Iran accuses French diplomats of 'infiltration' The Iranian government has accused two French diplomats of conducting an "infiltration and interference" operation inside Iran. Iran's intelligence ministry alleged in a statement that the diplomats were discovered at a secret meeting place, and that documents found there pointed to efforts to establish contacts and build networks elsewhere. It further said that contracts linked to the project carried the signature of a former French ambassador to Iran.
Israeli drone strike injures three in central Gaza An Israeli drone strike on Deir al-Balah in central Gaza has injured three Palestinians, one of whom is in critical condition, according to the Wafa news agency. All three were taken to al-Aqsa hospital.
Thirteen years after Rabaa massacre, families urge Egypt to free political prisoners Submitted by MEE staff on Sat, 08/15/2026 - 11:05 On 14 August 2013, Egyptian forces under Abdel Fattah el-Sisi killed at least 900 pro-democracy protesters Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Evian, eastern France, on 17 June 2026 (AFP) Off The Families of Egyptian Detainees Association (Feda) on Friday called on the Egyptian government to release political prisoners on the 13th anniversary of the Rabaa massacre . Feda, which represents the families of political detainees held in Egypt, urged "Egyptian authorities to release those imprisoned in connection with the Rabaa events, as part of efforts to turn the page on this painful chapter in Egypt’s history". "Those who took part in a peaceful sit-in to express their views were transformed from victims into defendants and accused persons," the group said.
Oxygen stations operating beyond capacity in Gaza Gaza's health ministry has announced that the enclave's oxygen stations are operating beyond maximum capacity because Israel is preventing essential supplies from entering. The ministry said only 12 of 34 oxygen stations remain operational, while just four of 30 oxygen cylinders are still functioning. "The availability of oxygen is not a medical luxury, but is the lifeline for many vital and life-saving departments," the ministry warned.
Israeli attacks kill nine people in southern Lebanon The Israeli military has killed two people and injured nine in an attack on Deir ez-Zahrani, a village in southern Lebanon, according to the Lebanese health ministry. Earlier, Israeli warplanes killed seven people in a strike on a house on the outskirts of Ansar village in southern Lebanon, local media reported. The Israeli military confirmed it launched new attacks in southern Lebanon earlier today.
How a pragmatic axis could reshape the Middle East Submitted by Marco Carnelos on Tue, 08/11/2026 - 16:51 The Mecca agreement could do more to determine the region's trajectory than anything decided in Washington, Tel Aviv or Tehran Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman welcomes Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to Riyadh, on 17 September 2025 (Saudi Press Agency/AFP) On Nearly three years after the 7 October Hamas attack shattered the illusion of a manageable status quo - one serving US - Israeli interests, while harming Palestinian rights - and midway through President Donald Trump’s second term, the Middle East no longer maps neatly onto the two axes that have defined it for decades. The region’s fault line long ran between Iran ’s “Axis of Resistance” - comprising Hezbollah, the Houthis, Iraqi armed groups, and a battered but defiant Syria under the Assad regime - and the Israeli-inspired “Pax Americana”: an informal architecture of deterrence, normalisation, and military primacy that Washington and Tel Aviv sought to impose through the Abraham Accords, blatant double standards, international law violations and overwhelming force. Today, a third pole could be emerging: an increasingly institutionalised “Sunni axis” anchored in Riyadh, Ankara and Islamabad - with Doha, Cairo, and to a lesser extent Abu Dhabi at its edges.
Five years of Taliban rule: A state has survived, but at what cost? Submitted by Zia Ur Rehman on Thu, 08/13/2026 - 18:03 Economic despair, social repression, and regional friction have preserved Afghanistan as an enduring catalyst for crises A security personnel stands guard next to a mural depicting the Taliban flag, along a street in Jalalabad, Afghanistan, ahead of the fifth anniversary of the Taliban's takeover of the country, on 12 August 2026 (Aimal Zahir/AFP) Off Five years after the Taliban’s return to power on 15 August 2021, Afghanistan has transformed from a chaotic battlefield into a functioning but deeply authoritarian state. Foreign troops are gone, and fragmented opponents have failed to mount a significant challenge to Kabul’s centralised control.
Israeli forces fire tear gas canisters at Palestinian homes in Ramallah Israeli forces fire tear gas canisters towards Palestinian homes in the village of Al-Mughayir, northeast of Ramallah, after locals tried to fend off an attack by Israeli settlers, according to Quds News Network. Israeli occupation forces fire teargas towards Palestinian homes after locals in the village of Al-Mughayir, northeast of Ramallah, after locals tried to fend off an attack by Israeli settler militias on the village. pic.
UN says 900 ‘physical obstacles’ delay, limit aid to West Bank More than 900 physical obstacles, including Israeli checkpoints, gates, roadblocks and other restrictions, are delaying and limiting aid to the West Bank, the UN has said. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said aid and municipal workers have been struggling to secure access to three Palestinian families in the village of Qusra in the Nablus governorate. These families have been trapped there since Tuesday, following the establishment of a settler outpost next to their homes and the tightening of access restrictions in the area.
Morning recap Good morning Middle East Eye readers, President Donald Trump said he would "soon" declare the Strait of Hormuz part of US territory after defeating Iran. Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi retorted that Tehran would not be intimidated by threats or a show of force by Washington. Trump’s remarks came as Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said no decision has yet been made to resume negotiations with the United States.
UKMTO says bulk carrier struck in Hormuz A bulk carrier has been struck by an unknown projectile in the Strait of Hormuz, the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said. UKMTO said it received a verified report that the projectile hit the vessel’s hull. "The crew is reported safe, no damage assessment has been reported, and environmental impact is unknown at present," the UKMTO wrote on X, advising vessels to transit the area with caution and report any suspicious activity.
Six killed in Israeli air attacks on southern Lebanon Six people were killed following an Israeli air strike on the town of Ansar in southern Lebanon early Saturday morning, according to the country’s civil defence. Israeli jets struck the outskirts of Ansar in the Nabatieh district, as well as the vicinity of Nabatieh al-Fawqa, Quds News Network reported earlier. At dawn, Israeli troops blew up a number of homes in Bint Jbeil and targeted residential areas along the Kounine–Saff al-Hawa road with heavy machine gun fire, according to Al Jazeera.
Libya's Haftar played role in securing US hostage's release, report says Authorities in eastern Libya under military commander Khalifa Haftar helped secure the release of an American missionary held hostage held by an Islamic State affiliate in West Africa's Sahel region, escorting him to freedom through Libya, Reuters reported, citing five sources. Four of the sources said that a deal was brokered, with one saying saying a ransom was paid. However, a senior source in Haftar's forces said they had carried out a military operation in Mali to free the hostage, Kevin Rideout.
Siege of West Bank families 'state-backed settler terror', Amnesty official says The ongoing siege of a several Palestinian families in the West Bank “is not an isolated incident”, but “part of an accelerating pattern of state-backed settler terror and forced displacement across the occupied West Bank,” an Amnesty International official said. In a post on X, Erika Guevara Rosas, Amnesty International’s senior director for research, advocacy, policy and campaigns, said the “world must act now to protect Palestinians, end impunity, and hold Israel accountable”. “Three Palestinian families in Qusra have been under siege for days.
Yemeni government says Houthi attack on al-Mokha killed four civilians At least four civilians were killed when Houthis fired six ballistic missiles at the Red Sea port of al-Mokha on Friday, Yemen's internationally recognised government said. The Yemeni armed forces aligned with the government said in a statement that the attack on the port targeted a civilian facility and economic and maritime installations, killing one port security guard, Reuters reported. Two sailors were also missing and eight civilians were wounded, the armed forces said.
Rashida Tlaib rally cancelled after Florida lawmaker calls its 'anti-jew' A South Florida site backed out of hosting a rally with Democratic US Representative Rashida Tlaib, a vocal critic of Israel's government, after complaints by a Democratic state lawmaker in the party's latest flashpoint over its stance on Israel. Tlaib, the first Palestinian American member of Congress, was scheduled to appear on Friday at a rally for three candidates in Florida's upcoming Democratic Party primary. However, The Venue Fort Lauderdale, which was scheduled to host the event, suddenly cancelled it after State Representative Michael Gottlieb, chairman of the Florida Legislative Jewish Caucus, posted a statement on Thursday calling the planned rally an "anti-Jew" gathering.
Hamas likely to elect Gaza political bureau head next week, report says Hamas is expected to hold internal elections in the Gaza Strip next week to choose the head of its political bureau for the territory, Arab48 reported. Ali Al-Amoudi is the most likely candidate to succeed Khalil Al-Hayya, who was elected head of Hamas’s political bureau in July after competing against Khaled Meshaal, Arab48 reported, citing Al-Araby Al-Jadeed newspaper. Al-Amoudi was among the Hamas leaders closest to former political bureau chief Yahya Sinwar, who was assassinated in Rafah in October 2024.
Houthi spokesman says 'Saudi warships and mercenaries' targeted Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree has said the rebels “targeted concentrations and weapons belonging to the Saudi enemy”. In a statement carried by Press TV, Saree said the “servicemen targeted warships belonging to its (Riyadh’s) tools and mercenaries in the al-Mokha area, using a large number of ballistic missiles”. “The strike was precise, and the operation resulted in the destruction of the boats and weapons, and the death and injury of dozens among the Saudi enemy's concentrations,” he said, according to the statement.
Hezbollah chief says Israel ‘only understands the language of force’ Hezbollah’s secretary general, Sheikh Naim Qassem, said Israel’s 33-day war against Lebanon in 2006 has proved that “the occupying regime only understands the language of force”, Press TV reported. In a speech on the anniversary of Hezbollah’s “victory” against Israel in the 2006 war, Qassem said the 2006 war began after the capture of two Israeli soldiers by Hezbollah with the “aim of securing the release of Lebanese abductees from Israeli jails”. He said the abduction of Israeli soldiers took place after all communications and diplomatic efforts failed to secure the release of the Lebanese captives, according to Press TV.
Saudi Arabia condemns attack on UAE tankers in Hormuz Saudi Arabia's foreign ministry has strongly condemned an attack on two tankers belonging to the UAE’s oil giant ADNOC while transiting the Strait of Hormuz. In a statement, the ministry said that “the recurrence of these attacks constitutes a dangerous escalation and a direct threat to the security and safety of maritime navigation and global energy supplies. ” #Statement | The Foreign Ministry expresses the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s strongest condemnation and denunciation of the targeting of two tankers belonging to the UAE’s ADNOC while transiting the Strait of Hormuz, in yet another unacceptable recurrence of Iranian attacks… pic.
