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

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  UNRWA says over $5M in assets at Jerusalem training center at risk after Israeli raid

  by Mehdi Editor on August 29, 2026

  UN assets worth more than $5 million were housed at an UNRWA training center in occupied East Jerusalem that Israeli forces forcibly entered earlier this week, with damage and signs of looting found after their withdrawal, a senior agency official said, Anadolu reports. Roland Friedrich, director of UNRWA affairs in the West Bank, said Israeli security forces, municipal staff and an elected official “forcibly and unlawfully” entered the Qalandiya Training Center on Aug. 25 and forced UNRWA staff out. Israeli authorities subsequently remained on the premises and began renovation and clearance work, Friedrich said in a statement on US social media company X. He said Israeli security forces appeared to have vacated the center on Aug. 28, leaving behind damage

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  Up to 3,000 people forcibly disappeared in Gaza during Israeli war: Rights group

  by Mehdi Editor on August 29, 2026

  Between 2,500 and 3,000 people are estimated to have been subjected to enforced disappearance in the Gaza Strip during Israel’s war, a Palestinian rights group said Saturday, on the eve of the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances, Anadolu reports. The Palestinian Center for Missing and Forcibly Disappeared Persons issued the estimate based on an analytical study of a sample of 317 cases, saying the findings showed indicators warranting an investigation into the possibility of a broader pattern of enforced disappearances in Gaza. The center said its study was based on reports submitted by families of missing people and cases documented in the field and did not represent all cases of missing or forcibly disappeared people in Gaza.

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  Palestinians in Gaza protest Israeli attack on water purification station, demand access to water

  by Mehdi Editor on August 29, 2026

  Palestinians in the Gaza Strip staged a protest on Friday, against an Israeli army attack on a water purification station in the Sheikh Radwan neighborhood, calling for the facility to be repaired and put back into service, Anadolu reports. Children and elderly people joined the demonstration at Sheikh Radwan Market, with some protesters carrying empty water containers and signs reading, “A drop of water is life” and “Restore the flow of water.” Dr. Imad Abu Nimeh, one of the organizers, said water shortages in the neighborhood had worsened after the station supplying residents was bombed. Protesters called for the damaged facility to be repaired and reopened to meet the water needs of residents in the area. Israeli warplanes struck the

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  Macaronis Resort in Indonesia’s Mentawai Islands: The Israeli link and the ownership questions that remain unanswered

  by Mehdi Editor on August 29, 2026

  Macaronis Resort sits on a small island in the Mentawai Islands, off Sumatra, Indonesia, famous among surfers for its powerful wave. In late August 2026, it became the subject of a different kind of attention when claims spread on Indonesian social media that it was secretly owned by a man linked to Israel. The man at the centre is Natan Baril, a Brazilian lawyer and businessman who founded and runs his own law firm, Baril Advogados. He has also held leadership roles in a Brazilian Jewish business association, and was formerly president of a Jewish community fund in Curitiba tied to a group that raises money for projects in Israel. He is Jewish and follows official Israeli accounts, including Netanyahu,

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  Sudanese army deploys brigade in Blue Nile state amid fighting with RSF

  by Mehdi Editor on August 29, 2026

  The Sudanese army on Saturday announced the deployment of a brigade to the Bakori operational axis in southeastern Blue Nile state amid fighting with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), Anadolu reports. The army’s 4th Infantry Division in Damazin said in a statement that the “Elite Brigade” of the security and intelligence service departed Saturday morning for the Bakori axis on a combat mission. “The deployment aims to reinforce forces stationed in the area, boost their operational capabilities and support ongoing military operations,” the statement said. Maj. Gen. Ismail al-Tayeb Hussein, commander of the 4th Infantry Division, stressed the importance of readiness, discipline and combat preparedness while seeing off the troops. READ: Sudanese anti-war groups meet in Ethiopia to discuss Burhan’s

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  Iranian president urges Trump to avoid creating turmoil, says dialogue can resolve problems

  by Mehdi Editor on August 29, 2026

  Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Saturday urged US President Donald Trump to avoid creating turmoil, saying problems could be resolved through dialogue and implementation of a memorandum of understanding, Anadolu reports. “If we proceed through dialogue and on the basis of the memorandum of understanding, we will resolve the problems and secure our rights,” Pezeshkian said in a ceremony in Tehran, as cited by Mehr News Agency. “It is in the interest of the country, the region and the world that Trump does not create turmoil and that Israel does not cause insecurity and aggression,” he added. Pezeshkian said Iran does not favor war but would respond firmly to any assaults. “We do not like war, but we will stand

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  Iran transfers $7.5B in oil revenues to central bank despite US naval blockade: Report

  by Mehdi Editor on August 29, 2026

  Iran transferred $7.5 billion in oil revenues from sales during the first four months of the current Iranian year to the central bank, the semi-official Fars News Agency reported Saturday. The funds would be sufficient to cover the government’s foreign-currency expenditures from July through December, the report said, citing information obtained from Iran’s Oil Ministry. Iran has enough oil available for sale outside the US naval blockade to meet the revenue requirements set under its state budget for March 21, 2026-March 20, 2027, according to the report. READ: US Treasury adds Iran-linked individual, Hong Kong-based company to sanctions list Oil revenues on March 21-July 22, the first four months of the Iranian year, reached 99% of the amount projected in the

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  2 Palestinians, including child, injured by Israeli army fire in occupied West Bank

  by Mehdi Editor on August 29, 2026

  Two Palestinians, including a child, were injured by Israeli army fire in the city of Al-Bireh in the central West Bank on Saturday, according to the Palestinian Red Crescent Society, Anadolu reports. The society said in a statement that its crews treated two people wounded by live ammunition in the Al-Amari refugee camp in Al-Bireh. One of those injured was a 15-year-old child, while the other, a young man, was shot in the foot, it said, adding that both were transferred to a hospital. READ: 89% of property fires in West Bank caused by Israeli occupiers, says Palestinian commission Israeli forces conduct military incursions across the occupied West Bank on a near-daily basis, often involving gunfire, home raids and arrests. ​​​​​​​Since

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  Iran war depletes US military stockpiles, limiting global deterrence: Report

  by Mehdi Editor on August 29, 2026

  The extensive use of advanced weaponry in the war against Iran has severely depleted US military stockpiles, limiting Washington’s ability to deter threats from China and Russia, The Wall Street Journal reported Friday, Anadolu reports. Military planners expressed concern that the resource drain has forced the US European Command, the division responsible for American military operations across the continent, to adjust its operational plans. US officials assessed that Washington could not fully execute contingency plans to defend Taiwan, the self-governing island over which China claims sovereignty, if a military operation occurs in the short term. READ: US Treasury adds Iran-linked individual, Hong Kong-based company to sanctions list Moving air defense units to the Middle East from Japan, South Korea and Germany

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  South Africa accuses Israel of defying UN court’s orders as Gaza human toll mounts

  by Mehdi Editor on August 29, 2026

  South Africa formally accused Israel of failing to adhere to three legally binding orders from the International Court of Justice (ICJ), submitting an evidence dossier to the world body, the Department of International Relations and Cooperation announced Friday, Anadolu reports. “Regrettably, Israel has not complied with the Orders,” Pretoria stated in a filing Tuesday, asserting that it will continue to pursue “all avenues available” to ensure Tel Aviv’s full and immediate adherence to the Genocide Convention. South Africa warned that the rights of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip may be “destroyed before it renders its final decision,” a situation it claimed threatens the “legitimacy of the ICJ itself.” The dossier notes that as of August, at least 73,407 Palestinians have

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  89% of property fires in West Bank caused by Israeli occupiers, says Palestinian commission

  by Mehdi Editor on August 29, 2026

  Israeli occupiers were responsible for nearly 89% of fires targeting Palestinian homes, buildings and vehicles in the occupied West Bank since the start of 2023, the Palestinian Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission said Friday, Anadolu reports. The commission said in a report that it documented 900 fires targeting Palestinian property between January 2023 and July 10, 2026. Occupiers were responsible for 799 of the fires, or 88.8%, while the remaining 101 were attributed to the Israeli army, according to the report. The number of recorded fires rose from 217 in 2023 to 264 in 2024. In 2025, there were 307 incidents. The commission documented 112 fires between the start of 2026 and July 10. READ: West Bank has become ‘a lawless

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  Podcast by Jasim Al-Azzawi with Mark Pfeifeil: Trump says I stopped thinking about time, is this self-denial or self-deception?

  by Mehdi Editor on August 29, 2026

  WATCH: Podcast by Jasim Al-Azzawi with Max Blumenthal: The Grayzone: David vs The Empire

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  Iran’s Revolutionary Guard says US claims about Hormuz are ‘lies’ to manipulate oil prices

  by Mehdi Editor on August 29, 2026

  Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy said Friday that US claims that the Strait of Hormuz is open are “lies” aimed at manipulating oil prices and concealing Washington’s failures, Anadolu reports. The IRGC Navy said in a statement by Iran’s state broadcaster IRIB that US officials had made “false and misleading” statements about the waterway’s status. “Statements by American officials regarding the opening of the Strait of Hormuz are an outright lie, aimed only at manipulating oil prices and covering up their failures,” it said. The IRGC Navy said its control of the strategic waterway was “decisive,” asserting that the strait will remain closed to all vessels seeking to pass without coordination with Iran. It said the measure will

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  Iran seeks stronger relations with Muslim countries, particularly neighbors: Foreign minister

  by Mehdi Editor on August 29, 2026

  Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Friday that Tehran seeks stronger political and economic relations with Muslim countries, particularly its neighbors, Anadolu reports. “We want good relations with all Islamic countries, especially neighboring countries,” Araghchi said during a meeting with guests at the 40th International Islamic Unity Conference, according to his Telegram account. “We seek broader economic relations with all Islamic countries, and, thank God, we have extensive relations with all of them,” he added. Turning to Egypt, he said there were no grounds for disagreement between Tehran and Cairo. “We seek good relations with Egypt,” he said. “Whenever our friends in Egypt reach a decision and are ready to restore relations, we will also be ready.” Regarding Lebanon, the

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  3 Palestinians killed in Israeli strike in occupied West Bank: Health Ministry

  by Mehdi Editor on August 29, 2026

  Three Palestinians were killed Friday in an Israeli drone strike in the occupied West Bank city of Jenin, with Israeli forces detaining their bodies, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry, Anadolu reports. The ministry said the Public Authority for Civil Affairs, which serves as the official Palestinian liaison with Israel, informed it that three Palestinians were killed after being targeted by a drone in Jenin and that Israeli forces had taken custody of their bodies. The victims were identified as Qais Bitawi, 22; Basel Turkman, 26; and Moamen Jaradat, 22, it said. Earlier, an Israeli drone struck a partially built home in western Jenin, the first aerial strike on the city in nearly 10 months. The strike targeted the half-built

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  Pakistan, cricket, and the lunch break comedy of a nervous regime

  by Mehdi Editor on August 29, 2026

  Some governments fear elections. Others fear protests, judges, journalists or students. Pakistan’s rulers have reached a more exquisite stage of political insecurity: they appear frightened by a lunch break at a cricket match. At Lord’s, the absurdity was almost too perfect. Michael Atherton interviewed Kasim and Sulaiman Khan, the sons of Imran Khan, about their father’s health, restricted family contact and treatment in prison. Sky Sports broadcast it. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) complained and reportedly even considered keeping Pakistan’s players from returning to the field after lunch. Nothing says “stable state” quite like threatening a Test match because two sons spoke about their seventy-three-year-old father. That reaction told us more than the interview did. A government confident in its

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  Iran says it agreed with Oman on Hormuz passage route, links reopening to US commitments

  by Marwa A on August 28, 2026

  Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Friday that Tehran had agreed with Oman on a passage route through the Strait of Hormuz and would reopen the strategic waterway if the US fulfilled its commitments under the Islamabad Memorandum signed in June, Anadolu reports. “We agreed with Oman on the passage route through Hormuz, and if the US fulfills its commitments under the memorandum of understanding, we will open the strait,” Pezeshkian said, according to Iranian official news agency IRNA. Pezeshkian said the passage route had also been communicated to Iran’s supreme leader. “We are now following up on the matter. If the US fulfills its commitments regarding lifting the sanctions and blockade, releasing assets, beginning investment and ending the war

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  US Democratic senators urge Israel to halt settlement plan in occupied West Bank

  by Marwa A on August 28, 2026

  A group of Democratic senators is urging Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to cancel a planned settlement project in the occupied West Bank that they say would effectively divide the Palestinian territory, Anadolu reports. In a statement Friday led by Arizona Democratic Sen. Ruben Gallego, 29 lawmakers criticized Israel’s decision to open bidding for construction in the E1 area east of Jerusalem, according to The Hill. “The United States must remain committed to a two-state solution that delivers lasting peace and security for both the Jewish, democratic State of Israel and for a future Palestinian state,” the Democrats wrote. “Construction in E1 would take us further away from that goal.” The project includes seven residential compounds totaling 1,234 housing units.

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  UN says 330,000 remain displaced across Lebanon

  by Marwa A on August 28, 2026

  UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric warned on Friday that some 330,000 people remain displaced across Lebanon as renewed hostilities in the country’s south continue to take a heavy toll on civilians, Anadolu reports. Briefing reporters in New York, Dujarric said around 820,000 people returned to their communities over the past few months, including nearly 90% of those displaced in the South Governorate. “However, some 330,000 people displaced across remained displaced across Lebanon,” he said, adding that humanitarian access remained a major challenge, particularly south of the Litani River. “Access constraints are hampering humanitarian teams from reaching some of the communities and delaying assessments, monitoring the restoration of essential services, and the delivery of food assistance,” Dujarric said. He stressed that “unimpeded

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  ‘We hate the term resilient’: Surviving puberty during a genocide

  by Marwa A on August 28, 2026

  Tens of thousands of girls in Gaza have experienced puberty since October 2023. At an already sensitive time, these girls have been left with no access to proper menstrual supplies or education about the transition to adulthood. 12-year-old Sara was sharing a single classroom with more than 40 people when she got her first period. Her family were displaced in the Rimal neighbourhood, Gaza City, where they had found shelter in a repurposed school after fleeing Israeli bombardment. Unprepared for this moment, Sara had no hygiene supplies or kits to ease the surprise of menstruating for the first time. Recalling this time, her mother says: “Severe overcrowding in the classroom turned a natural biological milestone into a source of fear,

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  German Left Party opposes Volkswagen’s planned defence deal with Israeli firm

  by Marwa A on August 28, 2026

  German auto giant Volkswagen’s revived plans to convert production at its Osnabruck plant to military equipment in partnership with Israel’s state-owned Rafael drew sharp condemnation on Friday from the opposition Left Party, Anadolu reports. Thomas Gross, the party’s mayoral candidate in Osnabruck for next month’s election, strongly criticized Volkswagen’s management over the controversial proposal and for leaving thousands of workers in the dark about their future. Cooperating with an Israeli state-owned enterprise is incompatible with Osnabruck’s tradition as a “City of Peace,” Gross said in a statement to Anadolu, citing the city’s legacy as the birthplace of the 1648 Peace of Westphalia, which helped lay the foundations of modern international law. He added that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government

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  US Treasury adds Iran-linked individual, Hong Kong-based company to sanctions list

  by Mehdi Editor on August 28, 2026

  The US Treasury Department announced on Friday that it added an Iran-linked individual and a Hong Kong-based company to its sanctions list, as Washington steps up pressure on Tehran and entities accused of helping it evade sanctions, Anadolu reports. Reza Mohammad Taeedi, a Dubai-based Iranian national and the general manager of the Dubai branch of Iran’s Bank Melli, was added to the Office of Foreign Assets Control’s (OFAC) Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) List. Taeedi is subject to secondary sanctions and was designated under counterterrorism and Iran-related authorities. The department also designated Kameng Trading Limited, a Hong Kong-based company established in July 2024, under an Iran-related executive order. READ: US cannot achieve its goals through economic pressure: Iranian president The moves came

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  Israel says it carried out airstrike in West Bank city of Jenin

  by Mehdi Editor on August 28, 2026

  The Israeli army on Friday announced that its forces had carried out an airstrike targeting several Palestinians in the occupied West Bank city of Jenin. In a brief statement, the army said Israeli warplanes had “precisely struck” several people — it did not say exactly how many — in the city. It provided no further details about the identities of those targeted or the outcome of the attack. There was no immediate response by Palestinian sources regarding casualties resulting from the reported strike. READ: West Bank has become’a lawless land,’ says top Catholic in Jerusalem

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  Operation Economic Outcast: Washington swaps missiles for money, but the math still doesn’t add up

  by Mehdi Editor on August 28, 2026

  Washington has changed weapons. It has not changed its problem. On 24 August, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stood before reporters and announced what officials had spent ten days branding as an “economic D-Day” against Iran. He called it “Operation Economic Outcast.” He promised to “sever every economic lifeline that sustains this tyrannical regime until Tehran stands alone.” The military campaign had stalled. The financial one now carries the weight instead. A threat without a timeline Bessent’s language left no room for ambiguity. He warned that any entity helping Iran launder money “will be removed from the US dollar system,” adding that “the clock just started ticking.” But he named no countries. He set no deadline. When a reporter pressed him

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  Iran’s security chief dismisses alleged plot against Trump’s son as ‘fabricated propaganda’

  by Mehdi Editor on August 28, 2026

  Tehran on Thursday rejected reports of an alleged Iranian plot targeting US President Donald Trump’s son, calling the claims “fabricated propaganda,” according to Iran’s ISNA news agency. Iranian Supreme National Security Council Secretary Mohsen Rezaei described the allegations as “Netanyahu’s tricks,” referring to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “The claim that there is a plot against Trump’s son is nothing but a big lie designed by Netanyahu to deceive and frighten the US president,” he said. His remarks came after Iran’s state broadcaster recently aired an AI-generated video containing information about the residence and movements of Barron Trump, the US president’s youngest son, in New York. READ: Rezaei describes Strait of Hormuz as a strategic deterrent, says Iran will protect it

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  Podcast by Jasim Al-Azzawi with Max Blumenthal: The Grayzone: David vs The Empire

  by Mehdi Editor on August 28, 2026

  WATCH: Podcast by Jasim Al-Azzawi with Scott Uehlinger: A Snap of The ME: Sanctions, Alliances, and Rising Tensions

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  Israeli finance minister unveils plan to ‘Judaize’ Negev, Galilee ahead of elections

  by Mehdi Editor on August 28, 2026

  Far-right Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has unveiled a plan to “Judaize” the Negev in southern Israel and Galilee in the north by bringing 1 million Jews to the two areas, following what he described as a “settlement revolution” in the occupied West Bank, Anadolu reports. Smotrich, leader of the far-right Religious Zionism party, published the plan Thursday evening on the party’s website under the title “Yes. Judaizing!” “The settlement revolution in Judea and Samaria is coming to the Negev and Galilee,” Smotrich said, using Israel’s term for the occupied West Bank. He said the plan seeks to apply the “concept of action” used in the occupied West Bank to the Negev and Galilee. The plan includes establishing 20 new

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  Israeli forces raid, search home in southwestern Syria’s Quneitra province: State media

  by Mehdi Editor on August 28, 2026

  Israeli forces raided and searched a home Friday in Taranja village in the northern countryside of southwestern Syria’s Quneitra province, Syrian state media reported, Anadolu reports. State-run Alikhbaria TV, citing its correspondent, said the raid took place during an Israeli incursion into the area. The broadcaster did not provide further details on whether the incursion resulted in casualties, arrests or damage. Last month, Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa said Damascus was working to reach a security agreement with Israel that would “pave the way for a comprehensive peace without relinquishing Syria’s right to the occupied Golan Heights.” READ: Israel will not leave Mount Hermon, Syrian buffer zone: Defence minister Israel has occupied most of the Syrian Golan Heights since 1967. Before the

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  Thousands more Gaza patients await medical evacuation: WHO chief

  by Mehdi Editor on August 28, 2026

  Thousands of patients in the Gaza Strip are still awaiting medical evacuation for urgent treatment, the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) said Friday, Anadolu reports. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the agency last week supported the evacuation of 106 patients, including 19 children, through the Rafah and Kerem Shalom crossings. They were accompanied by 132 people. Since October 2023, 13,237 patients, including 6,276 children, and 16,406 companions have been evacuated from Gaza, Tedros said on the US social media company X. “Medical evacuations give people in need of urgent care a chance of survival,” he said. READ: Gaza Health Ministry reports more than 6,000 amputations amid prosthetics shortage Tedros stressed that sustained access through multiple crossing routes is

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  Dialogue ‘only viable way out’ of US-Iran conflict, China says amid sanctions threats

  by Mehdi Editor on August 28, 2026

  China on Friday reiterated that dialogue and diplomatic negotiations “are the only viable way out” of tensions between Washington and Tehran amid new US economic sanctions against Iran, Anadolu reports. On Iran, “dialogue and negotiations are the only viable way out,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian told reporters in Beijing. “China opposes illegal, unilateral sanctions (and) our position is consistent and clear,” he stressed. Lin’s remarks followed comments by US President Donald Trump, who hinted at sanctioning Chinese banks over their ties with Iran. READ: Trump warns China, Russia against providing arms to Iran, says it ‘would be very bad for them’ When asked in the Oval Office on Thursday whether Washington plans to sanction Chinese banks tied to Iran, Trump

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  Poland voices concern over Israeli forces’ entry into UNRWA facility in occupied East Jerusalem

  by Mehdi Editor on August 28, 2026

  Poland on Friday expressed concern over Israeli forces’ entry into and seizure of a UN agency for Palestinian refugees’ facility in occupied East Jerusalem, calling the move a violation of international law, Anadolu reports. “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has noted with concern another decision by the Israeli authorities that violates the principles of international law and is hostile toward the United Nations Organization and its specialized agency, UNRWA,” the ministry wrote on US social media company X. The ministry said it shared the UN’s position that the incursion by Israeli security forces into the Qalandiya Training Center in occupied East Jerusalem constituted a “breach of the principle of the inviolability of UN premises.” “We join the Secretary-General’s appeal to

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  3 Palestinians from same family killed in Israeli drone strike in southern Gaza

  by Mehdi Editor on August 28, 2026

  Three Palestinians from the same family were killed Friday in an Israeli drone strike in Al-Qarara, north of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, according to medical and local sources, Anadolu reports. A medical source at Nasser Hospital told Anadolu that the bodies of the three Palestinians were brought to the facility after the Israeli strike near Al-Matahin junction in Al-Qarara. Witnesses and local sources told Anadolu that the victims were two brothers and their cousin from the Abdeen family. An Israeli drone struck them while they were outside their home, killing all three, the sources said. In central Gaza, a Palestinian was moderately injured by Israeli military vehicle fire east of Deir al-Balah, according to a medical source

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  Mecca defense pact has sent ‘message of unity, peace throughout region’: Pakistan premier

  by Mehdi Editor on August 28, 2026

  The Mecca joint defense pact signed by Turkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan earlier this month “has sent a message of unity and peace throughout the region,” Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Friday, Anadolu reports. Sharif made the remarks during a meeting with Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Abdulrahman bin Abdulmohsen Al-Fadley, according to a statement from the Pakistani Prime Minister’s Office. Turkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan signed the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement at a trilateral summit in Mecca on Aug. 7, pledging to strengthen collective security, deepen defense cooperation and promote peace and stability in the region and beyond. The agreement was signed by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and

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  Iran says putting diplomacy with US back on track ‘isn’t impossible’

  by Mehdi Editor on August 28, 2026

  Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Friday said that putting diplomacy with the US back on track is “not impossible,” following talks with Qatar’s prime minister and foreign minister in Tehran, Anadolu reports. Araghchi said on US social media company X that he “had creative discussions” with Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani. “Putting diplomacy back on track isn’t impossible. It hinges on U.S. understanding of one simple fact: pressure doesn’t work,” he said. “The U.S. should build trust, speak respectfully, acknowledge our rights, and uphold commitments,” the Iranian foreign minister added. OPINION: Can the economic blockade on Iran succeed this time? Sheikh Mohammed visited Tehran on Thursday as Doha continued diplomatic efforts to de-escalate tensions

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  Pakistan and Kuwait sign military cooperation agreement

  by Mehdi Editor on August 28, 2026

  Pakistan and Kuwait announced on Thursday the signing of a new security and military cooperation agreement, expanding defence ties between Islamabad and the Gulf state. According to the official announcement, the agreement covers a range of areas including military training, cooperation between the armed forces, logistical support and the exchange of military personnel, experts and technicians. The framework also provides for cooperation in military intelligence, communications and information systems, as well as defence and military industries. Scientific and technological cooperation is also included in the agreement, alongside joint cultural, sporting and social activities involving the two countries’ armed forces. READ: Kuwait ratifies defense cooperation agreement with Pakistan The agreement comes amid Pakistan’s efforts to expand its defence partnerships in the Middle

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  Israeli military officials warn funding shortfall could disrupt operations in 2027

  by Mehdi Editor on August 28, 2026

  Senior Israeli military officials have warned that failure to secure additional defence funding could force the army to scale back reserve deployments, intelligence operations and preparations for a potential renewed confrontation with Iran, according to Israel’s Kan News. One senior military official said insufficient funding could lead to the suspension of some reserve duty in the Northern and Southern Commands. “We will be forced to reduce intelligence-gathering operations, and we will not be able to adequately prepare for a possible renewed conflict with Iran,” the official was quoted as saying. Another senior official warned that the government formed following Israel’s elections would have approximately four months to restructure the defence budget and secure the required funding, saying delays could make

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  Netanyahu urges Smotrich and Ben-Gvir to unite ahead of elections

  by Mehdi Editor on August 28, 2026

  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday called on far-right ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir to run on a joint electoral list, warning that divisions within the right-wing bloc could cost it parliamentary seats. Netanyahu argued that fragmentation among right-wing parties could result in some failing to cross Israel’s electoral threshold, potentially weakening the bloc’s overall representation in the Knesset. “Whenever the right runs united in elections, it wins, and whenever it is divided, it loses,” Netanyahu said. READ: Netanyahu in closed talks: Likud will lose election unless situation changes He cited Israel’s 1992 election, arguing that although right-wing parties collectively received more votes than the left, divisions among them resulted in votes being lost when some parties failed to

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  Tanker hit by unidentified projectile in Strait of Hormuz, UKMTO says

  by Mehdi Editor on August 28, 2026

  A tanker was struck by an unidentified projectile while transiting the Strait of Hormuz, causing a fire that was subsequently extinguished, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO). UKMTO said local authorities reported that the incident occurred on 25th August. All crew members were reported safe, while authorities were investigating the circumstances of the incident and the origin of the projectile. The maritime security agency advised vessels operating in and around the Strait of Hormuz to exercise caution and report any suspicious activity, citing a heightened threat environment in the region. READ: Report: US offers Iran sanctions relief in exchange for reopening Strait of Hormuz The incident comes amid continuing tensions around the Strait of Hormuz, a strategically important

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  Report examines risk of Israel-Turkey escalation in Syria and possible Pakistani role

  by Mehdi Editor on August 28, 2026

  Growing tensions between Israel and Turkey over their competing security interests in Syria have prompted speculation about whether Pakistan could become involved in the event of a broader confrontation, according to an analysis published by Turkish media. The analysis, published by Turkiye Today, examined the implications of the 18th August Israeli strike on the Abu al-Duhur airbase in northwestern Syria, which Israeli reports have linked to efforts to prevent Turkey from establishing a military presence at the facility. The tensions come amid competition over security arrangements and military influence in Syria following the fall of former President Bashar al-Assad’s government. Analysts cited in the report said a direct military confrontation between Israel and Turkey remained unlikely, but warned that competing

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  Gaza Health Ministry reports more than 6,000 amputations amid prosthetics shortage

  by Mehdi Editor on August 28, 2026

  More than 6,000 amputations have been recorded in the Gaza Strip since the start of the war, as shortages of medical supplies and equipment hamper efforts to provide prosthetic limbs and rehabilitation services, according to Gaza’s Ministry of Health. Husni Muhanna, media and public relations officer at Gaza’s Prosthetics and Paralysis Center, said children account for approximately 25 percent of people receiving services at the facility. He said treating children with amputations presents particular challenges because they require specialized rehabilitation and prosthetic limbs that must be repeatedly adapted as they grow. Muhanna said restrictions on the entry of medical and technical supplies have significantly limited the center’s ability to respond to the growing number of patients requiring prosthetics. The center

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  UN condemns Trump administration’s designation of Palestine action as terrorist group

  by Mehdi Editor on August 28, 2026

  The UN Human Rights Office said on Thursday that the Trump administration’s designation of Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation imposes disproportionate and unnecessary restrictions on freedom of expression. The office of UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk said the designation “appears to be both a disproportionate and unnecessary ⁠restriction on the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association as well as the right ​to participate in public affairs,”   READ: Palestine Action ‘Barclays five’ won’t face terrorism sentences, UK judge rules It added that the expanded use of the term “terrorism” has a negative impact on civic space. Washington designated Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation on Wednesday, saying the move was part of US President Donald

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  Israeli general says Hamas has no intention of giving up its weapons

  by Mehdi Editor on August 28, 2026

  Israeli reserve Major General Amos Gilad, former head of the Political-Military Affairs Bureau at the Defence Ministry, has criticised what he described as a gap between the Israeli army’s military achievements and the policies pursued by the government, warning that Hamas is not actually moving towards giving up its weapons but is instead manoeuvring politically to ensure its survival. Speaking to Roni Bar-On and Maya Ziv Wolf on their programme on 103 FM radio, Gilad said Hamas might make statements suggesting it is prepared to disarm, but “has no intention of disappearing”. He said the movement was seeking to use negotiations and different political positions to preserve its presence. READ: Hamas fighters killed in Gaza strikes, including Sinwar’s personal guard: Israeli army

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  Iran’s Rezaei: Any US deal conditional on end to Lebanon war

  by Mehdi Editor on August 28, 2026

  Iranian Supreme National Security Council Secretary Mohsen Rezaei has said that Tehran considers Lebanon’s security part of the security of the entire West Asia region and regards Beirut’s southern suburbs as a “red line”. In an interview with Al Manar TV broadcast on Thursday evening, Rezaei discussed the latest developments in Lebanon and the region. He praised Lebanese people of all sects and groups for their unity in confronting Israel. He also praised Hezbollah Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem for his role in “leading the resistance” at the current stage, and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri for his role in Lebanon’s political arena. He also paid tribute to those killed in Lebanon and Hezbollah. Regarding any possible understanding with the United States,

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  Wildfires in Algeria claim at least 12 lives across several provinces

  by Mehdi Editor on August 28, 2026

  At least 12 people have died in wildfires that have swept through several provinces in Algeria, Interior Minister Said Sayoud said Wednesday, according to local media. The 159 fire outbreaks reported across the country have claimed five lives in Jijel, four in Bejaia and three in Tizi Ouzou. Sayoud traveled to Bejaia to assess the situation and inspect the response to the fires, local media reported. He visited a 60-bed hospital in Souk El Tenine to check on people injured in the wildfires and review the medical care being provided. READ: 78 suspects detained in crackdown on Europe-Algeria smuggling network

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  Israeli report: Egypt may acquire Russian S-400 missiles through deal with Turkey

  by Mehdi Editor on August 28, 2026

  Egypt is considering buying Russian S-400 air defence systems from Turkey as part of a strategic move to diversify its sources of arms, raising concerns in Israel. The Israeli news platform Natziv Net reported that reports of Turkey offering or considering selling Russian S-400 air defence systems to Egypt, as well as Qatar and the UAE, which have also been identified as potential buyers, represent a complex strategic move with far-reaching implications for the Middle East and Israel. The Israeli outlet said Turkey’s main reason for selling the S-400 is its strong desire to return to the US F-35 stealth fighter programme. READ: Egypt, Iran discuss regional de-escalation, implementation of Tehran-Washington memorandum It said Washington removed Ankara from the programme and

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  Israeli media: Israel tells US pilot zone project in southern Lebanon has failed

  by Mehdi Editor on August 28, 2026

  Israel has told the United States that a pilot zone project launched in southern Lebanon following the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Beirut and Tel Aviv “has failed”, an Israeli news website reported.  Walla news website reported on Thursday that Israel had sent a message to Washington through security channels saying the “pilot zone” project in southern Lebanon had failed. It said Israel had expressed its “dissatisfaction” with the Lebanese army’s handling of infrastructure that Tel Aviv claims belongs to Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. READ: Israeli strikes trigger new wave of displacement in Lebanon despite ceasefire: UN The website quoted unnamed Israeli security officials as claiming that the Lebanese army “does not destroy infrastructure at sites for which the

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  UAE security adviser Tahnoun backs Trump family’s new US bank

  by Mehdi Editor on August 28, 2026

  Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE national security adviser and brother of the country’s president, is among the leading investors backing a new US bank being prepared for launch by Trump family-linked company World Liberty Financial, The Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday. People familiar with the matter told the newspaper that Tahnoun and other investors are behind an entity that owns 49 per cent — the largest stake — in the holding company established by World Liberty Financial to house its banking project. Tahnoun backed a $500 million investment in World Liberty Financial last year in exchange for a 49 per cent stake in the company, according to an earlier Wall Street Journal report. READ: US, UAE to

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  Can the economic blockade on Iran succeed this time?

  by Mehdi Editor on August 28, 2026

  On 24 August, the Trump administration launched an operation called “Economic Outcast”, describing it as the largest economic offensive ever undertaken against Iran’s financial links around the world, aimed at cutting off every potential source of revenue that funds the country, and as more forceful than any such campaign the United States has previously launched against its adversaries. This operation threatens any party dealing with the Iranian regime with direct confrontation with the United States. Washington is returning to the use of an economic blockade against Iran after failing to achieve the outcomes it sought from the war it launched against the country. The blockade was tested during Donald Trump’s first term and inflicted damage on Iran, but failed to

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  Trump says millions of barrels of oil flowing through Strait of Hormuz

  by Mehdi Editor on August 27, 2026

  US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that millions of barrels of oil are continuing to pass through the Strait of Hormuz despite tensions with Iran, Anadolu reports. “The strait is open. The Strait of Hormuz is open. We have control, and we have the blockade,” Trump said in remarks at the White House. “We’re taking a lot of boats,” he added. “Millions and millions of barrels of oil are coming out of the strait every day.” Trump said US forces had cleared the waterway of mines and were closely monitoring maritime activity. “We have the best minesweepers in the world. They’re underwater minesweepers, and we’ve totally cleared the strait of mines,” he said. READ: Qatar pledges support to ease hardships

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  Iran can move past ‘painful events’ with Qatar, resume cooperation: President Pezeshkian

  by Mehdi Editor on August 27, 2026

  Iran and Qatar can move beyond recent “painful events” and resume bilateral cooperation, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Thursday. His remarks came during a meeting with Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, according to Iran’s Tasnim news agency. “All the legal rights of the Iranian people must be recognized,” Pezeshkian said. “The Islamic Republic of Iran demands nothing beyond its legal rights and will not surrender to pressure or bullying,” he added. Pezeshkian said Iran and Qatar had planned to undertake numerous joint initiatives, but the war delayed the implementation of agreements and the development of bilateral relations. READ: Qatar pledges support to ease hardships facing Iranian people He accused Israel of seeking to prevent the establishment