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

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  Israeli occupiers carry out 19 attacks on Palestinians, olive farmers across West Bank in hours

  by Marwa A on October 9, 2026

  Israeli occupiers carried out 19 attacks against Palestinians across the occupied West Bank from early Friday until around noon, targeting olive farmers, trees, crops, livestock and vehicles, according to the Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission, Anadolu reports. The commission said its preliminary monitoring, based on field reports, showed a surge in attacks during the olive harvest season, including assaults on farmers and the burning and uprooting of olive trees. “The attacks included torching a vehicle during an assault on farmers in Tell, uprooting more than 50 olive trees in Qusra and targeting olive pickers in Jurish, Beita, Naqoura, Birzeit, Deir Ibzi and Far’ata,” according to the commission. “Occupiers also opened fire in Deir Ballut, while a farmer was injured in

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  Islamabad lauds Pope Leo’s call for ‘just resolution’ of Palestine conflict as Vatican’s top diplomat tours Pakistan

  by Marwa A on October 9, 2026

  Pakistan on Friday welcomed Pope Leo XIV’s calls for peace and a “just resolution” of the Palestine conflict as Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar met the Vatican’s top diplomat, Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, in Islamabad, Anadolu reports. Dar reaffirmed Pakistan’s solidarity with Palestinians and expressed concern over the continuing humanitarian crisis, the Foreign Ministry said on US social media company X. Both officials emphasized sustained international efforts to advance peace in the region, according to the ministry. Gallagher, the Holy See’s secretary for relations with states and international organizations, commended Pakistan’s role in promoting regional stability through mediation, dialogue and diplomacy. Dar acknowledged the Vatican’s contribution to interfaith harmony and praised Pakistan’s Catholic community for its work in education and health

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  UAE says FlyDubai co-pilot planned ‘suicide attack’ on Ben Gurion Airport

  by Marwa A on October 9, 2026

  The United Arab Emirates said Friday that a FlyDubai co-pilot had planned to seize control of an aircraft and carry out a “suicide attack” on Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv, Anadolu reports. Federal Attorney General Hamad Saif Al Shamsi said an investigation into the Sept. 30 flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv found that the 29-year-old Omani co-pilot had planned the attack in advance, according to the official WAM news agency. The suspect “had begun carrying out a premeditated terrorist plot to seize control of the aircraft and use it to launch a suicide attack targeting the passenger terminal at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv, with the aim of causing the greatest possible loss of life,” Al Shamsi

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  Pakistan has ‘substantial’ number of forces in Saudi Arabia: Foreign Ministry

  by Marwa A on October 9, 2026

  Pakistan has deployed “substantial” number of military forces and resources in Saudi Arabia, the Foreign Ministry said Friday, Anadolu reports. “Pakistan already has a substantial number of forces, as well as resources, in Riyadh,” Foreign Office spokesperson Sajjad Haider Khan told reporters in Islamabad, according to an official transcript of his news conference. Khan stressed the Mecca pact between Türkiye, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia “is a defensive organisation… an alliance intended to defend the three countries against aggression.” “Therefore, these forces would not cross the border into Yemen to launch attacks against the Houthis. However, they would, of course, be utilised to defend the country’s territory and safeguard its sovereignty,” he explained. The new Mecca Alliance was formed on Aug.

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  EU calls US sanctions announcement against International Criminal Court ‘deeply regrettable’

  by Marwa A on October 9, 2026

  The EU on Friday called the US announcement of imposing sanctions on the International Criminal Court “deeply regrettable,” reaffirming its commitment to protecting the court’s independence and operations, Anadolu reports. “The European Union has been a constant supporter of the International Criminal Court (ICC). It is deeply regrettable that the United States has announced intentions to impose sanctions,” the European Commission said in a statement. The bloc pledged to work closely with the court to ensure it could continue operating effectively. It also said it would cooperate with all 125 states party to the Rome Statute, the court’s founding treaty, to safeguard its independence and “vital mission.” Noting that the sanctions would not take effect for another six months, the

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  US imposes sanctions on International Criminal Court, threatens to ‘dismantle’ it

  by Marwa A on October 9, 2026

  The US on Friday imposed sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC), Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced, hours after former court judge Navi Pillay won the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize, Anadolu reports. “President Trump will never allow the International Criminal Court to prosecute Americans. That is why, today, the United States is sanctioning the International Criminal Court,” Rubio said in a statement. Rubio said Washington had deferred the designation “in hopes that the ICC would change course or would otherwise be restrained by States Parties,” but neither had “taken meaningful steps to address our concerns.” “Either the ICC will end its threats, or we will end the ICC,” Rubio said, calling on US allies that are members of the

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  Yemen humanitarian crisis ‘sharply worsens’ as fighting displaces over 200,000: UN

  by Marwa A on October 9, 2026

  Yemen’s humanitarian crisis has “sharply worsened” amid renewed fighting that has displaced more than 200,000 people since early August, a senior UN humanitarian official warned Friday, Anadolu reports. Mohamed Yahya, assistant secretary-general for humanitarian affairs and deputy emergency relief coordinator, delivered the warning during a UN Security Council briefing on behalf of UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher. “Today, I must warn the Council that Yemen’s humanitarian crisis has sharply worsened. Further inaction will cost lives,” Yahya said. He said escalating fighting over the past two months had forced families already exhausted by more than a decade of conflict to flee their homes. Many displaced families had depleted their savings, lost livelihoods and had few options for safety, he added. According

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  Iraq cannot restore its sovereignty by disarming militias alone

  by Mehdi Editor on October 9, 2026

  Iraq is approaching a decisive test of its sovereignty. Following the end of the US-led coalition’s military mission in federal Iraq on 30 September 2026, Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi has set a new deadline of 30 June 2027 for bringing powerful armed factions under state control. The plan begins with a 90-day halt to military activity before moving towards weapons control and the integration of fighters into official security institutions. Yet the refusal of influential factions to surrender their autonomy reveals a deeper problem. Baghdad is attempting to discipline armed organisations that have become embedded in the political order it seeks to reform. The distinction matters. Iraq is not dealing simply with armed groups operating beyond the reach of the

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  UN urges Israel to end harassment, intimidation, detention of civilians in Syria

  by Mehdi Editor on October 9, 2026

  The UN human rights office on Friday urged Israeli authorities to halt actions that harass or intimidate civilians in southern Syria, including military raids, movement restrictions, detentions and destruction of crops, Anadolu reports. The office cited open-source monitoring that recorded about 280 incidents involving armed Israeli incursions into Syria in September alone, the highest monthly figure since the beginning of the year. According to information received by the office, 49 Syrians remain in Israeli custody, although it said it had not independently verified the current total number of detainees. Released detainees and other sources alleged torture and ill-treatment, including beatings, prolonged forced standing and threats against detainees and their families. “Israeli authorities should cease actions that harass or intimidate civilians

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  Iran says LPG carrier struck, catches fire while crossing Strait of Hormuz via ‘illegal’ route

  by Mehdi Editor on October 9, 2026

  Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said Friday that a liquefied petroleum gas carrier was struck and caught fire while attempting to cross the Strait of Hormuz via an “illegal route,” Anadolu reports. “A giant ship carrying LPG gas called NV Sunshine belonging to the Natwit company, which was trying to cross the illegal route south of the Strait of Hormuz, was hit and suffered a massive fire in the engine room and propulsion system,” the IRGC said in a statement carried by the semi-official Tasnim news agency. The statement blamed “the aggressor American army” for escalating tensions in regional maritime transport. The Revolutionary Guard also said its naval forces would not allow “invading forces” to remain in the area and

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  Nearly 50,000 women, girls killed or severely injured in Gaza since October 2023: UN Women

  by Mehdi Editor on October 9, 2026

  Nearly 50,000 women and girls have been killed or severely injured in Gaza since October 2023, equivalent to one in every 21 women and girls in the enclave, UN Women said Friday. “More than 38,000 killed and 11,700 left with injuries so severe that they now live with lifelong disabilities,” Sofia Calltorp, UN Women’s chief of humanitarian action, told reporters in Geneva. She said most casualties occurred during the first two years of the war, but violence has continued despite the ceasefire agreement entering into effect a year ago, with 277 women and girls killed since October 2025. Nearly one million women and girls have been forced from their homes, while almost all remain displaced, many living in tents or

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  Iranian president proposes ‘CIS+1’ cooperation format

  by Mehdi Editor on October 9, 2026

  Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian proposed on Friday a CIS+1 cooperation format to boost cooperation between Iran and members of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), Anadolu reports. “The format ‘CIS member states + Iran’, or ‘CIS+1,’ format should be established as a flexible and effective mechanism for dialogue and cooperation,” Pezeshkian said at the CIS summit in the Avaza tourist zone of Turkmenistan. He called on the nations of “this important and strategic region” to play a key role in shaping a multipolar world, according to Iran’s semi-official Fars news agency. READ: Putin offers Russian mediation to end war in talks with Pezeshkian Regional diplomacy must go beyond meetings to manage crises, maintain communication, prevent conflict escalation and promote practical cooperation,

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  Gaza ceasefire ‘exists only on paper,’ say over 100 NGOs in joint statement

  by Mehdi Editor on October 9, 2026

  More than 100 humanitarian and human rights organizations said on Friday that the Gaza ceasefire “exists only on paper,” citing continued Israeli attacks and restrictions on aid and reconstruction a year after the agreement, Anadolu reports. In a joint statement, the organizations said Israeli attacks, shootings and military operations have killed more than 1,400 Palestinians, including at least 324 children, over the past year. “A ceasefire is meaningless if children continue to be killed and families remain unable to rebuild their lives,” said Save the Children Chief Executive Inger Ashing. “Since the ceasefire was announced, nearly one child has been killed every day.” The statement said Israeli forces have moved the so-called Yellow Line deeper into Gaza, beyond the withdrawal

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  Thousands of health workers petition world medical body to suspend Israeli Medical Association

  by Mehdi Editor on October 9, 2026

  Doctors and healthcare workers are demanding the suspension of Israeli Medical Association (IMA) from the World Medical Association (WMA) over its complicity in the destruction of Gaza’s healthcare system and the torture of Palestinian detainees. Protests are planned over the weekend outside WMA’s office in Rotterdam. The IMA OUT! coalition organising the demonstration will deliver a petition signed by nearly 6,500 health workers worldwide, calling for the Israeli Medical Association (IMA) to be suspended over violations of medical ethics. Campaigners accuse the Israeli association of failing to uphold its responsibilities towards Palestinian patients, healthcare workers and prisoners, and of defending the destruction of healthcare facilities while blocking international condemnation. “The IMA is not a bystander. It defends these attacks and

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  MEMO statement on articles removed following OpenAI’s report on an alleged influence operation

  by Marwa A on October 9, 2026

  It has been brought to our attention that a small number of recent articles published on our platform have been linked to an alleged AI-enabled influence operation identified by OpenAI. We take this matter seriously and have reviewed and removed the articles in question. MEMO receives a very large volume of article submissions daily. This is the first instance of this kind we have identified. We are reviewing our submissions process and strengthening our editorial safeguards to reduce the risk of a recurrence. Maintaining the trust of our readers and protecting our editorial integrity remain central to our work.

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  Bab el-Mandeb ‘cleared of Houthi remnants,’ Saudi envoy to Yemen says

  by Mehdi Editor on October 9, 2026

  Saudi Ambassador to Yemen, Mohammed Al Jaber, said on Friday that the Bab el-Mandeb Strait has been “cleared” of the Houthi group. “Blessed Friday, and victory for every Yemeni and Arab. Bab al-Mandeb has been cleared of the remnants of the Houthi terrorist militia,” Al Jaber said in a post on US social media company X, without providing further details. The Houthis did not immediately comment on the ambassador’s statement. Yemen has been engulfed in conflict since the Houthis seized the capital Sanaa and several provinces in 2014, prompting a Saudi-led coalition to intervene in March 2015 in support of the internationally recognized government. The military escalation that began in July has marked the most extensive fighting in Yemen since

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  UN says Gaza shelter supplies cover just 17% of winter needs as nearly 2M require aid

  by Mehdi Editor on October 9, 2026

  Nearly 2 million Palestinians in Gaza urgently need shelter assistance as winter approaches, while Israeli restrictions continue to prevent the entry of critical supplies, the UN migration agency said on Friday, Anadolu reports. The IOM said in a statement that nearly all of Gaza’s population remains in need of shelter assistance one year after a ceasefire was announced, with available stocks and incoming supplies covering only 17% of identified winter needs. “Families who have already endured repeated displacement and devastating loss must be able to face the winter in safety and dignity,” IOM Director General Amy Pope said in the statement. More than half of tents and makeshift shelters are in “poor condition,” which requires replacement, while many Palestinians are

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  Israeli army arrests 16 Palestinians including Ibrahimi Mosque director in occupied West Bank

  by Mehdi Editor on October 9, 2026

  The Israeli army arrested 16 Palestinians, including the director of the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron, in raids across the occupied West Bank early Friday, according to official media and local sources. In Hebron, southern West Bank, Israeli forces arrested nine Palestinians after raiding and searching their homes, including Ibrahimi Mosque Director Moataz Abu Sneineh and Hammam Abu Markhiya, an official responsible for the mosque’s custodians, Wafa news agency reported. In the city of Qalqilya, Israeli forces arrested five Palestinians during a raid, local sources said. READ: Palestinian Journalists Syndicate condemns attacks on journalists in West Bank Two other Palestinians were arrested after Israeli forces raided and searched several homes in Beita, south of Nablus, the sources said. Israeli forces also carried

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  Saudi Arabia says 3 killed in attacks on Riyadh’s King Khalid airport

  by Mehdi Editor on October 9, 2026

  Saudi Arabia said on Friday that three citizens were killed in two attacks Thursday targeting King Khalid International Airport in the capital Riyadh and a Saudia Airlines aircraft, Anadolu reports. In a statement on US social media platform X, the General Authority of Civil Aviation said the first attack targeted airport facilities, while the second struck an the aircraft belonging to the national air carrier. Emergency response teams immediately responded to the attacks that also wounded “a number of citizens and residents of various nationalities,” the authority said. Injuries ranged from minor to severe, and those affected were immediately transported to hospital for treatment, the statement said, adding that the attacks also caused some material damage. READ: Debris falls in Saudi

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  US senator says Israeli forces violated international humanitarian law in Gaza

  by Mehdi Editor on October 9, 2026

  US Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff said Israeli forces violated the law of armed conflict and international humanitarian law during its war on the Gaza Strip, Anadolu reports. Responding to a question at a Georgia Senate debate Thursday on whether Israel had committed genocide in Gaza, Ossoff said genocide requires a specific intent to destroy a national or ethnic group. “The question of genocide is a question of whether a government has the specific intent to destroy a national or ethnic group,” Ossoff said, adding that the determination was a matter for the International Criminal Court (ICC). “There is no doubt in my mind that Israeli forces prosecuting the war in Gaza violated the law of armed conflict and international humanitarian

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  Podcast by Jasim Al-Azzawi with Raymond McGovern: Trump Threatens to Annihilate Iran: Empty Bluster or Imminent War?

  by Mehdi Editor on October 9, 2026

  WATCH: Podcast by Jasim Al-Azzawi with Gideon Levi: Netanyahu ignores warnings of imminent attack 

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  Algeria-UAE tensions extend to competition for influence in the Sahel

  by Mehdi Editor on October 9, 2026

  Tensions between Algeria and the United Arab Emirates are increasingly affecting regional dynamics in the Sahel, as Algiers seeks to strengthen its influence while Abu Dhabi expands its diplomatic and political ties across the region, according to a report by French magazine Jeune Afrique. The magazine reported that disagreements between Algeria and the UAE could have implications beyond their bilateral relationship, affecting regional dynamics involving Morocco, the Sahel, Libya and Sudan. Morocco occupies a significant position in these developments because of its close relationship with the UAE and its longstanding regional rivalry with Algeria. According to Jeune Afrique, Algeria is seeking to reassert its regional influence at a time when several foreign powers have expanded their involvement in the Sahel

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  Sheikh Raed Salah urges Palestinians to maintain presence at Al-Aqsa Mosque

  by Mehdi Editor on October 9, 2026

  Sheikh Raed Salah has called on Palestinians living in Israel to continue visiting Al-Aqsa Mosque and performing prayers there amid increasing visits by Israeli settlers and restrictions on Muslim worshippers. In a video address, Salah urged residents of the Galilee, the Triangle, the Negev and coastal cities, including Acre, Haifa, Jaffa, Lod and Ramla, to travel to Al-Aqsa to pray, recite the Quran, offer supplications and observe I’tikaf, a form of religious retreat. He stressed the importance of maintaining a Muslim presence at the compound, urging worshippers not to leave the mosque “alone.” Salah described Al-Aqsa as an exclusive and eternal right of Muslims, saying that this right would remain until the Day of Judgment. He warned that conditions at

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  UN Security Council extends Sudan sanctions until 11th December

  by Mehdi Editor on October 9, 2026

  The United Nations Security Council on Thursday unanimously adopted a US-drafted resolution extending the sanctions regime imposed on Sudan for two months, until 11th December 2026. All 15 council members voted in favour of the resolution, which extends sanctions established under Security Council Resolution 1591, including an arms embargo. The resolution also extended the mandate of the Panel of Experts assisting the Sudan Sanctions Committee until 11th January 2027. The decision comes amid disagreements between the Sudanese military leadership and the US administration over responsibility for the country’s situation and the military’s rejection of what it describes as external interference. READ: Saudi crown prince reaffirms support for Sudan’s stability in call with Burhan Meanwhile, the Sudanese government announced that more than

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  IRGC commander calls Strait of Hormuz a ‘red line,’ rejects presence of extra-regional forces

  by Mehdi Editor on October 9, 2026

  Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commander Ahmad Vahidi said on Thursday that the Strait of Hormuz represents a strategic “red line” for Iran, rejecting the presence of extra-regional forces and any threats or interference involving the strategic waterway. Vahidi said protecting and preserving the Strait of Hormuz was directly linked to Iran’s national interests, emphasising that Tehran considers its security a strategic priority. He added that Iran regarded the presence of forces from outside the region in the strait, or any attempt to use the waterway for threats or interference, as unacceptable. READ: US ‘will regret’ new attacks on Iran, says IRGC

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  Putin offers Russian mediation to end war in talks with Pezeshkian

  by Mehdi Editor on October 9, 2026

  Russian President Vladimir Putin renewed Moscow’s offer to help end the war in the Middle East during talks with his Iranian counterpart, Masoud Pezeshkian, in   on Thursday, as international tensions rise and diplomatic efforts to end the conflict remain stalled.  Putin said Russia was ready to do everything it could to help resolve the conflict, praising what he described as Tehran’s “genuine efforts” to end the war, according to media reports. He also pointed to what he called positive developments in Russian-Iranian relations, which have strengthened politically and militarily in recent years. The two presidents arrived in Turkmenistan to attend a summit of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), which brings together several former Soviet republics. The summit is

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  Lapid accuses Netanyahu government of driving Israel into unprecedented international isolation

  by Mehdi Editor on October 9, 2026

  Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid said on Thursday that Israel was facing unprecedented international isolation, blaming Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government for the deterioration of the country’s diplomatic standing. Speaking at a conference hosted by Reichman University, Lapid said Hamas, Iran and Qatar had sought for years to isolate Israel internationally. He argued that what had previously been a goal of Israel’s adversaries had become a reality under the current government’s policies. Lapid cited several developments as evidence of Israel’s growing isolation, including arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) against Israeli officials, restrictions affecting Israelis in some European countries, and expanding boycott campaigns and protests against Israel in international forums. He argued that previous Israeli governments had

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  Islamic Jihad says Palestinian factions agree in Cairo to postpone elections

  by Mehdi Editor on October 9, 2026

  Palestinian factions participating in talks in Cairo have reached a consensus to postpone the scheduled Palestinian elections, with an official announcement expected in the coming period, according to Islamic Jihad. Mohammed al-Hindi, the movement’s deputy secretary-general, said the meetings hosted by Egypt had resulted in an agreement among Palestinian factions to delay the elections as part of broader understandings aimed at addressing national issues and continuing internal dialogue. Al-Hindi said the Fatah delegation would return to Ramallah to follow up on the understandings reached during the meetings. He added that a new election date would be determined through consensus among the various Palestinian factions. According to al-Hindi, participants also agreed to continue national dialogue in the coming period to strengthen

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  Egyptian pilot sparks Israeli backlash with video of El Al plane and Sadat speech

  by Mehdi Editor on October 9, 2026

  An Egyptian pilot has responded to angry Israeli comments after posting a video showing an Egyptian aircraft next to an Israeli plane at an Italian airport, accompanied by an excerpt from a speech by the late Egyptian president Anwar El Sadat. The video shows the Egyptian aircraft taxiing at the airport, with an Israeli civilian aircraft nearby. It features an audio excerpt from Sadat’s speech during the October 1973 War, in which he said: “An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, and depth for depth.” The video prompted comments from Israeli social media users, particularly as it was posted following an incident involving Dubai-based airline flydubai. Some interpreted it as carrying a political message or threat, while

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  Sudan’s RSF special operations commander defects to army

  by Mehdi Editor on October 9, 2026

  Lieutenant Colonel Mohammed Azraq al-Fanjari, commander of the special missions and special operations group within Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), announced on Thursday that he had defected and joined the Sudanese Armed Forces. In a video message, al-Fanjari called for an end to the war and urged Sudanese people to return to the “embrace of the homeland”, declaring his allegiance to the army. He apologised to the Sudanese people for the consequences of what he described as an “absurd war” and condemned violations against civilians. Al-Fanjari left RSF positions accompanied by about 300 officers and soldiers in around 30 combat vehicles, according to Sudanese media. The group included armed personnel and military vehicles. In the video, he said his

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  Palestinian Foreign Ministry rejects Israeli measures against British consulate in Jerusalem

  by Mehdi Editor on October 9, 2026

  The Palestinian Foreign Ministry on Thursday condemned and rejected what it described as illegal Israeli decisions and measures targeting the British Consulate General in Jerusalem and its staff. In a statement carried by the Palestinian news agency WAFA, the ministry said the measures were “an attempt to impose Israeli sovereignty over the occupied city, interfere in the work of diplomatic missions and their relations with the State of Palestine, and punish the United Kingdom for its positions in support of the rights of the Palestinian people and a two-state solution based on international law”. It stressed that East Jerusalem is an integral part of the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967 and the capital of the State of Palestine. Israel, as

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  Political failure, not economic shock, unmasks Iraq

  by Mehdi Editor on October 9, 2026

  The grievance-laden rhetoric delivered by Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Faleh al-Zaidi before parliament is a transparent attempt to package a systemic crisis as an unpreventable “external shock.” His claim that Iraq is suffering under an “economic blockade” due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and the halting of crude exports is merely a political lifeline. It seeks to conceal a burning truth: Iraq is not enduring a temporary disruption; it is suffering from complete institutional nakedness that was previously hidden behind the price of an oil barrel. The danger of the government’s narrative lies not only in justifying the devaluation of the Iraqi Dinar to 1,520 per US Dollar, but in the glaring regional false equivalence Baghdad relies

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  UN condemns Houthi attacks on two Saudi airports

  by Mehdi Editor on October 9, 2026

  The United Nations on Thursday strongly condemned ongoing attacks by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi group on Saudi Arabia, particularly recent strikes targeting two airports.  UN Secretary-General’s spokesperson Stephane Dujarric made the remarks during a press conference in New York. “The United Nations reiterates its strong condemnation of these attacks, particularly the recent attacks targeting Abha International Airport and King Khalid International Airport in the capital, Riyadh,” Dujarric said. He said the UN was deeply concerned about the ongoing military escalation in Yemen and the surrounding region, as well as intense clashes on several fronts. READ: Houthis warn airlines against flying in Saudi airspace amid escalating tensions “Attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure are prohibited under international humanitarian law,” he said, urging all

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  Israeli media reports possible attack on Iran before Israeli election

  by Mehdi Editor on October 9, 2026

  The United States and Israel are planning to resume the war against Iran before Israel’s election scheduled for 27th October, Israel’s Channel 12 reported on Thursday, contradicting statements by US President Donald Trump. Earlier on Thursday, Trump said in a statement that the United States would not attack Iran before the US midterm congressional elections scheduled for 3 November. Channel 12 reported that Israeli Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir had held talks with unnamed US officials, warning them that a possible strike on Iran could lead to the Israeli election being postponed. It did not specify whether the talks were held by phone or in person. According to the channel, Zamir was briefed during the talks on US military preparations

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  Israeli soldier killed, 3 injured in southern Lebanon as Tel Aviv continues to violate framework deal

  by Mehdi Editor on October 8, 2026

  The Israeli army said Thursday that one of its soldiers was killed and three others wounded in southern Lebanon as Tel Aviv continues to attack southern Lebanese towns despite a framework deal with Beirut, Anadolu reports. Those wounded were taken to the hospital, the army said in a statement. Israel has continued attacks on Lebanon since March 2, killing more than 4,380 victims and injuring over 12,410, according to Lebanese authorities. Beirut and Tel Aviv signed a US-sponsored framework agreement on June 26 in Washington providing for a gradual Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory and the deployment of the Lebanese army in areas vacated by Israeli forces. Israel has continued attacks on southern Lebanon despite the agreement, and remains in

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  5 Palestinians killed, over dozen injured in Israeli attacks across Gaza

  by Mehdi Editor on October 8, 2026

  At least five Palestinians, including a woman, were killed and more than a dozen others injured in Israeli attacks across the Gaza Strip on Thursday, according to medical sources and witnesses, Anadolu reports. The attacks targeted the Tel al-Hawa neighborhood and the Al-Tawam and Amer Project areas in Gaza City, the Al-Sudaniya area in the northwest, as well as Al-Mawasi in northwestern Rafah and areas around Bani Suheila and northeastern Khan Younis. A medical source told Anadolu Agency that Palestinian Mohammed Rajab Warsh Agha died from injuries sustained in an Israeli airstrike on a tent sheltering displaced people at the Egyptian Camp in the Al-Tawam area of northwestern Gaza City. Earlier, a medical source at the Palestine Red Crescent Society’s

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  The Palestinian election dilemma

  by Mehdi Editor on October 8, 2026

  At the beginning of October  2026, Israel refused to allow officials from the Palestinian Central Elections Commission and international election observers to enter Gaza to monitor preparations for the legislative elections. Israel continues to refuse such access in Jerusalem. The Palestinian legislative elections scheduled for 28th November 2026 face a more complex situation than previous elections. The obstacle is no longer confined to Jerusalem, as it was during the 2006 elections and the attempted elections of 2021, but now extends to the Gaza Strip as well. Gaza has around 1.24 million registered voters out of approximately three million Palestinian voters, a number that cannot be disregarded under any circumstances, quite apart from the overriding political consideration, which is as significant

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  Israeli army shells outskirts of village in southern Syria

  by Mehdi Editor on October 8, 2026

  The Israeli army fired an artillery shell toward the outskirts of a village in Syria’s southern Quneitra province Thursday, Syrian media reported. State-run Alikhbariah TV said Israeli forces targeted the vicinity of Sweisa village in the southern Quneitra countryside. No casualties or damage were immediately reported. The shelling came amid continued Israeli military incursions and attacks in southern Syria. Earlier Thursday, Israeli forces advanced into the village of Al-Samdaniya Al-Sharqiya in Quneitra province with two tanks and more than 15 military vehicles carrying soldiers, Alikhbariah TV reported. The forces moved toward the outskirts of Tal Krum, the broadcaster said. READ: Human rights group documents 453 Israeli incursions, 69 killings since 2024 Late Wednesday, Israeli artillery also struck agricultural areas surrounding Al-Samdaniya

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  Naza and whose testimony we believe

  by Mehdi Editor on October 8, 2026

  Naza is being hailed as the definitive film on Gaza. Palestinian doctors have been showing us the same truth for three years. The question is why we only listen now. Would anyone be calling it a masterpiece if a Palestinian had made it? Daniele Rugo and I were asking each other that as we walked out of a screening of Naza at the Zurich Film Festival. Daniele’s own film, Life Support, which my organisation, Health Workers 4 Palestine, is proud to have backed as associate producer, was having its international premiere there. Between us, we had watched Palestinian doctors, nurses and journalists document the destruction of Gaza in real time for three years, many of them at the cost of

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  Yemeni government forces say 1,370 Houthis ‘neutralized’ in 1,729 strikes

  by Mehdi Editor on October 8, 2026

  Yemeni government forces said Thursday that 1,370 Houthi fighters had been “neutralized” in 1,729 strikes as part of the “Dawn of Yemen” military operation, Anadolu reports. The forces said in a statement that the strikes targeted Houthi observation posts, forward command-and-control centers, weapons depots, supply points, reinforcements and military positions across several fronts. It said they used “advanced modern weapons” in the operations, which also destroyed or damaged 300 military vehicles, equipment and other assets. The figures could not be independently verified. Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council Chairman Rashad al-Alimi announced the launch of the “Dawn of Yemen” operation Monday, saying it aims to restore state institutions, retake the capital, Sanaa, and end Houthi control. READ: Syria denies reports of joining Yemen

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  Iran rejects giving up uranium enrichment, handing over enriched stockpile

  by Mehdi Editor on October 8, 2026

  Iran will not give up its right to enrich uranium or hand over its enriched uranium stockpile, the country’s nuclear chief Mohammad Eslami said Thursday. Speaking to reporters, Eslami, head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, said uranium enrichment is an inseparable part of the nuclear process, according to state broadcaster IRIB. When asked whether Tehran could abandon uranium enrichment, he said: “Under no circumstances.” “How can you claim to have a nuclear industry without having the starting point of the process?” he asked. Eslami said the nuclear industry is a driving force behind scientific and technological development, stressing that Iran would not retreat from its right to technological advancement. He also ruled out handing over Iran’s enriched uranium

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  Trump says US will not attack Iran before midterm elections

  by Mehdi Editor on October 8, 2026

  US President Donald Trump said Thursday that the US will not attack Iran before the midterm elections because the two sides are engaged in “productive discussions.” “We will not be attacking Iran at any time prior to the Midterm Elections to be held in the United States on November 3rd,” Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social. Trump said the US and Iran are having “productive discussions,” while maintaining that a blockade of Iran “will remain in full force and effect”. Trump also claimed that oil was flowing through the Strait of Hormuz at “record numbers,” claiming that 22 million barrels had passed through the waterway later Wednesday and that “not one barrel” came from or was going

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  Crude oil tanker struck by unknown projectile in Strait of Hormuz: UK maritime agency

  by Mehdi Editor on October 8, 2026

  A crude oil tanker was struck by an unknown projectile while transiting the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said Thursday, Anadolu reports. In a delayed report, UKMTO said it received information from a verified source that the tanker was hit at 1709GMT on Oct. 6. No casualties were reported, while the extent of damage to the vessel and any environmental impact remain unknown, it said. UKMTO said authorities are investigating the incident and advised vessels transiting the area to exercise caution and report any suspicious activity. READ: Iranian president says Tehran cannot be easily isolated amid strong ties with neighbors

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  Syria arrests 5 former Assad regime militia, intelligence members for crimes against civilians

  by Mehdi Editor on October 8, 2026

  Syrian security forces arrested five former militia and intelligence members affiliated with the ousted Bashar al-Assad regime for their involvement in massacres and serious crimes against civilians, the Interior Ministry said Thursday, Anadolu reports. The ministry said internal security forces carried out intelligence-based operations that led to the arrests. Among those arrested was Shahin Hamdan al-Shahin, one of the founders of the Shawaheen Regiment militia during the former regime. Al-Shahin began working with the former regime’s Air Force Intelligence Directorate in 2015 under the command of Suheil al-Hassan before helping establish armed groups, according to the ministry. It said he was directly involved in massacres against civilians, particularly in eastern Hama province and along the Ithriya-Raqqa road in 2017. The

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  Lebanon looks to EU support for state control of weapons, end to Israeli occupation

  by Mehdi Editor on October 8, 2026

  Lebanon said Thursday it is counting on EU support for its decision to place all weapons under state control and efforts to end Israel’s occupation of Lebanese territory, Anadolu reports. “Lebanon has taken a clear sovereign decision to place weapons and the use of force exclusively in the hands of the state throughout its territory,” Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef Rajji said during a joint news conference with EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas in Beirut. He described the move as essential to restoring sovereignty, consolidating stability and rebuilding strong and capable state institutions. “We count on the European Union continuing to stand by Lebanon and its legitimate institutions to achieve this national objective,” he said. “We also count on its

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  Amnesty International slams France for increased military equipment deliveries to Israel

  by Mehdi Editor on October 8, 2026

  Amnesty International’s French office criticized France on Thursday for increasing deliveries of military equipment to Israel, accusing Paris of helping sustain Israeli actions in the Gaza Strip, Anadolu reports. “The genocide in Gaza perpetrated by the Israeli authorities has been ongoing for 3 years,” the rights group wrote on US social media platform X. “Why is it not being stopped? Because Israel can count on the support of other countries.” It singled out France, saying Paris had increased deliveries of military equipment to Israel in 2025 compared to 2024. READ: Amnesty accuses France of ‘double standard’ over Netanyahu plane The rights group said France delivered €19.8 million ($22.1 million) worth of military equipment to Israel in 2025, up from €16.1 million

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  Debris falls in Saudi capital after ballistic missile interception, causing property damage

  by Mehdi Editor on October 8, 2026

  Debris from an intercepted ballistic missile fell in Saudi Arabia’s capital Riyadh on Thursday, causing property damage, the Saudi Civil Defense said, Anadolu reports. “Civil Defense teams in Riyadh responded to debris from a ballistic missile after it was intercepted and destroyed,” the state-run Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported, citing the Civil Defense spokesperson. The official said the missile was launched by Yemen’s Houthi group, adding that the incident caused property damage to a kindergarten and a medical clinic complex. The development comes amid a sharp escalation in Houthi missile and drone attacks targeting Saudi airports, military sites and oil infrastructure. Yemeni government forces launched a new offensive under Operation “Dawn of Yemen” this week aimed at restoring state institutions

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  In a genocidal state, even Netanyahu is seen as ‘too pro-Palestine’

  by Mehdi Editor on October 8, 2026

  There is something deeply absurd about Israeli politics ahead of the 27th October election. Benjamin Netanyahu — the man who steadfastly has been rejecting Palestinian statehood for ages, expanding settlements and waging a destructive genocidal campaign in Gaza is now being attacked for being too soft on the Palestinians. Apparently, even Netanyahu is not anti-Palestinian enough for today’s Israeli extremist settler-occupiers.  That alone tells us how far Zionist politics has shifted. In a genocidal state facing international criticism over its conduct in Gaza, Netanyahu somehow finds himself portrayed as the moderate in the room. That would almost be funny if the consequences were not deadly. The latest attack comes from hardline politician Avigdor Liberman, a long-time rival of Netanyahu from

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  Senior US Embassy official in Jerusalem suppressed diplomatic cables to shield Netanyahu government: Report

  by Mehdi Editor on October 8, 2026

  A top adviser to the US ambassador to Israel has systematically suppressed, delayed, and rewritten internal diplomatic cables to shield the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from scrutiny by Washington, The New York Times reported Thursday. David Milstein, an influential gatekeeper at the US Embassy in Jerusalem since April 2025 and principal aide to US Ambassador Mike Huckabee, repeatedly stymied assessments intended for senior policymakers, according to an investigation based on interviews with more than a dozen US officials and reviews of internal State Department records. In late March, Israel approved record-breaking occupation expansions across the occupied West Bank. Embassy personnel drafted an alert warning that the move risked violating US President Donald Trump’s explicit red line against

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  Iranian president says Tehran cannot be easily isolated amid strong ties with neighbors

  by Mehdi Editor on October 8, 2026

  Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Thursday that Iran cannot be easily isolated, pointing to the country’s ties and extensive exchanges with its neighbors. “They cannot isolate us so easily because we have 15 neighboring countries in the region, and through each of these routes, we can maintain many of our economic, commercial, political and security exchanges,” Pezeshkian told reporters before departing for Turkmenistan, according to Iranian state broadcaster IRIB. He said opportunities arising from regional engagement could also contribute to developing Iran’s interactions, regulations and trade. “I hope we can achieve the objectives we have in mind and will pursue through our discussions,” he added. Pezeshkian departed for Turkmenistan to attend and address the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) summit