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

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  The wild card: How Netanyahu could still wreck Washington’s Iran deal

  by Marwa A on June 20, 2026

  There is a particular kind of danger in Middle East diplomacy that no memorandum of understanding can fully insure against: a leader with nothing left to lose and an army still under his command. That is Benjamin Netanyahu today. Washington and Tehran have signed a framework meant to end the active hostilities that have consumed the region since March. Israel was not a party to it. And Netanyahu has made it unambiguous that he does not consider himself bound by its terms. The Refusal Within days of the framework taking effect, Netanyahu stood at a ceremony in northern Israel and declared that the Israeli military “will restore security and prosperity to northern towns,” and that doing so “requires maintaining the

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  EU rejects Israel’s Gaza territory plans, demands immediate crossing access

  by Mehdi Editor on June 19, 2026

  EU leaders on Friday issued a sharply worded statement on the war in Gaza and the situation in the West Bank, urging Israel to allow full humanitarian access, reverse settlement expansion and comply with international law, while calling for Hamas to be disarmed as part of a wider post-war settlement, Anadolu reports. In conclusions adopted June 18-19, the European Council said it was “gravely concerned” about the “deteriorating situation” in Gaza, describing a “devastating humanitarian crisis” and demanding immediate, unimpeded aid deliveries “at scale” across the territory. It called for border crossings to be reopened, including a medical corridor linking Gaza and the West Bank, and said international media should be granted access. The statement also pressed Israel to allow

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  Protest in West Bank over illegal settler outpost as Israeli forces intervene and detain protesters

  by Mehdi Editor on June 19, 2026

  Foreign activists and residents of Deir Abu Mashal village, northwest of Ramallah in the occupied West Bank, protested against a newly established outpost set up by illegal Israeli settlers on Al-Qarana Hill, south of the village, Anadolu reports. Protesters marched toward the hill in an attempt to reach land where the outpost was established about two weeks ago. Israeli forces intervened during the march, detaining two Palestinians and five foreign activists, according to organizers. Residents said the area covers around 2,000 dunams of agricultural land and is a key source of olive production for the village. They added that in recent days Israeli forces and occupiers have prevented farmers and landowners from accessing the area, restricting entry to their land.

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  US stands with Lebanon, backs its ‘security and stability,’ Marco Rubio tells Lebanese president

  by Mehdi Editor on June 19, 2026

  The US reaffirmed its support for Lebanon during a Friday phone call between Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, Anadolu Agency reports. The two discussed the current situation in Lebanon and the wider region in light of recent developments, the presidency said in a statement. During the call, Rubio stressed that the US “stands with Lebanon” and said Washington would work to achieve “security and stability” in the country, ensure “the extension of state authority over all its territory,” and support Lebanon’s legitimate political, security and military institutions, “foremost among them the army.” READ: Israel, Hezbollah agree to ceasefire starting Friday, US official says Aoun thanked Rubio for US support for Lebanon and stressed the need to

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  US intelligence warns Israel could undermine Iran peace deal: Report

  by Mehdi Editor on June 19, 2026

  US intelligence agencies have warned the Trump administration that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is likely to take actions that could undermine President Donald Trump’s efforts to secure a lasting peace agreement with Iran, according to a report on Friday. Citing current and former US officials familiar with intelligence assessments, The Washington Post reported that Israel appears determined to continue military operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon despite provisions in the recently signed US-Iran memorandum of understanding calling for an end to military operations on all fronts, including Lebanon. Even short of escalation, Israel’s refusal to withdraw troops from southern Lebanon is likely to doom the fragile accord, a US official told the Post. “Continuing to occupy part of Lebanon is

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  RSF drone strike kills 9 civilians in North Darfur: Report

  by Mehdi Editor on June 19, 2026

  Sudanese rights group Emergency Lawyers said on Friday that attacks by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on civilian areas in the Malha and Um Baru towns of North Darfur State killed at least 9 civilians and caused widespread destruction, Anadolu reports. In a statement, the group said RSF drones struck the Um Bayada market in Malha locality on Thursday, triggering a massive fire that destroyed the market and caused extensive damage to civilian property. The group added that a passenger vehicle was also targeted at Sabreen market, killing 9 civilians and injuring others, with the death toll expected to rise due to ongoing attacks and difficult conditions on the ground. READ: Rights group accuses RSF of killing 23 civilians in

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  President Erdogan says Turkiye ‘leading actor’ in resolving regional crises

  by Mehdi Editor on June 19, 2026

  President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Friday that Turkiye is no mere spectator to regional crises but “the leading actor” in efforts to resolve them, pointing to the Iran war as the latest example, Anadolu reports. “Turkiye is not a bystander to regional crises but, as most recently seen in the Iran war, the leading actor in efforts to resolve them,” Erdogan said during the opening ceremony of the Halkali-Istanbul Airport Metro Line in Istanbul. Erdogan also said Turkiye is preparing to host NATO leaders, including US President Donald Trump, on July 7-8. Before the NATO leaders’ summit, a NATO parliamentary summit will be held in Istanbul on June 28-29, he said. READ: Israel, Hezbollah agree to ceasefire starting Friday, US official

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  Israel says ceasefire with Hezbollah to hold if group complies, army to remain in southern Lebanon

  by Mehdi Editor on June 19, 2026

  Ceasefire announcement came after at least 31 people killed in series of Israeli airstrikes in southern, eastern Lebanon since early Friday, Anadolu Agency reports. Israel said Friday a ceasefire with Hezbollah will remain in effect as long as the Lebanese group complies with it, while the Israeli army will remain deployed in southern Lebanon, according to Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth. An Israeli official said the ceasefire arrangement allows the Israeli army to stay in southern Lebanon and act against “emerging threats.” “If Hezbollah doesn’t attack, we won’t attack them. If they attack us, we will respond,” the official said, according to the daily. READ: Extremist Israeli ministers call for ‘burning’ Lebanon, opening ‘gates of hell’ after soldiers killed Israel and Hezbollah have

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  The agreement: Beyond the nuclear file to reshaping the region

  by Mehdi Editor on June 19, 2026

  The provisional framework agreement announced between the United States and Iran on 17 June is about far more than reviving stalled nuclear diplomacy or reviving the 2015 deal. It offers a political, security and economic blueprint for managing the post-war phase while redefining the balance of power across the region. Its significance lies as much in its timing as in its substance. Unveiled after a broad cycle of escalation centred on Lebanon, the framework suggests that Washington’s priorities now extend beyond Iran’s nuclear programme to the wider task of containing interconnected crises spanning Iran, Lebanon, Gaza, Israel and, potentially, the future of the Palestinian political system. Provisions covering freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz and proposals for Iran’s

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  Death of new commander puts spotlight back on Israeli battalion linked to killing of Hind Rajab in Gaza

  by Mehdi Editor on June 19, 2026

  The Israeli military’s announcement on Friday that the commander of the 52nd Battalion of the 401st Armored Brigade was killed in southern Lebanon has renewed scrutiny of the same unit linked to the killing of six-year-old Palestinian girl Hind Rajab in Gaza, Anadolu Agency reports. In a statement, the army said Lt. Col. Dor Gedalia Ben Simhon, 32, from Beit HaShita and commander of the 52nd Battalion of the 401st Brigade, was killed along with three soldiers after their tank was targeted during operations in southern Lebanon. According to The Times of Israel daily, Ben Simhon is the fourth commander of the 52nd Battalion to be killed or wounded since the start of Israel’s wars in Gaza and Lebanon. The battalion

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  Trump says US must keep Netanyahu ‘a little bit sane’ on Lebanon

  by Mehdi Editor on June 19, 2026

  US President Donald Trump said that Washington must keep Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “a little bit sane” on Lebanon, Anadolu Agency reports. While describing their relationship as “good,” Trump, in an Axios interview excerpt posted on Friday, asserted he can control Israeli military actions in Lebanon because officials there “do as I say.” He emphasized American military superiority, noting that the US provides “the guns” and “B-2 bombers,” and claimed that without his intervention, Israel would have been “eviscerated.” READ: Iran postponed direct talks with US to protest Israel’s ceasefire violations in Lebanon: Pakistani sources

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  UNICEF calls Gaza ceasefire ‘deadly illusion’ as 265 Palestinian children killed since October

  by Mehdi Editor on June 19, 2026

  At least 265 Palestinian children have been killed in Gaza since a ceasefire was announced in October 2025, UNICEF said on Friday, describing the truce as a “deadly illusion” and warning that violence continues despite the declared halt in hostilities, Anadolu reports. “During a period supposedly defined by restraint and protection, a child has been killed, on average, every single day for more than eight months,” UNICEF spokesperson James Elder told reporters in Geneva. He described the ceasefire as a “cruel and deadly illusion” and questioned whether it could still be considered a ceasefire while children continue to die. “While the world continues to speak the language of ceasefire, families in Gaza continue to bury their sons and daughters,” he

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  Podcast by Jasim Al-Azzawi with Mark Pfeifle: Two Protagonists, But Can They Control The Wild Card?

  by Mehdi Editor on June 19, 2026

  WATCH: Podcast by Jasim Al-Azzawi with Ronnie Chatah: Will The Big Boys Squeeze Lebanon?

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  Israel, Hezbollah agree to ceasefire starting Friday, US official says

  by Mehdi Editor on June 19, 2026

  Israel and Hezbollah have agreed to a ceasefire that will take effect at 4 pm local time (1300GMT) Friday, a senior US official confirmed to Anadolu Agency. The official did not provide further details about the agreement. The ceasefire announcement came after at least 31 people were killed and several others injured in a series of Israeli airstrikes across southern Lebanon since early Friday. Four Israeli soldiers were also killed in a Hezbollah attack in southern Lebanon. On Wednesday evening, US President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian electronically signed the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding aimed at ending the war between the US, Israel and Iran and halting Israeli attacks on Lebanon. According to official figures, Israel’s military offensive

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  War has diminished Iran, says Trump

  by Mehdi Editor on June 19, 2026

  US President Donald Trump on Friday claimed that Iran’s military capabilities had been severely weakened, dismissing criticism from Democrats over his administration’s handling of the conflict, Anadolu Agency reports. “The War has diminished Iran!” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. “It doesn’t, any longer, have an Air Force, a Navy, Antiaircraft Equipment, Radar, or practically anything else.” “We didn’t meet out of desperation, Iran did. They are FINISHED! We’ll play out the 60 days. They get no money, not ten cents!” he wrote. Trump also criticized Democrats for arguing that Iran was in a stronger position than it had been months earlier. “And yet the Democrats say that Iran is better off now than it was four months ago.

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  Wake up and ‘smell the reality,’ Trump is your only friend left says Vance

  by Mehdi Editor on June 19, 2026

  US Vice President JD Vance has delivered a blunt and revealing message to Israel’s far-right cabinet members: stop attacking Donald Trump, because he is the last powerful leader on earth still willing to stand by you. Speaking from the White House podium yesterday, the day after Trump signed a memorandum of understanding to end the US-Israeli war with Iran, Vance turned his fire on Israeli ministers who had publicly criticised the deal. VIDEO: Vice president Vance in a message to to Israeli cabinet members: “If I was in the cabinet of the Israeli government, I might not be attacking the only powerful ally that I have left 2/3 of the defensive weapons that have protected your homeland have been built

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  Did the boomerang war prove Iran’s power to endure?

  by Mehdi Editor on June 19, 2026

  When coercion lacks clarity, the weapon turns back on the hand that threw it. One hundred and ten days of American and Israeli bombardment. A relentless naval blockade. The proclaimed objective: to cripple Iran’s nuclear ambition, shatter its missile arsenal, and break the back of the Islamic Republic. And now? A memorandum of understanding. A ceasefire on ‘all fronts’. And the slow, grudging unfreezing of more than $100 billion in Iranian assets—the very financial sinews that sanctions were meant to sever. This is not a victory. This is the sound of strategy unravelling. The numbers tell a damning story. China holds between $20 billion and $50 billion in Iranian funds. Iraq owes roughly $15 billion for electricity and gas. India

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  Lebanese president condemns latest Israeli attacks, urges ‘comprehensive ceasefire’

  by Mehdi Editor on June 19, 2026

  Lebanese President Joseph Aoun on Friday condemned Israel’s recent attacks in southern and eastern Lebanon that have expanded, causing more killing and destruction and called for a “comprehensive ceasefire as fast as possible.” “What we are witnessing today in the south and the Bekaa, the expansion of Israeli attacks and more killing and destruction, constitutes a dangerous and condemned escalation,” Aoun said, according to statement from his office on US social media platform X. “The attacks have affected dozens of innocent people, including women and children, and were undermining efforts to solidify a ceasefire and end the war, especially after recent developments between the US and Iran,” Aoun said. “That [recent attacks] will not prevent us from working to achieve

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  Olmert: Israel is running a state-funded campaign of settler terrorism in West Bank

  by Mehdi Editor on June 19, 2026

  Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has accused the Israeli government of directly organising, funding and protecting Jewish terrorism in the West Bank. Writing in Haaretz yesterday, Olmert — who served as prime minister from 2006 to 2009 — issued what he called “unprecedented and harsh accusations against an Israeli government and the defence establishment.”  “The fight against Jewish terrorism in the West Bank must advance to the next stage and be waged with greater determination,” said Olmert. “The daily terrorism that is managed, directed, encouraged and supported by the Israeli government can no longer be tolerated.” Olmert dismissed the Israeli government’s attempts to portray settler violence as the work of isolated individuals. “What is happening across the West Bank

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  Israeli opposition would secure Knesset majority over Netanyahu bloc, poll shows

  by Mehdi Editor on June 19, 2026

  Israel’s opposition would be able to form a government if elections were held today, securing 61 seats in the 120-member Knesset, compared with 49 seats for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s ruling bloc, according to a new opinion poll published Friday. The survey, conducted by the Lazar Research Institute in cooperation with the Israeli daily Maariv between June 17 and 18, sampled 501 respondents and had a margin of error of approximately 4.4%. According to the poll, opposition parties would win 61 seats, giving them the minimum majority required to form a government, while Netanyahu’s coalition would secure 49 seats. Arab parties would collectively win 10 seats, the survey found. The poll also showed continued gains for the opposition Yashar party

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  Extremist Israeli ministers call for ‘burning’ Lebanon, opening ‘gates of hell’ after soldiers killed

  by Mehdi Editor on June 19, 2026

  Israel’s far-right cabinet members, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, on Friday called for intensified attacks in Lebanon after the Israeli army said four soldiers were killed in fighting in southern Lebanon, Anadolu reports. In a post on the US social media company X, Ben-Gvir said Israel should respond forcefully despite international pressure. “With all due respect to the Americans, Israel must make it clear to the entire world that the blood of our sons and the security of our citizens are not forfeit. All of Lebanon must burn,” the extremist minister wrote. “Our supreme duty is to protect the citizens of Israel and the soldiers of the IDF (army), and this commitment takes precedence over

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  ‘No one can tell us what to do,’ Israeli defense minister says amid US criticism

  by Mehdi Editor on June 19, 2026

  Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said late Thursday that Israel would respond immediately and with force if Iran attacks, saying that “no one can tell us what to do,” according to Israeli media. “If Iran attacks us, we will act immediately and respond with force. No one can tell us what to do, and we have proven that,” Katz said in an interview with Channel 14. “All the capabilities exist and are being built,” Katz added, saying Israel could “respond immediately or act later.” “We never asked the US to fight with us against Hezbollah in Lebanon, against jihadist elements in Syria or against Hamas in Gaza,” Katz claimed. “We do that alone.” “We expected, and still expect, that the

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  28 killed as Israel keeps attacking Lebanon despite US-Iran deal coming into force

  by Mehdi Editor on June 19, 2026

  At least 28 people were killed and several others injured in a series of Israeli airstrikes across southern Lebanon since early Friday, Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA) reported, marking the deadliest escalation since the US and Iran signed an agreement aimed at ending war on multiple fronts, including Lebanon. Israeli strikes after midnight targeted residential homes in the towns of Al-Sharqiyah, Harouf and Kfar Sir in the Nabatieh district, causing casualties and leaving several people missing, NNA reported. At around 2.10 am local time (2310GMT Thursday), Israeli warplanes launched a series of strikes on Nabatieh city, Kfar Tebnit, Nabatieh al-Fawqa and the Rayhan heights, according to the agency. Several other strikes hit the Kfarjoz-Nabatieh area, the university neighborhood in Nabatieh

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  Israeli opposition leader warns country’s foreign relations being damaged amid tensions with allies

  by Mehdi Editor on June 19, 2026

  Israeli opposition leader and former Prime Minister Yair Lapid on Friday criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, warning that Israel’s international relations were deteriorating following growing tensions with key allies. In a post on US social media company X, Lapid pointed to a series of recent diplomatic disputes involving senior Israeli officials and international partners. “In the past day, the U.S. Vice President got angry at a press conference over Smotrich and Ben Gvir, Foreign Minister Sa’ar cut ties with the European Union’s foreign minister, and President Trump said Netanyahu is showing irresponsibility in Lebanon,” Lapid wrote. “If we don’t quickly replace this government, Israel’s foreign relations will be wiped out,” he added. READ: Israeli foreign minister severs ties with EU

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  4 Israeli soldiers killed in Hezbollah attack in southern Lebanon

  by Mehdi Editor on June 19, 2026

  Four Israeli soldiers, including a battalion commander, were killed in southern Lebanon after a Hezbollah attack targeted their tank, the Israeli military and local media reported on Friday. In a statement, the Israeli army said Lt. Col. Dor Gedalia Ben Simhon, 32, from Beit HaShita and commander of the 52nd Battalion of the 401st Brigade, was killed during “combat.” The military said three other soldiers were also killed in the attack, but their identities have not yet been cleared for publication and will be released at a later date. The Israeli online newspaper The Times of Israel cited a military statement saying that an Israeli army tank came under a Hezbollah anti-tank drone attack overnight in the southern Lebanese village

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  Trump says there are ‘no limits’ to his power after Iran war

  by Mehdi Editor on June 19, 2026

  US President Donald Trump said there are “no limits” to his ability to exert power following the US-Iran war, arguing that the United States has the “most powerful military in the world,” Anadolu Agency reports. In an interview with Axios released Thursday, Trump was asked what he had learned about the exercise and limits of presidential power as a result of the conflict. “There are no limits. I haven’t learned that lesson yet. I know there are, but there are no limits. We defeated them totally militarily,” he said. “We have the most powerful military in the world, by far. Who else could have done a blockade like that? I did a naval blockade where not one ship was able

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  Indonesia needs not only GCC investors, but also bankable green projects

  by Mehdi Editor on June 19, 2026

  In a previous essay, we argued that Indonesia’s sovereign wealth fund, Danantara, could serve as a bridge between the Gulf’s immense pools of capital and Indonesia’s vast renewable energy potential. That argument remains valid. As Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries diversify beyond hydrocarbons and seek long-term investments in emerging markets, Indonesia stands out as one of the world’s most promising destinations for renewable energy development. Yet capital alone cannot deliver an energy transition. If Indonesia is serious about achieving President Prabowo Subianto’s ambition to build up to 75 gigawatts of renewable energy capacity in the coming decades—a transformation that could require at least US$235 billion in investment—it will need not only GCC investors, but also something far less discussed: a

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  Iran postponed direct talks with US to protest Israel’s ceasefire violations in Lebanon: Pakistani sources

  by Mehdi Editor on June 19, 2026

  Iran postponed the technical-level talks with the US, which were slated for Friday in Switzerland, in protest against “continued” Israeli ceasefire violations, mainly in southern Lebanon, Pakistani government sources told Anadolu Agency. The sources said that Tehran’s chief negotiator Bagher Qalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi were “all set” to leave for Switzerland to hold direct talks with Washington, but they pulled out of their scheduled trip at the last minute following “directives” from the “top Iranian leadership.” They did not specify whether the directives came directly from Supreme Leader Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei, who has already said he has a “different view” on the US-Iran deal to end the war. No new date or venue for the talks has been

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  Geagea rejects US proposal on Syrian forces entering Lebanon over Hezbollah issue

  by Mehdi Editor on June 19, 2026

  Samir Geagea, leader of the Lebanese Forces party, has rejected a reported US proposal involving the entry of Syrian forces into Lebanon to help address the issue of Hezbollah, saying the idea has no Lebanese or Arab backing and is “not viable”. In remarks to Lebanese MTV, Geagea said no one agrees with what the US president has suggested regarding Syrian involvement in Lebanon to resolve the Hezbollah file. He said the rejection includes regional and international stakeholders concerned with the Lebanese situation. He added that Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa does not support the proposal, noting that he pursues a positive approach towards Lebanon. He also said that Saudi Arabia and other Arab states, as well as the Lebanese state

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  Report: Israeli political circles shocked by Vance criticism of Netanyahu ministers

  by Mehdi Editor on June 19, 2026

  Sharp criticism by US Vice President JD Vance of ministers in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government over their stance on the Iran agreement has caused shock within Israeli political circles, an Israeli newspaper reported on Thursday. According to Yedioth Ahronoth, informed sources in Tel Aviv said political circles in Israel were “in a state of shock” following the US Vice President’s remarks. The newspaper said the Israeli government had chosen not to respond to Vance’s comments to avoid deepening disagreements with the administration of US President Donald Trump at a time of growing tensions between the two sides over the US-Iran agreement and the Lebanon file. It added that Vance’s remarks were interpreted as suggesting a possible review of the

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  Iran waives Hormuz transit fees for 60 days, requires advance passage permits

  by Mehdi Editor on June 19, 2026

  Iran’s Supreme National Security Council has announced that Tehran will not impose any fees on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz for 60 days under a memorandum of understanding signed with the United States, according to Iranian media reports. In a statement, the council said commercial vessels wishing to transit the strait must submit advance passage requests to what it described as the waterway administration. The statement added that mine-clearing operations would be carried out under the memorandum of understanding signed in Islamabad, with vessels required to follow the route and timetable specified by the authority. The council said it had instructed relevant bodies to process and respond to vessel requests quickly and on a priority basis to achieve

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  War strengthens Iranian regime while deepening opposition divisions

  by Mehdi Editor on June 19, 2026

  Iran’s war was portrayed as a catalyst for the collapse of the Islamic Republic, but months of fighting failed to topple the Iranian leadership and instead left its opponents, both inside and outside the country, in a weaker position. At the start of the war, US President Donald Trump said the conflict would pave the way for Iranians to rise up against the authorities, after expressing support for anti-government protests that peaked in January and posed the biggest challenge to the Islamic Republic in years. Following the outbreak of war and the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in US-Israeli strikes on the first day, fractured Iranian opposition groups abroad quickly sought to present themselves as an alternative to the

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  Netanyahu: Israel will not withdraw from southern Lebanon

  by Mehdi Editor on June 19, 2026

  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reaffirmed his commitment to keeping Israeli troops in southern Lebanon. Speaking on Thursday, Netanyahu said: “There are still additional challenges ahead of us, and they require calm, a firm commitment to our security interests, and maintaining the important relationship with our American friends.” He claimed that “restoring security to northern Israel requires maintaining the security zone in southern Lebanon and not withdrawing from it as long as Israel’s security needs require it.” Meanwhile, US media reports said on Thursday that Israel is holding talks with the United States to ensure the continued presence of its forces in southern Lebanon, despite provisions in the memorandum of understanding that affirm Lebanon’s territorial integrity and sovereignty. Separately,

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  Hezbollah lawmaker says Israel has 60 days to withdraw from Lebanon

  by Mehdi Editor on June 19, 2026

  Mohammad Raad, head of Hezbollah’s parliamentary bloc, said Israel has 60 days to complete its withdrawal from Lebanese territory, urging Lebanese authorities to study the understanding signed between the United States and Iran “carefully and objectively”. In a statement issued on Thursday, Raad made the remarks as Israel continues its military actions and maintains its presence in areas it occupies in southern Lebanon. He noted that the first clause of the agreement signed between Tehran and Washington calls, in part, for the “immediate and permanent cessation of military operations on all fronts, including Lebanon”. The agreement also includes a commitment to “guarantee Lebanon’s territorial integrity and sovereignty” and confirms a “permanent end to the war on all fronts” in its

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  Under peace deal, US forces lift blockade on all maritime traffic entering and exiting Iranian ports

  by Mehdi Editor on June 18, 2026

  US forces on Thursday lifted the blockade on all maritime traffic entering and exiting Iranian ports and coastal areas, the US military’s Central Command (CENTCOM) said shortly after the US and Iran signed a deal to end the Mideast war, Anadolu Agency reports. “Today, US forces lifted the blockade on all maritime traffic entering and exiting Iranian ports and coastal areas, in accordance with the President’s (Donald Trump) direction,” CENTCOM said in a statement on the US social media company X. It said that American forces are “not impeding the transit of vessels to or from Iranian ports on the Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman.” “All US military blockade enforcement efforts have ceased. Our great Naval Ships will remain

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  8 countries condemn occupier violence against Palestinians in occupied West Bank

  by Mehdi Editor on June 18, 2026

  The foreign ministers of eight countries on Thursday condemned escalating Israeli occupier violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, including recent attacks on two mosques in northern Ramallah, Anadolu reports. Turkiye, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates said they condemned “in the strongest terms” continued attacks on the Grand Mosque in the village of Jiljilya and Al-Farouq Mosque in the village of Mazar’a al-Nubani. The foreign ministers said the attacks constituted a clear violation of the sanctity of places of worship and religious sites, as well as international law, including international humanitarian law and relevant UN resolutions. They also rejected the “deplorable attacks by Israeli settlers” and continued illegal Israeli measures in the

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  3 more Palestinians killed in Israeli strikes in Gaza in new ceasefire violation

  by Mehdi Editor on June 18, 2026

  Three Palestinians were killed and others wounded in an Israeli drone strike in the Gaza Strip on Thursday, marking another violation of a ceasefire in effect since last October, a medical source said, Anadolu reports. The bodies of three Palestinians and several wounded people arrived at Al-Saraya Field Hospital after a civilian vehicle was hit at the Abu Khadra intersection in central Gaza City, the source told , Anadolu Agency. According to witnesses, an Israeli drone fired a missile at the vehicle as it passed through the Abu Khadra intersection in the city. The strike left the vehicle in flames, they added. The attack took place in one of the busiest and most densely populated areas of Gaza City, with

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  When the international community’s absolutes lead to genocide

  by Mehdi Editor on June 18, 2026

  When anyone from the international community deems a purported solution as the only viable option for Palestine, it must be immediately assumed the contrary is applicable. For years, the UN and world leaders have affirmed the two-state paradigm as the only solution, with UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres qualifying it further as “There is no Plan B”. Now, former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has endorsed US President Donald Trump’s 20-point plan as “the only game in town”. Speaking to The New Yorker editor in chief David Remnic, Clinton stated, “Trump’s 20-point plan for Gaza is actually a pathway to security for Israel, reconstruction for Gaza and the possibility of self-determination, however defined for the Palestinians.” Neither the two-state

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  Israel orders demolition of 9 Palestinian homes in Hebron amid West Bank escalation

  by Mehdi Editor on June 18, 2026

  Israeli authorities on Thursday issued demolition orders for nine inhabited Palestinian homes in the West Bank city of Hebron, in the latest home demolitions in the occupied territory, Anadolu reports. Local sources said the demolition notices were issued for nine homes in the Qanan Niyas area of Al-Shuyukh town, northeast of Hebron on claims of building without permits in Area C. According to the sources, Israeli authorities had issued stop-work orders to the homeowners about a month ago for lacking permits despite the submission of the necessary documents for obtaining permits. Israel frequently demolishes Palestinian structures on the grounds that they were built without permits in Area C, which remains under full Israeli civil, administrative under the Oslo II agreement.

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  Paris grants honorary citizenship to Palestinian civilians, journalists

  by Mehdi Editor on June 18, 2026

  Paris granted honorary citizenship Thursday to Palestinian civilian populations and journalists, according to French public broadcaster RFI. The decision, long demanded by part of the left-wing majority in the Paris City Council, was announced during a council session attended by Palestine’s ambassador to France Hala Abou-Hassira, RFI reported. “Honorary citizenship is not a symbol, but a commitment to peace. We are extending our hand to an entire people,” Mayor Emmanuel Gregoire told the council. Gregoire said recognizing the suffering of the Palestinian people “in no way erases that of the Israeli people.” The Paris City Council had also adopted a motion in 2025 granting honorary citizenship to Gazans. READ: Israel criticises France over restricted defence expo participation

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  UAE becomes 1st Arab country to restrict social media use for children under 15

  by Mehdi Editor on June 18, 2026

  The United Arab Emirates on Thursday announced that children under the age of 15 will no longer be allowed to use social media platforms, becoming the first Arab country to adopt such a restriction, Anadolu reports. The measure was approved by the UAE Cabinet and announced by the state news agency WAM. It comes as several Arab countries consider similar regulations, including Egypt, which announced plans to pursue comparable measures few months ago. The Cabinet said the decision aims “to regulate children’s access to social media in response to their growing use of digital platforms and the associated risks, including exposure to inappropriate content, unsafe interactions, collection of personal data, and excessive use.” The regulations apply to social media platforms

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  Iran’s state television says Hormuz passage ‘still requires coordination’ with Tehran

  by Mehdi Editor on June 18, 2026

  Iran’s state television said Thursday the passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz still requires coordination with Tehran, Anadolu reports. According to the broadcaster, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) “continues to impose the condition of coordination with its naval forces on ships seeking to transit the waterway.” Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and US President Donald Trump signed a memorandum of understanding on Wednesday aimed at ending the war between Tehran and Washington that began in late February. According to the terms of the deal published by Iran’s state news agency IRNA, Tehran “will make its utmost efforts to ensure the safe passage of commercial vessels, free of charge for 60 days, between the Gulf and the Gulf of

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  Gaza administration committee says reconstruction priorities finalized, ready to begin work

  by Mehdi Editor on June 18, 2026

  The National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG) said Thursday it has finalized priorities for recovery and reconstruction and is ready to begin field operations “once conditions permit,” Anadolu reports. The announcement came during a coordination meeting chaired by committee head Ali Shaath with representatives of the European Union, the United Nations and the World Bank to discuss the results of a rapid damage and needs assessment in the Gaza Strip. According to a statement published by the committee on the US social media company X, Shaath said the committee had adopted the assessment as the “main reference” for preparing recovery and reconstruction plans and programs. He added that the committee had completed sectoral priorities and implementation plans, enabling it

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  US journalist Carlson says Trump did not consult Israel on Iran deal

  by Mehdi Editor on June 18, 2026

  American journalist and political commentator Tucker Carlson said US President Donald Trump understands he must weaken Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s position to advance an agreement with Iran and did not consult Israel on the matter, Anadolu reports. Speaking on his podcast, which was published on YouTube on Wednesday, Carlson assessed Israel’s stance toward a potential agreement between the US and Iran. Carlson said the agreement could be jeopardized not by the US Congress but by Israel. “Trump knows that he has to diminish Benjamin Netanyahu and not just Netanyahu but the state of Israel’s moral legitimacy in the United States in order to keep going. And so amazingly, he’s done that,” Carlson said. Carlson said a person who knows

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  Israel’s Netanyahu tells Trump he will not be bound by Iran-US deal: Report

  by Mehdi Editor on June 18, 2026

  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told US President Donald Trump that Israel would not be bound by the agreement reached between the US and Iran, CNN reported Thursday, citing an unnamed Israeli official. The official said that Netanyahu was attempting to influence the ongoing 60-day negotiation process under the agreement, claiming that the Israeli premier is trying to shape the final agreement by using right-leaning media figures and senators close to him to pressure Trump. According to the official, Netanyahu believed there would be no final agreement between the US and Iran and that Tehran would not genuinely accept restrictions on its nuclear program. The official also claimed that Netanyahu informed Trump that Israel was not bound by the agreement,

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  Despite US-Iran deal, Israel says troops to remain in 10-km zone inside Lebanon

  by Mehdi Editor on June 18, 2026

  The Israeli army on Thursday published a map showing its continued deployment in a zone extending up to 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) inside southern Lebanon, despite a US-Iran memorandum of understanding that includes a halt to military operations on all fronts, including Lebanon, Anadolu reports. In a post on the US social media company X, the army said its forces remain deployed inside what it described as a “security zone” within Lebanese territory according to “operational needs.” It said troops would continue operating in the area to remove threats and strengthen protection for residents of northern Israel. The military attached a map showing the extent of its deployment across broad sectors of southern Lebanon. According to the map, Israeli forces

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  After US-Iran deal, Israeli minister threatens war on Syria ‘sooner or later’

  by Mehdi Editor on June 18, 2026

  Israeli Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli threatened Thursday that Israel would wage war on Syria “sooner or later,” claiming that Syria and Turkiye pose a greater challenge to Israel than Iran, Anadolu reports. “We will wage war on Syria, sooner or later, because it and Turkiye are far more worrying than Iran,” Chikli said in an interview with Israeli radio station 103FM, affiliated with Maariv newspaper. The remarks by Chikli, a member of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s ruling Likud party, came hours after Iran and the US signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at ending war in all fronts, including Lebanon. The Israeli minister has repeatedly criticized regional countries involved in diplomatic efforts to end ongoing conflicts. On Wednesday, Chikli

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  The boomerang: How America’s semiconductor war backfired

  by Mehdi Editor on June 18, 2026

  There is an ancient Chinese proverb that Washington strategists should have remembered: “When you shoot an arrow of revenge, dig two graves.” They didn’t listen. And now we are watching the most spectacular economic boomerang in modern history. Three years ago, the United States launched what its architects called the “nuclear option” against China. They banned the export of advanced semiconductors. They blocked the machines that manufacture them. They told Beijing: your technological future ends here. In the halls of the Pentagon, there was a quiet celebration. The thinking was seductive in its simplicity. Without American chips, China’s artificial intelligence revolution would die. Its economy would stagnate. Its military would fall behind. The CEOs of major American tech giants are

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  Israel allocates over $40M to regain support among US conservatives: Report

  by Mehdi Editor on June 18, 2026

  Israel has allocated more than $40 million to influence right-wing audiences in the US amid declining support for the country and growing criticism over its role in the war against Iran, according to an Israeli media report published Thursday. Haaretz reported that Israel has significantly increased spending on public relations and influence campaigns aimed primarily at conservative Christian audiences in the US. According to the newspaper, the campaign began late last year but has recently shifted its focus to defending Israel’s war against Iran and countering criticism directed at Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government. The report said the Israeli government more than doubled the budget for the effort to over $40 million as support for Israel among parts of the

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  Libya’s rival leaders agree roadmap for presidential, parliamentary elections by February 2027

  by Mehdi Editor on June 18, 2026

  The heads of Libya’s three main political bodies agreed Thursday on a roadmap to hold simultaneous presidential and parliamentary elections before February 2027 and establish a high-level committee to oversee the process, Anadolu reports. The agreement was reached during a meeting between Speaker of the House of Representatives Aguila Saleh, Chairman of the High Council of State Mohammed Takala and Chiarman of the Presidential Council Mohamed al-Menfi, according to a joint statement. The three leaders said they adopted a principles document that would serve as a roadmap for ending Libya’s prolonged transitional phase. The roadmap includes completing the constitutional and legal framework required for presidential and parliamentary elections, unifying sovereign institutions and strengthening national sovereignty. The document also calls for