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

• 
  Egyptian president meets CIA chief, calls for agreement to resolve Iranian crisis

  by Marwa A on September 20, 2026

  Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi met in Cairo on Sunday with CIA Director John Ratcliffe and called for an agreement to resolve the Iran crisis and restore regional stability, Anadolu reports. Sisi expressed Cairo’s “full support for efforts aimed at reaching a comprehensive agreement that resolves the Iranian crisis, thereby contributing to the restoration of regional security and stability and ensuring the freedom of international navigation,” the presidency said in a statement. He also stressed Egypt’s rejection of any assault against the security and sovereignty of Arab countries, and underlined the need to solve regional crises through diplomatic means while addressing their root causes. Regional tensions escalated after the US and Israel launched attacks on Iran in February, prompting Tehran

• 
  Nearly 147,000 Yemenis displaced in September amid escalating fighting, government says

  by Marwa A on September 20, 2026

  A Yemeni governmental body said on Sunday that nearly 147,000 people have been displaced this month amid ongoing military escalation in the war-torn country, Anadolu reports. The Executive Unit for the Management of Displaced Persons Camps documented the displacement of 21,583 families, comprising 146,943 people, between Sept. 1 and 18 due to deteriorating security conditions. It said the displacement was recorded in eight provinces: Taiz and Lahj in the southwest; Aden, Abyan and Shabwa in the south; Al-Hudaydah in the west; and Hadhramout and Al Mahrah in the east. According to the report, Taiz received the largest number of displaced, with 11,534 families comprising 80,792 people, distributed across 15 districts. Lahj ranked second, receiving 5,472 families comprising 38,304 people across

• 
  Iran says US decided to resume strikes, vows retaliation

  by Marwa A on September 20, 2026

  Iran’s military said on Sunday that it has received information suggesting that the US decided to resume strikes against the Islamic Republic, Anadolu reports. “According to the information received, the criminal America, has once again decided to resume measures against Iran, with the green light of some regional countries, at a joint meeting in a European country,” the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters said in a statement carried by state-run broadcaster IRIB. It vowed retaliation against US interests and deployment areas in the region If Washington “makes a mistake.” “We warn that if the countries of the region – by continuing their dual policy toward the Islamic Republic of Iran – align with the Great Devil’s aggression against a powerful and

• 
  US urges Americans to reconsider travel to Middle East amid rising tensions

  by Marwa A on September 20, 2026

  The US on Saturday urged Americans outside the Middle East to seriously reconsider travel to and through the region, citing a complex security environment and the potential for rapid escalation, Anadolu reports. The State Department’s Travel.Gov account on a US social media platform said Americans in the Middle East should exercise heightened vigilance and be prepared for possible flight cancellations, airspace closures and other travel disruptions. “Due to tensions in the Middle East, the security environment remains complex with the potential for unforeseen escalation,” it said. It warned that Iranian-supported Houthis have engaged in hostilities against Saudi Arabia, including attacks involving civilian airports, and said the conflict “has the potential to escalate rapidly.” Americans traveling to or from the region

• 
  Singer Ed Sheeran says his ‘heart broken’ by Gaza devastation, addresses Macklemore controversy

  by Marwa A on September 20, 2026

  Singer Ed Sheeran addressed the controversy Saturday surrounding rapper Macklemore’s removal from his US tour before performing at Lincoln Financial Field in the state of Pennsylvania, saying his “heart has been broken” by the devastation caused by the war in the Gaza Strip, Anadolu reports. “I don’t want to disappoint fans, and I’ve never wanted to be an activist musician, but this has put me in the middle of an important and passionate argument about freedom of speech and the most complex political issue on the planet,” he told the crowd in the city of Philadelphia. Sheeran condemned the Hamas-led Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel as “horrific,” while describing Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza as “catastrophic, unjustifiable and disproportionate.”

• 
  Israeli checkpoint closures prevent over 100 Palestinian teachers from reaching schools in West Bank

  by Marwa A on September 20, 2026

  The Israeli army has closed two checkpoints in the northern West Bank, preventing more than 100 Palestinian teachers from reaching schools, an education official said Sunday, Anadolu reports. Azmi Balawneh, director of education in Tubas Governorate, said 104 teachers were unable to reach their schools after the army had shut the Tayasir and Ein Shibli checkpoints in the northern Jordan Valley, the official news agency Wafa reported. He said the closure disrupted classes at six schools and a kindergarten attended by around 1,100 students. The Israeli army has closed the two checkpoints as part of broader military restrictions across the occupied West Bank. Meanwhile, Israeli army forces raided the village of Al-Mughayyir, east of Ramallah in the central West Bank,

• 
  Around 100 Israeli occupiers storm Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, perform Talmudic rituals

  by Marwa A on September 20, 2026

  Around 100 Israeli occupiers stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied East Jerusalem on Sunday morning under the protection of Israeli forces, the Jerusalem Governorate said, Anadolu reports. In a statement, the governorate’s media office said the occupiers raided the compound’s courtyards and performed Talmudic rituals under the protection of Israeli police. The incident comes a day after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, several ministers and thousands of Israeli occupiers entered the Western Wall plaza in East Jerusalem amid tight security. The incursion also came as the Jewish holiday Yom Kippur begins Sunday evening and continues until Monday evening. Occupier incursions into Al-Aqsa Mosque have intensified in recent months, particularly during Jewish holidays, amid Palestinian warnings against attempts to impose

• 
  Iran says Strait of Hormuz to remain closed until US fulfills commitments

  by Marwa A on September 20, 2026

  Iran’s parliament speaker said Sunday that the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until the US fulfills commitments made under a June agreement and meets Tehran’s conditions, Anadolu reports. Addressing the parliament, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf said Iran has “explicitly conveyed its conditions to the opposing side through intermediaries,” according to state-run broadcaster IRIB. “The enemy is well aware that the path of deception and unilateral imposition is closed; until these conditions are met, the legitimate rights of the Iranian nation are recognised, and American commitments are fulfilled, there will be no opening for a return to the previous state of negotiations or for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz,” he said. Tensions in the Middle East escalated after the

• 
  Gaza’s Kuwait Specialty Hospital suspends routine services over fuel shortage

  by Marwa A on September 20, 2026

  The Kuwait Specialty Hospital in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, announced on Sunday the suspension of operations in all departments, except for emergency care, due to a halt in fuel supplies amid the Israeli blockade, Anadolu reports. “We regret to announce the suspension of operations in the hospital’s departments, with the exception of the emergency department, starting today, Sunday, due to the cessation of fuel supplies necessary to operate the facility,” the hospital said in a statement. The facility warned that the continuation of the crisis results in “depriving thousands of citizens of medical treatment on a daily basis.” The development comes amid the repercussions of Israel’s war on the Gaza Strip, accompanied by a tightened blockade and widespread attacks

• 
  Iran calls on US to honor June framework deal

  by Mehdi Editor on September 19, 2026

  Iran on Saturday called on the US to abide by the framework deal the countries reached this June, saying the Pakistani-brokered pact represents a sovereign decision approved by the country’s highest leadership, Anadolu reports. Interior Ministry spokesman Ali Zainvand made the remarks while commenting on a possible visit to Tehran by Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, according to Iranian state TV. “A large number of countries are making efforts to resolve this issue and bring the parties back to the point of understanding,” said Zainvand. He said Pakistan’s mediation role and other diplomatic initiatives are continuing strenuously. “International diplomatic efforts and mediation are still underway to resolve the problems and return to the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding,” he added, using

• 
  US lawmaker blocks $2.8 billion weapons sale to Israel: Report

  by Mehdi Editor on September 19, 2026

  A top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, has placed a hold on a $2.8 billion weapons sale to Israel, The Hill reported on Friday. Shaheen has voiced frustration that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not addressed concerns raised by Democratic lawmakers over civilian deaths in Gaza, Israeli strikes in Syria, and growing violence against Palestinians by extremist Israeli occupiers in the West Bank. The proposed weapons package includes 40,000 one-ton bombs. The Biden administration had previously withheld similar munitions due to concerns over their use in Gaza and the resulting civilian casualties. Palestinian health officials estimate that around 70,000 Palestinians have been killed during the three-year war between Israel and Hamas since October 2023,

• 
  Yemen’s Houthis claim missile, drone attacks on Saudi capital

  by Mehdi Editor on September 19, 2026

  Yemen’s Houthi group has claimed it launched missile and drone attacks on “sensitive targets” in the Saudi capital Riyadh alongside a separate attack on facilities of oil firm Saudi Aramco in coastal Yanbu, Anadolu reports. Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree wrote on US social media company X on Friday that the group carried out two operations using “a large number of ballistic and cruise missiles as well as drones.” He said the first operation targeted “sensitive targets” in Riyadh, while the second targeted Saudi Aramco in the western coastal city of Yanbu. There has been as yet no Saudi comment on the Houthi claims. Earlier Saturday, Saudi Civil Defense alerts reached Riyadh for the first time in the latest wave

• 
  Yemen’s army says 13 soldiers killed in fighting with Houthis in Taiz, Lahj

  by Mehdi Editor on September 19, 2026

  Thirteen Yemeni soldiers were killed in two days of clashes with Houthi forces in the southwestern provinces of Taiz and Lahj, the army said on Saturday, Anadolu reports. The army-affiliated Tur al-Bahah Military Axis only reported the fatalities in a statement, without giving further details. Several fronts across Yemen have seen renewed fighting in recent days between government forces and the Houthis, including Taiz, Marib, Al-Jawf, Al-Bayda and Lahj. READ: Bab al-Mandeb Strait’s shipping traffic comes to halt amid conflict in Yemen The latest fighting is part of a wider military escalation that began in early July, the most intense since a relative calm prevailed across the country following an April 2022 truce. Fighting accelerated further in September, with the Houthis

• 
  Syria says 11 soldiers killed in Friday’s blast at army site in Deir ez-Zor

  by Mehdi Editor on September 19, 2026

  The Syrian Defense Ministry said Saturday that 11 soldiers were killed in Friday’s explosion at an army site in the Ayyash area west of Deir ez-Zor province in northern Syria, Anadolu reports. The Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), citing the ministry, said the soldiers’ procession was set out from the National Hospital in Deir ez-Zor city. The authorities have not yet disclosed the cause or circumstances of the blast. READ: Israeli forces shell outskirts of Beit Jinn, launch incursion into southern Syria with 9 military vehicles The ministry’s Media and Communications Department said Friday that an explosion had occurred at one of the army’s sites in the Ayyash area west of Deir ez-Zor. It said authorities were investigating the causes and

• 
  Living in shadow of ruins: Gaza City residents face threat of collapsing structures damaged by Israeli attacks

  by Mehdi Editor on September 19, 2026

  Displaced Palestinian families in Gaza City are living under constant threat as heavily damaged structures risk collapsing amid ongoing military strikes, Anadolu reports. Families living in tents near the damaged Shawa Husari Tower expressed mounting fear that surrounding buildings could crumble at any moment. Residents from the area designated as the “Yellow Line” said they remain trapped with no alternative safe shelter. On Friday, five Palestinian children were injured after part of a residential building damaged by Israeli bombardment collapsed in the Sabra neighborhood of southern Gaza City, marking the second such incident in three days. It was the second such incident in three days. On Wednesday, 21 Palestinians, including 12 children, were killed and others injured when the Al-Saada

• 
  US military says over 1B barrels of oil shipped through Strait of Hormuz under US blockade

  by Mehdi Editor on September 19, 2026

  The US military’s Central Command (CENTCOM) said Saturday that more than 1 billion barrels of crude oil had transited the Strait of Hormuz in recent months under a US military blockade, Anadolu reports. “CENTCOM forces have supported more than 1 billion barrels of crude oil leaving the Gulf,” Adm. Brad Cooper said in remarks released by the command on US social media platform X. Cooper said US forces have also assisted more than 2,000 commercial vessel transits through the strategic waterway by providing coordinated protection. READ: Iranian body lists 77 vessels for violating Tehran’s Strait of Hormuz protocols He said the primary transit lanes in the strait have been cleared of mines and that thousands of ships have passed through the

• 
  7 Houthis killed in clashes near Bab el-Mandeb Strait: Yemeni official

  by Mehdi Editor on September 19, 2026

  Seven Houthi members, including a senior commander, were killed in clashes near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait in southwestern Yemen, the Yemeni government said on Saturday, Anadolu reports. In a post on US social media company X, Deputy Information Minister Abdulbasit al-Qaedi said Houthi commander Firaq Mohsen al-Assar and six of his aides were killed on the Kahboub front. The Houthis did not immediately comment on the statement, but activists close to the group mourned al-Assar, without providing details about the circumstances of his death. READ: Bab al-Mandeb Strait’s shipping traffic comes to halt amid conflict in Yemen In recent days, the Kahboub front, which includes mountains overlooking Bab el-Mandeb, is said to have seen fierce clashes between government forces and the

• 
  In Gaza City, 500,000 students turn to tent classrooms to resume education amid devastating war damage

  by Mehdi Editor on September 19, 2026

  Palestinian students crowded into tent classrooms in Gaza City on Saturday, as local authorities and educators struggled to resume schooling amid widespread devastation left by the war, Anadolu reports. According to the Palestinian Ministry of Education and Higher Education, around 700 tents have been set up across the Gaza Strip to serve more than 500,000 students whose regular schools were damaged, destroyed, or converted into shelters. Despite a fragile ceasefire, ongoing blockades and continued military strikes continue to severely disrupt daily life and access to basic services for residents across the enclave. According to the latest figures from Gaza’s Health Ministry, Israeli violations of the Oct. 10, 2025 ceasefire agreement have killed 1,386 Palestinians and injured 4,784 others. Since October

• 
  New Israeli airstrikes hit southern Lebanon despite US deal

  by Mehdi Editor on September 19, 2026

  Israeli warplanes launched fresh airstrikes in southern Lebanon on Saturday amid ongoing violations of a US-mediated framework agreement, state news agency NNA reported. Two airstrikes hit the Old Square neighborhood in the town of Nabatieh al-Fawqa. A third strike targeted an ambulance team as it was heading to the site of the attacks in the town. Information on injuries was not immediately available. READ: Israeli wars may cost Lebanon over $27B, prime minister says The strikes came despite the US-sponsored framework agreement signed on June 26, which provides for a gradual Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory in exchange for the deployment of the Lebanese army. Israel has carried out attacks on Lebanon since early March, killing nearly 4,400 people and injuring

• 
  The Makkah Pact’s first test: Can Pakistan defend Saudi Arabia without entering Yemen’s war?

  by Mehdi Editor on September 19, 2026

  The Middle East is entering another dangerous phase, and this time the test isn’t hypothetical anymore. Yemen’s Houthis have just made their biggest advance in years down the Red Sea coast, seizing the Greater and Lesser Hanish islands near Bab el-Mandeb and pushing toward Mokha — reigniting a civil war that’s now well into its second decade. In the process, they’ve handed the newly signed Makkah Joint Defence Agreement between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye its first real test, barely a month after the ink dried. The pact was signed at Al-Safa Palace on August 7, 2026, by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Its central clause is blunt: an

• 
  Iranian, Pakistani foreign ministers discuss regional developments amid US-Iran deadlock

  by Mehdi Editor on September 19, 2026

  Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and his Pakistani counterpart Ishaq Dar discussed regional developments over the phone on Saturday, as efforts to resolve the US-Iran military conflict remain deadlocked, Anadolu reports. Dar emphasized the importance of “uninterrupted energy supplies and the safe and expeditious passage of ships,” particularly given their impact on developing countries and global supply chains, according to a Pakistani Foreign Ministry statement. He stressed that dialogue and diplomacy remain the “only viable means” of ensuring peace and stability in the region. READ: US grants visas to Iranian delegation for UN General Assembly meetings in New York The top diplomats also exchanged views on issues of mutual interest, the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported. The tensions in the Middle

• 
  Indonesian president chants ‘Free Palestine’ at reception

  by Mehdi Editor on September 19, 2026

  Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto chanted “Free Palestine” several times during a speech Saturday at a reception marking the 100th anniversary of an Islamic school, Anadolu reports. During the event, Palestinian Ambassador to Indonesia Abdulfattah A.K. Al-Sattari presented Prabowo with a keffiyeh. The Indonesian president returned to the podium after receiving it and was seen wiping his eyes with the scarf, according to state-run news agency Antara. Prabowo then chanted “Free Palestine” several times. He also said that if Indonesia is “strong,” then “we can help our brothers and sisters who are oppressed by another regime.” READ: Indonesia condemns Israel’s rejection of Gaza roadmap Prabowo said the ongoing attacks against Palestinians should serve as an impetus for Indonesia to strengthen its national

• 
  Israeli army closes last route to West Bank village, isolating 47 Palestinian families

  by Mehdi Editor on September 19, 2026

  The Israeli army has closed the last access route leading to Khirbet Ras al-Ahmar, a small Palestinian village southeast of Tubas in the northern West Bank, completely isolating 47 Palestinian families for a fifth consecutive day, Anadolu reports. The closure came after “more than two months of shutting all dirt roads leading to the village,” Thaer Basharat, a resident, told Anadolu on Saturday. Basharat said the siege had been tightening for about three years but reached a critical stage five days ago, when the Israeli army dug a trench across the last remaining route to the village, which was only passable by livestock and agricultural tractors. He said the village has been turned into a “cage” surrounded by trenches, walls

• 
  Israeli fire kills 3 more Palestinians in latest Gaza ceasefire violations

  by Mehdi Editor on September 19, 2026

  Three Palestinians, including the son of Gaza Health Ministry Director-General Munir al-Bursh, were killed by Israeli army fire in the enclave on Saturday, as Tel Aviv continues its violations of a truce in place since October 2025, a medical source said. Basir al-Bursh was killed in a strike targeting him in the al-Zahra neighborhood west of the Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza, the source told Anadolu Agency. Another Palestinian was killed in an Israeli drone strike on the Shujaiya neighborhood east of Gaza City, the source added. A Palestinian girl also died of wounds she sustained earlier from Israeli army fire north of the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza, the source said. READ: Red Cross spokesperson: ‘Death and destruction

• 
  Sinking the empire: How Western militarism surrendered the arteries of global trade

  by Mehdi Editor on September 19, 2026

  For decades, the architects of foreign policy in Washington and Tel Aviv operated under a remarkably persistent yet fundamentally flawed conviction. They assumed that overwhelming military supremacy could permanently dictate regional architecture and bludgeon sovereign actors into compliance. Yet, a dispassionate reading of history consistently demonstrates that when imperial ambition detaches entirely from political reality, aggressive intervention produces the exact opposite of its intended design. Today, this systemic failure exposes itself across the Middle East’s two most critical maritime arteries. Rather than diminishing the strategic reach of adversaries or safeguarding unhindered global commerce, months of relentless military escalation cemented a deeply uncomfortable reality. Washington’s coercive calculus simultaneously handed control of both the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab Al-Mandeb strait

• 
  Israel seeks ‘compensation’ from US following Saudi F-35 deal: Report

  by Mehdi Editor on September 19, 2026

  Israel plans to ask for US additional defense capabilities as a “compensation” after Washington agreed to sell F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, according to Israeli media. Tel Aviv will seek to purchase weapons systems that US President Donald Trump’s administration had previously declined to approve, Israeli news website Walla reported on Friday. Israel’s military focus extends beyond advanced fighter jets and next-generation stealth aircraft to space-based weapons and the development and production of interceptor aircraft, the outlet said. Weapons to be demanded by Israeli officials also include “bunker-busting munitions and underground systems capable of operating deep beneath rocky mountains,” it added. READ: Israel, Greece sign €3B defense deal for ‘multi-layered’ air defense network The move is intended to secure a

• 
  UN Security Council condemns Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia

  by Mehdi Editor on September 19, 2026

  The UN Security Council on Friday condemned attacks by Yemen’s Houthi group on Saudi Arabia, including strikes on civilian and energy infrastructure that injured civilians, among them women and children, Anadolu reports. Council members noted that their Aug. 7 statement condemned Houthi missile attacks on the kingdom and assaults on commercial vessels. They reiterated their condemnation of attacks and threats against shipping in the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb, stressing the importance of safeguarding vessels and their crews. The council demanded that the Houthis “immediately cease their military escalation” and attacks affecting civilians and civilian objects. Members expressed grave concern about reports of civilians killed and injured and noted that at least 125,000 people have been displaced in Yemen since

• 
  Podcast by Jasim Al-Azzawi with Richard Boyd Barrett: Trump: We have reached a pivotal turning point. Is war coming?

  by Mehdi Editor on September 19, 2026

  WATCH:Podcast by Jasim Al-Azzawi with Richard Dalton: The Houthis are on the March and Chaos Grips the Gulf

• 
  US bases in Middle East suffer severe damage from Iranian attacks: Report

  by Mehdi Editor on September 19, 2026

  US military bases in the Middle East have sustained heavy damage from Iranian strikes, according to photos and videos obtained by ABC News, as the Pentagon assesses the toll of a war Washington launched more than six months ago, Anadolu reports. The report said the images show damaged buildings and an aircraft at three bases in Kuwait and a Saudi base hosting US assets, some of which were evacuated. One photo appears to show an E-3 Sentry surveillance aircraft, valued at $270 million, damaged in late March at Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia, the report noted. “These bases have been irreparably damaged. And if we choose to rebuild them, it’s going to be a decades-long undertaking,” said a

• 
  Syria, Russia review implementation of memorandum on Russian presence in Latakia

  by Mehdi Editor on September 19, 2026

  Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani toured Latakia International Airport on Friday and met Russian officials to review the implementation of a memorandum of understanding between the two countries concerning Russian presence on Syria’s coast, Anadolu reports. The Foreign Ministry said in a statement that al-Shaibani was accompanied by Chief of the General Staff Maj. Gen. Ali al-Naasan, Air Force Commander Brig. Gen. Asim Hawari, Naval Forces Commander Brig. Gen. Mohammed al-Saud and Military Intelligence chief Brig. Gen. Hamza al-Hamidi. It said al-Shaibani met with several Russian officials “to follow up on procedures for implementing the memorandum of understanding signed between the two sides and review progress on the agreed implementation steps.” The statement did not identify the Russian officials or

• 
  Saudi Aramco cancels October crude allocations to European refiners: Report

  by Mehdi Editor on September 19, 2026

  Saudi Aramco informed at least two European refining customers that they will receive no crude oil in October following an attack on the kingdom’s key pipeline to the Red Sea, Bloomberg reported Friday. The decision applies to all European buyers, said the report, citing those familiar with the matter who requested anonymity because the information is not public. European refiners typically receive Saudi crude under term contracts that provide regular monthly supplies. Saudi Aramco did not immediately respond to a request for comment made outside normal business hours, according to the report. Saudi Arabia shut its East-West pipeline last week after the facility was targeted by drones. The pipeline is expected to resume partial operations within days and return to

• 
  Pentagon tells Congress Iran operations have cost $43.6B: Reports

  by Mehdi Editor on September 19, 2026

  The US Department of Defense told congressional defense committees that military operations against Iran had cost an estimated $43.6 billion through Sept. 3, according to media reports Friday. Citing a new assessment from US Central Command (CENTCOM) reviewed by congressional officials, the reports indicated a significant increase from the Pentagon’s previous public estimate of $37.5 billion. According to the CENTCOM assessment, the total includes $11.2 billion in incremental operational costs already obligated by the Pentagon, an estimated $28.1 billion to replace munitions used during the conflict and $4.3 billion to replace military equipment lost in operations. READ: Trump says Iran seeking deal as US considers next move The new cost estimate comes as questions have also emerged over the human toll

• 
  Gaza refugee committee alarmed over service, staff cut in UN agency for Palestinian refugees

  by Mehdi Editor on September 19, 2026

  A refugee committee in the Gaza Strip warned Friday that cuts and restructuring by the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) could undermine essential services, Anadolu reports. It urged an end to measures affecting refugees and staff. The Joint Refugee Committee said in a statement that it is following “with deep concern” recent developments within UNRWA, including staff terminations and cuts affecting employees and programs. It said the measures involve the agency’s Microfinance and Development Department. “The financial crisis facing UNRWA must not be turned into a crisis of services and rights for which employees and Palestinian refugees pay the price,” said the committee. It warned that continued restructuring and reductions without transparency or consultation with representatives of employees and

• 
  Trump bans CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from White House

  by Mehdi Editor on September 19, 2026

  US President Donald Trump announced Friday that he is banning cable news networks CNN and MS NOW and website Politico from the White House, accusing the major outlets of reporting “fake news” about his administration, Anadolu reports. “I am proud to announce that, effective immediately, I am banning Fake News CNN, MSNOW (who recently changed their name from MSNBC due to lack of viewership and credibility!), and Politico … from the White House as a result of their constant ‘reporting’ FAKE NEWS!” Trump said in a statement on his social media platform Truth Social. Trump alleged Politico had received “an illegal and ridiculous $8 Million Dollar subscription” from the US Government, under previous President Joe Biden, in order to keep

• 
  US warns allies of weapons delivery delays due to stocks depleted by Iran war: Report

  by Mehdi Editor on September 19, 2026

  The US has warned its allies to expect delays of up to five years in deliveries of key weapons as Washington works to replenish munitions stocks depleted during its war with Iran, Bloomberg reported Friday. Several European countries are facing delays in receiving missile and air defense systems, while Germany has asked Washington to accelerate deliveries of Tomahawk cruise missiles and Typhon launchers. However, shortages of the weapons mean Raytheon, a unit of the RTX Corp., may not be able to fulfill the order within five years, according to the report. The shortages are also affecting Ukraine, which has sought additional Patriot air defense interceptors ahead of an expected difficult winter. President Donald Trump has said Washington was discussing either

• 
  From war to statehood: A roadmap to ending the Yemeni conflict

  by Mehdi Editor on September 19, 2026

  The Yemeni crisis is no longer simply a war between two sides, nor merely a political dispute that can be resolved through the signing of a temporary agreement. More than a decade of conflict has left behind a fragmented state, a devastated economy, weakened institutions, and a society bearing the heavy cost of a conflict that ordinary citizens can no longer endure. Today, as military risks re-emerge and the possibility of escalation grows, the question becomes increasingly urgent: How can Yemen move from a country governed by the language of weapons to one governed by the language of the state? The United Nations has warned in September 2026 of the risk of a return to widespread fighting and has called

• 
  6 Palestinians injured, farmers detained in Israeli occupier attacks across West Bank

  by Mehdi Editor on September 18, 2026

  Six Palestinians were injured and several farmers detained on Friday in separate attacks by Israeli occupiers across the occupied West Bank, according to local sources and a Palestinian rights group. Local sources told Anadolu Agency that occupiers attacked the Palestinian vehicle with stones near the village entrance, causing it to overturn and injuring five young men inside. The injured were taken to a hospital for treatment, they added. In a separate incident, the Al-Baidar Organization for the Defense of Bedouin Rights said Israeli occupiers accompanied by Israeli forces detained several Palestinian farmers as they attempted to reach their land in Halhul town in the southern Hebron governorate. The organization said the detentions came amid continued Israeli restrictions on farmers and

• 
  Italian aircraft hit in attack on Saudi Arabian air base

  by Mehdi Editor on September 18, 2026

  An Italian aircraft was hit during attacks on an air base in Saudi Arabia, Defense Minister Guido Crosetto said Friday, Anadolu reports. Crosetto said Saudi Arabia’s Ta’if air base, where Italian personnel are present as part of the anti-ISIS (Daesh) Operation Inherent Resolve, “was the target of several attacks,” according to Italy’s ANSA news agency. “During the attack, an Italian F-2000 aircraft was hit. It was inside the base, in a remote area. There is no other damage to vehicles or infrastructure used by our personnel,” Crosetto said, adding that no personnel were harmed. He said he asked to be provided with updates on the situation, the condition of their personnel, and possible operational options. Crosetto added that he had

• 
  Israeli army sets fire to government hospital in southern Lebanon

  by Mehdi Editor on September 18, 2026

  The Israeli army set fire to a government hospital in southern Lebanon on Friday, the country’s state-run National News Agency reported. The agency said Israeli forces ignited the government hospital in the town of Mays al-Jabal in Marjayoun, southern Lebanon. The agency did not immediately provide information on the extent of the damage or whether there were casualties. Separately, the agency reported movements by Israeli military vehicles inside the town of Al-Mansouri in the Tyre district. Israeli forces also carried out an explosion in the town of Al-Bayyadah, while artillery shelling targeted Al-Mansouri, it reported. The Israeli army has not immediately commented on the reports. READ: Israeli attacks damage 22.5% of agricultural land in southern Lebanon The attacks come in spite

• 
  Trump says Iran seeking deal as US considers next move

  by Mehdi Editor on September 18, 2026

  US President Donald Trump says Iran is seeking an agreement with the United States as he considers whether to take additional military action against the country, Anadolu reports. In a phone interview with NewsNation, Trump was questioned about his recent remarks that he was weighing whether to “annihilate” Iran. “We’ll see what happens,” Trump said. Asked what he expects Iran to do before he makes a decision, Trump said Tehran is interested in reaching a deal. READ: Iran’s Revolutionary Guards reject Trump’s claim of US control over Strait of Hormuz “Right now, they want to make a deal,” Trump said, adding that he believes Iran is “losing in every way” both financially and militarily. “If the deal’s not a correct deal,

• 
  Sudanese army says it killed RSF fighters, destroyed 9 vehicles in Blue Nile

  by Mehdi Editor on September 18, 2026

  The Sudanese army said Friday that it carried out a “well-planned” preemptive attack south of the Al-Keili area in southeastern Blue Nile state, killing a number of Rapid Support Forces (RSF) fighters and destroying nine combat vehicles along with their equipment, Anadolu reports. Sudan’s Defense Ministry said in a statement that the armed forces and allied units carried out the operation “based on precise intelligence.” “The swift operation inflicted heavy losses on the enemy, including the destruction of nine combat vehicles with all their equipment and the elimination of a number of Rapid Support Forces militia mercenaries,” the ministry said. It added that the operation had destroyed the force’s main combat capability and left the RSF presence in the area

• 
  Syria arrests 5 Assad-era air force officers over attacks on populated areas

  by Mehdi Editor on September 18, 2026

  Syrian security forces arrested five senior air force officers and commanders who served under the deposed Bashar al-Assad regime over involvement in airstrikes on populated areas, the Syrian Arab News Agency SANA reported Friday. Col. Abdul Aal Mohammad Abdul Aal, head of Internal Security in the coastal Tartous province, said specialized units, in cooperation with the Anti-Terrorism Directorate, carried out a series of security operations that led to the arrests. Abdul Aal said the detainees included pilots, field commanders and officers who served in operations rooms under the former regime. Those detained were identified as Maj. Gen. Mohammad Fajr Ali, Brig. Gen. pilot Abdullah Ali Mualla, Col. pilot Nidal Hussein Saleh, Col. Mohammad Ali Salim and Lt. Col. pilot Talib

• 
  Red Cross spokesperson: ‘Death and destruction for Palestinians in Gaza continues every day’

  by Mehdi Editor on September 18, 2026

  Death and destruction continue to affect Palestinians in Gaza every day despite a decrease in the intensity of hostilities since last year’s ceasefire, according to Pat Griffiths, a spokesperson for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). “Let’s be clear: death and destruction for Palestinians in Gaza continues every day. The suffering is real, present and here every day – even when Gaza isn’t in the headlines,” Griffiths told Anadolu Agency. “Life for Palestinians here is disrupted in ways that are hard to imagine. Children go without education. People go without access to specialist or chronic medical care. Families have lost homes, livelihoods – many are still missing loved ones, not knowing if they are detained or deceased,” he

• 
  Philippines expresses ‘deep concern’ over Israeli illegal settlements in West Bank

  by Mehdi Editor on September 18, 2026

  The Philippines has expressed “deep concern” over Israeli illegal settlements in the West Bank and urged “all parties” to “desist from unilateral actions that erode the conditions for peace,” Anadolu reports. The Philippine Foreign Ministry said in a statement Thursday that Manila “notes with alarm” Israel’s efforts to advance the E1 settlement plan, as well as the continued rise in settler violence in the West Bank. Israeli authorities plan to open tenders on Oct. 25 for 2,167 settlement units under the E1 project, in addition to 1,234 units included in a separate tender issued in August, bringing the total to 3,401 units. The project is located east of Jerusalem and aims to connect the Maale Adumim settlement with occupied Jerusalem through

• 
  Israeli army faces severe troop shortage, prepares to halt leave: Israeli media

  by Mehdi Editor on September 18, 2026

  The Israeli army is facing a “severe shortage” of troops and military equipment after three years of war and is preparing to suspend soldiers’ leave, Israeli newspaper Maariv reported Friday. “As a result of the severe shortage in the number of soldiers in the Israeli army, it is prepared to violate their basic rights and deny them leave,” the newspaper said. Despite the personnel shortage, Maariv noted the dismissal of Lt. Col. A., who served as the Gaza Division’s intelligence officer in October 2023, because he “bore command responsibility by virtue of his position.” “The Israeli army does not have enough tanks and armored personnel carriers,” Maariv said, adding that three years of war had worn down the vehicles and

• 
  Multinational Maritime Defense Coalition holds 4th planning meeting in Saudi Arabia

  by Mehdi Editor on September 18, 2026

  The Multinational Maritime Defense Coalition on Thursday held its 4th planning meeting in Saudi Arabia, the Saudi Defense Ministry said Friday, Anadolu reports. The meeting in Jeddah was part of the coalition’s “ongoing transition from the founding stage to the actual operational stage, having reached Initial Operational Capability,” the ministry said in a statement on US social media platform X. It was attended by the representatives of “41 brotherly and friendly countries,” the officials stated, adding that EU representatives also took part. The coalition is a 14-country military alliance formed in July to ensure that vital waterways surrounding the Arabian Peninsula – the Gulf of Aden, Bab el-Mandeb Strait, and Red Sea – remain open to international traffic. READ: US State

• 
  Poll shows 48% of Israelis prefer Eisenkot as premier, compared with 40% for Netanyahu

  by Mehdi Editor on September 18, 2026

  Some 48% of Israelis would prefer Yashar party leader Gadi Eisenkot as prime minister, compared with 40% for incumbent Benjamin Netanyahu if Knesset elections were held now, according to a poll published Friday, Anadolu reports. The survey, published by the Israeli daily Maariv, showed Eisenkot ahead of Netanyahu in a direct prime minister preference matchup. Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett also led Netanyahu by 44% to 41%, while Netanyahu was ahead of Avigdor Lieberman by 42% to 38%, according to the poll. The survey was conducted by Lazar Research and Panel4All on Sept. 16-17 among 4,089 respondents, with a maximum margin of error of 4 percentage points. According to the results, Netanyahu’s governing coalition would secure 50 seats if Knesset

• 
  Strait of Hormuz disruptions lead to worst threat to global trade in 80 years: WTO chief

  by Mehdi Editor on September 18, 2026

  Global trade is facing its worst disruption in 80 years as supply chain bottlenecks in the Strait of Hormuz threaten global food and fertilizer prices, the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) director-general warned, Anadolu reports. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, speaking on the sidelines of the WTO’s Public Forum in Geneva, told Anadolu that the global trading system remains resilient, but the ongoing Middle East conflict presents a major test for the organization’s 166 member countries. She noted that global trade in goods grew by an unexpectedly strong 4.6% this year despite geopolitical pressures, while 72% of all global commerce continued to operate under WTO rules. The initial projection for overall goods trade growth was 1.9% for the entire year, but the first-quarter growth

• 
  Turkiye cracks down on Israel-linked int’l fraud network, detains 175 suspects

  by Mehdi Editor on September 18, 2026

  Turkiye on Friday launched simultaneous operations against an Israel-linked international fraud network accused of defrauding foreign nationals through fake forex and cryptocurrency investment schemes, Anadolu reports. Authorities detained 175 of 239 suspects in raids at 286 addresses in Istanbul and the western province of Mugla, Turkiye’s Justice Minister Akin Gurlek said. Four separate investigations conducted by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office in 2026 uncovered evidence that some companies operating as call centers had used social media and the internet to advertise forex and cryptocurrency investments, promising high returns to foreign nationals, Gurlek said on US social media company X. The investigation was coordinated by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office’s Bureau for Investigating Terror Financing and Money Laundering Crimes,

• 
  Israeli forces shell outskirts of Beit Jinn, launch incursion into southern Syria with 9 military vehicles

  by Mehdi Editor on September 18, 2026

  The Israeli army shelled the outskirts of Beit Jinn in the western Damascus countryside on Friday after launching an incursion into southern Syria with nine military vehicles and detaining a shepherd in Daraa province, Syrian state media reported. Israeli forces carried out artillery shelling on the outskirts of Beit Jinn in the western Damascus countryside, Alikhbariah TV said. The broadcaster did not report the outcome of the shelling, and there was no immediate comment from the Syrian government, which has previously demanded an end to Israeli violations. In an earlier development, Israeli military vehicles entered the Wadi al-Raqad area, Syria’s Al-Ikhbariya television reported, without providing further details about the nature of their movements. READ: Israel poses ‘greatest threat’ to regional stability,