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

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  The bomb and the ayatollah: Islamic just war and the nuclear question in post-Khamenei Iran

  by Marwa A on April 5, 2026

  The killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in the opening phase of the US-Israeli war against Iran has generated a striking argument in strategic and theological circles alike: that the killing may have removed not merely a political leader but a normative brake on Iran’s possible march toward nuclear weapons. Reports indicate that Iranian decision-making has since hardened under intense military pressure and an increasingly securitised internal environment. What gives Khamenei’s death a particular doctrinal significance is that he had, over more than two decades, publicly framed weapons of mass destruction—including nuclear and chemical weapons—as contrary to Islam. If that position represented a genuine religious constraint rather than mere diplomatic rhetoric, then his death may have removed more than a leader:

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  Rented power, borrowed strength: The illusion of Gulf power in war

  by Marwa A on April 5, 2026

  There is increasing talk of Gulf monarchies entering a war with Iran. This prospect invites not admiration but scrutiny. It would expose, in stark and unforgiving terms, the difference between purchased power and actual capacity. Frankly, a cynic of these regimes might be tempted to welcome such a development. It would strip away the carefully curated illusion that wealth can substitute for competence, spectacle for strength, and dependency for stability. It would force the harder question of what these regimes can actually do when confronted with real conflict. For decades, they have cultivated systems that appear formidable on the surface but are hollow at their core. What, in real terms, would they contribute? These are not societies organised around production,

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  Over 1,460 killed in Lebanon since beginning of Israeli attacks on March 2: Health Ministry

  by Marwa A on April 5, 2026

  More than 1,460 people have been killed in Lebanon since Israeli attacks began on March 2, the country’s Health Ministry said Sunday, Anadolu reports. In a statement, the ministry said the death toll has reached 1,461, with 4,430 others wounded over the same period. It added that 39 people were killed and 136 injured in the past 24 hours alone. The ministry also mentioned that 129 of those who lost their lives were children and 97 were women. At least 54 health care workers were killed, and 145 others were injured in Israeli attacks, added the ministry. Israel has carried out airstrikes and a ground offensive in southern Lebanon since a cross-border attack by the Lebanese group Hezbollah on March

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  Trump says he granted amnesty to Iranian negotiators in order to keep talks alive

  by Marwa A on April 5, 2026

  US President Donald Trump said Sunday there was a strong chance of reaching an agreement with Iran as soon as Monday, while also threatening to escalate attacks dramatically if Tehran fails to deliver quickly, Anadolu reports. Speaking to Fox News, Trump said he was considering “blowing everything up” and “taking over the oil” if Iran does not move fast enough toward a deal. He also said he had granted amnesty to Iranian negotiators to ensure talks could continue, though there was no immediate response from Tehran. Trump said previously that Washington was in contact with Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf. Iran did not respond immediately to Trump’s claim that an agreement may be near. The remarks came on the

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  Pope urges ‘those who have the power to unleash wars’ to choose peace

  by Marwa A on April 5, 2026

  In his first Easter Sunday message since assuming the papacy, Pope Leo XIV urged world leaders to choose peace and lay down their weapons instead of unleashing wars, Anadolu reports. “Let those who have weapons lay them down! Let those who have the power to unleash wars choose peace! Not a peace imposed by force, but through dialogue! Not with the desire to dominate others, but to encounter them!” said the pontiff, speaking from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican. He said the world is growing accustomed to violence, with people resigned to it and becoming “indifferent” to the deaths of thousands of people, to the “repercussions of hatred and division that conflicts sow,” and their economic

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  US rescues 2nd crew member of F-15 hit above Iran: Trump

  by Marwa A on April 5, 2026

  President Donald Trump said Sunday that the US rescued a military officer, identified as a colonel, in “one of the most daring Search and Rescue Operations in US history,” Anadolu reports. Trump said on his Truth Social media platform that the officer was trapped behind enemy lines in Iran’s mountainous terrain and was being pursued by hostile forces before being safely recovered in a major military operation involving dozens of aircraft. Noting that the officer suffered injuries, Trump said he “will be just fine.” He said the mission followed the separate rescue of another US pilot on Friday, which was not announced earlier to avoid jeopardizing the second operation. “At my direction, the US Military sent dozens of aircraft, armed

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  Iran awaits FIFA guarantees for World Cup participation

  by Marwa A on April 5, 2026

  Iran announced Sunday that it would await FIFA’s guarantees for participation in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Anadolu reports. “Our request to FIFA to relocate Iran’s games from the US to Mexico is still valid, but we have not yet received a response. If accepted, Iran’s participation in the World Cup will be certain. However, FIFA has not yet responded,” Sports Minister Ahmad Donyamali told Anadolu about Iran’s negotiations with FIFA to play its 2026 FIFA World Cup matches in Mexico instead of in the US. Donyamali said Iranian national football players have been continuing World Cup preparations. “As the Minister of Sports, together with the Iranian Football Federation, we will keep the football team ready for the World Cup.

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  US seeks $152M to reopen Alcatraz as high-security prison: Report

  by Marwa A on April 5, 2026

  The White House requested $152 million for a project to reopen the infamous Alcatraz prison in San Francisco Bay, California, as an operational prison, as part of a proposed budget for the 2027 fiscal year, according to Fox News on Saturday, Anadolu reports. US President Donald Trump proposed $152 million to begin the project, part of a $1.7-billion prison system funding increase to improve pay and address staffing shortages. The budget request includes funding to rebuild Alcatraz into a modern high-security prison, covering initial costs. Alcatraz, closed in the 1960s due to high costs, later became a tourist site but may be rebuilt as a modern high-security prison. Initial funding is proposed, though California politicians are skeptical over costs and

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  Iran claims it shot down US C-130 support aircraft in Isfahan

  by Marwa A on April 5, 2026

  Iran claimed on Sunday that it shot down a US C-130 support aircraft in southern Isfahan, Anadolu reports. The plane was destroyed “by heavy fire from a police special forces unit,” the semi-official Tasnim News Agency claimed, citing Iranian police. In a statement carried by the state news agency IRNA, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said “joint operations involving the Aerospace Force, ground units, popular and Basij forces, law enforcement, and the Army successfully destroyed the enemy aircraft.” On Telegram, the state-run Press TV shared photos purportedly showing wreckage from the plane that was allegedly downed. Some initial US reports on social media claimed that during the process of rescuing the second crew member of an F-15 fighter jet

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  Trump can’t withdraw US from NATO without congressional approval, say former US House Speaker Pelosi

  by Marwa A on April 5, 2026

  Despite his statements, President Donald Trump cannot withdraw the US from NATO without congressional approval, said Nancy Pelosi, a former longtime speaker of the US House of Representatives, criticizing his threats to leave the alliance as “shortsighted,” Anadolu reports. Posting Saturday on US social media company X, Pelosi said NATO was formed 77 years ago by the US and its allies as an alliance rooted in peace and democracy. “Trump’s threats to leave are not only shortsighted, they’re a gift to (Russian President) Vladimir Putin,” said Polesi, who served as US House Speaker from 2007 to 2011 and from 2019 to 2023. Emphasizing the legal limitations, Pelosi stressed: “The law is clear: No President can withdraw from NATO without Congressional

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  Iranian media claims clashes with US forces during rescue of American airman

  by Marwa A on April 5, 2026

  Clashes broke out between Iranian forces and US troops during a rescue operation of an American pilot in which a US C-130 support aircraft was reportedly downed, Iranian media claimed Sunday, Anadolu reports. According to Defa Press Agency, Iranian law enforcement special units destroyed several US assets, including a special operations aircraft HC-130, two Black Hawk helicopters, and multiple drones. Following the clashes, fighting reportedly continued on the ground between Iranian units and surviving or supporting US personnel, it added. Earlier in the day, Iran claimed that it had shot down a US C-130 support aircraft in southern Isfahan. Fox News also reported that several US service members were injured during a mission to extract the second crew member of

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  Syrian Petroleum says 500,000 tons of Iraqi fuel to transit monthly to Baniyas

  by MI on April 4, 2026

  The Syrian Petroleum Company said Saturday that the volume of Iraqi fuel oil flowing to the Baniyas refinery in western Syria is expected to reach about 500,000 metric tons per month, Anadolu reports. The move could turn Syria into a transit hub for Iraqi oil exports via the Mediterranean, as the Strait of Hormuz faces disruptions linked to the US-Israeli war on Iran. The announcement came in remarks to Anadolu by Safwan Sheikh Ahmad, director of corporate communications at the Syrian Petroleum Company, who outlined details of the recent oil agreement between Syria and Iraq. Ahmad said Syria is restoring its role as a “safe regional corridor for energy” and highlighted the readiness of its infrastructure to receive and transport

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  Fire breaks out on 2 commercial vessels after US-Israeli strike in southern Iran: Media

  by MI on April 4, 2026

  A fire broke out on two commercial vessels due to a US-Israeli strike targeting a dock in southern Iran, according to Iranian media. The semi-official Mehr news agency reported Saturday that the attack hit a dock in the city of Bandar Lengeh in the Hormozgan province, igniting fires on two vessels owned by locals. The agency said one person was injured in the fires. Rescue teams and maritime authorities are continuing efforts to bring the fires under control, the report added. The US and Israel on Feb. 28 launched an air offensive against Iran that has killed more than 1,340 people to date, including then-Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, along

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  Israeli strike on civilian vehicle in Gaza Strip kills one, injures three

  by MI on April 4, 2026

  One person was killed and three others injured after the Israeli army targeted a civilian vehicle on Salah al-Din Street in the central Gaza Strip on Saturday, Anadolu reports. The attack comes amid ongoing Israeli violations of a ceasefire in effect since Oct. 10, 2025. These breaches have resulted in the deaths of 713 Palestinians and injuries to 1,940 others since the agreement took effect. Israel launched its genocide in Gaza in October 2023 that lasted two years, killing more than 72,000 people and injuring over 172,000 while causing widespread destruction affecting around 90% of the territory’s infrastructure. OPINION: No apologies – Naming Zionism for what it is

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  Russia evacuating employees from Iran’s Bushehr nuclear power plant in wake of attack

  by MI on April 4, 2026

  Russia started a large wave of evacuation on Saturday from Iran’s Bushehr nuclear power plant following US-Israeli attacks that killed one of the plant’s security personnel, Russian media reported. Citing Alexey Likhachev, the head of Russian state nuclear corporation Rosatom, state news agency Tass said 198 employees are expected to return to Russia within two or three days. Russia helped build the plant and, as of last year, had some 700 personnel working there. Likhachev underlined that developments around the plant are unfolding according to an “undesirable scenario.” “As they say, our bad premonitions were not wrong. Overall, the escalation of the conflict around the Persian Gulf is leading to corresponding consequences near the plant,” he said. READ: IAEA warns of

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  Executing with prejudice: Israel’s death penalty law

  by MI on April 4, 2026

  It was celebrated with ghoulish delight.  On March 30, the Israeli Knesset passed the Penal Bill (Amendment – Death Penalty for Terrorists), an instrument expanding the use of the death penalty for offences of a terrorist nature.  The death penalty had previously existed in Israeli law for war crimes but was abolished in 1954 for ordinary crimes in peacetime.  Technically, it remained on the books for crimes against the Jewish people, crimes against humanity and certain cases of martial law.   The law’s purpose is articulated as establishing the death sentence “for the sake of the struggle against terrorism”  for those who have carried out lethal attacks for the protection of the Israeli state, citizens and residents, for reasons of enhancing

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  US revokes residency, detains relatives of slain Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani

  by MI on April 4, 2026

  The US has revoked the legal residency status of two relatives of slain Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commander Qasem Soleimani, with two of them detained by federal agents, the State Department said on Saturday, Anadolu reports. According to a department statement, Secretary of State Marco Rubio ordered the termination of lawful permanent resident status for Hamideh Soleimani Afshar, identified as Soleimani’s niece, and her daughter. Both were subsequently detained and are now in the custody of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The department said Afshar had expressed support for Iran’s leadership and the IRGC, which Washington designates as a terrorist organization. It also cited her social media activity, alleging that she promoted Iranian government messaging and praised attacks

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  No apologies – Naming Zionism for what it is

  by MI on April 4, 2026

  “A people that oppresses another cannot itself be free” -Friedrich Engels – Zionism is racism. I state this plainly, not as a slogan designed to provoke, but as a conclusion drawn from history, lived reality, and the political structure that has emerged in what is now called Israel. I am not interested in diluting this claim to make it more comfortable, nor in softening its edges to invite polite debate. Some ideas demand clarity, not compromise. Zionism presents itself as a movement for Jewish self-determination. In isolation, that principle sounds reasonable—every people should have the right to shape their political future. But no political project exists in isolation. Zionism did not emerge in an empty land, and it did not unfold

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  Azerbaijan sends 200 tons of humanitarian aid to Iran

  by MI on April 4, 2026

  Azerbaijan has dispatched another shipment of humanitarian aid to Iran amid the ongoing conflict triggered by the US-Israeli offensive, state news agency Azertag reported on Saturday. The 200-ton aid package consists of 190 tons of food products, 7 tons of medicines and 3 tons of medical supplies. The shipment was sent under the direction of Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev to support the “current needs of the people of neighboring and friendly Iran,” the agency said. Earlier in March, Baku sent 10 tons of flour, 6 tons of rice, 2.4 tons of sugar, more than 4 tons of water, around 600 kilograms of tea, and roughly 2 tons of medicines and medical supplies to Iran. Tensions in the region have intensified

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  The normalisation of brutality: When will we reclaim our humanity?

  by MI on April 4, 2026

  What we are witnessing today across occupied Palestine is not a glitch in the system of international order, nor is it a sudden detour from the established behaviour of the Israeli occupation. The greatest mistake observers can make is to treat the current escalation of atrocities as a momentary lapse in self-restraint or a chaotic exception that can be managed through diplomatic statements of concern. In reality, what is unfolding before our eyes is the natural state of a colonial project. When we understand the structural foundations of the occupation, we realise that brutality is not a political choice, rather a functional necessity for its survival. The infrastructure of cruelty In the logic of the occupier, it is entirely normal

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  US President Donald Trump issues 48-hour ultimatum to Iran over Strait of Hormuz

  by MI on April 4, 2026

  US President Donald Trump said Saturday that Iran has 48 hours to meet Washington’s demands to make a deal or reopen the Strait of Hormuz, Anadolu reports. “Remember when I gave Iran ten days to MAKE A DEAL or OPEN UP THE HORMUZ STRAIT,” Trump said on his social media platform Truth Social. “Time is running out – 48 hours before all Hell will reign down on them,” he added. On March 26, Trump said that he had extended Iran’s nuclear negotiation deadline to 10 days partially because Tehran sent him 10 Pakistani-flagged oil tankers as a goodwill gesture. The region has been on alert since the US and Israel launched a joint offensive on Iran on Feb. 28, killing

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  ‘We are not part of Trump’s chaotic policy,’ including with US overflights: Austria’s vice chancellor

  by MI on April 4, 2026

  Austria’s vice chancellor stressed Saturday that the country would not be drawn into President Donald Trump’s “chaotic policy,” saying Vienna’s neutrality is “non-negotiable,” a principle that also applies to US military overflights, Anadolu reports. “In light of the overflights by US military aircraft through Austrian airspace, a clear line is needed: Our neutrality is non-negotiable and must be consistently upheld, especially now,” Andreas Babler wrote on US social media platform X. He added that with such overflights, even missions not directly entering conflict zones but supporting military actions must face scrutiny. “We are not part of Trump’s chaotic policy and must not yield an inch here,” he stressed. READ: ‘Radioactive fallout will end life in GCC capitals, not Tehran’: Top Iranian

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  French boats of Global Sumud Flotilla set to depart Marseille for Gaza aid mission

  by MI on April 4, 2026

  Around 20 boats from France are set to join the Global Sumud Flotilla’s “Spring Mission 2026,” with departure expected on Saturday, April 4, from the southern port city of Marseille, as part of an international effort to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza, Anadolu reports. Preparations for the flotilla have been underway for weeks at L’Estaque Port, involving the Thousand Madleens to Gaza initiative, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, and several France-based civil society groups. Each vessel is expected to carry around eight people along with humanitarian supplies, including medical aid and seeds, before making an initial stop in Italy. Organizers say the mission aims to challenge the blockade on Gaza and raise international awareness of the humanitarian situation in the enclave.

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  ‘Radioactive fallout will end life in GCC capitals, not Tehran’: Top Iranian diplomat

  by MI on April 4, 2026

  The Iranian foreign minister said Saturday that “radioactive fallout will end life in GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) capitals, not Tehran,” following the US-Israeli airstrikes that hit Iran’s Bushehr nuclear plant, Anadolu reports. “Remember the Western outrage about hostilities near Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine? “Israel-U.S. have bombed our Bushehr plant four times now. Radioactive fallout will end life in GCC capitals, not Tehran,” Abbas Araghchi said through US social media company X. READ: Iran approves humanitarian passage through Strait of Hormuz: Report Attacks on Iranian petrochemical facilities also reveal “real objectives,” Araghchi argued. Earlier in the day, US and Israeli strikes hit Iran’s Bushehr nuclear plant, killing one person. The attack came as regional tensions have escalated since the US

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  Iran approves humanitarian passage through Strait of Hormuz: Report

  by MI on April 4, 2026

  Iran approved on Saturday the passage of ships carrying humanitarian and essential goods through the Strait of Hormuz, according to a letter by the Agriculture Ministry’s trade development office, Iran’s semi-official Tasnim News Agency reported. Backed by the government and the armed forces, the directive permits vessels carrying essential goods and livestock feed to pass through under designated protocols, the report said. After the approval, industry associations informed their member companies to proceed with sending cargo ships to southern Iranian ports following the removal of the previous restrictions, it added. READ: Iran sets four conditions for ending war with US and Israel Regional tensions have escalated since the US and Israel launched a joint offensive on Iran on Feb. 28, killing

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  US Air Force has lost at least 7 aircraft in war with Iran: Report

  by MI on April 4, 2026

  The US Air Force has lost at least seven aircraft in its war with Iran, CNN reported on Saturday. The downing of two US fighter jets in a single day on Friday, in separate incidents – a US Air Force F-15 and an A-10 – raised the total number of manned US aircraft lost in the conflict with Iran to seven, according to the report. On March 2, just days into the war, three F-15s were mistakenly shot down by Kuwaiti air defenses in a friendly fire incident over Kuwait. All six crew members safely ejected. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said this week that the three pilots have since returned to flying missions against Iran. On March 12, six

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  What Israel’s death penalty reveals when law becomes a boundary of belonging

  by MI on April 4, 2026

  A law can sometimes reveal more than a thousand speeches ever could. Israel’s newly passed ‘Death Penalty for Terrorists’ statute does precisely that. It is not merely a legislative shift; it is a structural declaration about whose life is protected, whose is conditional, and whose is extinguishable.  In the charged aftermath of 7 October 2023, grief and fear have undeniably reshaped Israeli politics. Yet this law, approved by the Knesset in March 2026 by a 62–48 vote, moves beyond the realm of security response and into something far more enduring: the codification of a dual legal order that treats Palestinians not as subjects of law, but as objects of it. The statute mandates hanging as the default punishment for Palestinians

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  Iranian strike on US Embassy in Saudi Arabia caused more damage than disclosed: Report

  by MI on April 4, 2026

  An Iranian drone attack on the US Embassy in Saudi Arabia last month caused more damage than previously disclosed, the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday, citing US officials, Anadolu reports. The attack occurred on March 3, when a drone bypassed air defenses at Riyadh’s Diplomatic Quarter and struck the American compound. A second drone followed, hitting the same spot and causing another explosion. The strikes, which took place at night, breached a secure part of the embassy where hundreds of employees would typically work, severely damaging three floors. The CIA station was among the affected areas. According to the report, Saudi officials initially downplayed the attack, calling it a minor fire with limited damage, but the US officials said

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  19 operations carried out by Iraqi factions on US bases in region

  by MI on April 4, 2026

  Iraqi factions announced Saturday that they carried out 19 operations against US bases in the region, Anadolu reports. A statement by the group known as the Islamic Resistance in Iraq said the operations were conducted early Saturday, targeting American bases in Iraq and the wider region using missiles and drones. The group said its armed factions carried out “19 operations over the past 24 hours, using dozens of drones and rockets.” The “resistance” did not specify the exact targets or the outcomes of the attacks. It came amid escalating military tensions in the region, as a war by the US and Israel against Iran entered day 36. READ: The US offers up to $3M reward for info on attacks targeting diplomatic

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  Hezbollah says it conducted 6 attacks on Israeli settlement, forces

  by MI on April 4, 2026

  Hezbollah on Saturday announced that it carried out six attacks on an Israeli settlement, as well as Israeli forces, vehicles and military positions. This brings the number of attacks by the group “in response to Israeli aggression” to 1,422 since March 2 as of 0450GMT, according to an Anadolu tally. Hezbollah said the attacks are “in defense of Lebanon and its people” amid an Israeli offensive on the country. It said the group targeted the Limon Barracks, north of the Nahariya settlement in northern Israel, using attack drones. Rocket attacks targeted Israeli soldiers and military vehicles at the Khalil Triangle in the border town of Maroun al-Ras, and in the Talat al-Sadr area in the town of Aita al-Shaab in

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  Iranian media claims UAE entered war against Iran

  by MI on April 4, 2026

  Iran’s state media on Saturday claimed that the UAE has entered the ongoing war against Iran, Anadolu reports. Iran’s state-run broadcaster IRIB claimed in a post through US social media company X that there were two documents proving the UAE’s entry into the war against Iran. It said that the destruction of a Chinese WingLoong-2 drone on April 1, which it said is “only in the possession of Saudi Arabia and the UAE,” and the interception of an “Emirati Mirage 2000 fighter jet over Iran’s Jask Island on March 22″ constitute evidence of the UAE’s participation in the war. READ: UAE rejects report claiming it is ready to join war on Iran to reopen Hormuz The claims could not be independently

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  Saudi crown prince discusses regional security with Italian premier

  by MI on April 4, 2026

  Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman discussed the regional situation Friday with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, according to the Saudi Press Agency. Bin Salman and Meloni, who is on a visit to the kingdom, met in the western city of Jeddah. The pair also discussed relations and opportunities for further development during the meeting. The implications of military tensions in the region, and associated risks to international navigation freedom and energy supply security were also addressed. They also discussed the effects of the war, which began Feb. 28 with the US and Israeli attacks on Iran, on the global economy, as well as joint efforts to strengthen security and stability in the Gulf region. Meloni began her Gulf visit

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  The US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth’s ‘Deus Vult’

  by MI on April 4, 2026

  ‘Deus vult’ (God wills it) was the rallying cry of medieval crusaders. Its reappearance, symbolically and rhetorically, in the US defence secretary Pete Hegseth’s public language should alarm anyone who believes war must remain bounded by law rather than theology. The Independent reports that Hegseth has repeatedly framed the Iran conflict in explicitly theological terms, portraying it as a confrontation between “good and evil,” invoking Christian scripture, praising Crusader symbolism, and describing God as aligning with US military action against Iran. Experts interviewed in the Independent’s report stress that such religious framing by a sitting US defence secretary is “completely, totally unprecedented” in modern US history. Michael Weinstein of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation characterises the messaging as casting the

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  US proposed 48-hour ceasefire with Tehran on April 2, reports Iranian media

  by MI on April 3, 2026

  The US proposed a 48-hour ceasefire with Iran on April 2 through a third country, the semi-official Fars News Agency reported Friday, citing an informed source. “The US, on April 2, proposed a 48-hour ceasefire through one of the friendly countries,” the source told Fars. The proposal came after “escalating tensions and challenges faced by US forces in the region,” the source added. According to the news agency, Iran did not respond in writing but instead replied “on the ground” by continuing heavy attacks. READ: 2nd US Air Force combat plane crashes in Persian Gulf region: Report The source also said that “US diplomatic efforts to halt the fighting have intensified, particularly after a reported strike on a US military depot

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  2nd US Air Force combat plane crashes in Persian Gulf region: Report

  by MI on April 3, 2026

  A second US Air Force combat aircraft crashed in the Persian Gulf region on Friday, local media reported. Citing two US officials, The New York Times reported that the lone pilot of the A-10 Warthog was safely rescued. The A-10 attack plane went down near the Strait of Hormuz at around the same time that an Air Force F-15E was shot down over Iran, the officials said, per the report. Earlier, White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt had told CNN that President Donald Trump had been briefed on a US fighter jet shot down over Iran, later identified as an F-15E Strike Eagle. READ: US fighter jet shot down by Iran: Report The Pentagon and US Central Command did not immediately respond

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  Israeli restrictions push Gaza medical supplies to critical shortage: Doctors Without Borders

  by MI on April 3, 2026

  Restrictions imposed by Israeli authorities on the entry of medical supplies into Gaza have led to critical shortages, severely impacting health care services, according to a statement released on Friday by Doctors Without Borders (MSF), Anadolu reports. Dr. Randa Abu El-Khair Masoud, a medical adviser with MSF, said the organization has been unable to bring any medical supplies into Gaza since Jan. 1, despite significant humanitarian needs in the enclave. “Every day, in our hospitals and clinics, we see the impacts of the restrictions on the entry of medical supplies into Gaza, Palestine. The needs in Gaza are massive, yet not enough aid is entering because Israeli authorities are blocking it,” Masoud said. She warned that nearly 50% of essential

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  1 killed in Israeli shell targeting rural area of southern Syria

  by MI on April 3, 2026

  One person was killed when an Israeli tank shell hit a vehicle in a village in southern Syria, in the Quneitra governorate, Syrian media reported. “Israeli occupation forces killed a young man through targeting a car with a tank shell in the village of Al-Za’rura,” Al-Ikhbariyah TV said on US social media company X, with no further details available as yet. Israeli forces have continued to target Syrian territory at an almost daily pace, carrying out ground incursions, particularly in rural areas of Quneitra and Daraa in southern Syria, detaining civilians, setting up checkpoints to search and question passersby, and damaging agricultural land. Israel has illegally occupied most of Syria’s Golan Heights since 1967 and, following the ouster of the

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  Top US military archbishop says Iran war fails Catholic church’s moral standard: Report

  by MI on April 3, 2026

  The Catholic archbishop responsible for all US military personnel declared that America’s war with Iran fails the church’s moral criteria for a just conflict, according to a new interview, Anadolu reports. Archbishop Timothy Broglio, who leads the archdiocese for the military services and oversees every Catholic chaplain in the US armed forces, made the remarks to CBS News in an interview set to air on April 5, Easter Sunday, one of the holiest days for Catholics and Western Christian denominations. In excerpts from the interviews, asked directly whether the conflict is justified, Broglio said, “Under just war theory, no,” arguing that the war targets a potential nuclear threat rather than an actual one. Arguing for the need for war, US

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  Russian, Egyptian foreign ministers support immediate ceasefire in Mideast

  by MI on April 3, 2026

  Russia and Egypt support an immediate ceasefire and a return to political and diplomatic efforts in the Middle East, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Friday, Anadolu reports. Speaking at a joint news conference following a meeting with his Egyptian counterpart Badr Abdelatty, Lavrov said the talks focused on the regional crisis following what he described as a US-Israeli joint military operation. He said the US should not simply demand that Iran unblock the Strait of Hormuz but instead end hostilities to restore functioning of the strait. Lavrov also said that “someone” appears intent on “undermining” negotiations on the Iranian issue. READ: Turkish president tells Putin Ankara opposes attacks on Iran, warns of Black Sea instability “The adoption of a resolution

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  Warning of ‘volatile’ security situation, US urges citizens to leave Lebanon

  by MI on April 3, 2026

  The US Embassy in Beirut on Friday urged US citizens to leave Lebanon while commercial flights remain available, warning that the security situation remains “volatile and unpredictable” amid ongoing airstrikes, drone activity, and rocket fire across the country, Anadolu reports. In an advisory, the embassy said attacks have been reported in southern Lebanon, the Beqaa region, and parts of the capital Beirut. “Iran and its aligned terrorist militias may intend to target universities in Lebanon. Iran has specifically threatened American universities across the Middle East,” it said. It also urged Americans in southern Lebanon, border areas with Syria, refugee settlements, and Beirut’s southern suburbs to depart immediately. READ: Israeli attacks displace over 1M in Lebanon, 1 in 5 affected: UN refugee

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  France delivers 39 armored vehicles to Lebanese army

  by MI on April 3, 2026

  France has delivered 39 armored personnel carriers to the Lebanese Armed Forces, fulfilling a prior commitment made by French officials, the Defense Ministry said on Friday, Anadolu reports. The delivery “aims to guarantee Lebanon’s territorial integrity, the protection of civilians, regardless of their faith, and the preservation of state institutions,” French Deputy Defense Minister Alice Rufo said during a handover ceremony at the port of Beirut on Tuesday.​​​​​ The armored vehicles, known as VABs, are designed to enhance troop mobility and enable operations in high-risk areas. Each vehicle can carry about 10 fully equipped troops and is built with welded steel plates to protect against small-arms fire and shrapnel. French President Emmanuel Macron announced in late March that France would

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  Turkish president tells Putin Ankara opposes attacks on Iran, warns of Black Sea instability

  by MI on April 3, 2026

  Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Ankara does not approve of attacks on Iran and also does not endorse Iran’s retaliatory actions against regional countries during a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday, Anadolu reports. According to Turkish diplomatic sources, the two leaders discussed bilateral relations as well as regional and global issues. During the conversation, President Erdogan further warned that attacks on civilian ships in the Black Sea undermine regional stability, stressing that the Iran conflict should not create a new flashpoint in the Russia-Ukraine crisis. President Erdogan also highlighted that the aggressive policies of the Israeli government under Prime Minister Netanyahu must be prevented and underscored that steps undermining the status of Jerusalem cannot be

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  Lebanon says Israeli attacks killed 23, injured 98 in past 24 hours

  by MI on April 3, 2026

  Israeli attacks on Lebanon killed 23 people and wounded 98 others over the past 24 hours, the Lebanese Health Ministry said on Thursday, Anadolu reports. In a statement carried by the National News Agency, the ministry added that the total death toll since March 2 has risen to 1,368, with 4,138 people injured. The toll includes 125 children and 91 women. Israel has pounded Lebanon with airstrikes and launched a ground offensive in the south since a cross-border attack by Hezbollah on March 2. Lebanese authorities said that nearly 1,318 people have since been killed and 3,935 others wounded in the Israeli assault. READ: Israel warns of strikes on bridges in south Lebanon, claiming to deter Hezbollah activities

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  Trump ‘briefed’ on downing of US fighter jet over Iran: White House

  by MI on April 3, 2026

  President Donald Trump “has been briefed” on a US fighter jet shot down over Iran, White House said Friday, Anadolu reports. “President Trump has been briefed,” spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt told CNN. Earlier, Iranian state media released photos and videos allegedly showing debris from the crash site, including what appears to be parts of the aircraft and one of the ejected seats. Initial assessments based on the imagery suggest the aircraft may have been an F-15 fighter jet. The Pentagon and US Central Command did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Anadolu. If confirmed, it would be the first time since the beginning of the war that a US jet was downed by “enemy” fire. Media reports indicate that

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  US-Israeli attacks hit airport, university in Tehran: Iranian state TV

  by MI on April 3, 2026

  US-Israeli airstrikes targeted multiple locations in Iran’s capital Tehran, including Mehrabad International Airport and Shahid Beheshti University, Iranian state TV said Friday. According to the state outlet, the strikes caused damage to Shahid Beheshti University in Velenjak, northwestern Tehran, while Mehrabad International Airport in western Tehran was also hit. No immediate information was available on possible casualties or the extent of the damage. On Telegram, the Iranian Red Crescent said that Israel targeted the plasma and laser institute at Shahid Beheshti University in northern Tehran. The region has been on alert since the US and Israel launched a joint offensive on Iran on Feb. 28, killing more than 1,340 people to date, including then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.​​​​​​​ Tehran has retaliated

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  Saudi, Pakistani top diplomats discuss de-escalation, emphasize dialogue on Mideast situation

  by MI on April 3, 2026

  Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and his Saudi counterpart Faisal bin Farhan discussed the regional situation, emphasizing “the urgent need” for de-escalation and dialogue in the Middle East, Anadolu reports. They also discussed the Pakistan-China five-point initiative for peace in the Persian Gulf and Middle East during a phone call, according to a statement from Islamabad’s Foreign Ministry posted on US social media company X. On Tuesday, Beijing and Islamabad proposed a five-point peace plan for the Middle East, including an immediate cessation of hostilities, the start of peace talks as soon as possible, the security of non-military targets, the security of shipping lanes, and the primacy of the UN Charter. The two leaders also “reaffirmed the strong, fraternal” Pakistan–Saudi

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  Israel warns of strikes on bridges in south Lebanon, claiming to deter Hezbollah activities

  by MI on April 3, 2026

  The Israeli military warned on Friday it would target bridges in southern Lebanon, with a claim to deter Hezbollah’s activities, military spokesperson Avichay Adraee said on US social media platform X. The army said it intends to target the Sohmor-Mashghara bridges to prevent “the movement of reinforcements and weapons,” urging civilians to move north of the Zahrani River and avoid traveling south for their safety, the source said. In a separate development, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said disarming Hezbollah through military and political means remains Israel’s “ultimate goal,” according to Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper. Katz said homes in border villages used as Hezbollah positions would be demolished under a model similar to operations in Rafah and Khan Younis in Gaza,

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  Israel resumes Leviathan gas field operations after 32-day halt due to war

  by MI on April 3, 2026

  Israel has resumed operations at the Leviathan natural gas field in the eastern Mediterranean after a 32-day halt linked to the war with Iran, according to Israel’s Energy Ministry, Anadolu reports. The ministry decided to restart production at the Leviathan field, allowing exports to Egypt and Jordan to resume, Israeli economic newspaper Globes reported. Globes said the Tamar field remained the only operational gas field during the conflict, while it remains unclear whether the Karish field has also resumed operations. Israel shut down the Leviathan and Karish fields on Feb. 28, when the war with Iran began, amid concerns the facilities could be targeted in attacks, the report said. READ: Israel continues to bar Muslims from Friday prayers at Al-Aqsa Mosque

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  French court lifts ban on Muslim gathering in Paris

  by MI on April 3, 2026

  A French administrative court has suspended a government order banning the Annual Meeting of Muslims of France, allowing the event to proceed as planned from April 3 to 6 at the Le Bourget Exhibition Center, organizers said on Friday, Anadolu reports. In a statement, the organization “Musulmans de France” welcomed the Paris Administrative Court’s decision, describing it as a restoration of fundamental rights and a confirmation that the initial ban was “serious, disproportionate, and legally unfounded.” The emergency judge ruled that freedom of assembly is a fundamental right that authorities are obliged to protect, the statement said, adding that restrictions can only be imposed as a last resort when no other measures are sufficient to maintain public order. Organizers emphasized

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  Brazilian Congressman seeks to bar Israeli military personnel from entering Brazil

  by Marwa A on April 3, 2026

  A Bahia state lawmaker has formally urged President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva to bar Israeli military personnel from entering Brazil, following a series of controversial incidents involving Israeli tourists in Bahia. The measure argues that individuals who took part in military operations in Gaza and Lebanon could be held accountable for acts described in the document as genocide. The proposal, submitted by state representative Hilton Coelho of the Socialism and Liberty Party (Psol), calls on the federal government to adopt measures preventing individuals linked to alleged human rights violations from using Brazil as a tourist destination or refuge. The document characterises such acts as potential genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. Coelho grounds the request in Brazil’s Federal