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

• 
  US sources: Trump administration misjudged Iran’s response and war’s impact on oil markets

  by MI on March 11, 2026

  American sources familiar with the matter have told The New York Times that Iran’s aggressive response forced Washington to revise its plans and begin evacuating embassies across the region. The sources said there is growing pessimism inside the administration of Donald Trump due to the absence of a clear exit strategy from the war with Iran. They added that Trump’s administration and advisers had misjudged both Iran’s likely response and the impact the conflict would have on global oil markets. According to the sources, President Trump has publicly insisted the war is succeeding, while his advisers have avoided directly confronting him with their concerns about the increasing complexity of the military operations in Iran. READ: Iran’s military threatens attacks on US,

• 
  Iran’s military threatens attacks on US, Israeli banks after strike on Iranian lender

  by MI on March 11, 2026

  Iran’s military threatened Wednesday to launch retaliatory attacks on American and Israeli banks in the region following an airstrike on a bank in Tehran, Anadolu reports. In a statement, a spokesperson for the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, the unified command of Iran’s armed forces, said that a bank in the Iranian capital was struck by the US and Israel on Tuesday. The spokesperson described the attack as an “illegitimate and unconventional act of war,” adding that it has left Iran’s armed forces with the right to target economic centers and banks belonging to the US and Israel across the region. “The Americans should await our painful retaliatory action,” he warned. The spokesperson also urged people in countries hosting US and

• 
  Brazil´s Lula Warns the Middle East War Will Not Stop at the Region’s Borders

  by MI on March 11, 2026

  Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva warned that the escalation in the Middle East represents “a serious threat to international peace and security,” stressing that its repercussions do not stop at the region’s borders, but extend to energy, input, and food supply chains. Lula made the remarks while receiving South African President Cyril Ramaphosa in Brasília on March 9, 2026, saying he had conveyed to his counterpart his “deep concern” over the escalation of the conflict, describing its humanitarian and economic effects as “far-reaching,” and arguing that “dialogue and diplomacy” remain “the only viable path” toward a lasting solution. “I expressed to President Ramaphosa my deep concern over the escalation of the conflict in the Middle East, which represents

• 
  Media: Drone attack targets US diplomatic facility in Baghdad

  by MI on March 11, 2026

  A drone targeted a US diplomatic facility in Iraq on Tuesday in an attack believed to have been carried out by Iran-aligned armed groups, the Washington Post reported. The newspaper, citing an Iraqi security official and an internal alert from the US State Department, said one of six drones struck the US Diplomatic Support Centre near Baghdad International Airport. Air defences shot down the other five drones. The centre is an important logistics hub supporting the work of US diplomats in Iraq and is located near Iraqi military bases. There were no confirmed reports of casualties. The White House, the US State Department and the Pentagon declined to comment on the attack. READ: France ‘cannot approve’ US-Israeli strikes on Iran: Foreign

• 
  Netanyahu, Smotrich announce freeze on bill exempting Haredim from military service

  by MI on March 11, 2026

  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said on Tuesday evening that the government would suspend efforts to advance a bill exempting ultra-Orthodox Jews from military service for now, citing the demands and financial pressures of the war. In a joint video statement, Netanyahu and Smotrich said they had decided to “set the law aside at this stage” as the government prepares to approve a major increase in the defence budget, including the transfer of tens of billions of shekels to the military. Netanyahu said the war required directing large financial resources to defence spending. “There was no doubt that we had to go out to this battle,” he said, adding: “But war costs money, a lot

• 
  Hamas warns of ‘dangerous precedent’ as al-Aqsa mosque closure enters 11th day

  by MI on March 11, 2026

  The Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas, warned on Tuesday of the consequences of the continued closure of the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound for the 11th consecutive day and the prevention of worshippers from performing Taraweeh prayers and religious retreat during the holy month of Ramadan. In a statement, the movement said the closure represents a “dangerous historical precedent” since 1967 and described it as a “blatant violation” of freedom of worship and a provocative escalation against Islamic holy sites. Hamas said the continued closure of the Al-Aqsa Mosque by what it called the “fascist occupation government”, and the prevention of worshippers and those guarding the site from accessing it to perform Taraweeh prayers and observe itikaf during Ramadan, was happening for the

• 
  A colonial choice: The Board of Peace, or the UN?

  by MI on March 11, 2026

  A report presented to the UN Human Rights Council last month noted that Israel destroyed 92 per cent of Gaza’s housing units and displaced over 90 per cent of Palestinians, while 86 percent of the territory was under orders for displacement or incorporated into military zones. Based on the evidence and statistics, the reported stated that “these violations of the right to adequate housing may amount to war crimes, crimes against humanity, and may be considered as part of the crime of genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.” The report was compiled by Balakrishnan Rajagopal, the UN Special Rapporteur on the right to adequate housing, who also proposed domicide, which is the destruction of civilian infrastructure, to be considered as an

• 
  France ‘cannot approve’ US-Israeli strikes on Iran: Foreign minister

  by Marwa A on March 10, 2026

  France “cannot approve” strikes by US and Israeli forces on Iran as they are being carried out outside international law and without clearly defined objectives, Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said Tuesday, Anadolu reports. Speaking on France 2, Barrot said the strikes lacked clear strategic goals and did not comply with international legal standards. Barrot stressed that France is not involved in the conflict. “We do not approve of this war, and we are not participating in it,” he said. He also called for rapid de-escalation in the Middle East, urging Iran to change its regional posture. “We expect Iran to renounce being a destabilizing and dangerous power,” he said. READ: Emirati billionaire rebukes US senator over call for Gulf states

• 
  Trump warns of consequences at levels ‘never seen before’ if Iran does not remove mines from Strait of Hormuz

  by Marwa A on March 10, 2026

  US President Donald Trump on Tuesday threatened Iran with unprecedented military consequences if it had placed mines in the Strait of Hormuz and failed to remove them, Anadolu reports. “If for any reason mines were placed, and they are not removed forthwith, the military consequences to Iran will be at a level never seen before,” Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social. He added that removing the mines would be “a giant step in the right direction.” Trump, however, also noted that US has “no reports of” Tehran putting out mines in the waterway. The warning came after a CNN report that Iran has begun laying mines in the strait. Sources told the news outlet that only a

• 
  MEMO in Conversation with Raouf Farrah

  by Marwa A on March 10, 2026

  In this conversation with Raouf Farrah, lead Africa analyst at SecDev and co-editor of Rising for Palestine, we discuss his new book and its call for renewed Africa-Palestine solidarity. We also discuss the Sumud convoy, a North African solidarity initiative organised to challenge Israel’s siege on Gaza. Farrah reflects on the political obstacles the convoy faced and what they reveal about the regional response to Palestine. Raouf Farrah is the Lead Africa Analyst at the SecDev Group, a risk analytics firm working at the intersection of technology and human behaviour. In 2025, he was instrumental in organising  The Sumud Convoy, an attempt to break Israel’s siege on Gaza This year, Farrah co-edited a book, Rising for Palestine. MORE >>> MEMO in

• 
  Aramco warns of ‘catastrophic’ consequences for oil market if Hormuz closure persists

  by Marwa A on March 10, 2026

  Saudi oil giant Aramco warned Tuesday of “catastrophic” consequences for global oil markets if the closure of the Strait of Hormuz continues amid a US-Israeli offensive on Iran, Anadolu reports. Speaking at a press conference, Aramco CEO Amin Nasser said a prolonged shutdown of the strait “could lead to catastrophic consequences for global oil markets,” according to the Saudi television Al Ekhbariya. On March 2, Ebrahim Jabbari, an adviser to the commander of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, announced that the Strait of Hormuz had been closed, warning that any ships attempting to pass through would be targeted. Nasser described the current crisis as “by far the largest challenge ever faced by the oil and gas sector in the region.” He said

• 
  Indonesia’s cautious response to the U.S.–Israel war on Iran

  by MI on March 10, 2026

  After days of silence, Indonesia has finally issued a statement on the war between the United States, Israel and Iran. The response, however, is strikingly cautious. President Prabowo Subianto said Indonesia is “on the right track” by refusing to take sides. Speaking on March 9, he emphasized that Indonesia should remain committed to its long-standing policy of nonalignment and respect for all countries. Indonesia’s Foreign Ministry echoed this position, calling on the United States and Israel to stop attacks on Iran while also urging Iran to halt strikes on neighboring states and return to negotiations. The tone is diplomatic. But the wording is also careful. Indonesia’s official statements repeatedly refer to “tensions” and “escalation.” They avoid stronger language about the

• 
  Hamas accuses Israel of escalating attacks and massacres in Gaza

  by MI on March 10, 2026

  Hamas has accused Israel of carrying out massacres against civilians in the Gaza Strip, explaining that the Israeli military is exploiting regional tensions to intensify its operations. In a press statement on Monday, Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem said Israeli forces had carried out attacks that killed civilians in recent hours. According to Qassem, an Israeli strike targeted a group of civilians west of Gaza City shortly before Iftar on Sunday, while artillery shelling at dawn on Monday struck tents sheltering displaced people, killing three women, including a journalist. Qassem described the incidents as a dangerous escalation and a violation of the ceasefire agreement. READ: Egyptian president rejects displacement of Palestinians as a ‘red line’ He also accused Israel of taking advantage of the international focus

• 
  Emirati billionaire rebukes US senator over call for Gulf states to join war with Iran

  by MI on March 10, 2026

  Emirati billionaire Khalaf Al Habtoor has sharply criticised US Senator Lindsey Graham after the American lawmaker called on Gulf states to join military operations against Iran alongside the United States and Israel. In a lengthy post on the social media platform X, Al Habtoor rejected any Gulf participation in the conflict, arguing that the region is already paying the price for decisions taken without consulting Arab states. Graham made the remarks during media interviews following a closed congressional briefing, where he urged Gulf countries to become more actively involved in military action against Iran. He argued that Iranian attacks on countries such as Kuwait, Qatar and Saudi Arabia could prompt Washington’s Arab allies to take a stronger role in the

• 
  Hezbollah says it struck Israeli military communications station in Ella Valley

  by MI on March 10, 2026

  Hezbollah announced on Monday evening that it had targeted an Israeli military satellite communications station in the Ella Valley with a barrage of missiles. In a statement, the group said the attack struck a facility belonging to the Cyber and Communications Defence Division of the Israeli army, located deep inside Israel. Hezbollah described the operation as a response to Israeli strikes on Lebanese cities, towns and the southern suburbs of Beirut. READ: Hezbollah says it targeted military factory west of Safed with rocket barrage “The fighters of the Islamic Resistance targeted the satellite communications station belonging to the Cyber and Communications Defence Division of the Israeli enemy army in the Ella Valley in the heart of occupied Palestine,” the statement said. According to

• 
  Ben-Gvir expands gun licences to Jewish residents across Jerusalem

  by MI on March 10, 2026

  Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has announced that residents of all Jewish neighbourhoods in Jerusalem will now be eligible to obtain gun licences based solely on their place of residence. According to the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, the decision will allow around 300,000 additional Jewish residents of Jerusalem to apply for licences to carry firearms. Previously, gun licences were generally granted to residents of settlements in occupied East Jerusalem, but the new policy expands eligibility to a much wider segment of the city’s Jewish population. READ: Palestinian man killed, brother critically wounded by illegal Israeli settlers in West Bank The move means that tens of thousands of residents, including members of the Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) community, may now obtain licences even if they

• 
  Egyptian president rejects displacement of Palestinians as a ‘red line’

  by MI on March 10, 2026

  Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has reiterated that lasting peace and stability in the Middle East cannot be achieved without the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital. Speaking during the 43rd Educational Symposium of the Egyptian Armed Forces, held at the Al-Manara International Conference Centre as part of Egypt’s Martyrs’ and Veterans’ Day commemorations, Sisi said Egypt’s position on the Palestinian issue remains clear and unwavering. “There will be no peace or stability without the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital,” he said. Sisi described the Palestinian issue as the central core of the conflict in the Middle East, stressing that Egypt firmly rejects any attempts to displace

• 
  Amnesty accuses Israel of destroying reproductive healthcare in Gaza

  by MI on March 10, 2026

  Amnesty International has warned that the conditions faced by Palestinian women and girls in the Gaza Strip represent one of the most severe forms of discrimination and violence against women amid the ongoing war and the collapse of healthcare services. In a statement, the organisation said Israeli attacks and the widespread destruction of infrastructure have severely affected essential healthcare systems, particularly services related to reproductive health. Amnesty cited findings by a United Nations Commission of Inquiry, which concluded in March 2025 that Israel had systematically used sexual, reproductive and other forms of gender-based violence against Palestinians. The organisation said the destruction of reproductive health facilities and restrictions on access to basic medical care could amount to acts of genocide, according

• 
  Israeli forces raid Balata refugee camp in occupied West Bank

  by MI on March 10, 2026

  Israeli special forces raided the Balata refugee camp east of Nablus in the occupied West Bank on Tuesday, surrounding a house and carrying out a search operation inside it, local sources told Anadolu. The sources said an Israeli undercover unit infiltrated the Schools Quarter inside the camp before surrounding the area as military reinforcements arrived. Israeli forces then surrounded a house inside the camp and began searching it while damaging its contents, accompanied by police dogs, the sources added. READ: Palestinian man killed, brother critically wounded by illegal Israeli settlers in West Bank The sources said Israeli forces remained inside the house and continued search operations in the area. The raid comes amid escalating attacks by Israeli forces and illegal settlers

• 
  Protesters rally at Columbia University 1 year after detention of activist Mahmoud Khalil

  by MI on March 10, 2026

  Supporters of pro-Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil gathered Monday outside Columbia University in New York City to mark one year since his detention by US immigration authorities, demanding an end to deportation efforts against him and other pro-Palestinian demonstrators, Anadolu reports. Students, faculty and activists rallied near the university’s Morningside campus gates carrying banners saying “ICE OUT OF SCHOOLS,” “FIRST THEY CAME FOR MAHMOUD” and “IMMIGRANTS ARE WELCOME HERE.” Khalil, a Columbia graduate and a lawful US resident, was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in March last year over his participation in pro-Palestine protests on campus. Though later released by a federal immigration judge, his deportation case remains ongoing in court. READ: Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil says US cannot

• 
  Governance in the rubble – why Hamas still holds Gaza

  by MI on March 10, 2026

  A recent Reuters investigation citing internal Israeli military assessments offers an unexpected snapshot of post-war Gaza administration – one that complicates the official narrative of Hamas’ dismantlement. This is a snapshot of post-war Gaza administration. Hamas poses a structural contradiction at the heart of Washington and Tel Aviv’s political narrative. For over a year, the stated objective of Benjamin Netanyahu’s government has been the dismantling of Hamas’ governing capacity. Yet the Israeli military assessment cited by Reuters concedes something far more inconvenient: Hamas is “advancing steps on the ground” to preserve its grip “from the bottom up.” That phrase alone deserves to be quoted in your article – because it reveals that the erosion of Hamas has not translated into

• 
  Iran: We will no longer launch missiles with warheads lighter than one tonne

  by MI on March 10, 2026

  The commander of the air force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Hossein Majid Mousavi, said Iran will no longer launch missiles carrying warheads lighter than one tonne at US or Israeli targets. Local media quoted Mousavi on Monday as saying that missile strikes on Israeli and American targets would intensify. Since 28th February, Israel and the United States have carried out attacks on Iran that have killed hundreds of people, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and several security officials. Tehran has responded by launching barrages of missiles and drones towards Israel. Iran has also targeted what it describes as “US interests” in Gulf countries, Jordan and Iraq with missiles and drones. The attacks have caused deaths and injuries and

• 
  US forces strike over 5,000 targets in Iran in 1st 10 days: Central Command

  by MI on March 10, 2026

  US Central Command (CENTCOM) reported Monday that American forces have struck more than 5,000 targets in Iran during the first 10 days of strikes, saying they are aimed at locations “that pose an imminent threat,” Anadolu reports. “CENTCOM forces are striking targets to dismantle the Iranian regime’s security apparatus, prioritizing locations that pose an imminent threat,” the command said on the US social media company X. The campaign, called Operation Epic Fury, has already damaged or destroyed more than 50 Iranian ships, according to CENTCOM. It also noted that the operation has employed a wide range of US military assets, including strategic bombers, fighter jets, attack aircraft, drones, missile defense systems, naval forces, and surveillance platforms, supported by refueling and cargo

• 
  Trump disappointed, Iran resolute: Leadership amid war

  by MI on March 10, 2026

  Donald Trump said he was “disappointed” by Iran’s choice of Mojtaba Khamenei as the country’s new supreme leader. The remark was vintage Trump: blunt, theatrical and heavy with the assumption that Washington still has the right to sit in judgement over the inner life of other nations. Yet the more revealing story lies elsewhere. Iran did not pause for American approval. It did not wait for a signal from Washington. Under wartime pressure, it made its decision and moved on. That is not a minor detail. It is the point. There is a habit in Western political language, especially when it comes to countries that refuse to bend, of treating sovereignty as something conditional. Allies may exercise it freely. Rivals

• 
  Death toll of journalists rises to 261 since start of Gaza war

  by MI on March 10, 2026

  The number of journalists killed in Gaza has risen to 261 since the start of what Palestinian officials describe as Israel’s war of genocide on the enclave, after the death of journalist Amal Mohammed Al-Shamali was announced. Al-Shamali worked as a correspondent for Qatar Radio. The Government Media Office in Gaza strongly condemned what it described as the systematic targeting, killing and assassination of Palestinian journalists by Israeli forces. It called on the International Federation of Journalists, the Arab Journalists Union and media organisations around the world to condemn what it said were systematic crimes against Palestinian journalists and media workers in the Gaza Strip. The office also held Israel, the US administration and countries it said were participating in

• 
  Starmer’s self-defence fudge: The UK’s growing involvement in the Iran War

  by MI on March 10, 2026

  Wars can distract, and for leaders in political purgatory, they can be particularly useful.  It remains to be seen whether the UK’s increasing involvement in the illegal war being waged on Iran by Israel and the United States will serve that purpose.  Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, the great saviour of the British Labour Party in taking them to victory in 2024, is finding himself in sinking desperation.  Being less popular than a pandemic, he has much work to do if he is to retain his premiership till and after the next election. This deepening involvement in the Iran War has been messy.  Britain, along with France and Germany, were initially clear in their joint February 28 statement that they

• 
  Israeli official responds to Trump: War with Iran not finished yet

  by MI on March 10, 2026

  An Israeli official has criticised remarks by US President Donald Trump suggesting the war with Iran is close to ending, saying the conflict is “not finished yet”. Speaking on Monday, the senior Israeli official said: “Nothing has been completed yet. Our initial assessment was that the battle would take about two weeks.” The comments were reported by Israel’s privately owned Channel 15 television, which did not name the official. Earlier on Monday evening, Trump told CBS News that the war was nearly over. He said: “I think the war is very complete, pretty ​much. They have no navy, no communications, they’ve got ​no Air Force.”  READ: Trump: War with Iran is ‘very complete’, says he has someone in mind to replace

• 
  Hezbollah says it targeted military factory west of Safed with rocket barrage

  by MI on March 10, 2026

  Lebanon’s Hezbollah announced early Tuesday that it had launched a barrage of rockets targeting a military facility located west of Safed in northern Israel. In a statement, the group said the attack was carried out “in response to the criminal Israeli aggression that targeted dozens of Lebanese cities and towns and the southern suburbs of Beirut.” Hezbollah added that fighters from what it calls the Islamic Resistance launched the rockets at 23:00 on Monday. Earlier, the group said it had also targeted a Home Front Command base in Ramla, southeast of Tel Aviv, with what it described as a volley of “advanced rockets”. The Israeli-Lebanese front has seen a sharp military escalation, with Hezbollah intensifying attacks along the border and

• 
  Rajoub: Israeli war aims to eliminate Palestinian cause, reshape region under “Greater Israel” vision

  by MI on March 10, 2026

  Jibril Rajoub, secretary-general of the central committee of Palestine’s Fatah movement, said the war led by the Israeli right under Benjamin Netanyahu is essentially “an attempt to open a wider regional front to divert attention from the consequences of the war in the Palestinian territories. In a special interview with Al Majalla magazine, Rajoub described the war as “unjustified”, saying it effectively aims to eliminate the Palestinian cause and reshape the region’s priorities. He said Israeli military operations in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank have left more than 250,000 Palestinians dead, wounded, missing or imprisoned. Rajoub said Netanyahu’s declaration of what he calls an “existential war” reflects Israel’s refusal to pay the price of ending the conflict —

• 
  Trump: War with Iran is ‘very complete’, says he has someone in mind to replace Mojtaba Khamenei

  by MI on March 10, 2026

  US President Donald Trump said the war with Iran is “very complete”, claiming that the country’s naval, air and communications capabilities have been destroyed, and revealing that he has someone in mind to replace the new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei if he is assassinated. Speaking in remarks reported by US media, Trump said: “I think the war is very complete, pretty much. They have no navy, no communications, no air force.” He added that he has “somebody in mind to replace Mojtaba Khamenei”, but did not reveal the person’s identity. Separately, Western media reported that Trump had told his advisers he would be ready to support the assassination of the new Iranian Supreme Leader if he refuses to meet US

• 
  Response to Mr. Zulfikar and Ms. Aryanti: Palestinian lives matter

  by MI on March 10, 2026

  I am intrigued by the writing of Mr. Muhammad Zulfikar Rakhmat and Ms. Shafa Kalila Aryanti  titled “Indonesia’s cabinet secretary is sanitizing genocide in Gaza” published on 7 March 2026. On 5 March 2026, Indonesia’s cabinet secretary, Mr. Teddy Indra Wijaya, was quoted to have stated that the cessation of conflict in Gaza cannot occur in instantaneous manner. While there may remain several clashes, the number have decreased significantly. He said that the numbers have decreased to be around 600 – 1000 people as compared to around 70.000 people just between 2024 – 2025.  Mr. Rakhmat and Ms. Aryanti framed Mr. Wijaya’s statements as sanitizing genocide in Gaza. Their framing is problematic and troublesome at the same time for the

• 
  Pressing challenges facing Egypt as a result of the Iran war

  by Marwa A on March 9, 2026

  Public concern in Egypt is rising over the continuation of the Israeli-American war on Iran, amid fears of economic repercussions and difficult financial burdens that could weigh heavily on Egyptians, who have already endured considerable hardship after more than ten years under the rule of the current president, Abdel Fattah El-Sisi. Renewed strain is once again hanging over the Egyptian economy, already weakened at its core, as the repercussions of the war continue into their second week. Record increases in oil and gas prices have coincided with a sharp decline in the value of the Egyptian pound against the dollar, disruptions to shipping and trade through the Suez Canal, and a slowdown in tourism, pointing to a costly toll across

• 
  Over 36,000 Americans returned from Middle East since Feb. 28: State Department

  by Marwa A on March 9, 2026

  More than 36,000 American citizens have safely returned to the US from the Middle East since Feb. 28, when the Iran war began, the US State Department said Monday, Anadolu reports. In a statement, Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs Dylan Johnson said the department has carried out more than two dozen charter flights and evacuated thousands of Americans from the region. While commercial flight availability across the region is improving, the department said charter flight and ground transportation options remain in operation. “Seats available on the Department’s charter options are significantly greater than the demand from Americans in the region,” Johnson said, adding that many US citizens continue to leave using commercial flights. Through the department’s 24/7 task

• 
  President Erdogan tells Iran that violation of Türkiye’s airspace ‘cannot be excused for any reason’

  by Marwa A on March 9, 2026

  Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan held a phone call Monday with his Iranian counterpart Masoud Pezeshkian to discuss recent regional developments, including the interception of another missile heading to Türkiye, Anadolu reports. Erdogan told Pezeshkian that the violation of Türkiye’s airspace “cannot be excused for any reason whatsoever” and that “Türkiye will continue to take all necessary measures against this,” Türkiye’s Communications Directorate said in a statement. The call, which was held at the request of Pezeshkian, came after the Turkish National Defense Ministry said Monday that a ballistic missile fired from Iran that entered Turkish airspace was neutralized by NATO air and missile defense assets deployed in the Eastern Mediterranean. Last Wednesday, the ministry said a ballistic munition fired

• 
  Saudi Arabia intercepts 3 drones targeting Shaybah oilfield

  by Marwa A on March 9, 2026

  Saudi Arabia said Monday evening that its air defenses had intercepted and destroyed three drones targeting an oilfield in the country’s south, Anadolu reports. A Defense Ministry statement said the drones were shot down in Rub’ al-Khali (Empty Quarter Desert) as they targeted the Shaybah oilfield in southern Saudi Arabia. The new interceptions brought the number of drones shot down by the Saudi air defenses to 14 on Monday. Regional escalation flared up since Israel and the US launched a joint attack on Iran on Feb. 28, killing more than 1,200 people, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, according to Iranian authorities. Tehran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf countries that are home

• 
  Trump calls Iran’s appointment of Mojtaba Khamenei as new supreme leader ‘a big mistake’

  by Marwa A on March 9, 2026

  US President Donald Trump expressed displeasure Monday over Iran’s appointment of Mojtaba Khamenei as its new supreme leader, calling it “a big mistake,” Anadolu reports. “I don’t know if it’s going to last … I think they made a mistake,” Trump told NBC News. He had earlier told the New York Post he was “not happy” with the choice. “He’s going to have to get approval from us,” Trump also said. Mojtaba Khamenei, 56, on Sunday became Iran’s third supreme leader since the 1979 revolution, succeeding his father Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in a US/Israeli airstrike on his Tehran compound on Feb. 28 after holding the position for 37 years. Trump also declined to rule out seizing Iranian

• 
  “Unprovoked act of aggression,” Russia claims Israel attacked its cultural center in Lebanon

  by Marwa A on March 9, 2026

  Russia’s international humanitarian cooperation agency said on Monday that Israel attacked the partner Russian House in the Lebanese city of Nabatieh, calling it an “unprovoked act of aggression,” Anadolu reports. In a statement on Telegram, head of the agency, Rossotrudnichestvo, Evgeny Primakov said the cultural center was strictly civilian. “Israeli aviation struck the partner Russian House in the Lebanese city of Nabatieh. The director of the cultural center, Assaad Deia, is alive and safe. These are our good friends, there was no military activity in the cultural center. The strike was not provoked by anything,” he said. He added that the agency’s official representative office, the Russian Center for Science and Culture in Lebanon’s capital Beirut, is in contact with

• 
  Professor Walid Khalidi, leading Palestinian historian, dies aged 100

  by MI on March 9, 2026

  Professor Walid Khalidi, one of the most important Palestinian historians of the modern era, died in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on 8 March 2026 at the age of 100. Born in Jerusalem on 16 July 1925, he built a long and distinguished career as one of the foremost Palestinian scholars of his generation. Khalidi came from a prominent Jerusalem family of jurists, scholars, political figures and educators whose roots in the city stretched back centuries. That background shaped a life marked not only by scholarship, but by a strong sense of public duty and responsibility to Palestine. Khalidi studied at the University of London, where he received a BA in philosophy in 1945, and went on to Oxford, where he earned an

• 
  Mojtaba Khamenei and the continuity of the Islamic Revolution

  by MI on March 9, 2026

  The election of Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei as the new Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran represents far more than a simple institutional succession. Coming amid an open regional conflict and following the martyrdom of Iran’s long-time leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the decision by the Assembly of Experts is widely seen as a direct political response to external attempts to destabilise the country. The announcement followed an extraordinary session convened under dramatic circumstances. Despite bombardments and threats against their own facilities, the members of the Assembly moved swiftly to appoint a new leader. The speed of the decision was not merely administrative; it sent a powerful signal that the institutions born out of the Islamic Revolution remain

• 
  Oman condemns US-Israeli war on Iran as ‘immoral and illegal’

  by MI on March 9, 2026

  Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi has described the war launched by Israel and the United States against Iran as “immoral and illegal”, while also condemning Iranian strikes on neighbouring countries. Al-Busaidi made the remarks during an emergency ministerial meeting of the Arab League, held remotely on Sunday to discuss the regional repercussions of the conflict that began on 28th February. In excerpts from his speech published on his account on the social media platform X, the Omani minister said: “The actions of Israel and the United States against Iran are immoral and illegal, but Iran’s response to its neighbours is extremely regrettable and unacceptable.” READ: Qatar’s emir warns Trump of ‘serious consequences’ from war with Iran He called on all parties

• 
  Hamas urges Pakistan to support Palestinian steadfastness and Gaza reconstruction

  by MI on March 9, 2026

  Hamas has called on Pakistan and the wider Islamic world to strengthen support for Palestinians and accelerate efforts to rebuild the Gaza Strip amid the ongoing war. Dr Khalil al-Hayya, head of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) in Gaza, urged Islamic nations, charitable organisations and religious scholars to take greater responsibility in supporting Palestinian steadfastness. In a recorded address to the general meeting of Jamaat-e-Islami in Pakistan on Sunday, al-Hayya said reconstruction of Gaza was essential to ensure the territory remains “a steadfast fortress for the nation on the path to liberation”. He also warned of increasing threats facing Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied Jerusalem, including repeated incursions and attempts to impose a temporal and spatial division of the mosque compound.

• 
  War in Gaza increases number of widows and deepens female unemployment, statistics show

  by MI on March 9, 2026

  The Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics has warned that the ongoing war has significantly worsened the social and economic conditions of women in Gaza, increasing the number of widows, deepening unemployment and severely damaging the health sector. In a statement issued on Sunday to mark International Women’s Day, the bureau said women are expected to constitute around 49 per cent of the total population in Palestine by the end of 2025, amounting to approximately 2.74 million women. Of these, around 1.69 million live in the West Bank and 1.06 million in the Gaza Strip, highlighting what the bureau described as the central role of women in Palestinian society. READ: Israel’s Smotrich threatens to bombard Lebanese capital to resemble Gaza’s Khan Younis

• 
  Chaos without a goal: Why Washington’s war on Iran looks like a dangerous fiasco

  by MI on March 9, 2026

  Washington acts like it knows what it wants from Iran, but it is moving in the opposite direction: a war without a clear goal. There are many statements, loud threats, and talk of “total surrender,” but no realistic plan that answers basic questions: What is victory? How do you reach it? And how does this end? The first gamble was simple and dangerous at the same time: if the head of the system is killed, or if Iran’s leadership is hit, the regime will collapse quickly and young people will flood the streets to bring it down. But that did not happen. What happened instead was more violence and more hardline rule. The gamble failed, and the result was the

• 
  Qatar’s emir warns Trump of ‘serious consequences’ from war with Iran

  by MI on March 9, 2026

  Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani warned US President Donald Trump that the ongoing military escalation involving Iran, the United States and Israel could have serious global repercussions. According to the official Qatar News Agency, the warning came during a telephone conversation on Saturday between the two leaders, which focused on the latest developments in the conflict and efforts to contain the growing regional crisis. The discussion took place amid continuing Iranian attacks targeting Qatar and other countries in the region, as tensions rose following the outbreak of war between Tehran, Washington and Israel. READ: Qatar says air defenses intercept 13 missiles, 4 drones launched from Iran During the call, Sheikh Tamim stressed that the escalation could negatively affect

• 
  Egypt calls for joint Arab force amid regional escalation with Iran

  by MI on March 9, 2026

  Egypt has called on Arab states to strengthen joint security cooperation and consider forming a joint Arab force, as regional tensions escalate following the conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel. Speaking during an emergency meeting of Arab foreign ministers, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdel-Aty urged the activation of the concept of Arab national security to safeguard the sovereignty and stability of Arab countries. The meeting was convened at the request of Saudi Arabia and supported by several Arab states to address the repercussions of Iranian attacks targeting a number of countries in the region. Abdel-Aty emphasised the need to strengthen frameworks for collective Arab cooperation to confront emerging threats. He said forming a joint Arab force could be

• 
  When Tel Aviv decides, Washington fights

  by MI on March 9, 2026

  American taxpayers are still hemorrhaging from the made-for-Israel war in Iraq, a war audaciously offered as one that would “pay for itself.” Instead, it was paid in Iraqi and American blood, ruins and financed by American debt. The promised democracy was a broken state, regional chaos, and the afterbirth of terror and resistance that continues to metastasize across the Arab world. Marketed as a short, decisive campaign, Iraq became a two-decade-long disaster with no exit in sight. Trillions were burned on lies manufactured by Israel-first Zionists in Washington, while generations of Americans—many not even born when the invasion began—were conscripted into inheriting the debt, the interest, and the moral stain.  The real balance sheet of that war is etched into

• 
  Israeli army admits difficulty intercepting Hezbollah drones

  by MI on March 9, 2026

  The Israeli army has acknowledged significant difficulties in intercepting drones launched by Hezbollah from Lebanon, with military sources describing the success rate of interception operations as “very low”. According to the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, unnamed military officials said there is “significant difficulty” in stopping the drones used by Hezbollah in attacks against Israeli targets. The sources added that Israel decided to engage in combat with Hezbollah at this stage without evacuating residents from towns near the northern border. They said the policy remains in place for now, although further decisions could be taken depending on developments on the ground. Military officials also indicated that the operational plan in Lebanon has no fixed timeframe, warning that the confrontation could escalate into

• 
  US envoys cancel scheduled visit to Israel for Iran talks

  by MI on March 9, 2026

  US envoy Steve Witkoff and President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner cancelled a planned visit to Israel on Tuesday, Israeli media reported. Channel 12 reported the news, without giving a reason for cancelling the trip. The two envoys were scheduled to arrive in Israel for talks with officials there on the ongoing war on Iran. There was no immediate Israeli or US confirmation of the report. The US and Israel launched a joint attack on Iran on Feb. 28, killing more than 1,200 people, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Tehran retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel and Gulf countries that are home to US military assets. READ: Putin congratulates Mojtaba Khamenei on becoming Iran’s new supreme leader

• 
  Putin congratulates Mojtaba Khamenei on becoming Iran’s new supreme leader

  by MI on March 9, 2026

  Russian President Vladimir Putin sent a congratulatory telegram to Mojtaba Khamenei on his appointment as Iran’s Supreme Leader, the Kremlin said Monday, Anadolu reports. “Now, when Iran is confronting armed aggression, your work in this high office will undoubtedly require great courage and dedication. I am confident that you will honorably continue your father’s work and unite the Iranian people in the face of severe trials,” a Kremlin statement said. According to the statement, Putin reiterated Moscow’s support for Tehran, saying Russia will remain a reliable partner to Iran. “For my part, I would like to confirm our unwavering support for Tehran and solidarity with our Iranian friends. Russia has been and will remain a reliable partner of the Islamic

• 
  Hormuz: The world’s energy fuse

  by MI on March 9, 2026

  Off the coast of Fujairah, the scene is not dramatic so much as unsettlingly ordinary: tankers waiting, crews watching, port agents reworking schedules that were meant to be routine. The Strait of Hormuz does not need to be fully “closed” to become a global problem. It only needs to feel unsafe for long enough that insurers raise premiums, shippers hesitate and traders price in panic. When that happens, the shock travels faster than any warship: it reaches supermarket shelves, factory orders and household bills. That is why the current escalation involving the United States and Israel matters far beyond the Gulf. Policy in Washington and Tel Aviv is repeatedly framed as calibrated and limited. Hormuz is the place where that