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

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  Iran, Egypt discuss US diplomatic negotiations, regional developments

  by Mehdi Editor on June 27, 2026

  Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and his Egyptian counterpart Badr Abdelatty discussed regional developments and ongoing diplomatic negotiations between Tehran and Washington during a phone call, according to statements from both sides, Anadolu reports. In a post on his Telegram account on Saturday, Araghchi said the two ministers reviewed regional developments and the diplomatic track with the US as part of efforts to preserve peace and stability. Egypt’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the call took place on Friday “as part of following up on developments in the negotiating track between Iran and the United States.” READ: Iranian lawmaker says US strikes during talks will lead to ‘retreat and regret’ Abdelatty stressed the importance of continuing talks between Iran and

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  Israeli drone hits southern Lebanon despite framework agreement

  by Mehdi Editor on June 27, 2026

  An Israeli drone struck an area in southern Lebanon on Saturday despite a framework agreement reached between Lebanon and Israel in Washington, according to Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency (NNA), Anadolu reports. The agency said the drone targeted an intersection near Farah Amusement Park in the town of Nabatieh al-Fawqa in Nabatieh Governorate. No casualties were immediately reported. In a separate incident, NNA said Israeli forces advanced toward the outskirts of Kfar Shouba in the Hasbaya district while opening fire with medium and heavy machine guns. The incidents occurred despite a framework agreement reached at the conclusion of the 5th round of US-sponsored negotiations between Lebanon and Israel in Washington on Friday. READ: Far-right Israeli minister urges ending Lebanon ceasefire after troops

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  Ironic Fates: Bolton, Trump and Mishandling Classified Documents

  by Mehdi Editor on June 27, 2026

  Former US national security advisor John Bolton and the President Donald J. Trump share traits neither probably knew they had.  The latter, for one, is far more war mongering than he let on to American voters, evidenced by his recently failed, disastrous foray into attacking Iran.  Bolton, on the other hand, has been a consistent war addict, the neocon’s preferred position in projecting US power through what the British used to call might.  Earlier in June, Trump had the fantastic gall to say this about the man who had a brief stint as his own moustachioed national security advisor from 2018 to 2019: “I never thought [Bolton] was a smart person, that he was a radical right in terms of

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  Palestinian injured, 2 arrested in Israeli raids across occupied West Bank

  by Mehdi Editor on June 27, 2026

  A Palestinian was injured and two others were arrested Saturday as the Israeli army carried out raids across several areas of the occupied West Bank, accompanied by occupiers’ attacks and the closure of roads and town entrances, Anadolu reports. The latest incidents came a day after Israeli forces arrested 10 Palestinians from the village of Burqa, east of Ramallah, and burned about 10 dunams (2.5 acres) of olive groves. The Jerusalem Governorate said in a statement that a young Palestinian suffered facial injuries, while several others, including children and elderly people, were overcome by tear gas after Israeli forces stormed a wedding celebration in the town of Hizma, northeast of Jerusalem, and fired a tear gas canister directly at attendees. In

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  Bahrain says Iranian drones targeted its territory early Saturday

  by Mehdi Editor on June 27, 2026

  Bahrain announced Saturday that its territory was targeted by Iranian drone attacks, calling it “a blatant violation” of its sovereignty and international law. The Bahraini Foreign Ministry, in a statement carried by the Bahrain News Agency, condemned the attack, saying it involved “a number of Iranian drones,” without disclosing the exact location or nature of the target. The ministry said the incident early in the day endangered civilian lives and undermined regional efforts to de-escalate tensions, reaffirming Manama’s “full and legitimate right to defend its sovereignty” and calling on the UN Security Council to hold Tehran accountable. READ: US strikes Iran following attack on ship in Strait of Hormuz: CENTCOM The attack came hours after the US said its forces struck

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  Gaza boy succumbs to injuries from Israeli attack

  by Mehdi Editor on June 27, 2026

  A Palestinian child died early Saturday from injuries sustained in an Israeli attack days ago in the southern Gaza Strip, a medical source told Anadolu. The report comes amid Tel Aviv’s continued breaches of an ongoing ceasefire agreement that took effect last October. The source at Nasser Hospital said 10-year-old Walid Youssef Abu Jazar died from wounds he suffered days earlier in an Israeli strike on the al-Mawasi area west of Khan Younis in southern Gaza. Separately, local sources and eyewitnesses reported a limited incursion by Israeli military vehicles east of Al-Maghazi and Deir al-Balah, along with the westward displacement of yellow concrete blocks in a new expansion of areas under Israeli control. The sources said two Israeli tanks and

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  From Zion Mules in 1915 to a Foreign Legion in 2026: Mercenaries and the IDF

  by Mehdi Editor on June 27, 2026

  For  seventy five years, the Israeli army has marketed itself as the ‘most moral army’ in the world, in what is known in Zionist terminology as ‘purity of arms’, which allegedly guarantees ethical conduct even in the fog of war.   Beneath this carefully constructed mythology lies an unpleasant reality:  the army is increasingly relying on foreign fighters and private contractors; what legal experts classify as mercenaries. Reports that a new ‘Foreign Legion’ unit is being contemplated, or even officially created within the Israeli army are currently circulating widely.   The outsourcing of the army’s operations relies on new American firms like UG Solutions and Safe Reach Solutions, which are deeply linked to the lineage of the notorious Blackwater, (founded in

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  Top Pakistani, Iranian diplomats reaffirm commitment to regional peace in wake of new strikes

  by Mehdi Editor on June 27, 2026

  Pakistan and Iran on Friday reaffirmed their commitment to promoting lasting peace and stability in the region during a telephone call between their top diplomats following new attacks as US-Iranian peace talks continue, Anadolu reports. Speaking with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, Pakistan’s Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to play a constructive role in advancing regional and international peace, according to a statement by Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry. Araghchi expressed appreciation for Pakistan’s continued support for the peace process. He also thanked Islamabad for facilitating the safe and smooth repatriation of Iranian crew members and fishermen to Iran. The two agreed to remain in close contact as both countries continue diplomatic efforts. READ: IRGC says it

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  FACTBOX – Key points in US-mediated framework between Israel, Lebanon

  by Mehdi Editor on June 27, 2026

  Lebanon and Israel signed a US-sponsored “framework deal” in Washington on Friday, concluding the fifth round of negotiations aimed at resolving outstanding disputes between the two sides, including Israel’s continued occupation of parts of southern Lebanon, Anadolu Agency reports. Details of the framework were not announced during the signing ceremony, but the full text was later published by the US Department of State. The framework affirms a shared goal of achieving “lasting peace and security” in Lebanon and declares the sides’ “ambition to end conflict between them, ensure the sovereignty and security of both countries, and establish peaceful neighborly relations between the two countries.” Israel continues to occupy areas in southern Lebanon, some held for decades and others seized during

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  Iranian lawmaker says US strikes during talks will lead to ‘retreat and regret’

  by Mehdi Editor on June 27, 2026

  A senior Iranian lawmaker said Saturday that US strikes on Iran during talks exposed Washington’s lack of commitment to diplomacy and ceasefire understandings, Anadolu reports. Ibrahim Azizi, the head of parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, said the US “once again attacked Iran in the middle of negotiations.” “The failed US president has shown he has no commitment to the principles of negotiation or a ceasefire,” said Azizi. READ: US strikes Iran following attack on ship in Strait of Hormuz: CENTCOM He said the “reckless violation” of the ceasefire would, “as always, lead to retreat and regret” for the US. “The blame game does not work anymore,” he added. His remarks came hours after Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)

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  Why the new Emir Abdelkader Chair at Oxford University will do so much to unite the Arab World with the West

  by Mehdi Editor on June 27, 2026

  When teaching at Oxford University, the oldest in England, I was regularly served meals on High Table underneath a magnificent portrait of Queen Elizabeth I. The 16th Century work by court artist Nicholas Hilliard is in the dining Hall at Jesus College – where I lectured in French – alongside paintings of others linked with the great seat of learning, including former British Prime Minister and alumnus Harold Wilson. A framed image of T.E.Lawrence, the fabled “Lawrence of Arabia”, was of particular interest to me. He was due to become an academic at Oxford, after reading History at Jesus but, thanks to a university scholarship, Lawrence was able to head to the Middle East, to learn Arabic, and take part in archeological digs. All

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  IRGC says it targeted US military positions in region after strikes in south

  by Mehdi Editor on June 27, 2026

  Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said early Saturday that its naval forces targeted US military positions in response to American “aggression” in the country’s south, Anadolu reports. In a statement aired by state television, the IRGC said the US violated commitments linked to the ceasefire and carried out airstrikes on Iranian coastal areas. The IRGC said its naval forces responded by targeting US military positions across the region. It warned that any repeat of the attacks would be met with a “broader and stronger” response. The IRGC added that arrangements governing navigation through the Strait of Hormuz fall under understandings reached with Iran, accusing Washington of attempting to violate the commitments through “provocations.” Earlier, the US Central Command (CENTCOM)

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  US strikes Iran following attack on ship in Strait of Hormuz: CENTCOM

  by Mehdi Editor on June 27, 2026

  The US carried out strikes inside Iran in response to an attack on a commercial ship transiting the Strait of Hormuz, the US’ military Central Command (CENTCOM) said Friday, Anadolu reports. It said a US aircraft struck Iranian missile and drone storage sites, as well as coastal radar facilities. Four targets along the Iranian coast bordering the Strait of Hormuz and Qeshm island were struck with six US aircraft, a senior US official told Fox News. US President Donald Trump wrote on his social media platform, Truth Social, that Tehran launched at least four one-way attack drones at ships. He said American forces intercepted three, while one struck a cargo ship, causing damage, and described the attack as a “foolish

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  6 farmers abducted by Israeli army in southern Lebanon amid ceasefire violations

  by Mehdi Editor on June 26, 2026

  The Israeli army abducted six farmers on Friday from the border town of Ain Arab in Lebanon’s Marjayoun district, a day after its forces burned several homes in the same town, Anadolu Agency reports. The incident comes amid continued Israeli violations of the fragile ceasefire agreement that has been in effect since April 17, although the pace of violations has declined in recent days following the agreement between the US and Iran. An Israeli force abducted six farmers while they were working on their land on the outskirts of the border town of Ain Arab before taking them into Israel, an Anadolu correspondent said. The abductees include three Lebanese residents of the town and three Syrian workers, the correspondent said.

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  Dozens protest in central Israel, demanding ultra-Orthodox military conscription

  by Mehdi Editor on June 26, 2026

  Dozens of demonstrators protested Friday in the central Israeli city of Bnei Brak, blocking major roads to demand equal military service obligations and the conscription of ultra-Orthodox Jews, known as Haredim. The Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronoth said dozens of secular Israelis and members of left-wing organizations, including the group “Mothers at the Front,” took part in the protest against exemptions granted to Haredim from mandatory military service. The protesters marched in Bnei Brak, a stronghold of the ultra-Orthodox community, calling for equality in conscription and an end to exemptions for students enrolled in religious seminaries. Israeli Channel 12 reported clashes between protesters and local residents amid a heavy deployment of Israeli police forces. The protest came two days after thousands

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  Netanyahu says Israeli army will remain in southern Lebanon ‘security zone’ until Hezbollah disarmed

  by Mehdi Editor on June 26, 2026

  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Friday that Israeli forces will remain in a “security zone” in southern Lebanon until Hezbollah is disarmed, commenting on the newly reached framework deal between Israel and Lebanon under US sponsorship, Anadolu reports. In a recorded statement, Netanyahu said: “The most important thing is that first of all, Israel remains in the security zone in southern Lebanon … we maintain it as long as Hezbollah has not disarmed.” He said the agreement allows the deployment of the Lebanese army in designated areas based on “recommendation” by the Israeli army, with implementation set to begin through “two pilot phases.” Netanyahu added that one of the two areas from which Israeli forces are expected to

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  UAE foreign minister holds 1st publicly announced call with Iranian counterpart since outbreak of war

  by Mehdi Editor on June 26, 2026

  In the first publicly announced contact between the two countries since the outbreak of the US-Israeli war against Iran, UAE Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan held a phone call with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Friday, Anadolu reports. According to the UAE Foreign Ministry, the two officials reviewed “the latest regional developments” following the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the US and Iran aimed at ending the war that came into force on June 18. Bin Zayed stressed “the importance of full compliance with the provisions of the agreement” and said “serious diplomacy and responsible dialogue” remain the preferred means of addressing regional and international crises. The UAE is among the Gulf countries that came

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  US sanctions individuals, entities for ‘fueling’ Sudan’s civil war

  by Mehdi Editor on June 26, 2026

  The US on Friday sanctioned eight individuals and entities linked to networks fueling Sudan’s civil war, calling on both warring parties to accept an “immediate, unconditional” three-month humanitarian truce, Anadolu reports. The Treasury Department said the sanctions target networks supporting both the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), accusing them of enabling the conflict to intensify while contributing to one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. “The networks profiting from the conflict in Sudan jeopardize the prospects for the humanitarian truce that the Sudanese people desperately need,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a statement. The sanctions target a Sudan-based defense enterprise allegedly involved in supplying explosives, weapons-related materials and military equipment to the SAF,

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  3 police members among 5 Palestinians killed in Israeli attacks on Gaza amid ceasefire violations

  by Mehdi Editor on June 26, 2026

  Three police members were among five Palestinians killed in Israeli strikes across the Gaza Strip on Friday, amid continued Israeli violations of the ceasefire agreement in the enclave. A medical source at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital told Anadolu Agency that the bodies of three Palestinians and two injured people were brought to the hospital following an Israeli drone strike targeting a civilian vehicle at the entrance to Al-Maghazi refugee camp in central Gaza. An Israeli drone fired at least two missiles at the vehicle, causing it to catch fire and resulting in deaths and injuries, eyewitnesses told Anadolu Agency. In a later brief statement, Gaza’s Interior Ministry said the three victims were officers and members of the police force, without providing

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  Hamas says consultations continue with mediators on Gaza ceasefire implementation

  by Mehdi Editor on June 26, 2026

  The Palestinian group Hamas said Friday that consultations are ongoing with mediators to reach understandings that would ensure the full implementation of the Gaza ceasefire agreement. Discussions are continuing between Hamas, Palestinian factions, and mediators, including Turkiye, Egypt and Qatar, to finalize approaches related to the complete execution of the agreement, the group’s spokesman Hazem Qassem told Anadolu Agency. “These discussions concern the full implementation of the ceasefire agreement, including what remains of the first phase and mechanisms for implementing the second phase,” Qassem said. He added that a delegation from Hamas and other Palestinian factions is expected to visit Cairo in the coming days to deliver its response to newly proposed approaches. Qassem said Palestinian factions had previously reached

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  Starmer leaves office with Labour divided over Gaza

  by Mehdi Editor on June 26, 2026

  Keir Starmer is set to leave office after announcing his resignation on Monday, ending a premiership marked by collapsing public support, internal party discipline battles and deep anger over his handling of Gaza. His departure follows months of pressure inside Labour and a bruising set of local election results in which the party suffered heavy losses while Reform UK made major gains. Labour lost 1,496 council seats and control of 38 councils in the 2026 local elections, while Reform UK gained 1,451 seats and emerged as the major beneficiary of public discontent.   Starmer’s resignation confirmed the fragility of the mandate he won in 2024. Labour secured a landslide majority in Parliament, but did so with only around a third of

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  Israeli occupiers set fire to 1 hectare of Palestinian olive groves under army protection

  by Mehdi Editor on June 26, 2026

  Israeli occupiers set fire to around 1 hectare of Palestinian olive farmland in the village of Burqa, east of Ramallah in the occupied West Bank, on Friday, according to local officials and witnesses. Saleh Kanaan, head of Burqa’s village council, told Anadolu Agency that dozens of occupiers attacked the village while the Israeli army closed its main entrance and several secondary roads, restricting the movement of Palestinian residents. Kanaan said the occupiers set fire to agricultural land in the southeastern part of the village, damaging around 1 hectare of olive groves. Witnesses said Israeli forces were heavily deployed around the village during the attack and detained several Palestinian youths, while the assault extended to areas near homes. READ: Former Israeli leaders

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  Israel drops leaflets warning Lebanese to stay away from southern border town

  by Mehdi Editor on June 26, 2026

  The Israeli army dropped warning leaflets Friday urging Lebanese residents to stay away from the southern town of Al-Mansouri, as displaced civilians continue returning to villages across southern Lebanon, Anadolu reports. Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA) reported a drone dropped the leaflets over the town, which lies south of the coastal city of Tyre. The move comes as thousands of displaced residents return to the south following a significant reduction in Israeli attacks since Sunday, amid reports of US pressure on Israel to de-escalate in support of ongoing negotiations in Washington. The reported US pressure follows the June 18 Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding between Washington and Tehran, which calls for an immediate and permanent end to military operations on all

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  Iran says ‘direct communication line’ established with US over Hormuz to avoid military confrontation

  by Mehdi Editor on June 26, 2026

  A “direct communication line” has been established between Iran and the US over the Strait of Hormuz to prevent incidents that could lead to military confrontation, Iranian state media reported Friday. “According to the final statement of the talks in Switzerland issued by the two mediators… a communication line has been established between the two sides,” Press TV reported. The line was established “to prevent incidents in the Strait of Hormuz that might lead to military confrontation” and to implement the provisions of Article 5 of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, it added. The development comes amid disputes over navigation arrangements in the Strait of Hormuz, where Iran has said vessels must use designated routes and coordinate with Iranian authorities

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  Israel reaches understandings with US to speed up evacuation of military aircraft from Ben Gurion: Reports

  by Mehdi Editor on June 26, 2026

  Israel has reached understandings with the US military to accelerate the evacuation of American military aircraft stationed at Ben Gurion Airport, Israeli media reported Friday. The country’s Transportation Ministry made a statement confirming the development early Friday, ending “weeks of uncertainty” that had affected Israel’s aviation sector, Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronoth reported. The understanding is expected to remove the remaining concerns over the cancellation of hundreds of thousands of airline tickets during the summer travel season, after the risk of canceling more than 2.4 million tickets had already been averted about a week and a half ago, the report said. READ: Far-right Israeli minister urges ending Lebanon ceasefire after troops injured Channel 12 reported that the US has committed to removing

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  Far-right Israeli minister urges ending Lebanon ceasefire after troops injured

  by Mehdi Editor on June 26, 2026

  Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir called for ending the ceasefire in Lebanon after four Israeli troops were wounded in southern Lebanon. “There are soldiers who have been injured. We can strike and bomb hundreds of targets,” Ben-Gvir said, referring to a Thursday incident in which four Israeli soldiers were wounded in southern Lebanon, Yedioth Ahronoth reported Friday. During a security cabinet meeting on Thursday, the extremist minister described the incident as “an opportunity for the agreement to collapse.” Although his position did not appear to gain support during the meeting, other ministers reportedly voiced frustration over operational restrictions imposed on Israeli forces under the ceasefire arrangements in Lebanon. The remarks came amid media reports of US pressure on

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  IAEA chief says US-Iran deal grants agency access to Iranian nuclear sites

  by Mehdi Editor on June 26, 2026

  The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Friday said that the recent US-Iran agreement gives the UN nuclear watchdog responsibility for supervising Iran’s nuclear commitments, Anadolu reports. Speaking to reporters in Tokyo, IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi said the memorandum of understanding between Washington and Tehran “specifically indicates” that its nuclear component “will be supervised by the IAEA.” “In order to supervise, we need to inspect. There is no other way,” Grossi said. He said the agency had already begun technical work with Iranian authorities and hoped to be in Iran “soon,” adding that differing public statements by the US and Iran reflected “political positioning.” “There is a bit of a war of statements here,” he said,

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  Iran warns against Israeli military flights through neighboring states’ airspace

  by Mehdi Editor on June 26, 2026

  Iran’s top joint military command warned Friday against what it described as Israeli military aircraft using the airspace of neighboring countries to approach Iran. In a statement carried by state-run broadcaster IRIB, the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters said the movement and presence of the “terrorist army of the Zionist regime” in the skies of some neighboring countries toward Iran is a dangerous act and a threat to the country. The statement, however, did not specify which neighboring country or countries it was referring to. The headquarters warned that if the US is unable to restrain or control Israel, Iran “will not tolerate any threat against itself.” It added that Tehran reserves the right to respond to “dangerous” actions. READ: Iran warns

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  Israel turns Armenian suffering into political weapon as feud with Turkiye deepens

  by Marwa A on June 26, 2026

  Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar has said he will bring a resolution before the Israeli government to recognise the Armenian Genocide, in a move that comes amid worsening ties with Turkiye and is likely to fuel criticism that Israel is turning Armenian suffering into a political weapon. Sa’ar said on X that he would bring “a proposed resolution for the official recognition by the Government of Israel of the Armenian Genocide” before the government at its next meeting. I will bring before the Israeli government at its next meeting a proposed resolution for the official recognition by the Government of Israel of the Armenian Genocide. Recognizing the genocide perpetrated against the Armenian people in the final years of the Ottoman

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  The future of nuclear non-proliferation after recent U.S.–Iran negotiations

  by Marwa A on June 26, 2026

  The latest round of negotiations between the United States and Iran in Switzerland may not yet qualify as a historic breakthrough but it may become one of those moments historians later identify as a turning point. After years of sanctions, proxy confrontations, military escalation and the gradual weakening of arms-control trust, both sides have returned to a familiar but difficult instrument: diplomacy. Recent talks reportedly produced a roadmap towards a broader settlement and continued technical discussions on nuclear and regional security issues. The larger question is no longer whether Washington and Tehran can talk. It is whether diplomacy can still protect the global nuclear non-proliferation order. Background: Why U.S.–Iran Relations Matter Beyond Two Countries Relations between the United States and

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  The war on Iran: Through the lenses of pragmatism and realpolitik

  by Marwa A on June 26, 2026

  Two Doctrines, One Conflict When the United States and Israel launched coordinated strikes against Iran in June 2025, the world’s strategic analysts reached instinctively for two of history’s most enduring frameworks to make sense of what had unfolded: Pragmatism, the distinctly American philosophical tradition that judges actions by their consequences, and Realpolitik, the European doctrine that strips policy of moral pretence and reduces statecraft to power, interest, and calculation. Examining the war on Iran through both lenses does not produce a single verdict — it produces two competing narratives that expose the fault lines at the heart of American foreign policy. Lens One: Pragmatism — The War as a Test of Consequences Pragmatism, as a doctrine of statecraft, holds that

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  Hezbollah denies Israeli claim of killing its members in southern Lebanon

  by Marwa A on June 26, 2026

  Hezbollah on Thursday denied the Israeli army’s claim that it had killed members of the group in an air strike on the southern Lebanese town of Zawtar al-Sharqiya. The group said those killed were civilians and described the attack as a “blatant violation” of the ceasefire agreement. In a statement, Hezbollah said the Israeli army had “once again deliberately targeted Lebanese civilians who were on their way to inspect their homes on the Zawtar al-Sharqiya road under the pretext that they posed a threat to its occupying forces.” It added that the attack, carried out at 2:40 pm local time (11:40 GMT) by an Israeli drone strike, killed two civilians who were directly targeted and wounded a third person. Hezbollah

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  Iran warns ships against using unauthorised routes in Strait of Hormuz

  by Marwa A on June 26, 2026

  Iran warned on Thursday that ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz must use only routes approved and designated by Iranian authorities, following an attack on a vessel off the coast of Oman. The Persian Gulf Strait Authority (PGSA), established by Iran to manage the Strait of Hormuz, said in a post on X that transit outside routes designated by Iran “will not be covered by the guarantee of safe passage.” It added that any “Consequences arising from passage through unauthorised routes shall be the responsibility of the owner, operator, and vessel commander.” Earlier, the United Nations’ International Maritime Organization (IMO) temporarily suspended evacuation operations in the strategic waterway, citing security concerns following the attack. IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez said in

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  Pro-Palestinian demonstrators urge Rome to end cooperation with Israel

  by Mehdi Editor on June 26, 2026

  Pro-Palestinian demonstrators gathered outside Rome City Hall in Rome on Thursday, urging municipal authorities to end the city’s institutional cooperation with Israel, Anadolu reports. Despite high temperatures, protesters assembled in Campidoglio Square carrying Palestinian flags and banners while seeking to make their voices heard by members of the City Council meeting inside the municipal building. They also chanted pro-Palestinian slogans and protested Israeli attacks on Lebanon. Maya Issa, president of Palestinian Students in Italy, said demonstrators had once again gathered outside City Hall to call on Rome Mayor Roberto Gualtieri and the municipal administration to terminate all existing agreements with Israel. Issa said more than 16,000 Rome residents had signed a petition in recent months calling for the municipality to end its

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  Israeli citizen sentenced over US secrets plot

  by Marwa A on June 26, 2026

  An Israeli citizen has been sentenced in the US after pleading guilty to conspiring to steal a trade secret from an Arizona-based semiconductor technology company, in a case that adds to long-standing practice of Israeli-linked espionage. Guy Galanti, 48, an Israeli citizen who lived in Scottsdale, Arizona, received a sentence of time served and three years of supervised release from US District Judge G. Murray Snow, the US Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona announced on Tuesday. Galanti had remained in custody since his arrest in September 2025 and pleaded guilty on 26 May, 2026, to conspiring to steal a trade secret. According to prosecutors, Galanti worked as a senior-level manager for Green Technology Investments (GTI), a Scottsdale company

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  Houthi leader warns against Israeli presence in Somaliland, pledges response

  by Marwa A on June 26, 2026

  Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, leader of Yemen’s Ansar Allah movement, warned on Thursday against what he described as Israeli efforts to establish a presence in Somaliland, saying the group would respond to any such move. Speaking in a televised address, al-Houthi said Israel was seeking to expand its influence in the Gulf of Aden and the Bab al-Mandab Strait in an effort to strengthen its control over strategic shipping routes in the Red Sea. He warned that Ansar Allah would not remain passive in the face of any Israeli presence in the region and affirmed the group’s readiness to confront it. Al-Houthi also called on countries bordering the Red Sea to adopt a unified position to safeguard regional security, sovereignty and strategic

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  Sudan’s war deepens humanitarian crisis as hunger, inflation and currency collapse impact civilians

  by Marwa A on June 26, 2026

  The humanitarian crisis in Sudan continues to worsen more than three years after the outbreak of war, with millions of civilians facing mounting hardship amid soaring food prices, collapsing public services and a rapidly depreciating national currency. UN agencies have repeatedly warned of a deteriorating humanitarian situation, citing an increasing risk of famine, rising civilian casualties and the continued displacement of millions of people as fighting persists across the country. For many Sudanese, the impact of the conflict is no longer measured solely by battles or military advances, but by the struggle to obtain food, clean water and electricity, and by the steady decline in the purchasing power of the Sudanese pound. Since the conflict erupted on 15th April 2023,

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  Hezbollah rejects direct talks with Israel, urges Lebanese government to embrace Iranian support

  by Marwa A on June 26, 2026

  Hezbollah has renewed its opposition to any direct negotiations with Israel, urging the Lebanese government to abandon what it described as a policy of concessions and to take advantage of Iranian support in addressing the conflict with Israel. In a statement, the group criticised the Lebanese government’s current approach, saying it had resulted in “gratuitous concessions” to Israel and deepened political divisions within Lebanon. Hezbollah reiterated its categorical rejection of direct negotiations with Israel, calling instead for an immediate and unconditional Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory. The group also urged Lebanese authorities to capitalise on what it described as Iran’s support, arguing that it had helped secure a ceasefire and commitments from the United States regarding an Israeli withdrawal from

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  UNICEF: More than 260 Palestinian children killed in Gaza since ceasefire began

  by Marwa A on June 26, 2026

  More than 260 children have been killed in the Gaza Strip since the ceasefire began in October 2025, according to UNICEF spokesperson James Elder, who warned that conditions for children remain dire despite the truce. Speaking to Anadolu Agency on Thursday, Elder described the ceasefire as a “cruel and deadly illusion.” “We are in the midst of a supposed ceasefire, but what we are seeing is a cruel and deadly illusion of a ceasefire. An average of one child dies every day,” he said. Elder said that two sisters were killed on Saturday and that other children had recently been killed in drone strikes and aerial bombardments. “Since the start of this supposed ceasefire, more than 260 children have been

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  Despite internal differences: Strong American support for the US – Iran agreement

  by Marwa A on June 26, 2026

  Seventy-eight per cent of Americans support ending the war with Iran, while 57 per cent believe it has created more problems than it has solved. At the same time, the US economy continues to grapple with inflationary pressures linked to the war and energy markets, with inflation remaining elevated owing in part to supply disruptions associated with the conflict in the Middle East. Against this backdrop, the US administration strongly favours an agreement with Iran to bring the war to a definitive end. That preference was reflected in the framework agreed by the two countries and announced a few days ago. Yet the agreement has also fuelled Israeli discontent amid growing divergence over the “day after” arrangements. Against the backdrop

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  Israeli army arrests groom, father and brother during wedding raid in Jerusalem

  by Marwa A on June 26, 2026

  Israeli forces raided a wedding celebration in the town of Anata, northeast of occupied Jerusalem, on Thursday evening, arresting the groom, his father and his brother. A young woman was also injured, while several Palestinians suffered tear gas inhalation during the raid. Local sources told Anadolu that Israeli forces stormed the town and raided the wedding of the al-Refai family, arresting groom Saeed Nasser al-Refai, his father Omar Nasser al-Refai, and his brother Jamal Nasser al-Refai. وسط إطلاق قنابل الغاز على الحاضرين.. قوات الاحتلال تقتحم حفل زفاف في بلدة عناتا شمالي القدس المحتلة، وتعتقل العريس ووالده وشقيقه وفق وسائل إعلام فلسطينية pic.twitter.com/081ej4uqIB — الجزيرة مباشر (@ajmubasher) June 25, 2026 The sources said the forces detained wedding guests for more than

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  IOM: 1,430 people displaced in Sudan’s North Darfur in one day

  by Marwa A on June 26, 2026

  The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) said on Thursday that 1,430 people were displaced from five villages in North Darfur state in western Sudan in a single day due to worsening insecurity. In a statement, the IOM said its Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) teams estimated that around 1,430 people fled the villages of Shatmarta, Singari, Goz Laban, Dal Burida and Khair Wajid in the Ambro area of North Darfur on Tuesday after security conditions deteriorated. The organisation said some of the displaced moved to other locations within Ambro, while others crossed the border into neighbouring Chad. It added that the situation in the area “remains tense and volatile” and that it is closely monitoring developments. The latest displacement comes three

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  Liberman: Netanyahu leading Israel towards ‘civil war’

  by Marwa A on June 26, 2026

  Opposition Yisrael Beiteinu party leader Avigdor Liberman has accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of dragging Israel towards “civil war” in order to remain in power. Writing on X on Thursday, Liberman said: “The government (of Benjamin Netanyahu) is dragging the State of Israel into a civil war – just to cling to power for a few more days.” The former Israeli defence minister shared a photo showing a police officer surrounded by a large crowd of Haredi Jews who protested on Wednesday against military conscription. The officer appeared to be pleading with the crowd to leave him alone. “The sights we saw yesterday are a national disgrace,” Liberman said. A police officer begging for his life in front of

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  Trump rebuked Netanyahu over Gaza: ‘All the Jews are sick of you’ – CNN

  by Marwa A on June 26, 2026

  CNN has revealed details of a tense phone call between US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in September last year, according to journalists Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan in a new book, published Tuesday, examining the relationship between the two leaders. According to the book, Regime Change, Trump expressed strong frustration with Netanyahu over what he saw as an insufficient response to US efforts to secure a ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip. The authors quoted Trump as telling Netanyahu: “I’m tired of your behaviour. I’ve done everything to protect you, and you’d better move forward with this. Everybody is sick of you, Bibi.” He added: “All the Jews are sick of you, even the Jews on

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  Gaza: On The Ground with Motasem A Dalloul | Week 22 Jun

  by Marwa A on June 25, 2026

  MEMO speaks to Motasem A. Dalloul, a survivor of Israel’s genocide in Gaza, as part of a new series of regular updates from the ground. Dalloul describes the daily struggle to survive: hunger, cold, the collapse of healthcare, and ongoing Israeli violations despite the so-called ceasefire.

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  Israel will remain in territory occupied in Lebanon, Syria, Gaza ‘indefinitely’: Defence minister

  by Marwa A on June 25, 2026

  The Israeli army will remain in territory occupied in Lebanon, Syria and the Gaza Strip “indefinitely,” Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said Thursday, Anadolu reports. The army “will remain in the security zones in Lebanon, Syria and Gaza – indefinitely,” Katz said at a combat officers’ course graduation ceremony at the Israel Forces Officers Training School, as cited by Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper. “Commanders and soldiers have all the necessary backing to complete their mission and defend themselves and the citizens of Israel,” he reportedly added. Israeli attacks in Lebanon have killed more than 4,200 people and injured over 12,000 others since March 2, according to official Lebanese figures. Israel continues to occupy areas in southern Lebanon, some held for decades

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  Israeli prime minister faces calls to resign during military ceremony: Report

  by Marwa A on June 25, 2026

  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faced anti-government chants on Thursday, with attendees calling for his resignation during a speech at a military graduation ceremony in southern Israel, Anadolu reports. According to the daily Yedioth Ahronoth, the chants erupted during Netanyahu’s address at a graduation ceremony for combat officers at the Bahad 1 military base, home to the Israeli army’s officers training school. During his speech, Netanyahu claimed Israel was “at the height of a continuing regional war.” He also claimed that Israel had “managed to change the rules of the game in the region, break the barrier of fear, and prove the strength of its iron grip.” The chants came amid ongoing protests in several Israeli cities against Netanyahu’s government,

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  US, Gulf states call for reopening Hormuz, reject ‘any tolls, fees, or attempts to assert control’ over waterway

  by Marwa A on June 25, 2026

  The US and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries called Thursday for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, stressing that free navigation through the strategic waterway remains “essential” to regional and global security. In a joint statement issued after a US-GCC ministerial meeting in Bahrain’s capital of Manama, the two sides emphasized the importance of reopening the strait, saying “free, unconditional, and unrestricted navigation,” including the right of transit passage under international law, remains “essential to regional and global security.” The statement said the ministers rejected “any tolls, fees, or attempts to assert control” over the Strait of Hormuz. The ministers also stressed the need to maintain “momentum and unity” as negotiations between the US and Iran proceed toward a more permanent

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  Hundreds of Palestinians protest Israeli policies of home demolitions in Negev

  by Marwa A on June 25, 2026

  Hundreds of Palestinians protested Thursday in Beersheba in Israel’s southern Negev region against Israeli policies of home demolitions and land confiscation targeting Bedouin communities in the area, Anadolu reports. According to the Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronoth, protesters included residents of Bedouin communities affected by demolitions or facing displacement, as well as supporters from among Arab Israelis. The protest was organized by the Higher Steering Committee for Arabs in the Negev, the Committee of Heads of Bedouin Local Authorities, and the Regional Council for Unrecognized Villages. Demonstrators carried banners affirming their rights to land and housing, with slogans including “The Negev belongs to its people and owners” and “No to house demolitions, yes to our right to housing.” READ: Former Israeli

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  2 killed, 7 injured in RSF drone strike on fuel station in southern Sudan: Medics

  by Marwa A on June 25, 2026

  Two people were killed and seven others injured in a drone strike by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on a fuel station in White Nile State in southern Sudan, according to a Sudanese medical group on Thursday, Anadolu reports. The Sudan Doctors Network said in a statement that the strike hit the fuel station in Rabak city in the morning, in the second attack in less than a week against civilian and vital infrastructure. It condemned what it called the “systematic targeting of civilian facilities,” warning that attacks on civilian areas “worsen the suffering of the population and aggravate the humanitarian situation in the country.” The network called on the international community and humanitarian organizations to protect civilians and