British Muslims are more loyal to UK, poll reveals New polling has revealed that British Muslims are more pro-democracy than the public at large and overwhelmingly feel they belong to the UK . The findings cast doubt on widespread claims by politicians from across different parties that many British Muslims are unintegrated and oppose British values. The "nationally representative survey of Muslims" was commissioned by the transatlantic Concordia Forum think tank in October 2025 and conducted by Opinium .
EU and UK denounce Israeli settler violence against Palestinians in West Bank Submitted by Shraddha Joshi on Fri, 03/13/2026 - 12:03 At least six Palestinians in the West Bank have been murdered by Israeli settlers since the start of the war on Iran A Palestinian flag is placed at the site where Israeli settlers attacked and killed three Palestinians in Abu Falah on 8 March (Zain Jaafar/AFP) Off The European Union and United Kingdom have issued statements calling for an end to Israeli settler violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank this week. “We are appalled by the killing of five Palestinians in incidents of settler violence over the past week,” the British Consulate General in Jerusalem said in a statement posted on X. It added that “Israeli security forces have described such violence as ‘unacceptable’” and called on them to follow with “swift, thorough investigations and accountability for those responsible”.
No evidence Iran has mined Strait of Hormuz, Pentagon's Hegseth says There is no clear evidence that Iran has placed mines in the Strait of Hormuz, US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth told a news briefing on Friday. The assessment by Hegseth contrasts with news reports earlier this week suggesting Iran had deployed about a dozen mines in the Strait of Hormuz, the conduit for a fifth of the world's oil. Asked about the possibility of mines in the Strait, Hegseth said: "We've heard them talk about it just like you've reported recklessly and wildly about it.
Israeli jets drop anti-Hezbollah leaflets over Beirut, threatening Lebanon with same fate as Gaza Israeli jets have dropped Israeli anti-Iran and Hezbollah leaflets over Lebanon's Beirut calling on Lebanese people to disarm Hezbollah and contact Israeli intelligence if they have information about the group, according to L'Orient Today. "If you want to be part of real change and contribute to the prosperity and defence of your country, we are here to listen," the leaflets said, which include the logo of the military's intelligence directorate. Another leaflet threatened that Lebanon could face destruction similar to Gaza.
British Muslims are more loyal to UK than general public, new poll reveals Submitted by Imran Mulla on Fri, 03/13/2026 - 12:01 UK's Muslims are also more pro-democracy than wider population A worshipper prays inside Cambridge Central Mosque, in November 2021 (AFP) Off New polling has revealed that British Muslims are more pro-democracy than the public at large and overwhelmingly feel they belong to the UK . The findings cast doubt on widespread claims by politicians from across different parties that many British Muslims are unintegrated and oppose British values. The "nationally representative survey of Muslims" was commissioned by the transatlantic Concordia Forum think tank in October 2025 and conducted by Opinium .
US, Israel hit more than 15,000 targets in Iran war, says Pentagon The United States and Israel have struck more than 15,000 targets since the start of the Iran war late last month, US secretary of war Pete Hegseth said on Friday. "Between our air force and that of the Israelis, over 15,000 enemy targets have been struck. That's well over 1,000 a day," Hegseth told a news conference, adding that Friday would mark the highest volume of strikes yet in the war.
Echoes of Iraq: Mainstream media ‘deja vu’ over framing of the war on Iran Submitted by Fleur Hargreaves on Fri, 03/13/2026 - 10:12 Media analysis indicates parallels between headlines from Iraq war to current response to US and Israeli bombardment of Iran British newspaper headlines in the aftermath of the Israeli-US attack on Iran (Paul Ellis/AFP) Off “Why we should go to war”, ran the headline of a Guardian article in February 2003 by the commentator Julie Burchill. In it, she explained to the Guardian’s liberal readers why a pro-war attitude in the run-up to former British Prime Minister Tony Blair’s invasion of Iraq should be welcomed. “If you really think it's better for more people to die over decades under a tyrannical regime than for fewer people to die during a brief attack by an outside power, you're really weird and nationalistic and not any sort of socialist that I recognise,” wrote Burchill.
Israeli evacuation orders affect 14 percent of Lebanon, NGO says Over an eighth of Lebanon's territory is under Israel's forced evacuation orders, an aid group said on Friday, while the United Nations peacekeeping mission said Israeli ground troops were making incursions and erecting roadblocks. The Norwegian Refugee Council said Israel's evacuation orders for southern Lebanon and parts of Beirut now covered about 1,470 square kilometres, or about 14 percent of the country. "Israel’s mass evacuation orders have expanded to broad geographic directives, often demanding immediate movement, creating panic and fear across communities that strikes are imminent – even when they are not," said Maureen Philippon, NRC Country Director in Lebanon.
Israel accused of attempting to 'erase' Palestinian Muslim identity Submitted by Simon Hooper on Fri, 03/13/2026 - 10:50 Report says destruction of mosques in Gaza and restrictions on worship at Al-Aqsa form part of systematic campaign to 'obliterate Palestinian life' Palestinians pray outside the Damascus Gate during the last Friday prayers of Ramadan in occupied East Jerusalem on 13 March 2026 (John Wessels/AFP) Off Israel is waging a systematic campaign of violence, destruction and persecution that threatens to erase the religious and cultural identities of Palestinian Muslims, according to a report to be published on Friday. The report, by the International Centre of Justice for Palestinians (ICJP), a UK-based legal advocacy campaign group, found that Palestinian Muslims throughout the occupied territories and Israel had faced escalating anti-Muslim discrimination since October 2023, following the Hamas-led attacks in southern Israel and the launch of Israel’s assault on Gaza . It said Muslims had been subjected to increased persecution during the current holy month of Ramadan, citing an attack in February by settlers on a mosque in Nablus, punitive measures restricting access to Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque complex, and the detention by Israeli security forces of more than 100 Palestinians during the first week of the month.
Saudi Arabia says its intercepted 56 drones today Saudi Arabia has intercepted 56 drones that entered its airspace since early on Friday, according to the kingdom’s defence ministry. One of the drones attempted to approach the high-security diplomatic quarter in the capital, Riyadh, the ministry said, without identifying who launched the drones.
Iranian drone killed French soldier in Iraq's Kurdistan, commanding officer says France's first soldier to be killed in the Middle East war was hit by an Iranian drone, his commanding officer confirmed on Friday. Arnaud Frion, 42, was "killed by a Shahed drone strike on the position where he was located," said Colonel Francois-Xavier de la Chesnay. President Emmanuel Macron earlier Friday announced the French soldier had lost his life in an attack in Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan region, after France's military said drones on Thursday hit a base where troops were taking part in counter-terrorism training.
Trump says US would escort oil tankers in Strait of Hormuz if needed President Donald Trump said on Friday that the United States would escort vessels through the Strait of Hormuz if needed and hoped that US-led military efforts would go well. He told Fox News he also planned to strike Iran “very hard over the next week.
Macron announces first death of French soldier in Middle East war Submitted by MEE staff on Fri, 03/13/2026 - 09:21 One officer was killed and several other wounded in an attack in Iraq, as pro-Iran group announces it will target 'all French interests' in the region French President Emmanuel Macron chairs a video conference of G7 leaders to discuss the consequences of the war in Iran on the world economy, in Paris on 11 March 2026 (Gonzalo Fuentes/AFP) Off A French soldier was killed and six others wounded on Thursday evening in an unclaimed drone attack in the Kurdish autonomous region of Iraq , French authorities announced. It is the first death of a member of the French armed forces in the expanding war in the Middle East . "Chief Warrant Officer Arnaud Frion of the 7th Alpine Chasseurs Battalion in Varces died for France during an attack in the Erbil region of Iraq," President Emmanuel Macron announced on X, denouncing an "unacceptable" attack.
Nato confirms interception of Iranian missile heading to Turkey Nato on Friday confirmed its air defences had shot down a third ballistic missile that was fired from Iran towards Turkey. "NATO remains vigilant and stands firm in its defence of all allies," Nato spokesperson Allison Hart said.
Eight killed in Israeli strike on south Lebanon village, health ministry says An Israeli strike killed eight people in Mieh Mieh, a south Lebanese village near the port city of Sidon on Friday, according to the health ministry, which added that nine others had been wounded. An AFP photographer on the scene saw paramedics working to evacuate people from the targeted building in the village. The building is part of a complex, most of whose residents are Palestinians.
Germany’s Merz says Berlin is not part of the Iran war German chancellor Friedrich Merz has said there is no reason for Berlin to consider providing military protection for the sea route through the Strait of Hormuz. "Germany is not part of this (Iran) war, and we do not want to become part of it," he said.
Dubai financial hub hit by intercepted drone after Iran threatens banks Dubai's International Finance Centre has been damaged after debris from an intercepted Iranian drone attack caused a fire in the area. Footage shared on social media on Friday morning showed a thick plume of smoke rising from the building in the financial centre of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates . “Authorities confirm that debris from a successful interception caused a minor incident on the facade of a building in central Dubai,” the city’s media office said.
Two killed by drone debris in Oman Two expat workers have been killed in Oman after the downing of a drone in Sohar province, according to Oman’s state news agency, citing a security source. The report said the drone came down in the al-Awahi industrial area, causing injuries in addition to the two deaths.
UN chief in Beirut for Lebanon 'solidarity' visit UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he had arrived in Beirut on Friday for a "solidarity" visit to Lebanon, where the Middle East war has claimed more than 687 lives since 2 March. "I have just landed in Beirut for a visit of solidarity with the people of Lebanon. They did not choose this war.
Four US crew dead after crash of refuelling aircraft in Iraq, US military says Four US crew members were killed when an American KC-135 aerial refuelling aircraft crashed in western Iraq, the US military said Friday, adding that the incident was not caused by "hostile fire". "Four of six crew members on board the aircraft have been confirmed deceased as rescue efforts continue," US Central Command, which is responsible for American forces in the Middle East, said in a statement on X. An investigation was underway into Thursday's crash, it added.
