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

• 
  UN experts warn against ‘irreversible’ altering of Jerusalem’s demographic composition

  by Marwa A on March 6, 2026

  UN human rights experts warned Friday that “irreparable harm” is being inflicted on Jerusalem as violence escalates across the region and the war in Gaza spills into the occupied West...

  UN experts warn against ‘irreversible’ altering of Jerusalem’s demographic composition

  

  UN human rights experts warned Friday that “irreparable harm” is being inflicted on Jerusalem as violence escalates across the region and the war in Gaza spills into the occupied West Bank, Anadolu reports. “Under the cover of an existential war against the Palestinians, Israel is accelerating measures that alter Jerusalem’s demographic composition, religious character and legal status,” the experts said in a statement. The statement was endorsed by several UN human rights experts and special rapporteurs covering the occupied Palestinian territory, human rights, racial discrimination, food, and other related rights. They warned that the measures are “destroying the remnants of the pluralistic fabric that Jerusalem has represented for centuries, for Muslims, Christians and Jews.” “What is being done to this
• 
  Standing between missiles and diplomacy: The Gulf’s difficult path to prevent a regional war

  by MI on March 6, 2026

  The Arab Gulf states today find themselves in one of the most uncomfortable strategic positions in modern Middle Eastern politics. They are neither the primary combatants in the unfolding confrontation...

  Standing between missiles and diplomacy: The Gulf’s difficult path to prevent a regional war

  

  The Arab Gulf states today find themselves in one of the most uncomfortable strategic positions in modern Middle Eastern politics. They are neither the primary combatants in the unfolding confrontation between Iran, Israel and the United States, nor are they distant observers. Instead, they stand directly in the line of fire—geographically, economically and politically. Missiles and drones have struck oil facilities, ports and military installations across the Gulf region. Saudi Arabia’s Ras Tanura refinery, which processes more than 550,000 barrels of oil per day, was among the high-profile targets. Oman’s Duqm Port—an important logistics hub—has also been attacked. Qatar’s liquefied natural gas infrastructure has reportedly been hit, forcing a temporary suspension of LNG production and triggering a sharp rise in
• 
  US group urge Iran to grant ICC jurisdiction over apparent war crimes

  by MI on March 6, 2026

  The American organisation Democracy for the Arab World Now (DAWN) has called on Iran to file a declaration granting the International Criminal Court (ICC) jurisdiction over crimes committed on its territory since...

  US group urge Iran to grant ICC jurisdiction over apparent war crimes

  

  The American organisation Democracy for the Arab World Now (DAWN) has called on Iran to file a declaration granting the International Criminal Court (ICC) jurisdiction over crimes committed on its territory since the war began on 28th February 2026. Other impacted states in the region should also file similar declarations to maintain a pathway to justice.   As of 5th March 2026, the US-Israeli war of aggression has reportedly killed over 1,230 Iranian civilians and struck hospitals and schools across the country, while Iranian retaliatory attacks have also reportedly killed and injured civilians and damaged civilian infrastructure across the region. All states should also engage with UN fact-finding and human rights mechanisms and secure, preserve and protect evidence of possible war crimes. READ: US ‘investigates’ deadly strike on
• 
  ‘Operation Epic Fury’ burns an estimated $5.82 billion in just 100 hours

  by MI on March 6, 2026

  The first 100 hours of “Operation Epic Fury” have cost US forces at least an estimated $5.82 billion, or about 0.69% of the entire 2026 US defense budget, according to...

  ‘Operation Epic Fury’ burns an estimated $5.82 billion in just 100 hours

  

  The first 100 hours of “Operation Epic Fury” have cost US forces at least an estimated $5.82 billion, or about 0.69% of the entire 2026 US defense budget, according to data compiled by Anadolu. Anadolu estimates that the US spent $779 million in the first 24 hours of the operation. As operations have continued, the total operational cost of US offensives has tallied to approximately $3.3 billion, with figures from the Center for Strategic and International Studies showing a similar total. In addition to operational costs, the US has lost significant military assets in Iran’s retaliatory strikes. According to estimates by Anadolu, the US has already lost roughly $2.52 billion. US asset losses The primary contributor to the losses is
• 
  Zionism’s grip over the world: From Epstein to Greater Israel

  by MI on March 6, 2026

  What do the US Congress, Nicolás Maduro, the riots in Iran, Jeffrey Epstein, and the destruction of Syria have in common? Zionism and Israel have been at the forefront of...

  Zionism’s grip over the world: From Epstein to Greater Israel

  

  What do the US Congress, Nicolás Maduro, the riots in Iran, Jeffrey Epstein, and the destruction of Syria have in common? Zionism and Israel have been at the forefront of genocide, foreign interference, honey traps, false flags, and other repugnant schemes since before 1948 – albeit obfuscated for decades by the mainstream media. However, the latest genocide in Gaza has lifted the veil from Israeli heinous crimes and transgressions. This article highlights some of the most significant Zionist operations in the world apart from the Gaza genocide. Epstein & the Maxwells Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell ran one of the most notorious sex trafficking and pedophilia rings in the world. Their clientele: elite politicians, royalty, entrepreneurs, celebrities, and scientists from
• 
  Houthi leader declares support for Iran and warns group ready to act

  by MI on March 6, 2026

  Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, leader of Yemen’s Ansar Allah movement, said on Thursday that his group stands with Iran in the ongoing regional conflict and is prepared to take action if developments...

  Houthi leader declares support for Iran and warns group ready to act

  

  Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, leader of Yemen’s Ansar Allah movement, said on Thursday that his group stands with Iran in the ongoing regional conflict and is prepared to take action if developments require it. In a televised speech broadcast by Houthi-affiliated media, al-Houthi said the movement considered the confrontation involving Iran to be a broader struggle affecting the entire region. “Our hands are on the trigger at any moment the developments require it,” he said, warning that the group remains ready to intervene if the situation escalates further. Al-Houthi accused Israel of seeking to impose what he described as a policy of domination across the region and of preparing for a wider war against those he referred to as “the free people
• 
  Lebanese prime minister warns of ‘looming humanitarian crisis’ amid escalating war

  by MI on March 6, 2026

  Lebanon’s Prime Minister Nawaf Salam warned Friday of a “looming humanitarian crisis” as the country grapples with an expanding conflict, urging Arab and foreign ambassadors to support diplomatic efforts to...

  Lebanese prime minister warns of ‘looming humanitarian crisis’ amid escalating war

  

  Lebanon’s Prime Minister Nawaf Salam warned Friday of a “looming humanitarian crisis” as the country grapples with an expanding conflict, urging Arab and foreign ambassadors to support diplomatic efforts to end the fighting and help civilians displaced by the violence, Anadolu reports. “A humanitarian disaster is looming,” Salam said in remarks during a meeting with Arab and foreign ambassadors accredited to Lebanon. He said Lebanon had been “drawn into a devastating war that we did not seek and did not choose,” describing the conflict as one “imposed upon us.” “Our priority is to stop this war,” Salam said. “Our duty is to protect our country and our people.” He warned that Lebanon is being dragged “further into an abyss,” calling
• 
  Mojtaba Khamenei and the meaning of revolutionary continuity

  by MI on March 6, 2026

  Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the central figure in the country’s political and religious establishment since 1989, has died at the age...

  Mojtaba Khamenei and the meaning of revolutionary continuity

  

  Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the central figure in the country’s political and religious establishment since 1989, has died at the age of 86 after being killed in a coordinated joint military airstrike by the United States and Israel that struck his secure compound in Tehran. His death, came as part of one of the most dramatic escalations in decades of U.S.–Iran and Israel-Iran enmity – a targeted decapitation strike that also claimed the lives of several senior Iranian officials and members of his family. The future of Iran under a potential Mojtaba Khamenei leadership is projected to be characterized by intense, hardline continuity, relying heavily on the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to
• 
  Iran says US aircraft carrier withdrew after drone encounter near Strait of Hormuz

  by MI on March 6, 2026

  Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed that the US aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln withdrew from waters near the Strait of Hormuz after what it described as an encounter...

  Iran says US aircraft carrier withdrew after drone encounter near Strait of Hormuz

  

  Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed that the US aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln withdrew from waters near the Strait of Hormuz after what it described as an encounter with Iranian naval drones. According to the Iranian news agency Mizan, a spokesperson for the IRGC’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters said the aircraft carrier had approached to within roughly 340 kilometres of the strait before Iranian drones engaged it. “The aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, which approached Iranian territorial waters, was attacked by Iranian Navy drones and fled at high speed accompanied by its destroyers,” the spokesperson said. READ: Iranian drones strike Amazon data centres in Bahrain, UAE There has been no immediate confirmation of the incident from US military authorities.
• 
  Hezbollah deploys elite Radwan force to southern Lebanon

  by MI on March 6, 2026

  Hezbollah has deployed an elite unit of its fighters to southern Lebanon to confront Israeli forces advancing in the border region, according to three Lebanese sources. The sources said Hezbollah’s...

  Hezbollah deploys elite Radwan force to southern Lebanon

  

  Hezbollah has deployed an elite unit of its fighters to southern Lebanon to confront Israeli forces advancing in the border region, according to three Lebanese sources. The sources said Hezbollah’s Radwan Unit, one of the group’s most specialised military formations, had been ordered to engage Israeli forces and prevent the advance of Israeli tanks. The town of Khiam was reported to be among several areas where Israeli troops pushed forward on Wednesday. The deployment marks the return of Hezbollah’s elite fighters to the sensitive border area between the Litani River and the Israeli frontier, from which the unit withdrew following the US-brokered ceasefire that ended the 2014 war. After that agreement, the fighters were relocated north of the Litani River.
• 
  Shatter Iran, inherit the whirlwind

  by MI on March 6, 2026

  The Whirlwind Begins There is a dangerous, academic notion currently haunting the halls of Washington and Tel Aviv: the idea that a fractured Iran, carved into a half-dozen ethnic mini-states,...

  Shatter Iran, inherit the whirlwind

  

  The Whirlwind Begins There is a dangerous, academic notion currently haunting the halls of Washington and Tel Aviv: the idea that a fractured Iran, carved into a half-dozen ethnic mini-states, would be safer than the one we have known. It is a theory that has clearly found a home in the Trump Administration. But as the current strikes across Tehran and the Natanz facility show, it is a theory that is already crumbling under the weight of a violent reality. The whispers of CIA-backed Kurdish insurgents—PDKI, PAK, and PJAK—operating from the mountains of northern Iraq have moved from the shadows to the headlines. In the southwest, Arab militias like the Mobarizoun Popular Front have turned the heat in Khuzestan into
• 
  Iran says it is ready for ground invasion and rejects ceasefire with US

  by MI on March 6, 2026

  Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said on Thursday that Tehran is prepared for any military escalation, including a possible ground invasion, warning that such a move would have catastrophic consequences...

  Iran says it is ready for ground invasion and rejects ceasefire with US

  

  Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said on Thursday that Tehran is prepared for any military escalation, including a possible ground invasion, warning that such a move would have catastrophic consequences for its adversaries. Speaking to NBC News, Araqchi said Iran’s armed forces were ready to confront any scenario arising from the ongoing conflict with the United States and Israel. “We are prepared for any eventuality, even a ground invasion,” he said. Araqchi also dismissed reports suggesting that the United States might support Kurdish armed groups in an attempt to destabilise or overthrow the Iranian government. Such reports have been denied by the White House. “We are waiting for them. We are certain of our ability to confront them, and it
• 
  Israeli raids surge across West Bank amid regional war with Iran

  by MI on March 6, 2026

  Israeli forces have intensified raids and arrest campaigns across the occupied West Bank in recent days, as the region remains focused on the wider conflict involving Israel, the United States...

  Israeli raids surge across West Bank amid regional war with Iran

  

  Israeli forces have intensified raids and arrest campaigns across the occupied West Bank in recent days, as the region remains focused on the wider conflict involving Israel, the United States and Iran. According to organisations specialising in prisoners’ affairs, more than 140 Palestinians have been arrested within a few days since the outbreak of the latest regional confrontation. The arrests followed raids targeting dozens of villages and refugee camps across both the northern and southern West Bank. Data released by these organisations indicates that the number of Palestinians detained in the West Bank since the beginning of the year has exceeded 1,800, including university students and former prisoners. The arrest campaigns have been particularly concentrated in the northern West Bank,
• 
  Indonesia suspends participation in Board of Peace following attack on Iran

  by MI on March 6, 2026

  Indonesia has announced the suspension of all discussions on the proposed Board of Peace, an initiative launched by US President Donald Trump, as military tensions rise in the Middle East....

  Indonesia suspends participation in Board of Peace following attack on Iran

  

  Indonesia has announced the suspension of all discussions on the proposed Board of Peace, an initiative launched by US President Donald Trump, as military tensions rise in the Middle East. Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono said the decision to suspend participation was taken because of the latest military escalation in the region, which has directly affected the foreign policy priorities of countries involved in the initiative. He explained that international attention has now shifted to the consequences of the conflict with Iran. He added that Indonesia would hold intensive consultations with its partners in the Gulf region, as they are directly affected by the ongoing attacks and rising tensions. Indonesia’s participation in the council has faced strong criticism from domestic political
• 
  Loony bin rationales: The continuing war on Iran

  by MI on March 6, 2026

  Villainous lunacy is abundant these days as the bombing of Iran by Israel and the United States continues.  The rationale for this illegal pre-emptive war that not only lacks legitimacy...

  Loony bin rationales: The continuing war on Iran

  

  Villainous lunacy is abundant these days as the bombing of Iran by Israel and the United States continues.  The rationale for this illegal pre-emptive war that not only lacks legitimacy but should land its perpetrators in the docks of the International Criminal Court, continues to get increasingly muddled.  With US President Donald Trump now given to giving press conferences on the conflict, loony bin mutterings are becoming increasingly the norm. A common assumption behind these attacks is Israel’s firm, unremitting stranglehold on the US President.  Combined with the considerable influence of what John Mearsheimer and Stephen Walt called the “Israeli Lobby”, American foreign policy in the Middle East has been tenanted by Israeli interests.  And Israel has shown itself to
• 
  Iran’s interim leadership council meets to discuss successor to Khamenei and military measures

  by MI on March 6, 2026

  Iran’s state news agency (IRNA) has reported that the fourth meeting of the interim leadership council was held under the chairmanship of President Masoud Pezeshkian to choose a new supreme...

  Iran’s interim leadership council meets to discuss successor to Khamenei and military measures

  

  Iran’s state news agency (IRNA) has reported that the fourth meeting of the interim leadership council was held under the chairmanship of President Masoud Pezeshkian to choose a new supreme leader. The agency said: “The fourth meeting of the interim leadership council was held under the chairmanship of Masoud Pezeshkian, and the required arrangements have been made for the Assembly of Experts to convene to select a new leader.” It added that council’s members had also taken decisions aimed at strengthening the capabilities of the armed forces. Earlier, Ahmad Khatami, a member of the Assembly of Experts, said the new supreme leader “will be chosen at the earliest opportunity”. REAde: Iran ‘confident’ it can counter potential US ground invasion, says top
• 
  Fuel price rise expected in Egypt amid Iran war

  by MI on March 6, 2026

  Egyptian sources say an exceptional decision to raise petrol and diesel prices may be issued due to regional conditions linked to the conflict involving Iran. Egypt’s Prime Minister, Mostafa Madbouly,...

  Fuel price rise expected in Egypt amid Iran war

  

  Egyptian sources say an exceptional decision to raise petrol and diesel prices may be issued due to regional conditions linked to the conflict involving Iran. Egypt’s Prime Minister, Mostafa Madbouly, has previously warned about the possible impact of the war on the Egyptian economy and on the prices of various goods and services, saying the government is ready to deal with all scenarios. He added that the state may resort to “temporary” exceptional measures if global fuel prices rise sharply. Responding to concerns about a potential fuel price increase or disruptions to electricity supplies due to regional escalation, Madbouly said that “no decisions or measures have been taken so far”, stressing that the government is closely monitoring developments. READ: Crew rescued
• 
  Power, justice, and the struggle for order in the Middle East

  by MI on March 6, 2026

  The escalating confrontation involving the United States, Israel, and Iran is often interpreted through the narrow prism of security threats, nuclear tensions, or immediate military provocations. Such explanations, however, fail...

  Power, justice, and the struggle for order in the Middle East

  

  The escalating confrontation involving the United States, Israel, and Iran is often interpreted through the narrow prism of security threats, nuclear tensions, or immediate military provocations. Such explanations, however, fail to capture the deeper structural dynamics underlying the crisis. What is unfolding in the Middle East today is not merely a sequence of retaliatory strikes but a prolonged contest over power, legitimacy, and the political future of a region that has long stood at the centre of global geopolitical competition. At its core, the conflict reflects competing visions of regional order. For decades, the United States has sought to sustain a strategic architecture in the Middle East built upon military superiority, deterrence, and a network of alliances. Within this framework,
• 
  Hezbollah Issues warning to residents of 23 northern Israeli settlements to evacuate after Beirut strikes

  by MI on March 6, 2026

  Hezbollah has warned residents of 23 northern Israeli settlements near the border to evacuate immediately, in response to what it described as Israeli attacks on Beirut and other areas of...

  Hezbollah Issues warning to residents of 23 northern Israeli settlements to evacuate after Beirut strikes

  

  Hezbollah has warned residents of 23 northern Israeli settlements near the border to evacuate immediately, in response to what it described as Israeli attacks on Beirut and other areas of Lebanon.  In a statement, the group called on people living within 5km of the Lebanese border to leave at once. It said the warning was a response to “the Israeli aggression against Lebanon, civilians and infrastructure”.  In a statement, written in a style similar to Israeli military warnings, the group said: “Warning to residents of the northern settlements. You are required to evacuate all settlements located within 5km of the border line. The aggression of your army against Lebanese sovereignty, the targeting of peaceful civilians, the destruction of civilian infrastructure
• 
  Crew rescued after container ship attacked in Strait of Hormuz

  by MI on March 6, 2026

  A container ship managed by a UAE company was hit by a projectile while passing through the Strait of Hormuz, causing a fire in the engine room, before the Omani...

  Crew rescued after container ship attacked in Strait of Hormuz

  

  A container ship managed by a UAE company was hit by a projectile while passing through the Strait of Hormuz, causing a fire in the engine room, before the Omani navy intervened to rescue its crew, including 21 Egyptians. Specialised maritime websites, including Marine Insight, Lloyd’s List and PortNews, reported that the Malta-flagged container vessel SAFEEN PRESTIGE was struck by a projectile while sailing in the Strait of Hormuz near the Omani coast on Wednesday evening. According to the reports, the projectile hit the rear section of the vessel above the waterline, sparking a fire inside the engine room and damaging the ship. The crew then issued a distress call and abandoned the vessel as a precaution. There were 24
• 
  Iranian drones strike Amazon data centres in Bahrain, UAE

  by MI on March 6, 2026

  Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has carried out a drone strike on an Amazon data centre in Bahrain, according to Iran’s state news agency Fars. Fars reported that the...

  Iranian drones strike Amazon data centres in Bahrain, UAE

  

  Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has carried out a drone strike on an Amazon data centre in Bahrain, according to Iran’s state news agency Fars. Fars reported that the attack targeted an Amazon facility in Bahrain to identify how such centres support the military and intelligence activities of Tehran’s adversaries. The agency added that the strike was part of a series of recent IRGC operations against Amazon data centres in Dubai and other strategic sites across the region. Meanwhile, Amazon Web Services (AWS), the company’s cloud computing division, said last Monday, “In the UAE, two of our facilities were directly struck, while in Bahrain, a drone strike in close proximity to one of our facilities caused physical impacts to
• 
  Bernie Sanders blasts Israeli premier as ‘extremist,’ criticizes US role in Iran war

  by MI on March 5, 2026

  US Sen. Bernie Sanders on Thursday slammed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, accusing him of pushing the US toward war with Iran, Anadolu reports. “Netanyahu is the extremist who killed...

  Bernie Sanders blasts Israeli premier as ‘extremist,’ criticizes US role in Iran war

  

  US Sen. Bernie Sanders on Thursday slammed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, accusing him of pushing the US toward war with Iran, Anadolu reports. “Netanyahu is the extremist who killed 75,000 in Gaza. The extremist who said invading Iraq would create ‘enormous positive reverberations.’ The extremist who has pushed U.S. presidents to go to war with Iran for decades.” “Finally, he found a President who said yes. Tragic,” Sanders said on US social media company X, referring to President Donald Trump. READ: US suspends operations at embassy in Kuwait City The US-Israel strikes against Iran began on Feb. 28, killing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and top security officials. Six US service members have also been killed and several others seriously
• 
  Israel’s Smotrich threatens to bombard Lebanese capital to resemble Gaza’s Khan Younis

  by MI on March 5, 2026

  Israel’s Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich threatened on Thursday to intensify bombardment of Beirut’s southern suburbs until they resemble the city of Khan Younis in southern Gaza, Anadolu reports. The far-right...

  Israel’s Smotrich threatens to bombard Lebanese capital to resemble Gaza’s Khan Younis

  

  Israel’s Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich threatened on Thursday to intensify bombardment of Beirut’s southern suburbs until they resemble the city of Khan Younis in southern Gaza, Anadolu reports. The far-right minister made the threat during a field tour along Israel’s border with Lebanon, including the towns of Ma’alot, Shlomi, and Zar’it, according to the Israeli news portal Walla. Khan Younis was almost completely destroyed during Israel’s two-year war that has killed more than 72,000 Palestinians, injured over 172,000 others and caused massive damage to 90% of civilian infrastructure, with reconstruction costs estimated by the UN at around $70 billion. READ: Israeli forces kill Hamas official in northern Lebanon Smotrich said the Lebanese group Hezbollah “made a mistake and will pay a
• 
  US suspends operations at embassy in Kuwait City

  by MI on March 5, 2026

  The US has suspended operations at its embassy in Kuwait City amid ongoing strikes on Iran and retaliatory attacks across the Gulf, the State Department announced on Thursday, Anadolu reports....

  US suspends operations at embassy in Kuwait City

  

  The US has suspended operations at its embassy in Kuwait City amid ongoing strikes on Iran and retaliatory attacks across the Gulf, the State Department announced on Thursday, Anadolu reports. In a statement, the department said there were no reported injuries to US personnel, but stressed that the safety of Americans abroad remains its top priority. The State Department said the travel advisory for Kuwait remains at Level 3: Reconsider Travel, urging US citizens to review updated guidance and advising Americans in the country to depart if they can do so safely using commercial or other available transportation. Those unable to leave were advised to shelter in place. READ: Qatar evacuates residents near US embassy in Doha Secretary of State Marco
• 
  France to strengthen cooperation with Lebanese armed forces

  by MI on March 5, 2026

  French President Emmanuel Macron announced Thursday that Paris will help the Lebanese military as fighting flared again this week between Hezbollah and Israel, Anadolu reports. “France will strengthen its cooperation...

  France to strengthen cooperation with Lebanese armed forces

  

  French President Emmanuel Macron announced Thursday that Paris will help the Lebanese military as fighting flared again this week between Hezbollah and Israel, Anadolu reports. “France will strengthen its cooperation with the Lebanese Armed Forces and will provide them with armored transport vehicles, as well as operational and logistical support,” Macron wrote on US social media platform X. He reiterated the need to prevent Lebanon to being drawn into war again after having talks with Lebanese authorities “to establish a plan to bring an end to the military operations currently being carried out by Hezbollah and Israel on either side of the border.” “Hezbollah must immediately cease its fire toward Israel. Israel must refrain from any ground intervention or large-scale
• 
  Iran ‘confident’ it can counter potential US ground invasion, says top diplomat

  by MI on March 5, 2026

  Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Iran is prepared to confront a potential ground invasion by the US, NBC News reported Thursday. “No, we are waiting for them,” Araghchi said in...

  Iran ‘confident’ it can counter potential US ground invasion, says top diplomat

  

  Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Iran is prepared to confront a potential ground invasion by the US, NBC News reported Thursday. “No, we are waiting for them,” Araghchi said in a video interview when asked if he was afraid of a possible US ground invasion. “Because we are confident that we can confront them, and that would be a big disaster for them,” he said. His remarks came after US-Israel strikes against Iran began Feb. 28, killing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and top security officials. Despite US and Israeli strikes across the country, Araghchi said Iran has not asked for a ceasefire. “We didn’t ask for a ceasefire even last time. In previous time, it was Israel who asked
• 
  Care packages, brought to Palestinians by colonialism

  by MI on March 5, 2026

  Nickolay Mladenov, former UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process and now High Representative for the Board of Peace, is no stranger to diplomatic jargon. “Essential supplies, including...

  Care packages, brought to Palestinians by colonialism

  

  Nickolay Mladenov, former UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process and now High Representative for the Board of Peace, is no stranger to diplomatic jargon. “Essential supplies, including Ramadan care packages, are once again reaching families in urgent need,” Mladenov stated, as various aid organisations warned of another surge in starvation in Gaza. Ramadan care packages? How does the international community distort a simple iftar into a care package and what gives them the right? Colonialism and genocide, of course. Mladenov added, “This is the result of sustained engagement with all relevant parties to ensure humanitarian access remains a top priority. The basic needs of Gaza’s population cannot be delayed.” It has been 78 years since the 1948
• 
  US says nearly 20,000 citizens returned from Middle East since Feb. 28

  by MI on March 5, 2026

  Nearly 20,000 American citizens have safely returned to the US from the Middle East since Feb. 28, the State Department said on Thursday, Anadolu reports. Assistant Secretary Dylan Johnson said...

  US says nearly 20,000 citizens returned from Middle East since Feb. 28

  

  Nearly 20,000 American citizens have safely returned to the US from the Middle East since Feb. 28, the State Department said on Thursday, Anadolu reports. Assistant Secretary Dylan Johnson said the figure does not include Americans who relocated to other countries or those who have departed the region but remain in transit back to the US. Additional charter flights and ground transport operations are underway, he said. The State Department has also established a crisis intake form for American citizens in Kuwait, Bahrain, the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Israel so they can receive updates on upcoming charter aviation and ground transportation options, he added. Tensions have surged in the Middle East after the US and Israel launched airstrikes on
• 
  UN refugee agency says over 330,000 displaced by hostilities in Middle East, beyond

  by MI on March 5, 2026

  The UN refugee agency said Thursday that intensifying hostilities across the Middle East have triggered “significant population movement,” as more than 330,000 people have been forcibly displaced, mostly within their...

  UN refugee agency says over 330,000 displaced by hostilities in Middle East, beyond

  

  The UN refugee agency said Thursday that intensifying hostilities across the Middle East have triggered “significant population movement,” as more than 330,000 people have been forcibly displaced, mostly within their own countries, Anadolu reports. The UNHCR noted that clashes along the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan have forced thousands of families to flee. “We are also urgently calling for dialogue and de-escalation as violence intensifies,” it said. In Iran, a long-term host to 1.65 million people forced to flee, mostly from Afghanistan, around 100,000 people left Tehran in the first two days following attacks by Israel and the US last Saturday, according to estimates. “However, there has so far been no major increase in cross-border movements from Iran linked to
• 
  British premier defends decision not to join US-Israel strikes on Iran

  by MI on March 5, 2026

  British Prime Minister Starmer on Thursday defended the decision not to join US-Israel attack on Iran, saying the best solution to the issue is “a negotiated settlement with Iran, where...

  British premier defends decision not to join US-Israel strikes on Iran

  

  British Prime Minister Starmer on Thursday defended the decision not to join US-Israel attack on Iran, saying the best solution to the issue is “a negotiated settlement with Iran, where they give up their nuclear ambitions,” Anadolu reports. Speaking at a Downing Street news conference, Keir Starmer defended his decision not to join offensive strikes on Iran being carried out by the US and Israel. He said the UK’s position remained focused on diplomacy rather than military escalation. “Now, that’s why I took the decision that the UK would not join the initial strikes on Iran by the US and Israel,” he noted. The UK will “stand firm” by its values despite international pressure over military action against Iran, he added.