Trump pressures UK and France to help secure Strait of Hormuz US President Donald Trump says he expects France and the United Kingdom to support efforts to secure the Strait of Hormuz. Speaking on Monday, Trump said he had raised the issue with French President Emmanuel Macron. He described Macron’s response as “not perfect” but added: “I think it will help.
Trump says Macron willing to help reopen Strait of Hormuz US President Donald Trump says he has spoken with French President Emmanuel Macron about efforts to unblock the Strait of Hormuz. Speaking at a White House event on Monday, Trump said Secretary of State Marco Rubio would soon announce which countries are prepared to assist the United States.
Turkey condemns Israel’s Lebanon invasion, warns of ‘new humanitarian catastrophe’ Turkey has strongly condemned Israel’s ground invasion of southern Lebanon, warning that the assault risks plunging the region deeper into crisis. In a statement, the Turkish foreign ministry accused Israel’s leadership of extending destructive policies beyond Gaza. “The Netanyahu government’s implementation of genocidal and collective punishment policies, this time in Lebanon, will lead to a new humanitarian catastrophe in the region,” the ministry said.
War on Iran: These are the heritage sites devastated by US and Israeli attacks Submitted by Rayhan Uddin on Mon, 03/16/2026 - 15:37 From Isfahan to Tehran to Khorramabad, Israeli and American strikes have damaged landmarks, including some inscribed by Unesco Debris at the historical monument Golestan Palace after it was damaged in strikes, Tehran, Iran, on 3 March (Majid Asgaripour/West Asia News Agency via Reuters) Off Iran ’s history is layered with conquest, cultural renewal and craftsmanship - all of which can be seen in its remarkable heritage sites. The iconic turquoise domes of Isfahan and the intricate interiors of mosques and palaces across the country are internationally renowned. Iran's architectural heritage can be divided roughly into two eras.
At least 886 deaths in Lebanon, says health ministry The number now understood to have been killed in Lebanon since the start of the war has reached at least 886 with more than 2,000 injured, according the Lebanon's health ministry . As Israel announces widening its assault into southern Lebanon which began after Hezbollah began launching attacks against Israel in response to the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the number of casualties in Lebanon continues to rise rapidly. Around a million people have also been displaced in the country since the war began.
Reza Pahlavi’s supporters in Iran are turning against him Submitted by MEE correspondent on Mon, 03/16/2026 - 16:06 The son of Iran’s last monarch has encouraged protesters to risk their lives and stayed silent on civilians killed by the US and Israel A protester holds an image of Reza Pahlavi during a demonstration against the Iranian government, in New York City, 15 March 2026 (Reuters/Adam Gray) Off Two weeks into the US-Israeli war on Iran , a growing number of Iranians who saw Reza Pahlavi as an alternative to the ruling establishment say they are losing faith in the exiled opposition figure. For some, the turning point came before the war broke out, when Pahlavi urged Iranians to rise up against their rulers despite the dangers of a ferocious crackdown. For others, it is his latest call for demonstrations during the traditional Persian festival of Chaharshanbe Suri, set to be held on Tuesday.
Governments remain silent or reject Trump's proposed naval coalition Donald Trump's suggested multinational naval coalition to reopen the Strait of Hormuz has still not had any volunteers with governments rejecting the idea outright or refusing to engage with the US president on the subject. The proposal consisted of sending warships to the strait to get trade up and running again, with 20 percent of the world's oil normally passing through. In Europe, some leaders were unequivocal.
Six dead in strike on PMF in western Iraq A strike on Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF) in Iraq has left six dead near the Syrian border, according to the group. The group has said the "Zionist bombing" had left another four fighters injured in the latest of recent attacks against the group in Iraq. Parts of the umbrella group of paramilitaries that was founded in 2014 are known to be Iran-backed.
Sri Lanka declares shorter work week over fuel scarcity Fears over the scarcity of fuel and the war on Iran's uncertain future has forced Sri Lanka to declare a shorter work week. The move, it is hoped, will conserve its limited fuel reserves as transportation of fuel and other goods through the Strait of Hormuz - which normally carries 20 percent of world exports - remains blocked. In 2024 In 2024 around 84 percent of the 2o million barrels a day crude oil and other condensate shipments moving through the strait went to Asia.
ICC governing body set to rule on prosecutor Karim Khan misconduct claims Submitted by Sondos Asem on Mon, 03/16/2026 - 10:34 The 21-member Bureau of the Assembly of States Parties meets in The Hague to discuss a judicial panel report on allegations of sexual misconduct facing the chief prosecutor ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan has been on leave since May 2024 pending a sexual misconduct probe (AFP/file photo) Off The International Criminal Court’s executive body is meeting on Monday to discuss its response to a judicial report on allegations of sexual misconduct facing the court’s chief prosecutor Karim Khan. The report, by an independent panel of three judges, is understood to advise the 21-member Bureau of the Assembly of States Parties (ASP) whether Khan has committed serious misconduct, less serious misconduct, or no misconduct at all. The judges have followed the standard of "beyond reasonable doubt", the highest standard of proof in criminal law.
European allies refuse US request to help open Strait of Hormuz Submitted by MEE staff on Mon, 03/16/2026 - 13:18 UK, Germany, Spain and France among those unwilling to send navy to re-open crucial waterway Smoke rises from the Thai bulk carrier 'Mayuree Naree' near the Strait of Hormuz after an attack, on 11 March 2026 (Handout/Royal Thai Navy/AFP) Off European allies have pushed back on a US request to help re-open the Strait of Hormuz, with Germany stating outright that the conflict with Iran was "not Nato's war". Iran moved to close the strait last week in response to Israel and US attacks on the country, blocking a passage where more than 20 percent of the world’s oil and gas supply moves through. Despite a call from US President Donald Trump over the weekend for allied assistance, there has been widespread reluctance to get involved in the war.
Could Gulf states learn from Ukraine's drone revolution? Submitted by Omar Ashour on Thu, 03/12/2026 - 23:15 As Iran targets US interests in regional countries, Kyiv's ongoing defensive efforts against Russia offer a blueprint for battlefield adaptation An interceptor drone used to protect against Russian drone attacks is pictured at an undisclosed location near the front lines of eastern Ukraine, on 9 October 2025 (Ed Jones/AFP) On In the first year of Russia ’s full‑scale invasion, I argued that the under‑noticed defence inventories of the so‑called Global South still held Soviet‑legacy systems and calibres that could be repurposed for Ukraine’s immediate defence - less a grand strategy than a stopgap for force generation while western industry caught up. That argument rested on a simple fear harboured by every strategic planner: in an attritional fight, what matters is not only what you own on paper, but how quickly you can turn stocks into sorties, and procurement into sustained combat power.
US told Turkey war would last just four days, expert says The United States government had told Turkey through official channels that the war on Iran would only take four days, Asli Aydintasbas, a Washington-based Turkey expert, said during an interview on Sunday. “Turkey and some of its allies were told, through official channels, that this operation would take days and be completed in four days,” Aydintasbas, a fellow at the Brookings Institution, said in an interview with the Serbestiyet news site. “You cannot tell a Nato ally that you have made a four-day plan and then extend the operation to 14 days.
Bardem hits out at film industry for lack of activism Actor Javier Bardem has called out members of the film industry for their lack of activism at Sunday's Oscars . Bardem , 57, told the Independent that "I think it's comfortable-ness" that prevented members of the industry from speaking out. He added, "I think they don't want to feel, themselves, uncomfortable.
Strikes have killed over Iranian 200 children, says Araghchi Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has blamed the US-Israeli strikes for the deaths of "hundreds" of Iranian civilians, including "over 200 children" in a social media post. The minister also cited reports claiming "that some neighboring states which host US forces and permit attacks on Iran are also actively encouraging this slaughter". Nearly 1,500 civilians are reported to have died in the country since the start of the war and millions have been displaced.
Iran's health infrastructure is holding up, says WHO Iran's health system is holding up despite the evacuation of six hospitals across the country, a World Health Organisation official has told Reuters. "The primary healthcare and the health infrastructure of Iran is quite good and robust, and they're able to accommodate the casualties as of now," WHO regional director Hanan Balkhy said. As the war enters its third week Iran's ambassador to the UN has said more than 1,300 people have been killed during the conflict with over 7,000 injured .
US told Turkey war on Iran would end in just four days, expert says Submitted by Ragip Soylu on Mon, 03/16/2026 - 13:05 Asli Aydintasbas, who has sources within Washington and Ankara, says US had believed it would quickly declare victory Iranians after crossing into Turkey at the Kapikoy Border Gate in the eastern Van province, Turkey, 3 March 2026 (Reuters/Dilara Senkaya) Off The United States government had told Turkey through official channels that the war on Iran would only take four days, Asli Aydintasbas, a Washington-based Turkey expert, said during an interview on Sunday. “Turkey and some of its allies were told, through official channels, that this operation would take days and be completed in four days,” Aydintasbas, a fellow at the Brookings Institution, said in an interview with the Serbestiyet news site. “You cannot tell a Nato ally that you have made a four-day plan and then extend the operation to 14 days.
Israeli strike on prison was a war crime, UN concludes An Israeli air strike on a Iranian prison that killed more than 70 people in June 2025 was a war crime according to the UN official leading the investigation. Sara Hossain, chair of the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Iran, also told the UN Human Rights Council that the strike on Evin prison killed 80 people including one child and eight women. Her report on the attack, she said, "Israel committed the war crime of intentionally directing attacks against a civilian object".
UK was an 'active participant' in Israeli war crimes, Corbyn tribunal finds Submitted by Imran Mulla on Mon, 03/16/2026 - 12:17 The highly publicised tribunal was held last September and its findings were published in a report on Monday Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn poses for a photo outside the Royal Courts of Justice in central London on 13 May 13 2025 (AFP) Off Britain was an active participant in some Israeli war crimes in Gaza, a tribunal chaired by Your Party leader Jeremy Corbyn and two international law specialists has found. The highly publicised Gaza Tribunal was held last September and its findings were published in a report on Monday. It was held after the Labour government blocked a bill put forward by former Labour leader Corbyn for a public Chilcot -style inquiry into Britain's military cooperation with Israel.
Israeli strike kills nine officers and personnel, says Gaza health ministry An attack on Sunday by the Israeli military has led to the deaths of police officers and governorate personnel in the centre of Gaza. The attacks, which are being investigated by the Israeli army, was described by the interior ministry as a "heinous crime", adding that it "targeted a police vehicle carrying several officers and personnel in the central governorate". Another four people were reported to have been killed in earlier Israeli air strike in the Nuseirat refugee camp which the Israeli military says it is also investigating.
