Israeli forces abduct two during raid in Syria’s Quneitra Israeli forces stormed the town of Jubata al-Khashab, in the northern countryside of Syria's Quneitra province, according to Syrian state television. A number of properties were searched during the raid, with two individuals abducted afterwards.
Report: Israel halting all defence exports to Qatar Israel is halting all defence exports to Qatar, viewing Doha as an "evil state that works against Israel," according to a report by Channel 12. Although previous exports were approved by prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Foreign Ministry body that green-lights such exports, the latest decision will put an end to all future sales to the Gulf country. The report also indicated that all maintenance and support efforts to previous sales will be terminated.
New posts Featured entry 11:33 Iran Again Warns Gulf States Against Assisting US Military Ali Abdollahi, commander of the Iranian armed forces (file photo) Iran has issued a fresh warning to Persian Gulf states against providing assistance to the US military.
Hamas accuses Israel of undermining Gaza ceasefire deal after deadly attack on Gaza City Hamas accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of deliberately undermining negotiations. The movement issued a statement issued describing the Israeli attack in Gaza City which killed seven Palestinians - including a child - as a "new massacre" and a "deliberate escalation" . “The timing of the crime, following recent talks in Cairo and ongoing mediation efforts, demonstrated beyond any doubt Netanyahu's intention to sabotage negotiations,” it added.
Report: Syria denies security agreement with Israel after strike on airbase A Syrian Foreign Ministry diplomatic source has denied the existence of a security arrangement agreement between Syria and Israel, Al Jazeera reported. The source told the network that Israel targeted the Abu al-Duhur military airport in Irbil despite having been informed that no foreign force was present at the site. Syria "cannot enter into an agreement that obstructs the building of civilian and military institutions," the source said, adding that no deal that limits the country's role in strengthening regional stability will be accepted.
Blast at major Syrian pipeline halts gas flow, disrupts power generation An explosion to a major pipeline in north eastern Syria has put a stop to gas flow from the Al-Jabsah gas plant, the Syrian Petroleum Company (SPC) said. This has resulted in the disruption of supplies to a number of power generation turbines. No workers in the area were reported injured in the blast.
Trump envoy 'deeply concerned' by Israeli strikes on Syrian air base US special envoy for Syria Tom Barrack defended the Syrian government on Tuesday after Israeli air strikes targeted the Abu al-Duhur military air base in northern Syria, calling it an "unnecessary escalation". "The Al-Sharaa government has neither adopted a predatory posture nor maintained proxy forces. It has, in fact, repeatedly indicated a preference for de-escalation with Israel," he wrote on X.
Damascus called the attacks "an unjustified act of aggression" that imperilled regional security.
Turkey denies Israeli claims of posing a threat, says Netanyahu seeks to justify Syria strikes Turkey has denied Israeli allegations that it posed a threat by preparing to send troops to a base in Syria. "The frivolous allegations put forward by the Israeli Prime Minister's office aim to legitimize Israel's unlawful airstrikes targeting Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity," Turkey's Communications Directorate said in a statement quoted by the Anadolu state news agency. Earlier, Benjamin Netanyahu's office said in a statement on Tuesday that Syria's acceptance of Turkish troops at its air base posed a "threat" to its security after Israeli air strikes targeted the Abu al-Duhur air base in Idlib.
UAE condemns Israeli strikes on Syrian air base The UAE condemned Israeli air strikes on Abu al-Duhur air base in northwestern Syria on Tuesday, calling the attacks a “flagrant violation” of international law. In a statement, the country's foreign ministry said it “rejects in the strongest terms” the violation of Syria’s sovereignty and threats to its security and stability, adding that the ongoing Israeli aggression on Syrian territory constitutes a breach of the 1974 Separation of Forces Agreement, which Israel is obligated to respect. The ministry called on the international community to take immediate action to halt the repeated attacks on Syrian territory and stop all escalation that would increase regional tensions and threaten international peace and security.
Israel says Syria acceptance of Turkish troops posed 'threat' Israel's prime minister's office said in a statement to X on Tuesday that Syria's acceptance of Turkish troops at its air base posed a "threat" to its security after Israeli air strikes on the Abu al-Duhur air base in northwestern Syria. "Israel and Syria agreed to a status quo in security matters, which Syria was on the verge of breaching by permitting Turkish troops to deploy at an airbase near Aleppo," the statement said, adding that "Israel will not tolerate threats to its security, and would welcome a return to the status quo". The Prime Minister's Office: Israel and Syria agreed to a status quo in security matters, which Syria was on the verge of breaching by permitting Turkish troops to deploy at an airbase near Aleppo.
UN says only 3 percent of Gaza’s cropland remains accessible and undamaged Only 3 percent of the Gaza Strip’s cropland remains both accessible and undamaged, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the United Nations Satellite Centre (Unosat). The assessment found that the decline, which is most dramatic in Deir al-Balah and Khan Younis, reflects reduced access to farmland since the October 2025 ceasefire, associated primarily with the westward expansion of the so-called “Yellow Line” separating the ceasefire zone from the military-controlled area. Although 4,091 hectares - 27 percent of the Gaza Strip’s cropland - remained accessible as of 24 June 2026, only 448 hectares were both accessible and undamaged, according to the assessment.
Iran rejects UAE statement on missile launches originating from Iran Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei rejected a statement by the UAE on Tuesday that said Iran was behind missiles launched against the Gulf country a day earlier, saying the "accusations" were "baseless. " The UAE accused Iran of launching two ballistic missiles at maritime traffic in their territory, and subsequently cut off all trade against the country until further notice.
Abu Dhabi [UAE], August 19 (ANI): The United Arab Emirates Ministry of Defence on Tuesday said its air defence systems detected two ballistic missiles launched from Iran towards the country, adding that both missiles fell into the sea. The Ministry said the first missile fell outside the UAE's territorial waters, while the second fell within its territorial waters.
Syrian petroleum company says explosion of gas pipeline 'deliberate act of sabotage' Syria's petroleum company said on Tuesday that an explosion occurred at a gas export pipeline at the Al-Jabsah gas plant, halting oil flow through the pipeline. In a statement to Syria's state news agency, the company said that the explosion was the result of a 'deliberate act of sabotage', based on initial investigations, adding that there were no injuries among workers.
US mulls shrinking military footprint in Gulf as a result of war on Iran: Report The Trump administration is examining whether to pull troops out of the Gulf as a result of the US-Israeli war on Iran, with the Pentagon weighing the risks facing large US bases in the region that have come under Iranian drone and missile attack. The evaluation is being led by the Department of War’s policy office, The Washington Post reported on Tuesday, saying the war was viewed as “a once-in-a-generation chance for the Pentagon to reconsider its presence in the region”. The report said that the US has already signalled that it might not rebuild its bases attacked by Iran to pre-war status.
Iranian-American comedian Max Amini sparks backlash over 'species' remarks on Iranian people Submitted by MEE staff on Tue, 08/18/2026 - 19:33 Amini told Bill Maher that those fighting the US and Israel are a 'species with no morals', prompting accusations of dehumanisation Max Amini attends the 'Cast Aside The Clouds' Los Angeles premiere at Lumiere Cinema in Beverly Hills, California, on 4 June 2026 (Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images for Cast Aside The Clouds/AFP) Off Iranian-American comedian Max Amini has drawn criticism online after describing those fighting the US and Israel as a different " species " with "no sense of morals", while arguing that Washington's war is against Iran's government rather than its people. Speaking to Bill Maher on an episode of Club Random released on 17 August, Amini sought to distance ordinary Iranians from the country's leadership. "We are not our government.
US envoy calls out Israeli settler 'terrorism' in interview US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee said on Tuesday that “terrorism” is the most accurate term to describe the actions of Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank. He said in an interview to Israeli public broadcaster Kaan that settlers are engaged “in a process aimed at changing behavior and creating fear in an individual, a population group, or a society,” which fits “the description in the historical lexicon of terrorism … and I don’t know how to use any other term”. This comes after Huckabee recently condemned the settler siege of homes in the occupied West Bank village of Qusra.
Trump envoy 'deeply concerned' by Israeli strikes on Syrian air base Submitted by MEE staff on Tue, 08/18/2026 - 18:11 In rare pushback against Israel, Tom Barrack said Syria did nothing to provoke the attack US special envoy for Syria and US ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack speaks onstage during the 5th edition of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum in Antalya, Turkey, on 17 April 2026 (Antalya Diplomacy Forum handout via AFP) Off US special envoy for Syria Tom Barrack defended the Syrian government on Tuesday after Israeli air strikes targeted the Abu al-Duhur military air base in northern Syria, calling it an "unnecessary escalation". "The Al-Sharaa government has neither adopted a predatory posture nor maintained proxy forces. It has, in fact, repeatedly indicated a preference for de-escalation with Israel," he wrote on X.
Houthi ballistic missile hits house near Yemen’s Taiz A ballistic missile launched by Yemen’s Houthis hit a house in al-Akmah village in the Maqbanah district, west of Taiz, according to the media centre connected to the country’s Saudi-backed government. The media centre said the missile caused extensive damage to the house and killed several livestock, but no human casualties were reported.
