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

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  Revolutionary Guards say Iranian missiles ‘can change course’ during flight to evade air defenses

  by Mehdi Editor on August 10, 2026

  Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said Monday some Iranian missiles can now be guided and change course during flight, allowing them to evade air defense systems, Anadolu reports. “Iranian missiles are no longer like they were in the past, merely launched from one point to land at another,” the official IRNA news agency quoted IRGC spokesman Hossein Mohabi as saying at an event in the northern city of Qazvin. “They now possess guidance and course-changing capabilities, and some can alter their trajectory during flight to bypass the enemy’s air defense systems,” he added. Mohabi said the Iranian capabilities were used during the recent war with the US to target parts of what he described as the “enemy’s power network.” READ: Iran replaces

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  Israel advances 3 major illegal settlement projects in East Jerusalem in weeks: Rights group

  by Mehdi Editor on August 10, 2026

  The Israeli government has advanced three major illegal settlement projects in East Jerusalem within a few weeks, involving more than 3,400 units, in an effort to strengthen Israeli control over the occupied city, an Israeli rights group said Monday. Ir Amim, an Israeli organization focused on East Jerusalem, said in a statement that Israeli authorities had advanced the three projects, less than three months before legislative elections scheduled for Oct. 27. The organization said the Jerusalem District Planning and Building Committee last month deposited a plan for a new illegal settlement of about 650 housing units in the Palestinian neighborhood of Umm Tuba. The committee also approved two other plans: one for a new illegal settlement of about 450 housing

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  Pro-Palestine demonstrators rally in Greek capital

  by Mehdi Editor on August 10, 2026

  Hundreds of people demonstrated in Athens on Sunday, in support of Palestine and to demand an end to cooperation with Israel, Anadolu reports. According to Greek media reports, demonstrators gathered at Monastiraki Square and marched toward Syntagma Square. Protesters carried flags and chanted slogans including “Free Palestine” and “Solidarity with Palestine, no cooperation with Israel.” They demanded that the Greek government end military and political cooperation with Israel. READ: FIFA reportedly proposes Israel-Palestine match to open youth football festival The protest was organized following calls by the Palestinian Community in Greece, the Stop the War – Solidarity with Palestine Alliance, March to Gaza Greece, and several left-wing parties and groups. Greek media also reported that Israel’s Foreign Ministry had issued a travel warning

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  Israeli minister boasts of ‘breaking boycott’ of Tommy Robinson, calls him ‘great friend’

  by Mehdi Editor on August 10, 2026

  Israeli Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli has boasted of helping to legitimise British far-right activist Tommy Robinson, describing him as “one of the important figures” and “one of our great friends in Britain”. The remarks captured on video offer a striking insight into Israel’s growing alliance with nationalist and far-right movements across Europe. Israeli Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli on Britain: We broke the boycott against Tommy Robinson, who is one of the important figures and one of our great friends in Britain. We are connected not only by the fight against radical Islam, but also by shared values. pic.twitter.com/WwYqkMbHf8 — Clash Report (@clashreport) August 8, 2026 “We broke the boycott against Tommy Robinson, who is one of the important

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  UAE says it foiled cyberattacks targeting vital sectors

  by Mehdi Editor on August 10, 2026

  The United Arab Emirates said Monday that it had foiled cyberattacks targeting the aviation, energy and education sectors in the Gulf country. The UAE Cybersecurity Council said in a statement carried by the official news agency WAM that national systems detected and thwarted “advanced and organized cyberattacks targeting the aviation, energy and education sectors in the country.” “The intrusion attempts were contained before the attacking parties were able to achieve their objectives or affect the continuity of vital systems and services,” it said. The council said the attacks used multiple routes and methods, including attempts to breach systems and digital infrastructure, targeting accounts and operational data, as well as targeted phishing campaigns. “The attacks also included attempts to exploit users

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  Houthi shelling kills 2 soldiers, injures 7 in southern Yemen

  by Mehdi Editor on August 10, 2026

  Two Yemeni soldiers were killed and seven others injured in a Houthi attack in Yemen’s southern Shabwa governorate on Monday, according to local media. Sama Adan news portal said Houthi forces shelled government positions in the governorate, without giving further details. The attack came amid heightened escalation between Yemen’s internationally recognized government and the Houthi group. Fighting has periodically intensified along several Yemeni fronts since last month, leaving dozens of people dead and wounded on both sides. ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Yemen had been under a relative lull since April 2022 after nearly 12 years of war between government forces, backed by a Saudi-led coalition, and the Iranian-backed Houthis, who seized control of the capital Sanaa and large parts of the country in 2014.

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  Israeli army closes Palestinian Christian village Taybeh to prevent occupier attacks

  by Mehdi Editor on August 10, 2026

  The Israeli army on Monday declared the Palestinian Christian village of Taybeh in the occupied West Bank a closed military zone to prevent rising attacks by occupiers in the area, Anadolu reports. “According to the army, the order prevents the entry of anyone who does not reside in the village or live in the surrounding area, while the decision does not apply to Palestinians who are residents of the area,” the public broadcaster KAN said, citing an order by Central Command chief Avi Bluth. The broadcaster said the closure applies to Israelis and foreigners, barring them from entering the area. Around 750,000 occupiers live in 156 illegal settlements and 360 settlement outposts in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and carry

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  Japanese premier calls for free, safe passage through Strait of Hormuz

  by Mehdi Editor on August 10, 2026

  Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Monday urged the resumption of free and safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz during a phone call with Omani Sultan Haitham bin Tariq Al Said, Anadolu reports. Haitham responded that Oman would consult with and respect the views of countries that use the waterway, Takaichi told reporters at her office in Tokyo, according to Kyodo News. Oman and Iran are negotiating transit through the Strait of Hormuz. According to Muscat Daily, the two leaders also discussed ways to strengthen cooperation across various fields in pursuit of their mutual interests, as well as regional developments. READ: Iran replaces top security chief as tensions threaten Strait of Hormuz breakthrough The phone call comes as negotiations over the future

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  Pregnancies shadowed by fear as miscarriage haunts Palestinian women in Gaza

  by Mehdi Editor on August 10, 2026

  With a seven-month pregnancy weighing heavily on her body, Palestinian woman Hadeel al-Madani lifts a water gallon and moves around inside her tent, carrying out daily tasks that Israel’s genocidal war has turned into exhausting burdens that fuel fears for her unborn child. Laundry, cooking, washing dishes and cleaning the living space were once simple tasks that took little time. Today, they require hours of effort that start from fetching and carrying water, to washing clothes by hand, and lighting fires to cook food. Palestinian women in Gaza perform these tasks under harsh humanitarian conditions, amid summer heat trapped inside tents made of poor-quality plastic fabric, turning them during the daytime into places almost impossible to live in. The hardship

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  Iraq creates database to track 6M weapons, closes ‘fake’ PMF-linked offices

  by Mehdi Editor on August 10, 2026

  Iraq’s Interior Ministry said Monday it has created an information database to register around 6 million weapons across the country. In a statement carried by the Iraqi News Agency, the ministry said it also closed 71 fake offices that had claimed links to the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), a state-backed umbrella of Shiite armed groups. It did not immediately provide further details on the locations of the closed offices or the mechanism used to collect data on the weapons. On Friday, Iraqi authorities opened firearms registration and licensing offices across the country as part of a government plan to bring weapons under state control. On June 3, military spokesman Sabah al-Numan announced the formation of a committee tasked with implementing

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  Iran replaces top security chief as tensions threaten Strait of Hormuz breakthrough

  by Mehdi Editor on August 10, 2026

  Iran has appointed veteran Revolutionary Guards commander Mohsen Rezaei as secretary of the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC), replacing Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr at a critical stage in negotiations over reopening the Strait of Hormuz.   Iranian state media announced the change late on Sunday. Rezaei, who also serves as an adviser to Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, will become Khamenei’s representative on the council. Zolghadr, meanwhile, will take up a new position as political adviser to the supreme leader. An air strike killed Zolghadr’s predecessor, Ali Larijani, in March.   The reshuffle comes as Tehran and Muscat seek to finalise an arrangement governing maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. Any agreement to reopen the waterway requires approval from both the

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  Tunisia’s jailed Ennahda leader Ghannouchi stages hunger, medication strike, defense team says

  by Mehdi Editor on August 10, 2026

  The leader of Tunisia’s Ennahda movement, Rached Ghannouchi, launched a hunger and medication strike five days ago to protest the “complete isolation” imposed on him at a hospital, his defense team said Monday, Anadolu reports. In a statement published on Ghannouchi’s Facebook page, the defense team said that the 85-year-old Ennahda leader was transferred to a hospital on July 29. “Since then, complete isolation has been imposed on him, with his lawyers and family prevented from visiting him, communicating with him or even being provided with any information about his health condition, despite repeated requests submitted to all concerned authorities,” the statement said. “In light of this total blackout on information, the defense team learned that Ghannouchi began a hunger and medication

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  Gaza girl dies of wounds from Israeli fire amid ongoing ceasefire violations

  by Mehdi Editor on August 10, 2026

  A Palestinian girl died Monday of wounds from Israeli gunfire in Gaza, as artillery shelling and attacks continued in several areas of the enclave despite a ceasefire in effect since last October, Anadolu reports. Saba Naim Abdullah al-Hashash, 13, breathed her last from injuries she sustained two days earlier after being shot in the head by army forces in the Al-Iqlimi area of Al-Mawasi, south of Khan Younis in southern Gaza, a medical source told Anadolu. Israeli artillery heavily shelled an area near Al-Tina Street, south of Khan Younis, eyewitnesses said. READ: 300 Palestinian children killed since Gaza ceasefire, UNICEF Says Israeli tanks also opened heavy fire toward the Qizan Rashwan area, south of the city. In Gaza City, Israeli warships fired toward

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  Journalists hold a vigil outside an Al Jazeera tent in Gaza City on the anniversary of the assassination of journalist and correspondent Anas Al-Sharif

  by Mehdi Editor on August 10, 2026

  WATCH: Wounded Journalists Demand Their Right to Travel for Medical Treatment

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  EXPLAINER – How products from illegal Israeli settlements reach European markets

  by Mehdi Editor on August 10, 2026

  Products linked to illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories continue to enter European markets, raising questions about how they are exported, labeled and distributed and whether existing European rules are effectively preventing settlement-linked trade. A June 2026 report by the Global Echo Litigation Center, Importing Occupation, has drawn fresh attention to these supply chains. It says that goods made in Israeli illegal settlements have entered European markets through systems that hide their actual place of origin. Here is how the system works. How widespread is the trade? The report focuses on agricultural exports, including dates, citrus fruits, herbs, fruit and vegetables, which previous research has identified as among the most common settlement products reaching Europe. To illustrate how

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  Israeli army launches new attacks in Lebanon despite truce

  by Mehdi Editor on August 10, 2026

  The Israeli army carried out a bombing and artillery shelling of positions in southern Lebanon on Monday amid its ongoing violations of an ongoing truce. The Israeli forces fired machine guns toward Wadi al-Salouqi in southern Lebanese governorate of Nabatieh and shelled the town of Mansouri with artillery overnight, Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency (NNA) reported. Kfar Tebnit was also bombed, the agency noted, adding that the outskirts of the town of Nabatieh al-Fawqa were subjected to intermittent artillery shelling. No information was immediately available regarding casualties or material damage. These attacks come days after the conclusion of the seventh round of US-brokered Lebanese-Israeli negotiations in Rome on Thursday. READ: Hezbollah urges Lebanon to halt direct talks with Israel over territorial

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  Kuwait congratulates Pakistan on tripartite defense pact with Turkiye, Saudi Arabia

  by Mehdi Editor on August 10, 2026

  Kuwait congratulated Pakistan on signing a tripartite defense agreement with Turkiye and Saudi Arabia, Islamabad’s Foreign Ministry said Monday. In a late-night phone call, Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah “felicitated” his Pakistani counterpart Ishaq Dar “on the recent signing of the Makkah Joint Defense Agreement.” On Friday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif signed the agreement in Mecca. The pact considers an armed attack against any of the three countries an attack against all of them and aims to strengthen collective deterrence and expand defense cooperation. READ: ‘Attack on one is attack on all’: Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and Pakistan sign landmark Mecca defence pact The agreement follows years

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  Israel releases 37 Palestinian prisoners through Karem Abu Salem crossing

  by Mehdi Editor on August 10, 2026

  Thirty-seven Palestinian prisoners released by Israel were brought to Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, on Sunday, for medical checks, Anadolu reports. The prisoners arrived at the hospital through the Kerem Shalom / Karem Abu Salem crossing under the escort of teams from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). Families waiting outside the hospital embraced their released relatives in emotional scenes. The Palestinian Health Ministry said the released prisoners would undergo the necessary medical examinations and checks. The ministry said their health conditions were extremely poor due to what it described as severe and systematic physical abuse and torture during their detention in Israeli prisons. READ: Palestinian prisoner Hassan Salameh describes abuse and starvation in Israeli prisons According to the

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  Oil prices rise as Iran sets conditions for reopening Strait of Hormuz

  by Mehdi Editor on August 10, 2026

  Oil prices rose Monday as Iran’s demands for reopening the Strait of Hormuz raised concerns over prolonged disruptions to global energy markets. International benchmark Brent crude futures for October delivery climbed 1.09% to $84.46 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate futures for September rose 0.84% to $78.84. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Sunday that the strategic waterway would not reopen until Washington meets conditions including easing sanctions and paying war reparations. He also said Tehran is not currently in direct talks with the US, despite Washington’s claim that a deal is near. “The Strait of Hormuz remains effectively closed,” Westpac said, adding that uncertainty remains high as the Iran war enters its sixth month. Despite the energy market

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  US senator says Trump has ‘lost’ Iran war

  by Mehdi Editor on August 10, 2026

  US Democratic Senator Chris Murphy said Sunday that President Donald Trump has “lost this war” with Iran, arguing that continued fighting is weakening the US while strengthening Tehran. “America is weaker. Iran is stronger,” Murphy told NBC, saying he would support even a “bad deal” to end the war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. He said the cost of reopening the strategic waterway was rising as negotiations remained stalled. Iranian officials have demanded reparations, the lifting of sanctions and a halt to US military operations, according to The Washington Times. “The war needs to end because every day that the war continues, America gets weaker, Iran gets stronger, and people here in the United States get screwed as prices

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  Israeli army evicts Palestinian family, turns West Bank home into military post

  by Mehdi Editor on August 10, 2026

  The Israeli army forced a Palestinian family from their home and turned it into a military post Sunday as Israeli occupiers carried out attacks on Palestinians and farmland across the occupied West Bank. Israeli forces raided the home in Arraba, south of Jenin, ordered the family out and told the owner that troops would remain there until Sunday evening, local sources told Anadolu Agency. The army also closed the Arraba junction and the road leading west toward Yabad, disrupting movement on a key route connecting the area with nearby towns. Elsewhere in Jenin governorate, Israeli occupiers cut down dozens of fruit trees on Palestinian land in Khirbet Farasin, including some around 10 years old. Local sources said the area has

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  Hezbollah urges Lebanon to halt direct talks with Israel over territorial map

  by Mehdi Editor on August 10, 2026

  Hezbollah urged the Lebanese government Sunday to halt direct talks with Israel after the Israeli Foreign Ministry published a map depicting large parts of southern Lebanon as Israeli territory, Anadolu reports. The group said the map exposed Israeli ambitions over Lebanese land and resources, accusing Tel Aviv of seeking to impose new realities on the ground. The map, published Friday on the Israeli Foreign Ministry’s Arabic-language account on the US social media platform X, showed large areas of southern Lebanon incorporated into Israel. Hezbollah argued that the map undermined the negotiating track, accusing Israel of using direct talks to buy time while seeking to consolidate its presence on Lebanese territory. The group called on the government to end direct negotiations

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  Injured, sick Palestinians in Gaza demand urgent medical evacuation abroad

  by Mehdi Editor on August 10, 2026

  Injured and sick Palestinians in Gaza hold demonstration on Sunday to call for border crossings to be opened so they can be urgently evacuated abroad for medical treatment, Anadolu reports. Dozens of wounded and ill Palestinians gathered in the courtyard of Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, demanding access to treatment outside the enclave. Some waited in wheelchairs or with crutches from the early morning hours, while others sat on the ground under the scorching sun. The patients and wounded appealed to international organizations and mediator countries supporting the ceasefire agreement, urging them to help open the crossings and ensure urgent medical evacuations. Injured Palestinian Abdul Rahman Ashraf Abu Shawish said the World Health Organization contacted him in

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  Poll shows one in five Israelis considering emigration

  by Mehdi Editor on August 10, 2026

  A poll by Israel’s Kan public broadcaster on emigration from Israel found that one-third of respondents know someone who has left the country, while 12 per cent said the outcome of the next election could determine whether they stay in Israel or leave. The issue of emigration from Israel, and concerns over a growing number of Israelis choosing to leave the country, is expected to be a key issue in the upcoming election. In the Kan poll, published on Sunday evening, respondents were asked about their views on the issue. One-third said they knew someone who had left Israel over the past two years, while two-thirds said they did not. Asked whether they had considered leaving Israel over the past

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  Palestinian Journalists’ Syndicate: 108 attacks, violations against Palestinian journalists in July

  by Mehdi Editor on August 10, 2026

  The Palestinian Journalists’ Syndicate’s Freedoms Committee documented 108 cases of crimes, attacks and violations against Palestinian journalists and media workers in July 2026. These included arrests, beatings, interrogations, detention and being prevented from covering events, as well as targeting journalists with stun grenades and tear gas, attacks by settlers, raids on homes and media offices, and the confiscation and destruction of equipment. In a statement, the Freedoms Committee said it had documented 58 cases of detention and journalists being prevented from carrying out their reporting duties, making these the most frequently recorded violations during the month. Restrictions on journalists continued as they covered events on the ground. READ: Journalists in Gaza rally for colleagues held in Israeli prisons The committee also

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  Channel 13: Tel Aviv-Washington differences deepen over ending fighting on three fronts

  by Mehdi Editor on August 10, 2026

  Israel’s Channel 13 reported on Sunday that differences between Tel Aviv and Washington were deepening amid growing US pressure on Israel to move towards ending fighting on three fronts: Gaza, Lebanon and Iran. The private broadcaster, citing unnamed political sources, said the commander of the US Central Command (CENTCOM), Admiral Brad Cooper, conveyed a message during his latest visit to Israel on Saturday that Washington wanted to see progress towards “closing the three fronts”. It added that Israeli military officials told their US counterparts that Israel reserved the right to act against Iran if it was found to be continuing to develop its nuclear programme or rebuild its ballistic missile capabilities. According to Channel 13, the United States wants to see an

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  Sheikh Ikrima Sabri warns of plans to empty neighbourhoods around Al-Aqsa to isolate mosque

  by Mehdi Editor on August 10, 2026

  Sheikh Ikrima Sabri, the preacher of Al-Aqsa Mosque and head of the Higher Islamic Council in Jerusalem, has warned of growing Israeli settlement plans targeting the Silwan, Batn al-Hawa, al-Bustan and Wadi Hilweh neighbourhoods in occupied Jerusalem. Sabri said in press statements that the plans form a rapidly expanding settlement belt aimed at emptying the areas immediately surrounding Al-Aqsa Mosque and reshaping the area demographically and geographically by imposing what he described as a biblical settlement reality. He said the Israeli authorities were seeking to dismantle the Palestinian population living closest to the walls of Jerusalem’s Old City, using demolitions, evictions and restrictions on construction by Jerusalem residents, while allowing settler groups to take control of properties and land. He

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  Tehran says Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until Washington accepts all its demands

  by Mehdi Editor on August 10, 2026

  Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said on Sunday that it would not reopen the vital Strait of Hormuz unless the United States accepts Tehran’s conditions, including paying compensation for war damage. Iran has effectively controlled the Strait of Hormuz since the war began with the first US and Israeli strikes on Iran on 28 February. It currently requires ships to coordinate their passage with Iranian authorities and use a route exclusively along its coast. Tehran also plans to impose a “service fee” on ships seeking to use the waterway. Repeated attacks in the waterway led to the collapse of a ceasefire agreement reached in April, while mediators have urged both sides to resume compliance with a subsequent memorandum of

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  Egyptian foreign minister calls for Israeli withdrawal from Gaza

  by Mehdi Editor on August 10, 2026

  Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty on Sunday called for completing the Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and implementing agreements reached, after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected the Board of Peace’s plan for the territory. Abdelatty made the remarks during a phone call with Nikolay Mladenov, the Board of Peace’s high representative for Gaza, according to a statement from the Egyptian Foreign Ministry. Netanyahu had rejected the board’s 15-point plan and insisted that Hamas be disarmed before any Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, while the group said it remained committed to implementing the plan. Abdelatty and Mladenov discussed the latest developments in Gaza and efforts to complete the implementation of US President Donald Trump’s peace plan, the ministry said. READ: Netanyahu

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  Syria, Russia reach deal to reorganize Russian military presence at Hmeimim, Tartus bases

  by Marwa A on August 9, 2026

  Syria and Russia have reached a memorandum of understanding to reorganize Russia’s presence at the Hmeimim and Tartus bases in western Syria following about 18 months of negotiations, the Syrian Foreign Ministry said Sunday, Anadolu reports. Under the memorandum, Syria will assume management of civilian facilities, including Hmeimim Airport and the fourth commercial berth at Tartus port, gradually integrating them into the civilian administration system, according to the ministry’s Media and Communications Directorate, as cited by the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA). Military bases and facilities will undergo a functional transformation, with the two sides agreeing to convert them from military bases into joint training and qualification centers under new arrangements designed to preserve their mutual interests. The memorandum sets

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  Pope Leo voices concern over ‘tragic’ situation in Sudan

  by Marwa A on August 9, 2026

  Pope Leo XIV on Sunday expressed his concern over the ongoing “tragic” situation in Sudan, calling on the international community to support efforts aimed at bringing about an immediate ceasefire, Anadolu reports. “I renew my appeal to those in authority to guarantee humanitarian corridors for the civilian population,” the pontiff said following the Angelus prayer at St. Peter’s Square, the Vatican News reported. He expressed his concern, citing in particular to the Sudanese city of el-Obeid, and called on the international community “to support efforts aimed at bringing about an immediate ceasefire.” Fighting between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has continued since 2023, following disputes over integrating the paramilitary force into the regular military. The

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  Hamas reaffirms commitment to completing 2nd phase of Trump’s Gaza plan

  by Marwa A on August 9, 2026

  Palestinian group Hamas reaffirmed Sunday its commitment to a roadmap agreed with mediators and the Board of Peace to complete the second phase of US President Donald Trump’s plan for Gaza, Anadolu reports. In a statement, the movement said it remains serious about “responsibly engaging” on implementing the 15-point plan and establishing a clear timetable for it. “The priority at this stage must be to ensure the implementation of all phases and obligations of the agreement,” Hamas said. It added that the process should lead to a complete ceasefire, an end to Israeli attacks, the completion of Israel’s withdrawal, the reopening of crossings, the entry of humanitarian aid and shelter supplies, the start of reconstruction and enabling the National Committee

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  When the men with stars on their shoulders are told to sit down

  by Marwa A on August 9, 2026

  Augustus never recovered from three words. When news reached Rome that three legions had been annihilated in the Teutoburg Forest, the emperor is said to have wandered his palace for months, striking his head against the doorframe and crying, “Quintili Vare, legiones redde!” Give me back my legions, Varus. Varus had been warned. A German chieftain named Segestes had told him, in plain language, that his ally Arminius was leading him into a trap. Varus outranked the warning. Three legions ceased to exist in an afternoon. Washington is not Teutoburg. But six months into a war with Iran that was supposed to last four to six weeks, the pattern of ignoring the men whose job is to know better has

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  Iran releases rare video of Mojtaba Khamenei after reports of deteriorating health

  by Marwa A on August 9, 2026

  Iran has released a rare video of Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei after reports suggested that he was in critical condition, Anadolu reports. The video aired by the semi-official Mehr News Agency showed Mojtaba surrounded by several people and appeared to be speaking to them. Mehr did not specify when or where the video was recorded, nor did it identify the people accompanying him. The agency reported on Sunday that Mojtaba met with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, who is beginning his third year in office. Their meeting addressed the current challenges facing Iran, including public livelihood needs and the military conflict with the US “as well as economic interaction with foreign partners,” it added. Mojtaba was selected as Iran’s supreme leader

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  Israeli prime minister rejects Trump’s 15-point plan for Gaza

  by Marwa A on August 9, 2026

  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday rejected a 15-point plan approved by US President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace for Gaza, insisting that Israeli forces will not withdraw from the Palestinian territory until Hamas is disarmed, Anadolu reports. “Israel rejects the 15-point document published by the Board of Peace for Gaza,” Netanyahu said in a video statement after the start of a Cabinet meeting, as cited by the daily Yedioth Ahronoth. “The Israeli army will not carry out any withdrawal until Hamas is disarmed,” he added. The Israeli premier said the disarmament must include “the heavy weapons, the less heavy weapons,” claiming that Israel wants “real disarmament, not fake disarmament.” He said Israel is holding talks with the US

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  Wife of Israeli prime minister faces accusations of abusing household staff: Report

  by Marwa A on August 9, 2026

  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s wife Sara has been facing accusations of yelling at, insulting and mistreating household staff at the premier’s residence for more than 25 years, Anadolu reports. The daily Yedioth Ahronoth said it examined dozens of testimonies and lawsuits involving former employees, with accusations ranging from verbal abuse and humiliation to excessive work demands. Some of the accusations resulted in court rulings awarding compensation, while others were settled or dismissed. Sara Netanyahu and her lawyers have repeatedly denied the allegations, describing them as part of “a media campaign” and attempts to extract money from the state. Among the latest allegations was a complaint by Yehiel Ohav Ami, 61, who worked at the prime minister’s residence over the

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  Fear: The new tax on power

  by Marwa A on August 9, 2026

  Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger wasn’t boasting when he said, “Cowardice is not an option in this business.” He wasn’t celebrating personal bravery either. He was simply acknowledging a reality: he no longer has the luxury of being afraid. Papperger has lived under police protection for years due to suspected Russian assassination plots. Armed security accompanies him everywhere—even inside Rheinmetall’s headquarters in Düsseldorf—under a protection protocol comparable to that of the German Chancellor. Not because he is a criminal, but because he manufactures weapons in a world where retaliation has become a currency. Rheinmetall supplies large quantities of arms to Ukraine and is building factories there. The company’s CEO now lives as if he were in a permanent war zone, even

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  Netanyahu ‘quietly’ approves reconstruction in Gaza’s Rafah: Israeli media

  by Marwa A on August 9, 2026

  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz “quietly” approved the reconstruction of an area under army control in eastern Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, according to Israeli media on Sunday, Anadolu reports. Without a public announcement, Netanyahu and Katz approved “infrastructure works in ‘Green Rafah,’ in eastern Rafah, to establish a residential project for Palestinians outside Hamas control,” Army Radio said. “Green Rafah” is an area controlled by the Israeli army within the so-called Yellow Line separating areas occupied by Israel from zones where Palestinians are allowed to move. The area has been “completely leveled and cleared and is currently empty” and will be “under the control of a multinational force,” the radio said. “The infrastructure works that

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  Rights group files criminal complaint in Vietnam against Israeli soldier over war crimes in Gaza, Lebanon

  by Marwa A on August 9, 2026

  A Brussels-based advocacy group has filed a criminal complaint with Vietnamese authorities against Israeli reservist Matan Jerafi, accusing him of war crimes, genocide and incitement to genocide during Israel’s wars in the Gaza Strip and southern Lebanon, Anadolu reports. The Hind Rajab Foundation (HRF) said in a Saturday statement that Jerafi is the CEO of the Israeli organization Im Tirtzu and served with the 920th Infantry Battalion of the 769th Brigade. It said he “documented his deployment to Gaza and to southern Lebanon and his direct involvement in the unlawful destruction of civilian property.” According to the complaint, evidence shows Jerafi participated in the destruction of civilian infrastructure in the Bureij and Maghazi refugee camps in central Gaza and in

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  Pakistan’s governance crisis demands administrative reform

  by Marwa A on August 9, 2026

  Pakistan’s recurring debate over creating new provinces is too often reduced to questions of ethnicity, language and political bargaining. That framing obscures the real issue. The challenge is not how many provinces Pakistan should have, but whether its governance architecture has kept pace with the country’s demographic and administrative transformation. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi’s recent call for additional administrative units has revived a politically sensitive discussion. Predictably, much of the debate has centred on constitutional hurdles and fears of ethnic fragmentation. Yet the more important question is whether Pakistan can continue governing a population that has grown from roughly 65 million in the early 1970s to nearly 250 million today through an administrative structure that has changed remarkably little. Administrative

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  Israeli forces kill Palestinian in Gaza, wound 9 including 4 children

  by Mehdi Editor on August 8, 2026

  Israeli forces killed a Palestinian and wounded nine others, including four children, in separate attacks across the Gaza Strip on Saturday, medical sources told Anadolu Agency. The latest casualties came amid continued Israeli violations of the ceasefire agreement, which has been in force in Gaza since Oct. 10, 2025. A medical source told Anadolu Agency that a young Palestinian man was killed after Israeli forces opened fire in Deir al-Balah in central Gaza. In southern Gaza, medical sources said seven injured Palestinians, including two children, were admitted to Nasser Hospital after Israeli tanks stationed near the al-Shakoush area southwest of Khan Younis opened heavy fire. Three of them are in critical condition, according to the sources. READ: 300 Palestinian children killed

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  Iran security chief says Strait of Hormuz to remain closed until US meets Tehran’s demands

  by Mehdi Editor on August 8, 2026

  Iran’s top security official said Saturday that the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until the US changes what he described as its hostile policies and meets a set of Iranian demands, Anadolu reports. In a statement, Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, said Washington must “correct its behavior” before the strategic waterway can reopen. He listed six conditions, including ending what he called threats against Iran’s supreme leader, permanently halting military action against Iran and its regional allies, withdrawing US naval and air forces involved in what he described as the blockade of Iran, compensating Tehran for damage caused during the recent conflicts, lifting US sanctions and releasing Iran’s frozen assets. Zolghadr said the demands

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  Pro-Palestinian protesters march through Berlin

  by Mehdi Editor on August 8, 2026

  Demonstrators in Berlin staged a protest in support of Palestine on Saturday, Anadolu reports. Protesters carried banners and Palestinian flags as they marched through the city and chanted slogans to express solidarity with Palestine. Since Israel launched its genocidal war on the Gaza Strip in October 2023, the Israeli army and occupiers have intensified attacks across the occupied West Bank, killing at least 1,182 Palestinians, injuring around 13,000 and arresting nearly 25,000, according to official Palestinian figures. READ: German activists vow to intensify campaign against Volkswagen’s potential deal with Israeli defense firm

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  Iran’s president says now is ‘best time’ to reach agreement with US

  by Mehdi Editor on August 8, 2026

  Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Saturday said that now is the “best time” to reach an agreement with the US, Anadolu reports. “When people talk about reaching an agreement, I believe now is the best time, because there is cohesion, strength and unity in the country. As far as I know, Iran is regarded as having emerged from this war and this conflict victorious and strong,” Pezeshkian said at his second news conference since taking office. He said the current situation provided an opportunity to pursue an agreement and resolve outstanding issues through dialogue. According to the semi-official ISNA news agency, Pezeshkian said Iran could pursue its rights through dialogue and that it sought “nothing beyond the rights of the

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  When the coloniser calls resistance terrorism

  by Mehdi Editor on August 8, 2026

  Throughout history, almost every national liberation struggle has been labelled “terrorism” by the powers exercising colonial rule or foreign occupation. This strategy is nothing new. The British Empire branded IRA fighters in Ireland and EOKA guerrillas in Cyprus as terrorists. France portrayed Algeria’s National Liberation Front (FLN) as a criminal organisation. The same happened to the Mozambique Liberation Front (FRELIMO), the People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA), the South West Africa People’s Organisation (SWAPO) in Namibia, and even Nelson Mandela’s African National Congress (ANC). History, however, vindicated these movements and condemned the colonial regimes that sought to perpetuate their domination. This pattern reveals a constant: those who occupy a territory seek to strip the occupied people of any

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  US expects Iran to ensure safe oil flow through Strait of Hormuz: Vance

  by Mehdi Editor on August 8, 2026

  The US expects Iran to restore the flow of oil and gas through the Strait of Hormuz to pre-conflict levels and ensure the safe passage of commercial vessels, US Vice President JD Vance said Saturday. “Our expectation is you’re going to see the same amount of oil and gas come out of the Gulf that you saw before the conflict started,” Vance told Fox News, saying Iran had communicated that intention to Washington. “But you know, we don’t trust. We verify,” Vance said. “We actually look not at people’s words but people’s deeds.” He said Washington was also monitoring Iranian statements about potentially imposing tolls on vessels using the strategic waterway. “The Iranians have told us they have no plans

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  Iraq’s premier says country rejects use of territory to threaten neighbours

  by Mehdi Editor on August 8, 2026

  Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi said Saturday that his country seeks balanced relations with neighbouring states and will not allow its territory to be used to threaten their security, during a phone call with French President Emmanuel Macron, Anadolu reports. The two leaders discussed strengthening bilateral relations and cooperation, regional developments and the scheduled end of the international coalition’s mission in Iraq, according to a statement from the Iraqi prime minister’s media office. The statement said they also discussed economic and investment cooperation in Iraq, opportunities for French companies, and joint efforts to reduce tensions and promote regional security and stability. Al-Zaidi highlighted the importance of relations between Baghdad and Paris and invited Macron to visit Iraq, calling for joint

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  Israeli legal group Honenu funds, defends occupiers accused of violence in West Bank: PLO

  by Mehdi Editor on August 8, 2026

  The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) said Saturday that an Israeli legal organization operating under the cover of government bodies provides legal and social protection to occupiers who kill Palestinians and commit acts of violence in the occupied West Bank, while Palestinians face pressure and sanctions over payments made to prisoners held in Israeli jails, Anadolu reports. The statement was made in a weekly report by the PLO’s National Office for Land Defense, which monitors violations in the West Bank. The report was titled “Symbols of hatred in settlements incite more crimes.” The report said the Israeli far-right legal organization Honenu provides legal support, litigation and free defense to occupiers and extremist Jews accused of committing violent crimes and terrorist acts

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  Oman says Strait of Hormuz talks progressing in ‘positive’ atmosphere

  by Mehdi Editor on August 8, 2026

  Oman said Saturday that negotiations on navigation arrangements in the Strait of Hormuz were progressing in a “positive and constructive atmosphere,” while condemning repeated attacks on vessels transiting the strategic waterway, Anadolu reports. In a statement, the Omani Foreign Ministry said repeated attacks on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz violated international law and the sovereignty of regional waters, while threatening maritime safety and regional security and stability. The ministry stressed the importance of avoiding any actions that could affect the ongoing negotiations or the progress achieved, saying the talks should continue in a manner that takes into account the interests of all parties. READ: Abu Dhabi National Oil Company says its vessel hit by missile in Strait of Hormuz

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  The Gulf needs an energy non-aggression pact

  by Mehdi Editor on August 8, 2026

  The next crisis or confrontation in the Gulf may not begin with a territorial invasion or an attack on a military base. It could start with the disruption of an oil refinery, export terminal, liquefied natural gas facility, power grid or desalination plant. In a region where oil, gas, electricity, water and maritime trade are tightly interconnected, an attack on energy infrastructure is no longer a limited act. It could simultaneously affect global markets, human security and the stability of several states. The region therefore needs an “energy non-aggression pact”: a limited but practical agreement protecting critical energy infrastructure and the essential services that depend on it. Its purpose would be to transform mutual infrastructure vulnerability into mutual restraint. Such