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

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  Iran’s IRGC says 3rd ‘offending’ supertanker hit in Strait of Hormuz in 2 days

  by EditorMehdi on October 12, 2026

  Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) navy said Monday that a third supertanker it described as “offending” was struck in the Strait of Hormuz in two days and caught fire, Anadolu reports. In a statement issued by its public relations office, the navy said the tanker was hit Monday morning after switching off its navigation system and ignoring warnings. It alleged that the vessel, like those previously hit, had attempted to leave the strait and disrupt order and security in the waterway. The statement did not identify the tanker, its flag or operator, or specify how it was struck. The IRGC navy warned that any cooperation by commercial vessels and oil tankers with the US military in the Strait of

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  UN pledges technical support for Palestinian elections amid vote delay

  by EditorMehdi on October 12, 2026

  The UN reaffirmed its commitment Monday to assisting Palestinian electoral authorities following the postponement of legislative elections originally planned for late November, Anadolu reports. “We will continue to support the Palestinian Central Election Commission to ensure that technical preparations are in place when the actual elections take place,” Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, told reporters. The remarks followed a decree issued Saturday by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas rescheduling legislative elections for Sept. 11, 2027. The move formally rescinded an earlier order that had scheduled parliamentary elections for Nov. 28, 2026, which would have marked the first parliamentary vote in 20 years. The presidential decree instructs Palestinians across the occupied West Bank and the Gaza Strip to participate

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  Israeli army enters Syria’s Quneitra countryside, blocks construction work

  by EditorMehdi on October 12, 2026

  Israeli army forces entered Syria’s southwestern Quneitra countryside on Monday and blocked construction work in the area, according to state-run Alikhbariah TV. The broadcaster said six Israeli military vehicles advanced south of the town of Al-Rafid in Quneitra province. Israeli forces also prevented local residents from digging foundations for construction in the area, it added. READ: UN urges Israel to end harassment, intimidation, detention of civilians in Syria In a separate incident, Alikhbariah reported that Israeli forces blew up an abandoned military barracks at Tal Harboun near the town of Beit Jinn in the western Damascus countryside. Israel has expanded its military operations in Syria since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime on Dec. 8, 2024, with forces advancing into the

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  Sudan’s Burhan orders inquiry after reported killing of 72 miners near Egyptian border

  by EditorMehdi on October 12, 2026

  Sudan’s Transitional Sovereignty Council Chairman Abdel Fattah al-Burhan on Monday ordered a fact-finding investigation into the reported killing of miners near the Egyptian border on Saturday, Anadolu reports. The council said in a statement that the committee would include representatives of the Public Prosecution and relevant judicial and security bodies. It will investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident and submit a report on its findings. No deadline was announced. “Protecting the lives of Sudanese citizens and safeguarding their safety and dignity is a fundamental responsibility of the state,” Burhan said. He stressed “the need to deal with the incident seriously, ensuring that the facts are uncovered and borders are protected and respected.” “The leaderships of the two brotherly countries are

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  EU establishes new security support mission in Lebanon

  by EditorMehdi on October 12, 2026

  The European Union on Monday established a new support mission in Lebanon to strengthen the country’s defense and security institutions, reaffirming its commitment to Lebanon’s stability, sovereignty and state institutions, Anadolu reports. The EU Council adopted a decision establishing the EU Support Mission in Lebanon (EUSM Lebanon), with an initial mandate of three years, according to a statement. The mission aims to contribute to peace and security in Lebanon, strengthen state institutions and promote lasting stability in line with UN Security Council Resolution 1701. It will focus on enhancing the capabilities of the Lebanese Armed Forces and the Internal Security Forces, as well as supporting maritime security governance. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said foreign ministers had agreed to

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  Syrian, Qatari foreign ministers discuss regional developments, bilateral ties

  by EditorMehdi on October 12, 2026

  Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani met Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani in Doha on Monday to discuss regional developments and bilateral relations, Anadolu reports. The Syrian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the two sides discussed the latest regional developments as well as ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation and further develop relations between the two countries. They also stressed the importance of increasing coordination and joint consultations in a way that contributes to enhancing security and stability in the region. Qatar’s Foreign Ministry said the meeting addressed ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation, the latest developments in Syria and a range of issues of mutual interest. READ: UN urges Israel to end harassment, intimidation,

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  Israel demolishes 80 homes in Palestinian village in Negev, displaces around 400 people

  by EditorMehdi on October 12, 2026

  Israeli authorities demolished around 80 homes in the Palestinian village of Al-Dhahiya in the Negev region of southern Israel on Monday, displacing around 400 people, amid accusations that extremist National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir is using home demolitions as part of his election campaign. Israel’s public broadcaster KAN said teams from the Israel Land Authority, accompanied by reinforced police forces under Ben-Gvir’s ministry, demolished around 80 homes on claims that they had been “built without permits” in Al-Dhahiya, an unrecognized village north of the city of Rahat. The demolition came after the Beersheba District Court on Sunday rejected a petition seeking to postpone the demolitions, the broadcaster said, adding that around 400 people had been living in the homes. In

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  Russia pledges continued humanitarian aid to Lebanon amid Israeli attacks

  by EditorMehdi on October 12, 2026

  Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Monday that Moscow would continue providing humanitarian aid to Lebanon amid escalating Israeli military operations, Anadolu reports. Speaking during talks with Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef Rajji in Moscow, Lavrov reaffirmed Russia’s support for Lebanon’s sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity. “I wish to confirm, clearly and unequivocally, Russia’s principled position in favor of ensuring Lebanon’s sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity,” Lavrov said. He said nearly 1 million Lebanese citizens had been severely affected by the hostilities, adding that the humanitarian situation remained tense. “We sent humanitarian aid to your country in April for those in need, and we intend to continue providing assistance,” Lavrov said. He also said the situation in Lebanon could not be

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  Israeli soldiers say ordered to drop heavy bombs on inhabited Gaza buildings without evacuation: Report

  by EditorMehdi on October 12, 2026

  Four Israeli military intelligence soldiers acknowledged they received instructions to use “heavy bombs” against inhabited buildings in the Gaza Strip without evacuating residents first, in strikes that killed and injured hundreds of Palestinians, according to a media report on Monday. The soldiers gave their accounts to the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, as Israel continues its genocide in Gaza, which began in October 2023. The Israeli army has repeatedly claimed that it warns civilians in Gaza to evacuate before strikes, a practice Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, have frequently boasted. However, soldiers’ testimonies contradict these claims, as they revealed a complete change in open-fire regulations since the start of the war on Gaza, where approximately 2.4 million Palestinians live. One

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  Israeli army fire kills 5 more Palestinians in Gaza, death toll nears 74,400

  by EditorMehdi on October 12, 2026

  Israeli army fire killed five Palestinians in the Gaza Strip over the past 24 hours, bringing the death toll from Israel’s genocidal war since October 2023 to 74,382, the Health Ministry said Monday, Anadolu reports. In its daily statistical report, the ministry said the toll included three new fatalities and two people who died of earlier wounds, while 18 people were injured in attacks over the past day, raising the overall number of injuries to 175,416. Despite a ceasefire in effect since Oct. 10, 2025, Israel has continued daily attacks in the enclave, killing 1,493 Palestinians and injuring 5,299 others, according to the ministry. Israel’s war has also caused widespread destruction affecting around 90% of Gaza’s civilian infrastructure, with an

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  Iran says reviewing US proposals for talks as indirect messages continue

  by EditorMehdi on October 12, 2026

  Iran said Monday that it is reviewing US proposals for negotiations as Tehran and Washington continue to exchange messages through mediators, Anadolu reports. Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei told his weekly press conference that Pakistan and Qatar continue to play a mediating role between Iran and the US. “The exchange of messages between Iran and the US through mediators continues,” Baqaei said. “We are reviewing the Americans’ proposals for negotiations. Iran’s preconditions must be observed for any negotiations,” he added. Baqaei said Russia also continues to play a “constructive” role regarding Iran’s nuclear file, pointing to Moscow’s involvement in the 2015 nuclear agreement. He said Iranian and Russian relations are based on mutual trust and that Tehran welcomes supportive efforts

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  Abduction of Palestinians by Israeli occupiers on rise in occupied West Bank: Officials

  by EditorMehdi on October 12, 2026

  Abductions and arbitrary detention of Palestinians by Israeli occupiers have increased across the occupied West Bank, particularly targeting farmers and rural communities, Palestinian officials and rights groups said Monday, Anadolu reports. Salah al-Khawaja, director of the Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission’s office in the central West Bank, told Anadolu that such incidents were often accompanied by abuse and violence. “Palestinians were being detained at makeshift checkpoints or seized during attacks on farmers and rural and Bedouin communities,” he said. Amir Daoud, the commission’s documentation official, said the repeated attacks make farmers fear for their lives and freedom when accessing their land and could discourage them from reaching their fields. “The impact of the attacks extends from the victim to the

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  Israel not expected to attack Iran before elections, opposition leader says

  by EditorMehdi on October 12, 2026

  Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid said Monday that intelligence available to him does not indicate that Israel is expected to go to war with Iran before the country’s parliamentary elections on Oct. 27, Anadolu reports. Lapid accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of using warnings about a possible war with Iran or an attack on Israel as part of his election campaign. As opposition leader, Lapid receives security and military briefings from Netanyahu, particularly concerning major military operations or the possibility of war. Speaking to local radio station 103 FM, Lapid criticized Netanyahu’s handling of security threats ahead of the elections. “The prime minister can dominate the agenda by warning of an imminent terrorist attack or a war with Iran. Whether

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  Gaza’s displaced face a deadly choice: collapsing buildings or flooded tents

  by Marwa A on October 12, 2026

  With thousands of buildings damaged and the punishing winter fast approaching, displaced Palestinians sheltering inside Gaza’s ruins face two bitter choices: sleep beneath unstable concrete or risk having nowhere to stay at all. Pieces of concrete sometimes break loose without warning, and stones tumble from damaged walls. Yet fear of the coming winter drives families to seek any shelter with a concrete roof, no matter how fractured it may be. They view these broken structures as their final line of defence against the looming winter storms. However, this choice carries potentially catastrophic risks. Instead of keeping families warm and dry, cracked ceilings can let rainwater seep through, flooding their makeshift living spaces. Displaced families are already making exhausting efforts to

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  When pilgrims became targets, billions could not save them

  by Marwa A on October 12, 2026

  The white ihram garments of Umrah pilgrims, stained crimson on the departure concourse of King Khalid International Airport. That image, seared into the global consciousness across the first weeks of October 2026, will define this moment for generations. It marks far more than a military operation; it is a definitive rupture in how the world understands power, vulnerability, and the fragile architecture of modern security. What unfolded across 6–11 October was not merely a barrage of missiles and drones. A non-state militia emerging from one of the most impoverished regions on earth achieved what no conventional military force had accomplished in decades, piercing the multi-billion-dollar defensive shield of a G20 capital and bringing its flagship aviation hub to a standstill.

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  Podcast by Jasim Al-Azzawi with Col. Lawrence Wilkerson: Has Trump permitted Netanyahu to use nuclear against Iran?

  by Marwa A on October 12, 2026

  WATCH:Podcast by Jasim Al-Azzawi with Raymond McGovern: Trump Threatens to Annihilate Iran: Empty Bluster or Imminent War?

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  Imagined threat: How Europe learned to manufacture enemies from Israel

  by Marwa A on October 12, 2026

  The rhetoric of “existential threat” has become the dominant currency of political legitimacy in both Israel and Europe. In Israel, this rhetoric is deeply entrenched—a well-documented doctrine of “permanent war” that frames every adversary as an existential danger requiring eradication rather than negotiation or a possible settlement. In recent years, Europe appeared to have adopted the same Israeli playbook, with leaders warning of an imminent Russian attack on NATO territory despite their own intelligence agencies admitting they see no evidence of such a threat. This is not paranoia; it is a calculated rhetoric, deliberately cultivated by warmongering politicians who benefit from sustaining a permanent threat – real or imagined – whether in Israel, Europe, or anywhere else. The most striking

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  Haaretz investigation reveals starvation, beatings and inhumane conditions in Israeli prisons

  by Marwa A on October 12, 2026

  Five Palestinian former detainees have reported starvation, beatings and inadequate medical care in Israeli prisons, according to a Haaretz investigation published on 8th October. The investigation, by journalists Hagar Shezaf and Nir Hasson, was based on testimonies from five Palestinians released over the past 18 months. Their accounts describe conditions that they say have affected thousands of Palestinian prisoners since the war on the Gaza Strip began. The testimonies covered Megiddo, Nafha and Ketziot prisons, as well as Ofer and Damon prisons and a military detention centre in Huwwara. According to the investigation, the five former detainees said they had lost between 15 and 50 per cent of their body weight during detention. They also described physical assaults, collective punishment,

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  France urges Abbas to reverse decision to postpone Palestinian elections until September 2027

  by Marwa A on October 12, 2026

  France has urged the Palestinian leadership to reverse its decision to postpone presidential and parliamentary elections until September 2027, calling for them to be held as soon as possible, French newspaper Le Monde reported on Sunday. A French Foreign Ministry spokesperson said the postponement once again deprives the Palestinian people of their right to express their democratic will through the ballot box. The spokesperson stressed the need to allow Palestinians to choose their representatives in free and transparent elections, nearly 20 years after the last national parliamentary elections. On Saturday, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas issued a decree setting 11th September 2027 as the date for presidential and parliamentary elections. This postpones the parliamentary vote, which had been scheduled for 28th

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  Netanyahu calls for investigation into soldiers who testified in award-winning Gaza documentary

  by Marwa A on October 12, 2026

  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday called for an investigation into soldiers and security personnel who gave anonymous testimony in the documentary NAZA, accusing the Israeli military of deliberately killing civilians in Gaza using AI systems. A statement from the prime minister’s office said Netanyahu had asked the Israeli army chief of staff, the head of the Shin Bet (Israel’s domestic intelligence service) and the state attorney to “open a thorough investigation targeting the participants in the film NAZA and to prosecute them”. The documentary, which won the Special Jury Prize at the Venice Film Festival, is based on testimony from 24 Israeli soldiers and intelligence personnel whose identities were concealed. They describe what they regard as the deliberate

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  Bloomberg: Saudi Arabia disappointed by limited support from Western allies

  by Marwa A on October 12, 2026

  Saudi Arabia is disappointed by the limited support it is receiving from its Western allies amid escalating tensions in Yemen, Bloomberg reported on Sunday, citing informed sources. “Riyadh’s disappointment is growing over the limited assistance provided by its Western allies,” the sources said. Britain has supplied Saudi Arabia with a tanker aircraft, Bloomberg reported, adding that other Saudi requests for additional defence support, submitted in recent weeks, have yet to be approved. Earlier this month, Axios reported that US President Donald Trump had rejected requests from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud to launch strikes against Yemen’s Houthis. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has previously reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to its mutual defence agreement with Saudi Arabia, saying

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  Rights groups warn Houthi siege threatens millions in Yemen’s Taiz

  by Marwa A on October 12, 2026

  Fifteen Yemeni and international human rights organisations warned on Sunday that road closures imposed by the Houthi movement in Yemen’s Taiz Governorate are worsening humanitarian conditions and threatening the lives of millions of residents by restricting access to food, medicine and fuel. In a joint statement reported by Al Arabiya, the organizations called for an end to the siege and a halt to indiscriminate attacks, warning that restrictions on essential supplies, combined with escalating military operations reportedly beginning on 3rd September, could disrupt healthcare and water services. The organisations said approximately 4.35 million people live in the affected districts, alongside a large number of internally displaced persons. According to the statement, road closures have disrupted the transportation of goods, depleted

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  Two Palestinians injured in settler attack as women detained during West Bank olive harvest

  by Marwa A on October 12, 2026

  Two Palestinians were injured in an attack by Israeli settlers in the northern occupied West Bank on Sunday, while Palestinian women harvesting olives were detained in a separate incident involving settlers and Israeli forces, according to Palestinian medical and human rights organizations. The Palestinian Red Crescent Society said its teams transported two Palestinians to hospital after they were beaten by settlers in the town of Far’ata, east of Qalqilya. In a separate incident, the Palestinian human rights organization Al-Baydar reported that Israeli settlers and soldiers detained Palestinian women while they were harvesting olives west of Salfit. The organization said the incident came amid increasing difficulties faced by Palestinian farmers during the olive harvest season, including restrictions and attacks that prevent

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  UAE airport renaming and football club posts draw criticism from Saudi social media users

  by Marwa A on October 12, 2026

  Emirati social media posts announcing the renaming of Al-Ain International Airport and documenting a football team’s departure for Iraq have drawn criticism from Saudi users, amid reports of attacks on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. The controversy began after the Emirates News Agency (WAM) announced that UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan had ordered Al- Ain International Airport to be renamed Tahnoun International Airport, effective Sunday. The decision was intended to honour the late Sheikh Tahnoun bin Mohammed Al Nahyan and recognise his contributions to the UAE. However, the timing of the announcement, which came hours after a reported deadly attack on Riyadh’s airport, prompted criticism from Saudi social media accounts. Some users described the announcement as

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  Britain’s Jerusalem mission stays open, but its work with Palestinians is in doubt

  by Marwa A on October 12, 2026

  On 8 October, 2026, Israel’s foreign minister, Gideon Sa’ar, announced that the British Consulate General in Jerusalem “ceases operations today”. Overnight, workers had taken down the plaque reading “British Consulate General” from the building in Sheikh Jarrah, Reuters reported. In a statement that day, Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband renamed it the “UK Mission, Jerusalem”, described it as “independent, operational” and said it would continue its services and its work with the Palestinian people. The two governments are describing the same agreement. Sa’ar says 20 of the post’s 27 diplomats, the consul general among them, will leave, and that the seven who remain will do “very limited” work. The British statement gives no figures; it says a number of staff and

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  Eisenkot calls for halt to Qatari aid transfers to Gaza, investigation into reported $100 million

  by Marwa A on October 12, 2026

  Former Israeli military chief and War Cabinet member Gadi Eisenkot has called for an immediate halt to reported Qatari aid transfers exceeding $100 million to the Gaza Strip during the war, demanding an investigation into how the funds were transferred. In an interview with Israeli outlet Channel 7, Eisenkot said he had been unaware of the reported transfers despite participating in Security Cabinet meetings for eight months. He said he had learned of the matter only on Sunday and called for an immediate investigation into the circumstances surrounding the transfers. Eisenkot described the reports as an “earthquake,” according to the Israeli outlet, and demanded that authorities establish how the transfers were arranged and identify the parties responsible for overseeing them.

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  Hamas condemns Israel Defence Minister’s threat to assassinate Khalil al-Hayya

  by Marwa A on October 12, 2026

  Hamas on Sunday condemned Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz’s threats to assassinate its political bureau chief, Khalil al-Hayya, describing them as “organised state terrorism” and accusing the Israeli government of political bankruptcy. In a statement received by Quds Press, Hamas said the threats would not change its political position or its commitment to what it described as resistance until Palestinian rights are restored, particularly an end to the Israeli occupation. The movement said such threats would only reinforce its leadership’s determination to maintain its existing positions. Hamas called on mediators to take a firm stance against Katz’s remarks and publicly condemn them. It also urged mediators to pressure the Israeli government to fulfill its obligations under the ceasefire agreement and

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  Gaza olive harvest battered by war as production plunges, farmland becomes inaccessible

  by Marwa A on October 12, 2026

  Palestinian farmers in Gaza are facing a difficult olive harvest this year as production declines, large areas of agricultural land remain damaged and many groves are inaccessible because they lie in areas controlled by the Israeli army or beyond the so-called “yellow line,” Anadolu reports. On accessible farmland, farmers continue picking olives and separating them from leaves and branches despite shortages of fertilizer, irrigation water and agricultural supplies, as well as higher labor, transportation and pressing costs. The pressures have left many families unable to store their usual annual supplies of olive oil and olives. On July 13, Gaza’s Agriculture Ministry estimated losses to the agricultural sector from Israel’s genocidal war, which began on Oct. 8, 2023, at more than

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  Two more pilots arrested in Ben Gurion Airport attack probe

  by Marwa A on October 12, 2026

  Two Maldivian pilots working for Dubai-based airline Flydubai were arrested on 3rd October as part of an investigation into an alleged plot to attack Ben Gurion Airport, reportedly planned by Omani co-pilot Humam al-Hamaymi, Israeli media reported. The Israeli newspaper Kipa reported that the pilots’ families had received no information about their whereabouts for several days before the embassy later informed them that the two men were being held by local police. According to the report, the two pilots knew al-Hamaymi, and published information indicates that all three lived in the same building. The reports also said that the Maldivian pilots operated flights to Israel as part of their work for Flydubai. The UAE authorities have not yet disclosed the

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  Senior Turkish official: Israeli threats will not change Turkey’s stance in favour of justice

  by Marwa A on October 12, 2026

  Turkey’s stance in support of what is right and just will not change despite threats, provocations and smear campaigns by the Israeli government, Burhanettin Duran, head of Turkey’s Presidential Communications Directorate, said. Duran made the remarks in a post on Turkish social media platform NSosyal on Sunday, responding to comments by Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz targeting President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Turkey. Duran said Katz’s “insolent remarks” reflected his government’s political desperation ahead of Israel’s upcoming elections in late October. He stressed that “false accusations” against Turkey would not conceal the Israeli government’s record in what he described as its genocidal war on Gaza, or its continued aggressive policies in the region. “Katz’s explicit death threat against figures involved

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  Saudi Arabia says Dammam airport attacked as Houthis claim strikes on aviation, oil facilities

  by Marwa A on October 11, 2026

  Saudi Arabia said Sunday evening that King Fahd International Airport in the eastern city of Dammam had come under attack, as Yemen’s Houthi group claimed strikes on two Saudi airports and major oil facilities, Anadolu reports. The Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) said damage assessments and safety inspections were underway at the airport in coordination with relevant authorities. It provided no immediate details about casualties or the extent of the damage, saying the incident came amid continued attacks on civilian aviation facilities in the kingdom. READ: Death toll from Riyadh airport attack rises to 13 as Indian national succumbs to injuries Earlier Sunday, GACA reported another attack on King Khalid International Airport in the capital Riyadh, saying it caused

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  Hundreds join pro-Palestinian demonstration in Amsterdam

  by Marwa A on October 11, 2026

  Large crowds gathered at Dam Square in Amsterdam on Sunday, for a pro-Palestinian demonstration marking three years since the start of Israel’s war on Gaza, Anadolu reports. Demonstrators carried Palestinian flags and called for an end to violence against Palestinians. Participants also urged the international community to take action and impose sanctions on Israel. Since October 2023, Israel’s war in Gaza has killed more than 74,000 Palestinians and injured over 175,000, according to Palestinian figures. READ: An estimated quarter of a million join London march marking three years of Gaza genocide The war has also destroyed 90% of the enclave’s infrastructure, Palestinian figures have shown. A ceasefire agreement was reached in October 2025, though Israel continued its attacks and maintained restrictions

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  Death toll from Riyadh airport attack rises to 13 as Indian national succumbs to injuries

  by Marwa A on October 11, 2026

  The death toll from Saturday’s Houthi attack on King Khalid International Airport in Saudi Arabia’s capital Riyadh rose to 13 after an Indian national succumbed to his injuries on Sunday, the Indian Embassy said, Anadolu reports. In a statement on Facebook, the embassy said an Indian citizen injured in the Oct. 10 attack “has unfortunately lost his life today.” The embassy expressed condolences to the victim’s family and said it was in contact with them. It also pledged full support to ensure the prompt repatriation of his remains to India. Saudi authorities said earlier that the attack on the airport had killed 12 people and injured 309 others. READ: Saudi Arabia can fight the Houthis, it may not be able to

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  Iran says US response to conditions for reopening Strait of Hormuz ‘insufficient’

  by Marwa A on October 11, 2026

  Iran considers Washington’s response to its seven conditions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz “insufficient,” a senior Iranian official said, according to the semi-official Tasnim News Agency. Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, said the US had accepted some of Tehran’s conditions, while others remained unclear. Rezaei said Washington had approached Tehran over the past two months through three channels — Pakistan, Qatar and Iraq — asking Iran to submit its proposals. About two weeks ago, Iran conveyed seven conditions to the US, explicitly stating that the Strait of Hormuz would not reopen to Washington and no negotiations would take place until those conditions were met, he said. Rezaei said Tehran was no longer in the process

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  The president who can’t say his name

  by Marwa A on October 11, 2026

  Three weeks before Michigan decides whether to send the first Muslim senator to Washington, the president still cannot or will not say the man’s name. “Mike Rogers, the great American Patriot and Republican Candidate for the U.S. Senate from Michigan, completely obliterated Mohammed El-Sayed in the big debate tonight,” Trump wrote on Truth Social after Thursday’s debate. Rogers had skipped it. “Mohammed is a Jihadist lunatic who hates our Country, the Black People of Detroit, and wants to see the U.S. fail.” The candidate’s name is Abdul El-Sayed. Mohamed is his middle name, inherited from his Egyptian immigrant father. He rarely uses it. Yet the president repeats it so relentlessly that it reads less like a mistake than a strategy

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  UN alarmed by reports of drone strikes killing at least 17 civilians in Sudan

  by Marwa A on October 11, 2026

  The UN expressed deep concern Sunday over reports that drone strikes killed at least 17 civilians, including women and children, in Sudan’s West Kordofan state, Anadolu reports. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Sudan said a drone strike reportedly hit a building sheltering displaced families in An Nuhud on Oct. 9. At least 12 civilians, including women and children, were reportedly killed and eight others injured, the office said in a statement. On the same day, another drone strike reportedly killed five civilians, including three children, in a residential neighborhood hosting displaced families in Ghubaish town, according to the UN office. OCHA said the victims had already been forced from their homes by conflict, only

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  Yemeni government approves draft law designating Houthis ‘terrorist organization’

  by Marwa A on October 11, 2026

  The Yemeni government on Sunday approved a draft law designating the Houthi group a “terrorist organization” and criminalizing its activities and financing, Anadolu reports. The decision came during a Cabinet meeting in the temporary capital Aden, chaired by Prime Minister Shaya al-Zindani, according to a statement from the prime minister’s office. The Cabinet approved the draft following a presentation by the legal affairs minister and instructed officials to complete the constitutional and legal procedures required for its ratification. The meeting came a day after a Houthi attack on King Khalid International Airport in the Saudi capital Riyadh killed 12 people and injured 309, according to the statement. READ: EU chief warns of ‘dangerous escalation’ after Houthi attack on Riyadh airport The

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  Indonesian, Egyptian presidents condemn Israeli settlement expansion in Jakarta talks

  by Marwa A on October 11, 2026

  Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah el-Sisi condemned Israel’s illegal settlement expansion during bilateral talks in Jakarta on Sunday, according to Indonesia’s state-run Antara news agency. “We strongly condemn Israel’s illegal settlement construction and actions that only worsen the situation,” Subianto said in a joint statement, calling for an immediate de-escalation of regional conflicts, Antara reported. The two leaders expressed concern over violations of international law and military operations causing civilian casualties, reaffirming their support for a two-state solution. Subianto pledged continued humanitarian aid and diplomatic support for Palestinians, warning that further escalation threatened global stability. READ: Israeli occupiers give 47 Palestinian families 24 hours to leave West Bank homes Sisi called for an independent Palestinian state

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  Israeli army renews airstrikes, artillery shelling in southern Lebanon despite US deal

  by Marwa A on October 11, 2026

  The Israeli army launched renewed airstrikes and artillery shelling in several towns in southern Lebanon on Sunday, in the latest violations of a US-sponsored framework deal signed in June. Israeli warplanes bombed the town of Kfar Tebnit in the Nabatieh district, Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA) reported. In the Tyre district, Israeli warplanes struck the town of Mansouri, while artillery shelling hit Majdal Zoun, the agency said. Overnight, the area between the towns of Mayfadoun and Zawtar al-Sharqiyah was subjected to heavy and concentrated Israeli artillery shelling. READ: Lebanon looks to EU support for state control of weapons, end to Israeli occupation The attacks came amid Israel’s ongoing offensive against Lebanon, which began on March 2 and has killed 4,386 people

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  EU chief warns of ‘dangerous escalation’ after Houthi attack on Riyadh airport

  by Marwa A on October 11, 2026

  European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Sunday warned that the latest Houthi attack on Riyadh’s airport marked a “dangerous escalation,” describing it as the deadliest such attack on the facility so far, Anadolu reports. “The deadliest Houthi attack so far on Riyadh’s airport marks a dangerous escalation,” von der Leyen said on US social media company X. “Our thoughts are with the victims and their families,” she said, expressing solidarity with Saudi Arabia and its people. Von der Leyen warned that the attacks were contributing to growing instability across the region. “These attacks by Iran’s proxies are pushing the region into a spiral of violence,” she said. She also highlighted the broader consequences for international transportation and energy

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  Hamas urges national dialogue after Palestinian elections postponed to next year

  by Marwa A on October 11, 2026

  Palestinian resistance group Hamas said late Saturday that the postponement of Palestinian elections until next September should pave the way for a “comprehensive national dialogue,” expressing readiness to take part, Anadolu reports. It said conditions are not in place for free and fair elections in the occupied Palestinian territories, including occupied East Jerusalem. Hamas said it is ready to join “serious and productive” talks to reach binding agreements on restructuring Palestinian institutions, particularly the Palestinian National Council and Legislative Council. It also urged an agreement on a national strategy covering a common political program, arrangements for a transitional period and confronting serious Israeli threats to the Palestinian cause, particularly in the Gaza Strip. READ: Palestinian president postpones legislative elections to Sept.

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  Israeli occupiers give 47 Palestinian families 24 hours to leave West Bank homes

  by Marwa A on October 11, 2026

  Israeli occupiers on Saturday gave 47 Palestinian families in the northern occupied West Bank until Sunday evening to leave their homes after a 27-day blockade, Anadolu reports. Hassan Mleihat, head of the Palestinian rights group Al-Baydar, told Anadolu that the families face an uncertain future after weeks of road closures isolating the Ras al-Ahmar community southeast of Tubas. He said the ultimatum heightened fears for residents about their ability to remain on their land and protect their livelihoods. Mleihat called for urgent intervention by rights groups, humanitarian organizations, and international bodies to protect residents and their property, and end the blockade. READ: Israeli fire wounds Anadolu photojournalist in occupied West Bank The Israeli army in September closed the last remaining route

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  El-Sisi in Jakarta: Trade promises, a Nile pledge and an outdated Palestine formula

  by Marwa A on October 11, 2026

  Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi landed in Jakarta on Saturday evening, 10 October 2026, at the end of an Asian tour that began in South Korea and passed through Malaysia. The route tells a story. Cairo is looking east for money, technology and friends while its own region burns. Jakarta wants a firm partner at the far end of the sea route linking Asia to Europe. The two presidents had met only a month earlier at the BRICS summit in New Delhi. BRICS is a club of large developing economies that both countries have joined. Meeting again so soon signals hedging: spreading bets across many partners so that no single power has too much control. In April 2025 the two

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  Saudi Arabia can fight the Houthis, it may not be able to defeat them

  by Marwa A on October 11, 2026

  Saudi Arabia can afford a long war. It can buy aircraft, missiles, drones, air-defense systems and intelligence. It can absorb losses that would bankrupt a poorer state. Yet that does not mean it can defeat the Houthis. That distinction has become impossible to ignore. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman reportedly called Donald Trump twice last week and urged Washington to strike the Houthis directly. Trump declined, although Washington agreed to provide intelligence and targeting support. The episode is revealing not because Saudi Arabia lacks military power, but because Riyadh appears to recognize that the Houthi problem is no longer one that firepower alone can solve. The timing matters. The Houthis have seized Mocha on Yemen’s Red Sea coast and moved

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  Yemen in the Middle East’s energy equation: From natural resources to the right to development

  by Marwa A on October 11, 2026

  In a mountainous area of Yemen, solar-powered pumps changed how families obtained water. Households that had spent hours collecting it gained access to a system carrying water through tanks at different elevations to their homes. Documented in a World Bank report on electricity access, the experience delivered benefits visible in everyday life: time saved, accessible water and greater opportunities for work and education. Local electrification projects and the opening of Aden’s solar power plant raise a broader question: how can energy partnerships grow from individual projects into lasting economic capacity? Yemen’s oil and gas resources, strong solar potential and maritime access provide a basis for economic development. Energy partnerships should connect these assets with domestic production, reliable services and local

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  Arab bloc in Israel can help bring down Netanyahu government: Joint List leader

  by Marwa A on October 11, 2026

  Joint List leader Yousef Jabareen said Saturday that the Arab political alliance can help bring down Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government and set conditions for any future governing coalition, Anadolu reports. “In our hands is the ability to bring down this government and impose our conditions on any political formation after the election,” Jabareen said in a speech released by his office. He pledged to use “all available tools” to bring about a change in government. “According to all the data, there is no alternative government to the government of Netanyahu, (National Security Minister Itamar) Ben-Gvir and (Finance Minister Bezalel) Smotrich that can be formed without negotiating with the Joint List,” he said. Jabareen described the upcoming vote as

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  The Makkah alliance has been called defensive. Now it has to prove it

  by Marwa A on October 11, 2026

  When Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkiye signed the Makkah Alliance for Defence in August, most of us read it as a statement of intent. It took barely two months for that to change. On October 5, ministers and commanders met in Riyadh and agreed to activate collective deterrence measures and send forces and capabilities to the Kingdom at speed. The same meeting appointed retired Lt Gen Nauman Mahmood, a Pakistani, as the alliance’s first secretary-general for three years. Then came Thursday. Two Houthi attacks hit Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport, one on the facilities and one on a Saudia aircraft. Three Saudi citizens died, among them a pilot, and people of several nationalities were wounded. Hundreds of flights were cancelled,

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  An estimated quarter of a million join London march marking three years of Gaza genocide

  by Marwa A on October 11, 2026

    The Palestinian Forum in Britain (PFB) estimates that more than a quarter of a million people took part in a major demonstration in central London on Saturday 10 October, marking the third anniversary of Israel’s ongoing genocide in Gaza. Protesters called on Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s Government to impose a complete and immediate arms embargo on Israel. The demonstration was organised by the Palestine Coalition, comprising the Palestinian Forum in Britain, Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC), Muslim Association of Britain (MAB), Stop the War Coalition, Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) and Friends of Al-Aqsa. The march set off from Victoria Embankment and passed through central London before concluding with a rally and sit-in on Whitehall, near Downing Street. Participants carried

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  FEDA urges UN and European Parliament to take urgent action to protect hunger-striking detainees in Egyptian prisons

  by Marwa A on October 11, 2026

  The Families of Egyptian Detainees Association (FEDA) has called on the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (WGAD) to take urgent action following reports of hunger strikes and collective protests among detainees in several Egyptian prisons, particularly during 7th–9th October. The association warned of potential risks to detainees’ lives and health amid reported restrictions on fundamental rights and concerns over access to medical care. In an urgent appeal dated 10th October 2026, FEDA urged the UN Working Group to seek clarification from the Egyptian authorities regarding the reported hunger strikes and the grievances behind them, and to take appropriate steps within its mandate to protect detainees from death, serious injury, ill-treatment, and reprisals for participating in peaceful protests. As

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  Rights group files ICC complaint against Israeli medical officials over torture of Palestinian detainees

  by Marwa A on October 10, 2026

  The Hind Rajab Foundation filed a complaint with the International Criminal Court (ICC) against Israeli medical officials over torture and mistreatment of Palestinian detainees, Israeli media reported Saturday, Anadolu reports. The complaint targets the Israeli Medical Association, Health Ministry officials and medical personnel over abuses at the Sde Teiman military detention facility in southern Israel. According to the Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth, the Brussels-based rights group submitted the complaint to the ICC prosecutor under Article 15 of the Rome Statute. The foundation said that Israeli medical personnel and officials were involved in practices amounting to war crimes and crimes against humanity. – Allegations of systematic mistreatment Since October 2023, the Sde Teiman military base in Israel’s southern Negev desert has