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

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  Negotiations with Israel ‘need time,’ Lebanese president says

  by MI on June 1, 2026

  Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said Monday that the US-mediated negotiations with Israel “need time” and the current conflict will not be solved overnight, Anadolu reports. “Negotiation is safer than war. We have seen — and continue to see — the devastation of war and its consequences,” Aoun said in a meeting with business representatives, as cited by a presidency statement. “However, negotiations will not solve the problem overnight; they are a process that needs time, and we have no other choice,” he added. Aoun said negotiations “don’t mean surrender but rather are a means of ending wars with the least possible damage.” The Lebanese president reiterated his country’s commitment to the negotiations, saying the talks are “moving forward” despite possible delays that

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  Ceasefire with US covers Lebanon: Iran

  by MI on June 1, 2026

  Iran said Monday that a ceasefire with the US covers “all fronts, including Lebanon,” holding the US and Israel responsible for “the consequences of any violation.” “For immediate attention: The ceasefire between Iran and the US is unequivocally a ceasefire on all fronts, including in Lebanon. Its violation on one front is a violation of the ceasefire on all fronts,” Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi wrote on the US social media company X. “The US and Israel are responsible for the consequences of any violation,” he warned. His remarks came after Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei warned early Monday that Tehran will not hesitate to help Lebanon resist Israel’s “illegal aggression” on the country. READ: US and Iran remain divided as

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  Turkiye condemns Israeli extremist group’s raid on Al Aqsa Mosque

  by MI on June 1, 2026

  Turkiye on Monday condemned Sunday’s raid carried out by Israeli extremist groups on Al-Aqsa Mosque under the protection of Israeli security forces, as well as their provocative actions there, including the unfurling of an Israeli flag and the singing of the national anthem “in the strongest terms,” Anadolu reports. The Foreign Ministry in a statement warned that the actions, which seek to disregard the historical and legal status of Jerusalem, particularly Al-Aqsa Mosque, constitute a clear violation of international law and risk further deepening instability in the region. “In the face of these dangerous provocations and violations by occupying Israel against Muslim and Christian holy sites, we reiterate our call for the international community to increase pressure on Israel,” the statement said.

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  Iran says it will not hesitate to help Lebanon resist Israel’s ‘illegal aggression’

  by MI on June 1, 2026

  Iran warned Monday it will not hesitate to help Lebanon resist Israel’s “illegal aggression” on the country. “We have emphasized and continue to emphasize that the ceasefire in Lebanon is an integral part of any ceasefire and any final agreement” to end the war with the US, Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei told a news conference cited by the state news agency IRNA. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the army on Monday to carry out airstrikes in the Lebanese capital Beirut in renewed escalation despite an ongoing ceasefire in Lebanon. “Tehran is not currently holding negotiations with Washington on the details of its nuclear program,” Baqaei said. “At this stage, our focus is on ending the war.” READ: Iran says

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  Iranian attacks damaged 20 US military sites since war began, satellite imagery shows

  by MI on June 1, 2026

  Iranian strikes have damaged 20 US military sites since the start of the US-Israeli war against Tehran in February, a BBC analysis of satellite images and videos showed Monday. The targeted facilities span Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Iraq, Jordan, Bahrain, and Oman, found the analysis by BBC Verify using satellite imagery from multiple international providers, along with archived images from Planet, a major provider, to assess damage from Iranian attacks. While the White House has repeatedly said Iran’s military capability has been largely destroyed, analysts argue that damage observed at US facilities suggests that Iran’s counterstrikes were both more precise and more extensive than American officials have publicly acknowledged. Among the significant losses were three advanced

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  Why the Iran conflict demands a fresh strategy in the Arab world

  by MI on June 1, 2026

  The latest clashes involving the US, Israel, and Iran go beyond just another round of Middle East fighting. They shine a harsh light on how shaky the region’s security setup really is — and force Arab leaders to question long-held beliefs they’ve leaned on for years. For a long time, many Arab states bet heavily on one idea: stay close to Washington, buy lots of Western weapons, and quietly work with Israel. That was supposed to bring lasting calm. After the Abraham Accords, this mix got sold as a bold new path to peace. But honestly, it felt more like a coalition built to box in Iran than true reconciliation. Now this war is showing the cracks in that plan.

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  Iran says Israel’s actions in Lebanon delaying US deal

  by MI on June 1, 2026

  Iran said Monday that ongoing Israeli attacks in Lebanon are hindering efforts to reach an agreement between Tehran and Washington. “The main factor in the failure to reach an agreement in the region is the Zionist regime and the attacks on Lebanon, an attempt to prevent the improvement of the situation in the region,” Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei told a news conference, according to state broadcaster IRIB. Baqaei also blamed the US, arguing that Washington bears responsibility because of its support for Israel. “The US is also responsible,” he said, claiming that “every action” taken by Israel is “the responsibility of America, which supports it.” READ: Netanyahu orders attacks on Beirut’s Dahiyeh despite Lebanon ceasefire He stressed that diplomacy

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  Iran’s IRGC says it struck US air base after reported attack on Sirik Island

  by MI on June 1, 2026

  Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said early Monday that it struck a US air base allegedly used to launch an attack on a telecommunications tower on Sirik Island in southern Hormozgan province, according to Iran’s Mehr News Agency. In a statement cited by Mehr, the IRGC said its Aerospace Force targeted and destroyed the base from which US forces had launched the operation against the communications facility. The IRGC said the strike was carried out hours after the reported US attack and claimed that all predetermined targets were successfully hit. The force also warned that any further attacks would trigger a response “different in scale and nature,” adding that responsibility for any escalation would rest with the United States.

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  Netanyahu orders attacks on Beirut’s Dahiyeh despite Lebanon ceasefire

  by MI on June 1, 2026

  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday ordered the army to carry out strikes in Beirut’s Dahiyeh district, claiming the attacks were a response to Hezbollah’s “repeated violations” of the ongoing ceasefire in Lebanon, Anadolu reports. Netanyahu claimed he and Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz ordered the army to “strike terrorist targets” in the area. The order came despite a US-mediated ceasefire that took effect on April 17 and was later extended through early July. According to the Lebanese Health Ministry, Israeli attacks since March 2 have killed more than 3,400 people across the country. READ: Lebanese parliament speaker says he guarantees Hezbollah’s commitment to ceasefire if Israel ends war

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  IOM: 2,245 people displaced from South Kordofan in Sudan

  by MI on June 1, 2026

  The International Organization for Migration (IOM) said on Sunday that 2,245 people were displaced from Sudan’s South Kordofan State over the past three days due to worsening security conditions. In a statement, the organisation said its displacement monitoring teams estimated that 2,245 people had fled from the towns of Kadugli and Dilling, as well as villages around Habila in South Kordofan, between 28th and 30th May. The displaced people moved to the states of North Kordofan, White Nile and Khartoum, the IOM added. The organisation said the situation remains “tense and volatile” and that it will continue to monitor developments closely. According to the IOM’s latest figures, published on 11th February, more than 132,000 people have been displaced from the

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  Hamas accuses Mladenov of inciting against Gaza, urges adherence to war-ending plan

  by MI on June 1, 2026

  Hamas has accused Nikolay Mladenov, head of the so-called Board of Peace in Gaza, of fuelling the escalating situation in the enclave and urged him to stop what it described as incitement against Gaza and the movement, and to support efforts to end the war without introducing further complications. In a recorded statement, Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem said the movement is holding intensive contacts and in-depth meetings with various relevant parties in an effort to contain the worsening situation and halt what he described as the “dangerous aggression” against Gaza’s residents. Qassem said Hamas is working on all fronts to ensure the implementation of the ceasefire agreement, particularly with regard to requiring Israel to fulfil its obligations under the first

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  Petition seeks EU protection for Francesca Albanese, ICC judges and human rights defenders

  by MI on June 1, 2026

  The UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights on the occupied Palestinian territories, Francesca Albanese called for support for a petition urging the European Union to protect human rights defenders and international justice officials who have been targeted by US sanctions. In a post on X, Albanese said that she, several judges of the International Criminal Court (ICC), and Palestinian human rights defenders require public support in response to US measures against them. She encouraged supporters to sign and share the petition. The petition, launched by Courage International, explains that the United States and Israel have targeted Albanese, eight ICC judges, three ICC officials and Palestinian human rights organizations because of their work documenting and investigating violations of

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  Egypt calls for full Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory

  by MI on June 1, 2026

  Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty reaffirmed Egypt’s support for Lebanon and called for the immediate and complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from all Lebanese territory. According to a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Egypt, Abdelatty made the remarks during a telephone conversation with Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam. Abdelatty stressed that any violation of Lebanon’s sovereignty, unity or territorial integrity constitutes a breach of international law and of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701. The Egyptian minister also reiterated Cairo’s full solidarity with Lebanon in confronting current security and political challenges. According to ministry spokesperson Tamim Khallaf, Abdelatty emphasized the importance of strengthening Lebanese state institutions, particularly the Lebanese Armed Forces, so they can exercise authority throughout

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  Israel’s pressure is testing America’s Iran diplomacy

  by MI on June 1, 2026

  A deal with Iran is never allowed to be just a deal with Iran. That is the first rule of Washington politics. The moment a diplomatic opening appears, another conversation begins behind it: what will Israel accept, what will the lobby tolerate, and how far can any American president go before the word “appeasement” is thrown across the room? That is where US policy stands today. A 60-day understanding to extend the ceasefire, reopen the Strait of Hormuz and start a harder nuclear track has moved close to the point of decision. Trump has gathered his national security team in the Situation Room to weigh the agreement. By Saturday, his defence secretary was already warning that the United States was

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  Israeli committee approves bill imposing new restrictions on mosque loudspeakers

  by MI on June 1, 2026

  The Israeli Ministerial Committee for Legislation approved a bill on Sunday that would introduce new restrictions on the use of loudspeakers for the Islamic call to prayer (Adhan) in mosques. According to the proposal, mosques would be required to obtain prior authorization before installing or operating loudspeaker systems. The bill would also grant expanded enforcement powers to Israeli police. The legislation was submitted by head of the Knesset’s National Security Committee, Zvika Fogel and supported by extremist minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir and his Otzma Yehudit party. Under the proposal, permits would be assessed based on factors such as sound levels, noise-reduction measures, the location of the mosque, proximity to residential areas and the impact on nearby residents. READ: Israeli occupiers storm Al-Aqsa

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  Residents flee Beirut’s Dahiyeh area after Netanyahu orders strikes

  by MI on June 1, 2026

  Residents began fleeing Beirut’s southern Dahiye area after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the military to carry out airstrikes on the Lebanese capital’s southern suburbs, Anadolu reports. Heavy traffic formed at major exit points in Dahiye as people left the area following the announcement. Netanyahu on Monday ordered the army to carry out strikes in Beirut’s Dahiyeh district, claiming the attacks were a response to Hezbollah’s “repeated violations” of the ongoing ceasefire in Lebanon. Netanyahu claimed he and Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz ordered the army to “strike terrorist targets” in the area. The order came despite a US-mediated ceasefire that took effect on April 17 and was later extended through early July. According to the Lebanese Health Ministry, Israeli attacks

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  US and Iran remain divided as negotiations continue

  by MI on June 1, 2026

  On the 93rd day of the United States and Israel’s war against Iran, reports indicate that negotiations remain active but significant disagreements persist, particularly over the nuclear issue and the Strait of Hormuz. According to reports cited from The New York Times, US President Donald Trump submitted a revised proposal to Tehran containing stricter provisions than earlier drafts. The reported amendments are said to focus on sensitive issues including Iran’s nuclear programme and the future handling of enriched nuclear material. Meanwhile, Axios reported that Trump is seeking stronger guarantees and tighter restrictions in any final agreement. Despite the tougher negotiating position, Trump stated publicly that Washington may be close to reaching what he called a “very good” agreement with Iran.

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  Palestinian detainees commission reveals permanent disabilities caused by Israeli torture and medical neglect

  by MI on June 1, 2026

  Director General of the Palestinian Authority’s Commission of Detainees’ Affairs in the Gaza Strip, Hassan Quneita stated that numerous Palestinian prisoners have suffered permanent disabilities during detention in Israeli prisons as a result of torture and inadequate medical care. In a press statement, Quneita said that many affected prisoners had pre-existing chronic illnesses, including diabetes, and did not receive the treatment they required while in custody. According to his account, the deterioration of medical conditions in some cases led to amputations, severe complications, or permanent disabilities. He said that cases have been documented among both former detainees who have been released and prisoners who remain in detention. The Palestinian Commission of Detainees’ Affairs monitors conditions affecting Palestinian prisoners. Human rights

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  Settler council advances plan for 18 settlements in the northern West Bank

  by MI on June 1, 2026

  Israeli media reports indicate that the Samaria Regional Council has prepared a large-scale settlement initiative known as the “Connecting Plan”, aimed at establishing or re-establishing 18 settlements in the northern occupied West Bank. According to the settler-affiliated website Emez, the plan includes the return of settlement activity to four settlements evacuated during the 2005 Israeli disengagement plan; Homesh, Sanur, Ganim and Kadim.  The report states that the broader project would involve the establishment, expansion, or reconstruction of 18 settlements in total, including 14 additional settlements beyond the four evacuated in 2005. According to the website, some components of the plan have already received approval from the Israeli government, while other parts remain subject to future political and planning decisions. The

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  Oil prices rise more than 2% as Israeli military escalation in Lebanon intensifies

  by MI on June 1, 2026

  Oil prices rose by more than 2 per cent in early trading on Monday after Israel announced a deeper military advance into Lebanon as part of what it described as its battle against the Iran-backed armed group Hezbollah, despite a ceasefire that has been in place for more than six weeks. US crude futures gained $2.37, or 2.71 per cent, to $89.73 a barrel by 1017 GMT, according to Reuters. Brent crude futures also rose by $2.07, or 2.27 per cent, to $93.19 a barrel. Both Brent crude and US West Texas Intermediate had fallen on Friday, by 1.8 per cent and 1.7 per cent respectively, amid expectations that the United States and Iran had reached a ceasefire agreement. READ: Israel

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  Lebanese parliament speaker says he guarantees Hezbollah’s commitment to ceasefire if Israel ends war

  by MI on June 1, 2026

  Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri said he could guarantee that Hezbollah would fully comply with a ceasefire if Israel halted its land, sea and air military operations and stopped demolishing homes and bulldozing land in Lebanon. In an interview with the Beirut-based newspaper Al-Modon, Berri said he would take responsibility for ensuring Hezbollah’s full commitment to a ceasefire, but stressed that this was conditional on Israel ending the war and all military operations it is carrying out in Lebanon.  Berri expressed doubt that Israel would honour any commitments or agreements, saying the main challenge was ensuring that it implemented any understanding reached between the parties. He added that if a ceasefire were achieved, indirect negotiations could begin under the sponsorship

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  Israel seeks Trump administration approval for wider air strikes in Beirut

  by MI on June 1, 2026

  Israel has asked the United States to allow it to expand its military operations in Lebanon to include large-scale air strikes on Beirut, rather than limiting its actions to targeted assassinations, according to Israeli Channel 12. The broadcaster reported on Sunday evening that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a second security meeting on the same day to discuss the possibility of shifting from occupying and seizing territory in Lebanon to launching an air campaign in Beirut. According to the report, any decision on the matter depends on discussions with the US administration, adding that the issue has gained momentum in recent days. Two days earlier, Netanyahu spoke with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and sought to persuade senior

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  Could Iran’s new air defence system be a game changer?

  by Marwa A on May 31, 2026

  The doctrine of absolute air dominance, long regarded as an unassailable pillar of Western military strategy, is facing an unexpected test over the skies of the Persian Gulf. For decades, American air superiority has been viewed as an almost impenetrable shield, allowing Washington to shape conflicts on its own terms. Yet a series of dramatic events during the first half of 2026 around the Strait of Hormuz has forced strategists in the Pentagon to reconsider some of the core assumptions underpinning modern warfare. When a frontline U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle was reportedly shot down over southwestern Iran in April 2026, followed by the loss of multiple MQ-9 Reaper surveillance drones worth tens of millions of dollars, Tehran delivered

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  Israeli occupiers storm Al-Aqsa Mosque amid Palestinian warning of ‘Judaisation’

  by Marwa A on May 31, 2026

  Israeli occupiers on Sunday stormed Al-Aqsa Mosque in the occupied East Jerusalem under police protection, amid Palestinian warnings of “Judaisation” plans, Anadolu reports. Omar Rajoub, director of the Media Department at the Jerusalem Governorate, told Anadolu that “raising the Israeli flag inside the courtyards of Al-Aqsa Mosque, along with performing provocative rituals, is part of a systematic and deliberate official Israeli policy led by the extremist occupation government.” “These practices aim to impose new realities by force in occupied East Jerusalem and undermine the historical and legal status quo at the Al-Aqsa Mosque,” he added. He warned that “occupiers’ actions inside the Al-Aqsa Mosque are part of an ongoing colonial plan targeting the spatial and temporal division of the mosque,

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  Trump names US Ambassador to Türkiye Barrack as special presidential envoy to Syria, Iraq

  by Marwa A on May 31, 2026

  Tom Barrack, the US ambassador to Türkiye, would also serve as special presidential envoy to both Syria and Iraq, US President Donald Trump said Sunday, Anadolu reports. Trump said Washington deepens its strategic engagement with Syria and Iraq. “Our relationship with them continues to grow,” he wrote on his social media platform Truth Social. “Tom will remain Ambassador to Türkiye, and operate with the full backing of the United States Department of State,” Trump said, praising Barrack’s performance and expressing appreciation for his “continued willingness” to serve. Barrack, a longtime Trump ally, was confirmed as ambassador to Türkiye in 2025. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Friday Barrack will maintain a central diplomatic role managing policy for Syria and

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  Syria has sacrificed the soul of the revolution by arresting Bilal Abdul Kareem

  by Marwa A on May 31, 2026

  The Syrian revolution was fought to tear down a police state, not to replace it with a replica under a different banner. Today, Assad’s dungeons of Damascus may have been replaced by the security apparatus of Ahmed al-Sharaa (aka Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, the leader of Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham – HTS), but the arrest of New York journalist Bilal Abdul Kareem proves that the transitional administration is replicating the very tyranny from which Syrians died in their thousands to escape. The social media firestorm that preceded Bilal’s arrest centered on his interview with an Egyptian sheikh regarding the citizenship rights of foreign fighters. The truth is that Sheikh Abu al-Yaqzan al-Masri, whose real name is Muhammad Naji, is a man of little importance

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  33 Palestinians killed by Israeli fire in Gaza during Eid holiday, Health Ministry says

  by Marwa A on May 31, 2026

  One Palestinian was killed and eight others were injured by Israeli army fire in the Gaza Strip in the last 24 hours, taking the death toll during the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha to 33 people, Gaza’s Health Ministry said Sunday, Anadolu reports. The ministry added in a statement that more than 130 people were injured in Israeli attacks since Wednesday, the first day of the four-day occasion. The attacks came despite a US-mediated ceasefire that has been in place in Gaza since Oct. 10, 2025. A medical source earlier told Anadolu that a Palestinian man breathed his last early Sunday from severe injuries he sustained in an Israeli strike in Gaza City on Saturday. Meanwhile, the director of Al-Aqsa

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  Israeli airstrike wounds 13 healthcare workers in southern Lebanon

  by Marwa A on May 31, 2026

  Thirteen healthcare workers were injured on Sunday in an Israeli airstrike targeting the vicinity of Hiram Hospital in Lebanon’s southern city of Tyre, the Lebanese Health Ministry said, Anadolu reports. The bombardment also caused “severe damage after the hospital sustained damage in earlier Israeli attacks,” the ministry said in a statement. It called on the international community to “put an end to the escalating Israeli attacks, which are expanding without regard for international humanitarian law, UN resolutions, and international norms.” The attacks came as the Israeli army escalated its assaults across Lebanon amid daily violations of a fragile ceasefire agreement in place since mid-April. Since March 2, the Israeli attacks have killed at least 3,371 people, injured 10,129 others, and

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  Instead of expanding gas, the UAE should help Indonesia build offshore wind

  by Marwa A on May 31, 2026

  Within months, Mubadala Energy is expected to make a final investment decision on its Tangkulo development in Indonesia’s South Andaman block, where recent discoveries have revealed more than 2 trillion cubic feet of gas-in-place. Additional finds in the same basin could hold more than 6 trillion cubic feet. The project is being hailed as another milestone in Indonesia’s push to become a major regional gas supplier. But the bigger story is not the gas beneath the Andaman Sea. It is the strategic choice facing the United Arab Emirates. The UAE is now one of the world’s most influential energy investors. Through companies like Mubadala Energy and Masdar, Abu Dhabi is simultaneously financing two very different futures: one built on new

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  Israeli army announces ‘large-scale’ offensive in southern Lebanon

  by Marwa A on May 31, 2026

  The Israeli army announced on Sunday that it had launched a “large-scale” offensive in the Beaufort Ridge and Wadi al-Salouqi (Saluki) area of southern Lebanon, Anadolu reports. The offensive began “several days ago, with large ground forces,” military spokesman spokeswoman Ella Waweya said on US social media company X. Waweya claimed the move was aimed at “destroying terrorist infrastructure and eliminating militants.” The Israeli army has “crossed the Litani River and expanded their attacks against Hezbollah north of the river,” she claimed, adding that “operations are expanding into additional areas.” Waweya said Israeli forces are operating “in the vicinity of (the city of) Nabatieh,” which she called “one of Hezbollah’s principal strongholds in southern Lebanon,” and that they are “ready

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  Beyond the Yellow Line: Israel seizes more of Gaza

  by Marwa A on May 31, 2026

  While eyes remain peeled on Israel’s increasingly violent and expanding campaign in Lebanon, the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is proving ever more predatory with the Gaza Strip.  With aggrandizing impunity, more territory is being acquired for familiar reasons: Hamas is on the run and needs to be crushed further (the organisation is proving oddly resilient and contradictory to Israeli objectives here); Palestinian autonomy, even in so small an area, would be a future threat to Israel unless heavily invigilated and policed; and, well, there is that old desire to ethnically cleanse the territory. Speaking at a conference on May 28, Netanyahu outlined his plans for further seizures.  “We are currently squeezing Hamas; we now control 60% of the

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  The heirs of the Nizamiyyah: Persian patience, American hubris

  by Marwa A on May 31, 2026

  In the 11th century, the Persian statesman Nizam al-Mulk (Abu Ali Hasan ibn Ali Tusi, born in Khurasan in 1018) built an empire not with swords alone, but with schools.   He served as grand Vizier for two famous Seljuk sultans: Alp Arslan, and Malik Shah I from 1063-1092. The Nizamiyyah academies produced generations of administrators trained in law, ethics, accounting, and statecraft.  A thousand years later, the civilization that inherited that tradition- Iran- still carries the DNA of bureaucratic rigor and philosophical depth. Meanwhile, the United States, a young empire now in visible decline, has elevated a man with no respect for learning, no moral compass, and with a famously short attention span. The contrast is not merely political, it

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  Iranian negotiator says final draft not yet approved, Tehran can quit US deal over violations

  by MI on May 30, 2026

  Saeed Ajorlou, a member of Iran’s negotiating team’s media committee, said Saturday that Tehran has yet to approve the final draft of a proposed agreement with the United States and could withdraw from the deal if the other side fails to uphold its commitments, Anadolu reports. Ajorlou told Iranian state television that, to his knowledge, the final text had not been approved as of Friday night, although only limited differences remained between the parties. “If the final text is approved, we will enter a 60-day process of discussions on the details,” he said, adding that each of the agreement’s 14 articles contains annexes requiring further negotiations. Ajorlou stressed that implementation mechanisms would be more important than the text itself, particularly regarding access

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  Palestinian killed, 3 injured in Israeli strike in central Gaza Strip despite ceasefire

  by MI on May 30, 2026

  A Palestinian was killed and three others, including a child, were injured on Saturday in an Israeli strike targeting civilians near the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip. The attack came on the fourth day of the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha amid continued Israeli violations of a ceasefire agreement announced last October. “The body of Jamal Abu Aoun and three injured people, including a child, had arrived at the hospital following an Israeli drone strike that targeted a group of civilians near the hospital,” a medical source told Anadolu. In separate incidents, Israeli artillery shelling targeted areas east and south of Khan Younis city in the southern Gaza Strip early Saturday morning. Meanwhile, another

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  Iran’s parliament set to vote on Hormuz Strait management bill

  by MI on May 30, 2026

  Iran’s parliament is set to vote on a bill that would formalize the country’s management of the Strait of Hormuz, a senior lawmaker said Saturday. Alaeddin Salimi, a member of the parliament’s presiding board, said lawmakers had made a “definitive decision” to codify the management of the strategic waterway. “The parliament’s decision to legislate the management of the Strait of Hormuz is final, and this plan will become law,” Salimi told Iran’s semi-official Tasnim News Agency. He said the parliament would not allow foreign powers to dictate policy regarding the strait. “Those who say the Strait of Hormuz must remain open should know that this issue concerns us. We will not allow others to decide for us,” he said. READ: Iranian

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  US blockade of Strait of Hormuz remains in place, says Pentagon chief

  by MI on May 30, 2026

  The US blockade of the Strait of Hormuz is still in place, the US defense secretary said on Saturday, and warned that Washington is ready to resort to military action again if diplomatic efforts fail to secure a deal that prevents Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon, Anadolu reports. “The blockade is very much still in place,” Pete Hegseth said in Singapore, where he addressed the Shangri-La Dialogue security summit. “Once a deal is had or not, depending on the choice they make, it will be an open strait, a toll-free strait that the entire world can use, which is the way that it should be,” Hegseth said. “Right now, we’re focused on being postured and prepared to reengage if we have

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  Israeli army crosses Litani River, reaches outskirts of Nabatieh city

  by MI on May 30, 2026

  The Israeli army has advanced into villages located north of the Litani River and reached the outskirts of Nabatieh city in southern Lebanon, a senior Lebanese military source told Anadolu on Saturday. The Israeli forces “have reached villages and towns north of the Litani River, including Zawtar al-Sharqiyah and Shqif Arnoun, and have reached the outskirts of the city of Nabatieh,” said the source. This was accompanied by an increase in Israeli attacks and incursions into more southern villages and towns, it added. “The Lebanese army has evacuated its positions from villages and towns that have come under Israeli control” in order to ensure the safety of Lebanese soldiers, the source stated, noting that the Israeli army attacks caused casualties

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  Muslim pilgrims conclude annual Hajj pilgrimage

  by MI on May 30, 2026

  Muslim pilgrims on Saturday concluded their annual Hajj pilgrimage with the farewell circumambulation at the Grand Mosque in Mecca, western Saudi Arabia, Anadolu reports. The pilgrimage was concluded in “an atmosphere of faith filled with tranquility,” Saudi state-run TV Al-Ekhbariya reported. On Tuesday, the Saudi statistics authority said the total number of pilgrims for this season reached nearly 1.71 million, including 1.55 million pilgrims from outside the kingdom representing 165 nationalities. Over 160,600 pilgrims performed Hajj from within Saudi Arabia. The total exceeded last year’s figure of 1.67 million pilgrims from both inside and outside the kingdom but was below the more than 1.83 million seen in 2024. Hajj rituals officially began Monday with pilgrims arriving in Mina, west of Saudi Arabia,

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  US blockade of Iranian ports still in place despite Trump’s announcement: Report

  by MI on May 30, 2026

  The US naval blockade of Iranian ports remains in place, Iran’s semi-official news agency Tasnim reported on Saturday, citing Iranian seafarers. “The naval blockade is still in place and ships are receiving stop warnings and denial of passage from CENTCOM,” the report cited the seafarers as saying. For his part, a top military advisor to Iran’s supreme leader accused Washington of “betraying diplomacy.” “As expected, the U.S. President is betraying diplomacy for the third time. “By continuing the naval blockade and making excessive demands in negotiations, he has further proven that he is not willing to engage in talks and is pursuing other objectives,” Mohsen Rezaei wrote on the US social media company X. In a Friday post on his

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  Lebanese president, premier meet to discuss military talks with Israel

  by MI on May 30, 2026

  Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam met on Saturday to discuss US-hosted military talks with Israel, according to the Lebanese Presidency, Anadolu reports. The Lebanese delegation “reaffirmed its commitment to prioritizing a ceasefire,” the presidency said on US media company X. Aoun and Salam also addressed preparations for the next round of US-mediated negotiations with Israel scheduled for next Tuesday and Wednesday, it added. “The meeting further addressed the security situation in the country and the daily monitoring of the situation of people forcibly displaced from their homes and properties,” said the presidency. On Friday, the Pentagon hosted military delegations from Israel and Lebanon to support peace negotiations between the two nations. Earlier, Beirut and Tel Aviv held three

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  Israeli occupiers attack Palestinian homes, lands across occupied West Bank

  by MI on May 30, 2026

  Israeli occupiers attacked Palestinian homes and property on Saturday, damaging them in the northern and southern parts of the occupied West Bank. The occupiers attacked several homes at dawn in the town of Beita, south of the city of Nablus in the northern West Bank, according to the official Palestinian news agency Wafa. They threw stones at houses and smashed several vehicles, the outlet said. State-run Voice of Palestine radio also reported that residents of Beita confronted the occupier attacks, adding that the Israeli forces fired light bombs into the sky over the town. In the southern West Bank, the occupiers attacked Palestinian farmland and damaged several trees in Khirbet el-Muraq in Masafer Yatta, activist Osama Makhamra, who follows Israeli

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  US Navy warns mariners to avoid Strait of Hormuz due to mine threat

  by MI on May 30, 2026

  The US Navy Central Command issued an urgent maritime advisory Friday, warning ship owners, operators and mariners about dangerous military operations underway in the Strait of Hormuz north of Oman’s Musandam Peninsula, Anadolu reports. The Joint Maritime Information Center advisory, dated May 29, rated the regional threat level as “CRITICAL,” citing Iranian attempts to illegally control the strategic waterway through what it described as dangerous and illegal mining that endangers ships and crews. All mariners were advised to avoid the Strait’s Traffic Separation Scheme and instead coordinate their passage with US Naval Cooperation and Guidance for Shipping. It also urged vessels to remain in constant radio contact with naval authorities and comply immediately with instructions from US forces. The advisory noted a

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  Trump ‘will only make a deal that is good for America’ with Iran: White House

  by MI on May 30, 2026

  A White House official said Friday that US President Donald Trump would only pursue an Iran nuclear agreement on American terms, following a lengthy meeting in the Situation Room. “President Trump will only make a deal that is good for America and satisfies his redlines,” the official told Anadolu. The official said the high-level meeting lasted approximately two hours and reaffirmed the administration’s firm stance on Tehran’s nuclear ambitions. “Iran can never possess a nuclear weapon,” the official added. It came amid US-Iran nuclear negotiations, with Washington maintaining that any agreement must meet strict conditions set by the president. Trump wrote earlier on his Truth Social platform that he would meet officials at the White House to make a “final

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  Hezbollah says it hit 6 Israeli tanks amid drone, missile attacks in southern Lebanon

  by MI on May 30, 2026

  Hezbollah said early Saturday that it had carried out 22 attacks against Israeli troops, vehicles and military positions in the previous 24 hours, including drone and missile strikes that hit six Israeli Merkava tanks across southern Lebanon, Anadolu reports. The group said the attacks were in response to Israeli violations of a ceasefire agreement and attacks on civilians and villages in southern Lebanon. Hezbollah said its fighters targeted five Merkava tanks in the town of Yahmar al-Shaqif in Nabatieh province using attack drones, a guided missile and other weapons, and that the tanks were seen burning after the attacks. It said a sixth Merkava tank was targeted near the town of Dibbine in Marjayoun district, where it was also seen burning. Hezbollah

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  Israel rejects Lebanese demand to withdraw from southern Lebanon: Report

  by MI on May 30, 2026

  Israel rejected a Lebanese demand for the withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon during US-mediated talks between the two sides, Israel’s public broadcaster KAN reported Friday. The broadcaster, citing Israeli officials, said Lebanon raised the issue during discussions involving military representatives from both countries under US sponsorship. Israel informed mediators that it would not withdraw, according to the report. KAN said the talks also addressed the possibility of reaching a broader ceasefire arrangement that would include discussions on Hezbollah’s weapons. The broadcaster, citing Lebanese media reports, said Israeli and Lebanese military delegations are not holding direct talks, with all messages relayed through the US mediator. Lebanon requested clarifications regarding terms used by Israel to justify its military operations, including

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  Hamas urges Board of Peace to condemn Israeli plans to expand control over Gaza

  by MI on May 30, 2026

  The Palestinian resistance group, Hamas, urged the international Board of Peace to take a clear position Friday on Israeli plans to expand control over the Gaza Strip, criticizing what it described as the body’s silence over the issue, Anadolu reports. Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem denounced what he described as the silence of the Board of Peace and its high representative for Gaza, Nickolay Mladenov, regarding Israeli plans to control 70% of Gaza and continue efforts to displace Palestinians. Qassem said the plans constitute a clear violation of the ceasefire framework and understandings regarding Gaza. He added that failing to condemn Israeli expansionist policies and displacement plans raises serious questions about the commitment of sponsoring parties to hold Israel accountable for its obligations

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  US top diplomat thanks Pakistan for efforts to mediate with Iran

  by MI on May 30, 2026

  Secretary of State Marco Rubio thanked Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Friday for Islamabad’s efforts to mediate an end to the US war against Iran, Anadolu reports. During a meeting in the US capital, Rubio “thanked the minister for the constructive role Pakistan continues to play in realizing President Trump’s vision for peace in the Middle East and its mediation efforts with Iran,” spokesperson Tommy Pigott said in a statement. “The secretary and deputy prime minister agreed upon the importance of working together to further strengthen a meaningful partnership that fosters security and prosperity for both Americans and Pakistanis,” he added. Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry separately said the top diplomats “appreciated the positive trajectory of Pak-U.S. bilateral relations over the past year.

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  Podcast by Jasim Al-Azzawi with Mustafa Barghouti: What ‘s Netanyahu’s Imperial Ambition?

  by Marwa A on May 29, 2026
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  China’s Treasury gambit: A decade in the making

  by Marwa A on May 29, 2026

  When China reduced its holdings of US Treasury securities in the spring of 2026, mainstream Washington commentators reflexively reached for the word “routine.” They should not have. What is unfolding is the culmination of a decade-long strategy, methodically engineered to give China the option to weaponize US borrowing costs at a moment of geopolitical maximum pressure. The numbers are striking. China’s Treasury holdings, which topped $1.3 trillion in 2013, had fallen to $693.3 billion by February 2026, and slid further to $652.3 billion the following month. In March 2026 alone, overall foreign holdings of US. Treasuries fell by $138.4 billion, with seven of the top ten foreign holders, including Japan, China, Belgium, Canada, and France,  trimming their exposure simultaneously. Acclaimed economist Mohamed

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  When rights are sold back as concessions

  by Marwa A on May 29, 2026

  Wars do not always continue through explosions. Sometimes the more dangerous phase begins when the noise falls, markets steady and governments hurry to turn a ceasefire into proof of victory. Iran is entering that phase. The danger is not only another round of fighting, but the quieter possibility that war is reorganised into a diplomatic architecture of pressure, in which the return to normal life is sold back to Iran as a concession. The world wants the Strait of Hormuz reopened, oil risk reduced, shipping routes predictable and energy prices controlled. Iran’s question is different: will the world simply pass through Iran’s neighbourhood again, or will Iran itself be reconnected to finance, trade, insurance and credible security guarantees? The concession