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

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  Araghchi: Iran rejects ceasefire and demands a complete end to the war

  by Marwa A on August 19, 2026

  Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran had told mediators that it would not accept a temporary ceasefire, stressing that what was needed was a complete and lasting end to the war. Araghchi said contacts with mediators were continuing, but Tehran distinguished between exchanging messages through mediators and entering into direct negotiations. He had previously said that Iran was not currently holding direct talks with the United States and that resuming negotiations was subject to Iranian conditions. Araghchi’s remarks come as disagreements continue between Tehran and Washington over the nature of previous understandings. Iran insists that what took place was an “end to the war, not a ceasefire”, and is demanding guarantees to prevent military operations from resuming. Israeli general

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  Israeli general close to Netanyahu: Israel preparing for possible pre-emptive strike on Iran

  by Marwa A on August 19, 2026

  Israeli reserve Major General Uzi Dayan, who is close to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, said Israel was, in his assessment, fighting a “war for its existence”, warning that it could not rely entirely on the United States to deal with the Iranian issue. In a television interview, Dayan said Israel was preparing for the possibility of carrying out a pre-emptive strike against Iran, stressing that it needed to retain freedom of action in responding to what it sees as an Iranian threat. His remarks come amid continued tensions over Iran’s nuclear programme and military capabilities, and growing debate in Israel over whether it could take independent military action if the United States does not take steps that Tel Aviv considers

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  FAO: Only 3 % of Gaza’s agricultural land remains accessible and undamaged

  by Marwa A on August 19, 2026

  The UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) said 97 per cent of cropland in the Gaza Strip is now damaged or inaccessible, according to an assessment carried out with the UN Satellite Centre (UNOSAT) as of 24 June. In a report published on Tuesday, the organisation said only 448 hectares (one hectare is 10,000 square meters) of agricultural land remained accessible and undamaged, down from 601 hectares in October 2025, a 25.5 per cent decrease. Rafah in southern Gaza recorded the highest levels of inaccessibility to agricultural land, while the worst physical damage was concentrated in the northern Gaza and Gaza governorates. The FAO said only 16.6 per cent of the greenhouse area remained accessible and undamaged. The FAO warned that

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  Half a million in London… millions stuffed in water jugs in Baghdad

  by Mehdi Editor on August 18, 2026

  The news that Chris Wormald, the former head of the UK civil service, has been awarded £500,000 in compensation—more than half a million dollars—after being forced out of his post without justification, is the kind of story that makes a British reader pause in disbelief. It is a large sum in a country that measures public money with teaspoons of sugar and coffee, where every financial decision is subjected to political, legal, and media scrutiny that rarely shows mercy. But the moment you compare this figure to anything remotely similar in Iraq, the British shock dissolves into a small joke—because in Baghdad, a country governed by what can only be described as state-sanctioned looting, half a million pounds is barely

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  US Amb. Huckabee doubles down on ‘terror’ label for Israeli occupier violence

  by Mehdi Editor on August 18, 2026

  The US Amb. to Israel, Mike Huckabee, reaffirmed his condemnation Tuesday of extremist occupier violence in the occupied West Bank, asserting that the actions meet the American definition of terrorism. “Once it involves an American citizen, then our involvement is pretty much automatic and it’s going to be significant because that’s our job,” Huckabee told Channel 12 in Israel. He noted that while Washington would otherwise only express concerns, the targeting of an American’s home in Qusra necessitated direct involvement. Huckabee, a staunch ally of Israel, rejected pushback from Israeli officials about his terminology. “I’ll use the word terror,” he said, explaining that any act intended to put individuals in fear for their lives or force behavioral changes constitutes terrorism

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  Israel issues tender for illegal E. Jerusalem settlement units in breach of promise, rights groups say

  by Mehdi Editor on August 18, 2026

  The Israeli government broke a commitment over the controversial E1 illegal settlement project in occupied East Jerusalem by issuing a tender for 1,234 illegal settlement units without notifying petitioners who had challenged the project in court, three Israeli rights groups said Tuesday. In a joint statement, the three groups – Ir Amim, Bimkom, and Peace Now – said the tender was issued while legal proceedings over the project remain before the Jerusalem District Court, and before the government has submitted its formal response to the petition. The E1 plan covers roughly 12 square kilometers (4.6 square miles) east of Jerusalem and aims to link the illegal Israeli settlement of Maale Adumim with Jerusalem via the construction of Israeli housing on

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  Tehran accuses US of ‘squeezing Iran’ in effort to wrest concessions that were ‘never part’ of framework agreement

  by Mehdi Editor on August 18, 2026

  Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammed Bagher Qalibaf has blasted US officials for “squeezing Iran” with the aim of wresting concessions that he says were “never part” of a framework agreement signed earlier between Washington and Tehran, Anadolu reports. “Americans think squeezing Iran harder will win concessions that were never part of the agreement,” Qalibaf wrote in a Tuesday social-media post. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth are “way out of their league,” he asserted, adding: “Stop waiting for the clown crew to pull a rabbit out of their hat and clean up the mess you made.” In mid-June, Tehran and Washington signed a memorandum of understanding – through Pakistani and Qatari mediators – ending hostilities and

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  Israeli drone strike on crowded Gaza cafe kills 6 Palestinians, eyewitnesses say

  by Mehdi Editor on August 18, 2026

  Six Palestinians were killed, including a child, and over 12 others were injured Tuesday by an Israeli drone strike that targeted a crowded cafe in the port of Gaza City, Anadolu reports. In the immediate wake of the strike, the bodies of those killed and severely injured were taken to nearby hospitals, a medical source and eyewitnesses told Anadolu Agency. The drone attack involved the firing of at least two missiles, witnesses stated. In a statement, the Israeli army claimed the attack had targeted Hamas commanders operating in the Al-Shati area west of Gaza City, further alleging the group had been planning attacks on its forces. Israeli Army Radio, citing an unnamed security source, claimed the strike had targeted four

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  US sanctions International Criminal Court’s president, official

  by Mehdi Editor on August 18, 2026

  The US imposed sanctions Tuesday on International Criminal Court President Tomoko Akane and official Abdoulaye Seye, Anadolu reports. Akane, a Japanese national who has served as ICC president since 2024, and Seye, a Senegalese national, were added to the Treasury Department’s Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) List, according to the agency’s website. Both designations were made pursuant to Executive Order 14203, “Imposing Sanctions on the International Criminal Court,” which US President Donald Trump signed on Feb. 6, 2025, and which has since been used to designate 10 ICC officials, including former Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan and eight judges. The listing blocks any US assets held by Akane and Seye, and bars Americans and entities from engaging in transactions with them. The

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  UAE says it detected 2 incoming ballistic missiles launched from Iran

  by Mehdi Editor on August 18, 2026

  The United Arab Emirates (UAE) Defense Ministry announced Tuesday that the country’s air-defense systems had detected two ballistic missiles launched from Iran, Anadolu reports. One of the missiles fell inside the UAE’s territorial waters while the other fell outside Emirati territory, the ministry said in a social-media post. The UAE, the ministry added, “remains fully prepared and ready to respond to any threats, and to firmly counter any attempts to undermine the country’s security.” The statement comes shortly after the ministry said in an earlier social-media post that its air-defense systems had detected an incoming missile. READ: UAE-owned oil tanker detained near southern Iran’s Qeshm Island: Report

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  Israeli military patrol approaches Syrian town southwest of Damascus: Local media

  by Mehdi Editor on August 18, 2026

  An Israeli military patrol on Tuesday entered the outskirts of Syria’s town of Beit Jinn located southwest of Damascus, local media has reported. According to Syria’s Alikhbariah television channel, the patrol has approached Bat al-Warda, a hill overlooking Beit Jinn. The channel did not provide details on the size of the Israeli force or the ostensible aim of the incursion. The reported incident comes amid repeated Israeli attacks and armed incursions in southwestern Syria, especially areas west of Damascus. Syrian authorities have yet to comment on the latest incident, while Israel has not publicly explained why its forces reportedly entered the area. The reported incursion comes shortly after Israeli warplanes struck the Abu al-Duhur Military Airbase in Syria’s northwestern Idlib

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  Pentagon eyes smaller US military presence in Gulf after Iran war: Report

  by Mehdi Editor on August 18, 2026

  The Pentagon is reassessing its military footprint in the Middle East, signaling that the Iran war could potentially reshape the US presence in the region, The Washington Post reported Tuesday, citing people familiar with the matter. According to the report, Pentagon is considering whether to reduce troops in the Gulf, where major US bases have suffered months of Iranian strikes. The damage has created a rare opportunity to reconsider the US military posture in the region, the report said, with officials indicating that some bases may not be rebuilt in their previous form. The review is being led by the Pentagon’s policy office, while the Joint Staff and US Central Command are also examining the issue, according to the report.

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  Syria grants IAEA access to Deir ez-Zor site for 1st time in 18 years

  by Mehdi Editor on August 18, 2026

  Syria has granted the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) access to a site in the northeastern province of Deir ez-Zor for the first time since 2008, when agency personnel visited the site, Anadolu reports. At a joint press conference with IAEA chief Rafael Grossi in Damascus, Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani said cooperation between Syria and the IAEA had now reached an advanced stage. According to al-Shaibani, Syria’s approach to the nuclear file is based on transparency. Regarding nuclear activities, Damascus is dealing with the legacy of the former regime, he said, adding that what he described as the “new Syria” seeks cooperation with the international community. READ: US envoy says Washington ‘deeply concerned’ over Israeli airstrikes on Syrian airbase

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  Bangladesh seeks stronger energy ties with Qatar amid Strait of Hormuz tensions

  by Mehdi Editor on August 18, 2026

  Bangladesh sought stronger energy cooperation with Qatar as Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman led a high-level delegation on a two-day official visit to Doha amid tensions in the Strait of Hormuz and an energy crisis at home, Anadolu reports. Rahman held separate meetings with Qatari Energy Minister Saad bin Sherida Al Kaabi and Finance Minister Ali bin Ahmed Al Kuwari in Doha, Bangladesh’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement. “During the meetings, the two sides discussed issues of mutual interest, with particular focus on strengthening bilateral cooperation in the energy and financial sectors,” the ministry said. The two sides agreed to establish joint working groups to follow up on the issues discussed and advance mutually beneficial cooperation in these areas. The

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  US energy stocks hit record as oil tops $91 on Trump’s hard line against Iran

  by Mehdi Editor on August 18, 2026

  US energy stocks approached a record high on Tuesday as rising oil prices and fading prospects for a near-term US-Iran agreement strengthened the earnings outlook for producers and refiners, Anadolu reports. The S&P 500 Energy Sector Index gained as much as 1.8% during trading, putting it on course for its first record close since March 27. The index has rebounded about 20% since hitting a recent low on July 1. Energy shares had fallen 16% from their March peak amid a temporary easing of hostilities and expectations that negotiations between Washington and Tehran could reduce disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz. Those expectations have since weakened after US President Donald Trump said he was not interested in extending an interim agreement

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  Turkiye ‘strongly’ condemns Israeli attack on military airbase in Syria

  by Mehdi Editor on August 18, 2026

  Turkiye on Tuesday “strongly” condemned Israeli airstrikes on Syria’s Abu al-Duhur Military Airbase in Idlib province, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement, Anadolu reports. The ministry said Israel continues to carry out attacks targeting Syria’s infrastructure and capabilities while undermining the country’s territorial integrity and unity. It also urged the international community to adopt a “more resolute stance to put an end to Israel’s aggression against Syria, which is taking on new dimensions with each passing day, and to ensure accountability for these actions, which disregard international law.” READ: Israeli attacks threaten Syria’s stability, undermine Gaza peace efforts: Turkish foreign minister

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  US, Emirati presidents discuss bilateral ties, regional developments

  by Mehdi Editor on August 18, 2026

  United Arab Emirates (UAE) President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan received a phone call Tuesday from US President Donald Trump, Emirati news agency WAM has reported. During the call, the two leaders discussed various aspects of US-UAE cooperation, along with ways to enhance them in line with the two countries’ shared interests, the news agency said. They also reviewed regional developments and various diplomatic efforts that are now underway, according to WAM. The call comes a few days after US CENTCOM Commander Adm. Brad Cooper completed a 10-day visit to the Middle East, during which he visited Bahrain, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. READ: US eases export controls on UAE, expands access to military, advanced technology The

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  Israel builds execution chamber for Palestinians convicted of murder: Report

  by Mehdi Editor on August 18, 2026

  Israeli authorities are preparing a prison wing – replete with an execution chamber – designated specifically for Palestinian prisoners convicted of murder, Israel’s i24NEWS channel reported Tuesday. The move comes after the Knesset (Israel’s parliament) approved legislation in March that calls for the execution of Palestinian prisoners convicted – by military court – of murdering Israelis. According to the news channel, Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has unveiled plans for Israel’s first prison wing designated exclusively for prisoners facing a death sentence. The wing is currently under construction in central Israel, the channel reported. Ben-Gvir’s office said the facility will include an execution chamber, along with areas for families of those Israel describes as “victims” of alleged Palestinian violence,

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  Trump says no talks with Iran underway or scheduled

  by Mehdi Editor on August 18, 2026

  US President Donald Trump on Tuesday said that no talks with Iran were underway or scheduled, adding that the Strait of Hormuz remained open under Washington’s naval blockade, Anadolu reports. “There are no talks or conversations going on, or scheduled, with the Islamic Republic of Iran,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. “The Naval Blockade remains in full force and effect. The Hormuz Strait is open and operating. All water mines have been removed or detonated,” he added. READ: Trump shares image depicting Strait of Hormuz as ‘US territory’

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  US envoy urges Netanyahu to ‘not create obstacles’ in Gaza peace plan: Report

  by Mehdi Editor on August 18, 2026

  US President Donald Trump’s envoy Jared Kushner urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to avoid hindering the Trump administration’s peace plan for the Gaza Strip, according to US media reports, Anadolu reports. Kushner pressed Netanyahu to move forward with the plan, CNN reported Monday, citing an Israeli source. He specifically told Netanyahu to “not create obstacles” in the implementation of the plan, according to the news outlet. The meeting followed Kushner’s direct engagement with senior Hamas officials in Egypt. Despite a nearly four-hour session, Israeli media indicated that the leaders failed to reach an agreement on several critical issues. Netanyahu reportedly remains unpersuaded and continues to insist on maintaining attacks in Gaza as national elections approach. The Israeli leader previously rejected

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  5,000 displaced people arrive in capital of Sudan’s Blue Nile state: Medical group

  by Mehdi Editor on August 18, 2026

  More than 5,000 people displaced by attacks by Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have arrived in Damazin, capital of the southeastern Blue Nile state, amid dire humanitarian conditions, a local medical group said Tuesday, Anadolu reports. In a statement, the independent Sudan Doctors Network said it was following “with grave concern” the arrival of more than 5,000 people recently displaced from Blue Nile state’s Geissan area following RSF attacks there. Displaced people, it said, face severe shortages of food, medicine and shelter, threatening their wellbeing and particularly affecting children, women and the elderly. The group also warned that heavy rainfall in Blue Nile state could aggravate the already dire humanitarian situation and increase health and environmental risks due to the

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  The impunity granted to Israel is as shocking as its violence

  by Mehdi Editor on August 18, 2026

  More incitement to violence from Israeli Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir exposes how colonial violence is aimed at the entire colonised population. Speaking on a podcast with former Israeli hostage Rom Braslavski, Ben Gvir said that Israeli forced should kill 30-40 Palestinians each night in Gaza.  Braslavski requested to act as executioner should Ben Gvir’s plan come to pass, to which the security minister replied, “I will turn the world upside down to make that happen. I promise you that I will do everything I can and turn the world upside down until it happens.” As shocking as the comments are, both are the product of an enterprise that knows it can only sustain itself through ethnic cleansing. In 2025,

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  Trump shares image depicting Strait of Hormuz as ‘US territory’

  by Mehdi Editor on August 18, 2026

  US President Donald Trump on Tuesday shared an image depicting the Strait of Hormuz as US territory, days after saying he would declare the strategic waterway part of the United States, Anadolu reports. Trump posted an image on his social media account showing a map of the Strait of Hormuz labeled “New US Territory,” echoing his earlier remarks about declaring the waterway US territory. Speaking at an event on Aug. 14, Trump claimed that the US Navy was enforcing a complete blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. READ: Trump says he is not seeking extension of framework agreement with Iran “After we finish defeating Iran, which is being very badly defeated, pretty soon I’ll be declaring the Hormuz Strait a territory of

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  Israeli forces demolish Palestinian homes, shelters in West Bank

  by Mehdi Editor on August 18, 2026

  Israeli forces demolished homes, shelters, livestock pens and water wells in the Masafer Yatta area of the occupied West Bank on Tuesday, Anadolu reports. The demolitions affected structures belonging to several Palestinian families. Israel continues to demolish Palestinian homes and facilities in the West Bank under the pretext of unlicensed construction. Palestinians say Israeli authorities impose severe restrictions that prevent them from obtaining building permits, while expanding illegal settlements on occupied land. According to the Palestinian Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission, Israeli authorities carried out 341 demolitions in the first half of this year, destroying 740 Palestinian structures and affecting 923 Palestinians. It said Israel also issued 254 new demolition notices over alleged unlicensed construction. READ: Israel survey: 38% of Jewish Israelis

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  EU urges Israel to comply with international law after Ben-Gvir’s remarks on killing Gazans

  by Mehdi Editor on August 18, 2026

  The European Commission on Tuesday called on Israel to comply with international law following far-right Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir’s remarks advocating the killing of dozens of Palestinians in Gaza every night, Anadolu reports. “The EU expects Israel to comply with all its obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law,” spokesperson Anitta Hipper said during European Commission’s press briefing in Brussels. She noted that the protection of civilians needs to be ensured at all times. “I would also like to recall that we have a proposal currently in the Council to include Ben-Gvir on the sanctions list under the global human rights sanctions regime,” Hipper added. Ben-Gvir recently called for stepped-up airstrikes on the Gaza Strip and for Israel

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  Irish visa refusal rate for Palestinians tops 50% for 1st time in decade: Report

  by Mehdi Editor on August 18, 2026

  The Irish government refused more Palestinian visa applications than it granted for the first time in a decade, surpassing a 50% refusal rate, Irish daily The Ditch reported, Anadolu reports. Government statistics showed that 63% of Palestinians seeking to stay in Ireland on a short-term basis had their applications refused, the report revealed over the weekend. It noted that the rate of visa refusals for Palestinian applicants had risen fourfold since 2023. Meanwhile, more than half of Palestinians applying for long-term visas are now being refused, compared with just 9% last year. The report, citing the University Times, also pointed to a sharp increase in the number of Palestinians refused study visas for Ireland. It further recalled that travelers from Israel

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  47 Palestinian families face imminent displacement in West Bank as Israel cuts water supplies: Rights group

  by Mehdi Editor on August 18, 2026

  Israeli rights group B’Tselem said Tuesday that 47 Palestinian families face the risk of imminent displacement in the Jordan Valley in the northern West Bank after the army and occupiers cut water supplies to their homes, Anadolu reports. “Forty-seven Palestinian families, comprising more than 300 people, nearly half of them children, face the risk of imminent displacement from their homes in the northern Jordan Valley,” B’Tselem said in a statement. The group said Israeli forces and occupiers last week cut the last water pipes supplying families in Ras al-Ahmar, Al-Thaala and eastern Atouf in the area. “In most cases, Israeli forces prevent water from being transported to the area,” it said, adding that the families, who depend on agriculture and livestock

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  When an empire meets its limit – Iran, Trump and the battle for Hormuz

  by Mehdi Editor on August 18, 2026

  There are moments in international politics when a particular confrontation becomes larger than the immediate dispute that produced it. The present confrontation between Iran and the United States is one such moment. On the surface, it is about a nuclear programme, sanctions, the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and the terms of a ceasefire that was supposed to lead to a broader peace. But beneath these issues lies a much more consequential political struggle: whether the United States can still compel a sovereign country to accept the political order Washington seeks to impose upon it, and whether a country such as Iran can resist that pressure without being forced into a war whose consequences would extend far beyond the

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  US envoy says Washington ‘deeply concerned’ over Israeli airstrikes on Syrian airbase

  by Mehdi Editor on August 18, 2026

  US envoy to Syria Tom Barrack said Tuesday that Washington is “deeply concerned” over confirmed Israeli airstrikes on Abu al-Duhur Military Airbase in northern Syria, describing the attack as an “unnecessary escalation,” Anadolu reports. “We are deeply concerned that the confirmed Israeli airstrikes on Abu al-Duhur Airbase constitute an unnecessary escalation that does not advance regional stability,” Barrack said on US social media platform X. “The (Ahmad) Al-Sharra government has neither adopted a predatory posture nor maintained proxy forces. It has, in fact, repeatedly indicated a preference for de-escalation with Israel,” he said. READ: Syrian court sentences Assad’s cousin to death for crimes against humanity “The United States has in the past, and will continue in the future, to host discussions to

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  Qatar pushes for full implementation of Gaza ceasefire plan: Foreign Ministry

  by Mehdi Editor on August 18, 2026

  Qatar said Tuesday that it is pushing for the full implementation of the agreed ceasefire plan in the Gaza Strip despite Israeli “intransigence,” Anadolu reports. Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari told a news conference that Doha remains committed to moving forward with efforts to implement the Gaza ceasefire plan. “What we are demanding is that both parties to the Gaza agreement fully implement the agreed plan,” he said. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected a 15-point Gaza ceasefire plan and insisted that Hamas disarm first, although the roadmap issued by US President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace on July 31 calls for Hamas’ disarmament and an Israeli withdrawal to proceed gradually and in parallel. READ: Qatar rejects Iran’s claim it

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  Israeli strikes trigger new wave of displacement in Lebanon despite ceasefire: UN

  by Mehdi Editor on August 18, 2026

  Fresh Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon over the weekend triggered a new wave of displacement despite ceasefire arrangements, the UN refugee agency said Tuesday, Anadolu reports. “Despite declared ceasefire arrangements, fresh Israeli airstrikes in south Lebanon over the weekend triggered a new wave of displacement, with hundreds of families fleeing northward in search of safety,” UNHCR spokesperson Babar Baloch told a UN press briefing in Geneva. Baloch said the latest displacement was adding to an already prolonged crisis and deepening uncertainty for communities trying to return home. Around 860,000 people have returned to their areas of origin, while some 360,000 remain displaced, including at least 22,000 staying in collective shelters, according to UNHCR. Although most people displaced by months of airstrikes

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  Egypt’s energy paradox: Importing LNG, exporting influence

  by Mehdi Editor on August 18, 2026

  Egypt faces an unusual paradox. A country that once presented itself as the gas hub of the Eastern Mediterranean now depends increasingly on liquefied natural gas imports to fuel its power stations and supply its industries. Yet Cairo continues to derive part of its regional influence from energy infrastructure, geography and transit networks. At first glance, this may appear to signal the decline of Egypt’s energy power. The reality is more complex. Egypt is moving from a model in which power was based primarily on resource ownership to one in which infrastructure, routes and strategic points of connection matter increasingly. The central question is whether Egypt can continue exporting energy influence while importing more LNG. From self-sufficiency to renewed imports

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  Iran says Hormuz will remain closed until US fulfills commitments under memorandum

  by Mehdi Editor on August 18, 2026

  Iran vowed Tuesday it will not reopen the Strait of Hormuz until the US fulfills its commitments under a memorandum of understanding signed between the two sides, Anadolu reports. Speaking during a parliamentary session, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf said Tehran would use both diplomatic and military means to make Washington “understand the consequences of its actions,” according to Iran’s state news agency IRNA. “Let me be clear: until the US fulfills its commitments under the memorandum of understanding — including lifting the blockade, releasing frozen assets, lifting oil sanctions, ending threats and military operations on all fronts, and implementing the other conditions it committed to under the memorandum — the Strait will not reopen,” he said. Qalibaf, who also serves

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  Syrian court sentences Assad’s cousin to death for crimes against humanity

  by Mehdi Editor on August 18, 2026

  A Syrian court on Tuesday sentenced Wassim al-Assad, a cousin of ousted President Bashar al-Assad, to death for crimes against humanity, according to the SANA news agency. Damascus’ Fourth Criminal Court also ordered the confiscation of his movable and immovable assets in favor of the state treasury. The verdict was issued during the sixth trial hearing against Wassim, who faced several charges, including forming and running irregular armed groups from early 2011 under orders from Brig. Gen. Ghiath Dalla, a brigade commander in the Fourth Division, which was led by Assad’s brother Maher. According to SANA, the groups participated in military operations targeting civilian areas in Eastern Ghouta in southwestern Syria, particularly the town of Mleiha, resulting in civilian deaths.

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  Yemen’s Houthis claim drone attack on Aramco refinery in Saudi Arabia

  by Mehdi Editor on August 18, 2026

  Yemen’s Houthi group claimed Tuesday that it targeted an Aramco refinery in Saudi Arabia’s southwestern Jizan region with several drones, Anadolu reports. A military source told the Houthi-run Saba news agency that the attack was carried out in response to what the group described as “violations of Yemeni airspace” over the northern provinces of Saada and Hajjah. The source claimed the drones accurately hit the refinery. ​​​​​​​There was no immediate comment from Saudi authorities on the Houthi claim. READ: Yemen’s Houthis strike Saudi naval vessels, arms depot: Spokesman

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  Global Alliance for Palestine to launch worldwide day of action on 10 October

  by Mehdi Editor on August 18, 2026

  The Global Alliance for Palestine (GAFP) has today announced the launch of a major global campaign for the weekend of 9–11 October 2026, centered on a Global Day of Action on Saturday, 10th October. Inviting hundreds of organisations worldwide to participate, the initiative aims to coordinate actions across several international cities. The October 10th global mobilisation aims to play a vital role in placing Israel’s ongoing genocide and war crimes back on the media agenda. By synchronising diverse protest activities across continents – connecting grassroots movements, student protests, workplace actions, rallies, and civil disobedience from Asia to the Americas, Europe, Africa, and the Middle East – the Alliance provides a platform to turn public outrage into collective leverage. GAFP is

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  Eight armed men seize cargo ship off Somalia, UKMTO says

  by Mehdi Editor on August 18, 2026

  Eight armed men boarded and seized a cargo vessel off the coast of Somalia on Monday, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO). UKMTO did not disclose the vessel’s name, flag state or cargo. No information was immediately available about the number or condition of crew members aboard the ship or its current destination. The maritime security agency also did not identify the armed men or formally classify the incident as an act of piracy. The seizure comes amid renewed concerns over maritime security in waters off Somalia and the Gulf of Aden, where several vessels have been targeted in recent months. In April, separate incidents involved the hijacking of a fuel tanker and a vessel carrying cement.

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  The Saudi Arabia–Turkiye–Pakistan security agreement: An emerging framework for collective defence, strategic autonomy and regional stability

  by Mehdi Editor on August 18, 2026

  The signing of the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement by Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and Pakistan on 7 August, 2026 represents a significant development in the evolving security architecture of the Middle East and South Asia. The agreement establishes a framework for closer defence cooperation among three strategically important Muslim-majority states. Its central principle is that an armed attack against one member is to be treated as an attack against all three, although the participating governments have emphasised that the arrangement is defensive and is not directed against any country.  The agreement should also be understood within the context of the earlier Saudi Arabia–Pakistan Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement of 17 September, 2025, which established a similar principle of collective defence between Riyadh

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  Smotrich says defeating Hamas requires Israeli control and settlements in Gaza

  by Mehdi Editor on August 18, 2026

  Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said that completely defeating Hamas would require Israel to occupy and maintain control over the Gaza Strip and establish Israeli settlements there. According to Israel’s Channel 7, Smotrich argued that negotiations with Hamas leaders were incompatible with the Israeli government’s stated objective of eliminating the movement. He said Israel should not be negotiating with Hamas figures whom, in his view, it should instead be seeking to eliminate. His remarks come amid renewed Israeli and US discussions over the future governance, security and reconstruction of Gaza as efforts continue to advance US President Donald Trump’s plan for the territory. READ: Israeli ministers call for renewed Gaza attacks, rejection of Trump’s ceasefire roadmap Separately, the office of Israeli

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  Iraqi Hezbollah Brigades set conditions for talks on weapons, including Turkish withdrawal and disbanding of Peshmerga

  by Mehdi Editor on August 18, 2026

  The Iraqi Hezbollah Brigades have set conditions for negotiations with the Iraqi government over their weapons. In a statement, the group said the conditions for the Islamic Resistance to engage with any government on organising its weapons included the “complete and genuine withdrawal” of US forces from Iraqi territory and airspace, along with guarantees that they would not return. The group also called for Iraq’s political and economic decision-making to be freed from US influence, as well as the withdrawal of Turkish forces from northern Iraq. It added that the conditions also included “disbanding the Peshmerga forces”, describing them as the most heavily armed militia and the greatest threat to Iraq’s unity, and accusing them of having “suspicious ties” with

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  Iran ‘won war and diplomacy,’ foreign minister says after Trump’s call for Tehran to surrender

  by Mehdi Editor on August 18, 2026

  Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tuesday that Iran had “won both the war and diplomacy,” claiming those who initially sought Tehran’s “unconditional surrender” later sought negotiations, Anadolu reports. Speaking at an event, Araghchi said Iran resisted for days against what he described as “the world’s largest apparent military,” alongside another army claiming military power and with the support of nearly all Western countries and some other states inside and outside the region, according to the Tasnim news agency. “Those who were seeking unconditional surrender, shortly after the war began, begged for negotiations,” Araghchi said. READ: Iran’s IRGC dismisses Trump’s claim of backchannel talks as ‘lies’ He claimed Tehran initially rejected a ceasefire and continued fighting until reaching a point where the

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  Palestinian Health Ministry: Oxygen station shutdowns threaten lives of dozens of patients, children

  by Mehdi Editor on August 18, 2026

  The Palestinian Health Ministry issued an urgent warning on Monday over the worsening crisis affecting oxygen generation stations in hospitals across the Gaza Strip, saying most have stopped operating because of the ongoing Israeli blockade, which has prevented the entry of equipment and spare parts needed for maintenance. In a press statement, the ministry said the crisis now threatens the remaining operational capacity of hospitals and places the lives of dozens of patients and children in critical, life-saving departments under an unprecedented direct threat. The ministry said 72 intensive care units could face a complete shutdown and paralysis of services due to the severe and continuing shortage of oxygen supplies. It added that 54 neonatal incubator units are facing a

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  Israeli forces raid Bethlehem hospital and assault patients, visitors

  by Mehdi Editor on August 18, 2026

  Israeli forces raided the grounds of a hospital in the city of Bethlehem in the southern occupied West Bank on Monday evening and assaulted patients and visitors, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. In a statement, the ministry said that “Israeli forces raided the grounds of the Arab Society for Rehabilitation Hospital, terrorised patients and visitors and assaulted some of them.” The ministry strongly condemned the raid and the continued violations against hospitals and medical centres, stressing that hospitals and health centres are “protected places under international law”. READ: Amnesty: Israeli state backs escalation of settler violence in occupied West Bank It said that raiding or attacking such facilities, or exposing patients and medical staff to danger, constitutes a “serious violation”

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  Sudan, Saudi Arabia sign agreement to establish strategic cooperation council

  by Mehdi Editor on August 18, 2026

  Sudan and Saudi Arabia on Monday signed an agreement to establish the Supreme Council for Strategic Cooperation and Coordination between the two countries. The Sudan News Agency (SUNA) reported that the agreement was signed in the Saudi capital Riyadh. Sudanese Foreign Minister Mohieddin Salem signed on behalf of Sudan, while Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan signed for Saudi Arabia.    According to SUNA, the council aims to provide a higher and more comprehensive institutional framework for managing and developing bilateral relations. The council will cover 10 main areas, including economic, investment, trade and political affairs. It will also seek to align the two countries’ visions, strengthen the official partnership and facilitate the implementation of joint projects to support development

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  Kushner signals US support for Israeli operations in Gaza if Hamas refuses to disarm

  by Mehdi Editor on August 18, 2026

  US special envoy Jared Kushner said “very significant progress could happen very soon” in the Gaza Strip if Israel and Hamas cooperate, warning that the United States would support further Israeli military operations in the territory if Hamas does not disarm. In an interview with Fox News after meeting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday, Kushner said: “if Hamas actually gives over the weapons and the tunnels willingly over the next 60 to 90 days, that obviously would be the elimination of a huge security threat for Israel, almost an unthinkable achievement.”  He added: “If they don’t follow through now on their commitment, everyone will see that they’re not genuine about peace, and then Israel will have a lot

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  Call for international sanctions against Israeli military commander after Qusra attacks

  by Mehdi Editor on August 18, 2026

  The Combatants for Peace movement has called on the European Union and the governments of the UK, Canada and Australia to impose personal sanctions on Avi Bluth, commander of the Israeli army’s Central Command, following recent attacks and incidents in the town of Qusra, south of Nablus, in the northern West Bank. The movement said the incidents represented the latest escalation in settler violence against Palestinian communities in the occupied West Bank. READ: Aid access hampered by more than 900 obstacles in West Bank: UN The call was made in an urgent letter sent on behalf of the movement by human rights lawyer Eitay Mack. The letter said responsibility for the escalation in settler violence in the occupied West Bank did

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  Colluding with violence: Aiding Israeli settlers in the West Bank

  by Mehdi Editor on August 18, 2026

  The latest incidents of Israeli settler violence in the villages of Qusra and Kour, located in the northern occupied West Bank, have again caught international attention, reaching the halls of the United Nations with a gravity that, sadly, is unlikely to have much effect.  Towards the end of July, the settlers had set their sights on local mosques, which they set on fire.  From 9th August, three families in Qusra – making up 15 people in all – were confined to their homes in terror, running out of food and necessities. (Settlers had deprived them of access to water and power.) When Palestinian Red Crescent ambulances attempted to deliver food and water to these homes, they were attacked.   Unusually, this

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  Trump says he is not seeking extension of framework agreement with Iran

  by Mehdi Editor on August 17, 2026

  President Donald Trump said Monday that he is not seeking an extension of June’s framework agreement with Iran towards ending the war, while claiming the US has established “total control” over the Strait of Hormuz, Anadolu reports. “No,” Trump replied when asked by reporters whether he was seeking an extension of the deal with Iran, reached in June with Pakistani mediation. His remarks came as a 60-day negotiating period neared its end without a comprehensive agreement, which the framework deal was meant to facilitate. The deadline stems from how the June deal established a window for negotiations toward a broader settlement. Asked whether the two sides are closer to reaching a final agreement under the framework deal, Trump said Iran

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  Turkish, Iranian foreign ministers discuss talks on reopening Strait of Hormuz, ceasefire

  by Mehdi Editor on August 17, 2026

  Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan spoke Monday by phone with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi, according to Turkish Foreign Ministry sources, Anadolu reports. The two discussed the latest developments in negotiations over reopening the Strait of Hormuz and maintaining the ceasefire, the sources said. The call focused on the current status of the talks on both issues, according to the sources. READ: UN urges US, Iran to resume talks as 60-day deadline nears

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  UAE-owned oil tanker detained near southern Iran’s Qeshm Island: Report

  by Mehdi Editor on August 17, 2026

  A tanker belonging to an Emirati company was detained near southern Iran’s Qeshm Island while crossing the Strait of Hormuz, Iranian media reported Monday. Maritime navigation data showed that the vessel had been stopped during its passage through the strait, Iran’s semi-official Fars News Agency reported. The agency did not identify the tanker or the Emirati company that owns it. Fars said tankers seeking safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz “must follow a route designated by Iran, pay service fees and obtain Iranian authorization.” There was no official statement from Iranian or Emirati authorities regarding the report as of 1700GMT. The Strait of Hormuz has seen escalating tensions amid the US-Iran war, raising fears of disruptions to shipping and