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

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

  by Marwa A on June 28, 2026

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

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  FIFA could not hide Gaza

  by Marwa A on June 28, 2026

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

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

  by Marwa A on June 28, 2026

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

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  Israeli army to begin pilot withdrawal from southern Lebanon: Report

  by Mehdi Editor on June 27, 2026

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

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

  by Mehdi Editor on June 27, 2026

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

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  Lebanon’s Washington framework entrenches power, not order

  by Mehdi Editor on June 27, 2026

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

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

  by Mehdi Editor on June 27, 2026

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

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

  by Mehdi Editor on June 27, 2026

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

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  Hundreds rally in Stockholm against Israeli strikes on Gaza

  by Mehdi Editor on June 27, 2026

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

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  Hezbollah chief rejects Lebanon-Israel deal, demands Israeli withdrawal

  by Mehdi Editor on June 27, 2026

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

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

  by Mehdi Editor on June 27, 2026

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

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

  by Mehdi Editor on June 27, 2026

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

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  Arab nations condemn Iranian drone attack on Bahrain

  by Mehdi Editor on June 27, 2026

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

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

  by Mehdi Editor on June 27, 2026

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

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

  by Mehdi Editor on June 27, 2026

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

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  Iran, Egypt discuss US diplomatic negotiations, regional developments

  by Mehdi Editor on June 27, 2026

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

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  Israeli drone hits southern Lebanon despite framework agreement

  by Mehdi Editor on June 27, 2026

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

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  Ironic fates: Bolton, Trump and mishandling classified documents

  by Mehdi Editor on June 27, 2026

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

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

  by Mehdi Editor on June 27, 2026

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

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  Bahrain says Iranian drones targeted its territory early Saturday

  by Mehdi Editor on June 27, 2026

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

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  Gaza boy succumbs to injuries from Israeli attack

  by Mehdi Editor on June 27, 2026

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

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

  by Mehdi Editor on June 27, 2026

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

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

  by Mehdi Editor on June 27, 2026

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

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

  by Mehdi Editor on June 27, 2026

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

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

  by Mehdi Editor on June 27, 2026

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

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

  by Mehdi Editor on June 27, 2026

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

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

  by Mehdi Editor on June 27, 2026

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

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

  by Mehdi Editor on June 27, 2026

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

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  6 farmers abducted by Israeli army in southern Lebanon amid ceasefire violations

  by Mehdi Editor on June 26, 2026

  The Israeli army abducted six farmers on Friday from the border town of Ain Arab in Lebanon’s Marjayoun district, a day after its forces burned several homes in the same town, Anadolu Agency reports. The incident comes amid continued Israeli violations of the fragile ceasefire agreement that has been in effect since April 17, although the pace of violations has declined in recent days following the agreement between the US and Iran. An Israeli force abducted six farmers while they were working on their land on the outskirts of the border town of Ain Arab before taking them into Israel, an Anadolu correspondent said. The abductees include three Lebanese residents of the town and three Syrian workers, the correspondent said.

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  Dozens protest in central Israel, demanding ultra-Orthodox military conscription

  by Mehdi Editor on June 26, 2026

  Dozens of demonstrators protested Friday in the central Israeli city of Bnei Brak, blocking major roads to demand equal military service obligations and the conscription of ultra-Orthodox Jews, known as Haredim. The Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronoth said dozens of secular Israelis and members of left-wing organizations, including the group “Mothers at the Front,” took part in the protest against exemptions granted to Haredim from mandatory military service. The protesters marched in Bnei Brak, a stronghold of the ultra-Orthodox community, calling for equality in conscription and an end to exemptions for students enrolled in religious seminaries. Israeli Channel 12 reported clashes between protesters and local residents amid a heavy deployment of Israeli police forces. The protest came two days after thousands

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  Netanyahu says Israeli army will remain in southern Lebanon ‘security zone’ until Hezbollah disarmed

  by Mehdi Editor on June 26, 2026

  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Friday that Israeli forces will remain in a “security zone” in southern Lebanon until Hezbollah is disarmed, commenting on the newly reached framework deal between Israel and Lebanon under US sponsorship, Anadolu reports. In a recorded statement, Netanyahu said: “The most important thing is that first of all, Israel remains in the security zone in southern Lebanon … we maintain it as long as Hezbollah has not disarmed.” He said the agreement allows the deployment of the Lebanese army in designated areas based on “recommendation” by the Israeli army, with implementation set to begin through “two pilot phases.” Netanyahu added that one of the two areas from which Israeli forces are expected to

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  UAE foreign minister holds 1st publicly announced call with Iranian counterpart since outbreak of war

  by Mehdi Editor on June 26, 2026

  In the first publicly announced contact between the two countries since the outbreak of the US-Israeli war against Iran, UAE Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan held a phone call with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Friday, Anadolu reports. According to the UAE Foreign Ministry, the two officials reviewed “the latest regional developments” following the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the US and Iran aimed at ending the war that came into force on June 18. Bin Zayed stressed “the importance of full compliance with the provisions of the agreement” and said “serious diplomacy and responsible dialogue” remain the preferred means of addressing regional and international crises. The UAE is among the Gulf countries that came

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  US sanctions individuals, entities for ‘fueling’ Sudan’s civil war

  by Mehdi Editor on June 26, 2026

  The US on Friday sanctioned eight individuals and entities linked to networks fueling Sudan’s civil war, calling on both warring parties to accept an “immediate, unconditional” three-month humanitarian truce, Anadolu reports. The Treasury Department said the sanctions target networks supporting both the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), accusing them of enabling the conflict to intensify while contributing to one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. “The networks profiting from the conflict in Sudan jeopardize the prospects for the humanitarian truce that the Sudanese people desperately need,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a statement. The sanctions target a Sudan-based defense enterprise allegedly involved in supplying explosives, weapons-related materials and military equipment to the SAF,

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  3 police members among 5 Palestinians killed in Israeli attacks on Gaza amid ceasefire violations

  by Mehdi Editor on June 26, 2026

  Three police members were among five Palestinians killed in Israeli strikes across the Gaza Strip on Friday, amid continued Israeli violations of the ceasefire agreement in the enclave. A medical source at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital told Anadolu Agency that the bodies of three Palestinians and two injured people were brought to the hospital following an Israeli drone strike targeting a civilian vehicle at the entrance to Al-Maghazi refugee camp in central Gaza. An Israeli drone fired at least two missiles at the vehicle, causing it to catch fire and resulting in deaths and injuries, eyewitnesses told Anadolu Agency. In a later brief statement, Gaza’s Interior Ministry said the three victims were officers and members of the police force, without providing

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  Hamas says consultations continue with mediators on Gaza ceasefire implementation

  by Mehdi Editor on June 26, 2026

  The Palestinian group Hamas said Friday that consultations are ongoing with mediators to reach understandings that would ensure the full implementation of the Gaza ceasefire agreement. Discussions are continuing between Hamas, Palestinian factions, and mediators, including Turkiye, Egypt and Qatar, to finalize approaches related to the complete execution of the agreement, the group’s spokesman Hazem Qassem told Anadolu Agency. “These discussions concern the full implementation of the ceasefire agreement, including what remains of the first phase and mechanisms for implementing the second phase,” Qassem said. He added that a delegation from Hamas and other Palestinian factions is expected to visit Cairo in the coming days to deliver its response to newly proposed approaches. Qassem said Palestinian factions had previously reached

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  Starmer leaves office with Labour divided over Gaza

  by Mehdi Editor on June 26, 2026

  Keir Starmer is set to leave office after announcing his resignation on Monday, ending a premiership marked by collapsing public support, internal party discipline battles and deep anger over his handling of Gaza. His departure follows months of pressure inside Labour and a bruising set of local election results in which the party suffered heavy losses while Reform UK made major gains. Labour lost 1,496 council seats and control of 38 councils in the 2026 local elections, while Reform UK gained 1,451 seats and emerged as the major beneficiary of public discontent.   Starmer’s resignation confirmed the fragility of the mandate he won in 2024. Labour secured a landslide majority in Parliament, but did so with only around a third of

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  Israeli occupiers set fire to 1 hectare of Palestinian olive groves under army protection

  by Mehdi Editor on June 26, 2026

  Israeli occupiers set fire to around 1 hectare of Palestinian olive farmland in the village of Burqa, east of Ramallah in the occupied West Bank, on Friday, according to local officials and witnesses. Saleh Kanaan, head of Burqa’s village council, told Anadolu Agency that dozens of occupiers attacked the village while the Israeli army closed its main entrance and several secondary roads, restricting the movement of Palestinian residents. Kanaan said the occupiers set fire to agricultural land in the southeastern part of the village, damaging around 1 hectare of olive groves. Witnesses said Israeli forces were heavily deployed around the village during the attack and detained several Palestinian youths, while the assault extended to areas near homes. READ: Former Israeli leaders

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  Israel drops leaflets warning Lebanese to stay away from southern border town

  by Mehdi Editor on June 26, 2026

  The Israeli army dropped warning leaflets Friday urging Lebanese residents to stay away from the southern town of Al-Mansouri, as displaced civilians continue returning to villages across southern Lebanon, Anadolu reports. Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA) reported a drone dropped the leaflets over the town, which lies south of the coastal city of Tyre. The move comes as thousands of displaced residents return to the south following a significant reduction in Israeli attacks since Sunday, amid reports of US pressure on Israel to de-escalate in support of ongoing negotiations in Washington. The reported US pressure follows the June 18 Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding between Washington and Tehran, which calls for an immediate and permanent end to military operations on all

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  Iran says ‘direct communication line’ established with US over Hormuz to avoid military confrontation

  by Mehdi Editor on June 26, 2026

  A “direct communication line” has been established between Iran and the US over the Strait of Hormuz to prevent incidents that could lead to military confrontation, Iranian state media reported Friday. “According to the final statement of the talks in Switzerland issued by the two mediators… a communication line has been established between the two sides,” Press TV reported. The line was established “to prevent incidents in the Strait of Hormuz that might lead to military confrontation” and to implement the provisions of Article 5 of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, it added. The development comes amid disputes over navigation arrangements in the Strait of Hormuz, where Iran has said vessels must use designated routes and coordinate with Iranian authorities

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  Israel reaches understandings with US to speed up evacuation of military aircraft from Ben Gurion: Reports

  by Mehdi Editor on June 26, 2026

  Israel has reached understandings with the US military to accelerate the evacuation of American military aircraft stationed at Ben Gurion Airport, Israeli media reported Friday. The country’s Transportation Ministry made a statement confirming the development early Friday, ending “weeks of uncertainty” that had affected Israel’s aviation sector, Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronoth reported. The understanding is expected to remove the remaining concerns over the cancellation of hundreds of thousands of airline tickets during the summer travel season, after the risk of canceling more than 2.4 million tickets had already been averted about a week and a half ago, the report said. READ: Far-right Israeli minister urges ending Lebanon ceasefire after troops injured Channel 12 reported that the US has committed to removing

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  Far-right Israeli minister urges ending Lebanon ceasefire after troops injured

  by Mehdi Editor on June 26, 2026

  Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir called for ending the ceasefire in Lebanon after four Israeli troops were wounded in southern Lebanon. “There are soldiers who have been injured. We can strike and bomb hundreds of targets,” Ben-Gvir said, referring to a Thursday incident in which four Israeli soldiers were wounded in southern Lebanon, Yedioth Ahronoth reported Friday. During a security cabinet meeting on Thursday, the extremist minister described the incident as “an opportunity for the agreement to collapse.” Although his position did not appear to gain support during the meeting, other ministers reportedly voiced frustration over operational restrictions imposed on Israeli forces under the ceasefire arrangements in Lebanon. The remarks came amid media reports of US pressure on

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  IAEA chief says US-Iran deal grants agency access to Iranian nuclear sites

  by Mehdi Editor on June 26, 2026

  The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Friday said that the recent US-Iran agreement gives the UN nuclear watchdog responsibility for supervising Iran’s nuclear commitments, Anadolu reports. Speaking to reporters in Tokyo, IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi said the memorandum of understanding between Washington and Tehran “specifically indicates” that its nuclear component “will be supervised by the IAEA.” “In order to supervise, we need to inspect. There is no other way,” Grossi said. He said the agency had already begun technical work with Iranian authorities and hoped to be in Iran “soon,” adding that differing public statements by the US and Iran reflected “political positioning.” “There is a bit of a war of statements here,” he said,

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  Iran warns against Israeli military flights through neighboring states’ airspace

  by Mehdi Editor on June 26, 2026

  Iran’s top joint military command warned Friday against what it described as Israeli military aircraft using the airspace of neighboring countries to approach Iran. In a statement carried by state-run broadcaster IRIB, the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters said the movement and presence of the “terrorist army of the Zionist regime” in the skies of some neighboring countries toward Iran is a dangerous act and a threat to the country. The statement, however, did not specify which neighboring country or countries it was referring to. The headquarters warned that if the US is unable to restrain or control Israel, Iran “will not tolerate any threat against itself.” It added that Tehran reserves the right to respond to “dangerous” actions. READ: Iran warns

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  Israel turns Armenian suffering into political weapon as feud with Turkiye deepens

  by Marwa A on June 26, 2026

  Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar has said he will bring a resolution before the Israeli government to recognise the Armenian Genocide, in a move that comes amid worsening ties with Turkiye and is likely to fuel criticism that Israel is turning Armenian suffering into a political weapon. Sa’ar said on X that he would bring “a proposed resolution for the official recognition by the Government of Israel of the Armenian Genocide” before the government at its next meeting. I will bring before the Israeli government at its next meeting a proposed resolution for the official recognition by the Government of Israel of the Armenian Genocide. Recognizing the genocide perpetrated against the Armenian people in the final years of the Ottoman

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  The future of nuclear non-proliferation after recent U.S.–Iran negotiations

  by Marwa A on June 26, 2026

  The latest round of negotiations between the United States and Iran in Switzerland may not yet qualify as a historic breakthrough but it may become one of those moments historians later identify as a turning point. After years of sanctions, proxy confrontations, military escalation and the gradual weakening of arms-control trust, both sides have returned to a familiar but difficult instrument: diplomacy. Recent talks reportedly produced a roadmap towards a broader settlement and continued technical discussions on nuclear and regional security issues. The larger question is no longer whether Washington and Tehran can talk. It is whether diplomacy can still protect the global nuclear non-proliferation order. Background: Why U.S.–Iran Relations Matter Beyond Two Countries Relations between the United States and

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  The war on Iran: Through the lenses of pragmatism and realpolitik

  by Marwa A on June 26, 2026

  Two Doctrines, One Conflict When the United States and Israel launched coordinated strikes against Iran in June 2025, the world’s strategic analysts reached instinctively for two of history’s most enduring frameworks to make sense of what had unfolded: Pragmatism, the distinctly American philosophical tradition that judges actions by their consequences, and Realpolitik, the European doctrine that strips policy of moral pretence and reduces statecraft to power, interest, and calculation. Examining the war on Iran through both lenses does not produce a single verdict — it produces two competing narratives that expose the fault lines at the heart of American foreign policy. Lens One: Pragmatism — The War as a Test of Consequences Pragmatism, as a doctrine of statecraft, holds that

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  Hezbollah denies Israeli claim of killing its members in southern Lebanon

  by Marwa A on June 26, 2026

  Hezbollah on Thursday denied the Israeli army’s claim that it had killed members of the group in an air strike on the southern Lebanese town of Zawtar al-Sharqiya. The group said those killed were civilians and described the attack as a “blatant violation” of the ceasefire agreement. In a statement, Hezbollah said the Israeli army had “once again deliberately targeted Lebanese civilians who were on their way to inspect their homes on the Zawtar al-Sharqiya road under the pretext that they posed a threat to its occupying forces.” It added that the attack, carried out at 2:40 pm local time (11:40 GMT) by an Israeli drone strike, killed two civilians who were directly targeted and wounded a third person. Hezbollah

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  Iran warns ships against using unauthorised routes in Strait of Hormuz

  by Marwa A on June 26, 2026

  Iran warned on Thursday that ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz must use only routes approved and designated by Iranian authorities, following an attack on a vessel off the coast of Oman. The Persian Gulf Strait Authority (PGSA), established by Iran to manage the Strait of Hormuz, said in a post on X that transit outside routes designated by Iran “will not be covered by the guarantee of safe passage.” It added that any “Consequences arising from passage through unauthorised routes shall be the responsibility of the owner, operator, and vessel commander.” Earlier, the United Nations’ International Maritime Organization (IMO) temporarily suspended evacuation operations in the strategic waterway, citing security concerns following the attack. IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez said in

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  Pro-Palestinian demonstrators urge Rome to end cooperation with Israel

  by Mehdi Editor on June 26, 2026

  Pro-Palestinian demonstrators gathered outside Rome City Hall in Rome on Thursday, urging municipal authorities to end the city’s institutional cooperation with Israel, Anadolu reports. Despite high temperatures, protesters assembled in Campidoglio Square carrying Palestinian flags and banners while seeking to make their voices heard by members of the City Council meeting inside the municipal building. They also chanted pro-Palestinian slogans and protested Israeli attacks on Lebanon. Maya Issa, president of Palestinian Students in Italy, said demonstrators had once again gathered outside City Hall to call on Rome Mayor Roberto Gualtieri and the municipal administration to terminate all existing agreements with Israel. Issa said more than 16,000 Rome residents had signed a petition in recent months calling for the municipality to end its

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  Israeli citizen sentenced over US secrets plot

  by Marwa A on June 26, 2026

  An Israeli citizen has been sentenced in the US after pleading guilty to conspiring to steal a trade secret from an Arizona-based semiconductor technology company, in a case that adds to long-standing practice of Israeli-linked espionage. Guy Galanti, 48, an Israeli citizen who lived in Scottsdale, Arizona, received a sentence of time served and three years of supervised release from US District Judge G. Murray Snow, the US Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona announced on Tuesday. Galanti had remained in custody since his arrest in September 2025 and pleaded guilty on 26 May, 2026, to conspiring to steal a trade secret. According to prosecutors, Galanti worked as a senior-level manager for Green Technology Investments (GTI), a Scottsdale company