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

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  Israeli soldier smashes statue of Christ in southern Lebanon

  by MI on April 20, 2026

  An Israeli soldier filmed himself smashing a statue of Jesus Christ in a village in southern Lebanon, in an incident that sparked widespread condemnation and was later acknowledged by the Israeli army. Following the incident, the army said it was “conducting an investigation”, but did not provide clear details about the circumstances or any concrete steps for accountability. An image circulated on social media showed the soldier striking the statue with a heavy hammer. The Israeli army spokesperson wrote on platform X that the army was currently reviewing the image, before confirming hours later that one of its soldiers had destroyed a statue of Christ in Lebanon. In a statement, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said: “Following the completion of

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  Iran top official says Control of Hormuz would neutralize sanctions

  by MI on April 20, 2026

  Iranian First Vice President, Mohammad Reza Aref said that “there is no need to wait for sanctions to be lifted if Iran controls the Strait of Hormuz,” emphasizing that the country’s negotiating team is “courageously defending national interests.” The Iranian First Vice President, Mohammad Reza Aref, added in statements carried by Sputnik News Agency that “the positions of the opposing side in the negotiations are inconsistent,” noting that they shift between de-escalation under pressure and hardline positions. He affirmed that “Iran will maintain its achievements,” stressing that the management and control of the Strait of Hormuz should be in Tehran’s hands. “If Iran assumes control of the Strait, there will be no need to wait for the lifting of sanctions,”

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  Lebanon after the ceasefire – Power recalibrated, law further eroded

  by MI on April 20, 2026

  “Pity the nation that is divided into fragments, each fragment deeming itself a nation.” The ceasefire in Lebanon is not a diplomatic success. It is a political admission. What has unfolded in recent months has forced a reckoning long deferred: the limits of American power, the vulnerability of Israeli military doctrine, and the emergence of a new regional balance in which resistance—long dismissed as marginal—has asserted itself with unexpected force. For decades, the United States positioned itself as the ultimate guarantor of order in West Asia. Its alliances, particularly with Israel and the Gulf states, rested on a simple premise: that American power could deter escalation, absorb shocks, and ultimately dictate outcomes. That premise now stands shaken. The ceasefire is

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  Israeli artillery shelling violates ceasefire in southern Lebanon

  by MI on April 20, 2026

  Israeli violations of the ceasefire continue through artillery shelling and demolition operations across several areas in southern Lebanon. The Lebanese National News Agency reported that Israeli forces are continuing to demolish houses in the city of Bint Jbeil, as well as in the towns of Khiam, Markaba, and Taybeh. This coincides with intensive low-altitude drone flights over large parts of the south despite the ceasefire being in effect. According to Haaretz, the Israeli army is carrying out widespread and systematic demolition of residential buildings and civilian structures. The newspaper quoted army commanders as saying that “systematic destruction” is being implemented in villages where troops are deployed. The report added that the operations involve bulldozers and engineering equipment operated by civilian

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  Iran to attend 2nd round of talks with US despite Strait of Hormuz hostilities: Pakistani sources

  by MI on April 20, 2026

  Iran will take part in the second round of talks with the US in Islamabad despite the latest hostilities in the Strait of Hormuz, two Pakistani sources familiar with the mediation process told Anadolu on Monday. The Iranian delegation is likely to arrive in the Pakistani capital Islamabad on Tuesday, according to the sources, although Tehran has not officially confirmed its participation in the possible talks yet. Tehran is expected to be represented by the same delegation that took part in the first round of talks earlier this month, led by Parliament Speaker Bagher Qalibaf and included Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. The US delegation, likely to be led by US Vice President JD Vance, will include special envoys Steve Witkoff

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  UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese: Israeli army “most degenerate on earth”

  by MI on April 20, 2026

  UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese described the Israeli occupation army as “the most degenerate army on earth,” stating that its practices have crossed all red lines and violated international law. The UN Special Rapporteur made the remarks in response to a video documenting the brutal abuse of a Palestinian child by Israeli soldiers, writing on her official account: “I have seen enough to say it with absolute certainty: the Israeli army is the most degenerate army.” Francesca Albanese has been subjected to a widespread incitement campaign and direct death threats since submitting an official report accusing Israel of committing “genocide” in the Gaza Strip. READ: Spain to urge EU to end Israel agreement over war: Premier Sanchez In an interview with

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  114 Palestinians return to Gaza through Rafah border crossing

  by MI on April 20, 2026

  A total of 114 Palestinians returned to the Gaza Strip through the Rafah border crossing with Egypt and reunited with their families in the besieged enclave, Anadolu reports. The Palestinians crossed the terminal late at night after Israel recently allowed limited pedestrian movement through Rafah, which it had shut during its genocidal war on Gaza launched in October 2023. The returnees were received by their relatives at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, where emotional scenes unfolded after long months of separation. The Rafah crossing, Gaza’s main gateway to the outside world through Egypt, has been operating under strict Israeli restrictions, with Palestinians seeking evacuation for medical treatment and those returning from Egypt trying to pass through in limited numbers. READ: Limited

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  Spain to urge EU to end Israel agreement over war: Premier Sanchez

  by MI on April 20, 2026

  Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said Sunday that Spain will formally ask the European Union to break its Association Agreement with Israel, Anadolu Agency reported. “A government that violates international law, and therefore violates the principles and values of the European Union, cannot be a partner of the EU. It’s that simple,” he said at a campaign rally in Andalusia. He urged other EU countries to support Spain’s proposal, which will be raised at a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg on Tuesday. “We are going to do it not because we have anything against the Israeli people, but because we do not agree with their government’s actions,” he added. Sanchez also slammed the war involving Iran as “an

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  Hamas calls for Israel to implement first phase of Gaza ceasefire

  by MI on April 20, 2026

  The Islamic Resistance Movement Hamas called on Sunday for Israel to be compelled to implement the terms of the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement, as a step toward launching serious dialogue on the issues of the second phase. According to a statement, the call came during meetings held by the movement with mediators and Palestinian factions in the Egyptian capital, Cairo. Hamas said: “Last week, the movement’s delegation in Cairo held a number of meetings and discussions with mediators and Palestinian factions to work on completing the implementation of all the terms of the first phase, as stipulated in the Sharm El-Sheikh agreement. The Zionist occupation has not adhered to most of its commitments under the agreement, and

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  Somalia mobilises international support against Israeli diplomatic move in Somaliland

  by MI on April 20, 2026

  Somalia has confirmed its strong rejection of Israel’s decision to appoint a diplomatic mission in the Somaliland region, describing the move as a clear violation of the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Somali Minister of Information Daud Aweis said in remarks reported by Al Jazeera that the step reflects continued violations against the Somali state, stressing that Somalia is a sovereign nation whose unity cannot be compromised. He added that the government has informed the international community of its opposition, describing the Israeli decision as an “aggressive act” aimed at fuelling tensions in the Horn of Africa. Regarding possible responses, Aweis said diplomatic channels remain the government’s priority, noting that efforts began as soon as the recognition of the region

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  Bombs Didn’t Work. Will a Blockade Break Iran?

  by MI on April 20, 2026

  On 28 February, in the middle of ongoing nuclear negotiations, the US and Israel launched an attack aimed at regime change in Iran. They achieved some tactical objectives by extensively striking 13,000 civilian, political, economic and military targets, nearly 18 times more than when the US-led coalition attacked Iraq in the first Gulf War (1990-91). However, the airstrikes did not achieve their strategic objective of regime change. Instead, the US shifted toward threatening to push Iran “back to the Stone Ages” by targeting key civilian infrastructure and trying to control over its oil resources. These ambitious goals remain unmet, and both Washington and Tehran have agreed to a 14-day ceasefire while starting a new round of negotiations in Pakistan, with

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  Argentina’s president visits Israel to open embassy in Jerusalem

  by Marwa A on April 19, 2026

  Argentine President Javier Milei arrived in Israel on Sunday for an official visit during which he is set to open his country’s embassy in Jerusalem, Israeli media reported, Anadolu reports. Milei met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday evening, and the two men delivered joint statements after their talks, The Times of Israel news portal reported. They also signed memorandums of understanding on security and artificial intelligence, the outlet said. During his visit, Milei will open his country’s embassy to Israel in Jerusalem, the newspaper added. The trip marks Milei’s third visit to Israel since he took office in December 2023. He is scheduled to return to Argentina on Tuesday afternoon. Milei first announced plans to move the embassy

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  16 Israeli soldiers killed, 690 wounded since Feb. 28: Army

  by Marwa A on April 19, 2026

  A total of 16 Israeli soldiers have been killed and 690 wounded since Feb. 28 in attacks linked to Iran and Lebanon, military data showed Sunday, Anadolu reports. The military said 690 soldiers were wounded, including 96 seriously and 42 critically, while the rest sustained moderate or minor injuries. It added that 149 soldiers remain hospitalized. In the past 24 hours, 37 soldiers were wounded, most of them “as a result of explosive devices,” the military said, without specifying the location. The figures could not be independently verified, as Israel maintains tight restrictions on information related to the impact of attacks by Iran and Hezbollah. Earlier Sunday, the newspaper Maariv reported that two Israeli soldiers were killed and 12 others

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  Why should the Middle East trust a superpower that breaks its own rules?

  by Marwa A on April 19, 2026

  A narrow ribbon of water, barely 33 kilometres wide at its tightest point, has once again exposed the fragility of global order. The Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly 20 per cent of the world’s oil supply flows, has become less a trade corridor and more a theatre of strategic contradiction. What has unfolded in April 2026 is not merely a maritime standoff between Washington and Tehran. It is something deeper, more disquieting: a crisis of credibility in American statecraft that is now reshaping global alignments in ways that will not easily be reversed. The real crisis is not maritime—it is epistemic: the world no longer knows whether American guarantees mean what they claim to mean. The United States’ decision

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  Cartographic digital colonialism across Lebanon and Palestine

  by Marwa A on April 19, 2026

  Apple and Google Maps have become the primary cartographic imagination of the world. Two billion people navigate through them, trust them, defer to them. When Apple Maps displays no village names across Lebanon, not only in the south facing Israeli invasion but nationwide, while nearby Israeli and Syrian localities remain clearly labelled, only a handful of larger cities remain: Beirut, Tyre, Sidon and a small number of others. Everywhere else, the map went completely blank. Which raises the question: is this the next phase of the ground invasion, even amidst a ceasefire? Who made that choice of rendering the Lebanese villages invisible, when, and on what basis? On Google Maps, Israeli settlements in the West Bank appear as though located

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  More than 1,000 Tel Aviv homes left uninhabitable by Iran war: Mayor

  by Marwa A on April 19, 2026

  More than 1,000 homes in Tel Aviv have been left uninhabitable by the recent war with Iran, the city’s mayor said Saturday, Anadolu reports. Israeli Channel 12 quoted Ron Huldai, who said that “more than 1,000 apartments in Tel Aviv are no longer fit for living” because of damage caused by Iranian missiles and drones. During the US-Israeli war on Iran, which began Feb. 28, Tehran launched repeated missile and drone attacks on major Israeli cities in response to large-scale strikes on Iranian territory. Some missiles and shrapnel from interception attempts struck buildings in Tel Aviv, Ramat Gan and Bnei Brak, killing and injuring dozens, and causing extensive damage to homes, vehicles and infrastructure. Channel 12 reported earlier this week

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  Lebanese army reopens key routes disrupted by Israeli attacks

  by Marwa A on April 19, 2026

  Following damage caused by weeks of Israeli strikes, the Lebanese army said its specialized units have fully reopened the Khardali–Nabatieh road in southern Lebanon and partially restored access to the Burj Rahal–Tyre bridge, Anadolu reports. Restoration work on the Tayr Falsah–Tyre bridge is also ongoing in coordination with the National Litani River Authority, the army said in a statement carried by Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency. It added that efforts to reopen roads, dismantle barriers, and uphold internal security are continuing. Since March 2, Israel has waged an offensive on Lebanon that has killed some 2,300 people, wounded over 7,500, and displaced over 1 million, according to the latest official figures from Lebanon. A 10-day temporary ceasefire between Israel and

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  Israel preparing to strike energy facilities if Iran truce collapses: Report

  by Marwa A on April 19, 2026

  Israel, along with its ally the US, is preparing for a possible collapse of the ceasefire with Iran, with energy facilities could be potential targets, local media reported on Sunday, Anadolu reports. “There is close coordination between the two sides, and if fighting resumes, the targets will also include Iranian energy facilities,” the Israeli newspaper Maariv said, citing a senior unnamed Israeli military official. “Iran insists on its previous position regarding its right to uranium enrichment, and there is no optimism among mediators” in talks between Washington and Tehran, the report claimed. On Feb. 28, the US and Israel launched a joint offensive on Iran, killing more than 3,300 people. Tehran retaliated with strikes on Israel and other regional countries

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  Brazil urges UN Security Council to end ‘war madness’

  by Marwa A on April 19, 2026

  Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Saturday called on the UN Security Council to halt what he described as “war madness,” urging world powers to take immediate action to end ongoing conflicts, particularly in the Middle East, Anadolu reports. Speaking at an event in Barcelona, Spain, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva addressed the five permanent members of the Security Council – the US, China, Russia, France, and the UK – calling on them to fulfill their responsibility to maintain global peace. “Fulfill your obligations to guarantee peace in the world, hold a meeting, and put an end to this war madness, because the world can no longer bear it,” Lula said. He also cited a 2010 diplomatic initiative

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  Iran is seeking to end war ‘with dignity,’ says President Pezeshkian

  by Marwa A on April 19, 2026

  Iran is seeking to end the war with the US and Iran “with dignity,” the country’s President Masoud Pezeshkian said Sunday, arguing that US President Donald Trump has no right to deprive Tehran of its nuclear rights, Anadolu reports. “Trump says Iran should not use its nuclear rights, but does not explain what crime Iran has committed,” Pezeshkian said during a visit to Iran’s Sports and Youth Ministry, the ISNA news agency reported. He also called for the nation to stand “firm against a bloodthirsty and brutal enemy.” Iran must manage the current atmosphere in a way that “does not portray us as war-mongers” as “we are defending ourselves,” he added. “Our girls in Australia have delivered a strong blow

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  Israeli army kills 1 Palestinian, wounds another in Gaza

  by Marwa A on April 19, 2026

  A Palestinian was killed and another was seriously injured on Sunday by Israeli gunfire in northern and central parts of the Gaza Strip, medical sources told Anadolu. A Palestinian was killed after Israeli military vehicles opened fire toward tents of displaced people in Halawa camp east of Jabalia in northern Gaza, the sources said. A 16-year-old male was also seriously injured and taken to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital after being targeted by an Israeli quadcopter drone in the Al-Tahlia area of Deir al-Balah, in the central part of the strip. The casualties were the latest in ongoing Israeli violations of the ceasefire agreement in effect in the Palestinian enclave since October 2025. Israeli army vehicles and helicopters opened fire toward areas

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  Confused closures and opaque openings: Continuing dramas in the Hormuz Strait

  by Marwa A on April 19, 2026

  Reading messages from President Donald J. Trump is an exercise in taunting masochism.  It is one inflicted on commentators and the press corps the world over, and they are not better for it.  The latest – and here, the latest will become distant and dated shortly – is that the Strait of Hormuz, predictably controlled by Iran with devastating global effect, was to be reopened for commercial traffic under certain conditions.  Trump thought this undertaking absolute and indefinite, a rich suggestion coming from a man with such a fair-weather mind.  “Iran has agreed to never close the Strait of Hormuz again.  It will no longer be used as a weapon against the World!” This proved typically premature: within a matter

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  France’s Bardella calls Trump’s Middle East policy ‘erratic’

  by MI on April 18, 2026

  French National Rally leader Jordan Bardella on Saturday described US President Donald Trump’s objectives in the Middle East as “totally erratic”, Anadolu reports. Speaking to reporters, Bardella said it was difficult to identify consistency in Trump’s actions. “The truths of Monday are not necessarily the truths of Tuesday, which are themselves contradicted on Wednesday,” he said. Bardella said France’s priority is the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and the protection of its citizens and partners in the region. READ: France under fire over alleged surveillance of pro-Palestine MEP He highlighted the United Arab Emirates, which has defense ties with France, as well as Lebanon, which he described as a “friend” of France. Bardella also voiced concern about the humanitarian situation

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  Protesters in Swedish capital condemn Israel’s West Bank annexation plans, strikes on Lebanon

  by MI on April 18, 2026

  Hundreds of people gathered in central Stockholm on Saturday to protest Israel’s reported plans to annex the occupied West Bank and its continued attacks in Lebanon, Anadolu reports. The demonstration, held at Odenplan Square and organized by several civil society groups, drew attention to what protesters described as Israel’s increasingly aggressive policies in the region. Demonstrators accused Israel of violating the Oct. 10 ceasefire by targeting civilian areas in the West Bank and Lebanon. They carried banners reading “Children are being killed in Gaza,” “Schools and hospitals are being bombed,” “Stop the attacks on Lebanon,” and “End food shortages.” READ: French soldier killed in attack on UN peacekeepers in southern Lebanon: Macron Rana Qadri, an activist at the protest, told Anadolu

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  Hezbollah denies role in attack that killed French UN soldier in southern Lebanon

  by MI on April 18, 2026

  Lebanon’s Hezbollah group on Saturday denied any involvement in an incident that killed a French soldier and injured three others serving with the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) in southern Lebanon, Anadolu reports. In a statement, Hezbollah said it “denies any involvement in the incident that occurred with UNIFIL forces in the Ghandouriyeh​​​​​​​ area in the Bint Jbeil district.” The group urged caution, stressing the need “to avoid rushing to conclusions and accusations” before the circumstances of the incident are fully clarified. Hezbollah also emphasized the importance of continued coordination between local residents, UNIFIL and the Lebanese army, particularly under what it described as sensitive conditions. READ: French soldier killed in attack on UN peacekeepers in southern Lebanon: Macron It

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  US military prepares to board Iran-linked ships in coming days: Report

  by MI on April 18, 2026

  The US military is preparing “to board Iran-linked oil tankers and seize commercial ships in international waters” in the coming days, the Wall Street Journal reported on Saturday, citing US officials. According to the Journal, the US military will pursue vessels around the world that are helping Iran should the two sides fail to conclude a deal. Washington’s decision to step up economic pressure is intended to force Iran to reopen the strait and make concessions on its nuclear program, which has been the focus of negotiations between the US and Iran, the report said. On Friday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi had declared that the strait is “completely open” for all commercial vessels. READ: Trump says ‘very good conversations going

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  Limited humanitarian aid enters Gaza via Zikim Border Crossing

  by MI on April 18, 2026

  A limited number of humanitarian aid trucks entered the northern Gaza Strip through the Zikim (Erez West) Border Crossing on Saturday, Anadolu reports. Following their entry, the vehicles transported essential supplies to several warehouses within Gaza City. Local sources confirmed that the aid will be distributed to Palestinian families in need across the blockaded enclave. The arrival comes amid daily Israeli violations of the ceasefire in effect since Oct. 10, 2025. The Health Ministry said those violations have killed 765 Palestinians and wounded 2,140 others so far. The ceasefire followed two years of Israeli genocide that began in October 2023, which has killed more than 72,340 Palestinians and wounded 172,250 others while destroying about 90% of the enclave’s infrastructure, according to

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  Jordanian foreign minister says ‘root causes of conflict’ must be addressed for regional stability

  by MI on April 18, 2026

  Jordan’s Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi on Saturday said that achieving lasting stability in the Middle East requires addressing the “root causes of conflict,” and warned that the region “cannot remain hostage to uncertainties,” Anadolu reports. Speaking at a panel, titled A Middle East Beyond Zero-Sum Politics, during the Antalya Diplomacy Forum, Safadi said: “I think basically key to whatever we do going forward is ensuring that we address the root causes of conflict in a collective manner that will ensure the better future that we all want.” Safadi said regional countries do not seek confrontation with Iran “but in order for that to happen, causes for tension must be addressed,” citing issues such as “interventionism,” “meddling in internal affairs,” and “violation

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  Red Cross vice president says respect for laws of war key to lasting peace

  by MI on April 18, 2026

  The vice president of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said Saturday that respect for international humanitarian law is essential for mediation efforts and lasting peace, Anadolu reports. Speaking during a panel at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum in southern Turkiye, Jurg Lauber said “even war has rules” and warned that growing disregard for those rules is making peace harder to achieve. “How wars are fought influences how and when they can be ended,” he said. Lauber said humanitarian law helps preserve “a minimum of shared humanity” and creates pathways toward de-escalation, ceasefires and peace agreements. He noted that the ICRC launched an initiative in September 2024 with Brazil, China, France, Jordan, Kazakhstan and South Africa to make international

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  In the end, the United States must acknowledge that Iran is inherently bound to the Strait of Hormuz

  by MI on April 18, 2026

  The geography of the Strait of Hormuz is a cruel mistress to the logic of conventional military might, a reality that the world is rediscovering with agonizing clarity in the spring of 2026. For decades, the narrative of Western naval hegemony suggested that the sheer weight of American carrier strike groups could keep the world’s most vital energy jugular open by fiat. Yet, as the sun sets over the rugged, jagged cliffs of the Musandam Peninsula and the Iranian littoral, a different truth emerges: Iran has transformed the twenty-one miles of water at the strait’s narrowest point into a geostrategy fortress that the United States cannot simply bomb into submission.  The recent, fragile reopening of the waterway for commercial vessels

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  US adviser says Gaza Board of Peace is ‘great success story,’ complements UN role

  by MI on April 18, 2026

  The US senior adviser for Arab and African affairs said Saturday that the Gaza Board of Peace initiative is a “great success story” and complements the work of the UN, Anadolu reports. Speaking at a session titled “Emerging Partnerships in International Peace Mediation” during the Antalya Diplomacy Forum, Massad Boulos said many stakeholders are involved in implementing different aspects of the plan. “There are hundreds of people, probably thousands, from numerous countries and organizations working together hand in hand towards the implementation of various aspects of this plan,” he said. “It’s absolutely complementary to the UN. It’s in no way taking any role away from the UN,” Boulos added. He said that Washington sees strong potential in the UN despite

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  Trump says ‘very good conversations going on’ with Iran

  by MI on April 18, 2026

  US President Donald Trump on Saturday said the US has “very good conversations going on” with Iran, Anadolu reports. “We have very good conversations going on. It’s working out very well. They got a little cute, as they have been doing for 47 years. Nobody ever took them on. We took them on,” Trump said in the Oval Office. “They have no navy, they have no air force, they have no leaders. They have no nothing. Actually … it is regime change. You call that enforced regime change, but we’re talking to them,” he added. “We’re talking to them … we’re taking a tough stand,” Trump said, adding: “We’ll have some information by the end of the day,” regarding the

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  Middle East solutions must be led by region, says EU representative for Gulf

  by MI on April 18, 2026

  The EU’s special representative for the Gulf said Saturday that any lasting solution for the Middle East must be led by countries in the region rather than imposed from outside, Anadolu reports. Speaking at a panel during the Antalya Diplomacy Forum in southern Turkiye, Luigi Di Maio said the current crisis in the Gulf is another sign of the “further erosion of international law.” “If we want to try to find a solution for avoiding again another crisis, like the ongoing crisis or a wider crisis, a farther spillover, we need to work all together,” he said. Di Maio said the EU remains committed to multilateralism and international law, while stressing that Europe does not want to be “part of

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  French soldier killed in attack on UN peacekeepers in southern Lebanon: Macron

  by MI on April 18, 2026

  French President Emmanuel Macron said Saturday that one French soldier was killed and three others were wounded in an attack in southern Lebanon targeting the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). In a post on the US social media platform X, Macron said: “Sergeant Major Florian Montorio of the 17th Parachute Engineer Regiment in Montauban was killed this morning in southern Lebanon during an attack against UNIFIL.” He said three others were wounded and evacuated. “The nation bows in respect and expresses its support to the families of our soldiers and to all our military personnel committed to peace in Lebanon,” Macron said. According to the president: “Everything suggests that Hezbollah is responsible for this attack.” Macron said France is

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  From Beirut to Baghdad and Sana’a… can this moment be generalized?

  by MI on April 18, 2026

  What the Lebanese President Joseph Aoun is attempting—at least on the level of political discourse—is nothing less than reclaiming the definition of the state from the grip of the “mini‑state.” His speech opens the door to a larger question: could what happened in Beirut be a precursor to what might one day unfold in Baghdad or Sana’a? In Iraq, the state remains hijacked by parties and militias whose loyalty to Tehran often outweighs their loyalty to Iraq itself. Every attempt to restore national decision‑making crashes into a wall of entrenched interests, weapons, and ideology. In Yemen, the country has become an Iranian dagger pointed at Saudi Arabia’s side, held firmly by the Houthis—who control territory, weapons, and a doctrinal narrative

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  US forces turn back 21 vessels since start of naval block on Iranian ports: CENTCOM

  by MI on April 18, 2026

  US forces have turned back 21 vessels since the start of a naval blockade on Iranian ports, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said on Friday, Anadolu reports. “Guided-missile destroyer USS Michael Murphy (DDG 112) patrols the Arabian Sea, April 17, as U.S. forces enforce the naval blockade on ships attempting to enter or exit Iranian ports,” CENTCOM said in a post on US social media platform X. It added that “since commencement of the blockade, 21 ships have complied with direction from U.S. forces to turn around and return to Iran.” Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has been severely disrupted since the US-Israeli war against Iran began Feb. 28, and a US naval blockade announced on April 13. READ: Strait

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  Tanker fired on after ‘being approached’ by 2 Iranian gunboats: British maritime agency

  by MI on April 18, 2026

  The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said Saturday that it had received a report of a tanker being fired upon by two gunboats linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in waters between Iran and Oman, Anadolu reports. “The master of a tanker reports being approached by two IRGC gunboats, with no VHF (radio) challenge, which then fired upon the tanker,” the agency said in a statement on US social media platform X, with a map of the area in question, around the Strait of Hormuz. Officials are investigating the incident, which took place 20 nautical miles northeast of Oman, it said, adding that the tanker and its crew “are reported safe.” READ: Strait of Hormuz back to ‘previous state’

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  Iran has not yet agreed to next round of talks with US: Report

  by MI on April 18, 2026

  Tehran has not yet agreed to a next round of negotiations with Washington, Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency reported Saturday, citing “relevant authorities.” “Iran has not, up to this moment, agreed to the next round of talks” due to the US blockade of Iranian ports and Washington’s “excessive demands in the negotiations,” it said. “The absence of excessive US demands is a key condition for continuing talks,” the report claimed, adding that this message was relayed to the US via Pakistani mediators. Citing Iranian sources, CNN reported on Friday that Iranian and American officials were expected to arrive in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad, on Sunday to hold a second round of talks on Monday. Washington and Tehran held talks in

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  Fighting the Pope on his apostolic journey to Algeria further exposed Donald Trump as a warmongering fool

  by MI on April 18, 2026

  Open conflict with the President of the United States was not something Pope Leo XIV expected when his Apostolic Journey took him to the largest country in Africa. The leader of some 1.4 billion Roman Catholics was in Algeria last week, following in the footsteps of Saint Augustine, his spiritual mentor, who was born there in the 4th Century AD.  Pope Leo was first received in the capital city of Algiers, at the Martyrs’ Memorial, where he paid tribute to the 1.5 million victims of the country’s eight-year war of independence from France, which ended in 1962. The Pope then visited the Algiers Grand Mosque – the third largest in the world after the ones in Mecca and Medina.   On April 14, there was a papal

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  Iran arrests 127 over alleged preparations for ‘enemy attack’

  by MI on April 18, 2026

  Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) arrested at least 127 people across the country who it claimed were affiliated with the UK, US and Israel, and were “preparing the groundwork for a military attack by the enemy,” Anadolu reports. According to the semi-official Tasnim news agency, the IRGC arrested seven suspects in East Azerbaijan province, alleging they “were preparing weapons and planning sabotage activities, while also sending coordinates of sensitive sites to their contact abroad.” Another 69 individuals were arrested in Mazandaran province, while in Kerman province, 51 others—including three “espionage teams” —were identified, it added. Tehran has detained dozens of people on spying charges following the US-Israeli war on Iran on Feb. 28, which has killed more than 3,000 people.

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  US, Iran likely on Monday to hold 2nd round for technical talks in Islamabad: Sources

  by MI on April 18, 2026

  US and Iranian teams are likely to hold a second round of talks involving their technical-level teams in Pakistan’s capital as early as Monday, Pakistani government sources told Anadolu on Saturday. Sources said that the technical-level teams of both sides are expected to meet in Islamabad for the next round of talks “most probably on Monday” to finalize a negotiated settlement of the weeks-long conflict between the US and Iran that has crippled global energy supplies and daily life in the wider Middle East. “Once they reach a draft, President (Donald) Trump, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and some other important heads of states will air dash to the capital (Islamabad) to sign the deal,” a source said, referring to multiple

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  Trump says US will get Iran’s nuclear dust ‘in a much more unfriendly form’ if deal fails

  by MI on April 18, 2026

  President Donald Trump warned Friday that the US will retrieve Iran’s nuclear dust by force if a deal is not reached, while ruling out any tolls on the Strait of Hormuz, Anadolu reports. “We’ll go in with Iran, and we will take it together, and we will bring it back to the US,” Trump told reporters on the way back to Joint Base Andrews in Maryland. “If we don’t do that, we will get it in a different form—a much more unfriendly form.” Asked whether he would extend the ceasefire or restart attacks if no deal is reached by Wednesday, when the two-week truce mediated by Pakistan expires, Trump left the door open to renewed strikes. “Maybe, I won’t extend

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  Board of Peace official says Israel’s border restrictions main obstacle to aid delivery

  by MI on April 18, 2026

  Nickolay Mladenov, high representative of the Board of Peace, said Friday that Israel’s extensive restrictions at border crossings are the main obstacle preventing humanitarian aid from entering the Gaza Strip, Anadolu reports. Mladenov told Egypt’s Al-Qahera News channel that there are “multi-layered challenges” hindering the sustainable and adequate delivery of aid to residents. He warned that previous aid distribution mechanisms have been destroyed, while alternative systems are not yet in place. Mladenov stressed that Israeli restrictions at border crossings, particularly related to items classified as “dual-use,” constitute the “biggest obstacle.” He noted that the measures are used to limit the entry of essential goods needed for civilians and the health sector. Another major challenge is the deployment of Israeli forces

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  UNICEF condemns killing of 2 water truck drivers by Israeli in northern Gaza

  by MI on April 18, 2026

  The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) expressed outrage on Friday on the killing of two drivers contracted to deliver clean water to families in the Gaza Strip, Anadolu reports. “The victims were killed by Israeli fire in an incident that took place early this morning at the Mansoura water filling point in northern Gaza,” UNICEF said in a statement, as it extended condolences. Stressing that the agency is “outraged” by the killings, UNICEF said it occurred during routine water trucking operations, with no changes in movement or procedures at the time of the attack. The Mansoura water filling point is the only operational truck filling point for the Mekorot water supply line serving Gaza City. “UNICEF and humanitarian partners use it

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  Iran’s Qalibaf says US, Israel could not win through ‘lies’; Tehran to control Hormuz transit

  by MI on April 18, 2026

  The Iranian parliament speaker said early Saturday that the US and Israel have failed to achieve their goals through “lies,” and that passage through the strategic Strait of Hormuz would be subject to Iranian authorization, Anadolu reports. Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf accused President Donald Trump of making false claims, saying that “seven claims made within an hour were all untrue.” Qalibaf said disinformation had not delivered results on the battlefield, and would similarly fail in diplomatic efforts. “They failed to win the war with such falsehoods, and they will certainly not succeed in negotiations either,” he said on US social media company X. He also warned that the continuation of pressure and blockade measures could affect the security of the Strait

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  Strait of Hormuz back to ‘previous state’ under ‘control of armed forces,’ says Iran, citing ongoing US blockade

  by MI on April 18, 2026

  Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) said in a Saturday statement that the Strait of Hormuz has returned to its “previous state” under the control of its “armed forces,” citing the ongoing US blockade on Iranian ports. “Control over the Strait of Hormuz has returned to its previous state, and this strategic waterway is under the strict management and control of the armed forces,” the IRGC joint command said, according to the semi-official Tasnim news agency. Until the US “restores full freedom of movement for vessels traveling to and from Iran, the situation in the Strait of Hormuz will remain strictly controlled and unchanged,” it argued. READ: Iran announces Hormuz ‘completely open’ for commercial shipping after Israel-Lebanon ceasefire The IRGC statement

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  Israel arrests 2 air force personnel for alleged spying for Iran: Report

  by MI on April 18, 2026

  Two Israeli Air Force personnel have been arrested on suspicion of spying for Iran, Israeli media reported Friday, citing a military official. According to Hebrew-language broadcaster i24 News, the head of the criminal investigations division of the military police, Lee Ayash, said the suspects have been in custody for about a month while an investigation is underway. Ayash said there are suspicions that Iranian intelligence operatives recruited the soldiers and exploited their positions to access sensitive information related to military systems, sites and high-ranking figures. The report suggested the case may extend beyond the two suspects, pointing to a broader network. It noted that additional arrests had been made in earlier stages of the investigation, including personnel from sensitive units

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  Indonesia and the Gulf must do more than soft power in a time of war

  by MI on April 18, 2026

  As tensions linked to the U.S.–Iran war continue to destabilize the Middle East, Indonesia and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states are expanding cooperation in culture, education, and the creative economy. These efforts are structured, growing, and politically safe. But they are also misaligned with the scale of the crisis. At a moment of active conflict, soft power is not enough. Recent engagements illustrate the current trajectory. The April 2026 visit of Saudi Culture Minister Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan Al Saud to Jakarta produced agreements on heritage preservation, museum cooperation, and creative industries. Indonesian Culture Minister Fadli Zon framed culture as a form of “soft power,” emphasizing its role in building long-term ties. These initiatives are not trivial. They

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  Global Sumud Flotilla continues journey toward Gaza

  by MI on April 17, 2026

  The Global Sumud Flotilla continued its journey toward Gaza on Friday, after setting sail from Barcelona, Anadolu reports. The flotilla was created to break Israel’s blockade of Gaza, deliver humanitarian aid and draw international attention to the situation in the enclave. The mission includes around 70 vessels and nearly 1,000 participants from 70 countries, making it significantly larger than a previous mission in September 2025, which included 42 boats and 462 participants. READ: Global Sumud Flotilla sets sail again from Barcelona to Gaza with double participation

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  UK premier reiterates commitment to Lebanon’s security

  by MI on April 17, 2026

  Reiterating the UK’s commitment to Lebanon’s security, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Friday said it was important to use the current Israel-Lebanon truce as a gateway to a lasting peace agreement, Anadolu reports. Starmer on Friday had a phone call with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun to convey his condolences over the loss of life in Lebanon during the recent conflict. Both leaders discussed the recently announced 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, Starmer’s office said in a statement. The prime minister said: “The UK would continue to support the Lebanese Armed Forces to ensure long-term stability in the country.” READ: Trump says Israel, Lebanon agree to 10-day ceasefire starting Thursday evening At least 2,196 people have been killed and 7,185