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

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  Netherlands commemorates Palestinian children, journalists killed in Israeli attacks

  by Mehdi Editor on June 15, 2026

  A memorial event was held in the central Markt Square in Den Bosch on Sunday, to commemorate Palestinian children and journalists who were killed in Israeli attacks on Gaza, Anadolu reports. Photographs and names of journalists killed in the attacks were displayed in the square, and thousands of children’s shoes were placed across the area as part of the commemoration. The Plant an Olive Tree Foundation organized the event, during which volunteers distributed brochures and informed passersby about the situation in Gaza. Esther van der Most, director of the Plant an Olive Tree Foundation, told Anadolu that the gathering was held to advocate for Palestinians’ right to live in safety, grow old with dignity, and lead their lives freely and

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  Echoes of the Lugenpresse: Unmasking Axios and its Israeli Ties

  by Mehdi Editor on June 15, 2026

  There is a well-worn playbook for seizing power over information. First, declare the existing press corrupt, dishonest and  contemptible,  then position yourself as the only clean , honest, and  ‘worthy’ alternative. Finally,  use that claimed moral high ground to attack any criticism as coming from the very rot you claim to have cured. Adolf Hitler perfected it with his  Lugenpresse ‘ The ‘lying press’. Donald Trump revived it with ‘fake news’ and ‘ enemy of the people’. And now, a  ubiquitous ,sleek, bullet -pointed American news outlet quietly  adopted the same rhetorical strategy,  wrapped in a minimalist logo .  The promise to establish only what is ‘worthy’ of the reader’s time, hence the name Axios, a Greek word for ‘

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  Funeral procession for a number of martyrs who were killed in Israeli attacks during the past few hours

  by Mehdi Editor on June 15, 2026

  WATCH: On World Environment Day, the Gaza Municipality issues an urgent appeal to save Gaza from its worsening environmental crisis

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  UK, France, Germany and Italy ready to lift Iran sanctions after US-Iran peace deal

  by Mehdi Editor on June 15, 2026

  Italy, France, Germany and the United Kingdom said in a joint statement early on Monday that they were prepared to lift sanctions on Iran following an agreement between Tehran and Washington. The statement said: “We warmly welcome the announcement of the memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran.” It added: “Iran must never acquire nuclear weapons. We stand ready to work with the United States, Iran, and the IAEA to this end.” The four countries also said they were prepared to lift sanctions in response to “clear and verifiable” steps by Iran regarding its nuclear programme. Earlier on Monday, Iranian state television officially announced that a peace agreement had been reached with the United States. Iranian state television

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  Palestinian president amends election law

  by Mehdi Editor on June 15, 2026

  Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Sunday issued amendments to the Palestinian General Elections Law, increasing the number of seats in the Palestinian Legislative Council, lowering the electoral threshold, and expanding the participation of women and young people in the electoral process. According to the official Palestinian news agency WAFA, the amendments increase the number of Legislative Council members to 200 and reduce the electoral threshold required to win seats to 1 per cent. The minimum number of candidates on an electoral list has also been raised from 16 to 20. The amended law strengthens women’s representation by requiring at least one woman among every three candidates on an electoral list. OPINION: Palestinian National Council elections and inseparable realities It also

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  Israeli settlers attempt to set fire to mosque in occupied West Bank

  by Mehdi Editor on June 15, 2026

  Israeli settlers set fire to a vehicle and attempted to burn down a mosque in the village of Burqa, east of Ramallah, on Sunday evening. The Palestinian news agency WAFA reported that a group of settlers attacked the village and set fire to a vehicle parked near Al-Nour Mosque, causing material damage. The head of Burqa Village Council said the settlers broke the mosque’s doors and set fire to its entrance in an attempt to burn it down. Residents managed to extinguish the flames before they spread inside the building, while the settlers fled the area. The attack comes shortly after another attack carried out by settlers on the town of Deir Dibwan, east of Ramallah, where two vehicles were

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  Ghannouchi says he is innocent and rejects appeals against prison sentences

  by Mehdi Editor on June 15, 2026

  Former Tunisian parliament speaker and leader of the Ennahda movement, Rached Ghannouchi, has refused to appeal prison sentences issued against him because he is convinced of his innocence, his defence team said.  The movement also condemned new prison sentences handed down to several of its leaders on conspiracy-related charges in what is known as the Baja case. In a statement posted on Facebook, the defence team commented on the life sentence imposed on Ghannouchi for allegedly attempting to replace the country’s governing institutions. The lawyers said Ghannouchi “never presented himself, either publicly or secretly, as an alternative to any ruling authority”, adding that there was no evidence in the case file to support the accusation. READ: Tunisian court sentences Ennahda Leader

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  Egypt’s new Horn of Africa moves anger Ethiopia

  by Mehdi Editor on June 15, 2026

  Ethiopia has renewed its criticism of Egypt and Eritrea, coinciding with Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki’s visit to Cairo and his meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, accusing both countries of undermining regional stability. The Ethiopian News Agency (ENA) published an article on Sunday accusing Eritrea of moving closer to the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) and the militant group Al-Shabaab in Somalia. It also said Ethiopia was concerned about Egypt’s efforts to “advance its interests in the Horn of Africa” amid the long-running dispute between the two countries over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam and wider geopolitical competition in the Red Sea region.  According to the report, relations between Ethiopia and Egypt have evolved beyond a dispute over Nile

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  Ceasefire announced between Iran and United States on all fronts

  by Mehdi Editor on June 15, 2026

  Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced yesterday evening that a peace agreement had been reached between the United States and Iran following intensive negotiations, saying both sides had agreed to an immediate and permanent halt to military operations on all fronts, including Lebanon. Sharif said mediators would begin facilitating a series of meetings later this week as the agreement takes effect. The formal signing ceremony is scheduled to take place in Switzerland on 19 June. Meanwhile, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Kazem Gharibabadi, said Tehran had approved the memorandum of understanding after its final demands were incorporated into the text. He added that Iran’s military strength and the threats issued by the country had helped bring the agreement to completion. He said

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  US claims 125 million barrels of oil escorted through Strait of Hormuz

  by Mehdi Editor on June 14, 2026

  US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth suggested on Sunday that Washington has maintained control over the Strait of Hormuz, successfully guiding millions of barrels of oil through the strategic waterway despite regional tensions, Anadolu reports. “Project Freedom never stopped, and we have run 125 million barrels of oil through the straits, and Iran could not do anything about it,” Hegseth told CBS News. He claimed that not a single Iranian vessel managed to transit the American blockade, asserting that US President Donald Trump’s administration holds “absolute leverage” in ongoing diplomatic negotiations from a position of strength. READ: Iran threatens to halt US negotiations if Israeli attacks continue in Lebanon The defense chief warned that the US military posture will remain active to

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  Trump says Israeli strike on Beirut ‘should not have happened’ amid Iran peace talks

  by Mehdi Editor on June 14, 2026

  US President Donald Trump on Sunday criticized an Israeli attack on Beirut, asserting that the strike should not have occurred while Washington is on the verge of a peace agreement with Iran, Anadolu reports. “This morning’s attack on Beirut should not have happened, particularly on a special day when we are so close to a peace deal,” Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social. He argued that the incident Israel was responding to was “small and meaningless,” resulting in no casualties, and urged all parties to “stand down” to avoid disrupting the diplomatic process. “We are very close to a deal that will bring peace to the region, including to Lebanon,” he said, calling for an immediate halt

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  Ex-Israeli premier urges removal of Netanyahu ‘with sticks, stones’ if elections are sabotaged

  by Mehdi Editor on June 14, 2026

  Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak on Sunday called for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to be removed “with sticks and stones” if he attempts to undermine the upcoming general election, Anadolu reports. Barak, who served as Israel’s prime minister from 1999 to 2001, made the remarks in an interview with Israel’s public broadcaster KAN. “I fear Netanyahu may try to sabotage the elections, and he can do it very easily,” Barak said. “If he tries, we will have no choice but to remove him with sticks and stones.” Netanyahu, 76, has led the current government since late December 2022. His coalition has been widely described as the most right-wing since Israel was established on Palestinian territories in 1948. The Knesset’s

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  Trump’s strategic mistakes in his war against Iran

  by Mehdi Editor on June 14, 2026

  In January 2026, flushed with the swift, covert removal of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, the Trump administration rolled the dice on a far more volatile and deeply rooted adversary. President Donald Trump operated under the seductive assumption that a high-tech, stealth excursion against the Islamic Republic of Iran would yield a parallel, cost-free triumph. Yet, months into the conflict sparked by the administration’s aggressive “Maximum Pressure 2.0” campaign and escalated via Operation Epic Fury, Washington finds itself trapped in a familiar, agonizing quagmire. Tactical brilliance has once again been mistaken for strategic victory. As Winston Churchill famously observed in the wake of early wartime triumphs, “Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end.

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  Iran threatens to halt US negotiations if Israeli attacks continue in Lebanon

  by Mehdi Editor on June 14, 2026

  Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf warned on Sunday that negotiations for a peace deal with the US could be halted if Israeli attacks on Lebanon continue, Anadolu reports. In a post on US social media company X, Qalibaf explained that the ongoing Israeli attacks on Lebanon reflect the US’ inability to fulfill its commitments. “The Zionist attacks on the southern suburbs of Beirut once again demonstrate the United States’ lack of will or ability to fulfill its commitments,” he added. The Israeli attacks on Lebanon “will not go unanswered,” Gen. Mohammad Jafar Asadi, deputy inspector brigadier general at Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters of the Iranian Armed Forces, said in a statement, according to Fars News Agency. Asadi added that

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  Israeli army kills 6 Palestinians, including child, in attacks across Gaza

  by Mehdi Editor on June 14, 2026

  The Israeli army killed six Palestinians, including a child, and injured several others in attacks across the Gaza Strip on Sunday as Israel continued violations of the ceasefire agreement that has been in effect since Oct. 10, 2025, Anadolu reports. Four Palestinians were killed and several others injured in an Israeli strike targeting commercial shops in the Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza, according to medical sources and eyewitnesses who spoke to Anadolu. Since Sunday morning, the Israeli army has carried out airstrikes and opened fire on Palestinians in various parts of the Gaza Strip, causing casualties, according to medical sources and eyewitnesses. In one incident, 30-year-old Zaki Mohammed al-Qarra was killed and another person moderately injured after Israeli forces

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  3 killed as Israeli army launches airstrikes in Lebanese capital in new ceasefire violation

  by Mehdi Editor on June 14, 2026

  At least three people were killed when the Israeli army launched airstrikes on the southern suburbs of the Lebanese capital Beirut on Sunday despite an ongoing ceasefire, Lebanese media said, Anadolu reports. The state news agency NNA said 15 other people were injured in the attacks. According to an Anadolu reporter, the strikes hit the Dahiyeh without prior warning. Two explosions were heard in the area, with smoke seen rising from the targeted sites, he added. The Israeli army claimed in a statement that the strikes hit a target belonging to the Lebanese group Hezbollah in the area. READ: Israeli ministers call for bombing Beirut despite ceasefire Sunday’s attack came hours after Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister

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  US envoy ‘confident’ Iran deal to be signed on Sunday

  by Mehdi Editor on June 14, 2026

  The US Ambassador to the UN expressed confidence on Sunday that an agreement with Iran would be signed within the day, despite acknowledging significant hurdles in the negotiation process, Anadolu reports. “I’m confident, the team is confident,” Mike Waltz told ABC News, asserting that US President Donald Trump has “every intent” of finalizing the deal on Sunday. While Waltz avoided sharing technical specifics or the exact format of the signing, he claimed that the American team is prepared to conclude the diplomatic effort immediately. The ambassador described the Iranian representatives as “incredibly difficult negotiators,” alleging that Tehran is struggling with internal fractures. He claimed that the Iranian side is experiencing a “very hard time getting guidance” from Supreme Leader Mojtaba

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  President of Somaliland breakaway region makes 1st visit to Israel, to open embassy in Jerusalem

  by Mehdi Editor on June 14, 2026

  The president of the Somaliland breakaway region, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, arrived in Israel on Sunday for a first visit, during which he will inaugurate the region’s embassy in Jerusalem, the daiy Israel Hayom reported. Israeli President Isaac Herzog posted photos of his meeting with Abdullahi on the US social media platform X, saying: “welcome to Israel, President of Somaliland.” “This historic visit embodies the enormous potential of the new partnership between our two countries,” he said. Abdullahi is expected to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Gideon Saar during his two-day visit, according to the Maariv newspaper. READ: Somali president accuses Israel of taking advantage of dispute with Somaliland He is planned to open the Somaliland embassy in

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  Red Cross warns thousands buried under Gaza rubble may never be identified

  by Mehdi Editor on June 14, 2026

  The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has warned that thousands of Palestinians believed to be buried beneath Gaza’s rubble may never be identified, as recovery efforts continue to face major obstacles, according to a report by The Guardian. The report said rescue and recovery operations remain slow despite a fragile US-brokered ceasefire that took effect in October, while the passage of time is increasing the likelihood that human remains will deteriorate beyond recognition. “There is no doubt that these bodies could soon become difficult to identify,” Pat Griffiths, the Red Cross spokesperson in Jerusalem, said. “The longer it takes for human remains to be recovered, the more difficult it can be to identify them. The longer the deceased

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  My map is not ‘half-seen’, Karam Nama; it’s focused sharply

  by Mehdi Editor on June 14, 2026

  I read Karam Nama’s commentary on my article, “The cowards’ playbook”, published by MEMO last week, with interest. While I appreciate his generous words regarding my past work and physical courage, I fear that he has missed the point of my article. Moreover, I think that he misunderstands what true journalistic and intellectual courage actually means. In my experience, it does not mean reacting to every tragedy on earth simultaneously; it means speaking truthfully about the specific matters before you, which is what I did in “The cowards’ playbook…”. Nama mistakes my focused lens for a blind eye. It’s true to say that my MEMO article was not an exhaustive encyclopaedia of global tyranny. Had that been the case, it

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  Palestinian detainee dies after 25 years in Israeli prisons

  by Mehdi Editor on June 14, 2026

  A Palestinian detainee died in Israeli custody on Sunday after 25 years in prison, prisoner advocacy groups said, Anadolu reports. Imad Rajih Sarhan, 47, breathed his last at Gilboa Prison in northern Israel, with Israeli authorities blaming a heart attack for his death, the Palestinian Commission of Detainee’s Affairs and the Palestinian Prisoner Society said in a joint statement. Israeli authorities, however, did not provide further details about the circumstances of his death or his health condition before his demise. Sarhan, from Haifa city in northern Israel, has been serving a life sentence in prison since Oct. 15, 2001. “In his first years in prison, Sarhan was subjected to harsh and lengthy interrogations and systematic torture methods, which left serious

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  Revitalizing Indonesia’s economic diplomacy engine in the Middle East

  by Mehdi Editor on June 14, 2026

  Over the past decade, Indonesia’s economic engagement with the Arab world and Turkey has remained trapped in a traditional pattern, heavily reliant on fossil energy trade and the export of domestic labor. Yet entering the 2025–2026 period, a fundamental shift is underway. Under new national leadership, Indonesia is recalibrating its strategy toward integrating into high-tech industrial supply chains, advancing the green economy, and expanding high-value digital services. This broader vision is now consolidated under a single strategic framework known as “Indonesia Incorporated.” The concept represents an inclusive collaborative platform that integrates the roles of the Danantara super-holding investment entity, the Indonesia Investment Authority (INA), state-owned enterprises, and small and medium-sized businesses into a unified command structure for trade policy. In

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  Pakistan, Egypt discuss regional developments ahead of possible US-Iran deal

  by Mehdi Editor on June 14, 2026

  Pakistan and Egypt’s top diplomats spoke for a second time in 24 hours as they discussed regional developments ahead of a possible US–Iran deal, Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry said on Sunday, Anadolu Agency reports. Over the phone, Ishaq Dar and his Egyptian counterpart Badr Abdelatty discussed progress toward a potential understanding between Washington and Tehran. “They expressed hope that these positive developments would contribute to lasting peace, security, and stability across the region,” the statement added. Pakistan, which mediated a ceasefire in the US-Israeli war on Iran in April, has maintained regular consultations with key regional and international stakeholders for a permanent end to the conflict that engulfed the entire Middle East. READ: Iran’s final decision on memorandum with US is ‘under

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  Iran’s final decision on memorandum with US is ‘under consideration’: Media

  by Mehdi Editor on June 14, 2026

  Iran’s final decision on a possible memorandum of understanding with the US is “under consideration,” a source familiar with the matter said on Sunday. “Iran has not yet announced its final decision on the proposed memorandum of understanding,” the source told the Fars News Agency. “The review of the political, legal, and technical dimensions of the proposals is still ongoing,” he added. According to Fars, the various aspects of the proposed deal is being discussed at both expert and decision-making levels. US President Donald Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform Saturday that a deal with Iran is scheduled to be signed on Sunday. READ: Emerging US-Iran deal fails to meet any of Israel’s war goals, says former prime minister Pakistani

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  Israeli ministers call for bombing Beirut despite ceasefire

  by Mehdi Editor on June 14, 2026

  Two Israeli Cabinet ministers called Sunday for resuming airstrikes on the southern suburbs of the Lebanese capital of Beirut despite an ongoing ceasefire, Anadolu Agency reports. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said Israel should “fire for every violation” by Hezbollah and for every drone launched by the Lebanese group. “Dahiyeh must tremble,” he said on US social media company X, referring to Beirut’s southern suburbs. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich also demanded Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “take down buildings in Dahiyeh today.” READ: Ben-Gvir calls for Israel to take Lebanese women and children hostage “The fire toward the northern settlements is a test of the Dahiyeh equation that the Prime Minister announced,” Smotrich said on X. The call by the hardline politicians

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  France’s Eastern Mediterranean energy strategy: Between commercial pragmatism and geopolitical ambition

  by Mehdi Editor on June 14, 2026

  France has emerged as a significant actor in the Eastern Mediterranean energy landscape, combining commercial interests, geopolitical ambition, and European energy security priorities. Its approach rests on three pillars: support for French corporate activity, especially through TotalEnergies; strategic alignment with Greece, Cyprus, Egypt, and Israel; and efforts to counterbalance Turkey’s growing assertiveness in the region. Since the major gas discoveries of the 2010s, France’s policy has evolved into a multi-layered strategy involving diplomacy, military presence, and energy investment. Recent developments between 2024 and 2026 show a more pragmatic shift away from costly pipeline visions and toward commercially viable export routes through Egypt.  Commercial Interests and the Role of TotalEnergies TotalEnergies plays a central role in France’s Eastern Mediterranean policy. In

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  Hezbollah says it repelled 2 Israeli incursions, launched 19 attacks in southern Lebanon

  by Mehdi Editor on June 14, 2026

  Hezbollah said Saturday that it had repelled two Israeli ground incursions and carried out 19 attacks targeting Israeli troops, military vehicles and positions in southern Lebanon using drones, rockets and artillery, Anadolu reports. The group said in a series of statements that its fighters detected an Israeli infantry force attempting to infiltrate the Maabar area on the outskirts of Kfartibnit in the Nabatieh governorate under hours of artillery and smoke cover. Hezbollah said it lured the force into a pre-prepared ambush zone, detonated explosive devices, engaged the troops with medium-range weapons and then shelled the area with concentrated artillery fire, forcing the Israeli unit to withdraw. In a separate statement, Hezbollah said another Israeli force entered the town of Majdal Zoun

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  Emerging US-Iran deal fails to meet any of Israel’s war goals, says former prime minister

  by Mehdi Editor on June 14, 2026

  Former Prime Minister and opposition leader Yair Lapid said Saturday Israel would fail to achieve any of its war objectives under the emerging agreement between the US and Iran, Anadolu reports. Lapid said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had failed on the Iran issue. “The agreement currently taking shape does not achieve any of Israel’s war objectives,” Lapid wrote on US social media company X, arguing that the Iranian government would remain in power, its missile program would continue and Tehran would be able to rebuild its nuclear program. Lapid described it as “Netanyahu’s complete failure,” saying it turned Israel into a satellite state that takes instructions on its national security. He added that “no press conference, media manipulation, or AI-generated

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  Israel won’t withdraw from southern Lebanon under US-Iran understandings: Israeli media

  by Mehdi Editor on June 14, 2026

  Israel will not withdraw from the so-called “security zone” in southern Lebanon as part of anticipated understandings between the US and Iran, Israeli security sources said Saturday, Anadolu reports. “The security establishment is preparing for possible instructions from the political leadership to halt the ground offensive in southern Lebanon, given the emerging agreement between Washington and Tehran,” the public broadcaster KAN said, citing the sources. According to the sources, Tel Aviv is also preparing to reduce its attacks deep inside Lebanese territory for fears they could jeopardize the US-Iran agreement. “Military operations, however, will continue with a greater focus in the south,” the sources said. “The Israeli army will not withdraw from the security zone in southern Lebanon,” they added. The

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  Protesters in Stockholm rally against Israeli attacks in Palestinian territories, Lebanon

  by Mehdi Editor on June 14, 2026

  Hundreds of people gathered in central Stockholm on Saturday to protest Israeli military operations in the Palestinian territories and Lebanon, Anadolu reports. The demonstration, organized by several civil society groups in Odenplan Square, condemned what participants described as Israeli attacks in the occupied West Bank and Lebanon. Protesters carried banners reading “Children are being killed in Gaza,” “Schools and hospitals are being bombed,” “Stop the attacks on Lebanon,” and “End food shortages.” They called on Israel to halt its military operations in Gaza, and urged Sweden to stop arms sales to Israel. A group of Iranian participants also joined the demonstration, protesting the US and Israeli policies. READ: Sweden calls for immediate ceasefire in Lebanon, urges protection of civilians Aydin Amir Hashimi,

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  Israeli army claims to kill several Hezbollah members in Lebanon strikes

  by Mehdi Editor on June 13, 2026

  The Israeli army claimed Saturday to have killed several Hezbollah members and struck more than 70 infrastructure targets in southern Lebanon in the last 24 hours amid continued violation of an ongoing ceasefire, Anadolu reports. A military statement said that the destroyed infrastructure included buildings allegedly used by the group to launch attacks against Israeli forces and northern Israel. There was no immediate comment from Hezbollah on the Israeli claim. Meanwhile, the Israeli army said that a drone had crashed in southern Lebanon, without causing injuries among soldiers. The Israeli army continued its daily airstrikes in southern Lebanon on Saturday, killing at least five people, according to Lebanese media. READ: Lebanon faces choice between ‘state monopoly on arms or militia influence’,

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  Violations of US blockade on Iran ‘will not be tolerated,’ Rubio tells India’s top diplomat

  by Mehdi Editor on June 13, 2026

  Violations of the US blockade of Iranian ports “will not be tolerated,” US State Secretary Marco Rubio told India’s top diplomat, who said US strikes in the Gulf killed three Indian nationals, Anadolu reports. “Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke yesterday with Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar. The two officials discussed recent events in the Strait of Hormuz,” a statement by State Department said on Saturday. “The Secretary stressed that all commercial vessels should immediately comply with orders from US forces as they seek to uphold peace and security in the Strait. He underscored that violations of the U.S. blockade and the illicit transport of Iranian oil will not be tolerated.” READ: Iran says signing of memorandum of understanding with US

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  Iran says signing of memorandum of understanding with US ‘will not be tomorrow’

  by Mehdi Editor on June 13, 2026

  Iran said Saturday that the signing of a memorandum of understanding with the United States will not take place on Sunday, but may happen in the coming days, Anadolu reports. Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said the Islamabad MoU focuses on ending the war, while the nuclear issue will not be discussed at this stage. “We will have to wait and see about the exact time of signing the memorandum; although it will not be tomorrow, the possibility of this happening in the coming days cannot be ruled out,” Baghaei added in statements carried by Tasnim News Agency. He said Iran must be “cautious,” citing what he called Washington’s “hesitation” in making comments about the process. Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif

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  When a brave journalist looks away: Iraq and Yvonne Ridley’s half‑seen map

  by Mehdi Editor on June 13, 2026

  No one familiar with the career of British journalist Yvonne Ridley doubts her courage for a moment. She is a woman who built her reputation in the field, not behind a desk; who crossed burning frontiers, confronted regimes, and paid personal and professional costs to bear witness to the oppressed. When she writes about governments that turn dissent into a prison cell, her words carry the weight of lived experience, not the comfort of distant analysis. Yet in her recent article, “The Cowards’ Playbook,” Ridley’s courage seemed to falter—not in conviction, but in scope. She saw Tunisia, Pakistan, and Syria. But she did not see Iraq. And that omission is not a minor oversight; it is an ethical gap unworthy

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  Iran to hold funeral for slain supreme leader on July 4-9

  by Mehdi Editor on June 13, 2026

  Iran will hold funeral procedures for the country’s slain Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei between July 4 and July 9, Iranian state media reported on Saturday. The program will include a farewell ceremony in the capital Tehran on July 4-5. Then, funeral ceremonies will be held in Tehran on July 6 and in Qom on July 7. On July 9, Khamenei will be buried in the Imam Reza Shrine in the city of Mashhad following a funeral ceremony there on July 18. Ali Khamenei was killed in US-Israeli strikes that began against Iran on Feb. 28. The attacks have also killed several senior Iranian military commanders and government officials. A Pakistan-brokered ceasefire took effect on April 8, and efforts to reach

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  Can the US host the World Cup while shutting out the Middle East?

  by Mehdi Editor on June 13, 2026

  In March 2023, FIFA moved with remarkable speed. Indonesia lost the right to host the Under-20 World Cup after political opposition emerged to Israel’s participation, a team that had qualified on merit. The governing body’s message was unmistakable: footballers must not become collateral damage in geopolitical disputes. Players had done nothing wrong. Discrimination against a qualified team was incompatible with the spirit and rules of the game. Few would disagree with that principle. The deeper question is whether FIFA is prepared to apply it consistently. Three years later, world football is heading towards its largest-ever World Cup, hosted primarily by the United States. Yet a growing body of evidence suggests that players, officials, journalists and supporters from Muslim-majority countries have

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  Pakistan says peace deal ‘closer than ever’, signing expected within 24 hours

  by Mehdi Editor on June 13, 2026

  Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Saturday that Iran and the US are closer than ever to signing a peace deal, with the deal expected to be finalized within the next 24 hours, Anadolu Agency reports. In a post on the US social media platform X, Sharif said the negotiations had entered their final stage and expressed optimism about the prospects for a breakthrough. “We are closer to a peace deal than ever before,” he wrote. According to Sharif, Pakistan is preparing for the electronic signing of the agreement immediately after its finalization. He added that technical-level talks are expected to begin next week to discuss implementation and other related matters. Sharif also thanked the US and Iran for

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  UK rights organisation calls on Business Secretary to cancel Israeli real estate event in London

  by Mehdi Editor on June 13, 2026

  The Arab Organisation for Human Rights in the UK (AOHR UK) has sent a letter to the UK Secretary of State for Business and Trade, Peter Kyle, demanding the cancellation of the so-called “Great Israeli Real Estate Event 2026,” due to be held at an undisclosed venue in London on 14 June, and warning that permitting it to proceed would facilitate the commission of a war crime on British soil and place the United Kingdom in direct breach of its obligations under international law. The AOHR UK explained that the event markets and facilitates the sale of property in illegal settlements of the Israeli occupation in the occupied Palestinian territory, advertised alongside properties inside the territory held by the Israeli

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  Israeli army kills Palestinian municipality worker in central Gaza

  by Mehdi Editor on June 13, 2026

  A Palestinian sanitation worker was killed on Saturday in an Israeli drone strike in the central Gaza Strip, Anadolu Agency reports. The victim was working for the Bureij municipality and was killed in the strike that targeted a waste dump near the Bureij refugee camp. Local sources also stated that the deceased was targeted by the Israeli drone while performing his duties. On Friday, the Israeli army acknowledged killing 20 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip during the past week, claiming that the victims were members of Hamas and Islamic Jihad. Tel Aviv’s continued attacks on the Palestinian enclave come despite a ceasefire that began in October 2025. The truce was intended to bring a halt to Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza

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  Somali president accuses Israel of taking advantage of dispute with Somaliland

  by Mehdi Editor on June 13, 2026

  Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud on Saturday denounced Israel’s recognition of Somaliland, accusing Tel Aviv of exploiting the dispute between Mogadishu and the breakaway region, Anadolu reports. He said Israel’s recognition of the region marks one of the darkest days in Somalia’s history. “Tel Aviv is taking advantage of the long-standing dispute between Mogadishu and Hargeisa,” Mohamud said in an interview with Dawan TV, a local media station based in Mogadishu. He said Mogadishu has considered two possible paths to address the issue of the breakaway region and they chose dialogue and persuasion over force. “Though it took over 30 years, it was the most suitable approach under the circumstances,” he said. READ: Report: Israel expands security cooperation with Somaliland Somalia

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  Lebanon faces choice between ‘state monopoly on arms or militia influence’, says president

  by Mehdi Editor on June 13, 2026

  Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said on Saturday that his country faces a “fateful” choice between a state monopoly on weapons or remaining “hostage to the logic of militias,” Anadolu Agency reports. Aoun’s remarks came in a statement to mark the 48th anniversary of the assassination of former Lebanese minister Tony Suleiman Frangieh, the presidency said on the US social media company X. “This painful anniversary comes as Lebanon today stands before a fateful crossroads: either its people unite around a sovereign state that monopolizes arms, upholds the rule of law, and protects its citizens regardless of affiliation or position, or it remains hostage to the logic of militias and a culture of exclusion,” Aoun said. Stating that national unity is an

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  Trump agreed to release $24B in frozen Iranian assets without formal announcement: Report

  by Mehdi Editor on June 13, 2026

  US President Donald Trump has agreed to unfreeze $24 billion in Iranian assets while avoiding explicitly confirming this, a senior Iranian official said Friday, according to the Fars News Agency. Mohsen Rezaei, a senior adviser to Iran’s supreme leader, made the remarks during a memorial ceremony in the southwestern city of Dezful. According to the report, Rezaei said Iran’s recent conflict “boosted” the country’s standing globally, claiming the country’s deterrence capacity had grown to a point where “Trump the gambler” now fears negotiating with Tehran. READ: Iran’s foreign minister details proposed memorandum with US, says war would end across all fronts He also argued that US policy is increasingly shaped by Israeli influence, asserting that America has effectively become a “colony”

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  Ben-Gvir raids Hebron neighborhood following Israeli curfew in occupied West Bank

  by Mehdi Editor on June 13, 2026

  Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir on Friday raided the city of Hebron’s Jaber neighborhood in the southern occupied West Bank, following the imposition of a curfew by the Israeli army on the area and its surroundings, Anadolu reports. Local sources told Anadolu that Ben-Gvir entered Jaber after heightened military measures were implemented in the Old City, coinciding with the closure of several entrances and a widespread deployment of Israeli forces. Official Palestine TV reported that Israeli forces raided a house in the city and imposed a complete curfew on the city’s Jaber, Salaymeh, and Wadi al-Haseen neighborhoods. The Israeli army restricted the movement of Palestinians and prevented them from moving within the targeted neighborhoods, according to the same

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  Iran’s foreign minister details proposed memorandum with US, says war would end across all fronts

  by Mehdi Editor on June 13, 2026

  Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Friday that a proposed memorandum of understanding between Iran and the US would formally end the conflict across all fronts, including Lebanon, while laying the groundwork for negotiations on sanctions relief, Iran’s nuclear program, and regional security arrangements, Anadolu reports. Speaking in an interview with state broadcaster IRIB, Araghchi said the document, commonly referred to as the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, would mark the formal end of the war. “The end of the war will be declared on all fronts, including Lebanon,” he said. Araghchi said the proposed memorandum includes commitments not to initiate war, threaten the use of force or interfere in each other’s internal affairs. He said the agreement would also include

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  Canada announces $100M in new humanitarian aid for Palestinians

  by Mehdi Editor on June 13, 2026

  Canada announced $100 million Friday in additional humanitarian assistance for Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, Anadolu reports. The funding, announced by Foreign Minister Anita Anand in Paris, will be delivered through UN agencies, the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, and nongovernmental organizations providing assistance on the ground. Anand made the announcement at the Paris Call for the Two-State Solution conference, where leaders gathered to discuss challenges in achieving a future two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The new contribution brings Canada’s total assistance for Palestinians to more than $500 million, according to a statement from Global Affairs Canada. READ: UK, Australia, Canada launch fund to support two-state solution efforts The funding will support emergency medical care,

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  The Iran war is exposing the limits of Gulf defence dependence

  by Mehdi Editor on June 13, 2026

  The appearance of Chinese-made defence systems across the Gulf has attracted significant attention since the outbreak of the Iran conflict. Analysts have pointed to the deployment of Chinese counter-drone systems in the UAE and the growing prominence of Chinese unmanned platforms in regional arsenals as evidence that Beijing is gaining ground in a market long dominated by the United States. Yet focusing solely on Chinese hardware risks missing the larger lesson. The war has revealed less about China’s rise than about the vulnerabilities embedded within the Gulf’s existing security architecture. For decades, Gulf states have relied on the US for military protection, advanced weapons systems, software support, sustainment and operational integration. The conflict has highlighted the strengths of that model.

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  Trump halts US military’s plan to forcibly seize Iran’s uranium: Report

  by Mehdi Editor on June 13, 2026

  US President Donald Trump has paused a plan by the military to forcibly seize Iran’s enriched uranium, CNN reported Friday, citing sources. The US military’s top officer made a secret, hurried trip to US Central Command headquarters in Florida late last month to receive an in-person briefing on plans for a potential ground operation in Iran aimed at seizing the country’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium, according to the report. The briefings were considered so urgent and sensitive that Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, cut short a meeting of senior NATO officials in Brussels and flew back to Tampa on May 19, the report said. READ: Trump calls Iranian foreign minister’s post on possible US-Iran deal

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  Iran says understandings reached on most issues in talks with US

  by Mehdi Editor on June 12, 2026

  Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said Friday that Tehran has reached understandings on most issues under discussion with the United States and is conducting final internal reviews of a proposed agreement, Anadolu reports. Speaking on state television, Baghaei said Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi’s earlier remarks that the proposed Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding had “never been closer” accurately reflected the current state of negotiations. “At present, understanding has been reached on the majority of the issues, and we are in the final stage of internal reviews,” Baghaei said. He said meetings involving relevant Iranian institutions were underway to examine the draft text and determine Tehran’s final position. Baghaei argued that an agreement could have been reached weeks ago, but accused

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  Palestinian Football Association president criticizes US over delayed visa for World Cup events

  by Mehdi Editor on June 12, 2026

  Palestinian Football Association President Jibril Rajoub criticized the US for failing to grant him a visa to attend World Cup-related events, saying the delay reflects disrespect for FIFA and the unifying role of the sport, Anadolu reports. Rajoub attended the opening match of the FIFA World Cup between Mexico and South Africa in Mexico City on Thursday but remains among several accredited participants who have either been denied US visas or are still awaiting approval to enter the country. In an exclusive statement to Anadolu from Mexico, Rajoub said he has yet to receive permission to enter the United States despite his entitlement to participate in World Cup activities as head of the Palestinian Football Association. “I believe that FIFA

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  When children become the primary casualties of wars and conflicts

  by Mehdi Editor on June 12, 2026

  There is no better place to begin this article than with the words of Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israel’s National Security Minister. During a security cabinet meeting in early June, he called for the abduction of Lebanese women and children as a means to pressure Hezbollah. “Let’s start thinking outside the box about Hezbollah,” he said, urging officials to adopt more aggressive measures, including “abducting their women and children” because, in his assessment, that is “what hurts them the most.” Imagine the moral decay required to propose the kidnapping of children as a legitimate military tactic. This is not a fringe figure speaking from the margins—this is a senior minister in the Israeli government. His words were met with no meaningful international