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

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  Al Jazeera demands punishment of Israeli officials for killing of its correspondents in Gaza

  by Mehdi Editor on June 21, 2026

  Al Jazeera Media Network demanded Saturday that the international community and legal institutions punish Israeli officials for crimes committed against its correspondents and staff in the Gaza Strip, the latest of which was the killing of cameraman Ahmed Washah, Anadolu reports. The network affirmed its intention to prosecute the perpetrators of the crimes. It came in a statement by the network following the killing of the Al Jazeera Mubasher cameraman in an Israeli strike that targeted a house in the Al-Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza. The network said it condemns the killing of Washah, noting that his brother, Mohammed, a correspondent for Al Jazeera Mubasher, was killed in an Israeli strike two months earlier. It added that Ahmed’s killing

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  Iran says $6B frozen assets in Qatar will be released as part of preliminary deal with US

  by Mehdi Editor on June 21, 2026

  Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Sunday that $6 billion frozen assets in Qatar will be returned to Tehran as part of a preliminary deal between Iran and the US, Anadolu reports. “With the start of the negotiations from today, the $6 billion we have in Qatar will also be unfrozen and returned to our country,” Pezeshkian said in statements carried by the state broadcaster IRIB. “What is certain is that we will never give up our right to enrich uranium, and the other side will be forced to accept it,” he added. Addressing Washington’s concerns over Iran’s nuclear program, Pezeshkian said Iran “has no intention” of developing nuclear weapons. READ: US, Iranian delegations arrive in Switzerland for technical talks “This

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  Breaking Bad actor Giancarlo Esposito embraces Islam in Saudi Arabia: Report

  by Mehdi Editor on June 21, 2026

  American actor Giancarlo Esposito, known for his role as Gus Fring in the television series Breaking Bad, has embraced Islam during a stay in Saudi Arabia, media reports said on Sunday. Saudi Gazette reported that General Entertainment Authority Chairman Turki Al-Sheikh said Esposito recited the Shahada, the Islamic declaration of faith, and joined members of a production team in prayer at a mosque while filming in the kingdom. According to Al-Sheikh, the actor’s decision followed positive experiences during his time in Saudi Arabia and interactions with Muslims while working on a production in the country. He also said Esposito expressed appreciation for the community and hospitality he encountered during filming. READ: UN chief says Muslims face discrimination, urges action to combat

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  Jordan executes 6 individuals on alleged terrorism charges

  by Mehdi Editor on June 21, 2026

  Jordan has executed six persons who were convicted in separate terrorism and criminal cases tied to attacks that killed members of the Jordanian army and the Public Security Directorate, the Jordanian government said on Sunday, Anadolu Agency reports. Citing Government Communications Minister and official spokesman Mohammad Al-Momani, Roya News reported that the executions were carried out at dawn on Sunday after all sentences became final and legal procedures were completed. “Al-Momani detailed that two of those executed were convicted in the so-called ‘Salt Cell’ case, which involved the formation of a terrorist group in 2018. “The attack resulted in the deaths of multiple security personnel, including officers and soldiers from the Public Security Directorate and the Jordan Armed Forces,” the

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  Israeli occupiers attack Palestinian towns, homes in West Bank under army protection

  by Mehdi Editor on June 21, 2026

  Israeli occupiers attacked Palestinian homes and property Saturday in several areas of the occupied West Bank, under the protection of the Israeli army, Anadolu reports. Sources told Anadolu that armed settlers attacked the town of Turmus Ayya in northeastern Ramallah in the central West Bank, and grazed their sheep on land planted with olive trees near residents’ homes. They added that the occupiers surrounded a house in the eastern part of the town and attempted to storm it, before Israeli army forces raided the area to provide protection to the occupiers. In the nearby town of Sinjil, a group of armed occupiers attacked the western area of the town, while several residents confronted them, according to the sources. Sources said

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  Widespread protests in Israel demand Netanyahu’s departure, criticize his policies

  by Mehdi Editor on June 21, 2026

  Several Israeli cities witnessed demonstrations Saturday against the government of Benjamin Netanyahu, while police in Jerusalem confiscated sound equipment used by protesters, Anadolu reports. The Hebrew newspaper Haaretz reported that hundreds of Israelis took part in protests at various locations across the country against the government, while 1,000 demonstrators joined the main rally at Habima Square in central Tel Aviv. The newspaper added that Israeli police in Jerusalem continued measures they began last week, temporarily confiscating sound equipment from protesters at Paris Square near Netanyahu’s residence, citing the prevention of noise. During the main demonstration in Tel Aviv, Carmit Palty Katzir, whose father was killed Oct. 7, 2023, and whose mother and brother were taken captive in the Gaza Strip

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  US, Iranian delegations arrive in Switzerland for technical talks

  by Mehdi Editor on June 21, 2026

  US and Iranian delegations arrived in Switzerland as of Sunday for technical negotiations under the memorandum of understanding signed on Wednesday to end the months-long Middle East conflict and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, Anadolu reports. The talks in Burgenstock will be led by US Vice President JD Vance, and on the Iranian side, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, under Pakistani mediation. Before departing on Saturday, Vance said US envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff were already on the ground to address the “technical elements” of the negotiations. Vance, who landed at Emmen Air Base north of Burgenstock, had also said he was “very confident” that Washington and Tehran could preserve the ceasefire established under

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  Ex-Israeli prime minister says Tel Aviv could have rejected US-Iran agreement

  by Mehdi Editor on June 21, 2026

  Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said Tel Aviv could have rejected the US-Iran agreement, stressing that it is possible to say “no” to US President Donald Trump, Anadolu reports. Bennett made the remarks in an interview with 103FM, affiliated with the Israeli daily Maariv, which circulated after Washington and Tehran signed a memorandum of understanding on June 18, 2026. During the interview, Bennett criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying the recent war with Iran “ended in a terrible failure.” He argued that “Iran continues its nuclear program and is moving forward with its ballistic missile program, while the regime remains in place.” Asked whether he would be able, if he were prime minister now, to reject a request

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  Trump says ‘no tolls’ in Strait of Hormuz for 60 days, warns of possible US fees later

  by Mehdi Editor on June 21, 2026

  US President Donald Trump said Saturday that no maritime fees will be permitted in the Strait of Hormuz during the current 60-day ceasefire, warning that Washington may impose its own tolls thereafter, Anadolu reports. After the 60 days, fees might be collected for “services rendered as the guardian angel” to Middle Eastern nations to ensure “reimbursement of costs” for the past and future, should a final deal not be completed, said Trump. “There will be no tolls … unless they are imposed by and for the United States of America,” the US president wrote on his social media platform Truth Social. The ultimatum follows an announcement from Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters that the waterway will be closed due to

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  Al Jazeera cameraman among 10 killed in Israeli strikes on Gaza despite ceasefire

  by Mehdi Editor on June 21, 2026

  Ten Palestinians, including Al Jazeera cameraman Ahmad Washah and four members of a family, were killed and scores of others were injured in Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip since early Saturday in the latest violations of a ceasefire agreement in effect since Oct. 2025, according to medical sources and witnesses, Anadolu reports. Two Palestinians were killed, including Al Jazeera Mubasher (Live) cameraman Ahmad Washah, and a third was injured in an Israeli drone strike targeting a house in Al-Bureij Camp in the central Gaza Strip. Al Jazeera’s Mubasher section confirmed that its cameraman Washah was killed in the Israeli strike that targeted the house. With Washah’s death, the number of Al Jazeera staffers and journalists killed in the Gaza

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  2 Lebanese soldiers killed in Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon, violating ceasefire

  by Marwa A on June 20, 2026

  Two Lebanese soldiers were killed on Saturday in two separate Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon, the Lebanese army said in a statement, Anadolu reports. The army said Jamil Nahhal was killed in an Israeli airstrike while traveling on the Kfarrumman–Nabatieh road in southern Lebanon. The “brutal Israeli occupiers’ attacks continue against Lebanon,” the army said, noting that the latest escalation has affected wide areas in the south and extended to the Bekaa Valley, causing additional deaths and injuries and inflicting significant damage to property. It warned that the continued attacks could obstruct efforts aimed at restoring stability in the country. In a separate statement, the army said First Sergeant Ali Ibrahim died of wounds sustained in an Israeli airstrike on

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  Medico: Israel’s white phosphorus and glyphosate point back to Germany’s Bayer group

  by Marwa A on June 20, 2026

  Human rights organisation Medico International and the German network “Coordination gegen Bayer-Gefahren“ (Coordination against Bayer Dangers, CBG) have reported that the glyphosate and white phosphorus used by the Israeli occupation forces in Lebanon which were presumably of German origin. At the beginning of February this year, reports emerged in the international media alleging that the Israeli army had deployed the environmental toxin glyphosate in southern Lebanon and in occupied Syria. According to Lebanon’s Ministry of Agriculture, glyphosate concentrations in some samples taken in the region exceeded “normal levels by around 20 to 30 times”. Lebanon’s president Joseph Aoun described the situation as “environmental and health crimes”. The incident is of particular relevance to Germany, as the US-based glyphosate manufacturer Monsanto

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  Red Ribbons event in London highlights escalating crisis facing Palestinian hostages

  by Marwa A on June 20, 2026

  LONDON – Emotional testimonies, legal arguments, and political interventions marked a high-profile solidarity event held at SOAS University of London on Friday evening, as speakers warned that the situation of Palestinian hostages held in Israeli detention has reached what they described as “unprecedented levels of brutality” amid the ongoing war on Gaza. The event, organised by the International Centre of Justice for Palestinians (ICJP) in partnership with the Red Ribbons Campaign, brought together campaign coordinator Adnan Hmidan, ICJP director Tayb Ali, lawyer Khaled Mahajneh, Palestinian activist Saif Abu Keshek, campaigner Katrina Graham, and Independent MP Jeremy Corbyn. The discussion was chaired by journalist and activist Matilda Mallinson. Speakers repeatedly argued that while global attention remains focused on Gaza, conditions inside

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  Strait of Hormuz ‘closed to all vessels’ over Israeli, US violations: Iran’s IRGC

  by Marwa A on June 20, 2026

  The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy said on Saturday that the Strait of Hormuz has been “closed to all vessels,” warning ships against approaching the strategic waterway, Anadolu reports. According to Iran’s Fars News Agency, the IRGC Navy said the move came in response to what it described as the “crimes of the Zionist regime” in Lebanon and the US violation of its commitments to establish a ceasefire. “Vessels should not approach the strait; otherwise, their security will be at risk,” it added. US intelligence warns Israel could undermine Iran peace deal: Report

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  Israeli strikes kill at least 28 in southern Lebanon despite ceasefire

  by Marwa A on June 20, 2026

  The death toll from Israeli attacks on southern Lebanon on Saturday has risen to at least 28, despite a ceasefire and the US-Iran agreement, Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency reported, Anadolu reports. The Israeli army carried out airstrikes on the southern Lebanese cities of Nabatieh, Tyre and Sidon since the early hours of the day. An Israeli airstrike targeting the town of Qanarit in Sidon killed seven people and injured 13 others, according to preliminary figures. Lebanon’s Civil Defense Directorate said 16 people were killed in Israeli attacks in Nabatieh. Earlier, an Israeli airstrike on the town of Barish in Tyre killed four members of the same family, including two children, the NNA added. Another person was killed in the

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  Fresh Israeli attacks kill at least 6 in Gaza amid continued ceasefire violations

  by Marwa A on June 20, 2026

  At least six Palestinians, including four from the same family, were killed and others injured in the Gaza Strip early Saturday amid continued Israeli violations of an ongoing ceasefire, according to medical and eyewitness accounts, Anadolu reports. Two children and their parents were also killed when an Israeli airstrike hit their home near Al-Tayaran junction in Gaza City, according to a medical source at Al-Shifa Hospital. Eyewitnesses said the strike targeted the Safadi family home at dawn, killing Hussein and Rana Safadi and their two daughters, Zina (6) and Lana (13). Several other family members and nearby residents were also injured. A medical source told Anadolu that a Palestinian woman was killed by Israeli gunfire in the town of Beit

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  Who, then, will trust Trump

  by Marwa A on June 20, 2026

  The war launched by President Donald Trump — cheered on with theatrical confidence by Benjamin Netanyahu — was never a war for the Iranian people, nor a strategic effort to reshape the Middle East, nor even a coherent attempt to “deter” Iran. It was a campaign without a defined end-state, without a political vision, and without an exit strategy. Predictably, it ended as a lose–lose conflict, with none of the objectives Trump promised ever materializing: the theocratic regime did not fall, Iran’s regional project was not neutralized, and its power was not diminished in any meaningful or lasting way. As Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, director of Iran Human Rights, put it bluntly: “This war was never about the rights of the Iranian

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  The wild card: How Netanyahu could still wreck Washington’s Iran deal

  by Marwa A on June 20, 2026

  There is a particular kind of danger in Middle East diplomacy that no memorandum of understanding can fully insure against: a leader with nothing left to lose and an army still under his command. That is Benjamin Netanyahu today. Washington and Tehran have signed a framework meant to end the active hostilities that have consumed the region since March. Israel was not a party to it. And Netanyahu has made it unambiguous that he does not consider himself bound by its terms. The Refusal Within days of the framework taking effect, Netanyahu stood at a ceremony in northern Israel and declared that the Israeli military “will restore security and prosperity to northern towns,” and that doing so “requires maintaining the

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  EU rejects Israel’s Gaza territory plans, demands immediate crossing access

  by Mehdi Editor on June 19, 2026

  EU leaders on Friday issued a sharply worded statement on the war in Gaza and the situation in the West Bank, urging Israel to allow full humanitarian access, reverse settlement expansion and comply with international law, while calling for Hamas to be disarmed as part of a wider post-war settlement, Anadolu reports. In conclusions adopted June 18-19, the European Council said it was “gravely concerned” about the “deteriorating situation” in Gaza, describing a “devastating humanitarian crisis” and demanding immediate, unimpeded aid deliveries “at scale” across the territory. It called for border crossings to be reopened, including a medical corridor linking Gaza and the West Bank, and said international media should be granted access. The statement also pressed Israel to allow

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  Protest in West Bank over illegal settler outpost as Israeli forces intervene and detain protesters

  by Mehdi Editor on June 19, 2026

  Foreign activists and residents of Deir Abu Mashal village, northwest of Ramallah in the occupied West Bank, protested against a newly established outpost set up by illegal Israeli settlers on Al-Qarana Hill, south of the village, Anadolu reports. Protesters marched toward the hill in an attempt to reach land where the outpost was established about two weeks ago. Israeli forces intervened during the march, detaining two Palestinians and five foreign activists, according to organizers. Residents said the area covers around 2,000 dunams of agricultural land and is a key source of olive production for the village. They added that in recent days Israeli forces and occupiers have prevented farmers and landowners from accessing the area, restricting entry to their land.

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  US stands with Lebanon, backs its ‘security and stability,’ Marco Rubio tells Lebanese president

  by Mehdi Editor on June 19, 2026

  The US reaffirmed its support for Lebanon during a Friday phone call between Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, Anadolu Agency reports. The two discussed the current situation in Lebanon and the wider region in light of recent developments, the presidency said in a statement. During the call, Rubio stressed that the US “stands with Lebanon” and said Washington would work to achieve “security and stability” in the country, ensure “the extension of state authority over all its territory,” and support Lebanon’s legitimate political, security and military institutions, “foremost among them the army.” READ: Israel, Hezbollah agree to ceasefire starting Friday, US official says Aoun thanked Rubio for US support for Lebanon and stressed the need to

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  US intelligence warns Israel could undermine Iran peace deal: Report

  by Mehdi Editor on June 19, 2026

  US intelligence agencies have warned the Trump administration that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is likely to take actions that could undermine President Donald Trump’s efforts to secure a lasting peace agreement with Iran, according to a report on Friday. Citing current and former US officials familiar with intelligence assessments, The Washington Post reported that Israel appears determined to continue military operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon despite provisions in the recently signed US-Iran memorandum of understanding calling for an end to military operations on all fronts, including Lebanon. Even short of escalation, Israel’s refusal to withdraw troops from southern Lebanon is likely to doom the fragile accord, a US official told the Post. “Continuing to occupy part of Lebanon is

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  RSF drone strike kills 9 civilians in North Darfur: Report

  by Mehdi Editor on June 19, 2026

  Sudanese rights group Emergency Lawyers said on Friday that attacks by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on civilian areas in the Malha and Um Baru towns of North Darfur State killed at least 9 civilians and caused widespread destruction, Anadolu reports. In a statement, the group said RSF drones struck the Um Bayada market in Malha locality on Thursday, triggering a massive fire that destroyed the market and caused extensive damage to civilian property. The group added that a passenger vehicle was also targeted at Sabreen market, killing 9 civilians and injuring others, with the death toll expected to rise due to ongoing attacks and difficult conditions on the ground. READ: Rights group accuses RSF of killing 23 civilians in

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  President Erdogan says Turkiye ‘leading actor’ in resolving regional crises

  by Mehdi Editor on June 19, 2026

  President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Friday that Turkiye is no mere spectator to regional crises but “the leading actor” in efforts to resolve them, pointing to the Iran war as the latest example, Anadolu reports. “Turkiye is not a bystander to regional crises but, as most recently seen in the Iran war, the leading actor in efforts to resolve them,” Erdogan said during the opening ceremony of the Halkali-Istanbul Airport Metro Line in Istanbul. Erdogan also said Turkiye is preparing to host NATO leaders, including US President Donald Trump, on July 7-8. Before the NATO leaders’ summit, a NATO parliamentary summit will be held in Istanbul on June 28-29, he said. READ: Israel, Hezbollah agree to ceasefire starting Friday, US official

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  Israel says ceasefire with Hezbollah to hold if group complies, army to remain in southern Lebanon

  by Mehdi Editor on June 19, 2026

  Ceasefire announcement came after at least 31 people killed in series of Israeli airstrikes in southern, eastern Lebanon since early Friday, Anadolu Agency reports. Israel said Friday a ceasefire with Hezbollah will remain in effect as long as the Lebanese group complies with it, while the Israeli army will remain deployed in southern Lebanon, according to Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth. An Israeli official said the ceasefire arrangement allows the Israeli army to stay in southern Lebanon and act against “emerging threats.” “If Hezbollah doesn’t attack, we won’t attack them. If they attack us, we will respond,” the official said, according to the daily. READ: Extremist Israeli ministers call for ‘burning’ Lebanon, opening ‘gates of hell’ after soldiers killed Israel and Hezbollah have

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  The agreement: Beyond the nuclear file to reshaping the region

  by Mehdi Editor on June 19, 2026

  The provisional framework agreement announced between the United States and Iran on 17 June is about far more than reviving stalled nuclear diplomacy or reviving the 2015 deal. It offers a political, security and economic blueprint for managing the post-war phase while redefining the balance of power across the region. Its significance lies as much in its timing as in its substance. Unveiled after a broad cycle of escalation centred on Lebanon, the framework suggests that Washington’s priorities now extend beyond Iran’s nuclear programme to the wider task of containing interconnected crises spanning Iran, Lebanon, Gaza, Israel and, potentially, the future of the Palestinian political system. Provisions covering freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz and proposals for Iran’s

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  Death of new commander puts spotlight back on Israeli battalion linked to killing of Hind Rajab in Gaza

  by Mehdi Editor on June 19, 2026

  The Israeli military’s announcement on Friday that the commander of the 52nd Battalion of the 401st Armored Brigade was killed in southern Lebanon has renewed scrutiny of the same unit linked to the killing of six-year-old Palestinian girl Hind Rajab in Gaza, Anadolu Agency reports. In a statement, the army said Lt. Col. Dor Gedalia Ben Simhon, 32, from Beit HaShita and commander of the 52nd Battalion of the 401st Brigade, was killed along with three soldiers after their tank was targeted during operations in southern Lebanon. According to The Times of Israel daily, Ben Simhon is the fourth commander of the 52nd Battalion to be killed or wounded since the start of Israel’s wars in Gaza and Lebanon. The battalion

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  Trump says US must keep Netanyahu ‘a little bit sane’ on Lebanon

  by Mehdi Editor on June 19, 2026

  US President Donald Trump said that Washington must keep Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “a little bit sane” on Lebanon, Anadolu Agency reports. While describing their relationship as “good,” Trump, in an Axios interview excerpt posted on Friday, asserted he can control Israeli military actions in Lebanon because officials there “do as I say.” He emphasized American military superiority, noting that the US provides “the guns” and “B-2 bombers,” and claimed that without his intervention, Israel would have been “eviscerated.” READ: Iran postponed direct talks with US to protest Israel’s ceasefire violations in Lebanon: Pakistani sources

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  UNICEF calls Gaza ceasefire ‘deadly illusion’ as 265 Palestinian children killed since October

  by Mehdi Editor on June 19, 2026

  At least 265 Palestinian children have been killed in Gaza since a ceasefire was announced in October 2025, UNICEF said on Friday, describing the truce as a “deadly illusion” and warning that violence continues despite the declared halt in hostilities, Anadolu reports. “During a period supposedly defined by restraint and protection, a child has been killed, on average, every single day for more than eight months,” UNICEF spokesperson James Elder told reporters in Geneva. He described the ceasefire as a “cruel and deadly illusion” and questioned whether it could still be considered a ceasefire while children continue to die. “While the world continues to speak the language of ceasefire, families in Gaza continue to bury their sons and daughters,” he

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  Podcast by Jasim Al-Azzawi with Mark Pfeifle: Two Protagonists, But Can They Control The Wild Card?

  by Mehdi Editor on June 19, 2026

  WATCH: Podcast by Jasim Al-Azzawi with Ronnie Chatah: Will The Big Boys Squeeze Lebanon?

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  Israel, Hezbollah agree to ceasefire starting Friday, US official says

  by Mehdi Editor on June 19, 2026

  Israel and Hezbollah have agreed to a ceasefire that will take effect at 4 pm local time (1300GMT) Friday, a senior US official confirmed to Anadolu Agency. The official did not provide further details about the agreement. The ceasefire announcement came after at least 31 people were killed and several others injured in a series of Israeli airstrikes across southern Lebanon since early Friday. Four Israeli soldiers were also killed in a Hezbollah attack in southern Lebanon. On Wednesday evening, US President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian electronically signed the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding aimed at ending the war between the US, Israel and Iran and halting Israeli attacks on Lebanon. According to official figures, Israel’s military offensive

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  War has diminished Iran, says Trump

  by Mehdi Editor on June 19, 2026

  US President Donald Trump on Friday claimed that Iran’s military capabilities had been severely weakened, dismissing criticism from Democrats over his administration’s handling of the conflict, Anadolu Agency reports. “The War has diminished Iran!” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. “It doesn’t, any longer, have an Air Force, a Navy, Antiaircraft Equipment, Radar, or practically anything else.” “We didn’t meet out of desperation, Iran did. They are FINISHED! We’ll play out the 60 days. They get no money, not ten cents!” he wrote. Trump also criticized Democrats for arguing that Iran was in a stronger position than it had been months earlier. “And yet the Democrats say that Iran is better off now than it was four months ago.

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  Wake up and ‘smell the reality,’ Trump is your only friend left says Vance

  by Mehdi Editor on June 19, 2026

  US Vice President JD Vance has delivered a blunt and revealing message to Israel’s far-right cabinet members: stop attacking Donald Trump, because he is the last powerful leader on earth still willing to stand by you. Speaking from the White House podium yesterday, the day after Trump signed a memorandum of understanding to end the US-Israeli war with Iran, Vance turned his fire on Israeli ministers who had publicly criticised the deal. VIDEO: Vice president Vance in a message to to Israeli cabinet members: “If I was in the cabinet of the Israeli government, I might not be attacking the only powerful ally that I have left 2/3 of the defensive weapons that have protected your homeland have been built

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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,