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

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  Did the Boomerang War prove Iran’s power to endure?

  by Mehdi Editor on June 19, 2026

  When coercion lacks clarity, the weapon turns back on the hand that threw it. One hundred and ten days of American and Israeli bombardment. A relentless naval blockade. The proclaimed objective: to cripple Iran’s nuclear ambition, shatter its missile arsenal, and break the back of the Islamic Republic. And now? A memorandum of understanding. A ceasefire on ‘all fronts’. And the slow, grudging unfreezing of more than $100 billion in Iranian assets—the very financial sinews that sanctions were meant to sever. This is not a victory. This is the sound of strategy unravelling. The numbers tell a damning story. China holds between $20 billion and $50 billion in Iranian funds. Iraq owes roughly $15 billion for electricity and gas. India

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  Lebanese president condemns latest Israeli attacks, urges ‘comprehensive ceasefire’

  by Mehdi Editor on June 19, 2026

  Lebanese President Joseph Aoun on Friday condemned Israel’s recent attacks in southern and eastern Lebanon that have expanded, causing more killing and destruction and called for a “comprehensive ceasefire as fast as possible.” “What we are witnessing today in the south and the Bekaa, the expansion of Israeli attacks and more killing and destruction, constitutes a dangerous and condemned escalation,” Aoun said, according to statement from his office on US social media platform X. “The attacks have affected dozens of innocent people, including women and children, and were undermining efforts to solidify a ceasefire and end the war, especially after recent developments between the US and Iran,” Aoun said. “That [recent attacks] will not prevent us from working to achieve

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  Olmert: Israel is running a state-funded campaign of settler terrorism in West Bank

  by Mehdi Editor on June 19, 2026

  Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has accused the Israeli government of directly organising, funding and protecting Jewish terrorism in the West Bank. Writing in Haaretz yesterday, Olmert — who served as prime minister from 2006 to 2009 — issued what he called “unprecedented and harsh accusations against an Israeli government and the defence establishment.”  “The fight against Jewish terrorism in the West Bank must advance to the next stage and be waged with greater determination,” said Olmert. “The daily terrorism that is managed, directed, encouraged and supported by the Israeli government can no longer be tolerated.” Olmert dismissed the Israeli government’s attempts to portray settler violence as the work of isolated individuals. “What is happening across the West Bank

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  Israeli opposition would secure Knesset majority over Netanyahu bloc, poll shows

  by Mehdi Editor on June 19, 2026

  Israel’s opposition would be able to form a government if elections were held today, securing 61 seats in the 120-member Knesset, compared with 49 seats for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s ruling bloc, according to a new opinion poll published Friday. The survey, conducted by the Lazar Research Institute in cooperation with the Israeli daily Maariv between June 17 and 18, sampled 501 respondents and had a margin of error of approximately 4.4%. According to the poll, opposition parties would win 61 seats, giving them the minimum majority required to form a government, while Netanyahu’s coalition would secure 49 seats. Arab parties would collectively win 10 seats, the survey found. The poll also showed continued gains for the opposition Yashar party

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  Extremist Israeli ministers call for ‘burning’ Lebanon, opening ‘gates of hell’ after soldiers killed

  by Mehdi Editor on June 19, 2026

  Israel’s far-right cabinet members, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, on Friday called for intensified attacks in Lebanon after the Israeli army said four soldiers were killed in fighting in southern Lebanon, Anadolu reports. In a post on the US social media company X, Ben-Gvir said Israel should respond forcefully despite international pressure. “With all due respect to the Americans, Israel must make it clear to the entire world that the blood of our sons and the security of our citizens are not forfeit. All of Lebanon must burn,” the extremist minister wrote. “Our supreme duty is to protect the citizens of Israel and the soldiers of the IDF (army), and this commitment takes precedence over

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  ‘No one can tell us what to do,’ Israeli defense minister says amid US criticism

  by Mehdi Editor on June 19, 2026

  Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said late Thursday that Israel would respond immediately and with force if Iran attacks, saying that “no one can tell us what to do,” according to Israeli media. “If Iran attacks us, we will act immediately and respond with force. No one can tell us what to do, and we have proven that,” Katz said in an interview with Channel 14. “All the capabilities exist and are being built,” Katz added, saying Israel could “respond immediately or act later.” “We never asked the US to fight with us against Hezbollah in Lebanon, against jihadist elements in Syria or against Hamas in Gaza,” Katz claimed. “We do that alone.” “We expected, and still expect, that the

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  28 killed as Israel keeps attacking Lebanon despite US-Iran deal coming into force

  by Mehdi Editor on June 19, 2026

  At least 28 people were killed and several others injured in a series of Israeli airstrikes across southern Lebanon since early Friday, Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA) reported, marking the deadliest escalation since the US and Iran signed an agreement aimed at ending war on multiple fronts, including Lebanon. Israeli strikes after midnight targeted residential homes in the towns of Al-Sharqiyah, Harouf and Kfar Sir in the Nabatieh district, causing casualties and leaving several people missing, NNA reported. At around 2.10 am local time (2310GMT Thursday), Israeli warplanes launched a series of strikes on Nabatieh city, Kfar Tebnit, Nabatieh al-Fawqa and the Rayhan heights, according to the agency. Several other strikes hit the Kfarjoz-Nabatieh area, the university neighborhood in Nabatieh

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  Israeli opposition leader warns country’s foreign relations being damaged amid tensions with allies

  by Mehdi Editor on June 19, 2026

  Israeli opposition leader and former Prime Minister Yair Lapid on Friday criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, warning that Israel’s international relations were deteriorating following growing tensions with key allies. In a post on US social media company X, Lapid pointed to a series of recent diplomatic disputes involving senior Israeli officials and international partners. “In the past day, the U.S. Vice President got angry at a press conference over Smotrich and Ben Gvir, Foreign Minister Sa’ar cut ties with the European Union’s foreign minister, and President Trump said Netanyahu is showing irresponsibility in Lebanon,” Lapid wrote. “If we don’t quickly replace this government, Israel’s foreign relations will be wiped out,” he added. READ: Israeli foreign minister severs ties with EU

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  4 Israeli soldiers killed in Hezbollah attack in southern Lebanon

  by Mehdi Editor on June 19, 2026

  Four Israeli soldiers, including a battalion commander, were killed in southern Lebanon after a Hezbollah attack targeted their tank, the Israeli military and local media reported on Friday. In a statement, the Israeli army said Lt. Col. Dor Gedalia Ben Simhon, 32, from Beit HaShita and commander of the 52nd Battalion of the 401st Brigade, was killed during “combat.” The military said three other soldiers were also killed in the attack, but their identities have not yet been cleared for publication and will be released at a later date. The Israeli online newspaper The Times of Israel cited a military statement saying that an Israeli army tank came under a Hezbollah anti-tank drone attack overnight in the southern Lebanese village

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  Trump says there are ‘no limits’ to his power after Iran war

  by Mehdi Editor on June 19, 2026

  US President Donald Trump said there are “no limits” to his ability to exert power following the US-Iran war, arguing that the United States has the “most powerful military in the world,” Anadolu Agency reports. In an interview with Axios released Thursday, Trump was asked what he had learned about the exercise and limits of presidential power as a result of the conflict. “There are no limits. I haven’t learned that lesson yet. I know there are, but there are no limits. We defeated them totally militarily,” he said. “We have the most powerful military in the world, by far. Who else could have done a blockade like that? I did a naval blockade where not one ship was able

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  Indonesia needs not only GCC investors, but also bankable green projects

  by Mehdi Editor on June 19, 2026

  In a previous essay, we argued that Indonesia’s sovereign wealth fund, Danantara, could serve as a bridge between the Gulf’s immense pools of capital and Indonesia’s vast renewable energy potential. That argument remains valid. As Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries diversify beyond hydrocarbons and seek long-term investments in emerging markets, Indonesia stands out as one of the world’s most promising destinations for renewable energy development. Yet capital alone cannot deliver an energy transition. If Indonesia is serious about achieving President Prabowo Subianto’s ambition to build up to 75 gigawatts of renewable energy capacity in the coming decades—a transformation that could require at least US$235 billion in investment—it will need not only GCC investors, but also something far less discussed: a

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  Iran postponed direct talks with US to protest Israel’s ceasefire violations in Lebanon: Pakistani sources

  by Mehdi Editor on June 19, 2026

  Iran postponed the technical-level talks with the US, which were slated for Friday in Switzerland, in protest against “continued” Israeli ceasefire violations, mainly in southern Lebanon, Pakistani government sources told Anadolu Agency. The sources said that Tehran’s chief negotiator Bagher Qalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi were “all set” to leave for Switzerland to hold direct talks with Washington, but they pulled out of their scheduled trip at the last minute following “directives” from the “top Iranian leadership.” They did not specify whether the directives came directly from Supreme Leader Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei, who has already said he has a “different view” on the US-Iran deal to end the war. No new date or venue for the talks has been

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  Geagea rejects US proposal on Syrian forces entering Lebanon over Hezbollah issue

  by Mehdi Editor on June 19, 2026

  Samir Geagea, leader of the Lebanese Forces party, has rejected a reported US proposal involving the entry of Syrian forces into Lebanon to help address the issue of Hezbollah, saying the idea has no Lebanese or Arab backing and is “not viable”. In remarks to Lebanese MTV, Geagea said no one agrees with what the US president has suggested regarding Syrian involvement in Lebanon to resolve the Hezbollah file. He said the rejection includes regional and international stakeholders concerned with the Lebanese situation. He added that Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa does not support the proposal, noting that he pursues a positive approach towards Lebanon. He also said that Saudi Arabia and other Arab states, as well as the Lebanese state

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  Report: Israeli political circles shocked by Vance criticism of Netanyahu ministers

  by Mehdi Editor on June 19, 2026

  Sharp criticism by US Vice President JD Vance of ministers in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government over their stance on the Iran agreement has caused shock within Israeli political circles, an Israeli newspaper reported on Thursday. According to Yedioth Ahronoth, informed sources in Tel Aviv said political circles in Israel were “in a state of shock” following the US Vice President’s remarks. The newspaper said the Israeli government had chosen not to respond to Vance’s comments to avoid deepening disagreements with the administration of US President Donald Trump at a time of growing tensions between the two sides over the US-Iran agreement and the Lebanon file. It added that Vance’s remarks were interpreted as suggesting a possible review of the

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  Iran waives Hormuz transit fees for 60 days, requires advance passage permits

  by Mehdi Editor on June 19, 2026

  Iran’s Supreme National Security Council has announced that Tehran will not impose any fees on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz for 60 days under a memorandum of understanding signed with the United States, according to Iranian media reports. In a statement, the council said commercial vessels wishing to transit the strait must submit advance passage requests to what it described as the waterway administration. The statement added that mine-clearing operations would be carried out under the memorandum of understanding signed in Islamabad, with vessels required to follow the route and timetable specified by the authority. The council said it had instructed relevant bodies to process and respond to vessel requests quickly and on a priority basis to achieve

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  War strengthens Iranian regime while deepening opposition divisions

  by Mehdi Editor on June 19, 2026

  Iran’s war was portrayed as a catalyst for the collapse of the Islamic Republic, but months of fighting failed to topple the Iranian leadership and instead left its opponents, both inside and outside the country, in a weaker position. At the start of the war, US President Donald Trump said the conflict would pave the way for Iranians to rise up against the authorities, after expressing support for anti-government protests that peaked in January and posed the biggest challenge to the Islamic Republic in years. Following the outbreak of war and the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in US-Israeli strikes on the first day, fractured Iranian opposition groups abroad quickly sought to present themselves as an alternative to the

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  Netanyahu: Israel will not withdraw from southern Lebanon

  by Mehdi Editor on June 19, 2026

  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reaffirmed his commitment to keeping Israeli troops in southern Lebanon. Speaking on Thursday, Netanyahu said: “There are still additional challenges ahead of us, and they require calm, a firm commitment to our security interests, and maintaining the important relationship with our American friends.” He claimed that “restoring security to northern Israel requires maintaining the security zone in southern Lebanon and not withdrawing from it as long as Israel’s security needs require it.” Meanwhile, US media reports said on Thursday that Israel is holding talks with the United States to ensure the continued presence of its forces in southern Lebanon, despite provisions in the memorandum of understanding that affirm Lebanon’s territorial integrity and sovereignty. Separately,

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  Hezbollah lawmaker says Israel has 60 days to withdraw from Lebanon

  by Mehdi Editor on June 19, 2026

  Mohammad Raad, head of Hezbollah’s parliamentary bloc, said Israel has 60 days to complete its withdrawal from Lebanese territory, urging Lebanese authorities to study the understanding signed between the United States and Iran “carefully and objectively”. In a statement issued on Thursday, Raad made the remarks as Israel continues its military actions and maintains its presence in areas it occupies in southern Lebanon. He noted that the first clause of the agreement signed between Tehran and Washington calls, in part, for the “immediate and permanent cessation of military operations on all fronts, including Lebanon”. The agreement also includes a commitment to “guarantee Lebanon’s territorial integrity and sovereignty” and confirms a “permanent end to the war on all fronts” in its

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  Under peace deal, US forces lift blockade on all maritime traffic entering and exiting Iranian ports

  by Mehdi Editor on June 18, 2026

  US forces on Thursday lifted the blockade on all maritime traffic entering and exiting Iranian ports and coastal areas, the US military’s Central Command (CENTCOM) said shortly after the US and Iran signed a deal to end the Mideast war, Anadolu Agency reports. “Today, US forces lifted the blockade on all maritime traffic entering and exiting Iranian ports and coastal areas, in accordance with the President’s (Donald Trump) direction,” CENTCOM said in a statement on the US social media company X. It said that American forces are “not impeding the transit of vessels to or from Iranian ports on the Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman.” “All US military blockade enforcement efforts have ceased. Our great Naval Ships will remain

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  8 countries condemn occupier violence against Palestinians in occupied West Bank

  by Mehdi Editor on June 18, 2026

  The foreign ministers of eight countries on Thursday condemned escalating Israeli occupier violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, including recent attacks on two mosques in northern Ramallah, Anadolu reports. Turkiye, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates said they condemned “in the strongest terms” continued attacks on the Grand Mosque in the village of Jiljilya and Al-Farouq Mosque in the village of Mazar’a al-Nubani. The foreign ministers said the attacks constituted a clear violation of the sanctity of places of worship and religious sites, as well as international law, including international humanitarian law and relevant UN resolutions. They also rejected the “deplorable attacks by Israeli settlers” and continued illegal Israeli measures in the

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  3 more Palestinians killed in Israeli strikes in Gaza in new ceasefire violation

  by Mehdi Editor on June 18, 2026

  Three Palestinians were killed and others wounded in an Israeli drone strike in the Gaza Strip on Thursday, marking another violation of a ceasefire in effect since last October, a medical source said, Anadolu reports. The bodies of three Palestinians and several wounded people arrived at Al-Saraya Field Hospital after a civilian vehicle was hit at the Abu Khadra intersection in central Gaza City, the source told , Anadolu Agency. According to witnesses, an Israeli drone fired a missile at the vehicle as it passed through the Abu Khadra intersection in the city. The strike left the vehicle in flames, they added. The attack took place in one of the busiest and most densely populated areas of Gaza City, with

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  When the international community’s absolutes lead to genocide

  by Mehdi Editor on June 18, 2026

  When anyone from the international community deems a purported solution as the only viable option for Palestine, it must be immediately assumed the contrary is applicable. For years, the UN and world leaders have affirmed the two-state paradigm as the only solution, with UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres qualifying it further as “There is no Plan B”. Now, former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has endorsed US President Donald Trump’s 20-point plan as “the only game in town”. Speaking to The New Yorker editor in chief David Remnic, Clinton stated, “Trump’s 20-point plan for Gaza is actually a pathway to security for Israel, reconstruction for Gaza and the possibility of self-determination, however defined for the Palestinians.” Neither the two-state

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  Israel orders demolition of 9 Palestinian homes in Hebron amid West Bank escalation

  by Mehdi Editor on June 18, 2026

  Israeli authorities on Thursday issued demolition orders for nine inhabited Palestinian homes in the West Bank city of Hebron, in the latest home demolitions in the occupied territory, Anadolu reports. Local sources said the demolition notices were issued for nine homes in the Qanan Niyas area of Al-Shuyukh town, northeast of Hebron on claims of building without permits in Area C. According to the sources, Israeli authorities had issued stop-work orders to the homeowners about a month ago for lacking permits despite the submission of the necessary documents for obtaining permits. Israel frequently demolishes Palestinian structures on the grounds that they were built without permits in Area C, which remains under full Israeli civil, administrative under the Oslo II agreement.

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  Paris grants honorary citizenship to Palestinian civilians, journalists

  by Mehdi Editor on June 18, 2026

  Paris granted honorary citizenship Thursday to Palestinian civilian populations and journalists, according to French public broadcaster RFI. The decision, long demanded by part of the left-wing majority in the Paris City Council, was announced during a council session attended by Palestine’s ambassador to France Hala Abou-Hassira, RFI reported. “Honorary citizenship is not a symbol, but a commitment to peace. We are extending our hand to an entire people,” Mayor Emmanuel Gregoire told the council. Gregoire said recognizing the suffering of the Palestinian people “in no way erases that of the Israeli people.” The Paris City Council had also adopted a motion in 2025 granting honorary citizenship to Gazans. READ: Israel criticises France over restricted defence expo participation

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  UAE becomes 1st Arab country to restrict social media use for children under 15

  by Mehdi Editor on June 18, 2026

  The United Arab Emirates on Thursday announced that children under the age of 15 will no longer be allowed to use social media platforms, becoming the first Arab country to adopt such a restriction, Anadolu reports. The measure was approved by the UAE Cabinet and announced by the state news agency WAM. It comes as several Arab countries consider similar regulations, including Egypt, which announced plans to pursue comparable measures few months ago. The Cabinet said the decision aims “to regulate children’s access to social media in response to their growing use of digital platforms and the associated risks, including exposure to inappropriate content, unsafe interactions, collection of personal data, and excessive use.” The regulations apply to social media platforms

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  Iran’s state television says Hormuz passage ‘still requires coordination’ with Tehran

  by Mehdi Editor on June 18, 2026

  Iran’s state television said Thursday the passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz still requires coordination with Tehran, Anadolu reports. According to the broadcaster, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) “continues to impose the condition of coordination with its naval forces on ships seeking to transit the waterway.” Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and US President Donald Trump signed a memorandum of understanding on Wednesday aimed at ending the war between Tehran and Washington that began in late February. According to the terms of the deal published by Iran’s state news agency IRNA, Tehran “will make its utmost efforts to ensure the safe passage of commercial vessels, free of charge for 60 days, between the Gulf and the Gulf of

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  Gaza administration committee says reconstruction priorities finalized, ready to begin work

  by Mehdi Editor on June 18, 2026

  The National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG) said Thursday it has finalized priorities for recovery and reconstruction and is ready to begin field operations “once conditions permit,” Anadolu reports. The announcement came during a coordination meeting chaired by committee head Ali Shaath with representatives of the European Union, the United Nations and the World Bank to discuss the results of a rapid damage and needs assessment in the Gaza Strip. According to a statement published by the committee on the US social media company X, Shaath said the committee had adopted the assessment as the “main reference” for preparing recovery and reconstruction plans and programs. He added that the committee had completed sectoral priorities and implementation plans, enabling it

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  US journalist Carlson says Trump did not consult Israel on Iran deal

  by Mehdi Editor on June 18, 2026

  American journalist and political commentator Tucker Carlson said US President Donald Trump understands he must weaken Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s position to advance an agreement with Iran and did not consult Israel on the matter, Anadolu reports. Speaking on his podcast, which was published on YouTube on Wednesday, Carlson assessed Israel’s stance toward a potential agreement between the US and Iran. Carlson said the agreement could be jeopardized not by the US Congress but by Israel. “Trump knows that he has to diminish Benjamin Netanyahu and not just Netanyahu but the state of Israel’s moral legitimacy in the United States in order to keep going. And so amazingly, he’s done that,” Carlson said. Carlson said a person who knows

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  Israel’s Netanyahu tells Trump he will not be bound by Iran-US deal: Report

  by Mehdi Editor on June 18, 2026

  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told US President Donald Trump that Israel would not be bound by the agreement reached between the US and Iran, CNN reported Thursday, citing an unnamed Israeli official. The official said that Netanyahu was attempting to influence the ongoing 60-day negotiation process under the agreement, claiming that the Israeli premier is trying to shape the final agreement by using right-leaning media figures and senators close to him to pressure Trump. According to the official, Netanyahu believed there would be no final agreement between the US and Iran and that Tehran would not genuinely accept restrictions on its nuclear program. The official also claimed that Netanyahu informed Trump that Israel was not bound by the agreement,

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  Despite US-Iran deal, Israel says troops to remain in 10-km zone inside Lebanon

  by Mehdi Editor on June 18, 2026

  The Israeli army on Thursday published a map showing its continued deployment in a zone extending up to 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) inside southern Lebanon, despite a US-Iran memorandum of understanding that includes a halt to military operations on all fronts, including Lebanon, Anadolu reports. In a post on the US social media company X, the army said its forces remain deployed inside what it described as a “security zone” within Lebanese territory according to “operational needs.” It said troops would continue operating in the area to remove threats and strengthen protection for residents of northern Israel. The military attached a map showing the extent of its deployment across broad sectors of southern Lebanon. According to the map, Israeli forces

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  After US-Iran deal, Israeli minister threatens war on Syria ‘sooner or later’

  by Mehdi Editor on June 18, 2026

  Israeli Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli threatened Thursday that Israel would wage war on Syria “sooner or later,” claiming that Syria and Turkiye pose a greater challenge to Israel than Iran, Anadolu reports. “We will wage war on Syria, sooner or later, because it and Turkiye are far more worrying than Iran,” Chikli said in an interview with Israeli radio station 103FM, affiliated with Maariv newspaper. The remarks by Chikli, a member of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s ruling Likud party, came hours after Iran and the US signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at ending war in all fronts, including Lebanon. The Israeli minister has repeatedly criticized regional countries involved in diplomatic efforts to end ongoing conflicts. On Wednesday, Chikli

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  The boomerang: How America’s semiconductor war backfired

  by Mehdi Editor on June 18, 2026

  There is an ancient Chinese proverb that Washington strategists should have remembered: “When you shoot an arrow of revenge, dig two graves.” They didn’t listen. And now we are watching the most spectacular economic boomerang in modern history. Three years ago, the United States launched what its architects called the “nuclear option” against China. They banned the export of advanced semiconductors. They blocked the machines that manufacture them. They told Beijing: your technological future ends here. In the halls of the Pentagon, there was a quiet celebration. The thinking was seductive in its simplicity. Without American chips, China’s artificial intelligence revolution would die. Its economy would stagnate. Its military would fall behind. The CEOs of major American tech giants are

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  Israel allocates over $40M to regain support among US conservatives: Report

  by Mehdi Editor on June 18, 2026

  Israel has allocated more than $40 million to influence right-wing audiences in the US amid declining support for the country and growing criticism over its role in the war against Iran, according to an Israeli media report published Thursday. Haaretz reported that Israel has significantly increased spending on public relations and influence campaigns aimed primarily at conservative Christian audiences in the US. According to the newspaper, the campaign began late last year but has recently shifted its focus to defending Israel’s war against Iran and countering criticism directed at Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government. The report said the Israeli government more than doubled the budget for the effort to over $40 million as support for Israel among parts of the

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  Libya’s rival leaders agree roadmap for presidential, parliamentary elections by February 2027

  by Mehdi Editor on June 18, 2026

  The heads of Libya’s three main political bodies agreed Thursday on a roadmap to hold simultaneous presidential and parliamentary elections before February 2027 and establish a high-level committee to oversee the process, Anadolu reports. The agreement was reached during a meeting between Speaker of the House of Representatives Aguila Saleh, Chairman of the High Council of State Mohammed Takala and Chiarman of the Presidential Council Mohamed al-Menfi, according to a joint statement. The three leaders said they adopted a principles document that would serve as a roadmap for ending Libya’s prolonged transitional phase. The roadmap includes completing the constitutional and legal framework required for presidential and parliamentary elections, unifying sovereign institutions and strengthening national sovereignty. The document also calls for

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  Israeli foreign minister severs ties with EU foreign policy chief

  by Mehdi Editor on June 18, 2026

  Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said Thursday he was severing all contact with European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, accusing her of comparing Israel to apartheid-era South Africa, Anadolu reports. In a post on US social media platform X, Saar accused Kallas of acting “obsessively and with blatant unfairness” toward Israel. “Recently, it was published that during her visit to Mexico, she compared Israel to the racist apartheid regime that existed in South Africa,” he wrote. “I have no choice but to sever all contact with Ms. Kallas until she retracts the blood libel she directed” at Israel, Saar said. “To date, no denial, clarification or response has been issued by her regarding this severe statement,” he added. Saar

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  NHS doctor challenges use of IHRA definition in High Court after suspension over political speech

  by Mehdi Editor on June 18, 2026

  Lawyers representing Dr Ranjeet Brar have filed a judicial review claim at the High Court against King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, challenging the use of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) working definition of anti-Semitism to suspend him in breach of his right to freedom of expression. Dr Brar, who is also director of Right to Protest Limited, was suspended by the Trust on 6 April 2026 following a speech he delivered at a memorial for 168 children killed in a US Tomahawk cruise missile strike on the Minab primary school in Iran. His legal team contends that the IHRA definition was deployed to justify the suspension. The claim is brought under Article 10 of the European Convention on

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  Gaza municipalities warn of humanitarian, health catastrophe as basic services near collapse

  by Mehdi Editor on June 18, 2026

  The Union of Gaza Strip Municipalities warned on Thursday of a looming humanitarian, health and environmental catastrophe as basic municipal services in Gaza near collapse, Anadolu reports. Water, sewage and waste-management services are deteriorating due to restrictions imposed by Israel on the entry of industrial oils, diesel, spare parts, tires, pumps and other equipment needed to operate and maintain vital facilities, the union said in a statement. It said shortages of industrial oils pose the most serious threat, as generators, water wells, sewage stations and municipal machinery depend on them directly, adding that their depletion could halt operations even if limited diesel supplies are available. Municipalities and water authorities operate dozens of wells and stations to provide more than 140,000

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  Israel’s censor silenced 5,700 reports in 2025

  by Mehdi Editor on June 18, 2026

  Israel’s military censor blocked or altered more than 5,700 news reports in 2025, an average of 15 items per day, making it the second-highest year for media censorship in Israel since records began 15 years ago, according to new data published by +972 Magazine. The figures, obtained through a freedom of information request submitted by +972 and the Movement for Freedom of Information, show that the censor demanded redactions in 4,974 news items in 2025, while completely barring 753 further items from publication. Both totals remain far above the previous annual average of around 2,300 redactions and 320 full bans recorded between 2011 and 2023. The year 2024, the height of Israel’s genocide on Gaza, still holds the record for

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  Pakistani premier signs Islamabad MoU as mediator between US, Iran

  by Mehdi Editor on June 18, 2026

  Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday signed the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (Islamabad MoU) agreed to by the US and Iran to end the war, Anadolu Agency reports. Pakistan is the main mediator between the US and Iran after it secured a ceasefire on April 08 and hosted the highest level of talks between the two nations on April 12 and 13 since they severed diplomatic ties in 1979. According to a statement from the Pakistan prime minister’s office, Sharif signed the Islamabad MoU as “mediator.” Sharif’s signing followed electronic signatures by US President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian during the intervening night of Wednesday and Thursday. READ: US-Iran memorandum of understanding formally finalized after presidents sign text

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  Israeli army urges government to preserve freedom to strike across Lebanon

  by Mehdi Editor on June 18, 2026

  The Israeli army has urged the government to preserve its freedom to conduct operations throughout Lebanon, maintain a buffer zone and pursue the disarmament of Hezbollah, an Israeli newspaper reported Thursday. According to the Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronoth, the army delivered what it described as an important message to Israel’s political leadership regarding future military activity in Lebanon. The move came just hours after the US and Iranian presidents signed a memorandum of understanding to end the war on all fronts, including Lebanon. READ: Trump turns on Israel over Lebanon war, says Syria could fight Hezbollah better The report claimed that the recent decline in Israeli strikes deep inside Lebanon is not the result of a policy change but rather the

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  The U.S.-Iran deal: What has changed and what does this mean for the region?

  by Mehdi Editor on June 18, 2026

  War is a perilous political act aimed at shifting the balance of power. What balance did the United States seek to impose when it launched its war against Iran, and what did it achieve? And what does this mean for Palestine and the region? What were the objectives of the aggression? The U.S. administration did not wage the war because of Trump’s unique personality; politicians do have a margin of freedom, but it is limited by the political agenda they have agreed to pursue in the interest of the organized social groups that support them. Nor was it to divert attention from the Epstein case, especially given the limited influence of public opinion in the reality of the capitalist United

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  The occupation targeted a vehicle in central Gaza City, resulting in several fatalities and injuries

  by Mehdi Editor on June 18, 2026

  WATCH: Funeral procession for a number of martyrs who were killed in Israeli attacks during the past few hours

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  Trump open to Iran keeping nuclear enrichment rights as new deal takes shape

  by Mehdi Editor on June 18, 2026

  US president Donald Trump has signalled that he is open to Iran retaining the right to enrich uranium for civilian purposes, in remarks that represent a major shift in Washington’s position as a ceasefire deal with Tehran takes shape. Speaking at the G7 summit in Cannes, France, yesterday, Trump suggested that denying Iran the right to enrich uranium was difficult to justify when neighbouring states possessed the same capability. “It’s a little hard when other people have it, other adjoining states have it and you’re not letting them have it for purposes of electricity and things like that,” Trump told reporters. “You have to use a little common sense.” The comments come as the Trump administration and Tehran work to

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  50 Palestinian Bedouin, herding communities displaced since late 2023, rights body says

  by Mehdi Editor on June 18, 2026

  The Independent Commission for Human Rights (ICHR) said Israel’s settlement expansion and military restrictions have led to the displacement of 50 Palestinian Bedouin and herding communities since late 2023. According to the official Palestinian news agency WAFA, the findings were contained in a special survey on Bedouin and herding communities in the occupied West Bank conducted by the ICHR in cooperation with the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics. The survey found that around 300 violations targeting individuals and institutions in these communities were recorded in April 2025 alone. The results were presented on Wednesday during a conference attended by representatives of government institutions, relevant ministries, international and UN organisations, and civil society groups, WAFA reported. READ: Israel tops UN list of

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  Project Freedom and the end of the Arabs’ automatic “yes” to Washington

  by Mehdi Editor on June 18, 2026

  When Donald Trump spoke of “Project Freedom” to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, the plan was supposed to be a display of restored American deterrence: an operation meant to prove that Washington could still open the world’s energy artery with its military fleet and its network of regional bases. Yet the rapid suspension of the project, after Saudi Arabia’s initial opposition to the use of its bases and airspace, carried a deeper meaning. This was not merely an operational disagreement. “Project Freedom” showed that the Persian Gulf security order has entered a new phase: Arab states have not turned their backs on America, but they are no longer willing, without calculation, to serve as the launchpad for Washington’s war with

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  Israel tops UN list of grave violations against children in 2025

  by Mehdi Editor on June 18, 2026

  Israel was responsible for the highest number of verified grave violations against children in the occupied Palestinian territories in 2025, according to a new UN report, which recorded a sharp rise in abuses against children in conflict zones worldwide. The report, titled Children and Armed Conflict 2025 and prepared by UN Secretary-General António Guterres, found that grave violations against children increased by 34 per cent compared with the previous year. According to the 47-page report, parties to armed conflicts committed a record number of grave violations against children in 2025, marking “the highest number of children affected since the establishment of the Children and Armed Conflict mandate”. The UN documented 38,558 grave violations against children worldwide during 2025. These violations

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  US-Iran memorandum of understanding formally finalized after presidents sign text

  by Mehdi Editor on June 18, 2026

  Iran said early Thursday that a 14-point memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the United States aimed at ending the war had been formally finalized after the presidents of both countries signed the text of the agreement, Anadolu reports. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said the “Islamabad memorandum” had become fully official after being signed by both Tehran and Washington, according to remarks carried by Iran’s semi-official Mehr News Agency. Baghaei said the agreement was signed digitally and confirmed that negotiations under the memorandum would focus exclusively on nuclear issues and sanctions relief. He said the two sides would hold talks for up to 60 days, with the possibility of extending negotiations if necessary due to the complexity of the

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  Iran to charge ships for services in Strait of Hormuz, parliament speaker says

  by Mehdi Editor on June 18, 2026

  Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said Iran has sovereign rights over the Strait of Hormuz as a coastal state overlooking the strategic waterway. Ghalibaf said the Strait of Hormuz “will not return to what it was before”, but stressed that Iran does not intend to act in violation of international law. He added that Iran has sovereign rights in the strait and that it is natural for the country to charge fees for services provided to vessels passing through it, clarifying that these are service fees rather than tolls. Ghalibaf also said that Article 13 of the memorandum of understanding stipulates that commitments will be implemented on a “step-for-step” basis. READ: Trump says US will have to give Iran’s money

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  Palestinian female prisoner Lama Khater details alleged abuse in Israeli prisons

  by Mehdi Editor on June 18, 2026

  Palestinian prisoner and political activist Lama Khater has described what she said were harsh conditions during her detention in Israeli custody, alleging systematic abuse inside interrogation centres and prisons. According to a statement relayed by her lawyer following a recent visit, Khater said Palestinian female prisoners face ongoing violations, including beatings, humiliation, strip searches and solitary confinement. Khater was arrested after Israeli forces raided her home in Hebron in the early hours of 23 March 2026. She was then transferred to the Al-Moskobiya interrogation centre in occupied Jerusalem. READ: Israeli Security Minister Ben-Gvir appoints relatives of slain Israelis as prison inspectors: Reports She described Al-Moskobiya prison as “hell,” stating that guards subjected her to a full strip search upon arrival followed

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  Hezbollah chief: Resistance thwarted ‘Greater Israel’ project, disarmament will not pass

  by Mehdi Editor on June 18, 2026

  Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem said on Wednesday that the resistance had succeeded in “thwarting the Greater Israel project” and protecting what he described as Lebanon’s existence from plans of “extermination and displacement”. In a recorded speech, Qassem said that the basis of any negotiations with Israel should be “mutual security”, reiterating the group’s firm rejection of any proposal to disarm Hezbollah. He described such proposals as an “Israeli prescription” that would not be accepted. He called on the Lebanese authorities and political forces to engage in internal dialogue to organise national affairs away from external dictates or any direct negotiations, stressing Hezbollah’s readiness to cooperate on efforts to protect Lebanon’s sovereignty. READ: Israel cannot stop home demolitions in southern Lebanon: Ben-Gvir