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

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  Mecca Defense Alliance agrees to ‘immediately’ implement collective defense commitments

  by Mehdi Editor on October 5, 2026

  Turkiye, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan agreed Monday to “immediately” implement collective defense commitments and take measures to ensure the “rapid deployment” of agreed military forces and capabilities to Saudi Arabia, according to a joint statement, Anadolu reports. The decision came during an emergency meeting of the Mecca Alliance’s Strategic Political and Defense Committee in the Saudi capital Riyadh to address security developments and threats facing the kingdom. “The Committee decided to move immediately to the practical implementation of the collective defense commitments,” said the joint statement of the three member states sitting on the committee. It also agreed “to take the necessary measures to provide the agreed military forces and capabilities and ensure their rapid deployment in the Kingdom.” READ: Saudi-led

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  US urges citizens in Saudi Arabia to remain ‘vigilant’ over risk of drone, missile attacks

  by Mehdi Editor on October 5, 2026

  The US Embassy in Saudi Arabia on Monday urged American citizens to remain “vigilant” over the current security situation and the potential for drone or missile attacks, Anadolu reports. In a security alert on the US diplomatic mission’s website, the embassy and consulates in the country encouraged US citizens to follow guidance provided through national alerts issued by Saudi Arabia’s Civil Defense. The US mission said there had been no change to its security and operational posture. “Regular and emergency consular services are available for U.S. citizens,” it added.​​​​​​​ Earlier, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that the US intends to uphold its bilateral security commitments with Saudi Arabia amid renewed military confrontations involving Houthi forces in Yemen. Yemen

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  US State Department approves arms sales worth $2.27B to Egypt, Kuwait, UAE

  by Mehdi Editor on October 5, 2026

  The US State Department has approved three possible foreign military sales to Egypt, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates with a combined estimated cost of about $2.27 billion, Anadolu reports. The largest of the three is a possible sale to the UAE of Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System-II guidance sections and related equipment at an estimated cost of $1.041 billion, the department said in a statement. The UAE “has requested to buy up to ten thousand (10,000) Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System-II guidance sections consisting of a combination of air-to-air and air-to-ground configurations,” it added. For Egypt, the department approved a possible sale of Javelin missile systems at an estimated cost of $832 million. Cairo has requested to buy up

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  1 Palestinian killed, 5 injured in Israeli army, occupier attacks in West Bank

  by Mehdi Editor on October 5, 2026

  A Palestinian was killed and five others injured Monday in Israeli army and occupier attacks in the occupied West Bank provinces of Hebron and Jenin, according to Palestinian officials and medical sources, Anadolu reports. Israeli forces opened fire on a vehicle carrying three Palestinians near Bani Naim, east of Hebron, killing one and injuring the other two. The Palestinian General Authority of Civil Affairs identified the man killed as Hossam Alaa al-Din Abdul Jabbar Walad Ali, 38, and said Israeli forces withheld his body. The Israeli army claimed that the three Palestinians had attempted to carry out a car-ramming attack against soldiers in the Bani Naim area. In a separate attack, three Palestinians were injured when Israeli occupiers assaulted them

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  Two straits, one pact: what Makkah can and cannot protect

  by Mehdi Editor on October 5, 2026

  Two months. That’s how long the Makkah pact has existed, and already it’s being asked to do the thing pacts are least ready for in their early days: handle a real war. On Sunday, Yemen’s internationally recognised government said it was launching a campaign to retake all Houthi-held territory. The Houthis claimed missile and drone strikes on Aramco sites in Riyadh and Khurais within hours. The pact’s strategic political and defence committee was already due to meet in Riyadh on 5 October, with Türkiye’s foreign and defence ministers flying in. Nobody planned that timing, but it couldn’t be sharper. The ministers aren’t just asking whether the alliance can deter an attack. They need to agree where their response ends. Same

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  Armenian, Iranian foreign ministers discuss cooperation in energy, transport, infrastructure development

  by Mehdi Editor on October 5, 2026

  Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan held talks Monday with his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, during an official visit to Tehran to discuss bilateral cooperation in energy, transport and infrastructure, Anadolu reports. The officials discussed plans to build a second bridge along the Armenia-Iran border and the importance of completing a third power transmission line between the two countries, as well as measures to facilitate freight transportation, according to the Armenian Foreign Ministry. Mirzoyan briefed Araghchi on ongoing work to implement the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP) project and the opportunities it could create for countries across the region. Iran’s support for the “Crossroads of Peace” project was also emphasized during the talks. The officials discussed continued cooperation

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  US intends to ‘live by’ security pact with Saudi Arabia: Rubio

  by Mehdi Editor on October 5, 2026

  The US intends to uphold its bilateral security commitments with Saudi Arabia amid renewed military confrontations involving Houthi forces in Yemen, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Monday, Anadolu reports. “The United States has a defense and security agreement with Saudi Arabia, and we intend to live by it,” Rubio told reporters ahead of a European tour including Iceland, Greece, and Portugal, declining to elaborate on operational specifics. Rubio said that in the face of continuous Houthi attacks, Riyadh has “a right to defend themselves,” adding that Yemeni allied forces are trying to recover areas lost during previous clashes. READ: Saudi-led coalition says 100 fighter jets involved in Yemen operation against Houthis Addressing control around the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, Rubio

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  Israeli math professor charged with plotting to kill hundreds of Arabs, force mass expulsions

  by Mehdi Editor on October 5, 2026

  Israeli prosecutors charged a Bar-Ilan University mathematics professor Monday with preparing a terrorist attack, blackmail and obstruction of justice for plotting to kill hundreds of Arab citizens and force thousands more to flee to Jordan, Lebanon and the Gaza Strip, according to Israeli media. The State Prosecutor’s Office said the suspect, whose identity remains under a gag order, developed a “thorough and detailed” plan over nearly three years and sought assistance from “subversive elements” in the Israeli Air Force, artillery and armored corps, The Times of Israel reported. The suspect, around 60 years old, was arrested Sept. 17 and has admitted to the charges against him, according to prosecutors. The indictment says he spent the past 18 months trying to

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  Netanyahu threatens more assassinations in Gaza as president warns of internal divisions in Israel

  by Mehdi Editor on October 5, 2026

  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday threatened further assassinations in the Gaza Strip, while President Isaac Herzog warned of deepening internal divisions ahead of the country’s upcoming election, Anadolu reports. “We still have tasks ahead of us, and we are determined to complete them,” Netanyahu said during a ceremony at Mount Herzl cemetery in west Jerusalem, as three years have passed since the start of Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza. He vowed that Hamas would not be allowed to govern Gaza. Since the beginning of the Gaza war, the Israeli army has assassinated hundreds of Hamas leaders inside and outside the occupied Palestinian territories in operations that have also killed civilians. Since October 2023, Israel’s war in Gaza has

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  Israel prepares for possible military action against Iran with US or independently: Report

  by Mehdi Editor on October 5, 2026

  Israel is preparing for possible new military action against Iran, either in coordination with the US or independently, Israeli media reported Monday. The Israel Hayom newspaper said the Israeli army is preparing for a potential attack against Iran while maintaining close intelligence and operational cooperation with the US military. The report said Israel is also getting ready for possible preemptive action or a response to an Iranian attack, although it assessed the likelihood of an Israeli or US attack before the US midterm elections in November as relatively low. Israel continues to view Iran’s nuclear program as a major concern, the newspaper added. Separately, Israeli news website Walla reported Sunday that the US is preparing to send additional forces and

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  The architecture of Oman’s energy power: Resources, ports and global partnerships

  by Mehdi Editor on October 5, 2026

  At Duqm, Kuwait holds a stake in refining and product-export capacity outside the Strait of Hormuz, while European partners envisage a departure point for future hydrogen shipments. Oman is using this coastline to attract industrial investment and connect its energy resources to overseas markets. The challenge for Muscat is to turn those connections into lasting domestic value. Oman has fewer financial resources than Saudi Arabia and the UAE, while its gas exports cannot match Qatar’s scale. Its strategy depends on combining domestic resources, ports and diverse partnerships into a distinctive position in the energy market. Difficult choices arise when export projects and the domestic economy compete for gas, electricity, water and capital. Oil and Duqm: Connecting revenue with geography Oil

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  Israel ‘progressively asphyxiating’ Gaza, continues genocide: Doctors Without Borders

  by Mehdi Editor on October 5, 2026

  Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said on Monday that Israel was continuing its genocide in Gaza and was “progressively asphyxiating” the region, urging governments to take immediate action, Anadolu reports. In a statement, MSF said the conditions for the people’s survival were being “systematically destroyed” through sustained violence, “deliberate” blockade of essential supplies and the destruction of healtcare as well as infrastructure. “In the past year, the physical trapping of people in Gaza has been made increasingly definitive by the establishment of Israel’s Yellow Line,” the French medical charity said. Recalling that it was originally presented as temporary, MSF noted that the line is now reinforced by military positions, berms and ongoing demolitions while it has continued to move west, “squeezing

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  Iraq to resume direct flights to Iran on Thursday

  by Mehdi Editor on October 5, 2026

  Iraqi Airways said Monday it will resume direct flights to Iran on Thursday, with daily services from Najaf International Airport to three Iranian cities, Anadolu reports. The Iraqi national carrier said in a statement that its flight schedule, beginning Oct. 8, will include Tehran, Mashhad and Isfahan. It said the move aims to facilitate passenger travel and provide regular air transport between Iraq and the Iranian cities. On Sept. 29, Iraq’s Transport Ministry announced that Iraqi Airways had secured a special exemption allowing it to operate flights to Iran, paving the way for their resumption in October after regulatory and technical requirements were completed. READ: Iraq’s national airline resumes flights between Najaf, Iranian airports The ministry said Iraqi Airways had suspended

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  German Jewish artist Biermann says Israel’s Gaza attacks are a war crime

  by Mehdi Editor on October 5, 2026

  German Jewish singer-songwriter Wolf Biermann sharply criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying Israel had committed war crimes against Palestinians in Gaza, Anadolu reports. Biermann, who turns 90 next month and whose family members were murdered by the Nazis during the Holocaust, spoke to German news agency DPA ahead of his appearance at the Frankfurt Book Fair. “Ah, Netanyahu and his lemures!” he said, using the term for the devil’s helpers in Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s “Faust.” “What is happening now in the Gaza Strip is, of course, not genocide, but it is a war crime. No ifs, ands or buts,” he said. “It hurts many people around the world. But for me it is doubly and triply painful.” READ: Israeli

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  Turkiye strongly condemns Israel’s activities in Syria’s Quneitra province

  by Mehdi Editor on October 5, 2026

  Turkiye on Monday strongly condemned Israel’s resumption of activities along the so-called “Sufa 53 line” in Syria’s Quneitra province, saying the move was aimed at creating new faits accomplis in the country, Anadolu reports. “We strongly condemn Israel’s erosion of the 1974 Disengagement Agreement by resuming its activities along the so-called ‘Sufa 53 line’ in Syria’s Quneitra province and its attempts to create new faits accomplis in Syria,” the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement. It called on the international community to take effective and decisive steps without delay to end Israel’s expansionist policies that escalate tensions in the region and to ensure its withdrawal from occupied Syrian territory. Ankara stressed that it would resolutely continue to support Syria’s

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  Israeli army demolishes home housing two Palestinian families near Hebron

  by Mehdi Editor on October 5, 2026

  The Israeli army demolished a home housing two Palestinian families near Hebron in the occupied West Bank on Monday, leaving both families homeless, Anadolu reports. Heavy machinery tore down the building in Khallet al-Deirat as Israeli soldiers stood nearby and Palestinians watched. Homeowner Faris Mohammed said Israeli forces arrived in the morning and began demolishing the property on the grounds that it lacked a building permit. He said the 130-square-meter home consisted of two sections occupied by two families. “They demolished in 25 minutes the house we spent years building,” Mohammed said. The property was in Area C of the West Bank. Mohammed said Palestinians were denied building permits despite having lived in the area for years, adding that his

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  Israeli army tightens Gaza blockade with ‘wide trench, earthen embankment’: Report

  by Mehdi Editor on October 5, 2026

  The Israeli army is tightening its blockade of the Gaza Strip by constructing a wide trench and an earthen embankment while continuing targeted killings of Hamas members, Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper said Monday. “Israeli forces are completing an anti-vehicle barrier consisting of a wide trench and an earthen embankment, while drilling into the ground at regular intervals,” the daily said. It claimed that the measures were intended to ensure that no tunnel crossing into Israel had been overlooked. The barrier is being constructed on the eastern side of the yellow line, which divides the Gaza Strip between an area controlled by the Israeli army and another where Palestinians are allowed to move freely. Alongside maintaining control of the territory, operational activity

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  Perilous surrender: The Pentagon falls for artificial intelligence

  by Mehdi Editor on October 5, 2026

  The trend was already tracing itself through the corridors of power, but the world’s most powerful defence department has fallen, most heavily, for the use of artificial intelligence at virtually every level of its operations.  Even before the Pentagon’s intoxicating pursuit of artificial intelligence was announced, the Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) was already running simulated aerial trials of combat engagements between AI agents and seasoned pilots. In December 2025, the US Department of Defense (DOD) revealed plans for a rapid and extensive release of the generative AI GenAI.mil platform, one utilising advanced models intended for use for over 3 million military personnel, civilian employees and contractors.  Google Cloud’s Gemini or Government products was the first off the rank

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  After years of displacement, Syrian Christians return home as children go back to schools

  by Mehdi Editor on October 5, 2026

  Christian schools in Syria are resuming their educational role after years of disruption, as families displaced by the war return to their hometowns following the fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime, Anadolu reports. Some of the schools had been seized by the former regime, while others were transformed into shelters for people displaced from their homes by bombardment and security crackdowns. Children from Christian families returning to their communities have also begun re-enrolling in schools where they studied before years of displacement interrupted their education. Christian clergy members say the reopening of the schools can help restore their role in promoting peaceful coexistence, education and development, while expressing hope for a Syria where freedoms and rights are protected. ‘Rights returned

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  Saudi-led coalition says 100 fighter jets involved in Yemen operation against Houthis

  by Mehdi Editor on October 5, 2026

  The Saudi-led coalition said Monday that 100 fighter jets had participated in the ongoing “Dawn of Yemen” military operation against the Houthis, Anadolu reports. The coalition said 324 “high-value targets” had been destroyed since the operation began. In separate statements, it said it was providing round-the-clock air support to Yemeni government forces on the ground and air protection for the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, adding that operations against moving targets were continuing. READ: Saudi-led coalition blames Houthis for drone attack on Medina power station The Yemeni military launched the “Dawn of Yemen” operation against Houthi forces, with government forces advancing in several areas. Yemeni military spokesman Lt. Col. Majid Abdullah al-Nuzayli said government forces, including the pro-government Southern Giants Brigades and Nation’s

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  Israeli forces demolish memorial at Birzeit University, arrest 12 Palestinians in West Bank raids

  by Mehdi Editor on October 5, 2026

  Israeli forces demolished a memorial inside Birzeit University, north of Ramallah in the central West Bank, and arrested 12 Palestinians in separate raids on Monday as occupiers attacked farmers and stole olive harvests in the occupied territory, Anadolu reports. An Israeli force stormed the university campus accompanied by a military bulldozer and demolished the memorial, which bears the names of Birzeit University students killed in Israeli attacks over the years, local sources said. The forces also detained a university security guard, raided several facilities and deployed around the campus during the raid, the sources said. Birzeit University posted a photo on the US social media platform Facebook showing the site where the memorial had stood. On Sept. 26, Palestinian reports

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  Yemeni forces seize Dhubab, strategic sites near Bab el-Mandeb, army says

  by Mehdi Editor on October 5, 2026

  The Yemeni army said Monday that government forces had seized the Dhubab district and strategic positions around the Bab el-Mandeb Strait following clashes with the Houthis, Anadolu reports. Yemen’s official Saba news agency said forces from the Nation’s Shield and the pro-government Southern Giants Brigades, backed by the Popular Resistance, took control of Dhubab in western Taiz province. A military source told Saba that the forces launched a large-scale operation with air support targeting Houthi positions and forces across several areas of the district. The forces advanced and took control of key positions while cutting supply lines and routes leading to Bab el-Mandeb, the source said. The source said an unspecified number of Houthi fighters were killed or injured in

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  Iran says it disabled Starlink terminals during January protests

  by Mehdi Editor on October 5, 2026

  Iran claimed Monday that it had successfully disabled Starlink terminals during nationwide protests in January and has other tools to counter the satellite internet service, Anadolu reports. According to Iranian state broadcaster IRIB, Mohammad Amin Aghamiri, head of Iran’s National Cyberspace Center, said Tehran had successfully disabled Starlink terminals during the protests. “For the first time, Iran managed to successfully disable Starlink terminals during the coup in January,” Aghamiri said, using the Iranian authorities’ description of the protests. He claimed that Western media had also reported at the time that Iran had successfully carried out an operation to disable Starlink terminals. “That important technical operation, which was completely successful, is one of our tools, and we also have other tools

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  Former European diplomats, ministers, officials urge EU to act against illegal West Bank settlements

  by Mehdi Editor on October 5, 2026

  Around 500 former diplomats, ministers and European officials called Monday on the European Union and its member states to take action against Israel’s illegal settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank, warning that a planned project near Jerusalem could undermine prospects for a two-state solution, Anadolu reports. The signatories urged the EU, in an open letter cited by Belga news agency, to take measures against Israel’s planned E1 settlement project, which envisages the construction of more than 1,200 housing units near Jerusalem. The signatories include former Belgian Prime Minister Yves Leterme, former French Prime Ministers Dominique de Villepin and Alain Juppe, former Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven and former Italian Prime Minister Massimo D’Alema. They said the project would divide

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  Iran threatens to target US bases, warships if Washington launches ground invasion

  by Mehdi Editor on October 5, 2026

  Iran will target all US military bases and American vessels if Washington launches a ground invasion of the country, a senior commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) warned, Anadolu reports. Ali Fadavi, head of the advisory group to the IRGC commander-in-chief, made the remarks late Sunday while appearing on an Iranian state television program. “If the Americans launch a ground attack, then we will target every location related to the Americans, American bases and every vessel related to the Americans,” he said. Fadavi argued that the US understands military force, saying Americans “understand missiles hitting their warships” and “missiles hitting their bases.” He also said Iran’s production of military equipment exceeds the rate at which it is being

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  82% of Gaza buildings damaged in Israeli genocide, Palestinian statistics agency says

  by Mehdi Editor on October 5, 2026

  Around 82% of buildings in the Gaza Strip have been damaged as a result of Israel’s genocide since Oct. 8, 2023, the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) said Monday, Anadolu reports. The agency said in a statement marking World Habitat Day that around 201,290 buildings in Gaza had been damaged, representing about 82% of all buildings in the enclave, according to figures through June 16, 2026. It explained that 134,422 buildings were completely destroyed, while 13,848 sustained severe damage and around 328,627 housing units were damaged. Since Oct. 8, 2023, Israel’s genocidal war in Gaza has killed more than 74,000 Palestinians and injured over 175,000 others, and destroyed around 90% of the enclave’s infrastructure. The destruction has also affected

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  Signing the protocol to surrender the world’s throne

  by Mehdi Editor on October 5, 2026

  When Donald Trump sat in the White House surrounded by Sundar Pichai, Mark Zuckerberg, Elon Musk, Jensen Huang, Greg Brockman, and Dario Amodei, the scene was far more than an administrative meeting between an American president and executives of major tech corporations. It was a grand, awe-inspiring theatrical display laden with questions for the twenty-first century—a formal attempt by the head of history’s most formidable political power to assert his authority before the masters of the incoming economic and cognitive power. These are men who possess neither armies nor legislative mandates, yet they hold the digital keys to human consciousness and the future. Last Tuesday, Trump summoned these titans under his capacity as the world’s reigning political sovereign. He even

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  Eisenkot attacks Netanyahu: Those who evade responsibility cannot prevent the next disaster

  by Mehdi Editor on October 5, 2026

  Gadi Eisenkot, leader of Israel’s opposition Yashar party, accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government on Sunday of “evading responsibility” and failing to learn the lessons of the 7 October 2023 events, following an incident involving a Flydubai flight. In a post on X, Eisenkot said: “Netanyahu’s government has learned absolutely nothing from 7 October.” He added: “Those who refuse an investigation and evade responsibility out of fear cannot prevent the next disaster.” READ: Former Israeli premier accuses Netanyahu of preparing ground for war that could delay elections “In a worthy and functioning government, the transport minister would have submitted her resignation last night. Since she did not, the prime minister should have dismissed her immediately,” he said. Addressing Israelis,

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  Iran says it is reviewing US response to its proposal, preparing for all scenarios

  by Mehdi Editor on October 5, 2026

  Iran is reviewing the US response to a proposal submitted by Tehran and is preparing for various possible scenarios, an Iranian deputy foreign minister said on Sunday. The official said Iran was closely monitoring developments surrounding its proposal and Washington’s response, according to Iran’s Tasnim News Agency. He added that Tehran remained prepared to deal with different potential scenarios as diplomatic efforts continued with the aim of reaching understandings between Iran and the United States. The remarks come as attention remains focused on the outcome of negotiations between Washington and Tehran and their potential implications for relations between the two countries and developments in the region. READ: Iran ready to ‘both fight and negotiate,’ says parliament speaker

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  Sisi calls for dialogue on cross-border issues, rejects interference in African affairs

  by Mehdi Editor on October 5, 2026

  Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi on Sunday called on African countries to address cross-border issues through dialogue rather than confrontation and reiterated Egypt’s rejection of interference in the internal affairs of African states. Speaking at the opening session of the 8th Mid-Year Coordination Meeting of the African Union and Regional Economic Communities (RECs) in El Alamein, northwestern Egypt, Sisi said cross-border issues should be treated as areas for cooperation rather than competition. “We emphasise here the importance of addressing cross-border issues as matters requiring cooperation rather than competition, and dialogue rather than confrontation, including the management and utilisation of natural resources and transboundary rivers,” Sisi said. He said relations between African countries should be based on mutual respect and good

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  Eisenkot says full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza could take years

  by Mehdi Editor on October 5, 2026

  Gadi Eisenkot, leader of the Israeli opposition party Yashar, said on Sunday that a complete Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip could take years and would depend on Israel’s demands being met. Responding to a question on the “All In” podcast about when the last Israeli soldier would leave Gaza, Eisenkot said: “A complete withdrawal from the entire Gaza Strip will take years, and it will only happen if all our demands are met.” His position differs from the withdrawal timetable outlined under US President Donald Trump’s plan for Gaza. A ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip based on Trump’s plan took effect on 10th October 2025. The second phase of the plan includes arrangements for disarming Palestinian factions, deploying

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  Ethiopia water minister says country does not need Egypt’s approval to build new dams

  by Mehdi Editor on October 5, 2026

  Ethiopia’s Water and Energy Minister Habtamu Itefa said his country has the right to build dams without obtaining prior approval from Egypt, amid continuing disagreements between the two countries over the use of Nile waters. In statements reported on Sunday by the official Ethiopian News Agency (ENA), Itefa said Ethiopia was working to complete a major dam on the Magetch River for irrigation and water supply purposes, citing the country’s sovereignty, national water policy and its interpretation of international law. The minister said Ethiopia would continue developing its water infrastructure according to national priorities following the completion and operation of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). Itefa rejected Egypt’s position that Ethiopian water projects require prior approval, arguing that such

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  Moroccan opposition leader: We are not Israelis; we support Palestine, King, government and people

  by Mehdi Editor on October 5, 2026

  Moroccan Justice and Development Party (PJD) Secretary-General and former prime minister Abdelilah Benkirane has returned to the forefront of Morocco’s political scene with strong criticism of Israel and normalisation, stressing that Moroccans’ identity and position on the Palestinian issue cannot be reduced to positions calling for closer ties with Israel. Speaking at a large party event on Sunday to celebrate its results in the latest parliamentary elections, Benkirane said Moroccans “are not Israelis”, stressing that they are “Muslims, Arabs and Amazigh” and that they stand with the Palestinian people and their cause. The former Moroccan prime minister stressed that, in his view, support for Palestine is not based solely on political calculations, but is also linked to Moroccan identity and

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  Tebboune says Algeria will not reverse decision to sever ties with UAE

  by Mehdi Editor on October 5, 2026

  Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune said his country would not reverse its decision to sever diplomatic relations with the United Arab Emirates, saying the move came after tensions between the two countries had reached a critical point. Speaking during his periodic meeting with representatives of the national press, Tebboune accused Abu Dhabi of seeking to dominate Algeria and stressed that his government would not compromise on national sovereignty. Tebboune said Algeria had played a role in establishing the UAE’s oil company, adding that Abu Dhabi was now attempting to exercise what he described as “domination” over Algeria. He stressed the importance of preserving Algeria’s sovereignty, describing the country as a land for which millions had sacrificed their lives and saying he

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  Lieberman proposes ending Oslo Accords, annexing Area C and transferring Areas A and B to Jordan

  by Mehdi Editor on October 5, 2026

  Avigdor Lieberman, leader of the Yisrael Beiteinu party, has proposed a political plan that calls for dismantling the Palestinian Authority, ending the Oslo Accords and transferring administration of Areas A and B of the West Bank to Jordan, while applying Israeli sovereignty to Area C. According to Israeli news website Davar, Lieberman’s plan seeks to reshape political and administrative arrangements in the West Bank by creating Israeli territorial contiguity between settlement blocs and placing Areas A and B under Jordanian administration and supervision within a framework of Israeli-Jordanian cooperation. Lieberman argued that the Oslo framework, established more than three decades ago, had failed to achieve its objectives and called for a new political approach. He warned that international recognition of

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  Israel bars British Green Party leader from entering country

  by Mehdi Editor on October 5, 2026

  Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar on Sunday decided to bar British Green Party leader Zack Polanski from entering Israel, in response to his party adopting a resolution declaring Zionism a form of racism. The Israeli Foreign Ministry said in a statement on X that Sa’ar had decided “to declare Green Party leader Zack Polanski barred from entering Israel” after his party adopted the resolution, adding that the decision was made in coordination with the relevant Israeli authorities. Earlier on Sunday, the Green Party adopted the resolution at its conference in Brighton, with 56 per cent voting in favour and 44 per cent against, describing Zionism as a “racist ideology”. With the adoption of the motion, describing Zionism as a “racist

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  Sudan Doctors Network condemns RSF attack on WFP aid trucks, killing one driver

  by Mehdi Editor on October 5, 2026

  The Sudan Doctors Network has condemned an attack by drones operated by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on trucks contracted by the World Food Programme (WFP) to transport aid from Dilling to Kadugli in South Kordofan state. In a statement, the network said the attack killed one driver and injured three others, describing it as a new attack on humanitarian workers and supply chains aiding civilians. It said targeting WFP shipments threatened the lives of civilians and undermined humanitarian work. The Sudan Doctors Network called on the United Nations and international humanitarian and rights organisations to launch an independent and transparent investigation into the attack, identify those responsible and make the findings public. READ: Sudan extends Adre border crossing with Chad

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  Iran oil minister resigns, Bovard appointed acting minister

  by Mehdi Editor on October 5, 2026

  Iranian Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad has resigned and President Masoud Pezeshkian has accepted his resignation, Mehdi Tabatabaei, deputy head of the presidential office’s communications department, said on Sunday, according to the semi-state news agency Tasnim. Tabatabaei said Paknejad had formally submitted his resignation and that Hamid Bovard, chief executive of the state-owned National Iranian Oil Company, had been appointed acting oil minister to run the ministry in the coming period. The resignation comes as the United States imposes unprecedented sanctions on Iran, particularly targeting its oil sector, although no reason was given for Paknejad’s resignation. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Saturday that Iran no longer had any oil floating at sea and would earn no revenue from oil

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  Hamas leader mourns deaths of Palestinian Christian women in Gaza

  by Mehdi Editor on October 5, 2026

  Hamas political bureau chief Khalil al-Hayya has offered condolences to the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem in Gaza over the deaths of two Palestinian women, Maysaa Khedr Ibrahim Abu Daoud, known as Umm Michel, and her daughter, Mary Hafez Michel al-Najjar, known as Umm Fouad, who were killed after an Israeli attack hit their flat in Gaza City early on Saturday. In a message to Bishop Alexios received by Quds Press on Sunday, al-Hayya expressed solidarity with the families of the two women and with Christians in Gaza and Palestine, saying the loss affected all Palestinians. “Your grief is our grief, and your pain is our pain. All Palestinians are family and partners in the land, homeland and destiny,” he

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  Congress is not a cheering section: What the Midterms owe the Middle East

  by Marwa A on October 4, 2026

  On 3 October, 2026, the Washington Stand, the publishing arm of the Family Research Council (FRC), ran an article under the heading “The Midterms and the Middle East.” Strip away the pieties and the argument is short. The White House has a Middle East policy. That policy needs a Congress willing to fund it and stay out of its way. Voters must deliver one in November. Nowhere in the piece does the author pause to ask what the policy is for, how much it costs or when it ends. Those questions, apparently, belong to a less loyal class of citizen altogether. An odd thing to publish in a country whose founding document gives the legislature, not the executive, the power

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  Over 800 Palestinian teachers killed by Israel since Gaza war: Education Ministry

  by Marwa A on October 4, 2026

  Israel has killed more than 800 Palestinian teachers and injured over 3,300 others since the start of its war on the Gaza Strip in October 2023, the Palestinian Education Ministry said Sunday, Anadolu reports. In a statement ahead of World Teachers’ Day, observed annually on Oct. 5, the ministry said educators across the occupied Palestinian territories are fighting “a real battle for survival” to protect the right to education amid systematic targeting. The education sector in Gaza and the West Bank has suffered “comprehensive genocide” since the start of Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza, the ministry said. The ministry said more than 170 teachers remain detained “in harsh conditions.” It said movement restrictions and harassment at hundreds of checkpoints have

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  Angelina Jolie highlights Gaza destruction with Google Earth satellite images

  by Marwa A on October 4, 2026

  Actor Angelina Jolie, a former longtime UN special envoy, highlighted the scale of destruction in the Gaza Strip, sharing before-and-after satellite images showing extensive damage caused by the Israeli genocide across the Palestinian enclave, Anadolu reports. “You can now open Google Earth and see what was done to Gaza,” Jolie wrote on Instagram on Saturday alongside images comparing areas in Gaza before the war with their appearance this summer. The images show areas near the Al-Qadisiyah School in the city of Rafah, Khan Younis in southern Gaza, and Omar Mukhtar Street in Gaza City, with large sections of previously dense urban areas lying in ruins. “Whole neighbourhoods have been reduced to rubble,” Jolie said, adding that homes, schools, universities, hospitals,

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  Israeli media says attempt to assassinate senior Hamas figure likely failed in Gaza

  by Marwa A on October 4, 2026

  Israeli assessments indicated that an attempt to assassinate senior Hamas figure Ali al-Amoudi in an airstrike on Gaza City likely failed, Israeli Army Radio said Saturday evening, Anadolu reports. “Assessments are leaning toward the failure of the attempt to assassinate Ali al-Amoudi, a prominent leader in Hamas’ political wing in Gaza, last night,” according to the radio. Israel’s Channel 12 said it was too early to reach a definitive conclusion but Israel was struggling to obtain confirmation that the assassination attempt had succeeded despite the hours that had elapsed. Earlier Saturday, Israeli public broadcaster KAN reported that the Israeli army had attempted to kill al-Amoudi in a strike overnight Friday into Saturday. It described him as Hamas’ de facto leader

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  Yemeni army says 700 Houthi fighters killed in 257 operations across country

  by Marwa A on October 4, 2026

  The Yemeni army said on Saturday it killed at least 700 Houthi fighters in 257 operations across several fronts, Anadolu reports. In a statement on social media, military spokesman Col. Majed al-Nuzaili said government forces carried out the operations using warplanes, drones, artillery, missiles and rocket launchers. The operations covered Sanaa, Midi, Baqim and fronts in Al-Jawf, Marib, Al-Bayda and Lahj, with the main operational effort concentrated on Taiz fronts, he added. Targets included command and control centers, troop concentrations, combat buildups and reserves, weapons and ammunition depots, and military supply routes and transport. According to preliminary battlefield estimates, the operations “neutralized at least 700” Houthi fighters and destroyed strategic and high-value military targets, along with 170 combat vehicles and

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  Trump says Iran has ‘virtually given up’ any plans for nuclear weapons

  by Marwa A on October 4, 2026

  US President Donald Trump suggested on Saturday that Iran has “virtually given up” any plans to develop nuclear weapons, one of his administration’s most frequently stated objectives in the war with Tehran, now in its eighth month, Anadolu reports. Trump also claimed oil prices were currently decreasing, long elevated after Israel and the US launched strikes against Iran on Feb. 28. “Oil is coming down. Oil is right now lower, and it’s been lower than it was under the Biden administration, and they did nothing about the fact that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon,” Trump told reporters as he departed the White House to attend a rally in the state of Ohio. “By the way, Iran, as you know,

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  Israeli army shells village, opens fire on residential areas in southern Syria

  by Marwa A on October 4, 2026

  The Israeli army on Saturday shelled a village in southern Syria and later opened fire on residential areas during a separate ground incursion, Alikhbaria TV reported, Anadolu reports. Israeli artillery struck the outskirts of Abidin village in western Daraa province. There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage. Abidin lies in the Yarmouk Basin in western Daraa, and was repeatedly targeted by Israeli artillery in September. Israeli forces also entered an area west of Sayda al-Hanout village in southern Quneitra province with two tanks and other military vehicles, and opened fire toward residential neighborhoods. Israel continues violations on Syrian territory since the fall of the Assad regime in late 2024. Syrian President Ahmad Al-Sharaa raised the issue at the

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  One Palestinian killed, 15 others wounded in Israel’s Gaza truce violations

  by Marwa A on October 4, 2026

  The Israeli army’s renewed attacks in the Gaza Strip killed a Palestinian and injured 15 others on Sunday, medical sources told Anadolu. The attacks come despite a ceasefire deal that has been in place in the strip since Oct. 10, 2025, Anadolu reports. One Palestinian was killed and 10 others injured in an Israeli airstrike targeting a vehicle in Al-Hawouz, central Gaza, south of Deir al-Balah, the sources said. Five others were wounded, including one in critical condition, when Israeli shelling targeted an individual passing near the Engineers Syndicate headquarters in northwest Gaza City, they added. Earlier on Sunday, Israeli artillery shelled eastern areas of the Al-Maghazi refugee camp and southern parts of the city of Khan Younis, according to

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  The US Primaries: What they reveal about November

  by Marwa A on October 4, 2026

  Foreign policy is rarely the principal factor shaping how Americans vote in congressional primaries or midterm elections. The 2026 cycle, however, appears to be different, as crises abroad increasingly spill over into concerns at home. The issues emphasised by Republican and Democratic candidates, the results of the primaries and shifts in public opinion suggest that Iran and the Palestinian question have emerged as additional factors in the domestic political contest. Iran has entered the electoral calculus through the economic costs of the war and majority opposition to military action, while the Palestinian issue has gained salience amid a discernible shift in American attitudes towards Israel and the Palestinians. These developments could influence the outcome of November’s midterms, against a backdrop

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  Gaza residents face another winter amid shelter shortages, dwindling aid

  by Marwa A on October 4, 2026

  Displaced Palestinians in the southern Gaza Strip appealed on Saturday for tents, blankets and basic supplies ahead of winter, warning that shelter shortages and dwindling humanitarian aid could leave thousands exposed to rain, cold and strong winds, Anadolu reports. Dozens of displaced residents staged a protest in the Fash Farsh area in Khan Younis, urging international organizations and donors to provide shelter materials, food and essential supplies amid Israel’s blockade. “Our tents are torn and our stomachs are empty. Do not leave us to the unknown,” read one of the signs by protesters. Families said they fear a repeat of previous winters, when heavy rains flooded and damaged tents, leaving them exposed to harsh weather. Deaths, including of children, were

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  Serbian Orthodox Church says Christians in Palestine face persecution, discrimination

  by Marwa A on October 4, 2026

  The Serbian Orthodox Church said on Saturday that Christians in Palestine face persecution and discrimination, warning against attempts to marginalize their historical presence, Anadolu reports. In a letter to Palestinian official Ramzi Khouri, Serbian Patriarch Porfirije expressed solidarity with the Palestinian people, as well as concern on worsening conditions facing Christians and other residents in the region. The church said the community was facing “suffering, persecution and discrimination,” stressing that the suffering of civilians regardless of their faith or background was incompatible with human dignity. It urged the protection of Christian communities, noting that Christians have maintained a continuous presence in the region for more than 2,000 years and remain an integral part of its history and heritage. The church