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

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  Trump advisers express regret over Iran war planning: Axios report

  by Marwa A on March 16, 2026

  Some members of President Donald Trump’s inner circle are experiencing “buyer’s remorse” over the decision to go to war with Iran, with growing fears that the administration underestimated the regime’s resilience, according to an Axios report published on Monday, Anadolu reports. According to the report, some key officials were reluctant or wanted more time before launching the campaign. One source said Trump ultimately brushed aside the hesitation, saying “I just want to do it.” The source added that Trump had been encouraged by recent military successes, including last summer’s strikes on Iran and the January capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, and had overestimated his ability to topple the Iranian regime without ground troops. “He was high on his own

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  Poland criticises Trump for framing NATO as ‘them’ in Gulf dispute

  by Marwa A on March 16, 2026

  Poland’s Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski on Monday criticised US President Donald Trump for referring to NATO allies as separate from the United States while urging them to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, Anadolu reports. “It is slightly disconcerting that President Trump is speaking of NATO in terms of ‘them,’ and not in terms of ‘us,’” Sikorski told reporters in Brussels, responding to Trump’s call for European allies to help clear the blockade of the strategic Gulf waterway. Speaking ahead of talks with fellow foreign ministers, Sikorski said it was “a little disturbing” to hear the US president refer to NATO in those terms while pressing European countries to contribute to efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a key

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  Dubai stocks enter bear market as conflict-driven selloff hits banks, property shares

  by Marwa A on March 16, 2026

  Dubai’s main stock index slipped into bear-market territory on Monday after falling more than 20% from its February peak as escalating regional tensions triggered broad selling across banking, real estate and travel-linked shares, Anadolu reports. The Dubai Financial Market General Index reached a recent high of 6,785.48 on Feb. 10 and later dropped to 5,391.98 on March 13, according to Dubai Financial Market data. That represents a decline of about 20.5%, meeting the widely used definition of a bear market. Selling pressure persisted Monday, with Reuters reporting that Dubai’s benchmark fell another 2%, led by a 3% drop in Emaar Properties and a 1.4% decline in Emirates NBD as investors reacted to rising geopolitical uncertainty in the Gulf. The index

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  Death toll from Israeli attacks in Lebanon rises to 886

  by Marwa A on March 16, 2026

  The death toll from Israeli attacks on Lebanon has risen to 886 since the start of Israel’s expanded offensive on March 2, the Health Ministry said Monday, Anadolu reports. In a statement, the ministry said the victims include 111 children and 67 women. The Public Health Emergency Operations Center added in its daily report that the total number of those injured during the same period reached 2,141. The report also noted a rise in casualties among healthcare workers, with 38 killed and 69 others injured. Israel continues to carry out airstrikes and attacks on several areas in Lebanon amid escalating tensions along the southern border. READ: Germany urges Israel to abandon Lebanon ground offensive plans

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  Trump’s Iran miscalculation: When power meets a civilisation that refuses to collapse

  by Marwa A on March 16, 2026

  Donald Trump’s confrontation with Iran appears to have been built on a fundamental misreading of the country he chose to confront. The assumption in Washington seemed to be that a sudden decapitation strike against Iran’s leadership could trigger a rapid political collapse. In that scenario, eliminating senior figures would produce confusion inside the system, spark internal competition for power and potentially encourage political actors inside the country to align themselves with the United States. Variations of this strategy have appeared before in American foreign policy thinking, particularly in states whose institutions are weak or heavily dependent on a single leader. Yet the reaction that followed the opening phase of the war demonstrated that Iran operates under a very different political

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  Gulf economies risk worst slump since 1990s if Iran war drags on

  by Marwa A on March 16, 2026

  The US-Israeli war on Iran could push several Gulf economies into their worst downturn since the early 1990s if the conflict continues and disruption in the Strait of Hormuz persists, according to Bloomberg. Citing Goldman Sachs economist Farouk Soussa, Bloomberg said Qatar and Kuwait could each see gross domestic product shrink by 14 per cent this year if the war continues through the end of April and results in a two-month effective halt to oil and gas flows through Hormuz. Such a collapse would mark the sharpest hit to those economies since the turmoil triggered by Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait and the Gulf War Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates would be in a stronger position because they can

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  Trump warns NATO faces “very bad future” if allies refuse to back US war on Iran

  by Marwa A on March 16, 2026

  US President Donald Trump has warned that NATO faces a “very bad” future if its members refuse to support Washington’s efforts in Iran, according to the Financial Times. In remarks published by the FT, Trump said it was “only appropriate that people who are the beneficiaries of the Strait will help to make sure that nothing bad happens there,” as he pressed allies to assist in reopening the Strait of Hormuz after it was effectively shut amid the US-Israeli war on Iran. Trump added: “If there’s no response or if it’s a negative response, I think it will be very bad for the future of NATO.” The comments amount to an open attempt to pressure NATO states into joining a

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  How do we even talk about Palestine and Israel?: One group’s experience in unspoken territory

  by Marwa A on March 16, 2026

  The Tavistock Clinic in London, which was set up in the aftermath of the First World War, is one of the UK’s leading mental health institutions. Offering outpatient therapeutic services to children and adults facing a range of challenges as well as training mental health professionals, the clinic has a long history of dealing with serious problems. However, after the 7th October 2023 Hamas attack and Israel’s genocidal war in Gaza, communities in the UK whether Muslim or Jewish had to grapple with the consequences of it. There was also a feeling that different sides struggled to talk to one another and that facilitating understanding between the communities was something few wished to host. Those who are involved in the

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  US allows Iranian oil tankers through Strait of Hormuz to maintain global supply: Treasury secretary

  by MI on March 16, 2026

  The US is allowing Iranian oil tankers to transit the Strait of Hormuz in order to maintain global oil supplies, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Monday, Anadolu reports. “The Iranian ships have been getting out already, and we’ve let that happen to supply the rest of the world,” Bessent told CNBC, adding that tankers supplying India had already made the crossing and that some Chinese vessels were also believed to be getting through. Bessent said the administration expected tanker traffic through the strait to increase further before the US Navy and allied forces begin escorting commercial ships through the waterway. The Strait of Hormuz has been effectively closed to regular commercial shipping since early March amid Iranian retaliatory strikes as

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  Survival as strategy

  by MI on March 16, 2026

  Persian proverb goes, ‘A river cuts through rock not because of its power, but because of its persistence.’ True to that maxim, Iran has demonstrated its stubborn capacity to endure weathering sanctions and military pressure while boldly refusing to bend to external coercion. The assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, in US–Israeli strikes on 28 February has hardened Iran’s narrative of resistance. Tehran now frames the war as an existential struggle for the survival of the Islamic Republic. The escalation underscores Iran’s resilience within its political system, the persistence of its domestic support and the strategic logic of survival through asymmetric warfare, while the escalation simultaneously exposes a troubling disarray in Washington’s strategic objectives. A favourite tactic of war

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  Germany urges Israel to abandon Lebanon ground offensive plans

  by MI on March 16, 2026

  Germany on Monday urged Israel to abandon plans for a major ground offensive in Lebanon, warning that such an operation would trigger a severe humanitarian and refugee crisis, Anadolu reports. Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s spokesman told reporters in Berlin that Germany is “deeply concerned” by the latest developments and supports efforts to restart talks between Israel and Lebanon. “The situation in this part of the war zone fills us with concern, as we see preparations for a major Israeli ground offensive,” Stefan Kornelius said. He warned that such an offensive would dramatically escalate the region’s already dire humanitarian conditions. “We urge our Israeli friends not to take this course,” Kornelius said. “We also call on Israel not to attack civilian targets

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  Greece has no intention of getting involved in war in Gulf: Foreign minister

  by MI on March 16, 2026

  Greece has no intention of getting involved in the ongoing war in the Gulf, said Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis on Monday, Anadolu reports. Speaking at the doorsteps of the EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Brussels, Gerapetritis added: “Greece has stood in principle in favor of the universal application of international law, respect for the rights of civilians and of course the return to diplomacy instead of war.” “It goes without saying that in these moments, which are extremely critical and the consequences may be extremely significant, not only geopolitically, but also economically and environmentally for the Mediterranean, Europe must rise to the occasion and assume a leading role,” he underlined. Gerapetritis also stressed respect for the international law of

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  Israeli army begins ground offensive in Lebanon, defense minister says

  by MI on March 16, 2026

  Israel’s defense minister confirmed on Monday that the Israeli military has begun a ground offensive in Lebanon, as regional escalation continues to expand, Anadolu reports. “The IDF (army) has begun a ground maneuver in Lebanon to remove threats and protect the residents of the Galilee and the north,”Katz said in comments carried by the Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper during a situational assessment at the Kirya military headquarters in Tel Aviv. “Hundreds of thousands of residents of southern Lebanon who have evacuated and are evacuating from their homes will not return to their homes south of the Litani area,” he added. Katz said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has instructed the military to dismantle what he described as “militant infrastructure” in Lebanese villages

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  UK ‘will not be drawn into wider war,’ says Starmer

  by MI on March 16, 2026

  The UK will not be drawn into a wider war in the Middle East, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Monday, as tensions in the region continue, Anadolu reports. Speaking at a news conference, Starmer said his government would continue working toward a swift resolution, stressing that the priority was to bring the fighting to an end. He said the UK would work with its allies to develop what he described as a “viable collective plan” aimed at restoring freedom of navigation for ships operating near the Strait of Hormuz. “We’ve already acted alongside other countries to release emergency oil stocks at a level that is completely unprecedented, but ultimately we have to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to ensure

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  Germany says Iran war has ‘nothing to do with NATO’

  by MI on March 16, 2026

  Germany said on Monday that the US war on Iran “has nothing to do with NATO,” Anadolu reports. “It is not NATO’s war. NATO is a defensive alliance. The German government must also clearly assess the alliance’s territory and its own position on participation in this war,” government spokesman Stefan Kornelius told journalists in Berlin. “The expansion of combat operations would bear great risks for other partners in the Middle East and Gulf region,” he added. The German government has repeatedly stated that it would not participate in the US war on Iran. READ: Iran says it sees no reason to negotiate with US amid escalating conflict

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  Hamas urges mediators to curb occupation crimes after Gaza police strike

  by MI on March 16, 2026

  The Islamic Resistance Movement Hamas has called on international mediators and the global community to intervene urgently to curb the Israeli occupation crimes following a strike that killed nine Palestinian police officers in the central Gaza Strip. In a statement issued on Sunday evening, Hamas said an Israeli airstrike targeted a police vehicle, killing Colonel Iyad Abu Yousef, head of the Intervention Police in the Central Governorate, along with eight other officers and police personnel. The movement said the attack represented a continuation of the Israeli brutal crimes against Palestinians in Gaza and an attempt to create chaos by targeting civilian police forces. Hamas stated that the incident reflects “the true face of the occupation”, accusing Israel of pursuing a

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  Gaza Interior Ministry condemns killing of nine police officers in Israeli strike

  by MI on March 16, 2026

  The Ministry of Interior and National Security has strongly condemned the killing of nine Palestinian police officers in an Israeli strike that targeted a police vehicle in the Central Governorate of the Gaza Strip on Sunday evening. In a statement, the ministry said the officers were carrying out their duties monitoring markets and maintaining public order during the holy month of Ramadan when their vehicle was bombed. The ministry identified the victims as: Colonel Iyad Tawfiq Abu Yousef, Director of the Intervention and Public Order Police in the Central Governorate, First Sergeant Abdul Rahman Munir Al-Amsi, First Sergeant Rami Ibrahim Harb, Sergeant Yousef Muhammad Mustafa, Private Abdullah Hussam Badwan, Private Wissam Akram Al-Hafi, Private Fathi Raafat Awida, Assistant Musab Ziad

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  Lebanon marks 34 archaeological sites with blue shields for wartime protection

  by MI on March 16, 2026

  Lebanon has placed blue shields on 34 archaeological sites across the country to protect them during the ongoing war, Culture Minister Ghassan Salameh announced on Sunday. According to Lebanon’s National News Agency, Salameh said the measure aims to ensure compliance with the 1954 Hague Convention, which provides international protection for cultural property during armed conflict. “The ministry did not stand idly by,” Salameh said, adding that he contacted UNESCO Director-General Khaled Anani from the first day of the war to stress the importance of adhering to the convention. “Blue shields have been placed on archaeological sites so that the enemy will be aware of them and respect the convention,” he added. Salameh explained that 34 sites have been granted enhanced

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  Veteran Al Jazeera journalist Jamal Rayyan passes away

  by MI on March 16, 2026

  Prominent Palestinian journalist Jamal Rayyan, one of the most recognisable faces of Al Jazeera Media Network, has passed away after a long career in Arab broadcasting. Rayyan was widely regarded as one of the channel’s most prominent anchors and had been associated with Al Jazeera since its launch in 1996, when he appeared among the first presenters to deliver the network’s news bulletins. He began his media career in 1974 as a presenter of news and political programmes on Jordanian radio and television. Over the following decades, he worked for several Arab and international media outlets, including South Korea’s Broadcasting Corporation, Emirates TV and BBC Arabic. After joining Al Jazeera, Rayyan became one of the network’s leading presenters, known for

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  Iran says it sees no reason to negotiate with US amid escalating conflict

  by MI on March 16, 2026

  Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has said Tehran sees “no reason to negotiate” with the United States, rejecting claims by US President Donald Trump that Iran is seeking an agreement to end the war. In an interview with CBS News broadcast on Sunday, Araghchi said Iran remained capable of defending itself despite the escalating conflict. “We are stable and strong enough. We are only defending our people,” he said. “We see no reason to talk to the Americans, because we were talking to them when they decided to attack us.” Araghchi also claimed that the recent US strike on Kharg Island, a key Iranian oil export hub in the Persian Gulf, was launched from military bases located in neighbouring countries.

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  Trump fell into Iran’s trap

  by MI on March 16, 2026

  President Trump is not only failing to learn from history. He is also failing to learn from what is happening right now. This was not a small tactical mistake. Trump walked into a war with no exit plan, then realised too late that Iran had set the battlefield for a war of exhaustion, not a quick victory. Washington is now stuck between two costly choices: it cannot pull back because that would look like failure, and it cannot go deeper because that risks a long war with no guaranteed results. As the war moves into its third week, harder questions are rising inside Washington: what does “victory” even mean; and how can it be achieved while Iran still holds the

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  Prince Hassan warns silencing prayer at Al-Aqsa signals dangerous regional escalation

  by MI on March 16, 2026

  Prince Hassan bin Talal of Jordan has warned that preventing prayer at Al-Aqsa Mosque represents a dangerous signal for the region, stressing that recent developments have brought the Palestinian cause back to the forefront of the Arab political agenda. Speaking in an interview with the Jordanian radio station Hayat FM on Sunday during a fundraising programme for the Medical Aid for Palestinians Association, Prince Hassan said the region is undergoing rapid transformations that require a reassessment of political positions. The former Crown Prince of Jordan noted the emergence of Gulf voices calling for separating the Arab-Israeli conflict from the wider confrontation involving the United States, Israel and Iran, though he did not name specific countries. READ: Arab Parliament condemns closure of

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  ‘No to war, and free Palestine’ says Javier Bardem at the Oscars

  by MI on March 16, 2026

  Spanish actor Javier Bardem called for peace and Palestinian freedom while presenting an award Sunday at the Oscars ceremony in Los Angeles, California, Anadolu reports. Presenting the Oscar for best international film, Bardem began his remarks at the podium by saying “No to war” and “Free Palestine.” The actor appeared wearing a pin with the Spanish phrase “No a la guerra,” meaning “No to war,” along with another one supporting Palestine. Israel launched a genocide on Gaza in October 2023 that lasted two years and has since continued in various forms, killing more than 72,000 Palestinians, wounding 172,000 and destroying 90% of the enclave’s civilian infrastructure. READ: Palestine, its supporters feature prominently among 2026 Oscar nominees

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  Israel says troops launch ‘limited ground operations’ against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon

  by MI on March 16, 2026

  The Israeli army announced Monday that its troops have begun limited and targeted ground operations against Hezbollah strongholds in southern Lebanon, Anadolu reports. Forces from the 91st Division launched the operations to “strengthen” the forward defense zone along Israel’s northern border, the army said through US social media company X. The military said the activity is part of “broader defensive efforts” aimed at establishing and reinforcing a forward defensive posture. READ: Israel to mobilise 450,000 reservists as ground operation in Lebanon considered Those operations include dismantling the Lebanese group Hezbollah’s infrastructure and eliminating its members operating in the area, to remove threats and add another layer of security for residents of northern Israel, the army added. Before troops entered the area,

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  Iran arrests hundreds in spy crackdown across several cities

  by MI on March 16, 2026

  Iran’s police chief, Ahmad Reza Radan, said on Sunday that authorities had arrested 500 people accused of leaking information to “hostile entities”. Radan said that about half of the cases involved “serious incidents”. He added that suspects had allegedly provided precise coordinates and information used to target specific sites, as well as filming locations of air strikes and sending the footage to parties outside the country. Iranian media also reported a wave of arrests across several provinces on Sunday, including in the country’s north-west. READ: Iran: We did not ask for negotiations or ceasefire The Tasnim News Agency quoted a regional prosecutor’s office as saying that 20 people had been detained on suspicion of sending details about Iranian military and security

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  Iraq’s sovereignty dilemma between Washington and Tehran

  by MI on March 16, 2026

  No modern state has suffered as much as Iraq in trying to define the meaning of sovereignty since 2003. Here, “sovereignty” is not a constitutional principle but a definitional trap—one that grows more convoluted as the conflict between the United States and Iran deepens, and as Iraq turns into an open arena where three actors fight on its soil while the state itself stands outside the frame. At the very moment US forces strike Iran‑aligned militias, Iran launches attacks inside Iraq under the pretext of targeting American interests, while Iraqi proxy groups retaliate by hitting US diplomatic sites and military facilities within the country. Iraq thus becomes the only state in the region bombed by two foreign powers and used

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  Palestine, its supporters feature prominently among 2026 Oscar nominees

  by MI on March 16, 2026

  The Palestinian cause is set to feature prominently at this year’s Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences “Oscars,” as several nominated artists have previously expressed support for Palestine or criticised the Israeli occupation. The attention comes amid growing international focus on Israel’s war in the Gaza Strip and the nomination of the film “The Voice of Hind Rajab” by Tunisian director Kaouther Ben Hania for the Best International Drama Film category. The list of supporters includes well-known cinema figures such as Michael B. Jordan, Emma Stone, Stellan Skarsgård, Jessie Buckley, Wagner Moura and Benicio del Toro. READ: Oscar-winning Spanish actor calls Israeli army ‘Nazis’ Some of them have publicly expressed political support for Palestinians, while others have promoted films highlighting

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  Israeli security sources: War against Iran slower than planned

  by MI on March 16, 2026

  Israeli security sources say the ongoing war against Iran is not advancing at the pace set by the military at the start of operations. Israel’s public broadcaster reported on Sunday, citing unnamed security officials, that the opening strike of the military campaign was “better than expected”. However, they said the war is not progressing according to the timetable initially set by the military. The sources added that the objectives of the war in Iran “should be reassessed”. They also said the course of the military operations is not moving according to the schedule Israel set at the start of the campaign. READ: Iran: We did not ask for negotiations or ceasefire According to the officials, one challenge facing Israel is the

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  Iran: We did not ask for negotiations or ceasefire

  by MI on March 16, 2026

  Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran had not requested a ceasefire or negotiations. In an interview with CBS News, Araghchi said: “We have never asked for a ceasefire and we have not even asked for negotiations.” He added that Iran was prepared to defend itself “for as long as it takes” until Donald Trump is convinced that “the war is illegitimate and there is no victory in it.” “We are strong enough and see no reason to talk to the Americans,” he said. Araghchi also said Iran was targeting “only American assets, American facilities and American military bases”. He added that territory in Gulf countries was being used to launch attacks on Iran, saying there were “many examples” of

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  Israel to mobilise 450,000 reservists as ground operation in Lebanon considered

  by MI on March 16, 2026

  Israel’s government may soon approve a large mobilisation of military reservists, with plans to call up about 450,000 troops, the country’s public broadcaster reported on Sunday. The broadcaster said it had learned that the move is part of military preparations for the war and the possible launch of a ground operation in Lebanon. It did not cite a source for the information. According to the report, the Israeli military and security agencies has already submitted the request for mobilisation. The proposal is expected to be presented soon to government ministers and members of the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee for approval. READ: Israel moves Golani Brigade from Gaza to Lebanon border as tensions spike The report added that the current

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  Livestock theft in Jordan Valley adds pressure on Palestinian herders

  by MI on March 16, 2026

  The Palestinian Jordan Valley has seen a noticeable rise in attacks targeting Palestinian herders and their livelihoods in recent years, particularly through the theft of livestock. The Jordan Valley is one of the most important agricultural and grazing areas in the occupied West Bank. Many residents of Bedouin communities and small villages depend on raising sheep and cattle as their main source of income. As a result, targeting this livestock is not only a financial loss but also undermines the foundations of daily life and the economic stability of families in the area. READ: Israeli gunfire hits farmland in southern Syria, killing livestock Aref Daraghmeh, an activist who monitors settlement-related activities, said incidents of livestock theft have been reported in several

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  Germany rules out joining international military mission to protect Strait of Hormuz

  by MI on March 15, 2026

  German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said on Sunday that his country will not participate in an international military mission to protect merchant ships in the Strait of Hormuz, Anadolu reports. “Will we soon become an active part of this conflict? No,” Wadephul told public broadcaster ARD. The federal government has a very clear position on this, which Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Defense Minister Boris Pistorius have made clear. “We will not take part in this conflict,” he added. Wadephul said that the message coming from the US and Israel is that the goal is to destroy Iran’s military capabilities, particularly its nuclear and missile programs. “And what we now expect is to be told and informed and to be involved

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  Israel plans at least 3 more weeks of war with Iran, says military spokesperson

  by MI on March 15, 2026

  The Israeli military said that it is planning for “at least three more weeks” of its war with Iran, with “thousands of targets ahead,” according to CNN on Sunday. “We have thousands of targets ahead,” Israeli army spokesperson Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin told CNN. “We are ready, in coordination with our US allies, with plans through at least the Jewish holiday of Passover, about three weeks from now. And we have deeper plans for even three weeks beyond that,” Defrin added. He said the military is “not working according to a stopwatch or a timetable, but rather to achieve our goals,” which are to “weaken the Iranian regime severely.” The US-Israeli offensive on Iran prompted Lebanon’s Hezbollah to enter the

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  Spain condemns ‘unacceptable’ escalation of violence in occupied West Bank

  by MI on March 15, 2026

  Spain on Sunday condemned the escalating violence in the occupied West Bank, criticizing illegal Israeli settlers’ impunity, the killing of civilians, and attacks on mosques, Anadolu reports. The statement came after Israeli forces shot and killed a Palestinian family traveling in a car, including a husband, wife, and two children aged five and seven. Two other children were injured in the incident but survived. The Foreign Ministry expressed its “deep consternation and condemnation over the deaths.” Spain also expressed strong concern over attacks on places of worship in the West Bank, most recently the assault on the Duma mosque. Violence in the West Bank has increased since Feb. 28, when the joint Israeli and US operation against Iran began, the

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  Drone strikes air base hosting Italian, US forces in Kuwait

  by MI on March 15, 2026

  Italy’s military said Sunday that Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait, which hosts Italian and US forces, was targeted in a drone attack, adding that all Italian personnel were safe, Anadolu reports. Italian Chief of Defense Staff Gen. Luciano Portolano said in a statement on US social media company X that the attack on the base occurred on Sunday morning and destroyed an Italian drone inside a shelter on the base. All personnel were safe and not involved, he said, adding that the Task Force Air’s Italian assets had been reduced in recent days as a precaution due to the situation in the region, while the remaining personnel continued to perform essential tasks. READ: US suspends operations at embassy in

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  UK discussing options with allies to reopen Strait of Hormuz, says minister

  by MI on March 15, 2026

  The UK is in discussions with international allies about how to reopen the Strait of Hormuz after recent disruption to shipping in the strategically important waterway, Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has said, Anadolu reports. Speaking to the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg program, Miliband said it is “very important that we get the Strait of Hormuz reopened,” describing the route as vital for global trade and energy supplies. He said the government is working with partners, including the US, to consider possible ways to secure the passage. “Any options to help the strait reopen are being looked at,” Miliband said, adding that he would not provide operational details about what the UK might do. The Strait of Hormuz, which lies

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  Clashes break out at International Quds Day protest in Brussels

  by MI on March 15, 2026

  Clashes broke out during a demonstration marking International Quds Day in Brussels, Belgium, after tensions erupted between rival groups, Anadolu reports. International Al-Quds Day, proposed by Iran’s former supreme leader Ayatollah Khomeini after the 1979 revolution, is held each year in the holy month of Ramadan. The protest took place outside the European Parliament and was organized by the groups Al Moustafa and Justice Without Borders. Hundreds of people attended the rally, carrying Palestinian and Iranian flags, and chanted slogans opposing Israeli genocidal actions in the Gaza Strip and recent attacks on Iran. Some protesters held banners reading: “If you stay silent while women are being killed, your feminism belongs in the trash,” “Our country is not for sale,” and

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  Iranians are ‘wary’ of fresh talks with US after being tricked twice: Indonesian president

  by MI on March 15, 2026

  Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has said that Iranians are “wary” of fresh talks with the US amid ongoing conflict, which has spread to regional nations, according to a media report on Sunday, Anadolu reports. In an interview broadcast on Sunday, Prabowo told Bloomberg that Iranians recently told him they were wary of entering into negotiations with the US because they felt “basically they have been tricked” twice. In an asymmetrical war, “they really just have to survive,” he said. Oman was mediating the latest round of talks between Tehran and Washington over Iran when the US and Israel launched joint attacks on Iran on Feb. 28, triggering retaliation on regional nations. Prabowo stated that he is willing to mediate and

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  UN chief says Muslims face discrimination, urges action to combat Islamophobia

  by MI on March 15, 2026

  UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Sunday that Muslims around the world continue to face discrimination and exclusion, urging governments and societies to take stronger action to combat Islamophobia, Anadolu reports. In a video message shared on US social media company X for the International Day to Combat Islamophobia, Guterres said the world’s roughly two billion Muslims come from diverse regions and cultures but often encounter institutional discrimination and social barriers. He said Muslims frequently face “socio-economic exclusion, biased immigration policies, and unwarranted surveillance and profiling,” warning that such trends are fueled by anti-Muslim rhetoric and hate. Guterres noted that the spread of hate speech can lead to harassment and violence against individuals and places of worship. READ: US-Israeli attack on Iran

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  South Africa reviews Israel’s response in ICJ genocide case over Gaza

  by MI on March 15, 2026

  South Africa said on Sunday that it is reviewing Israel’s response submitted to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the genocide case filed over alleged violations of the Genocide Convention in the Gaza Strip, Anadolu reports. In a statement, the Department of International Relations and Cooperation said it has taken note of Israel’s response, submitted on March 12, to South Africa’s written pleadings in the case brought under the Genocide Convention at the ICJ. “South Africa will now consider Israel’s response and decide whether to request the Court’s permission to make further written submissions in reply or to proceed directly to the oral phase of proceedings,” the statement said. It noted that despite three binding ICJ rulings requiring Israel

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  US spent $12B since start of strikes on Iran, says White House economic adviser

  by MI on March 15, 2026

  The US has spent around $12 billion since the start of the joint strikes along with Israel on Iran, White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett said Sunday, as the Trump administration sought to reassure the public about the economic impact of the conflict, Anadolu reports. “The 12 billion was what I was briefed has been spent so far,” Hassett told CBS News, clarifying that it is not what a six-week campaign would cost. He added that the administration did not anticipate needing to seek additional congressional funding, saying existing weapons stockpiles are sufficient to continue operations. The figures are consistent with previous reporting by the New York Times, which cited a Pentagon briefing that estimated the cost at more than

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  Israel denies direct talks with Lebanon in coming days

  by MI on March 15, 2026

  Israel’s foreign minister said Sunday that his government does not intend to hold direct talks with the Lebanese government in the coming days, Anadolu reports. “If the Lebanese government and the Lebanese army want to change the situation, they must take steps to stop the Hezbollah attacks,” Gideon Saar told reporters at a site hit by an Iranian missile in the Arab town of Aarzir in northern Israel. He said that the Lebanese authorities “have done little so far to stop this,” claiming that Hezbollah acts upon instructions from Iran, “against the will of Lebanon and its people.” He said reports suggesting that Israel may begin direct talks with Lebanon are “not correct.” The comments came a day after Israeli

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  Bahrain arrests 5 for passing ‘sensitive information’ to Iran’s Revolutionary Guards

  by MI on March 15, 2026

  Bahrain’s Interior Ministry said Sunday that authorities arrested five people accused of collecting and passing “precise and sensitive information” to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), while a sixth suspect had fled the country, Anadolu reports. In a statement, the ministry said the six had collected and transferred “precise and sensitive information” to the IRGC through “terrorist elements in Iran, and the recruitment of terrorist elements to work in carrying out terrorist plots against” Bahrain. The ministry said the plots aimed to “undermine state sovereignty, security institutions and economic entities, spread fear and terror among citizens and residents and endanger the security and safety of the country.” According to the statement, one of the suspects admitted receiving intensive training in

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  Bombing hospital or school isn’t a ‘miscalculation’ but ‘war crimes’: WHO chief

  by MI on March 15, 2026

  The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) on Sunday condemned recent attacks on hospitals, schools and medical personnel in the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, saying such actions cannot be dismissed as “miscalculations” or “collateral damage” and should be recognized as war crimes, Anadolu reports. “Bombing a hospital or a school isn’t a ‘miscalculation.’ Killing a paramedic isn’t ‘collateral damage.’ Starving civilians isn’t ‘negotiating tactic.’ These are war crimes. Full stop. Call it what it is,” WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on the US social media company X. At least 150 schoolgirls were killed in an airstrike on Shajareh Tayyebeh Elementary School in the southern Iranian city of Minab on Feb. 28, when the US and Israel

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  Spain condemns violence in Lebanon, calls situation ‘unacceptable’

  by MI on March 15, 2026

  Spain on Sunday condemned the escalating violence in Lebanon, calling the situation “unacceptable” and urging all parties to halt hostilities, Anadolu reports. In a post on social media, Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares said the Lebanese people were “victims of a war not of their making” and stressed that both Israel’s bombardments and Hezbollah’s missile launches must stop. He reiterated Spain’s support for the Lebanese government, saying it was doing “everything possible to ensure the safety of the population.” “Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity are vital,” he said, adding: “The Lebanese Armed Forces must be able to maintain the monopoly of force by the State.” READ: Iran says ending Israeli occupation, attacks ‘key’ to restoring calm to Lebanon Albares said

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  Annexation without a declaration- Israel’s quiet seizure of the West Bank

  by MI on March 15, 2026

  Israel has not formally declared the annexation of the occupied West Bank. No dramatic parliamentary vote has proclaimed sovereignty over the territory. Yet on the ground, step by step, law by law, road by road, Israel is doing precisely that. Through administrative restructuring, settlement expansion, legal engineering and the steady displacement of Palestinians, the Israeli state is effectively absorbing large portions of the West Bank into its national system. It is annexation not by proclamation, but by practice. This strategy—often described as creeping or de facto annexation—allows Israel to transform the political geography of the occupied territory while avoiding the diplomatic shockwaves that a formal declaration would trigger. But the consequences are no less profound. What is unfolding today is

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  The architects of post-truth: How Netanyahu and Trump are scripting the Apocalypse

  by MI on March 15, 2026

  For decades, American foreign policy was built on a hybrid of realism, self -interest and idealism.  Today, it is being rebuilt on the hallucinatory terrain of a ‘post-truth’ era where Benjamin Netanyahu acts as the master architect. By framing a modern regional war as a biblical struggle against ‘Amalek’, Netanyahu has successfully aligned his own political survival with the fever dreams of American evangelical eschatology. It is a high-stakes strategy that offers Donald Trump exactly what he craves: a world where geopolitical strategy is replaced by a transactional theatre of ‘good versus evil,’ and where the machinery of the state is used as a personal shield against the accountability of facts. Together, they are no longer just fighting a war;

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  Japan says bar for sending warships to Strait of Hormuz ‘extremely high’

  by MI on March 15, 2026

  Japan on Sunday said that the threshold for Tokyo to send its warships to help protect the Strait of Hormuz is “extremely high,” Anadolu reports. “I regard the threshold as extremely high” for sending navy ships to the region under existing Japanese laws, Takayuki Kobayashi, policy chief of Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party, said, according to the public broadcaster NHK. “Legally speaking, we do not rule out the possibility, but given the current situation in which this conflict is ongoing, I believe this is something that must be considered with great caution,” Kobayashi added He made the remarks hours after US President Donald Trump said that countries affected by Iran’s attempted closure of the Strait of Hormuz will send warships in conjunction

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  Iran’s Larijani warns of alleged plan to stage 9/11-style attack and pin blame on Iran

  by MI on March 15, 2026

  Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, said Sunday that he had received information about an alleged plot to stage a 9/11-style attack and falsely blame it on Iran, Anadolu reports. “I’ve heard that the remaining members of Epstein’s network have devised a conspiracy to create an incident similar to 9/11 and blame Iran for it,” he said on US-based social media company X. “Iran fundamentally opposes such terrorist schemes and has no war with the American people,” Larijani said. He also said Tehran is acting in self-defense against what he described as attacks by the US and Israel, adding that Iran would respond “strongly and firmly” to punish those responsible. READ: Iran says ending Israeli occupation, attacks ‘key’ to restoring

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  Iran says ending Israeli occupation, attacks ‘key’ to restoring calm to Lebanon

  by MI on March 15, 2026

  Iran’s foreign minister said that ending the Israeli occupation and halting attacks are the key to restoring calm to Lebanon, as attacks by the US and Israel continued against Tehran, Anadolu reports. Abbas Araghchi, speaking over the phone with his French counterpart Jean-Noel Barrot Saturday night, said Israel and the US are “the main cause of insecurity” in the region and the Strait of Hormuz, the state news agency IRNA reported. “All countries of the region need to take a responsible approach to this situation and firmly condemn the criminal act of the aggressors in attacking Iran, as well as refraining from any action that could escalate and expand the scope of the conflict,” Araghchi said. The top diplomat reaffirmed Iran’s determination