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

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  Oman FM: US has lost control of foreign policy, entered ‘war that is not its own’

  by MI on March 19, 2026

  Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi said on Wednesday that the United States has lost control of its foreign policy and is involved in a war that is not its own. Writing in The Economist, he said the United States and Iran had been close to reaching a genuine agreement. He added that the joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran on 28 February, carried out just hours after the latest and most substantive round of talks, were a “shock but not a surprise.” Albusaidi said: “The American administration’s greatest miscalculation, of course, was allowing itself to be drawn into this war in the first place.” He added: “This is not America’s war, and there is no likely scenario in which both Israel

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  Board of Peace is a tactical smokescreen for war in Iran and Gaza

  by MI on March 19, 2026

  In recent days, the first publicly reported  meeting between Hamas representatives and President Trump’s newly established Board of Peace (BoP) took place in Cairo. In high-stakes diplomacy, inaugural meetings are typically “get-to-know-you” sessions. However, the current landscape—marked by genocide in Gaza and a simultaneous offensive against Iran—does not allow for the luxury of diplomatic niceties. While specifics of the discussion remain shrouded in secrecy, the core tension is clear: Hamas has reportedly delivered a blunt ultimatum. Either the Rafah crossing—the sole, battered lifeline between an obliterated Gaza Strip and Egypt—is fully reopened, or the group will walk away from the ceasefire altogether. This demand exposes the fundamental “cheating” at the heart of the Trump administration’s regional strategy: holding the title

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  About half of Iranian missiles fired at Israel since start of war carried cluster munitions

  by MI on March 19, 2026

  Israeli data released on Wednesday evening shows that more than 400 out of around 850 missiles launched from Iran towards Israel since the start of the war were equipped with cluster warheads. According to figures reported by Israel’s public broadcaster, Kan 11, these missiles account for more than half of the total used in the attacks, indicating widespread use of this type of munition in recent strikes. Fragments from intercepted missiles and cluster munitions fell in several locations in central Israel on Wednesday afternoon, including Ramat Gan and Petah Tikva, injuring a number of people slightly. READ: UAE warns targeting Iranian energy facilities is ‘dangerous escalation’ The previous night, two people were killed after a missile carrying fragmentation munitions struck their

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  Israel plans to occupy 1st line of villages in southern Lebanon: Israeli media

  by Marwa A on March 18, 2026

  Israel plans to occupy the first line of villages in southern Lebanon to prevent rocket fire, Israeli media reported on Wednesday, Anadolu reports. Channel 12 said the political echelon intends to instruct the army to occupy any area in Lebanon from which anti-tank weapons are launched, “until further notice.” “Israel intends to control all areas that threaten the population, especially the first line of villages in southern Lebanon,” the channel said, without specifying these villages. “This is merely a bargaining chip until they come to retrieve it on Israel’s terms,” the channel said, citing an unnamed senior Israeli security source. “The Lebanese government has no other way but to dismantle Hezbollah, as this is the most effective measure,” the source

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  UAE warns targeting Iranian energy facilities is “dangerous escalation”

  by Marwa A on March 18, 2026

  The United Arab Emirates on Wednesday warned that targeting energy facilities linked to Iran’s South Pars gas field represents a “dangerous escalation” that threatens global energy security and regional stability, Anadolu reports. The UAE Foreign Ministry said in a statement that attacks on infrastructure connected to the South Pars field – which extends into Qatar’s North Field – pose a direct risk to global energy supplies and the broader stability of the region. The ministry cautioned that strikes on energy infrastructure could have “serious environmental consequences” and expose civilians, maritime security, and vital civilian and industrial facilities to immediate danger. It stressed the need to avoid targeting critical infrastructure under any circumstances and underscored the importance of adhering to international

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  Saudi Arabia says 4 people injured by fallen missile debris in Riyadh

  by Marwa A on March 18, 2026

  Four people were injured by debris falling from an intercepted ballistic missile in Riyadh on Wednesday, the Saudi Civil Defense said, Anadolu reports. The agency said in a statement that the injuries were reported after fragments fell on a residential building in the city of Riyadh. Four Asian residents were injured in the incident, which also caused limited material damage, it added. The agency condemned attacks on civilian facilities as “a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law.” Regional escalations continued to rage since Israel and the US have launched a joint offensive on Iran on Feb. 28, killing so far around 1,300 people, including then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Iran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, Jordan, Iraq,

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  The Global Cost of Israeli Domination | Palestine This Week with Mouin Rabbani

  by MI on March 18, 2026

  In this episode, we explore why Palestine remains central to understanding the region’s escalating crises, from the war on Iran and Gaza to Lebanon and the mounting pressure on Gulf states. We unpack the dangerous assumptions, political delusions and power plays driving the Middle East deeper into chaos.   WATCH: Israel’s Dystopian Vision: From Gaza to Iran | Palestine This Week

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  Iran says over 200 minors killed, 1,401 injured in US-Israeli attacks since Feb. 28

  by Marwa A on March 18, 2026

  Iran said Wednesday that at least 206 people under the age of 18 have been killed and 1,401 others injured in US-Israeli attacks since late last month, Anadolu reports. In a statement, Iran’s Health Ministry said that 227 women are among those killed and 3,329 others were injured in the attacks since Feb. 28. It added that 1,111 injured people are currently hospitalized, while 19,506 others have been treated and discharged. The ministry, however, did not give an overall death toll in the ongoing US-Israeli offensive. According to the statement, 18 health care workers were killed and 101 others injured in the attacks, which also damaged 36 ambulances. It noted that six hospitals were evacuated, while 47 emergency bases, 37

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  Israeli settlers accused of sexually assaulting Palestinian in front of family

  by Marwa A on March 18, 2026

  Israeli settlers sexually assaulted a Palestinian man during a raid on the community of Khirbet Humsa in the northern Jordan Valley, according to witness testimony cited by Haaretz, in an attack that survivors say also involved beatings, threats of rape, the humiliation of women and girls and the looting of livestock and valuables. Testimonies from eyewitnesses showed that settlers split into small groups and moved through the community, dragging residents from their homes, binding their hands and feet with zip ties and throwing men, women and children onto the ground. Some victims were doused with cold water while restrained and beaten with clubs and knives visible. One woman said the attackers tore off her head covering, ripped some of her

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  Iranian gas supply to Iraq stops after South Pars gas facilities attack

  by Marwa A on March 18, 2026

  Iraq’s Electricity Ministry said Wednesday that Iranian gas flows have stopped following developments in the region, significantly reducing power generation and taking about 3,100 megawatts offline, Anadolu reports. The disruption came after Iranian media reported that several facilities linked to the South Pars gas field in the Assaluyeh energy zone on Iran’s southern Gulf coast were targeted Wednesday with missile attacks. Iran holds 43 gas fields, with South Pars the most significant. It is the world’s largest natural gas field, and it is shared with Qatar, where it is known as the North Field. The development comes amid global concerns that Iranian energy infrastructure could be targeted by US or Israeli strikes during the war, now in its third week,

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  Trump and Hegseth cannot define the truth of the US-Israeli War on Iran

  by MI on March 18, 2026

  US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth appears to have little patience for questions that do not conform to his preferred style of declaring unsubstantiated victories, whether against South Americans or in the Middle East. In a charged press conference on March 13, Hegseth did more than attack journalists for questioning his unverified claims about the course of the war in the Middle East. He singled out CNN, introducing a troubling dimension to the conversation. “The sooner David Ellison takes over that network, the better,” he said. Ellison, a close ally of President Donald Trump and a strong supporter of Israel, is widely considered the frontrunner to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery, the parent company that owns CNN. If there was any lingering

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  British PM urges sacking of shadow minister over his comments on Muslims praying in public

  by Marwa A on March 18, 2026

  British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has called on the Conservative Party to sack Shadow Justice Secretary Nick Timothy over comments he made on social media about Muslims praying in public, Anadolu reports. During Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) on Wednesday, Starmer said Timothy’s post about Muslims praying in Trafalgar Square is unacceptable. Accompanying a video of Muslims praying at the event, Timothy wrote: “Mass ritual prayer in public places is an act of domination.” He added: “Perform these rituals in mosques if you wish. But they are not welcome in our public places and shared institutions.” Starmer told Tory leader Kemi Badenoch she should “denounce his comments and she should sack him.” “I see religious events in Trafalgar Square when I

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  Israeli violence in West Bank surges as Iran war shifts global focus

  by Marwa A on March 18, 2026

  As the US-Israel war on Iran escalates, violence in the occupied West Bank is intensifying, largely out of the global spotlight, Anadolu reports. Rights groups and analysts say Palestinians are facing a sharp rise in attacks by Israeli forces and settlers, alongside tighter movement restrictions and growing displacement, as international attention shifts toward the wider regional conflict. Recent incidents have underscored the worsening situation. Israeli settlers were reported to have sexually assaulted a Palestinian man in the northern Jordan Valley, while Israeli forces killed a family of four, including two children, in the town of Tammun. Analysts say the escalation has accelerated since US-Israeli airstrikes on Iran began on Feb. 28, triggering a broader regional war. “The Israeli government took

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  Protesters call on Brussels university to cut partnership with Israeli defense-linked firm

  by Marwa A on March 18, 2026

  Pro-Palestine activists protested on Wednesday at the Free University of Brussels’ (VUB) Etterbeek campus, demanding that the university administration end its collaboration with an Israeli defense-linked company, Anadolu reports. Demonstrators hung a large banner reading “VUB helps kill Palestinians” and placed portraits of Palestinian figures across the campus, accusing the university of complicity through its research partnerships, Flemish-language daily Het Nieuwsblad reported. The protest condemned VUB’s collaboration with OIP Sensor Systems, which is owned by Elbit Systems, Israel’s largest private arms manufacturer. Protesters demand that the partnership, which is being conducted through the university’s research center, be terminated immediately. READ: UN warns of “ethnic cleansing” as 36,000 Palestinians displaced in West Bank They claimed that technologies developed in such collaborations

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  Trump suggests ‘finishing off what’s left’ of Iran

  by MI on March 18, 2026

  US President Donald Trump on Wednesday suggested “finishing off” what is left of the “Iranian Terror State” and urged countries relying on the Strait of Hormuz to take responsibility, criticizing “non-responsive” allies, Anadolu reports. “I wonder what would happen if we ‘finished off’ what’s left of the Iranian Terror State, and let the Countries that use it, we don’t, be responsible for the so called ‘Straight?’ That would get some of our non-responsive ‘Allies’ in gear, and fast!!!,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post. His remarks came as the tensions in the region have escalated since the US and Israel launched a joint offensive on Iran on Feb. 28, killing around 1,300 people so far, including then-Supreme Leader Ayatollah

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  Russia condemns ‘murder’ of Iranian officials amid killing of Tehran’s security chief

  by MI on March 18, 2026

  The Kremlin condemned on Wednesday what it described as the “murder and liquidation” of representatives of Iran’s leadership, a day after Tehran confirmed the death of its security chief in an Israeli strike earlier this week, Anadolu reports. “We strongly condemn actions aimed at causing harm to the health, or especially the murder and liquidation, of representatives of the leadership of sovereign Iran … as well as other countries. We condemn such actions,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said at a press briefing. His remarks came in response to a question about Russia’s position on the killing of Iranian leaders, including Supreme National Security Council Secretary Ali Larijani. READ: Iran denies reports Mojtaba Khamenei transferred to Russia for treatment The Israeli military

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  Indonesia’s religious affairs minister says boycotts of Israel are “not a solution.” He’s wrong

  by MI on March 18, 2026

  It is a strange moment when a nonviolent act of conscience—refusing to buy a burger, skipping a cup of coffee—draws more concern from public officials than the devastation that inspired it. Indonesia’s Minister of Religious Affairs, Nasaruddin Umar, recently argued that boycotts of companies linked to Israel are “not a solution,” pointing instead to layoffs and economic disruption at home. His remarks reveal a troubling misreading of both history and moral responsibility. Boycotts are not a new or reckless invention of modern activism. They are among the oldest tools available to ordinary people seeking to exert pressure when governments fail to act. From the anti-war protests in the United States during the 1960s and 1970s to the global campaign against

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  Israeli army arrests 16 Palestinian women in West Bank raids

  by MI on March 18, 2026

  The Israeli army detained 16 Palestinian women in military raids in the West Bank city of Qalqilya on Wednesday, local sources said. Most of the detained women “are wives of freed prisoners or detainees and mothers of killed Palestinians,” the sources told Anadolu. According to the sources, Israeli forces raided and searched several homes in the city of Qalqilya and the towns of Azzun, Kafr Thulth and Sanniriya during their campaign. Two women were later released after being questioned by Israeli forces, the sources said. READ: UN warns of “ethnic cleansing” as 36,000 Palestinians displaced in West Bank The Israeli army conducts near-daily raids into cities and towns across the West Bank, which Israel says are part of “security campaigns” targeting

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  Together Alliance unites communities against Far-Right and Islamophobia

  by MI on March 18, 2026

  People of different faiths and none gathered in London last week for the Together Alliance Iftar, in what organisers described as a collective stand against the Far-Right and rising Islamophobia. Around 200 guests attended the event, including representatives from major British Muslim organisations, advocacy groups and leading pro-Palestine campaigners. Those present reflected a broad cross-section of communities in London. Dr Abdullah Faliq, managing director of The Cordoba Foundation and a member of the Together Alliance steering committee, moderated the event and opened proceedings by thanking participating organisations for their support and contribution to the alliance. He also warned about the dangers posed by growing Islamophobia and the rise of far-right politics in Britain. “Our inaction at a time of heightened

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  Indonesia suspends Gaza troop deployment amid Middle East tensions

  by MI on March 18, 2026

  Indonesia has suspended its plans to deploy up to 8,000 troops to the Palestinian enclave of Gaza, a cabinet member announced on Tuesday. “Everything is on hold,” Minister of State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi said after a coordination meeting at the Defense Ministry, Antara News reported on Wednesday. Jakarta had pledged the troops for deployment under the International Stabilization Force (ISF) to the devastated Palestinian enclave of Gaza. READ: Indonesia suspends participation in Board of Peace following attack on Iran Prasetyo cited “escalating regional security situation as the main reason for the indefinite delay” in joining the ISF mission, which received approval from the UN Security Council last November following a US-led resolution. Earlier, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto also said Jakarta’s plan

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  When diplomacy nears the threshold: What two wars in nine months reveal about how the Iran war will end

  by MI on March 18, 2026

  In February, Ali Larijani shuttled between Muscat and Doha as part of the diplomatic channel between Iran and the United States. On 18 March, Iran confirmed that he had been killed in an Israeli strike alongside his son and several aides. Between those two moments, the channel he had helped sustain was replaced by what officials in Washington and Tel Aviv have described as the most significant joint US-Israeli military operation ever conducted. His trajectory — from negotiating table to target — condenses the central problem of the Iran crisis: twice in nine months, war has arrived not after diplomacy failed, but while it was still producing enough movement to matter. That pattern does not explain everything. But it reveals

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  Hezbollah says resistance proven effective as conflict rages in Lebanon

  by MI on March 18, 2026

  Hezbollah’s Secretary-General Naim Qassem said the choice of armed resistance has proven effective, adding that the outcome of the conflict will be decided on the battlefield. In a written message to members of the Lebanese resistance, Qassem said that, after 15 months of allowing space for diplomacy, several realities had emerged. These included the resistance’s courage, the patience of its support base, and its commitment to agreements and pledges. He said the approach had shown the group’s ability to repel attacks at the right time, as well as the level of preparation for the conflict. He added that the group had maintained ambiguity over its capabilities, their limits and deployment, without being tied to a fixed geographical area. Qassem also

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  Iran denies reports Mojtaba Khamenei transferred to Russia for treatment

  by MI on March 18, 2026

  Iran has denied reports that its Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei was transferred to Russia for medical treatment, describing the claims as part of a “psychological warfare tactic.” Iran’s ambassador to Moscow, Kazem Jalali, rejected the reports in a statement posted on the social media platform X on Tuesday, insisting that Iran’s leadership remains present inside the country. “This is a new psychological warfare tactic,” Jalali said. “Iran’s leaders have no need to flee to shelters or hide; their place is in the streets and among the people.” He added that such claims were intended to spread misinformation amid the ongoing conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel. The denial follows reports in some Kuwaiti media outlets alleging that Mojtaba

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  UN warns of “ethnic cleansing” as 36,000 Palestinians displaced in West Bank

  by MI on March 18, 2026

  The United Nations has warned of “ethnic cleansing” committed by Israel in the occupied West Bank, citing the displacement of more than 36,000 Palestinians over the past year. In a report released on Tuesday, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said the scale of displacement represents “forced displacement on an unprecedented scale”, raising concerns about a coordinated policy of mass transfer. The report stated that the developments suggest efforts aimed at permanent displacement of Palestinians from parts of the occupied territories. It also documented a sharp rise in Israeli settler violence, recording 1,732 attacks causing injuries or property damage in the past 12 months, compared with 1,400 incidents in the previous period. According to the report,

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  Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei rejects ceasefire proposals, source says

  by MI on March 18, 2026

  Iran’s new supreme leader has rejected de-escalation proposals conveyed to Tehran by intermediaries, demanding Israel and the United States first be “brought to ​their knees”, a senior Iranian official said on Tuesday, according to Reuters. Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei had ‌held his first foreign policy session since being named supreme leader, and had taken a stance for revenge against the US and Israel that was “very tough and serious”, the official said, ​without clarifying whether the leader attended in person or remotely. The senior official, ​who asked not to be identified, said two intermediary countries had ⁠conveyed proposals to Iran’s Foreign Ministry for “reducing tensions or ceasefire with the United States”. The ​official did not give further details of the proposals

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  Egypt warns regional war must not overshadow Gaza’s humanitarian catastrophe

  by MI on March 18, 2026

  Egypt has warned that the ongoing regional war must not divert attention from the humanitarian catastrophe in the Gaza Strip, urging renewed focus on relief and reconstruction efforts. Foreign Minister Badr Abdel-Aty made the remarks during a meeting on Tuesday with Zhai Jun, China’s special envoy to the Middle East, who is visiting Cairo as part of a regional tour, according to a statement from the Egyptian Foreign Ministry. Abdel-Aty stressed the need to accelerate efforts to empower the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, describing it as a key step in managing the transitional phase and eventually enabling the Palestinian Authority to assume full responsibilities in both Gaza and the West Bank. The committee, a non-political body formed

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  Tunisian rights groups demand release of Gaza flotilla activists

  by MI on March 18, 2026

  Sixteen Tunisian organisations have called for the immediate release of activists detained in connection with the “Sumud Flotilla”, an initiative aimed at breaking the Israeli blockade of Gaza. In a joint statement titled “Supporting the Palestinian cause is not a crime!”, the organisations condemned the arrests and urged authorities to halt all legal proceedings against those detained. The signatories include the Tunisian League for Human Rights, the National Union of Tunisian Journalists, and the Tunisian Association of Democratic Women. “We strongly condemn these arrests and hold the regime directly responsible,” the statement said, demanding the release of all detainees. The organisations also criticised the judicial process, describing it as lacking credibility, and argued that the arrests go beyond preventing ships

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  Macron rejects sending navy to Hormuz as Europe urges Trump to halt war

  by MI on March 18, 2026

  The European Union has called on Donald Trump and Iran to stop their conflict “so that all sides can save face”, while the French President Emmanuel Macron insisted France will not send naval forces to escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz. France is the latest NATO member to ignore the US president’s call for a “joint effort” to reopen the waterway, through which about 20 per cent of global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies pass. Speaking after Trump asked allies to help secure the vital route — effectively closed by Iran in response to US and Israeli strikes — Macron said: “We are not a party to the conflict, and therefore “France will never participate in operations to

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  Gaza security’s ambush kills suspected collaborators in Khan Younis

  by MI on March 18, 2026

  A unit known as “Rada” within Gaza’s security forces said it had ambushed a group it claims was linked to Israeli forces in the south of Khan Younis, leaving several people dead and wounded. In a statement posted on Telegram, the unit said it carried out a field operation after monitoring and tracking the group from the moment they advanced from what it described as the “yellow line”. It added that the group took shelter inside a house, which was then hit with an anti-fortification projectile. The unit said its members also engaged the group at close range using medium weapons, resulting in casualties. READ: Israel exploiting regional crises to expand illegal settlements in West Bank: Palestinian foreign minister The statement

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  Iran’s intelligence minister killed in Tehran strike, Israel’s defense minister claims

  by MI on March 18, 2026

  Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz claimed Wednesday that Iran’s intelligence minister, Esmaeil Khatib, was killed in an overnight airstrike in Tehran. “The Iranian intelligence minister Khatib was also eliminated overnight,” Katz said in a statement released by his office and cited by The Times of Israel news portal. Katz said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has “authorized the army to eliminate any senior Iranian figure… without the need for additional approval.” There was no immediate response from Iran on the Israeli claim. READ: Israeli army claims Iran’s security chief Ali Larijani killed near Tehran

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  Iran executes man on charges of spying for Israel

  by MI on March 18, 2026

  Iran has executed a man accused of spying for Israel, according to a statement from Iranian judicial authorities published by the Fars News Agency on Wednesday. The death sentence handed down to Kurosh Keyvani, who was alleged to have ties to Israel’s foreign intelligence service, Mossad, was carried out, the statement said. Keyvani’s death sentence, following the completion of his trial for allegedly transmitting images and information regarding strategic locations to Mossad, had been approved by the Supreme Court, the statement said. Keyvani was arrested on the fourth day of a 12-day war that broke out in June last year, when the US and Israel attacked Iran. READ: Iran arrests hundreds in spy crackdown across several cities In Iran, amid recent

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  US secretary of state speaks with UAE foreign minister amid Iran’s attacks

  by MI on March 18, 2026

  US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has spoken over the phone with UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan amid the deadly attacks attributed to Iran, the State Department said, Anadolu reports. According to a written statement, Rubio on Tuesday expressed condolences for those killed in what the statement described as Iran’s “indiscriminate attacks” on the UAE. Rubio also reaffirmed the US commitment to the security of the UAE. READ: Iran’s political system ‘strong’ despite killing of officials: Foreign minister “The Secretary expressed his condolences for those killed in Iran’s indiscriminate attacks on the UAE, and reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to the security of the Emirates,” the statement noted. No additional details were provided. The

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  Israel exploiting regional crises to expand illegal settlements in West Bank: Palestinian foreign minister

  by MI on March 18, 2026

  Israel is exploiting regional crises to intensify illegal settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank, the top Palestinian diplomat has said, according to a statement by the Foreign Ministry, Anadolu reports. Speaking during a briefing to members of the diplomatic corps accredited to the State of Palestine on Tuesday, Varsen Aghabekian Shahin warned that Israel is accelerating policies aimed at expanding illegal settlements and imposing permanent control over Palestinian land. She said Israeli authorities are taking advantage of the international community’s focus on regional crises to advance annexation efforts through settlement expansion and legislative and administrative measures. Shahin said such policies undermine the two-state solution and threaten the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination. The minister added that illegal Israeli settlers

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  Iran’s political system ‘strong’ despite killing of officials: Foreign minister

  by MI on March 18, 2026

  Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the country’s political system remains strong, despite the killing of senior officials in US-Israeli attacks, insisting that such actions will not weaken the structure of the state. In an interview with Al Jazeera, Araghchi stressed that the Islamic Republic has a solid political system. “I do not know why the Americans and the Israelis still have not understood this point: The Islamic Republic of Iran has a strong political structure with established political, economic and social institutions,” he said. “The presence or absence of a single individual does not affect this structure,” he added. Araghchi acknowledged that individuals can play important roles but stressed that the strength of the system does not depend on

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  Reuters: US pressures Syria to join Israel in war against Hezbollah

  by MI on March 18, 2026

  The administration of Donald Trump is putting pressure on Syria to send troops into eastern Lebanon to help disarm Hezbollah. However, Damascus is reluctant to take part, fearing it could be drawn into a wider conflict and inflame sectarian tensions, Reuters reported. In a report published on Tuesday, Reuters cited informed sources as saying the proposal had been presented to the Syrian government as part of efforts to disarm Hezbollah. The group joined the war against Iran on 2 March by targeting Israeli sites. Sources, including two Syrian officials and two people familiar with the discussions, said the idea was first raised between US and Syrian officials last year. Reuters said all sources spoke on condition of anonymity due to

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  Opportunistic asylum: How Australia exploited the Iranian women’s football team

  by MI on March 18, 2026

  When it comes to asylum seekers, the Australian political machine has prided itself on using cruelty and a purposely obtuse understanding of international law.  Bolted sovereignty has been elevated over rights and humanitarianism, while political interests have abominated the dark, hungering hordes heading to the island continent on unseaworthy boats.  From the early 1990s, the UN Refugee Convention became increasingly clipped, its applicability scorned in domestic politics.  By the time the conservative government of John Howard assumed power in 1996, turning Australia into a vast village of suspicious citizens suffering from arrested development, the asylum seeker became electoral bait, hooked on fishing lines to lure in voters worried their comfortable lives would somehow be ruffled by the dark, brooding arrivals

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  Settlers gather at junctions south of Nablus and Bethlehem, obstructing Palestinian movement

  by MI on March 18, 2026

  Dozens of Israeli settlers gathered on Tuesday evening at road junctions south of Nablus and Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank, obstructing the movement of Palestinians. Palestinian local sources said groups of settlers assembled at the entrances to several villages and towns south of Nablus, blocking traffic and preventing residents from moving freely. In the southern Bethlehem area, security sources reported that dozens of settlers gathered at the Etzion and Efrat junctions and spread along Route 60, causing traffic disruption in the area.    The incidents come amid rising tensions across the West Bank and increased settler presence on main roads and around Palestinian communities. READ: Israeli forces prevent worshippers from performing Tarawih prayers in Jerusalem neighbourhoods

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  Israeli forces prevent worshippers from performing Tarawih prayers in Jerusalem neighbourhoods

  by MI on March 18, 2026

  Israeli forces on Tuesday evening prevented Palestinian worshippers from performing Tarawih prayers in several areas of Jerusalem, as restrictions on access to Al-Aqsa Mosque continue. Local sources said Israeli forces were deployed around a number of neighbourhoods, including areas near Bab Al-Amud and Bab Al-Sahira. Worshippers were dispersed and prevented from holding prayers, and were forced to leave the places where they had gathered. The sources added that forces pushed worshippers towards nearby neighbourhoods in an effort to prevent any prayer gatherings. Tensions were reported in some areas after tear gas was fired to disperse the crowds. These measures come amid ongoing closures and tightened military restrictions in Jerusalem, particularly around the Old City, preventing many Palestinians from reaching Al-Aqsa

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  Lebanon’s death toll in Israeli attacks since March 2 surpasses 900: Health Ministry

  by Marwa A on March 17, 2026

  More than 900 people have been killed in Israeli attacks across Lebanon since March 2, according to the country’s Health Ministry on Tuesday, Anadolu reports. Citing the ministry, Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA) reported that the total number of fatalities between March 2 and March 17 reached 912, while 2,221 people were injured. On Tuesday morning, the Israeli army announced that the 36th Division had joined the operation aimed at expanding its ground incursion into southern Lebanon. This comes a day after Israel announced the start of a new “ground operation” in southern Lebanon, with estimates indicating that its forces have now penetrated between 7 and 9 kilometers into Lebanon. Hezbollah began targeting Israeli military sites on March 2 in

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  Germany dismisses regime change in Iran as unrealistic, warns of chaos risks

  by Marwa A on March 17, 2026

  Germany’s foreign minister on Tuesday rejected the idea of pursuing regime change in Iran and warned that any resulting chaos would harm the region and Europe, Anadolu reports. “A controlled regime change is, I would say, a hypothetical idea which is not realistic,” Johann Wadephul told the Europe 2026 conference, emphasizing that all past regime change efforts have failed. “If you look at what happened in Iraq, what happened in Libya, the examples are bad enough, and we should learn a lesson out of this,” the minister said, adding that there could be no military solution to the conflict. He reiterated Germany’s desire for a swift end to the fighting and called for intensified diplomatic efforts to establish a post-war

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  Saudi Arabia says ballistic missile, 24 drones intercepted amid escalation

  by Marwa A on March 17, 2026

  Saudi Arabia said Tuesday evening that air defenses had intercepted a ballistic missile and 24 drones targeting its territory amid escalating tensions across the region, Anadolu reports. A Defense Ministry statement said a ballistic missile fired toward the central province of Al-Kharj was shot down. The ministry added that air defenses had intercepted and destroyed 24 drones in the Eastern Province since dawn Tuesday. It, however, did not specify from where the projectiles were launched. Regional tensions have escalated since the US and Israel launched a joint offensive on Iran on Feb. 28, killing so far around 1,300 people, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Tehran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, along with Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf

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  Jet fuel prices surge nearly 83% in a month, piling pressure on airlines: IATA

  by Marwa A on March 17, 2026

  Global average jet fuel prices have surged 82.8% over the past month, sharply increasing cost pressures on airlines, according to the International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) latest fuel price monitor, Anadolu reports. IATA data showed jet fuel prices rose 11.2% week-on-week to $175 per barrel in the latest reporting period. The figures, published under license from S&P Global Energy, reflect average refinery prices for aviation fuel. On an annual basis, jet fuel prices were up 94.4%, highlighting the scale of the recent increase. The surge follows a 58.4% jump in the previous weekly reading, underscoring the rapid pace of market movements. The spike is expected to weigh heavily on airline margins, as fuel remains one of the industry’s largest operating

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  Bedouin communities – Dispossession and entrapment

  by Marwa A on March 17, 2026

  As the war in Gaza continues to devastate Palestinian life, and the ongoing confrontation involving Iran, Israel, and the United States deepens regional instability, another quieter tragedy unfolds on the margins of the conflict. The Bedouins – long-standing desert communities whose lives have been intertwined with the fragile ecosystems of the Middle East – find themselves caught in the crosscurrents of militarization, displacement, and geopolitical rivalry. While global attention focuses on the spectacle of war, Bedouin communities across the Naqab (Negev), the occupied West Bank, and parts of Sinai endure intensifying dispossession, settler violence, and forced displacement. Their struggle, largely invisible in global headlines, reflects a deeper pattern of erasure that has accompanied the Palestinian catastrophe since 1948 and which

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  The explosion inside Trump’s war machine: Joe Kent resigns

  by Marwa A on March 17, 2026

  Joe Kent’s resignation is not an anomaly but an alarm: elite dissent is surfacing early because this war is built on deception. Joe Kent’s resignation is shocking, but not for the obvious reason. It is not shocking simply because it comes from within the Trump administration. Any administration of that size, stretching across thousands of officials, operatives and career personnel, will contain people who, despite the surrounding culture, still draw moral lines of their own. Even an administration defined by blunt militarism, racialized rhetoric and an unapologetic embrace of force is not morally monolithic. There is always room, however narrow, for someone to say: enough. What makes Kent’s resignation important is something else entirely: the language, the timing, and the

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  Making humanitarian aid work for everyone but the recipients

  by Marwa A on March 17, 2026

  The EU yesterday confirmed  €458 million in humanitarian aid for Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Egypt. Palestine will receive €124 million to cover the needs of 3.3 million people in Gaza and the occupied West Bank. In a war-torn Middle East, the European Union is stepping up while others step back,” the EU Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management Hadja Lahbib stated. Now that the EU is temporarily not aligned with the US, as happened during Donald Trump’s first presidency, the bloc has stepped into the role of the largest humanitarian aid donor and therefore, retaining the right of rhetoric on humanitarian and the people whose lives were ravaged by colonial complicity. “International law exists to protect them [the

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  Iran in talks with FIFA to move 2026 World Cup matches from US to Mexico

  by Marwa A on March 17, 2026

  Iran said Tuesday that it is in talks with FIFA to relocate its 2026 World Cup matches from the US to Mexico, citing security and logistical concerns, Anadolu reports. Iran’s Embassy in Mexico wrote on the US social media platform X that negotiations are ongoing after Iranian officials raised concerns linked to the conflict in the Middle East. Iran Football Federation President Mehdi Taj said the team would not travel to the US after remarks attributed to US President Donald Trump indicated security for the Iranian squad could not be guaranteed. “We will certainly not travel to America,” Taj said, adding that discussions with FIFA are underway to stage Iran’s matches in Mexico. Iran is scheduled to play New Zealand

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  Selective law and convenient outrage

  by MI on March 17, 2026

  On 11 March 2026 two statements emerged from the international system that together reveal more about contemporary diplomacy than any solemn lecture on international law. First, the United Nations Security Council adopted a resolution condemning Iran for missile and drone attacks across the Gulf and for actions affecting navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. On that same day, several Muslim-majority states issued a strongly worded statement condemning Israel for restricting access to Masjid al-Aqsa, one of Islam’s most sacred sites. Placed side by side, the two responses expose the striking inconsistency and absence of principle that now characterise much of contemporary international diplomacy. In the Security Council chamber, there were votes, urgency and a binding resolution. On the question of

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  US counterterrorism chief resigns over opposition to Iran war

  by MI on March 17, 2026

  The director of the US National Counterterrorism Center, Joseph Kent, resigned Tuesday, citing his opposition to the ongoing US war in Iran, Anadolu reports. “I cannot in good conscience support the ongoing war in Iran,” Kent wrote in a letter shared on the US social media platform X. He argued that Iran posed no imminent threat to the US and claimed the conflict was initiated under external pressure. Kent, a veteran who said he deployed to combat 11 times, also referenced personal loss, describing himself as a “Gold Star husband” whose wife was killed in a previous war. “I cannot support sending the next generation off to fight and die in a war that serves no benefit to the American

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  US-Israeli actions ‘have no basis under international law,’ says Scottish leader

  by MI on March 17, 2026

  Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney on Tuesday criticized the actions of the US and Israel in Iran, saying they “have no basis under international law,” Anadolu reports. “So let me be clear, the unjustifiable actions of the US and Israel have no basis under international law. They must stop for the sake of innocent children in Iran, for the sake of peace,” he said in a post on the US social media company X. “Right now, once again, the world is watching as war rages in the Middle East. We all know the Iranian regime is brutal and illegitimate. It has brought untold suffering on its own citizens and on people across the region,” he added. READ: UK ‘will not be drawn

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  Jordan’s king arrives in Doha, meets Qatar’s emir amid regional escalation

  by MI on March 17, 2026

  Jordan’s King Abdullah II arrived in Doha on a visit to Qatar on Tuesday, as regional escalation continues to rage amid the ongoing US-Israeli strikes on Iran and retaliatory attacks by Tehran, Anadolu reports. A royal court statement said Abdullah was received by Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, without giving further details. The US and Israel have continued a joint offensive on Iran since Feb. 28, killing so far around 1,300 people, including then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Iran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf countries hosting US military assets, causing casualties and damage to infrastructure while disrupting global markets and aviation. READ: Israeli army claims Iran’s security chief Ali Larijani killed