Russia's UN envoy says Hormuz navigation 'ruined' by US Mikhail Ulyanov, Russia's permanent representative to the United Nations, criticised US President Donald Trump's policy on the Strait of Hormuz in a post on X on Friday. "The logic of Washington is not understandable. It wants freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, but this freedom was ruined by the US aggression against Iran," he said.
Iran formalises Strait of Hormuz control as US struggles to sustain war it launched with Israel Submitted by Elis Gjevori on Fri, 08/14/2026 - 11:10 Washington threatens Iran with 'economic isolation the world has never seen before' but remains unable to break Iran’s grip on Hormuz A man walks past a mural depicting late Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Tehran on 24 July 2026 (AFP) Off Iran has taken another step towards formalising its control of the Strait of Hormuz, as the US threatens unprecedented sanctions while struggling to sustain the war it launched alongside Israel . An Iranian parliamentary committee has approved the principles of a strategic plan governing security and development in the strait and the Gulf. Valiullah Bayati, a spokesperson for the parliament’s internal affairs and councils committee, said on Friday that the proposals would now advance for further consideration.
Palestinians in West Bank village remain under Israeli settler siege for sixth day Submitted by Fayha Shalash on Fri, 08/14/2026 - 12:10 Settlers surround three homes in Qusra as Israeli forces deploy hundreds of troops, evict Palestinian families and seize homes Israeli settlers gather in front of Palestinian houses in the village of Qusra, south of Nablus, in the occupied West Bank, on 12 August 2026 (Zain Jaafar/AFP) Off Palestinian families in the occupied West Bank village of Qusra have remained under siege by Israeli settlers for a sixth day, despite an Israeli army operation that was supposedly launched to remove the settlers. Israeli activists attempting to deliver food to the families on Friday were stopped by Israeli forces, according to local media reports. The siege began on Sunday, when a group of settlers surrounded three homes on a hilltop in Qusra, near Nablus.
Video: Israel inaugurates new illegal settlement in Jenin Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz inaugurated an illegal new settlement in Jenin on Thursday, shortly after Israeli soldiers demolished Palestinian shops and properties on the same day Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz inaugurated an illegal new settlement in Jenin on Thursday, shortly after Israeli soldiers demolished Palestinian shops and properties on the same day pic. twitter.
What next for Nigel Farage after beating Count Binface to become MP once more? Submitted by Imran Mulla on Fri, 08/14/2026 - 09:51 The Reform leader's victory rings hollow, and his political future still hangs in the balance Reform UK leader Nigel Farage poses with a pint at The Ship pub after casting his vote in the Clacton by-election, in the village of Kirby-le-Soken, Essex on 13 August 2026 (AFP) Off This time last year, Nigel Farage was the man of the hour in British politics. His party, Reform UK, was dominating in the polls, Farage and his colleagues were effectively shaping the national conversation - with Keir Starmer's government in reactive mode - and many commentators strongly argued that a Reform government was inevitable.
Gaza starvation: Why Israel's supporters are misrepresenting Unicef study Submitted by Peter Oborne on Thu, 08/13/2026 - 17:18 Data showing lower malnutrition levels in the enclave should be cheered - but these findings do not erase the crimes of the past A Palestinian mother cradles her 18-month-old son, displaying signs of malnutrition, in Gaza’s al-Shati refugee camp, on 24 July 2025 (Omar al-Qattaa/AFP) On Israel has consistently denied that it has used starvation as a weapon of war in Gaza . These denials date back to Israel ’s submission to the International Court of Justice in response to South Africa’s genocide case at the Hague in January 2024. Its lawyers asserted that “Israel has publicly stated repeatedly that there is no limit on the amount of food, water, shelter or medical supplies that can be brought into Gaza”.
Israeli bombardments in south Lebanon intensify Israeli warplanes and drones have carried out repeated strikes since on the wooded areas of Mansouri and Majdel Zoun in southern Lebanon, national media agency NNA reports. These strikes were accompanied by demolition operations in the wooded sector east of Mansouri, and machine gun fire also targeted the outskirts of the village of Mansouri. At the same time, movements of Israeli military vehicles were reported in Hadatha, town, with reports of an artillery shell landing as well, said NNA.
The paediatric war wounds Dr Abu Sittah tries to heal in Lebanon In his Beirut office, Dr Ghassan Abu Sittah is going over his operating list for the weekend: 11 children in total, with life-altering injuries from Israel’s wars on Lebanon and Gaza. “There are two siblings who have shrapnel from the 2024 war that is now causing medical problems,” the prominent British-Palestinian plastic and reconstructive surgeon told Middle East Eye. “A boy with a partial amputation of his foot that needs reconstruction, from this war, and another boy with an amputation.
Tanker hit in Hormuz, UKMTO says The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said a tanker had been hit by an unmanned aerial vehicle while transiting through the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday. It added that while the vessel sustained minor damage, the whole crew was safe and accounted for, and no environmental impact has been reported.
Morning update Good morning Middle East Eye readers, Here are the latest developments from across the regon: US Vice President JD Vance said that keeping oil and gas prices low for Americans is now "goal number one" for Washington in its war on Iran. He added that the next primacy focus for the US is to "ensure that Iran never gets a nuclear weapon". US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that Washington is going to apply measures that have "never been seen" on Iran.
Israel carries out large series of explosions, artillery shelling in south Lebanon The Israeli army continued to launch several attacks across south Lebanon, which included the dropping of bombs and artillery shelling. According to Lebanon's state media, Beit Yahoun, Hadatha and Qounine experienced a large series of explosions, the sounds of which were heard in a number of coastal villages. Another huge explosion was reported in Mashaa al-Mansouri, amid the Israeli army dropping a number of explosive barrels in the area.
‘They’re all catastrophic’: The paediatric war wounds Dr Abu Sittah tries to heal in Lebanon Submitted by Gergana Krasteva on Fri, 08/14/2026 - 07:52 In Beirut, the British-Palestinian surgeon treats children severely wounded by Israeli attacks, including three sisters whose lives were altered irreversibly British-Palestinian surgeon Ghassan Abu Sittah in his office in the Ghassan Abu Sittah Children’s Fund headquarters in Hamra, Beirut, Lebanon, on 17 July 2026 (Gergana Krasteva/MEE) Off In his Beirut office, Dr Ghassan Abu Sittah is going over his operating list for the weekend: 11 children in total, with life-altering injuries from Israel ’s wars on Lebanon and Gaza . “There are two siblings who have shrapnel from the 2024 war that is now causing medical problems,” the prominent British-Palestinian plastic and reconstructive surgeon told Middle East Eye. “A boy with a partial amputation of his foot that needs reconstruction, from this war, and another boy with an amputation.
JD Vance says low energy prices for Americans top priority amid US war on Iran US Vice President JD Vance said that keeping oil and gas prices low for Americans is now Washington's top priority in its war on Iran. "I know that oil is down today and it's way down from the highs in the early days of the conflict," has said on Fox News. "That's goal number one -- keep oil and gas cheap for Americans all over our country.
US Senator Schumer calls for firing of Hegseth over handling of aircraft carrier US Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer voiced his demand for "completely incompetent" Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to be removed from his position over his handling of the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln. "When Pete Hegseth was nominated, everyone knew he was completely incompetent," he wrote on X. "Now our brave sailors are paying the price in a horrific and unfathomable way.
Centcom denies reports of soldiers dying onboard the USS Abraham Lincoln The US Central Command (Centcom) has rejected reports surrounding the death of soldiers onboard the USS Abraham Lincoln during its deployment to the Middle East. "One report alleged seven Sailors died in a brawl aboard the aircraft carrier and others have recently suggested a spike in suicidal ideations. These reports are FALSE," a post by Centcom on X read.
Christopher Nolan remakes 'The Odyssey' as an Anglo-American imperial fantasy Submitted by Hamid Dabashi on Mon, 08/10/2026 - 05:40 Homer's epic emerged from the eastern Mediterranean, but Hollywood's latest adaptation continues a long tradition of appropriating ancient Greece for an invented western identity Matt Damon, Christopher Nolan and Anne Hathaway attend the New York premiere of 'The Odyssey' at AMC Lincoln Square Theater on 14 July 2026 (Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images via AFP) On By sheer serendipity, I watched Christopher Nolan's new film, The Odyssey , far from the madding crowd of Hollywood hype, in a small Greek town called Markopoulo Mesogaias. A historic little municipality in the East Attica region of Greece, it is a 15-minute ride from the temple ruins of the fifth-century BCE Sanctuary of Artemis at Vravrona (ancient Brauron), dedicated to the goddess of wild nature and childbirth. Artemis is also the name of the cinema where we sat to see Sir Christopher Nolan's new film, located right behind the splendid Saint John Orthodox Church of Markopoulo, built in 1904.
Watch: Turkey's Fidan warns of 'radical steps' if Israel does not comply with Gaza deal Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan warned on Thursday that Turkey, Qatar, and Egypt may be compelled to take "radical steps" if the United States does not pressure Israel to comply with the Gaza peace deal. Fidan emphasised that while the Palestinian side has fulfilled its commitments, Israel has shown no progress in advancing to the second phase of the agreement. “We naturally expect the United States to exert the necessary pressure on Israel.
Iraq rejects sovereignty violations during security talks in Riyadh Director of the office of Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi has affirmed Baghdad's rejection of any infringement of its sovereignty during high-level security talks with Saudi Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman. Abdul Amir al-Shammari also stress Iraq’s firm commitment not to pose a threat to neighbouring countries or to allow its territory to be used for attacks in the region, state media reported.
Turkey's foreign minister accuses Israel of expelling Palestinians from Gaza Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan accused Israel of aiming to expel all Palestinians from Gaza, adding that there must be immediate action to pressure Netanyahu to comply with international demands. During a joint press briefing in the Egyptian city of El Alamein, Fidan said that Netanyahu "develops policies that trample human dignity". The foreign minister also indicated that that Ankara and Cairo joined the Trump-backed Board of Peace to "stop the genocide in Gaza", adding that "thankfully, together we succeeded in this.
Kushner expected to travel to Israel for Gaza talks next week: Report Jared Kushner, US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law and Middle East envoy, is expected to visit Israel next week for discussions surrounding Gaza's future, Axios reported. The visit is likely to focus on advancing the next steps of the Board of Peace’s plan for the besieged enclave.
