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

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  “Unprovoked act of aggression,” Russia claims Israel attacked its cultural center in Lebanon

  by Marwa A on March 9, 2026

  Russia’s international humanitarian cooperation agency said on Monday that Israel attacked the partner Russian House in the Lebanese city of Nabatieh, calling it an “unprovoked act of aggression,” Anadolu reports. In a statement on Telegram, head of the agency, Rossotrudnichestvo, Evgeny Primakov said the cultural center was strictly civilian. “Israeli aviation struck the partner Russian House in the Lebanese city of Nabatieh. The director of the cultural center, Assaad Deia, is alive and safe. These are our good friends, there was no military activity in the cultural center. The strike was not provoked by anything,” he said. He added that the agency’s official representative office, the Russian Center for Science and Culture in Lebanon’s capital Beirut, is in contact with

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  Professor Walid Khalidi, leading Palestinian historian, dies aged 100

  by MI on March 9, 2026

  Professor Walid Khalidi, one of the most important Palestinian historians of the modern era, died in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on 8 March 2026 at the age of 100. Born in Jerusalem on 16 July 1925, he built a long and distinguished career as one of the foremost Palestinian scholars of his generation. Khalidi came from a prominent Jerusalem family of jurists, scholars, political figures and educators whose roots in the city stretched back centuries. That background shaped a life marked not only by scholarship, but by a strong sense of public duty and responsibility to Palestine. Khalidi studied at the University of London, where he received a BA in philosophy in 1945, and went on to Oxford, where he earned an

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  Mojtaba Khamenei and the continuity of the Islamic Revolution

  by MI on March 9, 2026

  The election of Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei as the new Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran represents far more than a simple institutional succession. Coming amid an open regional conflict and following the martyrdom of Iran’s long-time leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the decision by the Assembly of Experts is widely seen as a direct political response to external attempts to destabilise the country. The announcement followed an extraordinary session convened under dramatic circumstances. Despite bombardments and threats against their own facilities, the members of the Assembly moved swiftly to appoint a new leader. The speed of the decision was not merely administrative; it sent a powerful signal that the institutions born out of the Islamic Revolution remain

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  Oman condemns US-Israeli war on Iran as ‘immoral and illegal’

  by MI on March 9, 2026

  Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi has described the war launched by Israel and the United States against Iran as “immoral and illegal”, while also condemning Iranian strikes on neighbouring countries. Al-Busaidi made the remarks during an emergency ministerial meeting of the Arab League, held remotely on Sunday to discuss the regional repercussions of the conflict that began on 28th February. In excerpts from his speech published on his account on the social media platform X, the Omani minister said: “The actions of Israel and the United States against Iran are immoral and illegal, but Iran’s response to its neighbours is extremely regrettable and unacceptable.” READ: Qatar’s emir warns Trump of ‘serious consequences’ from war with Iran He called on all parties

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  Hamas urges Pakistan to support Palestinian steadfastness and Gaza reconstruction

  by MI on March 9, 2026

  Hamas has called on Pakistan and the wider Islamic world to strengthen support for Palestinians and accelerate efforts to rebuild the Gaza Strip amid the ongoing war. Dr Khalil al-Hayya, head of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) in Gaza, urged Islamic nations, charitable organisations and religious scholars to take greater responsibility in supporting Palestinian steadfastness. In a recorded address to the general meeting of Jamaat-e-Islami in Pakistan on Sunday, al-Hayya said reconstruction of Gaza was essential to ensure the territory remains “a steadfast fortress for the nation on the path to liberation”. He also warned of increasing threats facing Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied Jerusalem, including repeated incursions and attempts to impose a temporal and spatial division of the mosque compound.

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  War in Gaza increases number of widows and deepens female unemployment, statistics show

  by MI on March 9, 2026

  The Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics has warned that the ongoing war has significantly worsened the social and economic conditions of women in Gaza, increasing the number of widows, deepening unemployment and severely damaging the health sector. In a statement issued on Sunday to mark International Women’s Day, the bureau said women are expected to constitute around 49 per cent of the total population in Palestine by the end of 2025, amounting to approximately 2.74 million women. Of these, around 1.69 million live in the West Bank and 1.06 million in the Gaza Strip, highlighting what the bureau described as the central role of women in Palestinian society. READ: Israel’s Smotrich threatens to bombard Lebanese capital to resemble Gaza’s Khan Younis

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  Chaos without a goal: Why Washington’s war on Iran looks like a dangerous fiasco

  by MI on March 9, 2026

  Washington acts like it knows what it wants from Iran, but it is moving in the opposite direction: a war without a clear goal. There are many statements, loud threats, and talk of “total surrender,” but no realistic plan that answers basic questions: What is victory? How do you reach it? And how does this end? The first gamble was simple and dangerous at the same time: if the head of the system is killed, or if Iran’s leadership is hit, the regime will collapse quickly and young people will flood the streets to bring it down. But that did not happen. What happened instead was more violence and more hardline rule. The gamble failed, and the result was the

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  Qatar’s emir warns Trump of ‘serious consequences’ from war with Iran

  by MI on March 9, 2026

  Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani warned US President Donald Trump that the ongoing military escalation involving Iran, the United States and Israel could have serious global repercussions. According to the official Qatar News Agency, the warning came during a telephone conversation on Saturday between the two leaders, which focused on the latest developments in the conflict and efforts to contain the growing regional crisis. The discussion took place amid continuing Iranian attacks targeting Qatar and other countries in the region, as tensions rose following the outbreak of war between Tehran, Washington and Israel. READ: Qatar says air defenses intercept 13 missiles, 4 drones launched from Iran During the call, Sheikh Tamim stressed that the escalation could negatively affect

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  Egypt calls for joint Arab force amid regional escalation with Iran

  by MI on March 9, 2026

  Egypt has called on Arab states to strengthen joint security cooperation and consider forming a joint Arab force, as regional tensions escalate following the conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel. Speaking during an emergency meeting of Arab foreign ministers, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdel-Aty urged the activation of the concept of Arab national security to safeguard the sovereignty and stability of Arab countries. The meeting was convened at the request of Saudi Arabia and supported by several Arab states to address the repercussions of Iranian attacks targeting a number of countries in the region. Abdel-Aty emphasised the need to strengthen frameworks for collective Arab cooperation to confront emerging threats. He said forming a joint Arab force could be

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  When Tel Aviv decides, Washington fights

  by MI on March 9, 2026

  American taxpayers are still hemorrhaging from the made-for-Israel war in Iraq, a war audaciously offered as one that would “pay for itself.” Instead, it was paid in Iraqi and American blood, ruins and financed by American debt. The promised democracy was a broken state, regional chaos, and the afterbirth of terror and resistance that continues to metastasize across the Arab world. Marketed as a short, decisive campaign, Iraq became a two-decade-long disaster with no exit in sight. Trillions were burned on lies manufactured by Israel-first Zionists in Washington, while generations of Americans—many not even born when the invasion began—were conscripted into inheriting the debt, the interest, and the moral stain.  The real balance sheet of that war is etched into

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  Israeli army admits difficulty intercepting Hezbollah drones

  by MI on March 9, 2026

  The Israeli army has acknowledged significant difficulties in intercepting drones launched by Hezbollah from Lebanon, with military sources describing the success rate of interception operations as “very low”. According to the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, unnamed military officials said there is “significant difficulty” in stopping the drones used by Hezbollah in attacks against Israeli targets. The sources added that Israel decided to engage in combat with Hezbollah at this stage without evacuating residents from towns near the northern border. They said the policy remains in place for now, although further decisions could be taken depending on developments on the ground. Military officials also indicated that the operational plan in Lebanon has no fixed timeframe, warning that the confrontation could escalate into

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  US envoys cancel scheduled visit to Israel for Iran talks

  by MI on March 9, 2026

  US envoy Steve Witkoff and President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner cancelled a planned visit to Israel on Tuesday, Israeli media reported. Channel 12 reported the news, without giving a reason for cancelling the trip. The two envoys were scheduled to arrive in Israel for talks with officials there on the ongoing war on Iran. There was no immediate Israeli or US confirmation of the report. The US and Israel launched a joint attack on Iran on Feb. 28, killing more than 1,200 people, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Tehran retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel and Gulf countries that are home to US military assets. READ: Putin congratulates Mojtaba Khamenei on becoming Iran’s new supreme leader

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  Putin congratulates Mojtaba Khamenei on becoming Iran’s new supreme leader

  by MI on March 9, 2026

  Russian President Vladimir Putin sent a congratulatory telegram to Mojtaba Khamenei on his appointment as Iran’s Supreme Leader, the Kremlin said Monday, Anadolu reports. “Now, when Iran is confronting armed aggression, your work in this high office will undoubtedly require great courage and dedication. I am confident that you will honorably continue your father’s work and unite the Iranian people in the face of severe trials,” a Kremlin statement said. According to the statement, Putin reiterated Moscow’s support for Tehran, saying Russia will remain a reliable partner to Iran. “For my part, I would like to confirm our unwavering support for Tehran and solidarity with our Iranian friends. Russia has been and will remain a reliable partner of the Islamic

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  Hormuz: The world’s energy fuse

  by MI on March 9, 2026

  Off the coast of Fujairah, the scene is not dramatic so much as unsettlingly ordinary: tankers waiting, crews watching, port agents reworking schedules that were meant to be routine. The Strait of Hormuz does not need to be fully “closed” to become a global problem. It only needs to feel unsafe for long enough that insurers raise premiums, shippers hesitate and traders price in panic. When that happens, the shock travels faster than any warship: it reaches supermarket shelves, factory orders and household bills. That is why the current escalation involving the United States and Israel matters far beyond the Gulf. Policy in Washington and Tel Aviv is repeatedly framed as calibrated and limited. Hormuz is the place where that

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  Bangladesh shuts educational institutions to conserve fuel and electricity

  by MI on March 9, 2026

  Bangladesh has ordered the closure of educational institutions nationwide as part of emergency steps aimed at conserving fuel and electricity amid a worsening global energy crisis linked to rising tensions involving the US, Israel and Iran, Anadolu reports. The decision applies to both public and private universities, English-medium schools, and coaching centers, which have been instructed to halt academic activities beginning Monday. Authorities say the move is designed to cut electricity consumption and reduce transportation-related fuel use as global oil markets remain volatile. Under an order issued by the Education Ministry, universities have been directed to begin their Eid-ul-Fitr holidays ahead of schedule, effectively shutting campuses across the country. The directive followed instructions from the Cabinet Division as part of

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  Iraqi factions threaten to target US interests, vow to protect Iran’s borders

  by MI on March 9, 2026

  The Iraqi Resistance Coordination Committee warned on Sunday that it would launch “severe attacks” on US interests and the leadership of Kurdish parties in Iraq’s Kurdistan region, pledging to protect Iran’s borders. The committee is an umbrella group for several armed Shiite factions in Iraq, including Kataib Hezbollah, the Harakat al-Nujaba Movement, Asaib Ahl al-Haq, and Kataib Sayyid al-Shuhada. In a statement, the group renewed its warning to the United States and Kurdish party leaders in the Kurdistan region “against becoming involved in supporting Kurdish criminal gangs backed by the Zionist entity, which seek to infiltrate Iran”. READ: Iraqi armed group warns European states against joining aggression against Iran It said that “arrogant powers and those parties will face severe attacks

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  Al-Qassam calls on region’s people to oppose ‘Greater Israel’ project

  by MI on March 9, 2026

  The military spokesperson for the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades said he welcomed what he described as the “heroic action” by fighters of the Islamic resistance in Lebanon in confronting Israeli forces and inflicting heavy losses on them, as well as striking what he called significant targets deep inside Israel. In a message issued on Monday, the spokesperson said: “We stand with the resistance fighters as they exercise their right to defend their land and the sovereignty of their country in the face of aggression that has not stopped for a single moment.” READ: Israel’s Smotrich threatens to bombard Lebanese capital to resemble Gaza’s Khan Younis He added that the group offered condolences for those martyred in Lebanon and wished a speedy

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  Iran: If attacks on infrastructure do not stop, we will take similar measures

  by MI on March 9, 2026

  Iran has warned that it would respond in kind if strikes on its infrastructure continue. The Khatam al-Anbiya military headquarters, affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, said in a statement: “If attacks on Iranian infrastructure do not stop, similar measures will be taken.” The statement added: “If the enemy can tolerate oil prices exceeding $200 per barrel, then let it continue this game.” Earlier, Iranian state television said missiles carrying warheads weighing between 700 kilograms and one tonne were launched in the 28th wave of attacks. READ: Iran’s Assembly of Experts selects Mojtaba Khamenei as new Supreme Leader It added that the latest salvo included new-generation multi-warhead missiles, including the Qadr, Emad, and Kheibar Shekan models. According to the report,

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  The war Iran prepared for: How Tehran is raising the cost of war

  by MI on March 9, 2026

  Iran is pursuing a multi-layered strategy—military, economic, political, and diplomatic—to raise the cost of war and prevent regime change. Iran’s strategy in the current war As the war on Iran continues to expand across multiple fronts, Tehran appears to be pursuing a complex strategy that combines military escalation, economic leverage, domestic mobilization, and diplomatic signaling. Rather than relying on what Iranian officials once described as “strategic patience,” the current approach suggests that Iran is attempting to fundamentally reshape the battlefield by increasing the costs of the war for the United States, Israel, and any regional actors that choose to participate. The strategy appears to rest on several interconnected pillars designed not only to respond to military attacks but also to

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  US intelligence assessment questions whether war could topple Iran’s regime

  by MI on March 9, 2026

  A secret US intelligence report has concluded that the military campaign led by the United States against Iran may not achieve the political aim of toppling the Iranian regime, even if military operations expand significantly. The assessment comes as the administration of US President Donald Trump signals that the conflict could last for a long time as part of a military operation the administration says has “only just begun”. According to a report by journalist Warren P. Strobel in The Washington Post, a confidential assessment prepared by the National Intelligence Council – the body that coordinates the estimates of the US intelligence community – concluded that even a large-scale attack on Iran is unlikely to topple the solid structure underpinning

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  Iran’s Assembly of Experts selects Mojtaba Khamenei as new Supreme Leader

  by MI on March 9, 2026

  Iran’s Assembly of Experts announced on Sunday that Mojtaba Khamenei has been appointed as the new Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, succeeding his late father, Ali Khamenei. The decision was taken by the 88 clerics who make up the Assembly of Experts, the body responsible under Iran’s constitution for choosing a successor when the position of Supreme Leader becomes vacant. In a statement issued on Sunday evening, the Assembly called on the Iranian people to preserve national unity and to pledge loyalty to the new Supreme Leader. READ: Iran threatens to target regional oil facilities after strikes on its energy sites Iranian media circulated what appeared to be a manipulated image, reportedly created with the assistance of Amnesty International, showing

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  Israeli forces destroy water pipeline in Sebastia near Nablus

  by MI on March 9, 2026

  Israeli forces on Sunday destroyed a main water pipeline in the town of Sebastia, northwest of Nablus in the northern occupied West Bank, cutting water supplies to dozens of homes. Sebastia Mayor Mohammad Azem said in a press statement that Israeli forces destroyed the pipeline that supplies Palestinian homes in the western part of the town. He said the damage deprived dozens of families of water, noting that residents rely mainly on this line to meet their daily needs. READ: Palestinian man killed, brother critically wounded by illegal Israeli settlers in West Bank Azem said targeting infrastructure in the town increases the hardship faced by residents and places additional pressure on families, particularly as the area continues to face difficult conditions

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  104 killed in US attack on Iranian warship off Sri Lanka, Iran’s army says

  by Marwa A on March 8, 2026

  Iran’s army said Sunday that 104 crew members of the Iranian warship IRIS Dena were killed and 32 others injured in a US attack last week, Anadolu reports. According to the state news agency IRNA, the army said the vessel was attacked by the US Navy on March 4 in the water off Sri Lanka as it was returning from the Milan Peace 2026 naval drills in India. Washington confirmed that an American submarine launched a torpedo attack on the Iranian vessel. Sri Lanka said it launched a joint rescue operation after receiving a distress call from the ship, off the southern coast of Galle city. It added that 32 crew members were wounded and rushed to a local hospital.

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  US service member dies from injuries sustained in Iran’s attack on Saudi Arabia, death toll rises to 7

  by Marwa A on March 8, 2026

  A US service member has succumbed to injuries sustained during an Iranian attack on US troops in Saudi Arabia on March 1, bringing the death toll of US service members to seven, US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced Sunday, Anadolu reports. “The service member was seriously wounded at the scene of an attack on US troops in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” CENTCOM said on the US social media company X, adding that the person died last night. The identity of the fallen member will be withheld until next of kin are notified, it said. All of the previously reported deaths were from an attack in Kuwait; this is the first death reported outside that country. US President Donald Trump has

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  Iran threatens to target regional oil facilities after strikes on its energy sites

  by Marwa A on March 8, 2026

  Iran’s military threatened Sunday to attack oil facilities in the region in retaliation for US-Israeli strikes on its energy infrastructure, Anadolu reports. The threat was made by the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, the unified combatant command headquarters of the Iranian Armed Forces, according to the Iranian Students News Agency (ISNA). The command said that “new brutal attacks” by the US and Israel had targeted parts of Iran’s fuel and energy infrastructure as well as service facilities serving Iranian civilians. It urged governments of Islamic countries to warn Washington and Israel against continuing such attacks on oil facilities. “Failure to do so could lead to similar retaliatory measures across the region,” it said, warning that escalation could have major economic consequences,

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  US-Israeli attack hits irradiation sterilization facility in central Iran

  by Marwa A on March 8, 2026

  A US-Israeli attack hit an irradiation sterilization facility in central Iran, causing “significant damage,” Iranian authorities said Sunday, Anadolu reports. Iran’s ISNA News Agency said the strike hit a gamma irradiation sterilization center in Isfahan Province on Saturday. According to the National Center for Nuclear Safety Systems, the facility was targeted by air and missile attacks carried out by the US and Israel. The facility sustained heavy damage, the agency said, adding that no radiation contamination has so far been reported in the surrounding area. Regional escalation flared up since Israel and the US launched a joint attack on Iran on Feb. 28, killing more than 1,200 people, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, and injuring over 10,000 others, according to

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  Iran adds US economic assets to ‘target list’: Media

  by Marwa A on March 8, 2026

  Iran has expanded its list of potential targets to include American economic assets, Iranian media reported Sunday, Anadolu reports. The Fars News Agency, citing an unnamed Iranian official, said that Tehran had revised its targeting strategy so that it would no longer focus solely on US and Israeli military sites. According to the official, Iran has broadened its “list of targets” to include “American capital and interests.” The official said the decision followed what he described as changes in statements by US and Israeli officials “that now include direct threats against the Iranian people.” Late Sunday, the US and Israel carried out airstrikes targeting oil storage facilities in and around Tehran. The attacks caused significant damage to several storage facilities,

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  Pakistani fisherman killed in Iranian waters by debris from Israeli projectile: Official

  by Marwa A on March 8, 2026

  A Pakistani fisherman was killed after debris from an Israeli projectile intercepted by Iranian air defense systems struck his boat in Iranian waters, a Pakistani official said Sunday, Anadolu reports. The incident occurred on Saturday, said Shahid Rind, a spokesman for southwestern Balochistan province. The victim was identified as Muhammad Tayyab, a resident of Ganz, a small coastal town in the Gwadar district. District Police Officer Attaur Rehman told local daily Dawn that Tayyab “went into Iranian waters for Iranian oil,” which is sometimes smuggled into Pakistan and sold at cheaper rates. The death brings the number of Pakistani nationals killed abroad in the ongoing regional conflict to three. Two other Pakistanis were reported killed earlier in the United Arab

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  2 killed, 12 injured after ‘military projectile’ struck residential site in central Saudi Arabia

  by Marwa A on March 8, 2026

  Two people were killed and 12 others injured after a “military projectile” struck a residential site in central Saudi Arabia, authorities said Sunday, Anadolu reports. In a statement, the Saudi Civil Defense said that the projectile fell on a residential site belonging to a maintenance and cleaning company in Al-Kharj Governorate. The incident resulted in the death of two residents of Indian and Bangladeshi nationality, while 12 Bangladeshi residents were injured, the statement said, adding that material damage was also reported. Civil Defense teams responded to the incident and implemented the necessary emergency procedures. The casualties come as regional escalation flared up since Israel and the US launched a joint attack on Iran on Feb. 28, reportedly killing more than

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  Trump says Iran’s next supreme leader would need US approval

  by Marwa A on March 8, 2026

  US President Donald Trump said Sunday that Iran’s next supreme leader would not remain in power without approval from Washington, Anadolu reports. In an interview with ABC News, Trump said any new Iranian leader would need US sign-off or would “not going to last long.” He framed the remarks in strategic terms, saying he did not want the United States to be forced into another conflict with Iran in the future. “I don’t want people to have to go back in five years and have to do the same thing again or worse let them have a nuclear weapon,” Trump said. Iranian officials rejected the comments. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said earlier Sunday that selecting the country’s next leader was

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

  by Marwa A on March 8, 2026

  On International Women’s Day, mothers of the missing gather in protest, holding photos of their children and demanding answers. Chanting, “The missing are not numbers, they are the children of mothers who are waiting for them,” they call for information about the fate of their loved ones, saying mothers are still waiting for answers and asking the world: “Where are our children?” IMAGES: Gaza’s worsening environmental disaster

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  US spent about $6B in 1st week of Iran war: Pentagon officials

  by Marwa A on March 8, 2026

  The first week of the US military campaign against Iran has cost roughly $6 billion, Pentagon officials told Congress, with about $4 billion spent on munitions and advanced missile interceptors, Anadolu reports. According to the New York Times, about $4 billion of that total alone was spent on munitions expenditures and advanced interceptors designed to shoot down Iranian missiles. The figures were disclosed during discussions in Congress this week, where senior defense officials also indicated that further funding will be required to sustain operations and replenish depleted stockpiles. According to the American daily, about 4,000 Iranian targets have been struck, including missile launchers, naval vessels, and air defenses, significantly eroding Tehran’s ability to retaliate. Adm. Brad Cooper, head of US

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  Switzerland says US-Israeli strikes on Iran violate international law

  by Marwa A on March 8, 2026

  Swiss Defense Minister Martin Pfister criticized the United States and Israel for airstrikes against Iran, saying their actions, along with those of Tehran, violated international law, SonntagsZeitung newspaper reported on Sunday, Anadolu reports. “The Americans and Israel have attacked Iran from the air. In doing so, they, like Iran, have violated international law,” Pfister said, calling on the warring parties to cease violence and protect the civilian population. He also warned that Europe could be drawn into the conflict, not only through conventional military engagement but through asymmetric warfare such as terrorist attacks. “There is a risk of terrorist attacks in Switzerland. In addition, the war could trigger a wave of refugees that will also reach us,” Pfister said. While

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  Plots and Deeds: Agrarian Annihilation and the Struggle for Land Justice in Palestine

  by Marwa A on March 8, 2026

  Rural Palestine stands between idealised and romanticised images of abundant land, and the reality of settler violence and the effects on agricultural territory. Plots and Deeds: Agrarian Annihilation and the Struggle for Land Justice in Palestine (Stanford University Press, 2026) asks, “What might we learn from rural Palestine if we understand the people living there not as an inert feature of the landscape, but as a force that is actively shaping it?” Focusing on three villages in the occupied West Bank, Bruqin, Farkha and Qarawat Beni Zays, Paul Kohlbry’s research explores the dynamics of land defence in the Palestinian anti-colonial struggle against settler-colonial dispossession and capitalist real estate development. The three villages are described as locations “where property ownership and

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  UAE denies Israeli media reports about attacking water desalination facility in Iran

  by Marwa A on March 8, 2026

  The United Arab Emirates on Sunday denied Israeli media reports claiming that the Gulf nation had attacked a water desalination facility in Iran, Anadolu reports. “This is fake news. When we do something, we have the courage to announce it,” Ali Rashid Al Nuaimi, chairman of the defense, interior and foreign affairs committee at the Federal National Council (FNC), said on the US social media company X. Israeli Channel 15, citing unnamed Israeli sources, earlier claimed that the UAE had attacked a water desalination plant in Iran. The claim was widely circulated by Hebrew-language media outlets, including the public broadcaster KAN. KAN claimed that Israeli officials confirmed the UAE had carried out its first attack on Iranian targets since the

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  Iran to intensify attacks against Israel, US as of tonight, military official says

  by Marwa A on March 8, 2026

  Iran will intensify its offensive operations against Israel and the United States as of tonight, an Iranian military official said Sunday, Anadolu reports. “The escalating brutality by the US and Israel against the interests of the Iranian people will lead to a significant increase in offensive operations by the armed forces,” the Fars News Agency said, citing the official. He said the Iranian army will double its use of strategic missiles carrying heavy warheads, along with intensified use of drones. “This step has been taken to provide overwhelming deterrence against any military adventure that threatens our country’s interests and citizens,” the military official added. More than 1,200 people, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and top military officials, have been killed

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  UAE says 4 killed, 112 injured in Iranian attacks

  by Marwa A on March 8, 2026

  The United Arab Emirates said Sunday that four people were killed and 112 others injured in Iranian attacks on its territory since last week, Anadolu reports. A Defense Ministry statement said 17 ballistic missiles and 117 drones were detected from Iran on Sunday, with air defenses intercepting and destroying 16 missiles and 113 drones, while one missile fell into the sea and four drones hit its territory. The ministry added that 238 ballistic missiles were fired from Iran since Feb. 28, of which 221 were destroyed, 15 fell into the sea and two landed inside the UAE. It noted that eight cruise missiles were also detected and destroyed. The ministry explained that 1,422 Iranian drones were also fired during the

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  Lebanon says nearly 400 killed, over 1,110 injured in ongoing Israeli attacks

  by Marwa A on March 8, 2026

  At least 394 people have been killed and 1,130 injured in ongoing Israeli attacks on Lebanon since Monday, the country’s health minister said Sunday, Anadolu reports. Rakan Nassereddine told a press conference that 42 women and 83 children were among those killed in the attacks, while the injured included 274 women and 254 children. Israel has expanded its military campaign in Lebanon since Monday, following limited rocket fire by Hezbollah amid broader regional tensions linked to the war launched by Israel and the US against Iran. Despite a ceasefire agreement with Hezbollah since November 2024, Israel has continued near-daily violations that have left hundreds dead and wounded. Israel has killed more than 4,000 people and wounded 17,000 during an offensive

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  6 injured in central Israel by debris from Iranian missile

  by Marwa A on March 8, 2026

  Six people were injured in an Iranian missile attack in central Israel on Sunday, as a US-Israeli offensive on Tehran entered its second week, medics said, Anadolu reports. The national ambulance service MDA said one person was in serious condition after debris from an intercepted missile fell in central Israel. No further details were provided about the exact location of the attack. The Israeli army earlier said that two waves of missiles were detected from Iran, triggering sirens in central Israel. According to an Anadolu reporter, loud explosions were heard in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and west of Ramallah, likely resulting from attempts to intercept Iranian missiles. Regional escalation flared up since Israel and the US launched a joint attack on

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  Calls for the reconfiguration of military arrangements in the Gulf region

  by Marwa A on March 8, 2026

  The former Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani called for the formation of a strategic defence alliance bringing together Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and Pakistan. Al Thani has described it as an “urgent need” in light of developments and changing regional and international dynamics.  He made this call weeks before the attack on Iran by Israel and the US on 28th February 2026.  It is not the first time Israel attacked Iran whilst in negotiations. In June 2025 Israel attacked Iran whilst it was it was negotiating its nuclear program with the US.  Iran retaliated with hundreds of missiles and drones targeting Israeli cities and the US military base in Al Udeid in Doha, Qatar.

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  Thousands march in London demanding end to US, Israeli attacks against Iran

  by MI on March 7, 2026

  Thousands of anti-war demonstrators on Saturday marched through central London, calling for an immediate halt to US and Israeli military operations against Iran and an end to arms sales to Israel, Anadolu reports. According to the Manchester Evening News, the protest drew between 5,000 and 6,000 participants, based on estimates from the Metropolitan Police. The rally began at Millbank near Victoria Tower Gardens at noon and was organized by a coalition of activist groups, including the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND), Stop the War Coalition and the Palestine Solidarity Campaign. Protesters marched toward the US Embassy carrying placards reading “Stop Trump’s Wars” and “No War on Iran,” while others waved Iranian and Palestinian flags. Some demonstrators also carried portraits of

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  UAE says it detected 229 missiles, 1,305 drones since Feb. 28

  by MI on March 7, 2026

  The United Arab Emirates said Saturday that it detected 229 missiles and 1,305 drones since the start of “Iranian” attacks on Feb. 28, Anadolu reports. In a statement, the UAE Defense Ministry said that 16 ballistic missiles were detected on Saturday, of which 15 were destroyed, while the remaining missile fell into the sea. It added that 121 drones were detected on Saturday, with 119 intercepted, while two fell inside the country, according to the statement. The ministry said that since Feb. 28, 221 ballistic missiles had been detected, with 205 destroyed, 14 falling into the sea, and two landing within the country’s territory. It also noted that eight cruise missiles were detected and destroyed. READ: US-Israeli bases are ‘legitimate targets’:

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  US-Israeli bases are ‘legitimate targets’: Iranian official

  by MI on March 7, 2026

  An Iranian official declared Saturday that all American and Israeli bases in the region are considered “legitimate targets” for Iran and emphasized that the country has “no red lines” in “defending its national interests,” Anadolu reports. “All Israeli and American bases in the region are legitimate targets for us in this war. Iran has no red lines when it comes to defending its national interests. The battle continues,” said Ebrahim Azizi, chairman of Iran’s Parliament National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, sharing the statement on the US social media company X. Similarly, the Hatemul Enbiya Central Headquarters, affiliated with Iran’s Armed Forces, echoed the remarks of President Masoud Pezeshkian, who said: “We will not attack neighboring countries’ territories unless they attack

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  Spain ‘strongly condemns’ Israeli attacks on Lebanon, urges compliance with UN resolution

  by MI on March 7, 2026

  The Spanish government “strongly condemned” the recent Israeli attacks against Lebanon and called for full compliance with UN Security Council Resolution 1701, Anadolu reports. In a statement released by the Spanish Foreign Ministry on Saturday, Madrid reiterated its commitment to the security and stability of Lebanon, emphasizing that both were vital for the wider region. The statement urged Israel to comply with its obligations under international law and called on all parties to fully adhere to UN Security Council Resolution 1701, as well as the ceasefire agreement reached in November 2024. The government also reaffirmed its support for the mandate of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and demanded that the mission’s personnel and positions be respected, condemning

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  Palestinian man killed, brother critically wounded by illegal Israeli settlers in West Bank

  by MI on March 7, 2026

  A Palestinian man was killed and his brother critically wounded Saturday after illegal Israeli settlers opened fire on Palestinians south of Hebron in the occupied West Bank, Anadolu reports. According to Palestinian activist Osama Makhamra, two brothers were shot by the settlers. He said illegal settlers released livestock and cattle near homes belonging to the Shnaran family in the Wadi al-Rakhim area, prompting residents to attempt to drive them away. The settlers then opened fire at close range, killing Amir Mohammad Shnaran, 28, after he was shot in the neck, while his brother Khaled Shnaran, 33, was critically wounded by a gunshot to the abdomen, Makhamra added. Palestinian media, including Palestine TV, circulated video footage showing the initial moments of

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  Indonesia’s cabinet secretary is sanitising genocide in Gaza

  by MI on March 7, 2026

  Indonesia’s cabinet secretary, Teddy Indra Wijaya, recently attempted to defend the government’s position on the situation in the Gaza Strip. His defence relied on two claims. He said casualties have “significantly decreased” in the six months following a diplomatic agreement signed in Sharm El-Sheikh in October 2025. Instead of more than 70,000 Palestinians killed during the peak of Israel’s assault in 2024 and 2025, he said deaths have fallen to around 600 to 1,000 people. He also argued that the violence cannot stop instantly and that casualties will continue even if the intensity declines. These statements demand scrutiny. Presenting a reduction in casualties as progress sets a deeply troubling standard. Six hundred deaths are not evidence of peace. Six hundred

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  Pro-Palestine protester confronts German chancellor over Israel support

  by MI on March 7, 2026

  German Chancellor Friedrich Merz was confronted by a pro-Palestine protester over his support for Israel’s war in Gaza during a regional election rally in the southwestern city of Ravensburg on Friday evening, Anadolu reports. During Merz’s speech, a person in the audience held up a banner that read “Yes to international law. Never again Staatsräson (raison d’etat). Long live Palestine” and chanted slogans in support of the Palestinian people. The phrase raison d’ etat means that the protection and survival of Israel is a non-negotiable cornerstone of German foreign policy due to Germany’s historical responsibility for the Holocaust. READ: Israeli army kills 4 Palestinians, including child, in Gaza Angered upon seeing the banner, Merz responded: “The German government under my leadership

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  Israel bombs Imam Hossein University in Tehran

  by MI on March 7, 2026

  The Israeli military announced Saturday that it targeted Imam Hossein University in Tehran, which is affiliated with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Anadolu reports. According to an Israeli army statement, more than 80 Israeli warplanes participated in the attacks in Tehran and central Iran. The statement identified Imam Hossein University as one of the struck sites, claiming it served as a gathering point for the IRGC during clashes and “contained numerous military assets,” making it a legitimate military target. The Israeli military also asserted that the strikes hit Iranian military bunkers, missile storage facilities with launch infrastructure, and a ballistic missile depot used as a command center employing hundreds of personnel. READ: Trump claims Iran ‘surrendered’ to neighbors, warns of

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  Berlin’s Police Chief has links to evangelical Israel lobbyists

  by MI on March 7, 2026

  It is well known that Christian fundamentalists in the United States are among Israel’s most important supporters. It is also widely recognised that so-called evangelicals, thanks to generous donations from ultra-conservative benefactors, have become the fastest-growing religious community in the world. Their missionary work has been particularly successful in Latin America, but also in Africa and Asia. Their influence is also said to be increasing in Europe. In Germany, both the Catholic and Protestant churches have been struggling with a crisis for years, not least as a result of major scandals involving child sexual abuse. While hundreds of thousands leave the churches every year, the influence of fundamentalists is said to be growing. One such group is “Christians at the

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  Erdogan warns Iran attacks threaten regional, global stability

  by MI on March 7, 2026

  Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Saturday, highlighting concerns over the recent escalation following US-Israeli attacks on Iran, Anadolu reports. “Turkiye is closely monitoring the process that began with the attacks on Iran. If the interventions are prolonged, they could cause significant damage to regional and global stability. There are still measures that can be taken to build a dialogue platform, and our peace-focused efforts continue,” Erdogan stressed during a phone call, according to an official statement released by the Turkish Communications Directorate. The discussion also covered bilateral relations and broader regional and global issues. According to the statement, Erdogan reaffirmed Turkiye’s strong commitment to deepening cooperation with the UK across all sectors,