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

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  Violent drone attacks target bases of Iranian Kurdish opposition parties in Iraq’s Kurdistan

  by Mehdi Editor on July 28, 2026

  Violent drone attacks targeted bases of Iranian Kurdish opposition parties in Iraq’s Kurdistan region on Monday evening, after air defences intercepted drones over the city of Erbil, according to Iraqi media. The US-led international coalition also shot down an Iranian drone in the border area of Soran near Iran, the same sources said. Iraqi news agency Shafaq News reported that the headquarters of two Iranian Kurdish opposition parties were targeted in separate attacks involving three drones in the Bahrka and Khalifan areas, north of Erbil province. No casualties were reported. The agency quoted Karim Barouzi, a senior official in the Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran (KDPI), as saying that a drone struck the party’s Jiznikan camp in the Bahrka area,

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  Israel expands ‘yellow zone’, forcing thousands more Gazans to flee again – Israeli media

  by Mehdi Editor on July 28, 2026

  Israel is continuing to expand its control over the Gaza Strip by moving yellow concrete barriers deeper into the territory, after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel now controls 70 per cent of the enclave, according to Yedioth Ahronoth. The Israeli newspaper, citing Palestinian sources, reported that the barriers are being placed further west, reducing the areas where civilians can move and triggering new waves of displacement. The latest expansion reportedly took place over the past 24 hours east of Gaza City, near Salah al-Din Road. According to the report, the deeper advance is intended to increase pressure on Hamas while providing the Israeli military with wider security zones to protect its forward positions and nearby Israeli settlements. The report

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  Israel releases 60 more Palestinian detainees under ceasefire deal

  by Mehdi Editor on July 28, 2026

  Sixty Palestinians, released by the Israeli military, arrived in the central Gaza Strip through the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) on Monday, Anadolu reports. The 60 prisoners who arrived in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip became the largest single group of prisoners handed over since the prisoner exchanges. Family members welcomed the released detainees upon their arrival at the Nasser Hospital. ICRC announced that it has facilitated the transfer of more than 2,500 released Palestinian detainees since 2023. In a statement, the humanitarian organization highlighted that it has been unable to visit or gain access to Palestinian detainees held in Israeli detention since October 2023. READ: Israeli army detains at least 70 Palestinians across West Bank, 8 injured

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  Former Israeli intelligence chief labels war a ” major strategic failure” despite military gains

  by Mehdi Editor on July 28, 2026

  A former senior Israeli intelligence officer has described the war as a major strategic failure, saying Hamas remains intact despite what he called Israel’s “exceptional operational achievements”.  Brigadier General (Res.) Dror Shalom, former head of the Research Division at Israeli Military Intelligence (Aman) and former head of the Political-Military Bureau at the Israeli Ministry of Defence, said the war represented “a resounding failure at the strategic level”. Shalom made the remarks during a conference organised by the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS) and Yedioth Ahronoth, in his first public interview since leaving military service. He criticised Israel’s handling of the fighting on multiple fronts. He said Israel had achieved significant military gains, “but at the strategic level there is

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  Hundreds of former Israeli officials urge Trump ahead of Netanyahu meeting

  by Mehdi Editor on July 28, 2026

  Around 600 former senior Israeli officials have sent a letter to US President Donald Trump ahead of his meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, urging him to act over escalating settler violence in the occupied West Bank. According to the letter, revealed by Hebrew-language media, the former officials warned of what they described as “terrorist activity carried out by settlers” in the West Bank. The signatories, including former senior officials from the Israeli military, the Mossad, the Shin Bet and Israel’s Foreign Ministry, said the growing wave of violence could prove “more destructive” than Hamas’ 7 October attack and its aftermath. The letter was sent to the White House and several US officials, including Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff.

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  Hemeti orders urgent tactical shift after army advances in North Kordofan

  by Mehdi Editor on July 28, 2026

  Rapid Support Forces (RSF) commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemeti, has ordered his troops to change their military strategy in his first public appearance since the Sudanese army announced it had captured several areas in North Kordofan state. In a recorded video released on Monday, Hemeti urged his forces to “change their way” starting immediately and called on RSF fighters to stop filming their movements, saying such videos provide the army with useful intelligence. He also instructed his troops to comply with military rules and regulations and to protect civilians, adding: “From today, there is no sleep. It is do or die.” Hemeti said the RSF leadership was now on the front lines and announced that he would join

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  UN: Israeli settlers carried out 1,330 attacks in West Bank since January

  by Mehdi Editor on July 28, 2026

  The UN said Israeli settlers have carried out more than 1,330 attacks in the occupied West Bank since the start of 2026, causing casualties and damage to Palestinian property. The UN humanitarian affairs office (OCHA) said in a statement on Monday that it was deeply concerned “over the escalating violence across the West Bank in recent days.”     The agency stated that since January, it had “documented more than 1,330 incidents involving Israeli settlers that resulted in casualties, property damage, or both.” According to OCHA, at least eight Palestinians, including a child, and two Israelis have been killed since last Thursday, while others have been injured. The office added that homes, mosques, trees and agricultural facilities had been burned or vandalised, with

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  Iraq orders probe into reported drone attacks on Saudi Arabia from its territory

  by Mehdi Editor on July 27, 2026

  Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi ordered security authorities on Monday to investigate drone attacks targeting Saudi Arabia that were reportedly launched from Iraqi territory, Anadolu reports. Al-Zaidi, who is the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, directed the relevant security agencies to investigate information provided by the Saudi side, according to a statement by his spokesman, Sabah al-Numan. “The Iraqi government reaffirms its constitutional and unwavering commitment to the principles of good neighborliness and to not allowing the use of Iraqi territory as a corridor or launchpad for any attack targeting brotherly or friendly countries,” he said. Baghdad is “examining the evidence and information” and will take legal action against anyone proven to have been involved, depending on the investigation’s findings,

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  Trump dismisses Israeli opposition to potential F-35 sale to Turkiye

  by Mehdi Editor on July 27, 2026

  US President Donald Trump on Monday rejected Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s opposition to the potential sale of F-35 fighter jets to Turkiye, Anadolu reports. “Nobody tells me what we should be selling,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One. He described Turkiye as a “tremendous ally” that has done a “very good job” in regional matters, including Syria. While acknowledging that Ankara is “not a big fan” of Israel or Netanyahu, the US president emphasized that the bilateral partnership between Washington and Ankara remains strong. During the NATO summit in Turkiye, Trump said he would “certainly consider” restoring sales to Ankara, characterizing Turkiye as being “much more loyal than other countries.” READ: Netanyahu urges Trump to block Turkish access to

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  CENTCOM says US forces redirected 17 commercial vessels, boarded 2

  by Mehdi Editor on July 27, 2026

  US Central Command (CENTCOM) said Monday that its forces had redirected 17 commercial vessels, disabled two and boarded two while enforcing a US maritime blockade against Iran, Anadolu reports. In a post on US social media company X, CENTCOM said the actions were carried out to ensure compliance during operations in the Arabian Sea. CENTCOM also shared a photo showing a US sailor standing watch aboard the guided-missile destroyer USS Frank E. Petersen Jr. (DDG 121) as it patrolled the Arabian Sea in support of the blockade. The command did not identify the vessels involved or provide further details on the enforcement actions. READ: Trump says there is ‘good chance’ of deal with Iran

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  Netanyahu flight to US again crosses ICC member states’ airspace

  by Mehdi Editor on July 27, 2026

  The aircraft carrying Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the US on Monday again crossed the airspace of European countries that are parties to the International Criminal Court (ICC), despite the court’s arrest warrant against him, Anadolu reports. According to Flightradar data, the aircraft passed through the airspace of Greece, Italy and France, all ICC member states, on its way to Washington. The route closely resembled those used during Netanyahu’s previous visits to the US on Dec. 28 and Feb. 10. During his trip to New York in September 2025, Netanyahu’s aircraft flew through the airspace of Greece and Italy but did not enter French airspace. The ICC has issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant

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  UN chief ‘deeply concerned’ by Israeli plans to legalize West Bank outposts

  by Mehdi Editor on July 27, 2026

  The UN on Monday expressed grave concern over Israeli plans to accelerate the legalization of outposts and establish new ones in the occupied West Bank, Anadolu reports. “The Secretary-General (Antonio Guterres) is deeply concerned at the recent announcement by the Israeli authorities … including reports of an accelerated process to legalize farm outposts and establish new ones,” deputy spokesperson Farhan Haq told reporters. He emphasized Guterres’ position that all settlements, including outposts, lack legal validity and represent a “flagrant violation of international law.” Haq warned that such activities remain a “major obstacle” to achieving a two-state solution and lasting peace. The remarks follow a surge in violence by Israeli occupiers against Palestinians and their property in recent weeks. Haq highlighted

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  Trump says there is ‘good chance’ of deal with Iran

  by Mehdi Editor on July 27, 2026

  US President Donald Trump said on Monday that there is a good chance” of reaching a deal with Iran, but warned that Washington would resume military operation if negotiations fail, Anadolu reports. “They want to meet, and we are meeting. We’ll what happens. There is a chance we can make a deal,” Trump told reporters. “Without what we did, they wouldn’t even be talking to us,” he added. “We’re talking with Iran right now,” he said. “We are having good talks. So, we’ll see what happens. There is a good chance something can happen.” “If it doesn’t, then we go back to doing what we were doing two days ago,” he said, without elaborating. “They would not have requested the

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  Colombia to restore relations with Israel and halt embassy plans in Palestine

  by Mehdi Editor on July 27, 2026

  Colombia’s incoming government is preparing to reverse one of the most significant foreign policy shifts of President Gustavo Petro’s administration by restoring full diplomatic relations with Israel, halting plans to open an embassy in Palestine, and advancing the relocation of Colombia’s embassy to occupied Jerusalem. The changes, announced by President-elect Abelardo de la Espriella, mark a dramatic departure from Petro’s pro-Palestinian foreign policy and signal Colombia’s return to its traditional alignment with Israel and the United States. De la Espriella announced that his administration will suspend the opening of Colombia’s embassy in Palestine, arguing that the diplomatic mission “never actually became operational.” The decision forms part of a broader restructuring of Colombia’s foreign policy that includes closing several embassies and

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  Yemen’s Houthis announce deaths of 9 fighters amid escalating clashes with gov’t forces

  by Mehdi Editor on July 27, 2026

  Yemen’s Houthi group announced Monday that nine of its fighters had been killed amid escalating military confrontations with Yemeni government forces backed by the Saudi-led coalition in recent days. The group’s Al-Masirah television aired footage showing funeral ceremonies for the nine fighters, according to an Anadolu Agency correspondent. Three were buried in the northern province of Saada, two in the southwestern province of Taiz, and four others in the provinces of Ibb, Amran, and Sanaa. READ: Yemen’s Houthis claim drone attack on oil supply, transport points in Saudi Arabia The report did not specify when or where they were killed, saying only that they had died in a “decisive battle with Saudi Arabia” — an apparent reference to fighting with Yemeni

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  Israeli violations in Lebanon may amount to ‘war crimes’: UN rights chief

  by Mehdi Editor on July 27, 2026

  The UN human rights chief said on Monday that his office has documented large-scale violations of international humanitarian law in Lebanon, some of which may amount to war crimes, Anadolu reports. “My office has recorded large-scale violations of international humanitarian law, some possibly amounting to war crimes, and under certain circumstances they may also constitute crimes under international law,” Volker Turk told a news conference in Beirut. Since March 2, more than 4,300 people have been killed and 12,200 injured in Lebanon, according to figures from Lebanese authorities, Turk said. He added that more than 135 health care workers, as well as many journalists and media workers, were among those killed. Israel launched a new offensive in Lebanon early March

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  Saudi Arabia calls on Iraq to prevent its territory from being used for attacks

  by Mehdi Editor on July 27, 2026

  Saudi Arabia on Monday called on the Iraqi government to take all necessary measures to prevent its territory from being used as a “launching point” for attacks against the kingdom, Anadolu reports. In a statement, the Foreign Ministry condemned “in the strongest terms” what it described as “reprehensible” drone attacks launched by Iran-backed militias from Iraqi territory. The ministry affirmed the kingdom’s determination to protect its security and sovereignty, deter the attackers and exercise “its right to respond to the sources of the aggression.” It stressed “the need for the Iraqi government to take all necessary measures to ensure that its territory is not used as a launching point for aggression.” Earlier, Riyadh said its air defenses intercepted and destroyed

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  Israeli shelling targets southern Lebanon despite US-mediated framework agreement

  by Mehdi Editor on July 27, 2026

  Israeli artillery shelling targeted areas in southern Lebanon on Monday, amid explosions carried out by the army inside residential neighborhoods in the town of Markaba, despite a US-mediated framework agreement between Beirut and Tel Aviv, according to Lebanese media. Artillery fire hit the outskirts of the towns of Tallouseh and Markaba in Marjayoun district, causing fires, the state news agency NNA reported. The Israeli army also carried out explosions inside residential neighborhoods in Markaba, with successive blasts heard and plumes of smoke rising from the area, the agency added. An Israeli drone dropped a sound bomb in the town of Al-Mansouri in Tyre, with no injuries reported, according to NNA. READ: Mojtaba Khamenei tells Hezbollah ending Israeli attacks on Lebanon was

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  Yemen’s Houthis claim drone attack on oil supply, transport points in Saudi Arabia

  by Mehdi Editor on July 27, 2026

  Yemen’s Houthi group claimed drone attacks on key oil facilities in eastern Saudi Arabia on Monday, Anadolu reports. In a statement, military spokesman Yahya Saree said the group targeted “a number of sensitive targets and points for the supply and transport of crude oil from eastern Saudi Arabia to Yanbu” with drones. It claimed that the attack was in response to what it called repeated violations of Yemeni airspace by Saudi Arabia. No details were provided about any possible damage or casualties. There was no immediate comment from Saudi authorities on the Houthi claim. Early Monday, Saudi Arabia said that its air defenses had intercepted and destroyed several drones launched from Iraqi territory targeting oil facilities in the kingdom. ​​​​​​​Last

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  Lebanese officials meet UN rights chief, back collection of evidence on war crimes

  by Mehdi Editor on July 27, 2026

  Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned home demolitions by Israel in southern Lebanon during a meeting with UN rights chief Volker Turk on Monday, as Prime Minister Nawaf Salam reaffirmed his government’s support for collecting evidence of war crimes and violations of international humanitarian law, Anadolu reports. “Israel’s continued destruction of homes and bulldozing of villages in the south constitutes a direct violation of human rights and a clear breach of international laws and norms, which necessitates international action to end it,” Aoun said during the meeting in Beirut, as cited by a presidency statement. “Israel also targeted religious and heritage sites, and this shows premeditated intentions against people and stones, especially since such places are not military sites and do

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  Trump warns of ‘strong military action’ if Iran talks fail

  by Mehdi Editor on July 27, 2026

  US President Donald Trump said on Monday that Washington remains engaged in “deep talks” with Tehran, but is also preparing to restart military operations if negotiations stall. “If they don’t work out, we will go back to very strong military action,” Trump told Israeli broadcaster Channel 12. He emphasized that the diplomatic window is narrow, noting that the process must move forward rapidly “or not at all.” He asserted that he thinks Iran wants to make a deal. The US president explained he paused strikes on Friday following appeals from regional mediators. “All of the people that deal with Iran asked me: ‘Don’t fire’,” Trump claimed, asserting that there was “nothing gained, nothing lost by granting the request.” Trump’s remarks

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  Indonesia cannot claim solidarity with Palestine while it maintains ties with Elbit

  by Mehdi Editor on July 27, 2026

  A photograph is circulating from the Farnborough International Airshow in England, held from 20 to 24 July. It shows Lieutenant General Rui F.G.P. Duarte, a senior Indonesian defence official, posing in front of the stand of Elbit Systems. Elbit is Israel’s largest privately owned arms company, and one of the main manufacturers arming the assault on Gaza. Duarte was there representing Indonesia’s defence minister. The visit itself came through Indonesia’s Ministry of Defence, which confirmed that Duarte attended Farnborough from 20 to 24 July on the minister’s behalf. The photo of him at the Elbit stand was then posted by the ministry itself, on its own Instagram account. Nobody forced this photograph into existence. Jakarta published it, proudly, as if

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  Spain ‘cares about you’: Sanchez thanks Palestinian girl for painting mural of him in Gaza

  by Mehdi Editor on July 27, 2026

  Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Monday shared a video on social media thanking a Plestinian girl and local artists for painting a mural of him in Gaza, reaffirming Spain’s support for the Palestinian people, Anadolu reports. In the video, Sanchez responded to a message from a Palestinian girl named Layan, who unveiled the portrait of the Spanish premier that she and other artists painted amid the destruction in Gaza. He thanked the artists for the “beautiful gesture” and expressed gratitude to the Palestinian people for showing “such affection toward Spain.” “In the midst of so much pain, you found a moment to send us your kindness. So, to Layan, to all the boys and girls of Gaza, and to your families,

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  Israeli army raids UNRWA training center north of East Jerusalem, detains staff

  by Mehdi Editor on July 27, 2026

  Israeli forces raided the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) Training Center in the Qalandia refuge camp, north of occupied East Jerusalem, on Monday and detained staff inside the site, the Jerusalem Governorate said, Anadolu reports. In a statement, the governorate said Israeli forces stormed the center, fired tear gas canisters and held teaching and administrative staff inside one of its halls. Israeli forces also climbed onto the roof of the camp’s local committee building, it added. The Israeli army had raided the Qalandia camp overnight Sunday into Monday, deploying forces across several neighborhoods and heavily firing stun grenades and tear gas, causing fire, according to the governorate. The raid came about six weeks after the Jerusalem Governorate warned of an Israeli

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  Former Israeli security officials urge Trump to press Netanyahu to end ‘settler terrorism’ in occupied West Bank

  by Mehdi Editor on July 27, 2026

  Hundreds of former Israeli security officials have urged President Donald Trump to press Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to curb “settler terror” in the occupied West Bank, warning that escalating violence by occupiers threatens both Israel’s security and US interests in the region, Anadolu reports. The appeal came in a letter initiated by Commanders for Israel’s Security, a group of about 600 retired officials from the Israeli military, the Shin Bet domestic security agency, the Mossad intelligence service, the police and the diplomatic corps. The letter, signed on behalf of the group by former Israeli Deputy Chief of Staff Matan Vilnai, was sent Monday ahead of Netanyahu’s scheduled meeting with Trump at the White House on Tuesday, according to a copy reviewed by

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  In Middle East energy, flexibility is the new power

  by Mehdi Editor on July 27, 2026

  From attacks on shipping in the Red Sea to repeated threats around the Strait of Hormuz, the Middle East’s energy arteries are under growing pressure. The war in Gaza and its regional repercussions have added another layer of instability to a system already strained by sanctions, political fragmentation and competition over new corridors. Together, these shocks have exposed a hard truth: in today’s energy order, power belongs not only to those who produce, but increasingly to those who can redirect flows, reach alternative markets and adapt their energy systems fastest when disruption strikes. For decades, influence was measured primarily through reserves, production and export capacity. Those measures still matter, but they no longer tell the whole story. A country may

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  Israel kills 3 more Palestinians in Gaza, death toll neas 73,350: Health Ministry

  by Mehdi Editor on July 27, 2026

  Israeli forces killed three more Palestinians over the past 24 hours in the Gaza Strip, raising the death toll from Israel’s genocide since October 2023 to 73,329, the Health Ministry said Monday, Anadolu reports. In a statement, the ministry said hospitals in the enclave received three bodies, including two killed by Israeli fire and a third who died of previous wounds. The ministry said 12 injured people were also transferred to hospitals in the last 24 hours, taking the number of injuries to 174,009. Despite a ceasefire that took effect on Oct. 10, 2025, the Israeli army has continued its daily attacks in Gaza, killing at least 1,203 Palestinians and injuring 3,900 others. ​​​​​​​The ceasefire agreement was reached after two years of

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  Israel seizes 500 dunams of Palestinian land, occupiers establish 8 illegal settlement outposts in occupied West Bank

  by Mehdi Editor on July 27, 2026

  Israeli authorities seized nearly 500 dunams (123 acres) of Palestinian land in the northern West Bank, as occupiers built eight illegal settlement outposts in the occupied territory since Friday, according to authorities and media on Monday, Anadolu reports. The Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission said in a statement that Israeli authorities seized 498 dunams of land in Tubas province and the village of Tayasir to build a military road. “The seizure orders remain in effect until the end of 2028 and aim to establish a security and military road about 10 kilometers long to serve the Israeli army and occupiers,” the statement said. The commission said the military orders impose a wide zone of military control over the area and threaten to

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  Sudanese army says it has secured key supply route after capturing Jereikh

  by Mehdi Editor on July 27, 2026

  The Sudanese Armed Forces said on Sunday they had secured control of the main supply route linking El Obeid, Bara, and Omdurman after capturing the strategic area of Jereikh in North Kordofan State following clashes with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Military sources told Anadolu Agency that army units had taken control of Jereikh on Sunday morning after fighting with RSF forces. According to the sources, Sudanese army units and allied forces are continuing clearing operations in areas captured over the past two days, including Bara, Jabra al-Sheikh, Umm Qurfa, and Umm Sayala, with the aim of securing the territory north of El Obeid. The sources said Jereikh is strategically important because it lies along the export route connecting El

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  Israeli cabinet approves deployment of International Stabilization Force in Gaza

  by Mehdi Editor on July 27, 2026

  Israel’s Security Cabinet has approved the deployment of the International Stabilization Force (ISF) to the Gaza Strip as part of US President Donald Trump’s Gaza peace plan, according to Israeli media reports on Sunday. According to the Hebrew-language newspaper Israel Hayom, the cabinet approved the deployment of a multinational force affiliated with the Peace Council to Gaza. The newspaper reported that National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir voted against the decision, arguing that Hamas had not fulfilled what he described as its commitment to disarm. According to Yedioth Ahronoth, Ben-Gvir told the cabinet that “Hamas has not fulfilled its commitment to disarm the Gaza Strip, and therefore we are not obligated to do so either.” The newspaper also reported that Ben-Gvir

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  Israeli forces issue 10 demolition notices in Beit Dajan, East of Nablus

  by Mehdi Editor on July 27, 2026

  Israeli forces issued 10 demolition notices on Sunday in the town of Beit Dajan, east of Nablus in the occupied West Bank, according to Palestinian officials. Tawfiq al-Hajj Muhammad, deputy head of the Beit Dajan village council, told the Palestinian news agency WAFA that Israeli forces entered the town on Sunday evening and delivered notices ordering the demolition of several structures. According to al-Hajj Muhammad, the notices covered residential homes, agricultural sheds, and a closed poultry farm. He said the affected structures are located in the central and eastern parts of the town. READ: Netanyahu gov’t turning West Bank into ‘powder keg’: Israeli opposition party leader

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  Iran says it has suspended retaliatory attacks after US strikes ceased

  by Mehdi Editor on July 27, 2026

  Iran said on Sunday that it had suspended its retaliatory attacks after the United States halted military strikes against the country, amid signs of renewed diplomatic engagement between Washington and Tehran. Iranian military spokesman Mohammad Akrami Nia said US forces had stopped their attacks over the previous two nights. “The Americans halted their attacks during the past two nights,” Akrami Nia said. “Since our strategy is based primarily on reciprocity, we have also halted our retaliatory operations.” His remarks came as an Omani delegation arrived in Tehran for talks that reportedly include discussions on the Strait of Hormuz, raising expectations that negotiations between the two sides may continue. READ: Iran accuses some regional countries of participating in US war According to

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  Palestinian Fatwa Council condemns burning of mosques in the West Bank

  by Mehdi Editor on July 27, 2026

  The Palestinian Higher Fatwa Council on Sunday condemned the burning of two mosques in the occupied West Bank, describing the incidents as part of what it called a systematic Israeli policy targeting religious sites. In a statement, the council said the burning of Al-Rahma Mosque in the town of Qusra, south of Nablus, and another mosque in the village of Kur, south of Tulkarm, along with the painting of racist and inciting slogans on their walls, constituted “a new crime” against places of worship. The council said the incidents were not isolated, explaining that Israeli settlers have repeatedly attacked and desecrated religious sites. It also referred to ongoing restrictions on access to Al-Aqsa Mosque and repeated visits by Israeli groups

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  Arab League chief urges Trump to restrain Israel, warns region nearing ‘explosion’

  by Mehdi Editor on July 27, 2026

  Arab League Secretary-General Nabil Fahmy on Sunday called on US President Donald Trump to restrain the Israeli government’s policies toward the Palestinians, warning that the Middle East is approaching a “moment of explosion”. In a statement issued ahead of a planned meeting between Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Washington, Fahmy said the region was moving toward “a very dangerous point” amid rising tensions on multiple fronts. He attributed the situation to the prolonged deadlock over the Palestinian issue, as well as escalating tensions in the Gulf. Fahmy’s remarks come amid continued regional instability, including disputes over the implementation of the Gaza ceasefire, increased tensions in the occupied West Bank, US-Iran friction over the Strait of Hormuz, and

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  Smart glasses that strip the world bare — and strip us with it

  by Mehdi Editor on July 27, 2026

  For decades, travellers returning from Europe to the Middle East carried stories that were more fantasy than fact—tales shaped not by reality but by the hunger of societies that knew the world only through hearsay. One of the most persistent myths of the 1940s claimed that Europeans wore special glasses that allowed them to see people naked. It was absurd, of course, yet it spread like a small cultural fever in communities where imagination about the human body was tightly policed and ignorance was a kind of social glue. How could a pair of glasses undress women without their knowledge? The question alone was enough to ignite collective astonishment in a time when curiosity was forbidden and the body itself

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  Majority of Americans believe ongoing US-Iran war is ‘more challenging’ than Trump administration expected: Survey

  by Mehdi Editor on July 27, 2026

  A recent survey conducted in the US found that 76% of Americans believe the ongoing US-Iran war has proven more challenging than the Trump administration expected, CBS News reported Sunday. The survey was conducted by CBS News and YouGov between July 22 and 24. According to the survey, 58% of respondents said they felt uncertain about the ongoing conflict, while 57% reported feeling frustrated. In addition, 36% expressed pessimism, whereas only 19% said they felt optimistic. The survey also found that 20% of respondents believed the war had unfolded as expected, while 4% believed it had proven easier than expected. Regarding the balance of the conflict, 40% of respondents believed the US was in the more advantageous position, while 38%

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  Iran accuses some regional countries of participating in US war

  by Mehdi Editor on July 27, 2026

  Iran on Monday accused some countries in the region of participating in US attacks against Tehran, and allowing their territories to be used by attacking forces, Anadolu reports. “We hold the United States responsible for the military aggression against Iran, which began on Feb. 28,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said during a weekly press briefing, as cited by the official IRNA news agency. “Of course, we cannot ignore the participation of some countries in the region in this aggression,” he claimed. Baqaei said Tehran continues to seek good relations with neighboring countries and harbors “no hostility” toward them. “We have repeatedly stressed that we seek good relations with the countries of the region. On the contrary, there are many ties and

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  Iran says it will not let US determine timing of war and peace

  by Mehdi Editor on July 27, 2026

  Iran will not let the US decide when war or peace takes place, Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said Monday, Anadolu reports. “We will not allow the United States to determine the time of peace and war,” Baqaei said at a weekly news conference, according to the semi-official Mehr news agency. He also said the US was “stuck in a self-made quagmire after five months.” On Sunday, Iranian military spokesperson Amir Mohammad Akraminia said the US had halted its attacks over the previous two nights and that Iran’s “counter-operations” had also stopped. According to an Axios report on Saturday, US President Donald Trump had directed the US military not to launch new strikes on Iran, ending nearly two weeks of daily attacks.

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  Kuwait ratifies defense cooperation agreement with Pakistan

  by Mehdi Editor on July 27, 2026

  Kuwait has ratified a broad defense cooperation agreement with Pakistan, three years after it was signed, according to the country’s official gazette, Anadolu reports. The agreement was approved and published Sunday in the official gazette, Kuwait Al-Youm, formalizing a defense pact signed by the two countries in June 2023, the Kuwait Times reported. The agreement establishes a framework for military cooperation between the Kuwaiti and Pakistani armed forces, covering military training, education, intelligence sharing, logistics, defense technology, research and exchanges of expertise, with the aim of strengthening institutional military ties between the two countries. It also provides for cooperation in military manufacturing, electronic communications systems, scientific research, military media and cultural and sports activities. READ: Kuwait says several firefighters wounded following Iranian attacks

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  Netanyahu departs for Washington for talks with Trump

  by Mehdi Editor on July 27, 2026

  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday departed for Washington for talks with US President Donald Trump, Anadolu reports. Netanyahu is visiting Washington at Trump’s invitation and will discuss issues of mutual interest to Israel and the US, according to the official Israel in Arabic account on US social media platform X. The Israeli prime minister said on Sunday that he plans to attend the UN General Assembly in New York despite calls for his arrest by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. Last Tuesday, Mamdani called Netanyahu a “war criminal” and urged the US government to enforce an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant against him if he enters the US. US President Donald Trump, however, has vowed that

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  The bombing of Iran paused at the edge of a different war

  by Mehdi Editor on July 27, 2026

  For two nights after US Central Command announced a 13th consecutive night of strikes, it issued no announcement of fresh attacks on Iran. Yet coercion continued at sea. American forces said they had redirected 12 commercial vessels attempting to breach the blockade of Iranian ports, disabled two and boarded two. Iran’s Revolutionary Guard said warning shots had forced four vessels away from the southern route near Oman. The air campaign paused; the struggle over who writes the operating rules of the Strait of Hormuz did not. This is neither a ceasefire nor proof that talks, which Tehran says have made technical progress, will produce one. The lull exposes the limit of controlled force. Washington cannot restore normal navigation merely by

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  Israeli opposition leader says troops paying price for Netanyahu’s ‘reckless’ policies

  by Mehdi Editor on July 27, 2026

  Israeli opposition leader Yair Golan said Sunday that Israeli troops were paying the price for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s “reckless” policies, two days after Israeli occupiers under army protection attacked the Palestinian town of Tal near Nablus in the occupied West Bank, Anadolu reports. Golan, chairman of The Democrats party, said in a video posted on the US social media platform X that Netanyahu’s policies, including the exemption of ultra-Orthodox Jews from military service and what he described as “Jewish terrorism,” were exacting a heavy toll on Israeli soldiers. “The Netanyahu-Bezalel Smotrich-Itamar Ben-Gvir government is abandoning Israeli soldiers in the occupied West Bank,” he said. Golan concluded by saying: “Netanyahu, we are coming to replace you in the elections.” On

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  Israeli forces raid homes, detain man in southern Syria: Report

  by Mehdi Editor on July 27, 2026

  Israeli forces raided homes in southern Syria and detained a Syrian man on Monday, Syria’s Alikhbariah TV reported. The broadcaster said Israeli forces detained the man after searching a house in the village of Taranja in northern Quneitra countryside. In a separate incursion into Syrian territory, Israeli forces raided and searched several civilian homes in the village of Al-Ardah in the western countryside of Daraa amid heavy gunfire, according to Alikhbariah TV. No casualties were reported, and there was no immediate comment from the Israeli army. On Sunday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said that the UN would submit a detailed report to the Security Council later this month on Israeli violations in Syria. READ: UN to submit report to Security Council

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  Palestine welcomes Ireland’s ban on Israeli settlement goods, urges others to follow

  by Mehdi Editor on July 27, 2026

  Palestine has welcomed Ireland’s decision to ban the import of goods from Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories, calling on countries and parliaments around the world to adopt similar measures. The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates said in a statement on Sunday that it welcomed Ireland’s law banning the import of goods produced in what it described as illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories. The ministry said it welcomed “the Republic of Ireland’s adoption of the law banning the import of goods from illegal Israeli settlements established on occupied Palestinian land”, following its signing by the President of Ireland and the completion of all constitutional procedures required for it to enter into force. The Irish

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  American actor Mark Ruffalo attacks Netanyahu over ICC prosecutor’s dismissal: ‘You are a serial killer’

  by Mehdi Editor on July 27, 2026

  American actor Mark Ruffalo has strongly criticised Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after the latter welcomed the dismissal of International Criminal Court (ICC) Prosecutor Karim Khan. Ruffalo said: “Just because you lobbied to have the man who issued the war crimes taken down doesn’t mean the war crimes disappear or your guilt is assuaged. You will not outrun justice. You will not lobby history. You are a murderous maniac, Benjamin Netanyahu. You will always be remembered as such.”  Earlier, Netanyahu welcomed the decision to remove Khan from his post. On Friday, member states of the ICC voted to dismiss Khan following allegations of sexual misconduct. READ: Oscar-winning Javier Bardem says Gaza war has changed global views on Palestine A total of

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  Tunisian opposition demands urgent statement on Rached Ghannouchi’s health

  by Mehdi Editor on July 27, 2026

  Tunisia’s opposition National Salvation Front has called on the authorities to issue an urgent official statement clarifying the health condition of Ennahda leader Rached Ghannouchi and lawyer Ahmed Nejib Chebbi. In an urgent statement issued on Sunday, the coalition said it was “following with deep concern” conflicting reports and rumours about the health of Ghannouchi, as well as reports regarding the health of National Salvation Front leader Ahmed Nejib Chebbi. It warned that, in the absence of any official clarification, and with Ghannouchi’s family and legal team still being prevented from visiting him and checking on his condition, the continuing lack of transparency could only fuel rumours and increase the concerns of their families. READ: Amnesty International urges Tunisia to protect

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  Mojtaba Khamenei tells Hezbollah ending Israeli attacks on Lebanon was key condition in Tehran’s US MoU

  by Mehdi Editor on July 27, 2026

  Iranian leader Mojtaba Khamenei has told Lebanon’s Hezbollah that Tehran made ending Israeli attacks on Lebanon a key condition in its memorandum of understanding with the United States. In a message issued on Sunday, Khamenei said Iran also made preserving Lebanon’s territorial integrity a condition for concluding the memorandum with Washington, which was signed electronically last month. He added that US President Donald Trump announced the end of the ceasefire on 8 July. Khamenei also said Tehran had made “defending these oppressed but capable fighters” a permanent strategic policy, according to the message. In the message, published by Iranian media, Khamenei said that “jihad and resistance” were the way to confront the United States. He praised Hezbollah’s “steadfastness” and said

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  Malaysia reaffirms refusal to recognise Israel despite US pressure

  by Mehdi Editor on July 27, 2026

  Malaysia has reaffirmed its longstanding policy of not recognising Israel, insisting the position remains unchanged despite growing pressure from the United States and calls by members of the US Congress to review security and economic ties with Kuala Lumpur. Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan said Malaysia’s ambassador to the United States, Muhammad Shahrul Ikram Yaakob, explained the country’s position after being summoned by the US State Department. He said Malaysia’s policy towards Israel was not a new stance or a response to recent developments, but a long-established official policy maintained by successive governments. According to the Malaysian national news agency Bernama, Hasan said Malaysia was handling the issue in line with its longstanding policies. “It has always been Malaysia’s policy. Our

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  Palestinian prisoner Hassan Salameh describes abuse and starvation in Israeli prisons

  by Mehdi Editor on July 27, 2026

  Palestinian prisoner Hassan Salameh has described what he called “extremely harsh” detention conditions, saying prisoners held in solitary confinement are subjected to repeated crackdowns, beatings, starvation and ongoing medical neglect. In a message sent from the Janot solitary confinement section of an Israeli prison and published by his fiancée, Ghufran Al-Zamel, on Sunday, Salameh said prisoners had faced four raid and search operations in less than ten days, during which they were beaten. He said they were also assaulted while being transferred from Megiddo Prison’s solitary confinement unit to Janot, and were beaten every time they were taken out to meet their lawyers. Salameh added that the amount of food provided in the Janot solitary confinement unit was significantly less

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  Syrian president rules out military intervention in Lebanon, backs state monopoly on arms

  by Marwa A on July 26, 2026

  Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa said his country does not intend to intervene militarily in Lebanon but is prepared to offer the Lebanese state several options to address its challenges, Anadolu reports. “We are not considering military intervention, but Syria has several cards that it can offer the Lebanese state to use as it sees fit,” al-Sharaa said in an interview with the Qatari Al Jazeera channel’s Al-Muqabala program. He said Damascus is discussing “a range of solutions” with the Lebanese government that could help bring the country to safety and allow it to benefit from Syria’s current recovery. Al-Sharaa voiced “deep” concern that turmoil inside Lebanon could “negatively” affect Syria. “The continued presence of weapons outside the authority of the