Al Jaber said access to the waterway was being restricted and conditioned, adding that “conditional passage is not passage” and that the strait must be reopened “fully, unconditionally and without restriction.” Al Jaber said around 230 vessels loaded with oil are ready to sail and that ADNOC has already loaded cargoes, adding that the company would expand production within the limits imposed by war-related damage to its infrastructure and the need to

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  Experts discuss how to dismantle Israel’s £580m hasbara machine

  by MI on April 9, 2026

  In an era where social media is branded the ‘most important weapon’ of the state, the battle for Palestine is being fought as much on smartphone screens as it is on the ground. On 7th April 2026, a seminal webinar hosted by the Global Alliance for Palestine (GAFP) dissected the industrial-scale architecture of hasbara – state-sponsored propaganda – and equipped activists with the tools to dismantle it.  Chairing the session, the Global Alliance for Palestine’s Lujane Abdullah described the current landscape as ‘state-sponsored information warfare’. With a staggering $729 million (£580m) recently allocated to fund social media campaigns and influence AI systems over the course of 2026, Abdullah warned that this machinery is ‘trying to shape what the machines tell

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  Pakistan’s premier assures ‘highest support’ to US, Iran talks

  by MI on April 9, 2026

  Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday pledged “highest support” to expected delegations from the US and Iran, Anadolu reports. During a meeting with Field Marshal Asim Munir in Islamabad, Sharif lauded the “commitment of the parties involved in the process” and wished them success in their pursuit of peace. Sharif and Munir, the chief of Pakistan’s army, met at the prime minister’s office to review progress in Islamabad’s mediation efforts between the US and Iran to “achieve sustainable peace in the region,” according to an official statement. The meeting comes as Islamabad is set to host talks between the two sides over the weekend. Islamabad secured a 14-day ceasefire between Washington and Tehran early Wednesday, 39 days after the

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  Indonesia should use its Morocco pact to build a real security presence in MENA

  by Marwa A on April 9, 2026

  On March 31, 2026, Morocco and Indonesia moved to deepen their security ties during talks in Rabat between Morocco’s top security official and Indonesia’s ambassador. The discussions focused on implementing existing agreements and drafting a new memorandum of understanding to formalize cooperation between their security agencies. The planned framework centers on intelligence sharing, counterterrorism coordination and institutional exchanges, building on the broader strategic partnership signed in 2023. This is not a breakthrough. It is an opportunity—and one Indonesia has yet to fully use. The urgency is clear. Since the start of the Iran war in February 2026, disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz have cut shipping, raised energy prices and destabilized global trade. Indonesia is directly affected. As a net

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  Israel’s Security Cabinet ‘secretly’ approves 34 illegal settlements in occupied West Bank: Report

  by MI on April 9, 2026

  Israel’s Security Cabinet “secretly” approved the establishment of 34 illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank during a recent session, Israeli media reported on Thursday, Anadolu reports. Channel 24 did not specify the exact date of the decision but said it was taken during the US-Israeli military campaign against Iran that began Feb. 28. “The Security Cabinet secretly approved the construction of 34 new settlements in the West Bank, a record number passed in a single move during the campaign against Iran,” the channel said. The approved sites include locations within Palestinian neighborhoods in the northern West Bank and remote areas rarely reached by Israeli forces, the broadcaster said. “This is the largest number of settlements ever approved in a

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  The victory Iran names, the diplomatic space it unexpectedly opens

  by Marwa A on April 9, 2026

  In a world fatigued by endless war cycles and diplomatic stalemates, moments that signal even the possibility of strategic recalibration deserve careful, even hopeful, attention. The recent statement attributed to Iran’s Supreme National Security Council—asserting not merely survival but a structured Political and military outcome following confrontation with the United States and Israel—lands as one such moment. It is not simply rhetoric. It is an attempt to redefine the rules of engagement across West Asia, and, strikingly, to do so from a position framed as strength rather than defence. There is, undeniably, a powerful emotional current running through the statement—language of sacrifice, sovereignty, and historical vindication. Yet beneath that tone lies a set of concrete geopolitical claims that policymakers cannot

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  After US-Israeli war on Iran: What is left of the Gulf countries’ trust in America?

  by Marwa A on April 9, 2026

  The world has now witnessed relief as a two-week-long truce between Iran and the US came into effect on April 8 (Wednesday), after nearly 40 days of relentless exchanges of attacks between the United States and Israel on one side and Iran on the other, during which the Gulf region served as one of the main military theaters. As the fog of conflict begins to clear, one painful reality becomes undeniable: the Gulf states were dragged into a war they never chose, to serve an agenda that was never theirs, all while their security was traded away to protect Israel, not them. This has fundamentally exposed the true nature of Washington’s alliances in the region. While most Gulf countries publicly

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  Beyond the ceasefire: Pakistan’s diplomatic “success” and the illusion of peace in the Muslim world

  by Marwa A on April 9, 2026

  As news of the fragile two-week ceasefire between Iran, the United States, and Israel spreads in April 2026, many Muslims are breathing a cautious sigh of relief. Killings inside Iran have temporarily halted, and Pakistan’s diplomatic intervention has been widely praised for helping broker the deal. Yet this moment of apparent calm should not blind us to a bitter historical pattern: ceasefires offered to Muslim nations are rarely acts of justice. More often, they are tactical pauses granted by powerful aggressors only when continued conflict begins to hurt their interests. Celebrating them as victories risks repeating the same mistakes that have left the Ummah weaker and more divided. History offers no shortage of examples to learn from. The 2020 Doha

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  Trump, Hegseth and the Language of War Crimes

  by Marwa A on April 9, 2026

  He’s out of ideas, a mind running on empty.  Increasingly, he is also short of reason, zapped by geopolitical addling and meddling.  Now that US President Donald J. Trump has reached an uneasy understanding with Teheran that a two-week ceasefire should apply to the warring parties (Israel, as usual, has its own elastic interpretation as it continues attacking Lebanon), it is worth considering the warring language he has been using since February 28.  Of note is the shrill wording of various ultimata he has directed at Iran. On April 7, the President seemed to flirt with the notion of genocide in promising that “A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back.  I don’t want that to happen,

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  Ceasefire or pause? The Gulf held hostage by Netanyahu’s war

  by Marwa A on April 9, 2026

  The ceasefire offered a much-needed breather for the Arab Gulf states. Donald Trump’s threat to attack Iranian civilian infrastructure could have unleashed a human catastrophe across the region with the potential to spiral into an uncontrollable conflagration. Trump’s shift from threat to ceasefire appears deliberate. In my view, it was part of the phone call with Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday, 5th April. Netanyahu was likely reluctant, possibly seeking to delay any ceasefire long enough to allow Israel to strike economic targets inside Iran. Trump, however, cornered by his deadline threat, seems to have pushed back. As inferred in his comments in the 6th April  press conference, Trump  might have boasted about his support for Israel, reminding Netanyahu that “if we

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  UN: Over one million displaced in Lebanon amid Israeli aggression

  by Marwa A on April 9, 2026

  The UNHCR has warned that more than one million people have been displaced in Lebanon within the past month due to the ongoing Israeli aggression, describing the situation as deeply alarming. UNHCR spokesperson Babar Baloch said the scale of displacement — representing nearly one-fifth of the country’s population — reflects a rapidly expanding humanitarian crisis. He explained that Israeli evacuation orders, followed by direct attacks, have triggered continuous internal displacement, with civilians repeatedly forced to move under unstable and dangerous conditions. According to Baloch, most of the displaced are living in severe hardship, facing economic deprivation and significant psychological trauma, while many are sheltering in overcrowded facilities lacking basic necessities. The crisis has also extended beyond Lebanon’s borders. More than

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  UN: Israeli shell killed Indonesian peacekeepers in southern Lebanon

  by Marwa A on April 9, 2026

  The UNIFIL announced that an investigation has concluded that three Indonesian peacekeepers were killed by a shell fired from an Israeli tank. According to UNIFIL, analysis of the impact site and recovered shrapnel confirmed that the projectile was a 120mm shell fired from an Israeli Merkava tank, launched from the east toward the town of Taybeh. The mission noted that it had previously provided the Israeli army with the coordinates of all its positions and facilities on 6th March and again on 22nd March, as part of efforts to reduce risks to its personnel. In a related incident, UNIFIL reported that the Israeli army detained one of its peacekeepers after intercepting a logistics convoy, before releasing him less than an

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  When words become weapons

  by Marwa A on April 9, 2026

  On Easter morning, April 5, 2026, the President of the United States reached, not for diplomacy, but for the obscenity. His message to Iran, broadcast to the world in the language of a street brawl, read like a threat scrawled on a prison wall: “Open the Fuckin’ Strait, you crazy bastards, or you’ll be living in Hell.” The timing was grotesque. The phrasing is worse. The closing—“Praise be to Allah”—is a mockery draped in borrowed piety. It was not merely undignified. It was incendiary. Nine days earlier, before an audience of global investors, he turned his fire on an ally. Speaking of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, he boasted: “He didn’t think he’d be kissing my ass… but now

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  Israeli media: Over 5,000 buildings damaged amid war with Iran

  by Marwa A on April 9, 2026

  Israeli media reports indicate that the war with Iran has caused extensive damage to infrastructure and a significant number of casualties across Israel. According to the Israeli newspaper Maariv, more than 5,000 buildings have been destroyed or damaged since the start of the war on February 28. The report also stated that dozens of civilians and soldiers have been killed, with hundreds injured, though the figures have not been independently verified. The newspaper added that the Israeli economy has “paid a heavy price”, citing the impact of near-total lockdown measures during the conflict. Separately, Yedioth Ahronoth reported that Iran has launched approximately 670 missiles and 765 drones toward Israeli-controlled areas since the beginning of the war. The attacks have reportedly

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  Netanyahu: Iran ceasefire not end of war

  by Marwa A on April 9, 2026

  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday that the ceasefire agreement with Iran “does not mark the end of the war”, but is a step towards achieving all of Israel’s stated objectives. In a recorded statement, Netanyahu said: “The ceasefire is not the end of the war, but a milestone on the path to achieving our goals.” He stressed that Israel would remain on high alert, adding that the Israeli army is “ready to resume fighting at any moment if required”, according to the Russian news agency Sputnik. Netanyahu also said Iran only entered negotiations after being subjected to “intensive and comprehensive” strikes, which he claimed forced Tehran to concede on several previous conditions, including agreeing to reopen the

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  Tunisian human rights league: jailing judges signals collapse of justice

  by Marwa A on April 9, 2026

  The Tunisian League for Human Rights (LTDH) has strongly condemned the prison sentence issued against the President of the Tunisian Judges Association, Anas Hammadi, saying that “imprisoning free judges is a clear declaration of the collapse of justice”. A Tunisian court on Monday sentenced Hammadi to one year in prison on charges of “obstructing freedom of work”, linked to his participation in protests against the dismissal of 57 judges in 2022. In a statement on Wednesday evening, the league expressed solidarity with Hammadi, saying the ruling is “part of a systematic policy aimed at subjugating the judiciary and forcing independent judges into submission by using the courts as a tool of intimidation and punishment”. It added that the decision “sets

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  Western politicians lie, millions die: The architecture of manufactured consent

  by Marwa A on April 9, 2026

  Modern ‘victory’ is prepared long before the first shot. It is paved with a sophisticated architecture of manufactured consent—where political deception and media complicity turn illegal aggressions into ‘moral necessities. To sustain a perpetual state of war, the public must be shielded from the gore of the battlefield and fed a steady diet of “imminent threats” and “humanitarian interventions.” Whether it was the phantom WMDs of Baghdad, the “freedom-fighting” narrative of the Afghan occupation, or the distorted “responsibility to protect” that left Libya a fractured marketplace for human trafficking, the media has acted less as a watchdog and more as a megaphone for the state. The formula remains hauntingly consistent: Western politicians lie, the media amplifies, and millions die The

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  Egypt’s Al-Azhar warns of Israeli intentions to undermine ceasefire agreement

  by Marwa A on April 9, 2026

  Al-Azhar, the top Islamic Sunni institute in Egypt, has strongly condemned what it described as “brutal crimes” carried out by Israel in several areas of Lebanon, which killed dozens of people and injured hundreds of civilians. In a statement, Al-Azhar said the attacks represent a “dangerous escalation” and a “flagrant violation of all international and humanitarian conventions and laws”. It added that targeting innocent civilians reflects a continued pattern of aggression and disregard for human and moral values. The institution warned of what it called Israeli attempts to “ignite the region in order to undermine the current truce and ceasefire agreement”. It stressed that the absence of international and legal accountability “has encouraged the occupier to persist in its criminal

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  Lebanon declares Thursday day of mourning after Israeli air strikes

  by Marwa A on April 9, 2026

  The Lebanese government has declared Thursday a national day of mourning for victims of Israeli air strikes that hit several areas across the country, killing hundreds of civilians. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said in a statement issued on Wednesday that all public administrations, institutions and municipalities will be closed. Flags will be flown at half-mast, while regular programming on radio and television stations will be adjusted in line with the national tragedy. Salam added: “We extend our deepest condolences to the Lebanese people, especially to the families of the martyrs, and wish a speedy recovery to the wounded. We are continuing contacts with our Arab brothers and international officials to mobilise all of Lebanon’s political and diplomatic efforts to stop

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  Israeli air strikes kill 254 in Lebanon on Wednesday

  by Marwa A on April 9, 2026

  The death toll in Lebanon has risen to 254, with more than 800 people injured, following Israeli air strikes on several areas across the country, the Lebanese Civil Defence said on Wednesday evening. Lebanon’s Health Ministry had earlier reported that dozens were killed and hundreds wounded in simultaneous strikes that hit multiple areas, including the capital, Beirut. In a statement, the ministry said: “In a very serious escalation, Israeli enemy aircraft launched a wave of simultaneous raids on many Lebanese areas, resulting in dozens of martyrs and hundreds of injured.” The ministry urged residents to reduce congestion in Beirut’s neighbourhoods to allow ambulance and rescue teams to move more quickly, warning that heavy traffic is obstructing access to targeted areas.

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  Arab League condemns Israeli bombing of Lebanon as “unprecedented barbarity”

  by Marwa A on April 9, 2026

  Secretary General of the Arab League, Ahmed Aboul Gheit strongly condemned the Israeli aggression on Lebanon, describing the attacks as “barbaric and unprecedented.” In a statement, Aboul Gheit said that the Israeli airstrikes, which resulted in hundreds of deaths and injuries among civilians, constitute a blatant violation and serious breach of international law, accusing Israel of working to undermine ceasefire efforts in the region. Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the Arab League, Jamal Rushdi stated that despite ongoing international efforts to de-escalate the conflict, Israel continues with its obstructive role, preventing progress toward restoring stability. He added that Israeli occupation policies are based on a systematic escalation through Lebanon, warning that such actions risk sabotaging any understanding aimed at achieving regional

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  Al-Aqsa Mosque reopens after 40-day closure by Israel

  by Marwa A on April 9, 2026

  Palestinian Muslims gather and enter the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound as it reopens for worship after 41 days of closure following Israeli attacks on Iran carried out with the United States in the Old City of East Jerusalem on April 9, 2026, Anadolu reports. The gates of the Haram… pic.twitter.com/RfmETqmHnf — Middle East Monitor (@MiddleEastMnt) April 9, 2026 Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem was reopened to Muslim worshippers Thursday following a 40-day closure imposed by Israel amid joint US-Israeli military actions against Iran, Anadolu reports. According to an Anadolu correspondent on the ground, the mosque, located in the Old City, was reopened at dawn, allowing hundreds of Palestinian Muslims to enter the Al-Haram al-Sharif compound. As the gates were opened

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  Iran links participation in Islamabad talks to ceasefire in Lebanon

  by Marwa A on April 9, 2026

  Iran has threatened to withdraw from upcoming peace talks in Islamabad, conditioning its participation on an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire in Lebanon. According to sources cited by The Wall Street Journal, Tehran informed mediators that the continued Israeli aggression on Lebanon constitutes a clear violation of initial understandings, stressing that negotiations cannot proceed amid ongoing military escalation against its allies. The sources indicated that the Iranian leadership is also reconsidering its decision to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and may instead maintain it as a closed military zone for oil tankers, in response to what it described as Israeli provocations. This position places the US-brokered ceasefire framework under increasing strain, as Tehran views Washington’s inability to restrain Israeli military operations

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  Iran halts Hormuz transit and warns of strikes after ceasefire violations in Lebanon

  by Marwa A on April 9, 2026

  Iran has announced the halt of oil tanker transit through the Strait of Hormuz and warned of imminent retaliatory action following Israeli violations of the ceasefire in Lebanon. According to reports by the semi-official Fars News Agency, an Iranian military source said Tehran is preparing to carry out retaliatory operations against Israeli military sites in the occupied territories. The source stated that the move comes in response to the continued Israeli aggression against Lebanon and repeated violations of the temporary ceasefire with the Islamic Resistance. Iranian officials indicated that there is a growing belief in Tehran that the ongoing Israeli attacks, despite ceasefire understandings, reflect either the inability of the United States to restrain Israel or that US Central Command

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  Sen. Sanders to introduce resolution to halt US military aid to Israel

  by MI on April 8, 2026

  Sen. Bernie Sanders announced Wednesday that he will introduce a resolution next week aimed at stopping US military aid to Israel, Anadolu reports. Sanders criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump for a “disastrous war” with Iran. “No great surprise. Netanyahu talked Trump into the disastrous war in Iran. We cannot allow Israel to continue shaping U.S. military and foreign policy. “Next week I will be offering a resolution to stop U.S. military aid to Israel,” Sanders wrote on US social media company X. Several American lawmakers frequently make demands for the US to stop supplying weapons to Israel and being complicit in Israel’s actions. READ: Iran must remove enriched uranium or face renewed fighting, Israeli premier

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  Iran must remove enriched uranium or face renewed fighting, Israeli premier says

  by MI on April 8, 2026

  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Wednesday that any enriched uranium remaining in Iran would have to leave the country either through an agreement or renewed military action. “The enriched material that still remains will leave Iran. It will leave either by agreement or through a renewal of the fighting,” Netanyahu said in televised remarks carried by the Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper. The premier claimed that a temporary ceasefire with Iran was “not the end of the war but a station on the way” toward achieving Israel’s objectives, stressing that Israel is ready to resume combat “at any moment required.” He also claimed that Iran is entering negotiations from a weakened position, insisting that Israel has inflicted significant damage on Iran’s

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  White House says Lebanon not part of cease-fire deal with Iran

  by MI on April 8, 2026

  Lebanon is not covered by a newly brokered, two-week cease-fire agreement with Iran, the White House said on Wednesday as Israel carried out sweeping bombardment of its northern neighbor, Anadolu reports. “Lebanon is not part of the cease-fire. That has been relayed to all parties involved in it,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters. Leavitt said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “assured” US President Donald Trump that Israel will “continue to be a helpful partner throughout the course of the next two weeks.” Iran warned earlier on Wednesday that the US must choose between a cease-fire and “continued war via Israel,” saying Washington “cannot have both.” “The world sees the massacres in Lebanon. The ball is in the

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  Iran warns US must choose between ceasefire and war via Israel, ‘it cannot have both’

  by MI on April 8, 2026

  Iran warned on Wednesday that the US must choose between a ceasefire and “continued war via Israel,” saying Washington “cannot have both,” Anadolu reports. “The Iran–U.S. Ceasefire terms are clear and explicit: the U.S. must choose—ceasefire or continued war via Israel. It cannot have both,” Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi wrote on US social media company X. “The world sees the massacres in Lebanon. The ball is in the U.S. court, and the world is watching whether it will act on its commitments.” Citing an informed source, Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency reported earlier that Tehran will withdraw from the truce with the US if Israel continues to violate it through attacks on Lebanon. The Israeli army said it struck more than

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  Palestinian journalist killed by Israeli fire in Gaza, death toll rises to 262

  by MI on April 8, 2026

  A Palestinian journalist with the Qatari Al Jazeera television was killed in an Israeli airstrike in the Gaza Strip on Wednesday, bringing the death toll of reporters since October 2023 to 262, local authorities said, Anadolu reports. In a statement, the Gaza Government Media Office said the killing of Mohammed Wishah, a correspondent for Al Jazeera Mubasher, reflects a “systematic targeting and assassination” of Palestinian journalists by Israel. It called on the International Federation of Journalists, the Arab Journalists Union and media bodies worldwide to “condemn these systematic crimes against Palestinian journalists and media workers in the Gaza Strip.” The office appealed to the international community and relevant organizations to “stop these repeated attacks,” prosecute those responsible in international courts,

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  UN ‘strongly condemns’ Israeli strikes on Lebanon, urges diplomatic solution

  by MI on April 8, 2026

  The UN on Wednesday “strongly” condemned Israeli strikes across Lebanon that caused “significant” civilian casualties, calling on all sides to pursue diplomacy and cease hostilities, Anadolu reports. “The United Nations strongly condemns the strikes by Israel across Lebanon that resulted in significant civilian casualties. The UN strongly condemns the loss of civilian lives,” said UN spokesperson Farhan Haq at a news conference. Urging all parties to return to the negotiating table, Haq said: “We continue to call on all sides to avail themselves of diplomatic channels, cease hostilities, and recommit to the full implementation of Security Council resolution 1701.” Pointing to the ceasefire between the US and Iran, he said: “The ceasefire between the US and Iran offers an opportunity

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  New Pew poll shows support for Israel plummeting in the US

  by MI on April 8, 2026

  A clear majority of Americans now view Israel unfavourably, according to a new Pew Research Center survey, in the latest sign of collapsing public support for the occupation state. Pew found that 60 per cent of US adults now have an unfavourable opinion of Israel, while just 37 per cent express a favourable view. The figures mark a sharp deterioration from last year, when 53 per cent of Americans viewed Israel negatively. Pew said the share of Americans with a “very unfavourable” view has also surged to 28 per cent, up nine points in a year and nearly triple the level recorded in 2022.  The survey, conducted between 23 and 29 March among 3,507 US adults, suggests that Israel’s standing

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  The world on the brink of the stone age: When Trump’s threat goes beyond Iran

  by MI on April 8, 2026

  When Donald Trump declared in one of his threatening statements that he could, if necessary, “bring Iran back to the Stone Age,” many interpreted the remark merely as a military threat directed at a specific country. Yet the deeper meaning of this statement lies not in its military message but in the political logic that underpins it. The central issue is not whether the United States has the capability to devastate another country; rather, it is what kind of view of the international order makes such a threat possible—or even appear normal. If one examines the trajectory of U.S. foreign policy in recent years, it becomes increasingly clear that the threat of “returning a country to the Stone Age” reflects