Tag

Middle East

All articles tagged with #middle east

middle-east5 minutes ago•2 min saved

Israeli court acquits settler in nun assault amid rising Christian-targeted attacks

An Israeli Magistrate's Court acquitted Yona Schreiber, a Jewish settler from Peduel, on grounds of mental illness after he pushed a 48-year-old Catholic nun to the ground and kicked her in the head outside the Cenacle on Mount Zion in April; the ruling comes as international concerns grow over attacks on Christians in occupied East Jerusalem and the West Bank, with a Rossing Centre report noting 155 incidents in 2025, including 61 physical assaults.

via Middle East Eye|

#christian-persecution #court-ruling #east-jerusalem

middle-east3 hours ago•3 min saved

UN envoy warns Gaza ceasefire collapse could be point of no return

UN envoy Nickolay Mladenov warned the Security Council that failure to implement the US‑backed Gaza ceasefire could mark a 'point of no return,' as Netanyahu rejected Trump’s 15‑point peace plan while Hamas pledged to hand over weapons to a UN‑recognized transitional administration under an International Stabilization Force; the framework’s success hinges on decommissioning arms and Hamas ceasing military activity, but renewed fighting, Israeli annexation moves, and high casualties threaten any path to peace.

via Al Jazeera|

#ceasefire #gaza #hamas

politics5 hours ago•131 min saved

Six Months In, US Iran War Goals Pivot Toward Hormuz Focus

Six months into the Iran war, the United States has shifted its goals from destroying Iran’s missiles and military edge to protecting shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, deterring proxies, and defending regional allies, even as Iran retains some drone capabilities and analysts reassess the extent of its defense-industrial attrition.

via AP News|

#iran #iran-war #middle-east

world6 hours ago•8 min saved

Six Months Into Trump's Iran War: Four Hard Lessons Emerge

Six months into the Iran campaign, Trump confronts a protracted and costly conflict with no clear objectives or endgame; U.S. military dominance hasn’t yielded a quick victory as Iran adapts with drones and missiles, and Tehran’s resistance is prompting a pivot to economic sanctions while public support remains tepid—a set of hard lessons that could shape Trump’s legacy just as Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan did for past presidents.

via USA Today|

#geopolitics #iran #middle-east

world12 hours ago•15 min saved

Iran-linked drone strikes cost billions to U.S. intelligence network, report says

NBC News, citing unnamed sources, reports that Iranian drones and missiles have struck CIA posts and surveillance hardware across the Middle East, potentially costing billions in damage and repairs, with confirmed hits on a CIA site in Riyadh and another in eastern Iraq amid the broader Iran–U.S. conflict.

via The Independent|

#drones #iran #middle-east

world1 day ago•7 min saved

Sanctions push on Tehran signals economic pressure, not a quick capitulation

The United States announced a broad sanctions package on Iran and about 60 related entities, calling it an “economic D-Day” to push Tehran back to talks and end the war. Analysts say the move reflects desperation after months of fighting with limited success and is unlikely to force Tehran to change course, though it could raise economic pain for ordinary Iranians; the penalties widen secondary sanctions but stop short of targeting major Chinese banks or oil buyers, highlighting limits to Washington’s leverage amid Iran-China trade and broader regional dynamics.

via Al Jazeera|

#geopolitics #iran #middle-east

middle-east1 day ago•11 min saved

US presses calm as Israel-Turkey tensions in Syria draw diplomatic push

The United States is mediating amid rising tensions after Israel's strike on the Abu al-Duhur base in Syria, urging restraint and dialogue among Israel, Turkey, and Syria while reaffirming Israel's right to defend itself and Syria's sovereignty. Washington says it remains in contact with all three countries through multiple channels and is facilitating talks, including a meeting between Mossad chief Roman Gofman and Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani in Jordan, to prevent wider confrontation as Israeli activity continues in southern Syria.

via The Jerusalem Post|

#abu-al-duhur #israel #middle-east

middle-east1 day ago•15 min saved

US Tightens Iran Isolation with Economic Outcast as Regional Conflicts Intensify

The US unveils Operation Economic Outcast to block Iranian revenue sources and strengthen sanctions enforcement, as Iran’s economy deteriorates with the rial at a record low and high inflation. Iran signals potential retaliation while seeking new export routes and domestic stability amid the pressure. The Houthis strike a Saudi tanker far offshore, suggesting extended reach, while Iranian-backed militias in Iraq contemplate integrating with the PMF. Lebanon’s army faces challenges disarming Hezbollah amid stalled Israel-Lebanon talks. US-led pressure lines up against Tehran even as regional actors adjust tactics to endure the sanctions regime.

via Institute for the Study of War|

#economy #houthis #iran

middle-east2 days ago•2 min saved

Iran uncovers 200 bcm gas reserve as war-hit energy sector reels

Iran announced the discovery of more than 200 billion cubic metres of natural gas in Fars province, with over 160 bcm potentially recoverable, but any new production would likely take years amid disruptions to the energy infrastructure from US-Israeli strikes.

via France 24|

#energy #iran #iran-war

world-news2 days ago•125 min saved

Iranian rial hits record low as sanctions tighten and UAE cuts trade

Iran’s rial plunged to a record low—more than 2 million per US dollar—as the US readies additional sanctions, while the UAE suspends trade with Iran. Iranians hedge against further losses by buying dollars, and officials warn that escalating measures could have consequences amid broader regional tensions and mounting economic strain.

via AP News|

#currency #iran #middle-east

middle-east2 days ago•4 min saved

E1 settlement plan tests two-state prospects as Israel heads to elections

Israel invited bids to build more than 1,200 homes in E1, linking Ma’ale Adumim to East Jerusalem and effectively splitting the West Bank, a move many say would end the prospect of a Palestinian state. It drew broad international condemnation from the UN, EU and other leaders, though some right-wing figures, including Netanyahu, may use the backlash for political gain ahead of elections. The United States opposed West Bank annexation but did not publicly criticize E1; analysts say the reactions could be leveraged to bolster domestic support, while the UN warns the expansion could fragment the West Bank and displace Palestinian communities.

via Al Jazeera|

#e1-settlement #international-reaction #middle-east

middle-east3 days ago•22 min saved

Barghouti Emerges as Abbas Succession Favorite as Hamas Support Slips

A PSR poll shows Hamas support dropping to 24%, tying with Fatah, while 44% say neither Hamas nor Fatah should lead. Among likely voters, 32% favor Fatah and 29% Hamas, with significant West Bank declines (Hamas from 32% to 18%; Gaza from 41% to 33%). Imprisoned Fatah figure Marwan Barghouti is the leading successor to Abbas (39%), and in a hypothetical Barghouti-vs-Abbas race, Barghouti leads 54%–14%. Ninety-two percent want Abbas to resign? (Note: 79% want Abbas to resign). The poll also finds growing support for negotiations and a two-state solution based on 1967 borders, signaling room for new parties ahead of November elections, though turnout and outcomes could be shaped by Israel’s upcoming elections.

via The Jerusalem Post|

#abbas #barghouti #hamas

middle-east3 days ago•26 min saved

New Middle East in the Making: Iran’s Post-Regime Pivot

Analyst Pejman Bijan argues that a post-regime Iran could redefine regional power by splitting Europe and the West, favoring a Saudi-Pakistan-Turkey bloc that keeps the region in an Islamist “insecurity” framework, or else a “New Middle East” anchored in free commerce and normalization between Israel, Iran and Gulf states. He ties this struggle to competing global powers (US, China, Russia) and highlights Mecca defense pacts and IMEC as indicators of future alignments, urging Western support for Iran’s pro-democracy, secular current while warning against deals with the regime. Europe is portrayed as divided between engagement with reformists and calls for change, and the author stresses the importance of backing Iranian civil society before it is sidelined by pressure or instability.

via The Jerusalem Post|

#abraham-accords #iran #mecca-joint-defense-agreement

middle-east3 days ago•13 min saved

Iranian official touts billions earned despite sanctions amid US blockade

Iran's Supreme National Security Council head Mohsen Rezaee claims Tehran has earned billions despite sanctions, boasting tens of millions of barrels sold in recent months and even oil shipments to American ships; he warns other countries not to join the US economic war and threatens to strike interests and bases if they do, while arguing the Strait of Hormuz remains closed until the US fulfills obligations and accusing the US and Israel of stoking regional wars to boost arms sales.

via The Jerusalem Post|

#blockade #iran #middle-east

middle-east3 days ago•4 min saved

Ex-diplomats urge France and UK to uphold international law over Israeli settlements

Over 100 former French and British diplomats published a letter urging Paris and London to cooperate to uphold international law in the Palestinian territories, accusing Israel of seeking to destroy prospects for an independent Palestinian state and of ethnic cleansing in East Jerusalem and the West Bank, and calling for accountability for war crimes and crimes against humanity.

via France 24|

#france #israel #israeli-settlements