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

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  B-2 stealth bombers used in operation against Iran: US Central Command

  by MI on March 13, 2026

  US Central Command (CENTCOM) said Friday B-2 stealth bombers carried out a mission targeting Iranian capabilities as part of an ongoing operation that began late last month, Anadolu reports. “B-2 stealth bombers takeoff to conduct a mission during Operation Epic Fury, delivering long-range fire to not only eliminate the threat from the Iranian regime today, but also eliminate their ability to rebuild in the future,” CENTCOM said on US social media company, sharing visuals of the bombers. Earlier, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said all of Iran’s defense companies will be destroyed “soon, and very soon.” “Today will be yet again the highest volume of strikes that America has put over the skies of Iran and Tehran. READ: Pentagon moving more marines,

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  US offers up to $10M reward for information on Iranian leaders

  by MI on March 13, 2026

  The US State Department on Friday announced a reward of up to $10 million for information leading to the identification or location of Iran’s key leaders, including Iran’s new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, Anadolu reports. The announcement, released by the department’s Rewards for Justice program, said the targeted individuals “command and direct various elements” of the IRGC, which Washington accuses of planning and carrying out attacks around the world. Among those listed in the notice are Khamenei, Ali Asghar Hejazi, deputy chief of staff in the office of the supreme leader; and Yahya Rahim Safavi, a senior military adviser to the supreme leader. READ: Trump says US ‘ahead of schedule’ in Iran war, claims most missiles destroyed Earlier in the day,

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  UK warns its citizens against photographing strikes in UAE

  by MI on March 13, 2026

  The British Embassy in Dubai on Friday warned British nationals living in the UAE not to photograph, post, or share images of strikes, as doing so could result in fines, imprisonment, or deportation, Anadolu reports. “UAE authorities warn against photographing, posting, or sharing images of incident sites or projectile damage as well as government buildings and diplomatic missions,” the embassy wrote on US social media company X. “British nationals are subject to UAE laws, violations may lead to fines, imprisonment, or deportation,” it added. This came after a 60-year-old British man was charged under cyber-crime laws in Dubai after allegedly filming Iranian missiles over the city, the BBC reported. READ: Emirati billionaire rebukes US senator over call for Gulf states to

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  Most humanitarian aid movements through Gaza crossing denied over past 2 days, UN says

  by MI on March 13, 2026

  Nearly all humanitarian aid movements to Gaza through the Israeli-controlled Kerem Shalom border crossing were denied over the past two days, sharply limiting the delivery of critical supplies into the enclave, the UN said Friday, Anadolu Agency reports. “The Office of the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), tells us that today and yesterday, nearly all humanitarian movements to the Kerem Shalo crossings were denied,” UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric told reporters. “As a result, we have been able to collect fuel, but nothing else,” Dujarric said. He added that supplies brought into the crossing have not been allowed to enter Gaza despite being offloaded. Dujarric said Kerem Shalom remains the only operational crossing into Gaza, while the Rafah and Zikim crossings

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  Israel-US and Iran War: A geostrategic transformation

  by MI on March 13, 2026

  After the 12-day war in May last year, it was clear that both sides would be face-to-face soon. They restarted on 28th February 2026. Israel-US adopted the same pattern of targeting the top brass, including the Grand Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, on the very first day, thinking that in the absence of these officials, the Iranian administration would be like a rudderless ship. This would create confusion and provide an easy opportunity for regime change. Thirteen days have passed, yet there are no visible signs of either the fall of the regime or a pause or ceasefire. Despite US-Israel’s anguish, Iran selected Mojtaba Khamenei as the new supreme leader – an act of defiance. Both sides continue to bombard each

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  Two weeks in, Iran strikes inflict nearly $4B in US military losses

  by MI on March 13, 2026

  The United States has lost approximately $3.84 billion in assets in the first two weeks of “Operation Epic Fury,” according to estimates and data compiled by Anadolu. The largest items driving the cost are damaged and destroyed AN/TPY-2 radar components belonging to THAAD missile defense systems in the United Arab Emirates, Jordan and Saudi Arabia, valued at an estimated $2 billion. While the extent of the damage is unclear, satellite imagery analyzed by multiple outlets confirms that four AN/TPY-2 radars have been hit across these locations. A US AN/FPS-132 early warning radar at Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar, valued at $1.1 billion, was struck by an Iranian missile when retaliatory attacks began on Feb. 28. Qatari authorities confirmed that the

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  Trump says US ‘ahead of schedule’ in Iran war, claims most missiles destroyed

  by MI on March 13, 2026

  US President Donald Trump said the US is “way ahead of schedule” in the war with Iran and claimed that nearly 90% of Tehran’s missiles have been destroyed, Anadolu reports. “It’s going very well. We’re way ahead of schedule, way ahead. We had no idea we would be this far ahead. We’ve knocked out close to 90% of their missiles,” Trump said in an interview with FOX News. “We’re going to be hitting them very hard over the next week,” he said, adding that Iran has been “damaged so badly it would take years for them to ever rebuild.” Asked about reports that the Iranian government is not likely to collapse soon, he said: “I think it’s a very big

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  Jerusalem at the epicentre of the Middle East crisis

  by MI on March 13, 2026

  Every year, on the last Friday of the holy month of Ramadan, millions of people around the world mobilise to mark the International Day of Al-Quds, the Arabic name for the city of Jerusalem. Established in 1979 by the leader of the Iranian Islamic Revolution, Imam Ruhollah Khomeini, the day is not merely a symbolic expression of solidarity with Palestine. It reflects the understanding that Jerusalem occupies a central place in the historical, political and civilisational struggle surrounding the Palestinian question. Jerusalem is one of the oldest cities in the world. Founded around five thousand years ago, it has been ruled by many different peoples throughout history, yet Arab and Islamic presence has profoundly shaped its development. From the seventh

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  Pentagon moving more marines, warships to Middle East: Report

  by MI on March 13, 2026

  The Pentagon is weighing sending additional warships to the Middle East as Iran steps up its attacks in the Strait of Hormuz, the Wall Street Journal reported Friday. Citing three US officials, the report said Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth approved a request from US Central Command for an element of an amphibious ready group and attached Marine expeditionary unit, typically consisting of several warships and 5,000 Marines. The Japan-based USS Tripoli and its attached Marines are now headed for the Middle East, two of the officials said, according to the report. Marines are already in the Middle East supporting the operation against Iran, the officials said. The Pentagon did not comment on the future posture plan when asked by Anadolu.

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  All 6 US service members killed after refueling aircraft crash in Iraq: CENTCOM

  by MI on March 13, 2026

  All six crew members aboard a US KC-135 refueling aircraft that crashed in western Iraq on Thursday were killed, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said on Friday, Anadolu reports. “The circumstances of the incident are under investigation. However, the loss of the aircraft was not due to hostile fire or friendly fire,” CENTCOM said in a statement. The identities of the service members are being withheld until 24 hours after next of kin have been notified, the command added. The command said on Thursday that a refueling aircraft was lost over Iraq during its Operation Epic Fury against Iran, which began last month. READ: US tanker aircraft crashes in Iraq; Iran says it was hit by “resistance” missiles Two aircraft were

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  Lebanon to pay ‘heavy price,’ warns Israel

  by MI on March 13, 2026

  Israel threatened Friday to make Lebanon’s government “pay a heavy price” through strikes on state infrastructure and the possible seizure of additional territory, Anadolu reports. “The Lebanese government will pay a heavy price through strikes targeting Lebanese national infrastructure and the loss of territory used by Hezbollah militants until it fulfills its basic commitment to disarm the group,” Defense Minister Israel Katz said during a security assessment at the Defense Ministry headquarters in Tel Aviv, according to a statement from his office. Katz said the Israeli military had targeted and destroyed a key bridge over the Litani River overnight, claiming it had been used by Hezbollah members to transfer weapons into southern Lebanon. “This is only the beginning, and the

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  Israel drops indictments against soldiers accused in Sde Teiman torture case

  by MI on March 13, 2026

  The Israeli army announced on Thursday that indictments against five Israeli soldiers accused of violently assaulting a Palestinian detainee at the Sde Teiman detention camp have been dropped. The case had drawn widespread condemnation after a video showing the alleged torture of the detainee was leaked, prompting demands for accountability from human rights organisations. In a statement, the Israeli army said the military prosecutor decided to withdraw the indictments “in light of significant developments since their filing”, following a review of what it described as all relevant evidence and circumstances. According to the statement, one of the main reasons cited for the decision was what the army called “the complexity of the evidentiary structure”. It also pointed to the release

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  Lindsey Graham: A warmonger in the service of Israel and the defence industry

  by MI on March 13, 2026

  In the dark corridors of the United States’ power and politics, where morality is starkly traded for profit, and human lives are calculated as unimportant line items on a balance sheet, few figures embody the terrible mix of greed and warmongering quite like Senator Lindsey Graham. The notorious South Carolina Republican has positioned himself as the Senate’s most reliable cheerleader for endless wars—not in service of the American people, but in service to two masters: the Israeli colonial project and the blood-soaked defense industry that profits from every conflict it helps ignite. It requires no deep intelligence operation to track the statements of American politicians who beat the drums of war that is mostly covered with religious heresies. Their calculus

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  Arab Parliament condemns closure of Al-Aqsa Mosque as provocation to Muslims

  by MI on March 13, 2026

  The Speaker of the Arab Parliament, Mohammed bin Ahmed Al-Yamahi, has condemned the continued closure of Al-Aqsa Mosque by Israeli occupation authorities, describing the move as a provocation to Muslim sentiments worldwide. In a statement issued on Thursday, Al-Yamahi criticised the strict measures imposed by Israeli forces, including preventing worshippers from entering the mosque compound during the holy month of Ramadan. He said such actions constitute a clear violation of freedom of worship and an infringement of the historical and legal status quo in occupied Jerusalem. Al-Yamahi stated that blocking access to Al-Aqsa and obstructing religious rituals represents a dangerous escalation that provokes the feelings of more than 1.5 billion Muslims globally. He warned that these measures form part of

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  Lebanon says 687 killed in Israeli attacks since 2nd March

  by MI on March 13, 2026

  Lebanon’s Health Ministry said Thursday that 687 people have been killed, including 98 children, in Israeli attacks on the country since 2nd March.  In a statement, the ministry said the victims also include 62 women and 18 paramedics, adding that the total number of injured has reached 1,774. Among the wounded are 304 children, 328 women, and 45 paramedics, according to the statement. On 2nd March, Lebanese group Hezbollah began attacking Israeli military sites in response to repeated Israeli attacks on Lebanon and the killing of Iran’s then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in a US-Israeli strike. Israel retaliated by launching a military campaign in Lebanon, carrying out airstrikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs and areas in the south and east of the

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  Existential attrition: Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz

  by MI on March 13, 2026

  “The geopolitical genie is out of the bottle: by capitalizing on geography to disrupt global trade, countries can strengthen their strategic position at relatively low cost.” Alex Mills, The Atlantic Council, March 12, 2026 With each day of glorified actions against Iran, with each cloudy press session claiming supreme success through sheer force, the Trump administration is struggling to keep up appearances.  Through an approach of existential attrition, the clerical regime in Tehran is now causing shocks and tingles in the global market, striking where influence is strongest: the petrol pump, the cash register, the hip pocket.  Its missiles, drones or projectiles may not be able to reach the United States or Australia, but a note of panic is setting

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  Iran’s new supreme leader ‘wounded, and likely disfigured’: US defense chief

  by MI on March 13, 2026

  US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Friday that Iran’s newly appointed Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is “wounded” as the US and Israel continue attacking the country, Anadolu reports. “We know the new so-called, not-so-supreme leader is wounded and likely disfigured,” Hegseth told a news conference alongside Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Hegseth claimed that Iran’s leadership is “in no better shape, desperate and hiding.” “They’ve gone underground. That’s what rats do,” he added. READ: Iran warns of regional blackout if its power grid is attacked

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  Bahrain arrests alleged Iranian spy cell amid regional tensions

  by MI on March 13, 2026

  Bahrain’s Ministry of Interior has announced a series of arrests over the past 24 hours, including individuals accused of spying for Iran’s Revolutionary Guard and others alleged to have praised Iranian attacks online. The General Directorate of Criminal Investigation and Forensic Science said four Bahraini citizens — Murtada Hussein Awal, Ahmed Issa Al-Haiki, Sarah Abdulnabi Marhoon and Elias Salman Mirza — had been detained, while a fifth suspect remains abroad. According to the official statement, the detainees are accused of conducting espionage activities on behalf of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, including photographing and gathering coordinates of sensitive and vital locations across Bahrain using high-resolution equipment. Authorities said the information was allegedly transmitted to Iranian contacts through encrypted communication software. READ: Iranian

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  59 injured after Iranian rocket hits Galilee area

  by MI on March 13, 2026

  Fifty-nine people were injured early on Friday after an Iranian rocket struck a village in the Galilee region following three successive waves of missiles targeting northern Israel within one hour. The Hebrew newspaper Haaretz reported that 59 people suffered moderate to minor injuries after the rocket attack on the town of Zarzir in the Galilee area. It said the rocket landed about 10 metres from a house in the village, destroying it completely and causing severe damage to four other homes. According to the report, the strike was part of a third wave of Iranian bombardment that targeted northern Israel within an hour early on Friday. READ: Houthi leader vows support for Iran, says group ready for any escalation In a

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  Humanitarian aid to Gaza drops sharply amid crossing restrictions

  by MI on March 13, 2026

  Humanitarian and food aid entering the Gaza Strip has sharply declined due to continued Israeli restrictions on border crossings, deepening the humanitarian crisis facing more than 2.4 million Palestinians in the enclave. Dr Ismail al-Thawabta, Director General of the Government Media Office in Gaza, said that the crossings have been operating only on a very limited basis in recent weeks and that the aid reaching the Strip represents only a small portion of what is needed. Speaking to Anadolu Agency, al-Thawabta explained that Gaza has received only 640 aid trucks out of the 6,000 trucks that were expected to enter during the recent period under existing understandings. READ: Hamas accuses Israel of escalating attacks and massacres in Gaza He said this

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  Gaza: On The Ground with Motasem A Dalloul | Week 9 March

  by MI on March 13, 2026

  MEMO spoke to Motasem A Dalloul, a survivor of Israel’s genocide in Gaza, in the first 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. WATCH: Gaza: On The Ground with Motasem A Dalloul | Week 23 Feb

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  US tanker aircraft crashes in Iraq; Iran says it was hit by “resistance” missiles

  by MI on March 13, 2026

  The US Central Command said a US refuelling aircraft has crashed in western Iraq, stressing that the incident was not caused by hostile fire or friendly fire. It added that rescue efforts are continuing. In a statement released late on Thursday night, the command said the aircraft was a KC-135 tanker. It crashed while flying in “friendly airspace during Operation Epic Fury” against Iran.  The statement added that two aircraft were involved in the incident: one crashed in western Iraq, while the other landed safely. Meanwhile, Iranian state television quoted the Khatam al-Anbiya air defence headquarters as saying that a US aircraft had been shot down in western Iraq by missiles fired by resistance factions, killing its crew. Earlier, Iran’s

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  Iran warns of regional blackout if its power grid is attacked

  by MI on March 13, 2026

  Iran has warned that any attack on its electrical infrastructure could trigger retaliatory strikes on energy systems across the region. Ali Larijani, Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, said that if Iran’s power grid were targeted, Tehran could respond by causing widespread disruption to energy networks in neighbouring countries. “Of course, if he takes such an action, the entire region will experience a complete blackout within half an hour,” Larijani said, responding to recent remarks by US President Donald Trump. Trump had previously claimed that he could destroy Iran’s electrical infrastructure within an hour, statements that Tehran described as a direct threat. READ: Iran’s new supreme leader vows to keep Strait of Hormuz closed Larijani said such an escalation could

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  Houthi leader vows support for Iran, says group ready for any escalation

  by MI on March 13, 2026

  The leader of Yemen’s Houthi movement, Abdul-malik al-Houthi, said on Thursday evening that his group was ready for any developments in the ongoing confrontation involving the United States, Israel and Iran, stressing that it would stand with Tehran against what he described as US-Israeli aggression. In a televised speech broadcast by the group’s Al-Masirah channel, he said: “From the beginning we have stressed that the aggression against Iran is a targeting of the entire region and a war against Islam and Muslims.” Al-Houthi added that the Houthis considered themselves directly concerned and would take a position alongside the Islamic Republic of Iran, saying the group stands “with it against all our enemies”. READ: Houthi- and Hezbollah-linked group threatens to target Barakah

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  War with Iran: How it began, how it may end, and the future of alliances in West Asia

  by MI on March 13, 2026

  War rarely begins with a single event. More often than not, it emerges from years of mounting tensions, failed diplomacy and strategic miscalculations. The current war against Iran is no exception. What appears today as an open military confrontation is the culmination of a long process: the erosion of diplomatic frameworks, intensifying regional rivalries, and a shifting balance of power across West Asia. Yet the significance of this conflict extends beyond the battlefield. The war with Iran is likely to reshape the region’s political and security architecture, potentially altering alliances and strategic alignments for years to come. The road to war The path to the current war was not linear. Rather, it resembled a recurring spiral of confrontation, diplomacy, partial

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  TotalEnergies announces halt to oil production in Qatar, Iraq and the UAE

  by MI on March 13, 2026

  TotalEnergies said on its investor website on Thursday that the ongoing US-Israeli war against Iran is expected to reduce the company’s global oil production by 15 per cent. The French oil ​major said it has stopped, or is in the process of stopping, production at several sites in the Middle East, including locations in Qatar and Iraq as well as offshore fields in the United Arab Emirates, because of the military escalation in the region. TotalEnergies added that rising oil prices caused by the US-Israeli conflict with Iran would largely offset the production losses in the Middle East. This would limit the direct financial impact on the company and reduce the effect of the partial disruption to supplies. READ: In humiliation

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  Netherlands, Iceland join genocide case against Israel

  by MI on March 13, 2026

  The Netherlands and Iceland have joined a case brought by South Africa at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague accusing Israel of committing genocide in the Gaza Strip. The court announced the move on Thursday. In its declaration of intervention, the Netherlands said that forced displacement, starvation, denial of aid, and acts committed against children may be considered acts of genocide. It added that such actions “may play an important role in determining the intent to commit genocide”. The two countries are parties to the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, which allows states to intervene in cases before the court when questions arise concerning a treaty to which they are signatories.

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  Report: Washington gives Israel one week to end Iran war

  by MI on March 13, 2026

  A newspaper has quoted a source as saying that a change of regime in Tehran is unlikely in the near future, because it would require either a ground military intervention or a return of large-scale internal protests, which currently do not appear likely. The source also pointed to a major difference in how Washington and Tel Aviv assess the war. The US administration is mainly concerned about the impact of the conflict on oil prices and the global economy, while Israel claims that its military operations have achieved significant gains. Earlier yesterday, the newspaper Politico reported that the administration of US President Donald Trump had not carried out a thorough assessment of the consequences of the conflict with Iran when

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  The prophecy and the profiteers: How Lindsey Graham, Paula White-Cain and Netanyahu sold America a holy war

  by MI on March 13, 2026

  In mid-February 2026, Senator Lindsey Graham stood before cameras in Tel Aviv and delivered what he called one of his ‘most consequential messages of his political career.  The United States, he declared, was ‘weeks, not months’ from a decision on Iran.  There was ‘no light’ [meaning total strategic alliance] between President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu. They were of ‘one mind’ about ‘what to do and how to do it’. Just one month earlier, during a January visit to Jerusalem, Graham had laid out the full vision. Israel, he announced, was developing ‘weapons that will change the future of warfare’. He envisioned a US-Israeli 21st century project akin to the Manhattan Project.  And then came the phrase that should leave

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  Is Israel becoming a strategic liability for the US?

  by MI on March 12, 2026

  Indicators are mounting that the world is heading toward an era of multipolarity, signaling the twilight of the age of singular American hegemony and a redistribution of global power among multiple actors. The Chinese economy has expanded, approaching the size of the European Union’s economy and two-thirds that of the United States. China has emerged as a formidable technological leader; within just a few years, it has doubled the size of its nuclear arsenal while meticulously refining its conventional military capabilities. Meanwhile, the Russian-Ukrainian War has demonstrated Russia’s readiness to wage war, even to redraw borders, in defense of its national interests as a global power.  Furthermore, the BRICS bloc has expanded to include additional nations, thereby bolstering a system

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  Friends of Al-Aqsa urge leaders of Muslim-dominant countries to impose diplomatic and economic sanctions on Israel

  by MI on March 12, 2026

  Friends of Al-Aqsa (FOA) have today welcomed the recent joint statement by the Foreign Ministers of the UAE, Turkiye, Egypt, Jordan, Indonesia, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar condemning Israel’s closure of Masjid Al-Aqsa.  The organisation, however, pointed out that while these concerns are important, they are obliged to emphasise that statements alone are not enough given the serious and growing threats facing Masjid Al-Aqsa. A statement issued by FOA said “The closure of Masjid Al-Aqsa does not occur in isolation. It comes in the shadow of the devastating genocide unfolding in Gaza, the seizure of administrative control of the Ibrahimi Masjid in Al-Khalil (Hebron), and increasingly open calls by prominent Israeli political and ideological figures for the destruction of the

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  Israeli officials mull large-scale ground operation in Lebanon within a week: Report

  by MI on March 12, 2026

  Israeli officials are holding discussions regarding the launch of a large-scale ground operation in Lebanon, which could take place within a week, Israel’s public broadcaster KAN said on Thursday. The aim of the operation “is to take control of southern Lebanon and establish key deployment points there,” KAN said. Israel’s Security Cabinet is set to convene later Thursday “to discuss the extent of the army’s advance into Lebanon and the proposed duration of the operation,” KAN said, citing an Israeli source. On March 2, Lebanese group Hezbollah began attacking Israeli military sites in response to repeated Israeli attacks on Lebanon and the killing of Iran’s then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in a US-Israeli strike. Israel retaliated by launching a military campaign

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  UN experts denounce military aggression against Iran, Lebanon

  by MI on March 12, 2026

  UN experts condemned the military assaults on Iran and Lebanon by the US and Israel on Thursday as “flagrant violations of international law,” Anadolu reports. “The conflict risks engulfing the wider region in catastrophic armed violence and threatens to set yet another precedent of total impunity for some of the world’s strongest military powers,” the experts said in a statement. They stressed that the unprovoked attack by the US and Israel against Iran is “entirely illegal” under international law and constitutes an act of aggression. “US and Israel should stop waging and expanding wars, and considering themselves as above international legality,” the statement noted. The experts expressed alarm at the US demand for Iran’s “unconditional surrender,” warning that the move

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  UAE says it intercepted 278 ballistic missiles, 1,540 drones since start of Iranian attacks

  by MI on March 12, 2026

  The United Arab Emirates said Thursday that air defenses engaged 278 ballistic missiles, 1,540 drones, and 15 cruise missiles since the outset of Iranian attacks late last month, Anadolu reports. Air defenses also shot down 10 ballistic missiles and 26 drones on Thursday, the Defense Ministry said on US social media company X. The attacks killed six people, including Emirati, Pakistani, Nepali, Bangladeshi nationals, and injured 131 others, including Turkish, Egyptian, and Pakistani nationals among others. The UAE “remains fully prepared and ready to deal with any threats, and will firmly confront any attempts to undermine state security in a manner that ensures the protection of its sovereignty, security and stability, and safeguards its national interests and capabilities,” the ministry

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  US-Israeli attack on Iran pushed region toward critical breaking point: UN chief

  by MI on March 12, 2026

  UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday said attacks launched by the US and Israel against Iran have affected several countries and pushed the region toward a critical breaking point, Anadolu reports. Guterres delivered the remarks during the Ataturk International Peace Prize ceremony at the Presidential Complex, where Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan presented him with the award. He warned that the escalation in the Middle East is disrupting trade, increasing energy prices and fueling instability, particularly affecting poor and vulnerable populations. Emphasizing that dialogue and de-escalation remain the only viable path forward, Guterres called on all parties to abandon hostilities, protect civilians under international law and return to negotiations. Highlighting Turkiye’s role in hosting refugees, the UN chief said the

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  Italy plans withdrawal of troops from Erbil base: Defense minister

  by MI on March 12, 2026

  Italy is organizing the return of troops stationed at its military base in Erbil, Defense Minister Guido Crosetto said Thursday, noting that the withdrawal of the remaining contingent had already been planned before a missile struck the facility, Anadolu reports. “A missile hit our base in Erbil. There are no casualties or injuries among the Italian personnel. They are all safe,” Crosetto said, cited by ANSA news agency. Crosetto noted that Italy had already begun reducing its military presence in the region due to security concerns. According to the minister, 102 personnel have already returned to Italy, while about 40 others have been relocated to Jordan. “A return of the current 141 was already being planned,” he said, explaining that

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  Israeli strike kills 2 senior academics at Lebanese University in Beirut

  by MI on March 12, 2026

  Israel on Thursday bombed the Lebanese University, killing two senior academics, Lebanon’s state-run media reported. The director of the faculty of sciences at the south Beirut campus of the Lebanese University, Hussein Bazzi, and Professor Mortada Srour were killed by the Israeli bombing that targeted the university, Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA) reported. The targeted faculty of sciences was located in a southern suburb of the capital Beirut. On March 2, Lebanese group Hezbollah began attacking Israeli military sites in response to repeated Israeli attacks on Lebanon and the killing of Iran’s then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in a US-Israeli strike. Israel retaliated by launching a military campaign in Lebanon, carrying out airstrikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs and areas in the

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  Spain says US threats ‘make no sense,’ warns coercion against Madrid would target entire EU

  by MI on March 12, 2026

  Spain’s foreign minister on Thursday dismissed threats from US President Donald Trump of possible trade measures against Spain, saying any action against Madrid would make “no sense” and would effectively target the entire EU, Anadolu reports. “The commercial policy of the European Union is a common policy and the one that has the competencies in trade policy, which is the Commission, has made it very clear: any attempt of aggression against a country or commercial coercion against a country of the European Union is obviously against the entire single market and all the countries of the European Union,” Jose Manuel Albares told RTVE. Asked whether the US could take action against Spain, Albares said it is a question that Trump

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  Trump says Iran ‘welcome’ at World Cup, warns against attending for their ‘life and safety’

  by MI on March 12, 2026

  US President Donald Trump said Thursday that Iran’s national football team is welcome to compete in this summer’s World Cup but warned it may not be safe for them to do so, Anadolu reports. “I really don’t believe it is appropriate that they be there, for their own life and safety,” he wrote on his social media platform, Truth Social. FIFA President Gianni Infantino said Trump had reaffirmed that Iran is welcome, adding that the World Cup was needed “now more than ever” to bring people together. “Football unites the world,” Infantino said in a statement. Iran’s Sports Minister Ahmad Donyamali had already said the country would not take part, citing the killing of former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei

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  Israel drops charges against 5 soldiers accused of sexually assaulting Palestinian detainee

  by MI on March 12, 2026

  The Israeli military prosecution on Thursday canceled the indictment of five soldiers accused of sexually assaulting a Palestinian detainee at the notorious Sde Teiman prison in southern Israel, Anadolu reports. “In light of significant developments that have occurred since the indictment was filed in the Yemen Field case, the military prosecution has decided today to cancel the indictment,” the Israeli army said in a statement. The torture case dates back to July 2025, when Israeli soldiers tortured and sexually assaulted a Palestinian prisoner at the Sde Teiman detention facility, causing serious injuries and a tear in the rectum. Earlier, the Israeli media outlets, including the public broadcaster KAN, claimed that Israel released the tortured detainee on Oct. 13, 2025, to

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  Fire breaks out aboard USS Gerald R. Ford in Red Sea; carrier operational: US

  by MI on March 12, 2026

  The US Naval Forces Central Command said Thursday that a fire broke out aboard the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier while the ship was operating in the Red Sea in support of operations in Iran, Anadolu reports. “On March 12, USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) experienced a fire that originated in the ship’s main laundry spaces. The cause of the fire was not combat-related and is contained,” the command said on US social media company X. There is no damage to the ship’s propulsion plant, and the aircraft carrier remains “fully” operational, it added. Two sailors sustained non-life-threatening injuries during the incident and are receiving medical treatment, the command said. READ: US denies Iranian claim USS Abraham Lincoln was

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  Iran’s new supreme leader vows to keep Strait of Hormuz closed

  by MI on March 12, 2026

  Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, announced on Thursday that the Strait of Hormuz must remain closed as the action has been taken in retaliation for the US-Israeli strikes that began on Feb. 28, Anadolu reports. “The desire of the masses of the people is the continuation of effective and regret-inducing defense,” Khamenei added in his first public message since his appointment as the supreme leader, according to Iran’s state-run media. Iran has made assessments on opening other fronts as part of the ongoing conflict, “where the enemy has little experience and where it would be highly vulnerable,” Khamenei noted. Activating these fronts might take place “if the war situation persists and in accordance with the considerations of national interest,”

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  Creating impunity through diplomatic statements

  by MI on March 12, 2026

  Settler violence in the occupied West Bank is unacceptable, the EU and the UK stated yesterday. “Impunity for such acts risks provoking further violence,” an EU spokesperson stated, while referencing the killings of six Palestinians since 28th February by “extremist Israeli settlers.” Germany’s spokesman for Berlin’s Foreign Office called the killings “incidents”, adding, “The fact that five Palestinians were killed in just one week is indeed a sad climax.” It is a continuation, not a single escalation, of state and settler violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank. In just over two years since 7th October 2023, Israeli settlers killed 1,121 Palestinians. Another 11,700 were injured by settlers and Israeli forces; the latter also arresting almost 22,000 Palestinians. The

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  In humiliation for US, Iran sending oil to China through Hormuz

  by MI on March 12, 2026

  In what appears to be a significant setback for the White House’s pressure campaign against Tehran, Iran has continued exporting large volumes of crude oil to China through the Strait of Hormuz despite the US-Israeli attack and repeated warnings that the vital waterway could become unusable.  Tanker tracking data shows Iran shipped between 13.7 million and 16.5 million barrels of crude from 28 February to 11 March, equal to roughly 1.1 million to 1.5 million barrels per day. That is below Iran’s pre-war February surge, but still close to last year’s average. The figures are striking because the broader Strait of Hormuz has been thrown into chaos since the war began on 28 February. Non-Iranian vessel movements through the passage

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  If Palestinian lives matter, violence in Gaza cannot be normalized

  by MI on March 12, 2026

  Indonesian diplomat Aloysius Selwas Taborat recently responded to our article titled “Indonesia’s cabinet secretary is sanitizing genocide in Gaza.” His response argues that our criticism of Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya misrepresents a factual observation about declining casualty numbers and misunderstands the realities of diplomacy. The disagreement, however, is not about statistics or the complexity of diplomacy. It concerns how mass civilian suffering is framed in public discourse. Mr. Taborat argues that recognizing declining casualty figures simply reflects factual observation and may suggest that diplomacy is helping reduce hostilities. According to his reasoning, acknowledging that deaths have decreased from tens of thousands to lower figures does not imply that remaining casualties are acceptable but rather indicates that diplomatic efforts may

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  Gaza shows how the US-Israeli war on Iran is reshaping existing fronts

  by MI on March 12, 2026

  While most international analysis remains focused on the implications of the U.S.-Israeli escalation against Iran —from deterrence to the risk of a wider confrontation— Gaza reveals another dimension of this war. A new regional front does not simply add another battlefield. It reshapes those already burning. Gaza offers a clear example: an existing front, already under sustained war, now affected by the reprioritisation of security and political calculations produced by the broader escalation. This has been visible on the ground. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs noted that the “escalation across the Middle East” had an “immediate impact” on the occupied Palestinian territory, including Gaza. This is one reason Gaza matters for understanding the current war. The

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  The war on Iran started with missiles, but oil price can end it

  by MI on March 12, 2026

  The war began with airstrikes and missiles. But the turning point may come from the economy. In this fight, Iran is trying to win by raising the cost, and oil is its strongest card. Iran’s idea is simple: it cannot match the United States in air power or spending, so it will make the war expensive until Washington and the world feel the pressure. That is why oil prices matter more than speeches. A military campaign can last for weeks. A jump in fuel prices creates political trouble every day. Iran is trying to widen the confrontation and keep markets nervous. The goal is not only to hit targets, but to turn the Gulf into a risk zone. When the

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  Citi evacuates Dubai offices amid Iranian threats against US-linked banks

  by MI on March 12, 2026

  US financial services group Citi has asked employees in Dubai to evacuate its offices due to heightened security concerns following Iranian threats to target US- and Israeli-linked financial institutions in the region. According to a source familiar with the situation, employees were instructed on Wednesday to leave Citi offices located in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) and the Oud Metha district. Employees working for two other companies in the DIFC also told AFP that they had evacuated their offices as a precautionary measure after the threats. In a related development, two sources told Reuters that the British bank Standard Chartered had also begun evacuating staff from its Dubai offices as financial institutions increased security measures. READ: US Embassy in Baghdad

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  Israeli officials say overthrowing Iran’s regime could take a year

  by MI on March 12, 2026

  Israeli government officials have acknowledged the difficulty of toppling Iran’s ruling system, describing regime change as a complex and uncertain objective that could take around a year. According to the Israeli public broadcaster Kan, unnamed ministers and senior officials made the remarks following a security briefing on Tuesday evening, where they discussed possible outcomes of the ongoing conflict involving Israel, the United States and Iran. The officials reportedly said that replacing the Iranian regime would be a complicated process, adding that any internal political change would ultimately depend on developments inside Iran. “The next stage will be the responsibility of the Iranian people,” the officials said, in comments seen as an attempt to encourage internal opposition. However, Israeli security sources

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  Shadows of deception: False-flag risks in the Israel–Iran Conflict

  by MI on March 12, 2026

  The concept of a false flag operation, though often dismissed as the stuff of thrillers, is a recognised tactic in security studies and international relations. It occurs when an actor—usually a state, intelligence service, or military entity—carries out an attack but engineers circumstances to make it appear as though another party is responsible. The aim is typically to generate public indignation, compel reluctant allies to intervene, or furnish a defensible rationale for escalation that masks the true initiator. In the present Israel–Iran war, which erupted on 28th February 2026, with joint US–Israeli airstrikes that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and struck key regime facilities, allegations of false-flag activity have become a prominent feature of the discourse. As of 9th