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

• 
  The Four Drivers of the Iran War: Rhetoric, Miscalculation, Hubris, and Two Conflicting Clocks

  by MI on March 15, 2026

  The United States and Israel did not stumble into war with Iran. They were driven into it — by the relentless drumbeat of political rhetoric, by catastrophic miscalculation, by the outsized egos of two narcissistic leaders who fancied themselves military geniuses, and by two clocks ticking to entirely different rhythms. Understanding these four drivers is not an academic exercise. It is an autopsy of a war foretold as a disaster. I. Rhetoric: The Art of the Gaslight Wars are rarely declared; they are narrated into existence. Trump and Netanyahu proved masters of this dark art. For months before the first bomb fell, they conducted a relentless rhetorical campaign, painting Iran as an existential threat on the cusp of acquiring a

• 
  Israel warns US it is running low on missile interceptors: Report

  by Marwa A on March 14, 2026

  Israel has warned the US that it is running critically low on ballistic missile interceptors as the conflict with Iran continues, according to a report by US news website Semafor that was published Saturday, citing unidentified US officials, Anadolu reports. The report said Israel informed Washington earlier this week that its supply of long-range missile interceptors has been significantly depleted. Israel is believed to have entered the war already low on interceptors following last summer’s confrontation with Iran, the report said. Its long-range missile defense systems have been heavily strained by barrages, with CNN previously reporting that Iran had begun adding cluster munitions to some missiles, potentially increasing pressure on Israel’s defenses. One US official told Semafor that Washington had

• 
  Israeli prime minister’s office refutes reports suggesting Netanyahu assassinated

  by Marwa A on March 14, 2026

  The Office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed social media claims on Saturday that suggested he has been assassinated in an Iranian response to US and Israeli strikes, Anadolu reports. An Anadolu correspondent asked the office if they had a statement on increasing claims on social media that “Netanyahu has been assassinated.” “These are fake news; the Prime Minister is fine,” the office replied. Regional tensions have flared since Israel and the US launched joint attacks against Iran on Feb. 28, killing more than 1,200 people, including then-Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, along with Jordan, Iraq and Gulf countries, which it says are targeting “US military assets.” Countries to

• 
  Israel says 3,138 people injured since war with Iran, Lebanon began

  by Marwa A on March 14, 2026

  Israel’s Ministry of Health said on Saturday that 3,138 people have been hospitalized since the onset of its latest war with Iran and Lebanon, Anadolu reports. The ministry said in a statement that the injured were transferred to hospitals across Israel following attacks since the start of the conflict over two weeks ago. According to the ministry, 81 people remain hospitalized, including one in very critical condition, nine in serious condition, eight with moderate injuries, and 57 with minor wounds. Israeli authorities maintain strict censorship regarding losses resulting from missiles launched by Iran, including the number of projectiles that landed and their impact locations. The Lebanese group Hezbollah began targeting Israeli military sites on March 2 in response to the

• 
  Indonesia’s words on Al-Aqsa ring hollow

  by Marwa A on March 14, 2026

  Indonesia condemned Israel’s closure of the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound during this Ramadan with the language it has used for decades: strong rejection, moral outrage and appeals to international law. The statement was correct. Preventing Muslim worship at one of Islam’s holiest sites is an unacceptable violation of religious freedom and international norms. But moral clarity is not the same as political strategy. Indonesia’s response illustrates a deeper contradiction in its foreign policy toward Palestine — one that turns condemnation into ritual rather than meaningful pressure. Jakarta consistently presents itself as one of Palestine’s most steadfast defenders. As the world’s largest Muslim-majority nation, Indonesia has long framed support for Palestinian self-determination as a constitutional and moral commitment. It does not maintain

• 
  War, oil and power: Could the Iran conflict shake the petrodollar order?  

  by Marwa A on March 14, 2026

  As war spreads across the Persian Gulf, the first tremors are felt in oil markets. The deeper shock may come later — in the foundations of the global financial system. For nearly five decades, the international monetary order has rested upon a quiet but immensely powerful arrangement: the predominance of the United States dollar in global energy trade. The petrodollar system, forged in the geopolitical upheavals of the 1970s, helped transform American financial dominance into the central pillar of the modern world economy. Yet prolonged conflict involving Iran could place unexpected strain on that system. Not because the dollar is about to collapse — it is not — but because geopolitical instability in the Gulf could accelerate trends that are

• 
  UN peacekeeper injured in attack on UNIFIL position in southern Lebanon

  by Marwa A on March 14, 2026

  A UN peacekeeper was injured in an overnight attack on the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) position in southern Lebanon, which also resulted in fire, an official said Saturday, Anadolu reports. UNIFIL spokesperson Kandice Ardiel said in a statement that “one of our positions near Meiss ej Jebel was hit, likely by heavy machine gun fire.” She added that “the impact caused a fire, and one peacekeeper on his way to the shelter was lightly injured.” Ardiel said the UNIFIL has launched an investigation into the incident. She also reminded all parties of their responsibilities, saying: “We remind all actors of their obligations to ensure the safety and security of peacekeepers at all times.” The Lebanese group Hezbollah

• 
  Indian vessels granted passage through Strait of Hormuz: Iranian envoy

  by Marwa A on March 14, 2026

  Amid the ongoing Middle East tensions, some Indian vessels have been permitted to transit through the Strait of Hormuz, Iran’s ambassador to New Delhi said on Saturday, Anadolu reports. “Yes, we have allowed some ships to pass through Hormuz, but we can’t tell how many at this moment… Iran and India have historical relations and common interests,” Mohammad Fathali remarked during a speech at India Today Conclave in New Delhi. In a news briefing, Indian officials also announced that two Indian-flagged LPG carriers – Shivalik and Nanda Devi – carrying a combined total of 92,712 metric tons of LPG, successfully crossed the Strait of Hormuz early Saturday morning. “There are currently 22 Indian-flagged vessels with 611 seafarers in the Persian

• 
  Iranian armed forces call for evacuation of major ports in UAE amid rising tensions

  by Marwa A on March 14, 2026

  The Iranian armed forces on Saturday called on residents and workers to move away from several major ports in the UAE amid escalating regional tensions, Anadolu reports. In a notice, the forces called on people to immediately evacuate areas surrounding Jebel Ali Port, Khalifa Port, and Fujairah Port, according to the Fars news agency. The notice claimed that the locations had become “legitimate targets” due to the presence of US military forces inside civilian facilities in those areas, adding the ports “could be targeted in the coming hours.” It urged citizens, residents, port workers and people in the vicinity of the facilities to leave the areas as quickly as possible for their safety. Since Israel and the US launched joint

• 
  Countries to deploy warships with US to keep Strait of Hormuz ‘open, safe’: Trump

  by Marwa A on March 14, 2026

  US President Donald Trump on Saturday said that countries, affected by Iran’s attempted closure of the Strait of Hormuz, will send warships in conjunction with the US to keep the strait “open and safe,” Anadolu reports. In a statement on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump urged China, France, Japan, South Korea and the UK to send warships to secure the Strait of Hormuz. “In the meantime, the United States will be bombing the hell out of the shoreline, and continually shooting Iranian Boats and Ships out of the water,” he added, Trump claimed that the US has destroyed “100% of Iran’s military capability, but it’s easy for them to send a drone or two, drop a mine, or

• 
  The economics behind wars

  by Marwa A on March 14, 2026

  War is not a violation of the international order. For a select few, it is the international order working exactly as intended; a machine that converts human suffering into corporate profit, political advantage, and generational wealth. The bombs that fall are not random. They are a calculated strategy, and behind every calculation sits a balance sheet. In 2024, the world’s top 100 arms manufacturers generated a combined $679 billion in revenue; the highest figure ever recorded in human history. American firms alone accounted for $334 billion of that total. That wealth was not created in a vacuum. It was built, contract by contract, on the rubble of Ukraine, Gaza, Lebanon, and now Iran. When Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022,

• 
  Lebanon says 26 paramedics killed, 51 injured in Israeli attacks since March 2

  by Marwa A on March 14, 2026

  At least 26 paramedics have been killed and 51 others injured in ongoing Israeli attacks on Lebanon since March 2, the Lebanese Health Ministry said on Saturday, Anadolu reports. In a statement, the ministry said the Israeli army has repeatedly targeted ambulance crews while they were carrying out rescue missions since the start of the offensive. It added that an Israeli strike on Friday targeted a primary health care center in the southern town of Burj Qalaouiyah, a facility that operates within a nationwide network of health centers coordinated with civil society groups and supervised by the Health Ministry. According to the statement, the attack killed 12 workers at the center, while search operations are ongoing for four missing persons.

• 
  Rocket attack targets US Embassy in Baghdad, damages defense system

  by Marwa A on March 14, 2026

  The US Embassy in Iraq’s capital Baghdad came under a rocket attack early Saturday, local media reported, citing a security source, Anadolu reports. The source told Shafaq News Agency that the attack resulted in the destruction of the embassy’s C-RAM air defense system “completely,” which is used to intercept incoming rockets and projectiles. The news agency quoted another unnamed security source as saying that “a satellite communications system was destroyed as a result of the attack that targeted the US Embassy compound in Baghdad.” The source explained that the damaged system was designated “to secure and exchange data via satellites for diplomatic staff and employees inside the compound.” The source added that the US C-RAM air defense system was unable

• 
  Dust storm in Gaza

  by Marwa A on March 14, 2026

  IMAGES: On International Women’s Day, Gaza mothers ask the world: Where are our missing children?

• 
  “Where are we supposed to go?” The road out of Dahiyeh and Lebanon’s forced evacuations

  by Marwa A on March 14, 2026

  Israel’s blanket evacuation orders for Dahiyeh and southern Lebanon breach the core safeguards of Fourth Geneva Convention (Article 49) which require safe routes and swift returns. It has driven more than 500, 000 people into forced displacement and urban collapse under the cover of “civilian protection” rhetoric. “We’re still here, but nobody knows where we are supposed to go.” The message arrived from my friend in Haret Hreik, a district of Beirut’s southern suburb of Dahiyeh, following evacuation orders issued by the Israeli military for Beirut’s southern suburbs and large parts of southern Lebanon. Evacuation… a word that travels effortlessly through diplomatic corridors, carrying with it the reassurance of humanitarian precaution, suggesting that civilians are warned and depart in time

• 
  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,

• 
  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,

• 
  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

• 
  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

• 
  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

• 
  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

• 
  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

• 
  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

• 
  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.

• 
  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

• 
  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

• 
  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

• 
  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

• 
  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

• 
  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

• 
  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

• 
  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

• 
  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

• 
  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

• 
  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

• 
  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

• 
  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

• 
  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

• 
  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

• 
  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

• 
  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

• 
  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.

• 
  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

• 
  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

• 
  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

• 
  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

• 
  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

• 
  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

• 
  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

• 
  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