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

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  US forces strike Iranian naval base with sea drones for first time: CENTCOM

  by Mehdi Editor on July 13, 2026

  The US military’s Central Command (CENTCOM) announced on Monday that its forces struck a submarine and ship maintenance facility in Iran using unmanned surface vessels for the first time in combat operations, Anadolu reports. “Yesterday, using multiple one-way attack surface drones, CENTCOM forces successfully struck a submarine and ship maintenance facility in Iran,” CENTCOM said in a post on US social media platform X. “Three Corsair unmanned surface vessels hit the port at Bandar Abbas Naval Base, marking the first time American forces have employed sea drones in combat operations.” “Last night’s strikes degraded Iran’s ability to continue attacking commercial shipping,” it added. CENTCOM also shared footage of the drone attack on the naval base. It comes amid ongoing military

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  Saudi air defenses intercept Houthi ballistic missiles amid Yemen tensions

  by Mehdi Editor on July 13, 2026

  Saudi air defenses on Monday intercepted ballistic missiles launched by the Houthi group from Yemen, the Saudi-led coalition supporting the internationally recognized Yemeni government said, Anadolu reports. The missiles targeted Saudi Arabia’s southern region, coalition spokesman Turki al-Malki said on the US social media company X. The attack came hours after Yemen’s Defense Ministry said its forces struck the Sanaa airport runway after the Houthis prevented Yemeni flights from landing and allowed an Iranian plane to land “in violation of the Yemeni territory.”​​​​​​​ Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree vowed that the strike “will not pass without retaliation and punishment.” Saree accused Saudi Arabia of carrying out the strike on Sanaa airport and declared that it ended the de-escalation and ceasefire

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  Britain joins EU-led Gaza recovery initiative with new funding pledge for humanitarian efforts

  by Mehdi Editor on July 13, 2026

  The UK will provide £10 million ($12 million) to support early recovery efforts in Gaza and join a new EU-led international initiative aimed at coordinating funding and practical assistance as Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper calls for renewed momentum behind the international 20-point Gaza peace plan, Anadolu reports. The government said in a statement Monday the funding would go to the UN Horizon Fund to support a Palestinian-led, UN-coordinated approach to early recovery. The program will focus on water and sanitation, healthcare, education, housing, debris clearance and reducing the risks posed by unexploded ordnance. The UK will also join the EU-led Team Gaza Initiative, a coalition of European and international partners designed to mobilize political support, funding and practical assistance for

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  Yemen’s aviation authority closes all airports until further notice

  by Mehdi Editor on July 13, 2026

  The internationally recognized Yemeni government’s aviation authority on Monday announced closure of all airports to air traffic until further notice, a decision that comes after Sanaa airport’s runway was struck to prevent an Iranian plane from landing, Anadolu reports. “We will not allow any aircraft to violate our airspace, whether it be Sana’a Airport or any other airport. We will deter any attempt to impose a fait accompli that infringes on our sovereignty,” Rashad Al-Alimi, chairman of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council, said in a statement carried by the official Saba news agency. “I instructed that the confrontation not be expanded to avoid Tehran dragging Yemen and its people into wars that serve its interests in the regional conflict,” Al-Alimi added.

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  EU’s Kallas says most member states support curbing trade with illegal Israeli settlements

  by Mehdi Editor on July 13, 2026

  EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said on Monday that a majority of member states support taking action against trade with illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, arguing that ambassadors have been tasked with advancing the issue and that an extraordinary meeting is likely, Anadolu reports. Speaking at a press conference after a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels, Kallas said the European Commission had presented options to further restrict trade with Israeli settlements following a request from the European Council. “Taking action against the trade with settlements got the most support from the member states. We tasked the ambassadors to take this work forward, and probably will also have an extraordinary meeting on this,” she said.

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  Trump claims Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei ‘90% gone’

  by Mehdi Editor on July 13, 2026

  US President Donald Trump said on Monday that Iran’s top military commanders have been killed and claimed that Mojtaba Khamenei, son of late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and his successor, was “90% gone,” Anadolu reports. Speaking in an interview with Fox News, Trump said Iran’s military capabilities had been severely degraded. “They have no navy. They have no air force. It’s all gone. Their anti-aircraft is gone. Their leaders have all been killed,” Trump said. “Their best leaders have been killed. They’re gone. Khomeini is gone,” he said, using the name of the late Iranian revolutionary leader who died in 1989, while apparently referring to Ali Khamenei, who was killed on the first day of US-Israeli strikes on Iran in

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  Iran says won’t allow US to ‘interfere’ in Strait of Hormuz management

  by Mehdi Editor on July 13, 2026

  Iran’s military said on Monday it “does not and will not allow” the US to “interfere” in the management of the Strait of Hormuz. Washington’s “repeated adventures mischief to interfere in the management of the Strait of Hormuz have seriously jeopardized the security of the region,” the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters said in a statement carried by the state broadcaster IRIB. Tehran “will deal severely with any disruption and insecurity to the passage of commercial ships and tankers by the aggressive and bandit American army outside of Iran’s designated route and without the permission of the armed forces,” it vowed. The military also warned countries of the region against cooperating with the US army. Spokesman for Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corps

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  Turkiye, Egypt sign letter of intent on defense industry cooperation

  by Mehdi Editor on July 13, 2026

  Turkiye and Egypt signed a letter of intent to establish a framework for closer cooperation in the defense industry, Turkish defense industry chief Haluk Gorgun said on Monday. Gorgun, the secretary of Turkish Defense Industries, hosted Egyptian Defense and Military Production Minister Lt. Gen. Ashraf Salem Zaher and his delegation in the capital Ankara. The two sides discussed defense industry cooperation opportunities and possible areas for joint capability development, Gorgun said in a statement on US social media platform X. “In this context, we signed a Letter of Intent that will define the framework of our cooperation in the period ahead,” he said. Gorgun added that deeper defense industry cooperation between Turkiye and Egypt would contribute to regional security and

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  EU launches $1B ‘Team Gaza Initiative’ to support early recovery efforts

  by Mehdi Editor on July 13, 2026

  The European Union on Monday officially launched the “Team Gaza Initiative,” bringing together €883.6 million ($1 billion) in financial contributions to support early recovery efforts in the Palestinian enclave, Anadolu reports. The initiative was announced ahead of the second ministerial meeting of the Palestine Donor Group, hosted by the European Commission in Brussels and co-chaired by EU Commissioner for the Mediterranean Dubravka Suica and Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa. The meeting brought together representatives from 65 delegations, including EU members, partner countries, international organizations and financial institutions, to coordinate support for Gaza’s early recovery and discuss progress on the Palestinian Authority’s reform agenda. The “Team Gaza Initiative” brings together contributions from the European Commission, European Investment Bank, World Bank,

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  Trump says US likely to take control of Hormuz, expects other countries to contribute financially

  by Mehdi Editor on July 13, 2026

  US President Donald Trump on Monday said that the US would likely take control of operations in the Strait of Hormuz and expected other countries to pay Washington for protecting the strategic waterway, Anadolu reports. “We’re going to guard it. We’re going to get paid for guarding it – a lot of money. We want to be reimbursed for putting our people in danger,” Trump told Fox News. He accused Iran of violating the memorandum of understanding reached between the US and Iran on June 18. “We had a deal. They always break it. We’re just going to hit them very hard. We’ll probably run the Strait!” he said. “We’ll be the guardian angel. We should be reimbursed for that,” Trump added.

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  EU humanitarian chief says Gaza aid conditions ‘unbearable,’ urges pressure on Israel

  by Mehdi Editor on July 13, 2026

  EU Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management Hadja Lahbib on Monday described the humanitarian situation in Gaza as “unbearable,” calling for humanitarian access to the enclave and greater political engagement from Israeli authorities, Anadolu reports. “I have no words to describe this situation. Nine months after the so-called ceasefire, shelling continues, disease is spreading, people are dying. The humanitarian situation is unbearable,” Lahbib told reporters ahead of a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels. She said humanitarian organizations must be allowed to operate in Gaza, arguing that “there is a clear lack of political will and engagement from Israeli authorities.” “We must have access to Gaza, we must have the possibility to reopen,” she said. READ: EU rejects Israel’s Gaza territory

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  Iranian plane lands in Yemen’s Hudaydah after strike on Sanaa airport: Reports

  by Mehdi Editor on July 13, 2026

  An Iranian aircraft landed Monday at Al Hudaydah Airport in western Yemen, shortly after Yemeni forces bombed a runway at Houthi-controlled Sanaa International Airport to prevent the plane from landing there, according to Iranian media, Anadolu reports. Press TV said the aircraft landed in Al Hudaydah on the Red Sea coast after the runway at Sanaa airport was targeted earlier in the day. Yemen’s Defense Ministry said early Monday that its forces struck the Sanaa airport runway after the Houthis prevented Yemeni flights from landing and allowed the Iranian plane to land “in violation of the Yemeni territory.”​​​​​​​ Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree, for his part, vowed that the strike “will not pass without retaliation and punishment.” READ: Iran launches overnight strikes on

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  UK lists Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps as ‘terror group’

  by Mehdi Editor on July 13, 2026

  The UK government listed Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terror group on Monday, using new powers introduced under the National Security (State Threats) Act, according to media reports, Anadolu reports. In a written statement to parliament, Security Minister Angela Eagle said the government had “identified activity linked to the IRGC involving threats to life and intimidation on UK soil,” Sky News reported. The government also designated the Islamic Movement of Companions of the Right (IMCR), which Sky News described as being linked to Iran. The decision followed the fast-tracking of the National Security (State Threats) Act, as promised by Prime Minister Keir Starmer in April. Following the designation, it is now a criminal offense to invite support for or

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  Iran launches overnight strikes on ‘US military sites’ across the region

  by Mehdi Editor on July 13, 2026

  Iran and the United States continued exchanging military strikes overnight, with Tehran saying it targeted “US military sites” in several countries across the region in retaliation for American attacks on targets inside Iran. Iranian media, including state television, reported explosions in the cities of Bandar Abbas, Sirik and Jask, as well as on Qeshm Island, after the US military announced a new wave of strikes. The reports said 10 explosions were heard in Sirik and Bandar Abbas, while blasts were also reported in the provinces of Bushehr and Hormozgan. No details were released about casualties or damage caused by the US attacks. READ: Former Iranian commander says Tehran could target Trump inside the White House Iranian media also quoted a statement

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  Greta Thunberg detained at Rheinmetall protest in Berlin

  by Mehdi Editor on July 13, 2026

  Activists staged a protest outside the office of German arms manufacturer Rheinmetall near the historic Brandenburg Gate in Berlin on Monday, Anadolu reports. The blockade was organized to protest arms production that activists said was linked to attacks on Palestine and Lebanon. Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg joined the demonstration and said: “We are doing this because it is our duty to protest against injustice and to stand up against genocide.” “Stop Rheinmetall new factory and stop shipping weapons to Israel. Stop the genocide,” Thunberg added. Berlin police intervened during the protest and detained Thunberg, the footage showed. READ: Germany criticizes Israel over West Bank, stops short of backing tougher EU measures

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  Armed Israeli settlers detain US congressman in ‘VIP version’ of daily ordeal for Palestinians

  by Mehdi Editor on July 13, 2026

  Armed Israeli settlers carrying US-made M4 rifles detained US Congressman Ro Khanna and other Americans in the illegally occupied West Bank. When Israeli occupation soldiers arrived, they reportedly sided with the settlers and extended the detention. The California Democrat was travelling near the Palestinian village of Khirbet Zanuta in the South Hebron Hills last week, when the settlers blocked the vehicle of Khanna’s  delegation. Khanna said the armed men surrounded the van, kicked its tyres, mocked and filmed those inside and left members of the delegation fearing for their lives. Instead of removing the settlers and reopening the road, four Israeli soldiers joined them and continued to obstruct the delegation. READ HRW: Israel soldiers supporting settler attacks on Palestinians “We

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  Norway uses influence in football to push for Israel’s suspension from FIFA

  by Mehdi Editor on July 13, 2026

  Norway is using its influence inside football to push for Israel’s suspension from FIFA, Politico reported over the weekend. Details of the campaign were outlined in a Politico report examining how the Norwegian Football Federation and its president, Lise Klaveness, are seeking to move demands for sanctions against Israel into the mainstream of European football. Klaveness, a lawyer and former player for Norway’s women’s national football team who sits on UEFA’s executive committee, has pursued the issue through football’s formal governing structures rather than through a unilateral Norwegian boycott. Last year Klaveness began working to secure sanctions against the Israel Football Association, stating that Israel should be excluded from international competition. “We believe Israel should be suspended, and this is

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  Israeli forces kill young Palestinian near Jerusalem: Red Crescent

  by Mehdi Editor on July 13, 2026

  A 19-year-old Palestinian was killed on Monday after Israeli forces opened fire near Bir Nabala, northwest of Jerusalem, the Palestine Red Crescent Society and a local source said. The Palestine Red Crescent Society said its crews responded to a Palestinian who had been fatally shot by Israeli forces near the separation barrier in the town of Bir Nabala. A local source told Anadolu Agency that Israeli troops shot the 19-year-old near the barrier erected on land belonging to the town, hitting him in the abdomen. The victim was pronounced dead after ambulance crews arrived at the scene, the source said. According to the Palestinian Government Communication Center, Israel’s military attacks and attacks by Israeli occupiers across the occupied West Bank

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  Former Iranian commander says Tehran could target Trump inside the White House

  by Mehdi Editor on July 13, 2026

  A former senior commander in Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has issued an unusual direct threat against US President Donald Trump, saying the Islamic Republic is capable of harming him even inside the White House. Hossein Kanani Moghaddam, a former IRGC commander, told the Iranian news website Fararu: “If the goal is to assassinate Trump, the Islamic Republic can easily do so in the White House. Whenever necessary, we are capable of doing that.” Alongside the threat, Kanani Moghaddam also commented on talks between Tehran and Washington, saying that, from Iran’s perspective, the negotiations are not aimed at reaching a peace agreement. “We are not negotiating with the Americans for peace. We are negotiating to reduce tensions,” he said.

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  Shipping through Strait of Hormuz falls to lowest level in several weeks

  by Mehdi Editor on July 13, 2026

  Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz fell on Sunday to its lowest level in several weeks, according to shipping data, as renewed exchanges of strikes between the United States and Iran and attacks on vessels heightened safety concerns. Vessel tracking data from Kpler showed that only six ships passed through the strait on Sunday, the lowest daily total in five weeks. The vessels included the very large crude carrier Humanity, carrying two million barrels of Iranian crude oil, and the tanker Capetan Andreas, transporting about 500,000 barrels of Kuwaiti refined oil products. Three empty tankers also entered the Gulf to load crude oil. Most tankers switched off their transponders while passing through the strait. The tracking data showed no

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  Iran expands regional attacks after US air strikes

  by Mehdi Editor on July 13, 2026

  The United States carried out military strikes against targets inside Iran for a second consecutive day, saying it hit air defence systems, coastal radar sites, and missile and naval capabilities. Washington said the operation was aimed at protecting freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz and reducing threats to commercial shipping. In response, Iran said it had launched attacks targeting US military bases and sites in Jordan, Bahrain and Kuwait, arguing that the latest US strikes had destroyed the diplomatic efforts made over recent months. Tehran also stressed the need for a mechanism to ensure a decisive response to any future attack targeting its senior officials. Iran said the recent US strikes had “rendered futile” months of diplomatic efforts”

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  UN chief warns of Middle East escalation, urges US, Iran to resume talks

  by Mehdi Editor on July 13, 2026

  UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has expressed deep concern over the serious escalation and renewed military confrontation in the Gulf region, including Iranian attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz and neighbouring countries, as well as US strikes on Iran. In a statement, Guterres said all such attacks must stop immediately. He called on all parties “to exercise maximum restraint, avoid further escalatory action and take immediate steps to de-escalate.” Guterres reiterated that a return to full-scale hostilities would have catastrophic consequences “for the peoples of the region” and beyond, as well as the global economy.”    He also stressed the need to restore “full freedom of navigation” through the Strait of Hormuz and urged Iran and the United States to resume

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  Iran says latest US strikes “rendered futile” months of diplomatic efforts

  by Mehdi Editor on July 13, 2026

  Iran strongly condemned the latest US strikes on its territory late on Sunday, accusing Washington of derailing all diplomatic efforts made in recent months to reduce tensions in the region, according to a statement from the Iranian Foreign Ministry. Tehran also accused the United States of blatantly violating all provisions of a memorandum of understanding signed in June and of causing renewed insecurity in the Strait of Hormuz and disrupting international commercial shipping, according to the statement. The Foreign Ministry said Washington had violated almost all provisions of the memorandum of understanding signed between the two countries just 25 days ago by carrying out attacks on Iran’s transport infrastructure. According to the statement, the US strikes targeted key facilities in

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  Sudanese court sentences RSF commander Hemedti and 15 others to death in absentia

  by Mehdi Editor on July 13, 2026

  A Sudanese court on Sunday sentenced Rapid Support Forces (RSF) commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (“Hemedti”) and 15 other defendants to death in absentia after convicting them in connection with the killing of West Darfur Governor Khamis Abdullah Abkar and crimes committed in El Geneina. The ruling, issued by the Anti-Terrorism and Crimes Against the State Court in Port Sudan, marks the first judicial verdict against Hemedti since the outbreak of the conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the RSF on 15th April 2023. The court sentenced Hemedti, his deputy and brother Abdel Rahim Hamdan Dagalo, and other defendants to death by hanging. According to the court, the defendants were convicted under provisions relating to war crimes, crimes against humanity,

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  Rezaei describes Strait of Hormuz as a strategic deterrent, says Iran will protect it

  by Mehdi Editor on July 13, 2026

  Mohsen Rezaei, a member of Iran’s Expediency Discernment Council, said the Strait of Hormuz is one of Iran’s most important strategic assets, describing it as “more important than dozens of nuclear bombs.” Rezaei said the waterway serves as a powerful strategic deterrent and plays a central role in safeguarding Iran’s security and national interests. “The Strait of Hormuz is more important than dozens of nuclear bombs,” he said, adding that Iran would continue to protect it. Commenting on recent regional tensions, Rezaei accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump of crossing what he described as Iran’s “red lines.” He asserted that they “must receive an appropriate response.” Rezaei also argued that, under international law, Iran has

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  Egypt FM rejects unilateral regional plans, says future of Middle East must be based on consensus

  by Mehdi Editor on July 13, 2026

  Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said on Sunday that developments in the Middle East since 7th October 2023, have demonstrated that attempts to impose regional hegemony or redraw the region’s political map through unilateral action will not succeed. According to remarks reported by Al-Shorouk, Abdelatty said that any future regional order must be based on consensus among the countries of the region, including its major regional powers. He argued that no state, regardless of its military or political strength, can successfully impose its will on other countries through force. Asked about proposals or rhetoric concerning a “Greater Israel” and broader plans to reshape the Middle East, Abdelatty said that any project founded on the unilateral imposition of one country’s vision

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  UN warns 825,000 children in Sudan face severe malnutrition

  by Mehdi Editor on July 13, 2026

  The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has warned that an estimated 825,000 children under the age of five in Sudan are expected to suffer from severe malnutrition in 2026, placing them at high risk of death without timely treatment. The warning comes as Sudan’s humanitarian crisis continues to worsen amid the conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which has been ongoing since April 2023. According to the UN, the conflict has caused widespread displacement, disrupted essential services, and significantly increased humanitarian needs across the country. In its report, OCHA described the situation for Sudanese children as among the worst in the world, with millions affected by violence, hunger, and

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  Ben-Gvir’s ministry allocates funding to settlement organisation under international sanctions

  by Mehdi Editor on July 13, 2026

  Israel’s Ministry of National Security, headed by Itamar Ben-Gvir, has approved the transfer of 4 million shekels to the settlement organisation Ahvat Gilad through a tender exemption procedure, according to ministry documents released on Sunday. The funding will support a project that the ministry says is intended to reduce violence and establish a network of mentors to work with young people living in settlement outposts, referred to in Israel as “farms,” across the occupied West Bank. The contract provides funding for approximately 18 months, with an option to extend the agreement for an additional 18 months under a similar budget. The allocation comes despite the fact that France, the United Kingdom, Canada, Norway, Australia, and New Zealand imposed sanctions on

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  Hamas offers condolences following the death of former Qatari Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani

  by Mehdi Editor on July 13, 2026

  The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) has expressed its condolences following the death of former Qatari Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, extending sympathies to Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Qatari ruling family, the government and people of Qatar, and the wider Arab and Islamic world. In a statement issued on Sunday, Hamas described the late Sheikh Hamad as “a great national and Arab leader” and credited him with leading Qatar’s modern development. The movement prayed for God’s mercy and forgiveness upon him and praised what it described as his lasting contributions to his country, the Arab world, and humanitarian causes. Hamas said Sheikh Hamad had consistently supported what it called just causes, particularly the Palestinian cause,

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  Two clocks, two egos, and the gods who are never late

  by Mehdi Editor on July 13, 2026

  Sophocles put it in four words the Chorus never had to repeat: “Pride breeds the tyrant.” Twenty-five centuries later, two men who believe themselves the smartest people ever to occupy their offices are proving the old Greeks right in real time, on two different continents, on two different election clocks — and both are running out of road. Start with the arithmetic of vanity. Donald Trump has called his own brainpower “off the charts” so many times it has become a campaign liturgy, the sequel to his 2018 boast of being a “very stable genius.” Genius, in Trump’s flowery language, apparently means picking a fight with the Strait of Hormuz in an election year. But a strait does not care

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  Podcast by Jasim Al-Azzawi with Dr. Joe Macaron: Lebanon-Israel Framework Agreement, Who Won?

  by Mehdi Editor on July 13, 2026

  WATCH: Podcast by Jasim Al-Azzawi with Osama Abu Irshaid: Panicked and Cornered, What Will Netanyahu Do Next?

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  Israeli panel approves bill to suspend detention of ultra-Orthodox draft evaders

  by Marwa A on July 12, 2026

  An Israeli parliamentary committee approved a bill on Sunday to suspend the detention of ultra-Orthodox (Haredi) Jews who evade mandatory military service, paving the way for final votes in the full Knesset later this week, according to local media, Anadolu reports. The Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee approved a temporary order freezing the detention of draft evaders studying at religious seminaries, or yeshivas, Israel’s Yedioth Ahronoth daily reported. The newspaper said the governing coalition intends to press ahead with the hot-button legislation despite a legal opinion concluding that the bill “does not achieve balance, but rather deepens inequality.” The bill is expected to be brought before the Knesset for its second and third readings later this week. Under the

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  Saudi Arabia, Iraq reject use of states’ territory to threaten regional security

  by Marwa A on July 12, 2026

  Saudi Arabia and Iraq reaffirmed on Sunday their rejection of the use of any country’s territory to threaten the security and stability of other states, stressing respect for sovereignty, good-neighbourliness, and non-interference in internal affairs, Anadolu reports. The remarks came in a Saudi Foreign Ministry statement following talks in the kingdom chaired by Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and his Iraqi counterpart Fuad Hussein, with senior officials from both sides in attendance. According to the statement, the top diplomats reviewed bilateral ties and ways to strengthen cooperation across various fields, in addition to discussing regional developments and issues of mutual interest. The two sides underscored “the importance of respecting national sovereignty, good-neighbourliness, non-interference in internal affairs, and rejecting

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  UAE says Sunday’s missile threats ‘were outside country’s borders’

  by Marwa A on July 12, 2026

  The United Arab Emirates (UAE) said missile threats detected early Sunday “were outside the country’s borders,” Anadolu reports. “National monitoring and tracking systems are operating at the highest levels of readiness and efficiency around the clock,” the UAE Defence Ministry said on the US social media company X. The statement came hours after Tehran said earlier that it launched attacks on US military sites in regional countries in retaliation for attacks by Washington against Iranian targets. The US said late Saturday that it had completed a third round of military strikes against Iran this week following another Iranian attack on a commercial vessel in the Strait of Hormuz. READ: Bahrain accuses Iran of ‘systematic aggression’ after attacks

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  Sharaa calls for ‘new chapter’ in Syria’s history as new parliament convenes

  by Marwa A on July 12, 2026

  Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa called for “a new chapter in the country’s history,” as the newly elected parliament held its first session on Sunday, Anadolu reports. “Today, Syria is writing a new chapter in its history — one that reflects its civilisation, values and heritage,” he said in an address to the People’s Assembly as cited by the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA). “Together, let us build the history of a modern Syria,” he added. He urged lawmakers to make the parliament “a model of responsibility and competence,” while promoting dialogue, the rule of law and respect for state institutions. READ: Qatar, Syria discuss stronger ties, reconstruction, chemical weapons cooperation

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  Pope Leo warns ‘winds of war’ again blowing across Middle East, Ukraine

  by Marwa A on July 12, 2026

  Pope Leo XIV warned Sunday that “winds of war” are once again blowing across the Middle East, Ukraine and other parts of the world, urging continued efforts toward dialogue and diplomacy, Anadolu reports. “Unfortunately, the winds of war are once again blowing in the Middle East, in Ukraine, and in numerous other parts of the world, sowing violence, terror, and death, and striking, once more, so many innocents,” the pope said in a post on the US social media company X. He called for hope for peace to be preserved despite ongoing conflicts. “Let us not allow these winds to extinguish the little flame of hope and peace, even when it seems fragile and flickering,” he said. Pope Leo renewed

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  5 more Gazans killed by Israeli fire despite ceasefire

  by Marwa A on July 12, 2026

  Five Palestinians, including a child, were killed Sunday by Israeli army fire, amid continued violations of a ceasefire in effect since last October, medics said, Anadolu reports. The Palestinian Red Crescent Society said two Palestinians were killed in an Israeli strike on a workshop in the Sabra district, south of Gaza City. The bodies of the victims were torn to pieces in the attack that also injured a third Palestinian, the organization added in a statement. Witnesses said an Israeli drone fired at least three missiles at a building housing the workshop in the Al-Rayes neighborhood in the district. A medical source said a 9-year-old girl breathed her last from critical injuries she sustained from Israeli gunfire in the Nuseirat

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  Qatar’s former Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani dies at 74

  by Marwa A on July 12, 2026

  Qatar’s former Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani died Sunday morning at the age of 74, the country’s Amiri Diwan announced, Anadolu reports. “May God grant him His mercy and forgiveness,” it added in a statement on the US social media company X. Qatar announced four days of national mourning from Sunday. Funeral prayers for Sheikh Hamad will be held after the Maghrib (evening) prayer on Sunday at the Imam Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab Mosque in Doha, and he will be laid to rest at Lusail Cemetery, the Diwan said. Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani will receive mourners from heads of state, members of the ruling family, dignitaries and citizens at Lusail Palace from Monday, July

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  Bahrain accuses Iran of ‘systematic aggression’ after attacks

  by Marwa A on July 12, 2026

  Bahrain accused Iran on Sunday of launching “systematic aggression” on its territory through missile and drone strikes targeting civilians, Anadolu reports. In a statement, the Bahrain Defence Force said the country’s air defences intercepted and destroyed “several treacherous Iranian aerial attacks” on Sunday. “The armed forces, with all their forces and units, are at the highest level of readiness and ready to fulfil their defence duties in order to protect the country,” it added. The military called on the Bahraini people to exercise caution, avoid approaching suspicious objects resulting from the attacks’ remnants, and to report them immediately. Early Sunday, Tehran said it launched attacks on US military sites in regional countries, including Bahrain, in retaliation for attacks by Washington

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  The man who made the world need Qatar

  by Marwa A on July 12, 2026

  The Father Emir is gone. Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, who died on Sunday at 74, was the architect of modern Qatar. But that description, however apt, undersells the magnitude of what he actually achieved. He did not merely modernise a small Gulf state. He rewrote the operating system of sovereignty itself—proving that a nation of barely 300,000 citizens could achieve global indispensability not through armies, but through a brilliantly brutal recalibration of what power actually means in the twenty-first century. When Sheikh Hamad seized power in a bloodless palace coup in 1995, Qatar was a sleepy backwater, a peninsula that barely registered on the world’s diplomatic radar. Eighteen years later, when he voluntarily abdicated—shattering Gulf tradition in a

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  French court orders town hall to remove Palestinian flag

  by Mehdi Editor on July 11, 2026

  A French court ordered the town hall of Vaulx-en-Velin, a suburb of Lyon, to remove a Palestinian flag flying from its facade, ruling that it breached the principle of neutrality in public services, Anadolu reports. The Lyon administrative court, ruling in an emergency procedure brought by the Rhone prefect, ordered the flag to be removed without delay and imposed a fine of 100 euros ($117) for each day of non-compliance. The Palestinian flag was raised on July 4 during a municipal event and displayed alongside the French and European flags. READ: Israel deports French journalist over criticism of Gaza genocide

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  UN envoy says Yemen parties renew commitment to delayed prisoner exchange

  by Mehdi Editor on July 11, 2026

  UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg said Saturday that he has received renewed commitments from Yemen’s internationally recognized government and the Houthi group to implement a prisoner exchange agreement after its planned execution was delayed, Anadolu reports. In a statement on the US social media company He urged both sides to intensify efforts to complete the remaining technical and operational arrangements as soon as possible, adding that they had “affirmed their commitment to doing so.” The statement came a day after the Yemeni government and the Houthis announced the postponement of the exchange, which had been scheduled for Saturday, with each side blaming the other for the delay. On May 14, the two parties signed the agreement in the

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  Qatar, Syria discuss stronger ties, reconstruction, chemical weapons cooperation

  by Mehdi Editor on July 11, 2026

  Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa and Qatar’s Minister of State at the Foreign Ministry Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al-Khulaifi discussed bilateral relations and ways to strengthen cooperation between the two countries on Saturday, Anadolu reports. Al-Sharaa received Al-Khulaifi and his accompanying delegation at the People’s Palace in Damascus in the presence of Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani, the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) reported. The talks focused on efforts to promote regional openness and cooperation, as well as reconstruction, humanitarian response, and investment opportunities during Syria’s recovery phase, according to SANA. Separately, Al-Shaibani met Al-Khulaifi at Tishreen Presidential Palace, where they discussed expanding bilateral cooperation, particularly in the political and economic fields. Qatar’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the meeting

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  Israeli strike kills 1 Palestinian, injures 2 in central Gaza despite ceasefire

  by Mehdi Editor on July 11, 2026

  A Palestinian was killed and two others injured on Saturday in an Israeli drone strike targeting a civilian vehicle west of the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza, Anadolu reports. The attack came amid continued Israeli violations of the ceasefire agreement that has been in force in the Gaza Strip since last October. The body of the victim and two wounded Palestinians were taken to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah after the strike hit a vehicle traveling near Al-Nuwairi Hill, west of the camp, the medical sources said. According to an Anadolu Agency correspondent, citing eyewitnesses, an Israeli drone fired at least four missiles at the vehicle and its surroundings. READ: 12 Palestinians killed, 20 injured in Israeli strikes in Gaza

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  Hundreds in Sweden protest Israeli attacks, ceasefire violations in Gaza

  by Mehdi Editor on July 11, 2026

  Hundreds of people gathered in the Swedish capital Stockholm on Saturday to protest Israel’s attacks on Gaza, ceasefire violations, and restrictions on humanitarian aid entering the enclave, Anadolu reports. The demonstrators gathered at Odenplan Square following calls by several civil society organizations. Protesters carrying Palestinian flags chanted slogans against Israel and called for the immediate lifting of the blockade on Gaza. They also accused Israel of violating the ceasefire reached on Oct. 10, 2025. Dror Feiler, a Swedish Jewish activist and chair of European Jews for a Just Peace, told Anadolu that the demonstrators were standing up for Palestinian rights, justice and equality. READ: Spain’s National Court opens probe into Israeli military officials over Gaza flotilla interception “A peace achieved without

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  Iran is China’s indispensable partner, but Beijing will never fight its war

  by Mehdi Editor on July 11, 2026

  There is a seductive myth that China and Iran are allies bound by blood and ideology, that Beijing would ride to Tehran’s rescue the way NATO would for a member under Article 5. Nothing could be further from the truth. What binds Beijing and Tehran is colder, more durable, and in some ways more dangerous than sentiment: mutual utility. China needs Iran. It will not die for Iran. Understanding that distinction is the key to understanding everything Beijing has — and has not — done since the guns of the 2026 war began firing. A partnership without a promise When China and Iran signed the 25-year Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, Chinese state media hailed it as a civilizational bond. The agreement

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  Pakistani, Saudi top diplomats warn against renewed conflict in MidEast

  by Mehdi Editor on July 11, 2026

  Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and his Saudi counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan on Saturday warned that a renewed conflict in the Middle East “serves no one’s interest,” Anadolu reports. In a phone call, the two leaders discussed recent developments in the region and expressed “deep concern” over the recent escalation in hostilities despite the signing of an agreement between the US and Iran last month, according to a statement from Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry. They agreed that renewed conflict “serves no one’s interest and undermines efforts toward regional peace and stability,” the statement said. Prince Faisal emphasized the importance of de-escalation and continued dialogue, while Dar reaffirmed Pakistan’s call on all parties to “exercise maximum restraint” and allow mediation efforts the

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  Israel launches fresh airstrikes in southern Lebanon despite US-brokered deal

  by Mehdi Editor on July 11, 2026

  The Israeli military on Saturday launched a fresh wave of airstrikes in southern Lebanon despite a US-brokered framework agreement between Beirut and Tel Aviv, Lebanese state media reported. Three airstrikes targeted the al-Mashaa neighborhood in the town of al-Mansouri in the southern Tyre district, according to the National News Agency (NNA). Israeli forces also blew up homes in the town of Houla in the southern Nabatieh district, the agency said. A separate Israeli drone strike targeted the town of Kfar Tebnit, according to the NNA. READ: US military team to visit Lebanon to support ceasefire implementation The attacks came despite Lebanon and Israel signing a US-sponsored framework agreement last month that provides for a phased Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory. Since

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  Iran’s supreme leader vows to avenge slain predecessor Ali Khamenei

  by Mehdi Editor on July 11, 2026

  Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei said Saturday that avenging his slain father and predecessor, Ali Khamenei, was “the demand of the nation” and “must certainly” be carried out, Anadolu reports. The remarks came in a message delivered during funeral ceremonies for the late supreme leader, according to Iran’s state-run broadcaster IRIB. “We pledge to avenge your innocent blood and all the martyrs of these two wars from the criminal and dishonorable murderers,” Mojtaba Khamenei said in the message. Ali Khamenei was buried Thursday at the Imam Reza Shrine in the northeastern Iranian city of Mashhad, bringing a week of funeral ceremonies to a close. He was killed in US-Israeli strikes on Iran that began on Feb. 28 and were followed

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  Israeli occupiers attack workers, destroy farm in occupied West Bank

  by Mehdi Editor on July 11, 2026

  Israeli occupiers on Saturday attacked municipal workers south of Nablus in the occupied West Bank and destroyed a farm northwest of the city in the latest attacks across the occupied Palestinian territory, Anadolu reports. The occupiers attacked municipal workers from Qabalan while they were installing an electricity line in the Ain al-Qasab area, forcing them to suspend the work, the official Palestinian news agency Wafa reported, citing local sources. In a separate incident northwest of Nablus, occupiers attacked a farm in the al-Masoudieh area, on land belonging to Burqa town, destroying its contents, including an agricultural structure, according to Diab Haji, head of the al-Masoudieh Land Defense Committee. READ: Israeli military demolishes Palestinian home in West Bank village In the northern West