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

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  Mojtaba Khamenei and the meaning of revolutionary continuity

  by MI on March 6, 2026

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

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

  by MI on March 6, 2026

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

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  Hezbollah deploys elite Radwan force to southern Lebanon

  by MI on March 6, 2026

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

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  Shatter Iran, inherit the whirlwind

  by MI on March 6, 2026

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

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

  by MI on March 6, 2026

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

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  Israeli raids surge across West Bank amid regional war with Iran

  by MI on March 6, 2026

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

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  Indonesia suspends participation in Board of Peace following attack on Iran

  by MI on March 6, 2026

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

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  Loony bin rationales: The continuing war on Iran

  by MI on March 6, 2026

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

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

  by MI on March 6, 2026

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

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  Fuel price rise expected in Egypt amid Iran war

  by MI on March 6, 2026

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

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

  by MI on March 6, 2026

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

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

  by MI on March 6, 2026

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

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  Crew rescued after container ship attacked in Strait of Hormuz

  by MI on March 6, 2026

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

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  Iranian drones strike Amazon data centres in Bahrain, UAE

  by MI on March 6, 2026

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

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

  by MI on March 5, 2026

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

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

  by MI on March 5, 2026

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

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  US suspends operations at embassy in Kuwait City

  by MI on March 5, 2026

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

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  France to strengthen cooperation with Lebanese armed forces

  by MI on March 5, 2026

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

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

  by MI on March 5, 2026

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

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  Care packages, brought to Palestinians by colonialism

  by MI on March 5, 2026

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

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

  by MI on March 5, 2026

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

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

  by MI on March 5, 2026

  The UN refugee agency said Thursday that intensifying hostilities across the Middle East have triggered “significant population movement,” as more than 330,000 people have been forcibly displaced, mostly within their own countries, Anadolu reports. The UNHCR noted that clashes along the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan have forced thousands of families to flee. “We are also urgently calling for dialogue and de-escalation as violence intensifies,” it said. In Iran, a long-term host to 1.65 million people forced to flee, mostly from Afghanistan, around 100,000 people left Tehran in the first two days following attacks by Israel and the US last Saturday, according to estimates. “However, there has so far been no major increase in cross-border movements from Iran linked to

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

  by MI on March 5, 2026

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

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  Russia says Iran has not requested any assistance

  by MI on March 5, 2026

  The Kremlin said on Thursday that Russia has not received any requests for assistance from Iran, including military support, Anadolu reports. “In this case, there were no appeals from the Iranian side,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters during a press briefing, when asked whether Russia plans to provide Iran with assistance, such as arms supplies. Peskov’s remarks come as Israel and the US have continued a large-scale offensive against Iran since Saturday, killing at least 926 people, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and senior military officials. Iran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel and Gulf countries hosting US military assets. Asked if Moscow is making any efforts to end the conflict, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said

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  Trump slams Spain as ‘loser,’ says UK should back Iran campaign ‘without question’: Report

  by MI on March 5, 2026

  President Donald Trump criticized two US allies, calling Spain a “loser” and saying British Prime Minister Keir Starmer should support the American campaign against Iran “without question,” the New York Post reported Thursday. “We have a lot of winners, but Spain is a loser, and UK has been very disappointing,” Trump said in a phone interview. Trump said Spain is “very hostile” to NATO. “They don’t pay their — they’re the only one that voted against the 5% payment, and they’re very hostile to everyone,” he said, referring to the alliance’s commitment to contribute 5% of each country’s GDP to defense. “Not a team player, and we’re not going to be a team player with Spain either,” he said. Asked

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  US-Israeli military operation aims to drive wedge between Iran and its Arab neighbors, Lavrov claims

  by MI on March 5, 2026

  One of the goals of the US-Israeli attacks against Iran is to create discord between the Islamic republic and the Arab countries of the region, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Thursday, Anadolu reports. Speaking at a round table in Moscow, Lavrov noted that until recently there had been a positive reconciliation process in relations between Iran and its Arab neighbors. “I have no doubt, and I want to return to this once again, that one of the goals was to create a split between the countries of the region, between the countries of the Persian Gulf — Iran and its Arab neighbors, which have been experiencing a positive normalization process in recent years,” he said. The Middle East

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  Israeli forces kill Hamas official in northern Lebanon

  by MI on March 5, 2026

  Israeli forces killed an official from the Palestinian resistance group, Hamas, in a strike in northern Lebanon’s Tripoli, the Israeli military claimed Thursday, Anadolu reports. Wasim Attallah Ali served as a commander and “was responsible for training and exercises in Hamas’ military wing in Lebanon,” it said in a statement. There has been no statement from Hamas on the claim. The development came as the US and Israel launched a large-scale attack Saturday on Iran, killing more than 900 victims, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Tehran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel as well as Gulf countries, which are home to US assets. READ: Lebanon decides to pursue members of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards for deportation

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  Slovenia condemns US-Israel attacks on Iran as ‘unacceptable violations of int’l law’

  by MI on March 5, 2026

  Slovenian Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon on Thursday condemned attacks by the United States and Israel on Iran as “unacceptable violations of international law,” according to a statement from the Foreign Ministry, Anadolu reports. “I condemned the attacks by Israel and the United States on Iran as unacceptable violations of international law,” Fajon said in a post on US social media platform X. She also “strongly” condemned Iran’s retaliatory actions against countries in the region, particularly what she described as “unjustified and indiscriminate attacks on civilian targets.” Israel and the United States have continued a large-scale offensive against Iran that began Saturday, with Iranian authorities reporting at least 926 people killed, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and senior military officials.

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  Lebanon decides to pursue members of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards for deportation

  by MI on March 5, 2026

  Lebanon’s government decided on Thursday to pursue and arrest any members of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in the country for deportation, Anadolu reports. Information Minister Paul Morcos told a press conference that the Cabinet requested the relevant ministries and administrations to issue instructions to verify whether IRGC members are present in Lebanon. He added that authorities were ordered “to intervene firmly and immediately to prevent any security or military activity they might carry out from Lebanese territory, regardless of their status or the cover under which they operate, and to arrest them under the supervision of the competent judiciary in preparation for deportation.” Morcos also said the Cabinet decided to reinstate visa requirements for Iranian nationals entering Lebanon

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  Qatar says air defenses intercept 13 missiles, 4 drones launched from Iran

  by MI on March 5, 2026

  Qatar said on Thursday that its armed forces intercepted most missiles and drones launched from Iran in an attack targeting the country, with no casualties reported, according to the Defense Ministry, Anadolu reports. The ministry said in a statement that Qatar was attacked at around 11.51 am local time by 14 ballistic missiles and four drones launched from Iran. The statement said 13 ballistic missiles were successfully intercepted by Qatar’s armed forces, while the remaining one fell in the country’s territorial waters. It added that all four drones were also intercepted, noting that the incident caused no human casualties. READ: Qatar evacuates residents near US embassy in Doha The ministry stressed that the “Qatar Armed Forces possess full capabilities and resources

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  Germany will not join Iran war or regime change operations: Foreign minister

  by MI on March 5, 2026

  Germany said Thursday it will not join US and Israeli strikes against Iran and ruled out supporting concrete measures aimed at regime change in the country, Anadolu reports. Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul told reporters in Berlin that while Germany hopes for a democratic future for Iran, such a change must come from the Iranian people themselves. “Germany is not participating in this war. And that will remain the case,” Wadephul told reporters. “We are also not participating in any concrete measures for regime change in any country, including Iran,” he stressed. The conservative politician said Germany maintains contact with Iranian opposition groups and stands with the Iranian people against what he called the regime’s oppressive measures. However, he emphasized that

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  The War Being Rewritten… and the Lesson No One Wants to Learn

  by MI on March 5, 2026

  Opposing a war on Iran is not an emotional stance, nor is it an alignment with Tehran’s theocratic regime—a regime that has been cruel enough to harm its own people first, and to export an ideology of domination to its neighbors second. Iran’s rulers, with all their ideological and security layers, need no one to defend them. The real objection comes from somewhere else: from a memory that has not healed, from an Iraqi wound that became a global political lesson in how failure is manufactured. When the United States invaded Iraq in 2003, it did so under the banners of “liberation” and “weapons of mass destruction.” Two decades later, nothing remains of those slogans except belated admissions. Even Donald

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  Gavin Newsom, frontrunner for presidential nomination, likens Israel to ‘apartheid state’

  by MI on March 5, 2026

  California Governor Gavin Newsom has likened Israel to an “apartheid state,” warning that the country’s current leadership is pushing the United States towards reconsidering its long-standing military support for its ally.  Newsom made the remark when he was asked by the event’s moderator, Pod Save America host Jon Favreau, about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during an event in Los Angeles promoting his new memoir. Responding to a question about whether Washington should rethink its military backing of Israel, Newsom suggested that Israeli policies are increasingly forcing that debate in the US. “It breaks my heart, because the current leadership in Israel is walking us down that path where I don’t think you have a choice about that consideration,” he

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  3 children injured as illegal Israeli settlers attack Palestinians in Hebron

  by MI on March 5, 2026

  Illegal Israeli settlers attacked Palestinian residents and shepherds Thursday in the Hebron governorate in the southern West Bank, beating them and wounding three children, a local activist said. Osama Muhawera told the official news agency Wafa that the assault occurred while residents and shepherds were in the Masafer Yatta area south of Hebron. Three children aged between 11 and 13 were injured in the attack and were taken to a hospital for medical treatment, Muhawera said. The Israeli army later raided the area and detained two brothers, Wafa said. According to Palestinian figures, illegal Israeli settlers carried out 511 attacks in the West Bank in February, ranging from physical assaults, uprooting trees, burning fields, and seizing property to demolishing homes

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  The War on Iran: America at the Center of the Storm

  by MI on March 5, 2026

  As the region continues to endure the escalating Israeli-American war against Iran, international calls to halt the confrontation are growing louder. Air traffic has been suspended across several countries, economic pressures are mounting, and anxiety is spreading through a region that sits at the heart of the global energy system. The ripple effects are becoming impossible to ignore. The human toll has been severe. Within the first five days of the war alone, Iran reported more than 1,000 deaths, including several senior figures within its central leadership, including the Supreme Leader Ali Khamanei. Meanwhile, the Gulf states have been shaken by an unfamiliar shock as Iranian retaliatory strikes targeted American and Israeli facilities across the region, attacks that have unsettled

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  Australian state ban on pro-Palestinian phrases slammed for crushing free speech

  by MI on March 5, 2026

  A ban on the phrases “From the river to the sea” and “Globalize the intifada” by the Australian northeastern state of Queensland has triggered backlash for stifling free speech, Anadolu Agency reports. The phrases were banned under legislation that was passed Thursday in the state parliament. Using the expressions — spoken or written, including chants or placards at protests — could carry penalties of up to two years in prison. Queensland Premier David Crisafulli of the conservative Liberal National Party (LNP) said the legislation forms part of the “strongest antisemitism laws in the country.” But many Palestinians, Muslims and pro-Palestinian activists said the slogans are calls for Palestinian freedom and equal rights in the land between the Jordan River and

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  US ‘investigates’ deadly strike on Iran girls’ school; Israel denies involvement

  by MI on March 5, 2026

  The US said that it is “investigating” an airstrike on a girls’ primary school in southern Iran that Iranian authorities say killed 168 students, while Israel denied involvement in the attack, Anadolu reports. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told reporters Wednesday that Washington is “investigating” the incident. “All I can say is we’re investigating that,” Hegseth said when asked about the bombing of the Shajareh Tayyebeh Girls’ School in the city of Minab. The US military “never targets civilian sites,” he added. Israel denies involvement Israel, meanwhile, denied involvement in the deadly strike. Military spokesperson Nadav Shoshani told US public broadcaster NPR on Monday that the Israeli army was not aware of any operation in the area. “We are not

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  Al-Quds Day – Frequently Asked Questions

  by MI on March 5, 2026

  The Al-Quds Day has been commemorate for almost 50 years on the last Friday of Ramadan, around the world.  Can you tell us more about the London, the UK event, what it stands for and its connection to the Al-Quds Day events worldwide? Al-Quds Day was the first ever international demonstration to be established in support of Palestinians and all the oppressed around the world. It has been commemorated for almost 50 years. Al-Quds Day offers a platform for all those who stand for justice, against colonialism, oppression and apartheid to come together to be the voice of victims, no matter who they are or what their racial or religious background Who organises the UK event and what, if any,

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  Hague Group discusses travel restrictions, settlement bans, and arms limits against Israel

  by MI on March 5, 2026

  Representatives from around 40 countries gathered in The Hague on Wednesday to examine a range of potential measures aimed at holding Israel accountable for its ongoing genocide in Gaza and its illegal occupation of Palestinian territory. The meeting, organised by the Hague Group and co-chaired by South Africa and Colombia, marked the largest gathering of the coalition since it was established earlier this year. Officials from a wide array of countries — including Brazil, China, Malaysia, Qatar, Spain and Turkiye — attended the discussions in the Dutch city. In a joint statement released after the meeting, the group framed the moment as a test of international resolve, warning that governments must choose between upholding international law or enabling violations of

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  Australia deploys military to Middle East as Canada does not rule out joining conflict

  by MI on March 5, 2026

  Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said on Thursday that he could not rule out his country taking part militarily in the ongoing Middle East conflict.  Speaking alongside Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Canberra, he said: “One can never categorically rule out participation.”  Carney, who previously described US-Israeli strikes on Iran as “inconsistent with international law,” added: “We will stand by our allies.” Meanwhile, Albanese announced the deployment of “military assets” to the Middle East as a contingency planning to assist Australians stranded in the Middle East. Speaking to the Australian Parliament, he thanked Australians volunteering for “a dangerous mission to help their fellow Australians.” He did not provide further details on the nature of the assets, but local network

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  A deal was on the table. They bombed it

  by MI on March 5, 2026

  On the morning of 28th February, I woke to an emergency alert telling everyone in Qatar to stay indoors. Moments later came the sounds, blasts, intercepted drones, the unmistakable audio of a region entering war. I write from Doha, from inside a country that has spent years constructing the diplomatic infrastructure that made this region’s fragile stability possible. I am not a distant analyst watching these events through a screen. I woke up inside them. As someone who has spent the better part of a year tracking this conflict’s slow, deliberate approach; Trump’s escalating threats, the collapsed negotiation windows, the mounting US military buildup in the Gulf, I was not shocked that war had arrived. What shocked me was when

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  UN report says Israeli practices against Palestinians may amount to genocide

  by MI on March 5, 2026

  A report presented to the 61st session of the UN Human Rights Council states that Israeli practices against Palestinians since 7th October 2023 may amount to genocide under the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. The report was submitted by the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967. Titled “Torture and Genocide”, it examines the systematic use of torture within Israeli detention practices as well as broader policies affecting Palestinians. According to the report, the use of torture and ill-treatment occurs both inside and outside detention settings and forms part of a wider pattern that includes mass killings, forced displacement, destruction of livelihoods and the denial

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  Iran says it attacked American oil tanker in Persian Gulf

  by MI on March 5, 2026

  Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said Thursday it attacked an American oil tanker in the Persian Gulf, as escalation continued to rise in the wake of a US-Israeli attack on Tehran, Anadolu reports. The Guards’ Public Relations Department said in a statement carried by the state news agency IRNA that Iranian naval forces “successfully targeted an American oil tanker in the northern Persian Gulf.” No further details were provided and there was no immediate US comment on the Iranian claim. More than 900 people have been killed since the US and Israel launched a joint offensive on Iran on Saturday, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and top military officials. Iran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel as well as

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  Barzani tells Iran Kurdistan Region will not join regional conflicts

  by MI on March 5, 2026

  The President of Iraq’s Kurdistan Region, Nechirvan Barzani, said on Wednesday that the autonomous region would not become a party to ongoing conflicts in the Middle East. Barzani made the remarks during a telephone conversation with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, according to a statement issued by the Kurdistan Region Presidency and reported by the Iraqi News Agency (INA). The call took place amid rising regional tensions and recent attacks in parts of the Kurdistan Region, particularly in Erbil. The city has witnessed strikes targeting the US Consulate and Erbil International Airport, which hosts a base for coalition forces, during the ongoing confrontation involving Iran, the United States and Israel. READ: Iraqi armed group warns European states against joining aggression against

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  White House denies reports Trump approved arming Kurdish groups against Iran

  by MI on March 5, 2026

  The White House has denied reports that US President Donald Trump approved a plan to arm Kurdish groups in the region with the aim of triggering an uprising inside Iran. In a press briefing on Wednesday, White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt described the reports as “completely false”. Leavitt said Trump had held telephone conversations with several partners and regional leaders in the Middle East, including Kurdish leaders, but stressed that the discussions were focused on issues related to US bases in northern Iraq. “However, the reports claiming that the president approved such a plan are completely false and should not be written in this way,” she said. The denial follows media reports suggesting Washington was considering supporting Kurdish opposition groups

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  Israeli official admits Hezbollah joined conflict with unexpected intensity

  by MI on March 5, 2026

  A senior Israeli official has acknowledged that Israel underestimated the scale of Hezbollah’s involvement in the ongoing conflict, as the country faces simultaneous attacks from Iran and Lebanon. Speaking to Channel 13 News, the official said Israeli planners had not anticipated the intensity of Hezbollah’s response after the group entered the fighting. “We made a mistake regarding Hezbollah; we didn’t expect them to fire with such intensity,” the official said. The official added that the current war could last longer than the 12-day conflict known as Operation Am Kalba’i that took place last June. Israel is currently facing rocket fire from Lebanon alongside missile and drone strikes attributed to Iran, placing pressure on multiple fronts. According to Israeli media reports,

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  Iranian official blames Netanyahu for escalating conflict

  by MI on March 5, 2026

  Ali Larijani, Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, has accused US President Donald Trump of dragging the United States into what he described as an “unjust war” with Iran because of the “recklessness” of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In a message posted on the social media platform X in both Persian and Arabic on Wednesday, Larijani criticised Washington’s decision to join Israel in the military campaign against Tehran. “Trump dragged the American people into an unjust war with Iran as a result of Netanyahu’s recklessness and farcical behaviour,” he wrote. Larijani also questioned the United States’ long-standing political slogan, asking: “Is the slogan still ‘America First’? Or has it become ‘Israel First’?” READ: Iraqi armed group warns European states

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  Hezbollah chief says rocket barrage response to ‘15 months of Israeli violations’

  by MI on March 5, 2026

  Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem said on Wednesday that the group’s recent rocket barrage was a response to the 15 months of Israeli violations, warning that the group’s patience “has limits”. In a televised address, Qassem said Hezbollah had adhered to the agreement reached with the Lebanese state, while accusing Israel of failing to respect any of its provisions. He argued that the diplomatic track supported by the group had yielded no results over the past fifteen months. Qassem stated that Hezbollah had previously refrained from responding to repeated Israeli attacks in order to avoid being accused of undermining diplomatic efforts. However, he said the situation had reached a point where further restraint was no longer possible. READ: Hezbollah launches 23 attacks

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  Iraqi armed group warns European states against joining aggression against Iran

  by MI on March 5, 2026

  The group calling itself the Islamic Resistance in Iraq early on Thursday warned that the interests of European countries taking part in what it described as “US-Israeli aggression” against Iran would become legitimate targets. In a statement, the group accused what it called “arrogant evil forces” of seeking to suppress the will of free nations and impose their dominance on the region. It said such efforts would fail in the face of what it described as firm resistance on the ground. It added that the “criminal US-Zionist enemy” is still mobilising allies against Iran and the wider region, and seeking the support of some European countries to involve them in what it called an unjust war. The group said any

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  Gaza authority warns of catastrophic impact as Israel halts cooking gas supplies

  by MI on March 5, 2026

  The General Petroleum Authority in the Gaza Strip on Wednesday warned of serious and potentially catastrophic consequences following the continued suspension of cooking gas supplies to the territory, saying the move would have humanitarian, economic and social impacts on more than two million residents. In a statement, the authority said Gaza had already been facing a severe shortage of cooking gas, estimated at around 70 per cent of actual needs compared with the quantities allowed in since the ceasefire began. It said the shortfall had deepened the suffering of the population. She stated that with the complete halt of supply, we are facing an imminent disaster that threatens food and health security and disrupts many humanitarian services, especially during the