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

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  Egypt condemns deadly strike on Lebanese army patrol, warns against regional escalation

  by Mehdi Editor on June 8, 2026

  Egypt has strongly condemned an Israeli strike that targeted a Lebanese army patrol, killing two officers and a soldier, describing the incident as a dangerous escalation and a violation of Lebanon’s sovereignty. In a statement issued on Sunday, Egypt’s Foreign Ministry said it was following developments in Lebanon with grave concern and criticised the continued Israeli attacks on Lebanese territory. Egypt called on the international community to take action to halt the Israeli repeated violations and to ensure respect for Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. The ministry warned that continued military escalation could further destabilise the region at a time of mounting security challenges across the Middle East. Cairo also stressed the importance of supporting regional and international efforts aimed

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  US embassy closes Jerusalem, Tel Aviv consular services on Monday amid security alert

  by Mehdi Editor on June 8, 2026

  The US Embassy in Israel announced on Sunday evening that its consular sections in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv will be closed on Monday, urging its staff and their families to be prepared to take shelter following the recent Iranian attacks. In a statement, the embassy said: “As a result of the current security situation in Israel, including Home Front Command alerts for multiple regions, the U.S. Embassy has directed all U.S. government employees and their family members to shelter in place, and be prepared to move to a protected shelter in the event of a red alert, until further notice.”     It added that US consular services would remain closed on Monday, 8th June. READ: Khamenei adviser: Attack on Israel was a

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  Egypt and Iran hold talks after attack on Israel

  by Mehdi Editor on June 8, 2026

  Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi held a phone call on Sunday to discuss regional developments, according to Iran’s ISNA news agency. The talks came amid escalating tensions after Iran launched another missile attack on Israel, following earlier warnings that it would respond to what it described as Israeli attacks on Lebanon and the bombing of Beirut’s southern suburbs. According to the Iranian agency, Araghchi discussed with Abdelatty recent regional developments, Iran’s response to attacks by the “Zionist entity” on Lebanon, and what Tehran described as repeated violations of ceasefire agreements on all fronts. Earlier, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it had targeted Israel’s Ramat David Air Base in response to what it

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  Lawyers ask ICC to expand Palestine investigation to include “Sumud Flotilla” incident

  by Mehdi Editor on June 8, 2026

  A group of lawyers and international law experts has asked the International Criminal Court (ICC) to expand its ongoing investigation into the situation in Palestine to include allegations arising from Israel’s interception of the “Global Sumud Flotilla” in May. The request was submitted to the Office of the Prosecutor on 29th May as part of a broader legal filing seeking an investigation into the treatment of activists aboard the flotilla and the actions of Israeli officials involved in the operation. According to the submission, the flotilla consisted of around 50 vessels carrying 428 activists from 44 countries who said they were attempting to challenge the blockade imposed on the Gaza Strip. The filing concerns Israel’s interception of the flotilla in

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  Report: Mossad deputy chief dismissed following failed Iran operation

  by Mehdi Editor on June 8, 2026

  The deputy head of Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency has been dismissed after more than two decades of service, according to Israeli media reports that linked the move to a failed operation aimed at destabilising the Iranian government. Israel’s Channel 12 reported, citing two unnamed sources, that the deputy head had overseen a project launched about a year ago with a budget of one billion shekels (about $344m) and a team of hundreds of personnel. According to the report, the operation was intended to contribute to efforts to bring down the Iranian leadership. The sources told Channel 12 that the initiative failed to achieve its objectives. “As everyone already knows, the results were not up to par.” READ: Khamenei adviser: Attack on

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  Netanyahu meets US legal delegation amid growing international scrutiny of Israel

  by Mehdi Editor on June 8, 2026

  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met a delegation of senior legal advisers from the US administration on Sunday to discuss international legal challenges facing Israel, according to a statement from his office. The statement said the talks focused on what Netanyahu described as a “legal war” being waged against Israel, the United States and other countries engaged in counterterrorism operations. No further details were provided regarding the participants in the meeting or the specific legal issues discussed. The meeting comes as international legal scrutiny of Israel’s genocide in Gaza continues to intensify, including ongoing proceedings and investigations before the International Criminal Court (ICC). READ: Israeli flight diverts to Croatia after Slovenia denies landing Last month, a group of lawyers and international

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  Israel closes Gaza crossings after Iranian missile attacks

  by Mehdi Editor on June 8, 2026

  Israeli authorities on Sunday evening closed all crossings into the Gaza Strip following Iranian missile attacks on Israel. The closure includes the Rafah and Kerem Shalom crossings and was implemented as part of security measures taken after the attacks. Israel’s Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) said the decision was based on security assessments conducted after the recent Iranian strikes. It said the closure would remain in place “until further notice” and applies to all crossings leading into Gaza. In a statement, COGAT claimed the measure would not affect the humanitarian situation in the enclave. It also said that the amount of food aid that has entered Gaza since the ceasefire began exceeds the population’s food requirements, according

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  Anger in Israel after Turkish interior minister says: ‘we will one day liberate Jerusalem’

  by Mehdi Editor on June 8, 2026

  Turkish Interior Minister Mustafa Çiftçi said during a conference of his ruling party that Turkey would one day regain control of Jerusalem. Speaking at a meeting of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) in Çorum province on Saturday, Çepik said: “Just as we witnessed the liberation of Damascus and Aleppo, we will, God willing, witness the liberation of Jerusalem one day.”  He added: “I still believe today that God will show us those days. He will certainly show them to us. I have believed this from the bottom of my heart, and I still do. Just as in the past, these places will return to us once again. They will, God willing, come back under our rule and

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  Oil prices jump as Iran-Israel tensions escalate

  by Mehdi Editor on June 8, 2026

  Oil prices rose following the latest escalation in the Middle East. According to Reuters, US crude futures climbed by $2.57 to $93.11 a barrel, while Brent crude futures rose by $2.67 to $95.76 a barrel. The Israeli military said on Sunday evening that it had detected Iranian missiles launched towards Israeli targets, claiming that its air defence systems intercepted them. The incident followed Iranian threats to respond to an air strike that targeted Beirut’s southern suburbs. Mohsen Rezaei, an adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader, said in a post on X that the Iranian attacks were intended as a warning and that any new Israeli actions would face a more severe response. The commander of Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters also

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  Khamenei adviser: Attack on Israel was a warning message, any new move will face a more painful response

  by Mehdi Editor on June 8, 2026

  Iranian Supreme Leader adviser and former commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Mohsen Rezaei, said Iran’s missile attack on Israel was a response to violations of the ceasefire and attacks on Lebanon, warning that any further escalation would be met with a stronger response. In a post on X on Monday, Rezaei said Iran “repeatedly stated that it will not tolerate violations of the ceasefire and aggression against Lebanon”.    “Tonight, the aggressors received their response,” he said. “This response is a warning to stop their evil; any new action will be met with a more crushing response and heavier costs,” he added. READ: Strait of Hormuz maritime trade bears heavy brunt during 100 days of Iran war Meanwhile, IRGC

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  Iran says US naval blockade, support for Israel make American, Israeli assets ‘legitimate targets’

  by Mehdi Editor on June 7, 2026

  Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf said Sunday that the US naval blockade against Iran and Washington’s support for Israel have turned American and Israeli bases and interests in the region into “legitimate targets,” Anadolu reports. In a post on the US social media company X following an Israeli airstrike on Beirut’s southern suburbs that killed at least two people and injured 11 others, Qalibaf accused the US of enabling the Israeli assaults. “The naval blockade against the Iranian nation and America’s green light today to the Zionist regime (Israel) turn American and regime bases and assets in the region into legitimate targets,” he wrote. “Our armed forces are always ready to respond,” he added. Qalibaf also accused the US and

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  Iran warns of ‘decisive’ response to Israeli strike on southern Beirut

  by Mehdi Editor on June 7, 2026

  Iranian lawmaker Ebrahim Rezaei on Sunday warned that Tehran would respond “decisively” to the latest Israeli airstrike on Beirut’s southern suburbs, which killed at least two people and injured 11 others, Anadolu reports. Rezaei, spokesperson for the Iranian parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, made the remarks in a post on the US social media platform X following the strike. “We will deliver a decisive and painful response to the Zionist regime’s attack on Dahiyeh,” he wrote. “These rabid dogs must be disciplined and put back in their place,” he added. READ: Israeli army launches airstrikes on Lebanese capital despite ceasefire Rezaei also appeared to hint at possible military action, saying: “Look at the skies over the occupied lands tonight.”

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  Israeli attacks across Gaza kill 10 Palestinians, wound 29 despite ceasefire

  by Mehdi Editor on June 7, 2026

  Ten Palestinians were killed and 29 others injured in Israeli attacks on various areas of the Gaza Strip since Sunday morning, according to medical sources, as Israel continued its daily violations of the ceasefire agreement, Anadolu reports. In central Gaza City, four Palestinians were killed and seven others injured when an Israeli drone struck a civilian vehicle near Palestine Square in the Rimal neighborhood. The sources also said that 14-year-old Hadeel Ayman Jundi died of wounds sustained in an Israeli strike on Gaza City on Saturday. In the southern Gaza Strip, five Palestinians were killed and 17 others injured in an Israeli strike targeting a police post in the Al-Nass area west of Khan Younis. In northern Gaza, medical sources

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  The strategic value of Kurdish gas for Europe’s energy security

  by Mehdi Editor on June 7, 2026

  Europe’s Energy Challenge is Far From Over Europe has made significant progress in reducing its dependence on Russian natural gas since the outbreak of the Ukraine war. Through increased liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports, expanded purchases from Norway, and greater reliance on the Southern Gas Corridor, European governments have managed to mitigate some of the vulnerabilities that once defined the continent’s energy landscape. Yet the notion that Europe’s energy security challenge has been resolved is misleading. Diversification is not a one-time achievement but a continuous strategic process. As geopolitical tensions continue to reshape global energy markets, Europe must identify new sources of supply capable of strengthening resilience and reducing dependence on a limited number of producers and transit routes. In

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  Trump praises Syria’s leadership, says it is doing ‘good job’

  by Mehdi Editor on June 7, 2026

  US President Donald Trump praised Syria’s leadership for its efforts to restore stability, describing President Ahmad al-Sharaa as having done a “good job” in a short period of time, Anadolu reports. “Syria is doing a very good job of cleaning up their act,” Trump told NBC News in an interview aired Sunday. He highlighted al-Sharaa, who took office following the overthrow of the Assad regime in December 2024, as a “very good leader” who would be willing to assist in regional security efforts. Trump suggested Syria could play a role in facilitating more “surgical” strikes against Hezbollah, saying he wanted a “better life” for people in Lebanon. Syria did not immediately comment on Trump’s suggestion. Washington has already lifted several

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  Japan sets 3 conditions for joining Hormuz mission: Report

  by Mehdi Editor on June 7, 2026

  Japan has set three conditions for joining a mission in the Strait of Hormuz, Kyodo News reported Sunday. Japan would require the US and Iran to agree to a ceasefire, communication channels with the Iranian side to be in place, and the threat level in the strait to be reduced before deploying its Self-Defense Forces, the report said, citing a source familiar with the matter. If those conditions are met, potential operations would include clearing abandoned mines and protecting commercial vessels, it added. Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian have held three phone calls since the war began in late February. READ: Strait of Hormuz maritime trade bears heavy brunt during 100 days of Iran war Regional

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  Spanish premier attends pro-Palestinian music festival

  by Mehdi Editor on June 7, 2026

  Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez attended Barcelona’s Primavera Sound music festival on Saturday, an event that has become known in recent years for its outspoken support for Palestinians and criticism of Israel’s war in Gaza, Anadolu reports. Among the concerts, Sanchez attended the headline performance by British band Gorillaz, which was preceded by a speech from Palestinian activist Arab Barghouti, the son of imprisoned Palestinian political leader Marwan Barghouti. Addressing the crowd, Barghouti thanked Barcelona and its residents for supporting Palestinians. Festivalgoers responded with chants of “Free Palestine.” After the event, Sanchez shared a video of the speech on Instagram and wrote: “Thank you for raising your voice.” The festival grounds also featured a large illuminated “No War” sign, while

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  The latest Indonesia-Qatar defence agreement needs deliverables, not diplomacy

  by Mehdi Editor on June 7, 2026

  Indonesia and Qatar this week signed a Statement of Intent on defense cooperation, paving the way for a formal Defense Cooperation Agreement covering military training, personnel exchanges, joint exercises, cybersecurity, and defense industrial collaboration. The agreement reflects a broader trend. Since President Prabowo Subianto took office, Indonesia has expanded engagement with Gulf countries through strategic dialogues, investment partnerships, and now defense cooperation. The problem is not the agreement itself. The problem is that Indonesia has signed many similar agreements before. Over the years, Jakarta has established defense partnerships with countries across Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and North America. Most promised training, technology transfer, industrial cooperation, and capacity building. Some delivered meaningful results. Many produced little beyond ceremonial exchanges and

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  Palestinian factions, mediators resume Cairo talks on next phase of Gaza ceasefire

  by Mehdi Editor on June 7, 2026

  Palestinian factions and mediators from Egypt, Qatar, and Turkiye resumed talks in Cairo on Sunday for a second day of consultations aimed at advancing the next phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement amid continued Israeli violations, according to media reports. Citing unnamed sources, Egypt’s Cairo News TV reported that representatives of Palestinian factions and mediators from Egypt, Qatar, and Turkiye “began a new round of meetings in Cairo aimed at discussing ways to implement the second phase of the Sharm El-Sheikh agreement.” The meeting includes representatives from all Palestinian factions, the sources said, without identifying the participants. The sources added that Egypt, Qatar, and Turkiye are making intensive efforts to break the deadlock in implementing the provisions of the Sharm

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  Strait of Hormuz maritime trade bears heavy brunt during 100 days of Iran war

  by Mehdi Editor on June 7, 2026

  The Strait of Hormuz, a key chokepoint for global maritime trade, handled nearly 1,000 ships in the 100 days since the US-Israel-Iran war broke out in the region, marking a figure that the waterway would have seen in only a week under normal conditions, Anadolu reports. The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow waterway at the mouth of the Gulf, connecting Middle Eastern oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) to global markets via the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean. The chokepoint accounted for 20% of the global daily oil consumption and liquefied natural gas (LNG) trade prior to Feb. 28, when the US and Israel preemptively attacked Iran and Tehran made subsequent retaliations, striking regional infrastructure. The waterway also

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  Trump vows to destroy Iranian uranium with or without deal

  by Mehdi Editor on June 7, 2026

  US President Donald Trump said Washington would ensure the destruction of Iran’s enriched uranium regardless of whether a diplomatic agreement is reached. “We’ll take it out and destroy it, whether it’s on-site or whether we take it off-site,” Trump told NBC News in an interview aired Sunday. He added that the US would act “with them, or without them.” Trump said the US would remove Iran’s enriched uranium “militarily, very harshly” if no agreement is reached, adding: “We won’t have people shooting at us” if the two sides “go together.” Speaking about US troops in the Middle East, the president said it would be “foolhardy” to withdraw them before a “completion” of negotiations. Trump also claimed there was a “good

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  Substituting Venezuelan oil for Persian Gulf oil: A geopolitical reality check

  by Mehdi Editor on June 7, 2026

  The idea of substituting Venezuelan oil for Persian Gulf oil has become more relevant as energy security is increasingly shaped by chokepoints, sanctions, and regional conflict. Persian Gulf producers remain central to global oil supply, but a large share of their exports depends on the Strait of Hormuz. The U.S. Energy Information Administration estimates that oil flows through Hormuz averaged about 20 million barrels per day in 2024, equal to roughly one-fifth of global petroleum liquids consumption. This makes Hormuz not only a regional vulnerability, but a global energy-security risk.  Venezuela appears attractive in this context because it offers a major reserve base outside the Middle East. The country held approximately 303 billion barrels of proven crude oil reserves in

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  Israeli army launches airstrikes on Lebanese capital despite ceasefire

  by Mehdi Editor on June 7, 2026

  The Israeli army launched airstrikes on the southern suburbs of the Lebanese capital Beirut on Sunday, despite an ongoing ceasefire. The strikes targeted two residential apartments in two buildings in the Hawta al-Ghadir area, causing several injuries, the state news agency NNA reported. An Anadolu reporter said Israeli fighter jets bombed the Dahiyeh area without prior warning. Smoke was seen rising from the targeted area. In a post on the US social media company X, Israeli army spokesman Avichay Adraee claimed that the army targeted a Hezbollah infrastructure facility in the area. READ: Israeli strikes in Lebanon kills 10 people, including 3 Lebanese army members A joint statement by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz claimed the

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  Pakistani interior minister meets Iran’s top diplomat in Tehran amid mediation efforts

  by Mehdi Editor on June 7, 2026

  Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met in Tehran on Sunday with Pakistani Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi amid Pakistan-led mediation efforts between Iran and the US to end their conflict, Anadolu reports. The two sides discussed the latest diplomatic developments in the Iran-US talks and the situation in the region, as well as bilateral issues, during the meeting, according to Araghchi’s Telegram channel. The Pakistani minister handed to Araghchi a written message from Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif addressed to Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, it added. Naqvi arrived in Tehran on Saturday for talks with senior Iranian officials as part of Islamabad’s ongoing mediation efforts between Tehran and Washington. READ: US considers using Iranian assets to support reconstruction efforts in Gulf: Report

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  Israeli rights group calls for probe into rape of German journalist in central Israel prison

  by Mehdi Editor on June 7, 2026

  Israeli legal center Adalah on Sunday called for an investigation into the rape of a German journalist who participated in the 2025 Gaza-bound humanitarian aid mission Global Sumud Flotilla, Anadolu reports. In a statement, Adalah said it filed a complaint to the Israeli authorities, demanding “a criminal investigation into the serious testimony given by the European activist,” a German journalist. Citing the journalist’s testimony, Adalah said Israeli female prison guards at Givon Prison in Ramla, central Israel, ordered the German journalist to strip completely naked while male guards watched from behind a curtain. One of the female guards then sexually assaulted her, accompanied by the laughter of male guards, the center said. READ: Italian activists from Gaza humanitarian aid flotilla say

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  EU calls for ‘full accountability’ after another UNIFIL soldier killed in Lebanon

  by Mehdi Editor on June 7, 2026

  The EU foreign policy chief on Sunday condemned the killing of another UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) soldier earlier this week and renewed the bloc’s calls for accountability, Anadolu reports. In a statement, Kaja Kallas said the EU urges all actors to fully abide by the terms of the agreement between Israel and the Lebanese group Hezbollah and reject “any additional conditions from Hezbollah.” The statement underlined that the Lebanese people are paying a “heavy and unacceptable” humanitarian and socio-economic price from the continued escalation and airstrikes. READ: French president confirms death of 2nd soldier after UNIFIL attack in Lebanon “The EU demands the full implementation of UNSCR (UN Security Council Resolution) 1701 calling for the respect of Lebanon’s sovereignty

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  Iran conflict takes heavy toll on global economy, trade in past 100 days

  by Mehdi Editor on June 7, 2026

  The global economy and trade growth is expected to massively slow down this year amid disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz affecting oil, natural gas, and fertilizer supplies over the past near-100 days since the US-Israel war with Iran began on Feb. 28, Anadolu reports. The armed conflict in the Middle East has led to major challenges for the global economy, not to mention the loss of human lives. Iran largely halted commercial maritime shipping traffic in the Strait of Hormuz in retaliation for the US and Israel’s pre-emptive attacks on the country. Around 20% of global oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) gas trade, 30% of fertilizer trade, around 40% of urea supply, 50% of sulfur supply, and 30%

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  1 killed, 5 others wounded in central Israel shooting

  by Mehdi Editor on June 7, 2026

  One person was killed and five others were injured, including two in serious condition, in a shooting Sunday in Kochav Ya’ir area of central Israel, the MDA ambulance service said. The daily Yedioth Ahronoth said the injuries occurred at a gas station near Kokhav Ya’ir, another location in Tzur Yitzhak, and along Highway 5533. The daily said an Arab Israeli was shot dead, while security forces launched a manhunt for another suspect. The Israeli army said it received reports of several shooting incidents in the areas of Sal’it and Tzur Yitzhak and deployed forces there. READ: Palestinian infant killed, parents wounded in Israeli fire in occupied West Bank

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  Naksa at 59: The colonial war against Palestine never ended

  by Mehdi Editor on June 7, 2026

  June 2026 marks the 59th anniversary of the Naksa, the Arabic term meaning “setback” or “defeat”, used by Palestinians to describe the events of June 1967. More than a war between states, the Naksa represented a new stage in a colonial process that had begun decades earlier and continues to this day. The dominant narrative presents the so-called Six-Day War as a conventional conflict between Israel and neighbouring Arab states. This interpretation, however, ignores the central dimension of the Palestinian question: Palestine has been the site of a settler-colonial project based on land seizure, the displacement of the indigenous population, and the establishment of settler communities on occupied territory. The Nakba of 1948 expelled more than 750,000 Palestinians from their

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  Palestinian teen killed by Israeli naval fire in Gaza

  by Mehdi Editor on June 7, 2026

  A Palestinian teenager was killed on Sunday by Israeli naval fire off the coast of Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip, Anadolu reports. The body of Muhammad Musa Abu Giab, 15, arrived at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital after he was shot by Israeli warships, the source said. Giab worked as a fisherman, local sources added. Israeli naval vessels opened fire with machine guns at fishing boats, which killed him. Israeli warships also opened fire with machine guns and shells toward the coast of Gaza City in the northern part of the strip, with no casualties reported. READ: Israeli strike on tent sheltering displaced Palestinians kills 6 in Gaza City The bodies of two other Palestinians arrived at Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza

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  US considers using Iranian assets to support reconstruction efforts in Gulf: Report

  by Mehdi Editor on June 7, 2026

  The US Treasury Department is considering the use of Iranian assets to support reconstruction efforts in Gulf countries affected by attacks attributed to Tehran during the ongoing conflict, a source familiar with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s views told CBS News on Saturday. The source said the department plans to explore all legal avenues to make Iranian assets available for rebuilding infrastructure and covering repair costs resulting from any future damage caused by Iran, according to the CBS report. Bessent has instructed Treasury officials to obtain detailed assessments from Gulf partners regarding the financial impact of damage linked to Iranian actions since the conflict began, the source added. READ: Iran demands release of $12 billion in frozen assets in potential deal with

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  Iran says its World Cup squad must enter, leave US soil on match day

  by Mehdi Editor on June 7, 2026

  Iran’s World Cup squad has been told it must enter and leave the US on the same day as its matches there, the Iranian envoy to Mexico told reporters on Sunday. Due to the US-Israeli war with Tehran, Iran’s World Cup team is now in Mexico, abandoning its original plans to train in Tucson, in the US state of Arizona. “We can enter in the morning and we must leave the same day,” Ambassador Abolfazl Pasandideh told reporters, citing visa restrictions. The Iranian squad is scheduled to play three group-stage matches in the US territory, including two matches in Los Angeles, California, and one match in Seattle, Washington. READ: Iraqi football player questioned for 7 hours after arriving in US: Reports

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  US military shoots down 2 Iranian drones above Strait of Hormuz

  by Mehdi Editor on June 7, 2026

  US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced Saturday that American forces shot down two Iranian one-way attack drones above the Strait of Hormuz, and that the unmanned aerial vehicles posed a threat to international maritime traffic in the strategically vital waterway, Anadolu Agency reports. “Earlier today, US forces in the Middle East shot down two Iranian one-way attack drones that threatened international maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz,” CENTCOM wrote on US social media platform X. It added that American forces “remain postured and ready to continue defending against Iranian aggression.” The incident marks the latest in a series of tensions between Washington and Tehran in the region. READ: Iran condemns US strikes on coastal facilities, calls them ceasefire violation Regional tensions

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  Israeli settlers attack West Bank town of Huwara, wounding five Palestinians

  by Mehdi Editor on June 6, 2026

  Dozens of Israeli settlers attacked the Palestinian town of Huwara south of Nablus on Saturday, wounding several residents and vandalizing local property. The attackers targeted the Huwara municipal building and targeted multiple Palestinian homes, according to the local sources. During the raid, settlers stole a car, a bicycle, and approximately 35 livestock animals belonging to local residents. The official Palestinian news agency WAFA stated that the wounded included a member of the Huwara municipal council who sustained a shrapnel wound to the leg. READ: Palestinian infant killed, parents wounded in Israeli fire in occupied West Bank Huwara Municipality public relations officer Rana Abu Haniyeh said settlers directly attacked the municipal building and several houses in the town. The occupied West Bank,

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  Israeli forces enter 2 villages in southern Syria in second incursion within 24 hours

  by Mehdi Editor on June 6, 2026

  Israeli forces entered two villages in Syria’s southern Quneitra province on Saturday in what Syrian state media described as the second incursion into the area in less than 24 hours, Anadolu reports. Earlier Saturday, SANA said an Israeli force consisting of four military vehicles entered the Abu Madhra farm area west of Sayda al-Golan shortly after midnight. According to the agency, the troops raided a house, detained a civilian and took him into Israeli-held territory. No reason for the detention was immediately known. Another Israeli force, also consisting of four military vehicles, entered the village of Al-Asha in southern Quneitra on Saturday morning, SANA reported. The agency said the troops searched several homes before withdrawing from the area. READ: Israeli forces

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  Pro-Palestinian activists disrupt German Armed Forces Day events in Munich, Unna

  by Mehdi Editor on June 6, 2026

  Pro-Palestinian activists on Saturday disrupted German Armed Forces (Bundeswehr) Day events in the cities of Munich and Unna, staging protests against Germany’s military support for Israel and arms exports, Anadolu reports. “Supporters of ‘Peacefully against Genocide’ staged peaceful protests today in Unna and Munich on German Armed Forces Day,” organizers said in a statement sent to Anadolu. They said military equipment displayed during the events was primarily manufactured by Rheinmetall, a German defense company that supplies weapons and ammunition to Israel and “plans to open a new factory RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF BERLIN in July.” READ: German firm Bosch closes artificial intelligence, research and development center in Israel Video footage shared on social media showed activists climbing onto a tank

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  Lebanese president condemns killing of 3 soldiers in Israeli strike

  by Mehdi Editor on June 6, 2026

  Lebanese President Joseph Aoun on Saturday condemned the killing of three Lebanese soldiers in an Israeli strike in southern Lebanon, calling it a “flagrant violation” of the country’s sovereignty and international law, Anadolu reports. The Israeli army acknowledged targeting a Lebanese military vehicle and said it was investigating the circumstances surrounding the strike. In a statement, Aoun condemned what he described as an Israeli attack on a Lebanese army patrol on the Khardali-Nabatieh road that killed two officers and a soldier. He said the attack was part of the ongoing Israeli escalation that threatens stability and security in southern Lebanon despite diplomatic efforts and ongoing talks in Washington aimed at ending Israeli attacks. Aoun urged the international community to assume

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  Iraqi football player questioned for 7 hours after arriving in US: Reports

  by Mehdi Editor on June 6, 2026

  Iraqi football player Aymen Hussein was questioned for seven hours after arriving in the US city of Chicago ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Iraqi media reported Saturday. According to the reports, the incident occurred when the Iraqi national team arrived at Chicago’s airport. While the rest of the squad was cleared to leave, striker Aymen Hussein was reportedly held for additional verification and security screening. Members of the Iraqi delegation worked with airport authorities to resolve the matter, but the team ultimately returned to its base without its leading forward. Following seven hours of questioning and administrative procedures, Hussein was released and rejoined his teammates, the reports said. Iraq is set to play its final pre-World Cup friendly

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  Israeli strike on tent sheltering displaced Palestinians kills 6 in Gaza City

  by Mehdi Editor on June 6, 2026

  At least six Palestinians were killed and 10 others, including children, were injured on Saturday when an Israeli drone strike hit a tent sheltering displaced civilians in Gaza City, according to medical sources, Anadolu reports. The strike targeted a tent in the Al-Rimal neighborhood west of Gaza City, destroying it and damaging nearby shelters, witnesses told Anadolu. Medical sources said six people were killed and 10 others were injured in the attack. The Israeli army did not immediately comment on the incident. The attack came amid continued Israeli violations of the ceasefire agreement that took effect on Oct. 10, according to Palestinian authorities. Since the ceasefire entered into force, at least 951 Palestinians have been killed and 2,984 others injured

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  Hamas says Cairo talks begin on Gaza ceasefire implementation

  by Mehdi Editor on June 6, 2026

  Hamas said Saturday that it has begun meetings in Cairo with mediators and Palestinian factions to discuss completing the implementation of the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement and arrangements for its second phase, Anadolu reports. In a video statement, Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem said the meetings would focus on ensuring the full implementation of the first phase of the agreement, including ending what he described as Israeli violations, reopening border crossings and allowing humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip. He said the discussions would also address issues related to the second phase of the ceasefire agreement, including proposals concerning the deployment of international forces in Gaza and the disarmament of Palestinian factions. Qassem said Hamas had approached the

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  Iran condemns US strikes on coastal facilities, calls them ceasefire violation

  by Mehdi Editor on June 6, 2026

  Iran’s Foreign Ministry on Saturday condemned US strikes on radar and coastal surveillance facilities in the southern Sirik region and on Qeshm Island, describing them as a clear violation of the April 8 ceasefire agreement and an act of aggression against the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, Anadolu reports. In a statement, the ministry said the facilities targeted in the early hours of Saturday were responsible for protecting Iran’s borders and ensuring the security of international shipping routes. It said the attacks formed part of Washington’s continued hostile and provocative actions against Iran and reflected what it described as a disregard for the principles of international law and the UN Charter. The ministry said Iran’s armed forces responded to the

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  US companies benefit from Strait of Hormuz disruptions, Rosneft chief says

  by Mehdi Editor on June 6, 2026

  The main beneficiaries of the Strait of Hormuz crisis have been US oil companies, which gained “noncompetitive advantages” and opportunities to sell supplies at higher prices, Rosneft CEO Igor Sechin said Saturday, Anadolu reports. Speaking at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, Sechin said US hydrocarbon exports are “breaking all records.” Citing estimates by Norwegian consultancy Rystad Energy, Sechin said US oil and gas companies could earn more than $60 billion in additional profit in 2026 if oil prices remain around $100 per barrel. “Additional tax revenues from the sector could amount to about $80 billion,” he added. Sechin also argued that China is better prepared than other countries for potential disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz due to what

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  Pope Leo says US-Israeli war against Iran not ‘just war’

  by Mehdi Editor on June 6, 2026

  Pope Leo XIV said the war being waged by the United States and Israel against Iran is not a “just war,” arguing that the centuries-old theory no longer reflects the realities of modern warfare, Anadolu reports. Speaking to journalists aboard his flight from Rome to Madrid during the fourth foreign trip of his pontificate, the pope was asked whether the conflict in Iran could be considered a just war after US Vice President JD Vance invoked the concept while defending Washington’s military actions against Tehran. “There is no just war there,” Pope Leo said. “The problem is that the just war theory comes from centuries ago, from a time when people could not imagine the weapons and destructive capacities that

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  Israeli strikes in Lebanon kills 10 people, including 3 Lebanese army members

  by Mehdi Editor on June 6, 2026

  10 people, including three members of the Lebanese army, were killed on Saturday in continued Israeli strikes on Lebanon despite a truce in effect since April 17, Anadolu reports. An Israeli airstrike occurred on a military vehicle on the Kfartebnit-Khardali road in Nabatieh, southern Lebanon, killed two Lebanese army officers, holding the ranks of brigadier and captain, as well as a soldier, the Lebanese army said through US social media company X. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned the attack “in the strongest terms,” the Lebanese Presidency also noted in a statement on X. Aoun considered the attack “a flagrant violation of Lebanese sovereignty,” calling on the international community to “put an end to these repeated attacks,” according to the statement.

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  On World Environment Day, the Gaza Municipality issues an urgent appeal to save Gaza from its worsening environmental crisis

  by Mehdi Editor on June 6, 2026

  WATCH: A mass wedding ceremony for fifty couples was held in Gaza City under the sponsorship of the Turkish IHH

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  Air traffic resumes in Kuwait following brief suspension over Iranian attacks

  by Mehdi Editor on June 6, 2026

  Kuwait’s air traffic resumed on Saturday after it was temporarily suspended following Iranian attacks, the Kuwaiti Civil Aviation Directorate said on Saturday, Anadolu reports. “Air traffic has resumed since 6:15 am (0315GMT), following coordination with the relevant authorities and confirmation of stability and the removal of danger after the country was subjected to attacks” by Tehran, the directorate said in a statement carried by the Kuwaiti News Agency. Earlier, “the Kuwaiti airspace was temporarily closed as a precautionary measure, and 11 flights operated by Kuwait Airways and Jazeera Airways were diverted to nearby airports,” it added. READ: Iran strikes US bases in Kuwait, Bahrain after drone attacks on Iranian territory: Report Early in the day, the Kuwaiti officials said the country’s

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  Pakistan’s interior minister to visit Iran on Saturday amid US-Iran mediation push: Pakistani sources

  by Mehdi Editor on June 6, 2026

  Pakistani Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi will visit Iran on Saturday to discuss “some new proposals” regarding the Pakistan-mediated diplomatic process between the US and Iran, Anadolu Agency reports. Naqvi will meet senior Iranian leadership to discuss “some new proposals” to break the ongoing deadlock and to reach a temporary deal between Washington and Tehran, the sources in Islamabad said. The Pakistani minister will also discuss reviving a second round of talks between the parties to end the conflict, they added. Iran’s semi-official news agency Mehr also reported that Naqvi will pay a visit to the country to hold talks amid Islamabad’s ongoing mediation efforts. The visit comes as Naqvi and his Iranian counterpart Eskandar Momeni met on Friday in the

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  Iran’s top diplomat Araghchi rebukes Lebanese president over remarks on Tehran’s role in Lebanon

  by Mehdi Editor on June 6, 2026

  Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi criticized Lebanese President Joseph Aoun after the latter’s comments on Tehran’s role in Lebanon, Anadolu reports. In a post on the US social media company X, Araghchi said Aoun’s remarks created the impression that Iran, rather than another actor, was responsible for Lebanon’s current challenges. “Based on Mr. Aoun’s comments, one would think it’s Iran that has occupied 1/5 of Lebanon, displaced 1/4 of Lebanese and bombing his country on daily basis,” he wrote. The Iranian foreign minister also rejected the notion that Lebanon was being used by Tehran as leverage in negotiations. READ: Iran was ready to turn any Israeli advance on Beirut’s southern suburbs into “hell”, Rezaei says “Had Lebanon been bargaining chip for

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  Slovenian Presidential Palace raises Palestinian flag after premier removes it from government building

  by Mehdi Editor on June 6, 2026

  Slovenia’s Presidential Palace raised a Palestinian flag on Friday, a day after the country’s new government removed it from the facade of the government building following a change of power in Ljubljana, Anadolu Agency reports. President Natasa Pirc Musar announced the move on US social media company X, saying the flag would remain on the facade of the Presidential Palace for one week before being moved inside the building. “The genocide against Palestinians has not been halted, and people in Gaza and the West Bank do not live in peace and dignity,” she said. Pirc Musar said the flag represents opposition to “gross violations of international humanitarian law and human rights” not only in Palestine but elsewhere in the world.”It is

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  US forces intercept drones launched by Iran toward Strait of Hormuz: CENTCOM

  by Mehdi Editor on June 6, 2026

  American forces intercepted and shot down four drones launched by Iran toward the Strait of Hormuz, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said Friday, Anadolu reports. “Moments ago, CENTCOM forces shot down four Iranian one-way attack drones that were launched toward the Strait of Hormuz,” CENTCOM wrote on US social media company X. Arguing that “the attack drones posed an immediate threat to regional maritime traffic,” CENTCOM noted that “U.S. forces subsequently struck Iranian coastal surveillance radar sites in Goruk and on Qeshm Island to defend against further attacks.” “American forces remain vigilant and postured to respond to unjustified Iranian aggression in self-defense,” it added. READ: Iran says navy fired warning shots toward US destroyers in Sea of Oman CENTCOM said Iran