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

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  Cyprus’s energy paradox: Gas beneath the sea, isolation on the grid

  by Marwa A on September 5, 2026

  Cyprus presents one of the Eastern Mediterranean’s most striking energy contradictions. It possesses commercially promising offshore gas fields, yet its electricity system remains isolated from the European grid, dependent on imported fuels and increasingly unable to absorb all the solar power generated on the island. For Nicosia, therefore, the central question is not simply how much gas can be extracted. It is whether Cyprus can convert offshore resources, electricity cables and strategic geography into durable diplomatic influence—without allowing energy to deepen the political divisions already shaping the Eastern Mediterranean. Gas without an export system The discovery of the Aphrodite field in 2011 appeared to promise Cyprus a new geopolitical role. Estimated to contain approximately 4.5 trillion cubic feet of gas,

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  US envoy to Israel visits occupied West Bank, calls occupiers attacking Palestinians ‘terrorists’

  by Marwa A on September 5, 2026

  US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee visited the occupied West Bank on Saturday, calling occupiers staging attacks against Palestinian “terrorists,” Anadolu reports. “I know that’s an uncomfortable word for some people, but when you try to create an atmosphere in which people feel uncomfortable living in their own homes, their children playing in their own lawns and yards, and people feeling that they’re not safe and that they’re not secure because of the behavior, the actions, and the intimidation of others, that’s terrorism by any definition,” Huckabee said during a visit to Turmus Ayya, north of Ramallah in the central West Bank. During his visit, the diplomat met with and heard testimonies from Palestinian-Americans about the challenges they face in

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  Saudi Embassy urges investigation after citizen stabbed in London’s Mayfair

  by Marwa A on September 5, 2026

  Saudi Arabia’s Embassy in the UK said Friday it was closely monitoring the condition of a Saudi citizen who was stabbed in London’s Mayfair district, Anadolu reports. In a post on US social media platform X, the embassy said it was coordinating with relevant British authorities and ensuring that the victim received necessary care and support. The embassy said it would continue monitoring the Saudi citizen’s health until he was safely discharged from the hospital. “The Embassy affirms that it is following up on the circumstances of the incident with the relevant security authorities, and emphasizes the importance of expediting the completion of the investigations, uncovering all details of the incident, and holding the perpetrator accountable in accordance with the

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  Tehran’s dangerous illusion of control

  by Marwa A on September 5, 2026

  When Iran launched salvoes of drones and missiles at American bases, the message was clear. Strikes hit facilities in Kuwait, Jordan, and the United Arab Emirates on September 3. Tehran wanted to signal that it retains complete dominance over the Persian Gulf. Yet behind these dramatic strikes lies a far more uncomfortable reality for Iranian leaders. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) faces a widening gap in its operational capabilities. Tehran seeks total leverage over the Strait of Hormuz during this ongoing conflict. However, its war machine is visibly stalling on the regional battlefield today. From the outset of this campaign, Iran’s political calculus depended heavily on economic coercion. Hardline strategists in Tehran openly targeted a global oil price spike

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  Dreams about Gaza: Israel’s ethnic cleansing proposals

  by Marwa A on September 5, 2026

  Let’s be done with the pretence of decency and soggy references to just resolution in the face of extreme circumstances.  Be done with the hilarious stage acts of referring to legal doctrines that either do not exist or cannot exist in the bloodied context they are being forced to refer to.  The State of Israel is intent, with every arm, administrative faculty and office bearer of consequence, to achieve ethnic effacing and utopic bliss with the removal of Palestinians from Gaza and the West Bank, with the former going first. Speaking on 2nd September at a conference organised by the Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth, the Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz returned to a theme so rapidly hardening it is likely

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  Entry, clashes, fire: Israeli occupier violence in West Bank village shows familiar pattern

  by Marwa A on September 5, 2026

  A familiar pattern of occupier incursions under Israeli army protection, followed by fighting and soldiers opening fire on Palestinians is occurring with increasing frequency in the occupied West Bank village of Al-Mughayyir, the Haaretz newspaper reported on Friday, Anadolu reports. Three incidents occurred in the past week, with Israeli soldiers shooting at least seven Palestinians, killing two, while others were physically assaulted during incursions into the village. The attacks come amid escalating occupier violence across the West Bank, which US Ambassador Mike Huckabee described in August as “terrorism,” saying those responsible were damaging Israel’s image. The attacks follow a similar sequence: occupiers approach homes on the village’s western outskirts with their flocks in the presence of soldiers before reporting that

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  Palestinian football returns after nearly 3-year pause due to Israel’s genocide

  by Marwa A on September 5, 2026

  Palestinian football returned on Friday with a club competition in the occupied West Bank, the Gaza Strip and refugee camps in Lebanon after a nearly three-year suspension due to Israel’s genocidal war, Anadolu reports. The Palestinian Football Association organized the competition, “Thousand Martyrs Cup,” with opening matches held simultaneously in the three areas. Jabal Al-Mukaber faced Shabab Al-Khalil at Faisal Al-Husseini International Stadium in the town of Al-Ram, north of Jerusalem, while Khadamat Rafah played Shabab Rafah at Ittihad Deir Al-Balah Club’s stadium in the central Gaza Strip. In Lebanon, Al-Ansar faced Al-Nahda at Abu Jihad Al-Wazir Stadium in the Ain Al-Hilweh refugee camp in the south. As many as 244 clubs from the West Bank, Gaza and the diaspora

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  US ‘administered’ polygraphs to military officers for Iran war leaks

  by Marwa A on September 5, 2026

  US investigators in August administered polygraph tests to 50 military officers and civilian officials following leaks concerning depleted American munitions stocks, according to multiple media reports on Friday, Anadolu reports. The probe targeted personnel with the Joint Staff, a group of senior military leaders advising the president, focusing on leaks regarding shortages of long-range missiles and Patriot interceptors due to the war with Iran, The New York Times reported. A CBS News report revealed that the FBI was not involved in conducting the tests, as the military utilized its internal investigators. Not all senior leaders were tested, with the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine being excluded from the sweep. US President Donald Trump is said

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  US missile hits Iranian oil tanker near Kharg Island: Report

  by Marwa A on September 5, 2026

  A US missile struck an Iranian oil tanker near Iran’s Kharg Island on Saturday, according to Iranian media, Anadolu reports. The tanker involved was a “small vessel,” Iran’s Student News Agency reported. It said no casualties were reported. Kharg Island is vital to Iran’s oil export system, handling roughly 90% to 95% of the country’s crude exports. US President Donald Trump previously threatened to take control of the island. Regional tensions have escalated since US-Israeli attacks on Iran began Feb. 28, with Tehran responding with missile and drone strikes against Israel and US interests across the region. Washington and Tehran signed a memorandum of understanding on June 18 concerning freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, but its implementation

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  Government forces recapture ‘strategic’ positions from Houthis in western Yemen, army says

  by Marwa A on September 5, 2026

  The Yemeni army said Saturday that its forces had recaptured several “strategic” positions from the Houthi group in Taiz and Al-Hudaydah in western Yemen, Anadolu reports. Government forces “achieved battlefield victories on the Haifan front” along the administrative border between Taiz and Lahj provinces, the army’s September Net news outlet said. The website, citing a military source, said clashes on various fronts in Taiz and along the western coast killed and wounded dozens of Houthi members and destroyed dozens of vehicles belonging to the group. The source added that fighting was still ongoing across the Taiz and western coastal fronts. The army also said that its forces had thwarted a Houthi infiltration attempt in the Al-Qasr area east of Taiz

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  The Syria option: Rethinking Middle Eastern oil exports beyond Hormuz

  by Marwa A on September 5, 2026

  President Donald Trump’s endorsement of Syria as a possible alternative to the Strait of Hormuz has pushed an old energy-security problem back to the center of Middle Eastern strategy. On September 3, Trump reacted positively to a Washington Post report describing Syria’s effort to market itself as an overland corridor from Iraq to the Mediterranean. The interest is understandable. Before the 2026 conflict, crude oil and petroleum liquids moving through Hormuz averaged 21.6 million barrels per day (mbpd) in the fourth quarter of 2025. By the second quarter of 2026, flows had fallen to 4.9 mbpd as conflict sharply constrained shipping. The episode showed how quickly dependence on one narrow waterway can become a problem for producers, importers and the

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  2 killed in Israeli drone strike in southern Lebanon despite ceasefire

  by Mehdi Editor on September 4, 2026

  Two young men were killed Friday in an Israeli drone strike in the southern Lebanese city of Nabatieh, Anadolu reports. The strike targeted the men riding a motorcycle near the Engineers’ Syndicate building in the city during the afternoon, Lebanon’s National News Agency reported. The attacks come amid continued Israeli escalation against villages and towns across southern Lebanon despite an agreement between Beirut and Tel Aviv providing for a gradual Israeli withdrawal as part of a US-mediated negotiating process. Since March 2, 2026, Israeli attacks on Lebanon have killed more than 4,000 people and injured over 12,000 others, while forcing more than 1 million people from their homes, according to Lebanese authorities. Israel occupies areas in southern Lebanon, some held

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  UN urges restraint in Yemen, warns of civilian risks in Gaza, West Bank

  by Mehdi Editor on September 4, 2026

  The UN on Friday urged Yemen’s warring parties to exercise restraint amid a sharp escalation in fighting, while expressing deep concern over the safety of civilians in Gaza and the West Bank, Anadolu reports. UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said the UN was “deeply concerned by the ongoing military clashes across multiple front lines in Yemen, including Ta’izz.” “We call on the Yemeni parties to exercise restraint, de-escalate tensions, and refrain from actions that could lead to further military escalation,” Dujarric told reporters at the UN headquarters in New York. He warned that further escalation could have “devastating political, economic, and security ramifications for Yemen and all of its people.” “The parties must prioritize dialogue and engage constructively with the United

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  Trump says US might hit Pickaxe Mountain in Iran ‘very soon’

  by Mehdi Editor on September 4, 2026

  US President Donald Trump said Friday that Washington could strike Iran’s Pickaxe Mountain site “very soon,” while describing the ongoing conflict with Tehran as “small potatoes” and saying the US is carrying out intermittent strikes, Anadolu reports. Asked whether the confrontation should be considered a war, Trump said he preferred to call it a “military conflict.” “A lot of people don’t call it a war. I call it a military conflict because it’s small potatoes for us. It’s not a big thing,” he told reporters in the Oval Office. Trump said the US has been conducting “intermittent strikes” and claimed there had been no active fighting for several days before a recent US attack that targeted Iranian radar systems. “We’re

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  Qatar rejects Iran claim strikes only targeted US military sites

  by Mehdi Editor on September 4, 2026

  Qatar said Friday that official records it submitted to the UN show Iranian missiles struck civilian, commercial and residential areas in the country, rejecting Tehran’s attempt to cite a Qatari document as evidence that its attacks were limited to US military facilities, Anadolu reports. Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed Al-Ansari made the remarks in a statement responding to a post on US social media company X by Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei. Baghaei cited a safety and security risk assessment prepared by Qatar for the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference, claiming the document confirmed that Iranian strikes exclusively targeted US military facilities in Qatar and did not target civilian areas. “If the Iranian side wishes to reference official documentation, we invite it

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  US pressing for humanitarian truce in Sudan to allow unhindered aid access: Trump adviser

  by Mehdi Editor on September 4, 2026

  The US is urgently pressing for a humanitarian truce in Sudan that will allow unhindered aid access and increased assistance to people in need, a senior adviser to President Donald Trump said Friday, Anadolu reports. Massad Boulos, Trump’s senior adviser for Arab and African affairs, said Washington is also pushing for a comprehensive peace plan aimed at ensuring the warring parties meet their humanitarian obligations. “We continue to urgently press for a humanitarian truce that allows unhindered humanitarian access and increased aid delivery to those most in need, as well as for a comprehensive peace plan that helps holds parties to their humanitarian obligations,” Boulos said on the US social media company X. He also condemned the growing number of

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  Iran says much of oil, gas refining capacity damaged in US-Israeli attacks rebuilt

  by Mehdi Editor on September 4, 2026

  Iran said Friday that much of its oil and gas refining facilities damaged in US-Israeli attacks since Feb. 28 had been rebuilt, Anadolu reports. Speaking to Shana, the Iranian Oil Ministry’s news platform, Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad said the country’s crude oil exports continued throughout the war. Addressing attacks on Kharg Island, home to Iran’s main oil export terminal, Paknejad said the island had been struck more than 550 times. “This island, which covers an area of between 23 and 24 square kilometers (8.9 and 9.3 square miles), was subjected to more than 550 attacks, but our colleagues continued loading oil onto tankers even under bombardment,” he said. Paknejad also provided an update on oil and gas refining facilities in

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  Israel orders ‘immediate’ seizure of Palestinian land in northern occupied West Bank

  by Mehdi Editor on September 4, 2026

  Israeli authorities issued a military order to immediately seize nearly 7.5 dunams (1.8 acres) of land in the town of Qabatiya in Jenin Governorate, northern occupied West Bank, Anadolu reports. The Palestinian Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission said in a statement on Friday that the order was issued as “immediate and urgent” under “security and military” pretexts. The order targets 7.498 dunams of land in Qabatiya, with one dunam equal to 1,000 square meters, the commission added. The order is valid for 60 days, while the deadline for filing objections was set at only 24 hours from the date of issuance, it said. The stated purpose of the order is “urgent military purposes” and the construction of a security road,

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  Iran shifting military doctrine toward preemptive attack: Army spokesman

  by Mehdi Editor on September 4, 2026

  Iran has been gradually shifting its military doctrine toward preemptive attack since the June 2025 war, an army spokesman said Friday. “When we face an American threat, we defend ourselves, and international law allows us to defend ourselves preemptively,” Mohammad Akraminia said during a program broadcast by Iran’s state television. Akraminia said Iranian forces targeted US bases stretching from Jordan to the United Arab Emirates in response to American attacks. Iran also destroyed air defense systems at US bases across the region, he claimed, warning that Tehran would respond “faster and more forcefully” if it faced another Israeli attack. “Some of these bases housed radar facilities and air defense systems, which were destroyed,” he said. “With the destruction of these

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  Israeli army blocks activists from aiding Palestinians besieged by occupiers

  by Mehdi Editor on September 4, 2026

  The Israeli army on Friday prevented around 100 Israeli peace activists from delivering humanitarian aid to Palestinians who have been under occupiers’ siege for 28 days in the town of Qusra in the northern occupied West Bank, according to the Peace Now movement. Since Aug. 9, Israeli occupiers have besieged three Palestinian homes in Qusra, while the Israeli army has also prevented the families from entering or leaving them, claiming the area is a “closed military zone.” “Day 28 of the blockade on Qusra. ​About 100 activists arrived to deliver supplies to the besieged families,” the Israeli left-wing Peace Now movement said in a post on the US social media platform X. “The army blocked us at first, claiming Qusra

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  Trump’s Gaza Board of Peace member gives $1.5M to AIPAC-linked super PAC: Report

  by Mehdi Editor on September 4, 2026

  Marc Rowan, the billionaire CEO of Apollo Global Management, has donated $1.5 million since the beginning of the year to the United Democracy Project, a super PAC (Political Action Committee) affiliated with the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), according to Federal Election Commission filings, Anadolu reports. Rowan, whose net worth exceeds $8 billion, is an executive member of Trump’s “Board of Peace,” a United Nations-approved body tasked with advancing Trump’s stalled Gaza plan. The donation, reported by The Intercept on Thursday, represents a small portion of Rowan’s wealth and supports a foreign policy centered on backing Israel and continued US weapons supplies to the country amid its war on Gaza. Speaking at a February gathering of President Donald Trump’s

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  US ambassador to Israel calls occupiers committing crimes in West Bank ‘terrorists’

  by Mehdi Editor on September 4, 2026

  US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee on Friday renewed his description of occupiers who carry out attacks against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank as “terrorists,” saying their actions harm Israel’s image. Speaking to Israel’s public broadcaster KAN, Huckabee said occupier violence against Palestinians across the occupied West Bank damages Israel’s reputation worldwide. KAN said Huckabee again described perpetrators of hate crimes in the West Bank as “terrorists,” adding that their actions cause severe damage to Israel’s image in the US. “It hurts the image of Israel as a country and as a people, and I find that unfortunate because Israel desperately needs every friend it can get and does not need more enemies,” Huckabee said. His remarks came after

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  Japan says Iran used geography to impose heavy costs at relatively low military expense

  by Mehdi Editor on September 4, 2026

  Japan’s Defense Ministry said Friday that Iran used its geographical advantage to “inflict unbearable costs at a relatively low military expense,” effectively closing the Strait of Hormuz by indicating that it had laid naval mines, Kyodo News reported. The ministry said Japan would strengthen its defense capabilities based on lessons from the US-Iran war, including by using defense equipment also operated by allies and like-minded partners to help ensure rapid supplies from other countries. It also stressed the need to maintain sufficient missile stockpiles and be prepared to quickly increase defense equipment production in an emergency, according to its first report analyzing the Iran war since February. The US-Israeli war against Iran began on Feb. 28, with attacks targeting military,

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  Israel claims it killed Hamas field commander in southern Gaza

  by Mehdi Editor on September 4, 2026

  The Israeli army said on Friday that it killed a Palestinian man in the southern Gaza Strip, claiming he was a field commander in the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Palestinian group Hamas, Anadolu reports. Muhammad Mahmoud Marshad al-Qadi was killed in an attack in the Khan Younis area, the army said in a statement. It claimed that al-Qadi took part in the Oct. 7, 2023 attack on the Israeli military’s Sufa base near the Gaza Strip and later participated in holding Israeli captives in the Rafah area. Hamas has not yet commented on the Israeli statement. Since October 2023, Israel’s deadly offensive in Gaza has killed more than 73,000 Palestinians and wounded over 174,000 others, while

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  Germany slams Israeli minister’s AI video mocking Palestinian prisoners

  by Mehdi Editor on September 4, 2026

  Germany on Friday strongly criticized an AI-generated video posted by Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir depicting Palestinian prisoners being sent on a conveyor belt into a prison, with critics comparing the imagery to concentration camps, Anadolu reports. “I have taken note of this video. As far as I know, it’s been deleted by now, but that doesn’t make it any less terrible. Of course, this is completely unacceptable. It’s appalling,’ Foreign Ministry spokesman Martin Giese told the media in Berlin. Giese said Germany “really rejects” Ben-Gvir’s politics and the way he expresses himself. “Our position on this is absolutely clear,” he added. READ: Germany approves nearly $930M in arms exports to Israel amid Gaza genocide Ben-Gvir recently deleted two videos

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  EU rejects any attempt at demographic, territorial changes in Gaza

  by Mehdi Editor on September 4, 2026

  The EU rejects any attempt to make demographic or territorial changes in the Gaza Strip, a European Commission spokesperson said Friday, Anadolu reports. Christian Wigand was responding during the commission’s daily press briefing to an Anadolu Agency question about statements by Israeli officials concerning plans to displace Palestinians from the enclave. In accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 2735, “we reject any attempt at demographic or territorial changes in the Gaza Strip,” Wigand said. He also reaffirmed the bloc’s support for bringing Gaza and the occupied West Bank under a unified Palestinian Authority. “There should be no forced displacement of Gazans. Gaza is part and parcel of a future Palestinian state,” he added. READ: Israel seeks Trump’s backing to ethnically cleanse

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  UN report raises concerns of ‘ethnic cleansing’ in 3 West Bank refugee camps

  by Mehdi Editor on September 4, 2026

  A UN report published Friday said Israel forcibly displaced the entire Palestinian populations of three refugee camps in the occupied West Bank and continues to prevent their return, raising concerns of forcible transfer and “ethnic cleansing,” Anadolu reports. The UN Human Rights Office report said Israeli forces displaced residents of the Jenin, Nur Shams and Tulkarm refugee camps during Operation Iron Wall in January and February 2025. Israeli forces killed civilians, destroyed homes and infrastructure, cut water and electricity, and restricted humanitarian access during the operation, according to the report. More than 33,000 Palestinians were displaced from the three camps, with 33,362 still unable to return as of July, according to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA. The report said

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  Poll shows Israeli opposition ahead of Netanyahu’s bloc after deadlock

  by Mehdi Editor on September 4, 2026

  A new opinion poll showed Israel’s opposition ahead of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s bloc in the Knesset, with 57 seats against 51 if general elections were held on Friday, Anadolu reports. The poll, conducted by the private Lazar Research Institute on a random sample of 600 Israelis with a 4.4% margin of error, came a day after a separate survey showed both camps tied at 53 seats each. According to the latest poll, neither camp would be able to reach the 61-seat threshold needed to form a government, Israeli daily Maariv reported. The results come ahead of general elections scheduled for Oct. 27, amid intense competition over the shape of political blocs and the premiership. Jewish opposition parties would win

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  Husband of slain Turkish American activist criticizes lack of US investigation

  by Mehdi Editor on September 4, 2026

  The husband of Turkish American activist Aysenur Ezgi Eygi, killed by Israeli soldiers in the occupied West Bank two years ago, criticized Friday the lack of progress in the US legal process over her death, Anadolu reports. Speaking to Anadolu Agency at Eygi’s graveside in the Didim district of Turkiye’s southwestern Aydin province, Hamid Mazhar Ali said: “The legal process in the US is at exactly the same point as the day she was killed.” “There has been absolutely no progress,” he said during a memorial ceremony marking the second anniversary of her death. “Despite our persistent requests over the past two years, no investigation has been launched.” Ali said the pain of losing his wife remains as intense as

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  EU joins US-led campaign to isolate Iran financially: Treasury chief Bessent

  by Mehdi Editor on September 4, 2026

  The EU has joined the US-led “Operation Economic Outcast” campaign aimed at increasing financial pressure on Iran, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Friday, Anadolu reports. “The European Union has officially joined Operation Economic Outcast and we appreciate their strong and early stance,” Bessent said on US social media platform X. He said the US “stands firm with our allies” in seeking to prevent the Iranian government from using the global financial system “to fund its nuclear ambitions, weapons programs, and terror proxies.” Bessent said the international community was sending “a clear message” to Iran. “We will not stop until every remaining financial lifeline has been severed,” he said. READ: Ghalibaf tells US Treasury chief oil prices and bond yields have

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  Burnham apologised. Britain’s arms licences tell a different story

  by Marwa A on September 4, 2026

  Andy Burnham said sorry. He didn’t stop the weapons. Britain’s new prime minister built his early image on contrition. In July, before he even reached Downing Street, he called Gaza’s suffering “a scar on our collective conscience.” He admitted Labor “didn’t get it right.” He promised more pressure on Israel. Palestinian advocates in Britain welcomed the words, cautiously. Adnan Hmidan, Chair of the Palestinian Forum in Britain, called Burnham’s recognition important. Then he added the caveat that mattered. “The scale of devastation, killing, starvation and forced displacement inflicted upon Gaza demands far more than acknowledgment,” he said. “It requires courageous political action.” Nine weeks into Burnham’s premiership, the arms keep moving. A loophole built to last In September 2024, Britain

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  Solidarity spreads across Brazil after US terrorism designation of Rawa Alsagheer

  by Marwa A on September 4, 2026

  The United States’ decision to impose counterterrorism sanctions on Palestinian activist Rawa Alsagheer and the Masar Badil movement has triggered expressions of solidarity across Brazil and Latin America, with activists condemning the measure as an attempt to criminalise Palestinian political organising and solidarity work. The US Treasury Department announced on August 26 that Masar Badil, also known as the Palestinian Alternative Revolutionary Path Movement, had been added to its sanctions list under Executive Order 13224, Washington’s main legal framework for imposing counterterrorism-related financial restrictions. Alsagheer, a Palestinian activist based in Brazil, and Germany-based Zaid Abdulnasser were also designated on the grounds that they are leaders or officials of Masar Badil. The Treasury described Masar Badil as being linked to and

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  Is removing Netanyahu enough to change Israel?

  by Marwa A on September 4, 2026

  The question is not an attempt to predict the outcome of Israel’s upcoming election on October 27, nor is it a wager on whether Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will fall or survive. Israel’s political landscape today is far too fractured, anxious, and ideologically rigid to be reduced to a single name — even if that name has become the gravitational center of the country’s crisis. The real question is more unsettling: Does Israel possess the ability to change from within, even if Netanyahu stays? And would Israel truly change if he goes? This is not a search for a comforting answer, but an inquiry into what lies after the election — a reading of the deeper structures that shape Israel’s

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  Podcast by Jasim Al-Azzawi with Dr. Murat Aslan: How Will Turkey’s Meteoric Rise Change The Middle East?

  by Mehdi Editor on September 4, 2026

  WATCH: Podcast by Jasim Al-Azzawi with Dr. Djavad Salehi Isfahni: US Plan: Financial Strangulation and Internal Implosion

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  Israeli soldiers accused of gang-raping Palestinian detainee sue state for $6 million

  by Marwa A on September 4, 2026

  Three Israeli reservists accused of gang-raping a Palestinian detainee at the Sde Teiman military prison are suing the Israeli state for 18 million shekels, around $6 million, after the army dropped all charges against them earlier this year. The soldiers, from the Israeli military’s “Force 100” reserve unit, which guards Palestinians detained during the Gaza genocide, filed the lawsuit through the right-wing legal aid group, Honenu, against 17 defendants, Israel’s Ynetnews reported. These include the Israeli state, the army, the military police and Israel police, the attorney general, Gali Baharav-Miara, the former military advocate general, Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi, and the Channel 12 journalist Guy Peleg, who first broadcast footage of the assault. The men were among five reservists indicted in February

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  The Mecca Pact: Threat to Iran or an opportunity to reshape regional security?

  by Marwa A on September 4, 2026

  The signing of the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement by Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, and Pakistan on 7 August 2026 has introduced a new element into an already changing regional security environment. The agreement stipulates that an armed attack against one signatory will be considered an attack against all three, creating a collective-defence commitment broadly comparable in principle to Article 5 of the NATO Treaty. Given Iran’s longstanding rivalry with Saudi Arabia and the involvement of three major regional powers, the agreement has naturally generated speculation about whether it represents the emergence of a new anti-Iran coalition. Yet this interpretation remains premature. The more consequential question for Tehran is whether the agreement will become part of a broader regional security architecture that

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  HRW issues scathing report on the repression of civil society in Tunisia

  by Marwa A on September 4, 2026

  A new report released by Human Rights Watch (HRW) has accused the Tunisian government of systematically cracking down on civil society groups since 2024. The 49-page report, “‘We Are Living on Borrowed Time’: Repression of Civil Society in Tunisia” documents the Tunisian authorities’ escalating repression of local and international civil society groups, workers, members, and affiliates through the weaponization of abusive prosecutions, arbitrary arrests, detention, financial and criminal investigations, mass suspensions, and threats of dissolution. Tunisia is a state party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, which guarantee the rights to freedom of association, assembly and expression, to not be subject to arbitrary arrest or detention, and to

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  Mercenaries, drone shipments and military technology fuel Sudan war, UN report says

  by Marwa A on September 4, 2026

  A UN fact-finding mission said foreign fighters and military support are strengthening Sudan’s warring parties, helping prolong the conflict and worsen the situation. The independent UN mission said in a report published on Thursday that it had documented cross-border networks operating in several countries have recruited, trained and deployed foreign personnel to support the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), while facilitating the transfer of weapons, ammunition and military technology and providing logistical support. The mission said it had documented the deployment of up to 2,000 former Colombian military contractors who were fighting alongside RSF units in Darfur and Kordofan. The report said it believes that private entities, logistical facilitators, and recruiters operating from countries including Colombia and the United Arab Emirates

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  Turkish prosecutors investigate Ahmet Davutoğlu over alleged insult to Erdoğan

  by Marwa A on September 4, 2026

  Turkish prosecutors have opened an investigation into former Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu over statements allegedly insulting President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, according to Turkish media reports. Prosecutors said remarks made by Davutoğlu and subsequently circulated on social media could constitute the offence of insulting the president under Turkish law. In footage cited in connection with the investigation, Davutoğlu was seen speaking to a group of people and accusing Erdoğan’s government of corruption and favouritism. “They piled billions upon their billions, plundered illicit gains and enriched their followers,” Davutoğlu said. He also criticised Erdoğan over the appointment of his son-in-law to a ministerial position and accused the government of favouring a small group of major contractors. The allegations contained in Davutoğlu’s remarks

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  Sudanese official accuses Ethiopia of hosting training camps for RSF fighters

  by Marwa A on September 4, 2026

  A Sudanese local official has accused Ethiopia of hosting training camps for members of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and foreign fighters near the Sudanese border, amid continuing fighting between the paramilitary group and the Sudanese army. The allegations come as scrutiny grows over the role of neighbouring countries in Sudan’s conflict and Ethiopia’s relations with the warring parties. Abdel-Ati Mohamed al-Faki, a local official in the Kurmuk area of Sudan’s Blue Nile region, claimed that Ethiopian authorities had established four training camps on Ethiopian territory for RSF personnel and foreign fighters. According to al-Faki, the camps are equipped to provide military training and logistical support. He further alleged that the facilities receive financial and logistical backing from the United

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  British Jewish groups lobby Burnham over ‘perverse consequences’ of settlement trade ban

  by Marwa A on September 4, 2026

  Jewish communal organisations have lobbied Prime Minister Andy Burnham over his government’s planned ban on trade with Israeli settlements, warning of the “potentially perverse consequences” of announcing the measures while Israel is in the middle of a general election. In a joint statement published by the Board of Deputies of British Jews following a meeting with Burnham and the Communities Secretary, Angela Rayner, yesterday, the organisations said they had “conveyed significant concerns about the unintended consequences of policies the government is considering in relation to settlements.” Today, Jewish communal and key partner organisations met Prime Minister .@andyburnham and Communities Secretary @AngelaRayner at 10 Downing Street to convey concerns facing the UK Jewish community, and seek the Government’s commitment to addressing

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  US ambassador says Israel-Lebanon peace progress depends on Hezbollah’s removal

  by Marwa A on September 4, 2026

  US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee said progress toward peace between Israel and Lebanon could be achieved if Hezbollah ceased to play a role in Lebanon, describing the group as an “Iranian puppet.” Huckabee’s comments came following Israel’s decision to release five Lebanese citizens, a move described as a goodwill gesture amid diplomatic efforts involving Israel and Lebanon. “Progress toward peace between Israel and Lebanon” could occur “the moment the Iranian puppet Hezbollah disappears,” Huckabee said. The ambassador also thanked US Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa for his efforts in connection with the latest developments. Huckabee argued that removing Hezbollah from the equation would create greater opportunities for progress in relations between Israel and Lebanon. READ: Smotrich says Israel will

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  Reports: Russia rejects El Al request to launch St. Petersburg route amid aviation dispute

  by Marwa A on September 4, 2026

  Russian authorities have rejected a request by Israeli airline El Al to launch direct flights to St. Petersburg as an alternative to Moscow, amid an aviation dispute between Russia and Israel, according to Israeli media reports. El Al suspended flights to Moscow following security concerns linked to drone attacks and disruptions at airports around the Russian capital. The airline subsequently sought permission to operate a Tel Aviv-St. Petersburg route, according to Israel’s Channel 12 and Israel Hayom. Channel 12 reported that Russia rejected the request in response to Israel’s refusal to allow Russian flag carrier Aeroflot to operate flights to Ben Gurion Airport. The report characterized Moscow’s decision as a retaliatory measure, although no official Russian statement confirming that explanation

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  Smotrich says Israel will respond politically and economically to potential UK sanctions

  by Marwa A on September 4, 2026

  Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said Israel is preparing political and economic countermeasures in response to potential sanctions or restrictions imposed by Britain and other countries over Israeli settlement activity in the occupied West Bank. According to Israeli media reports, Smotrich said the government was developing measures across several sectors to respond to actions that could affect Israeli companies or the broader economy. He said the government would provide a “safety net” for Israeli businesses harmed by potential sanctions while seeking to expand commercial ties with alternative markets. “One market may close, but others will open,” Smotrich said. His comments come as the British government prepares a package of measures in response to Israeli settlement policies in the West Bank,

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  Kamal Adwan Hospital suspends operations as Israeli forces advance in northern Gaza

  by Marwa A on September 4, 2026

  Kamal Adwan Hospital in the northern Gaza Strip temporarily suspended operations and evacuated staff on Thursday after Israeli military vehicles advanced toward the facility, according to the hospital administration and Palestinian media reports. The hospital said it would suspend operations for one day to protect medical staff, patients and visitors amid the movement of Israeli forces near its perimeter. According to the Quds News Network, hospital staff were instructed to evacuate as Israeli military vehicles approached the area and gunfire was reported near the facility. Elsewhere in northern Gaza, two Palestinians, including a 13-year-old boy, were killed and several others wounded during an Israeli military incursion into Beit Lahia. Palestinian medical sources identified those killed as Hisham Hani Subh and

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  UN says Israeli attacks kill 24 Palestinians in Gaza in five days

  by Marwa A on September 4, 2026

  The UN said on Thursday that 24 Palestinians, including four children and a woman, were killed in Israeli attacks in Gaza over five days, warning that civilians remain unsafe nearly a year after a ceasefire was announced. The statement was issued by the UN Human Rights Office in the Occupied Palestinian Territory amid continued Israeli violations of a ceasefire that has been in effect since 10 October 2025. “There is no safe place, nor safe person, in Gaza,” the office said, despite the passage of nearly a year since the ceasefire was announced. It said “24 Palestinians were killed in Israeli attacks between 28 Aug and 1 Sept, including four children and a woman, with 21 of whom were killed

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  Tunisia’s top court upholds prison terms of up to 45 years in ‘conspiracy’ case

  by Marwa A on September 4, 2026

  Tunisia’s Court of Cassation on Thursday rejected all appeals against sentences handed down in the “Conspiracy against State Security 1” case, making prison terms of up to 45 years final. Lawyer Mounia Bouali, a member of the defence team, told Anadolu that the court had “rejected the appeals”, upholding the sentences issued by the Court of Appeal last November. Bouali said the defendants who are in prison would remain in custody and continue to serve the sentences imposed by the appeals court. Meanwhile, the Tunisian news agency quoted a judicial source as saying the Court of Cassation had considered 46 appeals on Thursday, rejecting 44 on their merits and two on procedural grounds. On 28 November 2025, the specialised criminal

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  China urges US to lift Iran-related sanctions on Chinese firms, citizens

  by Marwa A on September 4, 2026

  China on Thursday urged the United States to lift sanctions imposed on Chinese companies and citizens over alleged links to Iran. Chinese Commerce Ministry spokeswoman Huang Ling said at a press conference in Beijing that China rejects unilateral US sanctions, saying they have no basis in international law and were not authorised by the UN Security Council. She said Washington had continued, despite China’s objections, to impose sanctions on Chinese companies and citizens over alleged links to Iran, adding that such measures interfere with normal economic and trade relations between countries and affect global energy security and supply stability. Huang called on the United States to withdraw and lift the sanctions, stressing that China would continue to protect the legitimate

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  Italy offers to mediate between Egypt and Ethiopia over Nile waters

  by Marwa A on September 4, 2026

  Italy has offered to help facilitate dialogue between Egypt and Ethiopia over Nile waters, stressing the importance of reaching a fair and sustainable negotiated solution to the water dispute in line with international law. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani made the remarks at a joint press conference with his Egyptian counterpart Badr Abdelatty after talks in the Egyptian city of El Alamein on Thursday. Tajani said Italy stressed the importance of reaching a negotiated solution over Nile waters, emphasising that this must be done in accordance with international law. He said Rome was ready, if Egypt and Ethiopia wished, to mediate and help facilitate dialogue between the two sides. He said Italy understands the importance of the water issue to

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  Ghalibaf tells US Treasury chief oil prices and bond yields have put him ‘on the brink’

  by Marwa A on September 4, 2026

  Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf addressed US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent that falling oil inventories, surging prices and rising bond yields had put him “on the brink”. Ghalibaf urged Bessent to monitor Oman crude futures prices, US government bond yields and the level of strategic oil reserves. “Hero, use all your strength to intervene further in oil futures prices, or keep releasing oil from the reserves,” Ghalibaf said, addressing the US Treasury chief. The remarks came after Bessent announced in August that the United States was imposing sanctions on nearly 60 entities linked to Iran, including several entities connected to the Iranian economy, as part of Washington’s efforts to “tighten the economic noose” around Tehran and threaten countries that continue to