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

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  Qatar says it arrests two cells linked to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard

  by MI on March 4, 2026

  Qatar announced on Tuesday evening that it had arrested two cells it said were operating on behalf of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The state news agency (QNA) reported that the State Security Service had detained “two cells working for the Iranian Revolutionary Guard in Qatar”. It said: “The precision monitoring and tracking operations resulted in the capture of ten suspects, seven of whom were tasked with espionage missions to gather intelligence on the nation’s vital and military infrastructure, alongside three others assigned to conduct sabotage activities and trained in the use of drones.” Authorities said the suspects were found in possession of locations and coordinates of sensitive facilities, as well as communication devices and technological equipment. READ: Israel considers role

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  The Trump cadaver’s latest Iran war

  by MI on March 4, 2026

  When people from abroad ask me what’s going on with Trump’s second term, I tell them that he is unlike other US presidents who were strongly influenced by special interests and big money. Instead, he is a charismatic cadaver which big moneyed and special interests have harvested, sometimes complementing each other but other times clashing with a base drive for power at the root of the corpse.  The Trump cadaver appears particularly conflicted in its peace rhetoric and its policies of militarism and war. His longtime campaign speeches of wanting to stop wars, to be the “peace candidate” and his more recent infantile desire and arm-twisting to receive the Nobel Peace Prize stands in stark contrast to his record as

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  Israeli diplomats evacuated from UAE after alleged Iranian targeting attempts

  by MI on March 4, 2026

  Israeli sources said on Tuesday evening that security agencies had foiled two attempts attributed to Iran to target Israeli diplomats in the United Arab Emirates, prompting Tel Aviv to carry out what was described as a secret military evacuation of some of its diplomatic staff in Abu Dhabi. According to Israel’s Channel 12, the two attempts were not a “theoretical threat” but operations that had “moved into the execution phase”, aimed at assassinating Israeli diplomatic personnel. Reports quoted a senior Israeli official as saying the incident was “a specific hunting attempt against Israeli diplomats”, adding that “the two attacks were carried out and a catastrophe was prevented twice”. Under the Israeli account, security bodies subsequently ordered the immediate evacuation of

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  IAEA says no evidence Iran is building a nuclear bomb

  by MI on March 4, 2026

  The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, has said there is no evidence that Iran is currently building a nuclear bomb, while warning that unresolved issues surrounding Tehran’s nuclear programme remain a serious concern. Speaking in remarks reported on Tuesday evening, Grossi said Iran possesses a large stockpile of enriched uranium that has reached levels close to weapons-grade. However, he stressed that the agency has not found proof that Iran is developing a nuclear weapon. Grossi noted that Iran’s refusal to grant full access to international inspectors has heightened concerns within the agency. He warned that without cooperation from Tehran in addressing outstanding questions, the IAEA would not be able to provide assurances that Iran’s nuclear

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  Spain says US must respect international law after Trump threatens to cut trade ties

  by MI on March 4, 2026

  The Spanish government responded Tuesday to US President Donald Trump’s threat to “cut all trade” with Spain, saying any revision of commercial relations must respect international law and existing agreements. The government said that if Washington seeks to review trade relations between the two countries, it “must do so while respecting the autonomy of private companies, international law, and the bilateral agreements between the European Union and the United States,” public broadcaster RTVE reported, citing a statement. Trump described Spain as a “terrible” ally and criticised Madrid for what he called insufficient cooperation on US military bases amid an escalation in the Middle East. The government rejected the criticism, stressing that Spain is “a key member of NATO” and fulfils

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  Israel considers role in protecting US interests in Gulf amid Iran conflict

  by MI on March 4, 2026

  Israel is reportedly considering participating in efforts to protect US interests in Gulf states as Iranian attacks in the region intensify amid the ongoing confrontation involving Iran, Israel and the United States. According to Israel’s public broadcaster Kan 11, discussions are taking place in Tel Aviv about the possibility of assisting in the defence of American assets in the Gulf. An Israeli official quoted in the report said Israel could “help in the American defence effort just as the Americans help in our defence effort”. The broadcaster said that a potential regional alliance is being discussed that would aim to enhance protection for Gulf states facing missile and drone attacks attributed to Iran. Israeli media reports suggest the proposal is

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  Hezbollah fires rockets towards Tel Aviv and Haifa as fighting intensifies

  by MI on March 4, 2026

  Hezbollah fired rockets towards Tel Aviv and Haifa on Tuesday evening, triggering air raid sirens across the two cities and nearby areas as cross-border fighting between Israel and Lebanon intensified. The Israeli military said it detected three rocket launches from Lebanese territory. According to the army, two of the rockets were intercepted by air defences, while the third landed in an open area without causing reported casualties. The launches mark the first time rockets have been fired towards Tel Aviv from Lebanon since the ceasefire agreement reached in November 2024. Hezbollah later announced a series of operations targeting Israeli forces and armoured vehicles at several locations along the border. The group also said it launched drones towards Israeli military positions.

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  Palestinian Ministry of Religious Endowments and Affairs: Continued closure of Gaza crossings is preventing residents from travelling to perform the Hajj

  by MI on March 4, 2026

  In a statement, the ministry on Tuesday said it had worked with regional and international parties to secure arrangements that would allow pilgrims from Gaza to travel to Saudi Arabia and return safely. However, it said these efforts had not resulted in guarantees due to ongoing restrictions on movement through the Rafah crossing. According to the ministry, the deadline set in the Hajj protocol signed with the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah requires the final Hajj visas to be issued by 20th March 2026. The continued closure of Gaza crossings and the uncertainty surrounding travel arrangements forced authorities to adopt what they described as an exceptional and temporary measure for this year. As a result, the ministry said the

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  Instead of defeating China, Trump is accelerating its rise on the global stage

  by MI on March 4, 2026

  If you are not paying attention to the dramatic developments between China and the United States, you must understand that something consequential has just taken place. The US government is backtracking—if not altogether retreating—from the trade war and broader escalation it launched against China. Unlike the hyped language and repeated threats by President Donald Trump to impose massive “reciprocal tariffs,” to “decouple” the US economy from China, and to correct “the greatest theft of wealth in the history of the world,” the retreat is happening in hushed tones and coded diplomatic language. “I think both countries concluded that having an all-out global trade war between the United States and China would be deeply damaging to both sides and to the

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  Drone strike causes fire near US Consulate in Dubai

  by Marwa A on March 3, 2026

  A drone strike caused a limited fire in the vicinity of the US Consulate in Dubai on Tuesday evening, local authorities said, Anadolu reports. The Dubai Media Office added in a statement on US social media company X that relevant authorities managed to extinguish the blaze. No… pic.twitter.com/iAzmupEKfp — Middle East Monitor (@MiddleEastMnt) March 3, 2026 A drone strike caused a limited fire in the vicinity of the US Consulate in Dubai on Tuesday evening, local authorities said, Anadolu reports. The Dubai Media Office added in a statement on US social media company X that relevant authorities managed to extinguish the blaze. No injuries were reported. Tension has escalated across the region when the US and Israel launched large-scale attacks

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  CIA station among targets as suspected Iranian drones strike US embassy in Riyadh: Report

  by Marwa A on March 3, 2026

  Two suspected Iranian drones struck the CIA station housed within the US Embassy compound in the Saudi capital Riyadh on Monday, according to a report Tuesday by The Washington Post citing two people familiar with the matter, Anadolu reports. The report said that while both the US and Saudi governments acknowledged that the drones struck the embassy complex, neither disclosed that the agency’s intelligence hub was among the targets hit. An internal State Department alert obtained by the Post indicated that the attack caused part of the US embassy’s roof to collapse and filled the interior with smoke, leaving the building with structural damage. Embassy personnel were reported to be sheltering in place at the time of publication, as the

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  Palestinian activist’s lawyers blast US deportation case as ‘sham,’ appeal to reverse order

  by Marwa A on March 3, 2026

  Lawyers for Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian activist and graduate of New York’s Columbia University, blasted his deportation case as a “sham” Tuesday, vowing to fight the Trump administration’s efforts to remove him from the US through federal appeals, Anadolu reports. Khalil, a spokesperson for pro-Gaza protests at the university and a legal US resident, was detained by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in 2025 and held for 104 days. A federal judge later ruled his detention unconstitutional. However, the Trump administration won an appeal earlier this month, allowing the case to proceed in immigration court. Lead attorney Marc Van Der Hout, a nearly 50-year veteran of immigration law, said during a virtual briefing that the proceedings were fundamentally unfair.

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  French president says US-Israel attacks on Iran ‘outside the framework of international law’

  by Marwa A on March 3, 2026

  French President Emmanuel Macron disapproved Tuesday of the US-Israeli attacks on Iran, stressing that they were outside the framework of international law, Anadolu reports. The United States of America and Israel decided to launch military operations. They were carried out outside the framework of international law, which we cannot approve of,” Macron said as he was addressing the French nation about the developments in the Middle East. He reiterated his call for an end to all airstrikes and the resumption of diplomatic negotiations to achieve long-term peace. Macron reaffirmed that they strengthened the security of French military bases in the region, as well as embassies. “We must, of course, ensure security on our national soil as well. At my request,

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  Trump says he will sever trade with Spain in retaliation for base refusal

  by Marwa A on March 3, 2026

  President Donald Trump said Tuesday that he will cut off all trade with Spain after Barcelona prohibited the US form using bases in on its territory to carry out attacks on Iran, Anadolu reports. “We’re going to cut off all trade with Spain. We don’t want anything to do with Spain,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office as he hosted German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. The Spanish government said Monday that the US has neither used, nor will it use, Spanish military bases to conduct attacks against Iran, insisting Madrid maintains full control over its sovereign facilities. READ: Spain says US has not used and will not use bases on its soil to strike Iran

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  NATO not involved in Middle East escalation, Iran poses threat beyond region: Alliance chief

  by MI on March 3, 2026

  NATO is not involved in the latest escalation in the Middle East, but Iran’s growing nuclear and ballistic missile capabilities pose a threat not only to the region but also to Europe, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said on Tuesday, Anadolu reports. Speaking at a joint press conference with North Macedonian President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova in Skopje, Rutte stressed that the alliance remains vigilant amid rising tensions. “NATO is not itself involved,” Rutte said, responding to a question on recent developments in the Middle East. “But let’s be absolutely clear … Iran is close to getting his hands on a nuclear capability and on a ballistic missile capability, which is posing a threat, not only to the region the Middle East,

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  How US-Israel’s war on Iran may impact Indonesia’s economy?

  by MI on March 3, 2026

  The new round of conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran is not a distant story confined to the Middle East. It carries immediate risks for economies across Asia, none more vulnerable than Indonesia’s. The economic fallout is already visible. If the crisis persists, the consequences could reshape fiscal policy, corporate balance sheets, and everyday prices for Indonesian households. Oil markets have responded sharply. Crude prices climbed after U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran in early 2026, jumping more than 10 percent in a matter of days and trading near multi‑month highs. Analysts warn that Brent crude could surge to $100 per barrel or more if tensions disrupt flows through the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow chokepoint that handles

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  Lebanon arrests 3 foreign nationals for ‘collaboration’ with Israel

  by MI on March 3, 2026

  Lebanon said Tuesday that it had arrested three foreign nationals suspected of involvement in “suspicious activities related to collaboration” with Israel, Anadolu reports. The arrests were “based on precise intelligence and investigations,” the country’s General Directorate of General Security said in a statement. Following the necessary interrogations conducted under the supervision of the judiciary, “the individuals confessed” to providing Israel “with security-sensitive information that contributed to causing severe damage, resulting in significant losses of life and property in Lebanon,” the directorate stated. “After the completion of legal procedures, the detainees were handed over to the competent judicial authorities to pursue legal action against them in accordance with applicable laws,” it added. READ: Death toll from Israeli attacks in Lebanon rises to

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  Trump says US-British relationship ‘not what it was’ after disagreement over strikes on Iran

  by MI on March 3, 2026

  US President Donald Trump said he is “very sad” to see that the UK-US relationship is “not what it was” after criticizing British Premier Keir Starmer for taking “far too long” to allow US forces to use British airbases to attack Iran, Anadolu reports. In a telephone interview with The Sun tabloid published Tuesday, Trump said: “It’s a different world, actually. It’s just a much different kind of relationship that we’ve had with your country before. It’s very sad to see that the relationship is obviously not what it was.” Trump compared Starmer’s actions unfavorably with France’s support for the strikes and with the backing of Mark Rutte, the NATO secretary general. “He has not been helpful. I never thought

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  Going native in the Trump jungle: How it became legal to attack Iran

  by MI on March 3, 2026

  The allies of the United States have gone native, feral even, in the jungle of international relations planted by President Donald J. Trump.  While we keep hearing about how awful Russia’s war against Ukraine is, with its shattering of international law and its dismissiveness of the provisions of the United Nations Charter, the Israeli-US attack on Iran has been given the seal of approval by America’s client states and supporters.  Countries such as the UK, France, Germany, Australia and Canada, for instance, were clear in endorsing a UN General Assembly resolution on February 24 supporting Ukraine in the face of Russia’s violation of Article 2(4) of the UN Charter.  The provision explicitly “prohibits the threat or use of force”, calling

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  When humanitarian aid and death are intertwined in Gaza

  by MI on March 3, 2026

  Humanitarian aid for Palestinians has always been a macabre game which the international community has played so well, to the point that aid and death have become intertwined. Not only did the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) face Israel’s political violence while forced to remain steeped in a neutrality clause. To ensure further restrictions on humanitarian aid supplies and delivery of services, Israel banned aid agencies from operating in Gaza, subject to the submission of staff members’ personal details and political affiliations. In Israel’s narrative, humanitarian aid is designated as terror. In the international community’s narrative, humanitarian aid is an escape clause from political accountability.  Israel’s High Court of Justice recently halted the government’s ban on

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  Why Iran and Lebanon matter, and who shapes what comes next

  by MI on March 3, 2026

  The Middle East stands again at the lip of an abyss, and the tremor is not regional – it is global. The reported killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in joint US–Israeli strikes, followed by Tehran’s missile retaliation and the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, has torn open a conflict long incubated in shadow. What began as a doctrine of deterrence has morphed into a theatre of decapitation, drones, and dread.  For a region already haemorrhaging from two years of humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza and deepening instability in Lebanon, this is not merely an escalation. It is a rupture. The moment matters because it shatters the fragile scaffolding of global order — where a regional war

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  UK funded Israeli report on alleged sexual violence used to justify Gaza genocide

  by MI on March 3, 2026

  The UK government awarded £90,000 ($114,000) in public funds to an Israeli research initiative whose findings around alleged sexual violence on 7 October were later used to mobilise support for the Gaza genocide, according to reporting by Novara Media. Documents released following a Freedom of Information (FOI) request show that the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) funded 75 per cent of a four-month project led by The Dinah Project, a body based at Bar-Ilan University.  The funding application stated that the report aimed to establish the “systematic and premeditated nature” of sexual violence committed on 7 October. The report, published in July 2025 and titled A Quest for Justice: October 7 and Beyond, concluded that sexual violence on 7

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  Netanyahu equates Iranian regime to ancient biblical foe

  by MI on March 3, 2026

  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu referenced a Torah command equating the Iranian regime to an ancient biblical foe on Sunday, Anadolu reports. During a visit to a site struck by an Iranian missile, Netanyahu stated: “We read in this week’s Torah portion, ‘Remember what Amalek did to you.’ We remember—and we act.” The Amalekites are identified in the Hebrew Bible as a persistent adversary of the Israelites, linked to a Torah commandment to erase their memory. Specifically, 1 Samuel 15:3 — which mandates the killing of men, women, and infants — has faced international scrutiny for its genocidal language. This biblical rhetoric gained renewed attention in October 2023, when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu invoked the “Amalek” narrative in reference

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  Between Palestine and Iran… Zelensky reveals his inconsistent values and alignment with imperialist policies

  by MI on March 3, 2026

  In the complex landscape of international politics, consistency of principle often forms the foundation of a leader’s moral authority. For Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who has positioned himself and his conflict with Russia as a heroic defense of sovereignty against aggression, recent developments have exposed what many perceive as a striking inconsistency. By backing the US-Israeli aggression against Iran, Zelenskyy has reinforced the impression that his commitment to international law and human rights is conditional—invoked when it supports his narrative, yet sidelined when it conflicts with the priorities of his Western backers, and even if these priorities are starkly aggressive and of imperialist nature. A celebration of aggression and assassination When the United States and Israel launched joint strikes on

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  Wife of Iran’s Supreme Leader dies after reported US-Israeli strike

  by MI on March 3, 2026

  Mansoureh Khojasti Bagherzadeh, the wife of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has died from wounds sustained in a reported US-Israeli airstrike on Tehran, according to Iran’s Tasnim news agency. Iranian state media said she had been injured during the attack earlier this week. On Sunday, officials also confirmed the deaths of Khamenei’s daughter, granddaughter, daughter-in-law and son-in-law in the same wave of airstrikes. US President Donald Trump announced on Saturday evening that Khamenei had been killed, a claim later confirmed by Iranian state television. Posting on his Truth Social platform, Trump said the Iranian leader had been unable to evade American intelligence capabilities. READ: Iranian state TV says Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei killed in US-Israeli attacks He added that the

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  Larijani says Iran prepared for prolonged war amid escalating conflict

  by MI on March 3, 2026

  Iran is prepared for a prolonged conflict and will ensure its adversaries “regret their miscalculations”, Ali Larijani, Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, said on Monday. In a statement posted on the social media platform X, Larijani declared that Iran, unlike the United States, was ready to wage a long-term war following the latest attacks attributed to Washington and Tel Aviv. “Whatever the cost, we will resolutely defend ourselves and our 6,000-year-old civilisation,” he wrote, adding that Iran would continue to defend itself against what it described as aggression. Larijani also asserted that Iran had not initiated wars in modern history, stating: “As has been the case for the past 300 years, Iran has never been the one to

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  Hizballah’s last stand: Disarmament, defiance, and Tehran’s shadow over Lebanon

  by MI on March 3, 2026

  As Lebanon approaches parliamentary elections in May 2026, the country stands at a crossroads. Hizballah, the mighty image of Lebanese politics and Middle Eastern resistance, has been left battered and isolated politically after its latest confrontation with Israel. But even in its weakened position, the organization remains defiant—retaining its weapons and its strategic patronage from Iran. The Party, also locally referred to as Hizballah, has lost nearly all its former Lebanese allies. Its decision to strike against Israel last year repelled political elites and parts of civil society. Still, Hizballah’s win in the just-concluded municipal elections demonstrates a resilience: its economic machine continues to exert power, particularly through local media and patronage networks. The elections later this year are very

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  Oil and gas facilities shut across Gulf as Iran conflict escalates

  by MI on March 3, 2026

  Oil and gas facilities across the Gulf have been shut down or suspended following US and Israeli strikes on Tehran, fuelling concerns over energy security and pushing global crude prices higher. A source in the oil sector said Saudi Aramco temporarily closed the Ras Tanura refinery — one of the largest in the Middle East, with a capacity of around 550,000 barrels per day — after it was targeted by a drone. Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defence confirmed that two drones were intercepted over the facility, adding that falling debris caused a minor fire but no injuries. The Ministry of Energy stated that domestic fuel supplies were not affected. In the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, energy companies including DNO, Gulf

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  Israel closes Al-Aqsa Mosque for third consecutive day amid security tensions

  by MI on March 3, 2026

  Israeli authorities have kept Al-Aqsa Mosque closed to worshippers for a third consecutive day, citing the volatile security situation in the region. Jerusalem sources reported that Israeli forces reinforced their presence around the mosque compound and the gates of the Old City, deploying large numbers of border police and special units. Palestinians were prevented from entering to perform prayers, while access routes leading to the compound were heavily restricted. Witnesses said that several worshippers attempting to reach the mosque gates were turned back, and parts of the Old City were effectively transformed into a closed military zone. READ: Ikrama Sabri condemns closure of Al-Aqsa Mosque, warns of attempt to impose control The closure began on Saturday after Israeli authorities declared a

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  Two Palestinians killed in settler attack on Qaryut village near Nablus

  by MI on March 3, 2026

  Two Palestinian brothers were killed and several others wounded after armed settlers attacked the village of Qaryut, south of Nablus, on Tuesday, according to medical and local sources. Medical officials confirmed the deaths of Muhammad Taha Muammar, 25, and Fahim Taha Muammar, 48, following what residents described as a violent assault by dozens of settlers. Eyewitnesses told local media that armed settlers carrying rifles and iron bars stormed homes in the southern part of the village and opened fire on residents. At least five people were injured in the attack. Two of the wounded, reported to be in critical condition, later succumbed to their injuries. READ: Al-Azhar condemns mosque arson in West Bank, calls attack ‘terrorist crime’ The Palestinian Red Crescent

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  US faces missile shortages amid ongoing US-Israeli offensive on Iran: Report

  by MI on March 3, 2026

  The US is facing a shortage of key missile stocks, including Tomahawk land-attack missiles and SM-3 interceptors, amid the ongoing US-Israeli offensive on Iran, CNN has reported. Citing a senior US official, the report said Monday that Washington anticipates a “major uptick” in attacks within the next 24 hours, while missile and interceptor reserves are depleting. The official added that the initial round of strikes has reportedly succeeded in weakening Iranian defenses. The upcoming phase is expected to focus on targeting Iran’s missile production facilities, unmanned aerial vehicles, and naval capabilities. READ: Iran’s Revolutionary Guard claims demolition of US air base in Bahrain The Pentagon is also facing a shortage of Patriot missiles, as Ukrainian air defenses have used a significant

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  Iran’s Revolutionary Guard claims demolition of US air base in Bahrain

  by MI on March 3, 2026

  Iran’s Revolutionary Guard has claimed it destroyed the command building and headquarters of the US air base in Bahrain. According to the Guard, its naval forces carried out the 14th wave of the “Honest Promise 4” operation, targeting the US air base in the Sheikh Isa area of Bahrain. The attack, they said, was carried out on Tuesday morning using drones and missiles. The Guard added that 20 drones and three missiles hit the intended targets, destroying the command building and headquarters of the US air base and setting fire to its fuel tanks. Iranian news agency Fars released footage it said shows the attack on US bases in Bahrain using heavy Iranian missiles. READ: US embassy in Amman evacuated over

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  US embassy in Amman evacuated over ‘threat’

  by MI on March 3, 2026

  The US Embassy in Amman has temporarily evacuated its compound in the Jordanian capital on Monday due to a reported “threat”. On its Facebook page, the embassy said: “Out of an abundance of caution, all personnel at the US Embassy have temporarily departed the Embassy compound due to a threat.” A US diplomatic source told AFP that the measure is “temporary and precautionary in light of regional developments”. Earlier on Monday, the embassy warned: “We have indications there may be continued missiles, drones, or rockets in Jordanian airspace in the coming days.” It advised US citizens to “seek shelter, stay indoors, and avoid falling debris” if such threats occur. The Jordanian Public Security Directorate also issued a statement on Monday

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  Iranian foreign minister says Rubio ‘admitted’ US entered ‘war of choice’ for Israel

  by MI on March 3, 2026

  Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Tuesday that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio “admitted” that Washington entered “a war of choice” against Tehran “on behalf of Israel,” Anadolu reports. “Mr. Rubio admitted what we all knew: U.S. has entered a war of choice on behalf of Israel,” said Aragchi through the US-based social media company X, amid the ongoing US-Israeli offensive on Iran, which was launched on Saturday. Noting that there was “never” any Iranian threat, Araghchi argued that “both American and Iranian blood is thus on Israel Firsters.” He urged the US citizens to “take back their country,” noting they “deserve better.” The strikes carried out by Israel and the US on Iran have drawn criticism from Democrats

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  Israeli strike kills Islamic Jihad commander in Beirut’s southern suburbs

  by MI on March 3, 2026

  The Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement said on Monday that a senior commander in its armed wing, Al-Quds Brigades, was killed in an Israeli air strike on Beirut’s southern suburbs at dawn. In a statement, the group said Adham Adnan Al-Othman, known as Abu Hamza, 41, who headed the Al-Quds Brigades’ operations in Lebanon, was killed in what it described as a “treacherous Zionist attack” targeting the southern suburbs of Beirut early on Monday. The movement mourned Al-Othman, praising what it called his “long record of confronting the Zionist entity”, and said his blood “will remain a compass for thousands of fighters who will avenge and uphold their pledges”. The killing comes amid sharp regional escalation, as US and Israeli attacks

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  Iran says death toll from US-Israeli attacks rises to 787

  by MI on March 3, 2026

  The death toll from ongoing US-Israeli attacks on Iran has risen to 787, the Iranian Red Crescent said Tuesday. Search and rescue operations are ongoing in the rubble of the bombed buildings, the organization said in a written statement cited by the state-run Tasnim News Agency. No information was provided regarding the number of the injured. The US and Israel continued a large-scale attack on Iran since Saturday, killing several top Iranian leaders, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and senior military officials. In response, Tehran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel as well as Gulf countries which are home to US assets. READ: US offensive on Iran burned through an estimated $779M on first day

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  The martyrdom of Imam Khamenei and the revolution that no empire will be able to destroy

  by MI on March 3, 2026

  The martyrdom of Imam Seyyed Ali Khamenei does not represent the end of an era, but the transformation of the Islamic Revolution into an even deeper, politically and spiritually irreversible movement. By being assassinated in an attack by the United States and “Israel”, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic was not eliminated as a political leader, but was elevated to the condition of martyr, inserting his death into the long tradition of sacrifice that marks the history of Islam and particularly of Shiism. In the Islamic tradition, especially in the historical consciousness of Shiism, martyrdom does not represent defeat. On the contrary, it constitutes the supreme form of fidelity to the covenant with God. Since Karbala, when Imam Hussein

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  Hezbollah claims drone swarm attack on military base in northern Israel

  by MI on March 3, 2026

  Hezbollah said on Tuesday that it had targeted a military base in northern Israel using a swarm of drones. In a statement, the group said it had launched the drones at dawn on Tuesday at radar sites and control rooms at the Ramat David air base in northern Israel. Earlier, the Israeli military said in a brief statement that it had intercepted two drones launched from Lebanon, without providing further details. READ: Hezbollah formally enters conflict, fires rockets at Mishmar military site near Haifa At dawn on Monday, Hezbollah said it had targeted a military site in northern Israel with a salvo of rockets and drones. The group said the attack was in response to Israel’s ongoing attacks on Lebanon and

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  Iran blames Israel for Saudi Aramco drone attack, calls it ‘false flag’

  by MI on March 3, 2026

  Iran has accused Israel of carrying out a drone attack on facilities belonging to Saudi oil giant Saudi Aramco, describing it as a “false flag” operation. Iran’s Tasnim News Agency quoted a military source as saying: “The attack on Aramco was an Israeli false flag operation, adding that Israel’s goal is to distract the minds of regional countries from its crimes in attacking civilian sites in Iran.” “Iran has announced frankly that it will target all American and Israeli interests, installation, and facilities in the region, and has attacked many of them so far, but Aramco facilities have not been among the targets of Iranian attacks so far,” the source told the agency. The source also claimed: “According to data

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  America’s War for Greater Israel | Palestine This Week with Mouin Rabbani

  by MI on March 3, 2026

  In this episode, we examine explosive new documents exposing Israel’s systematic ethnic cleansing in 1948 and trace how its unending quest for security has fuelled decades of expansion, war and regional upheaval. We unpack the assassination of Iran’s supreme leader, question whether Trump torpedoed diplomacy at the very moment negotiations were gaining traction, and ask whether Tehran’s bombing of Gulf states is a strategic miscalculation. With Washington’s credibility fraying and uncomfortable parallels to the 2003 Iraq invasion resurfacing, we confront the stark possibility that the region is being driven, step by step, towards another devastating and entirely avoidable war.   WATCH: Christian Zionism: the radical theology empowering an unchristian settler state | Palestine This Week with Mouin Rabbani

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  Saudi Arabia: Limited fire at US embassy in Riyadh after drone attack

  by MI on March 3, 2026

  The US embassy in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, was targeted by two drones early on Tuesday morning, causing a limited fire and minor material damage, according to initial estimates by the Saudi Ministry of Defence. Two sources said the fire broke out following an explosion.  Fox News reported that the embassy was empty at the time of the attack and that no injuries were recorded. The embassy urged US citizens in Saudi Arabia, in a post on X, to shelter in place immediately. Three informed sources said a loud explosion was heard and flames were seen rising from the US embassy in Riyadh in the early hours of Tuesday. One source described the fire as limited. READ: Kuwait reports 1st military

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  The attacks on Iran are by no means a victory “for civilisation”.

  by Marwa A on March 2, 2026

  The Iranian dictator is dead, his repressive regime is being bombed into submission, and now the world can look forward to peace and stability. It all sounds so simple when scripted in the manner of a Netflix action drama and – as multiple armchair foreign policy hawks are now insisting – the sudden obliteration of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in his office on a Saturday morning can only be a time for rejoicing. The problem, of course, is that there are always consequences to a riotous weekend of death and destruction, and the true cost of the American-Israeli strikes on a sovereign country is far from being known. As was apparent following similar executions this century – whether of Saddam Hussein in Iraq in 2006 or Muammar Gaddafi in Libya

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  US offensive on Iran burned through an estimated $779M on first day

  by Marwa A on March 2, 2026

  US forces spent an estimated $779 million, or about 0.1% of the entire 2026 US defense budget, during the opening 24 hours of its offensive against Iran, according to estimates and data compiled by Anadolu, Anadolu reports. The US’ CENTCOM confirmed that the massive deployment included B-2 stealth bombers, F-22, F-35, and F-16 fighter jets, A-10 attack aircraft, and EA-18G electronic warfare planes. The operation also utilized MQ-9 Reaper drones, nuclear-powered aircraft carriers, guided-missile destroyers, and Patriot and THAAD missile defense systems. Four B-2 stealth bombers, flying non-stop from Whiteman Air Force Base in the US state of Missouri, struck targets using 2,000-pound (907-kilogram) Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAMs), according to CENTCOM. Known for high maintenance requirements and a 40,000-lb

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  Kuwait reports 1st military death amid US-Iran conflict

  by Marwa A on March 2, 2026

  Kuwait reported its first military death on Monday amid the Mideast’s regional escalation that began with the US-Israeli offensive on Iran, Anadolu reports. In a statement, the Kuwaiti Armed Forces General Staff said that Sgt. Walid Majid Suleiman, a member of the naval forces, “was martyred while on duty.” It did not give details of the circumstances of his death. Regional tensions escalated on Saturday when the US and Israel launched a large-scale attack on Iran, killing several top Iranian leaders, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Tehran has responded with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel as well as Gulf countries which are home to US assets. Iranian strike on hotel in Bahrain injured 2 US Defense Department employees:

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  Death toll from Israeli attacks in Lebanon rises to 52

  by Marwa A on March 2, 2026

  At least 52 people were killed and 154 others injured in a series of Israeli airstrikes in Beirut and southern Lebanon on Monday, Lebanese authorities, Anadolu reports. In a statement, the government’s Disaster Management Unit said Israeli warplanes carried out 221 airstrikes in the country since early Monday. The Lebanese Health Ministry had earlier put the death toll at 31, with 149 other people injuried. The attacks came after Hezbollah said that it had targeted a military site in northern Israel with a barrage of rockets and drones, in response to ongoing Israeli attacks on Lebanon and a joint US-Israeli military offensive against Iran. The US and Israel continued a large-scale attack on Iran since Saturday, killing several top Iranian

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  Iranian strike on hotel in Bahrain injured 2 US Defense Department employees: Report

  by Marwa A on March 2, 2026

  Two US Defense Department employees were wounded when an Iranian drone hit a hotel in Bahrain’s capital Manama, The Washington Post reported Monday, Anadolu reports. “Two U.S. DOW personnel were injured,” said a State Department cable reviewed by the newspaper, using an acronym for last year’s Defense Department unofficial rebrand as the Department of War. It was unclear whether those hurt were civilians or service members, and the cable gave no further details. Neither the State nor the Defense departments confirmed the incident or responded to the newspaper’s requests for comment. An Iranian strike hit the Crowne Plaza hotel in Manama on Sunday morning. In a statement released the same day, the US Embassy in Bahrain warned American citizens that

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  Khamenei’s wife dies of wounds from US-Israeli attack on Iran

  by Marwa A on March 2, 2026

  The wife of Iran’s slain Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei died Monday of wounds sustained in a US-Israeli attack, Iranian media reported, Anadolu reports. Mansoureh Khojasteh Bagherzadeh, 79, had been in a coma since strikes carried out by the US and Israel on Saturday killed Khamenei, the semi-official Tasnim news agency said. Iran on Sunday confirmed the death of Khamenei, his daughter, grandson, son-in-law, and one of his daughters-in-law in the US-Israeli offensive. The US and Israel launched a large-scale attack on Iran on Saturday, killing several top Iranian leaders. Tehran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel as well as Gulf countries which are home to US assets. Washington and Tel Aviv accuse Tehran of pursuing nuclear

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  Israeli fighter jets hit Beirut’s southern suburbs with 4 airstrikes

  by Marwa A on March 2, 2026

  Israeli warplanes on Monday carried out airstrikes targeting Beirut’s southern suburbs amid escalating cross-border tensions between Israel and Hezbollah, Anadolu reports. Israeli warplanes carried out four airstrikes targeting Beirut’s southern suburbs, reported Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA). READ: Explosions heard in Tehran as new strikes hit Iranian capital

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  Netherlands halts repatriation of nationals from Middle East over security concerns

  by Marwa A on March 2, 2026

  The Netherlands has temporarily suspended the repatriation of its citizens from countries in the Middle East, citing security risks, authorities said Monday, Anadolu reports. Foreign Minister Tom Berendsen said evacuations cannot be carried out safely at this time due to airspace closures across the region, according to broadcaster NOS. “The airspace is closed. If you want to bring people home, you want to do it safely. At the moment, those options aren’t available,” Berendsen said. The ministry noted that repatriation operations are complex and only carried out in exceptional circumstances, adding that the government is not legally obligated to do so. Authorities said it remains unclear how many Dutch nationals are currently in the region, as registration with embassies is

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  Spain says US has not used and will not use bases on its soil to strike Iran

  by Marwa A on March 2, 2026

  Spain’s government on Monday said the US has neither used nor will use Spanish military bases to conduct attacks against Iran, insisting Madrid maintains full control over its sovereign facilities, Anadolu reports. According to Spanish news outlet El Diario, Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares said in a television interview that the bases at Rota and Moron de la Frontera “are not being used” for operations linked to the Middle East conflict and that Spain will not authorize any such deployment. “The bases of Spanish sovereignty will not be used for anything that is not within the agreement with the United States or for anything that does not fit within the charter of the United Nations,” he said. Albares reiterated that