Brent oil price passes $90 as Iran-US deal hopes fade The price of Brent North Sea crude, the main international oil contract, climbed above $90 on Tuesday as hopes that the US and Iran reach a deal to end the war fade. Brent reached $90. 02 a barrel, a gain of more than 2.
Syria: Court sentences Bashar al-Assad to death in absentia in landmark trial Submitted by MEE staff on Tue, 08/11/2026 - 09:46 Damascus court sentenced Syria's former strongman, his brother Maher and former security official Atef Najib to death on charges of murder, torture and incitement to murder Off A Damascus court sentenced Syria's former strongman Bashar al-Assad, his brother Maher and former security official Atef Najib to death on Tuesday on charges of murder, torture and incitement to murder. Najib was tried in person, while Bashar and Maher were tried in absentia. The court convicted Assad of premeditated murder of multiple people, including children, as well as torture, arbitrary detention and crimes against humanity.
Two wounded in Israeli drone attack in Lebanon Lebanon's health ministry said on Tuesday that an Israeli drone strike in the city of Nabatieh wounded two civilians. The ministry added that a second strike targeted a rescue team from the Al-Risala Association, damaging an ambulance that was transporting a wounded person. مسيّرة استهدفت فرق اسعاف اثناء نقلها اصابة جراء غارة على سيارة في حي الجامعات https://t.
Iran to increase gas production, says state minister Iran will bring back 95 million cubic metres of gas to its production cycle by the end of September, oil minister Mohsen Paknejad said on Tuesday according to the oil ministry's news outlet, as Tehran conducts repairs on energy infrastructure targeted by Israel and the US. In July, a senior government official said Iran expects to restore around 100 million cubic metres per day of natural gas production capacity "within the coming months," after strikes removed about 230 million cubic metres from output since the war started in late February.
Israel's 'pilot zones' turn Lebanese sovereignty on its head Submitted by Belen Fernandez on Sun, 08/09/2026 - 16:51 Under the guise of restoring state authority, Washington's plan demands Hezbollah's disarmament while allowing military occupation and territorial conquest to continue Lebanese soldiers patrol Zawtar al-Gharbiya on 28 July 2026, as residents return to inspect their homes a week after the army deployed to the southern village under the US-sponsored 'pilot zones' agreement (Joseph Eid/AFP) On Imagine, for a moment, that Country A is conducting an illegal occupation of Country B and regularly slaughtering its inhabitants despite an alleged ceasefire agreement . By any modicum of logic, a resolution to the situation would first require Country A to stop occupying and slaughtering people in Country B, right? Wrong - at least if Country A happens to be Israel , which has never felt compelled to abide by international legal or moral standards.
Morning update Good morning Middle East Eye readers, Here are the latest updates: A drone fell near a key oil tank and pipeline network at the Zawiya Oil Refining Company's oil blending plant, Libya's National Oil Corporation (NOC) said. This is the third such attack in two days, with no casualties or damage reported in the latest incident. NOC indicated that it would declare a possible refinery shutdown if the attacks continue.
Israel withholding 1,700 Palestinian bodies for future exchange deals Israel is withholding the bodies of about 1,700 Palestinians for potential use in future exchange deals, despite no Israeli captive being held by Hamas, according to Haaretz. The daily indicated that the figure of Palestinian bodies held by Israel was increased during recent discussions between top Israeli leaders. Israel has long maintained a policy of withholding the bodies of Palestinians.
Report: Trump boarded secret flight from Turkey amid Iranian assassination threat US President Donald Trump secretly left Turkey on a military aircraft last month amid an alleged Iranian assassination threat, The Washington Post reported citing several sources. According to the report, Trump boarded the an Air Force One jumbo jet in view of television cameras in Ankara, and was later transferred to a smaller Air Force C-32A.
Libyan intelligence chief for Haftar's eastern-based forces assassinated: Report The head of the military intelligence department for Libya's eastern-based forces led by Khalifa Haftar was killed in a targeted assassination on Monday, Anadolu Agency reported citing a Libyan security official. An explosive device planted under Fawzi al-Mansouri's vehicle exploded in al-Sayyida Aisha residential neighborhood in eastern Benghazi. According to the report, the official described the incident as a "terrorist attack," however, no official statement has been issued so far on the assassination.
Iran says it is not concerned by new 'Mecca Joint Defence Agreement' Iran has played down the mutual security agreement signed between the leaders of Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey in the Muslim holy city of Mecca on Friday. Esmaeil Baghaei, Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson, said on Monday that Tehran saw no reason to be concerned that a new security pact is directed against Iran. Baghaei said the pact showed a "change in perception" towards the US, as well as a shift in the regional approach to security.
Houthis launch more attacks at Yemen’s Mocha Yemen’s government-aligned military indicated that Houthi forces launched ballistic missiles at the Red Sea port city of Mocha. The attack is one of several launched by the Houthis in recent days, amid renewed hostilities between them and the government's troops.
Syria imposes curfew in Ayn al-Arab after attacks on government facilities Syrian authorities imposed a temporary curfew in Ayn al-Arab following attacks against government buildings, according to state media. Citing a security source, Alikhbaria TV said a group of people launched assaults against government facilities, with Internal security forces reinforcing their presence across the area to impose order and pursue suspects.
Trump suggests escalation against Iran remains a possibility US President Donald Trump has refused to provide information on what could come next for Washington's talks with Tehran, but suggested an escalation remains a possibility. "You’ll find out," Trump told reporters at the White house. When asked if a "massive escalation" is an option, he said: "Well, we have that certain ability if we want to do that...
Trump asks Iran for war reparations in new tit-for-tat demand US President Donald Trump said on Monday he would seek compensation from Iran for the deaths of US soldiers as part of any peace negotiations in a tit-for-tat demand after Tehran requested war reparations to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. “I see that Representatives of the Islamic Republic of Iran are asking for compensation for the damage done to them during the last five-month Military Conflict (started because, THEY WILL NOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON), even though it was never mentioned in any of our negotiations or meetings! ” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Drone targets Libya's Zawiya oil facility A drone fell near a key oil tank and pipeline network at the Zawiya Oil Refining Company's oil blending plant, Libya's National Oil Corporation (NOC) said. This is the third such attack in two days, with no casualties or damage reported in the latest incident. NOC indicated that it would declare a possible refinery shutdown if the attacks continue.
Opinion: Why the Mecca Agreement is a necessary show of force It will be three years in October since Israe l started its genocide in Gaza , a war crime it has repeated in the Occupied West Bank , South Lebanon , and Iran . For much of that time, Turkey and the Arab world held up their hands in horror but did nothing. "What can we do?
Israeli air strikes target southern Lebanon Two Israeli air strikes have targeted areas near the southern Lebanese town of Mansouri, Al Jazeera reported, citing sources.
Here's the latest from the occupied West Bank Here are some of the latest developments in the occupied West Bank, as reported by the Wafa news agency: Israeli forces opened fire on Palestinians near al-Ram, north of occupied Jerusalem, as military vehicles raided the area. No casualties were immediately reported. In a separate raid, Israeli forces deployed in central Tubas and fired stun grenades at young men.
Less than four percent of US safety funding went to Muslim institutions: Report Submitted by MEE staff on Mon, 08/10/2026 - 20:36 Nearly 60 percent of the Department of Homeland Security’s Nonprofit Security Grant Program went to Jewish nonprofits Muslims embrace in the parking lot of the Islamic Center of San Diego after three people were killed in a shooting at the city’s largest mosque, in San Diego, California on 19 May 19 2026 (Sandy Huffaker/Getty Images via AFP) Off Over the past decade in the US, since Donald Trump first ascended to the White House in 2017, less than four percent of US government grant funding to keep religious institutions safe has gone to Muslim nonprofits, a new report by the Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC) has found . The funds are awarded annually through the Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP), which is operated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). An institution can typically receive a maximum of some $200,000 for each site it operates, and the money must be put toward physical safeguards: security cameras, bulletproof glass, guardrails around properties, and the training of security guards, among other tools.
Report: US State Department official says Lebanon-Israel talks to resume in Rome next month US-brokered talks between Lebanon and Israel will resume in Rome early next month, Al Jazeera reported, citing a US State Department official. The official said initial implementation of the pilot zones within the trilateral framework has begun, and the military coordination group on Lebanon works to ensure their successful rollout. “Both sides face political constraints, and we are working to address them systematically,” the official said.
