Can the Christian Palestinian population survive Israel’s occupation? Submitted by Aaya Al-Shamahi on Fri, 04/03/2026 - 16:32 As the world prepares for Easter, many Palestinian Christians are being blocked from reaching their holy sites as Israeli restrictions tighten further amid the war with Iran. Israel has long restricted access for Palestinian worshippers in Gaza and the occupied West Bank.
Qatar says multiple Iranian drone attacks ‘intercepted’ The defence ministry says Qatar has been targeted “by a number of drones launched from Iran”, adding that all of the drones have been “successfully intercepted and neutralised”. تعلن وزارة الدفاع القطرية عن تعرض دولة قطر لهجوم بعدد من الطائرات المسيّرة من إيران، اليوم الجمعة، ونجحت قواتنا المسلحة "بفضل من الله" بالتصدي لجميع الطائرات المسيّرة. حفظ الله قطر وأميرها وشعبها والمقيمين على أرضها.
Three tankers, including one Japanese-owned, cross Strait of Hormuz near Oman Three tankers, including one co-owned by a Japanese company, crossed the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday by hugging close to Oman's shore, a rare transit route as Iran maintains a chokehold on the key war-torn passageway. Before the war which started more than a month ago, about a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas passed through the Strait, but that has dwindled to a trickle as Iran selectively attacks ships and energy facilities throughout the Gulf in retaliation against US and Israeli attacks. The near closing of the international artery has led to fuel shortages and soaring energy prices across the globe.
Seven rockets fired from southern Lebanon towards northern Israel, report says Seven rockets have been fired from southern Lebanon toward northern Israel, Al Jazeera reported. The Israeli Home Front Command said sirens sounded in Nahariya and parts of the Western Galilee following the launches.
US confirms downed aircraft is F-15E After previous reports suggested a fighter jet that was downed in Iran on Friday was an F-35, US authorities have now confirmed the plane was an F-15E. Both jets are considered fighter aircraft and both were developed for the US by defense contractor firms McDonnell Douglas and Lockheed Martin. The F-15E is understood to be considerably faster and handles larger payloads designed to strike and withdraw as quickly as possible, while the F-35 is slower and generally considered to be used for more stealthy missions.
Over 100 legal experts declare strikes on Iran possible war crimes Over 100 US -based legal experts and practitioners have signed a letter declaring the war launched by President Donald Trump, jointly with Israel, on Iran a violation of international law, with the strikes potentially constituting war crimes. The letter emphasised that the war was illegal from its very beginning on 28 February. “The initiation of the campaign was a clear violation of the United Nations Charter, and the conduct of United States forces since, as well as statements made by senior government officials, raise serious concerns about violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law, including potential war crimes,” said the letter.
Blindfolded Palestinian used to advertise Israeli business in photo Submitted by Fleur Hargreaves on Fri, 04/03/2026 - 13:41 Image of man detained in occupied West Bank holding business sign fuels anger online Israeli soldiers detain a different Palestinian man during a military operation in the town of Qalqiya, in the occupied West Bank, on 4 December 2025 (Zain Jaafer/AFP) Off An Israeli soldier has shared a photo online in which he appears to use a blindfolded Palestinian man to advertise a private business. The image, which has circulated widely on social media, shows a Palestinian father who was reportedly detained by Israeli forces during a raid on his home in the occupied West Bank. He is seen blindfolded and holding a sign bearing the Instagram handle @shilo_jewlry, alongside the words “Happy Passover” in Hebrew.
US aircraft seen over Iran in rescue mission, says Iranian media US forces have begun a search and rescue mission for the crew of an F-35 jet that was downed by Iranian defences on Friday. Iranian news outlets with IRGC affiliations have reported aircraft including helicopters belonging to US forces flying over central Iran. News agency Tasnim reported a US Hercules C-130 aircraft was involved in the search for the missing crew and that one aircraft had retreated after receiving heavy fire.
Commendation for capture or killing of F-35 crew, says province governor The governor of a southwestern province of Iran has promised whoever captures or kills the crew of an F-35 jet that was downed earlier on Friday "will be specially commended by the governorate", according to Isna news agency. The announcement is part of an effort of Iranian authorities to be the first to find the pilot of the fighter at the same time the US scrambles to put together a search and rescue team.
Turkey establishes Istanbul maritime command for Ukraine security mission Submitted by Ragip Soylu on Fri, 04/03/2026 - 14:52 Command will oversee the Black Sea component of post-war force in Ukraine, with support from Romania and Bulgaria as littoral states The Turkish aircraft carrier TCG Anadolu takes part in a military parade on the Bosphorus marking the 100th anniversary of the republic, in Istanbul, on 29 October 2023 (Bulent Kilic/AFP) Off Turkey has established a maritime command in Istanbul that will lead the naval mission under prospective security guarantees for Ukraine, the Turkish defence ministry said on Thursday. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said in January, following the Coalition of the Willing summit in Paris, that Ankara would assume responsibility for a mission to help provide security in the Black Sea if Ukraine and Russia reach a final settlement to end the war that began in 2022. The defence ministry said on Thursday that, within the framework of this initiative - for which 33 countries have declared their willingness to participate - an operational headquarters for the force, known as the Multinational Force Ukraine (MNF-U), had been established in Paris with a core staff.
Over 100 US-based legal experts declare Trump's strikes on Iran as possible war crimes Submitted by Sondos Asem on Fri, 04/03/2026 - 11:14 Prominent scholars, former government legal advisors and military law experts sign letter denouncing illegality of the US war A woman reacts inside her brother's home, which was damaged by a strike, as the US-Israeli war on Iran continues, in Tehran, 30 March 2026 (Majid Asgaripour/WANA via Reuters) Off Over 100 US -based legal experts and practitioners have signed a letter declaring the war launched by President Donald Trump, jointly with Israel, on Iran a violation of international law, with the strikes potentially constituting war crimes. The letter emphasised that the war was illegal from its very beginning on 28 February. “The initiation of the campaign was a clear violation of the United Nations Charter, and the conduct of United States forces since, as well as statements made by senior government officials, raise serious concerns about violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law, including potential war crimes,” said the letter.
Three peacekeepers wounded in blast in Lebanon, says UN In the third such incident in the last week, a blast on Friday in southern Lebanon has left three peacekeepers wounded, two of them seriously. UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNFIL) spokesperson Kandice Ardiel said in a statement, "this afternoon, an explosion inside a UN position... injured three peacekeepers, two seriously.
Israel's campaign against Unrwa could set precedent to dismantle other UN agencies, chief warns Submitted by David Hearst on Fri, 04/03/2026 - 13:45 Philippe Lazzarini says failure to protect the UN’s main lifeline for Palestinians may have far-reaching consequences " class="video-embed-field-lazy container-element"> Off If UN member states allow Israel to dismantle the only agency that provides education and health services to Palestinians, all other UN agencies could face the same fate, the outgoing commissioner general of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (Unrwa) has told Middle East Eye. In his final interview in the role, Philippe Lazzarini accused the international community of paying lip service to what he described as Israel's attempts to dismantle Unrwa, an objective he said had become a declared war aim. "The agency has come under massive, massive attack," he told the David Hearst Podcast.
White House requests $1. 5tn in defence funding The Trump White House has said it will request $1. 5 trillion from Congress in defence funding for 2027, an approximate 40 percent increase on the most recent fiscal year.
Iranian army begins search for pilot of downed US jet: Reports Iran's army has begun searching for the pilot of an F-35 jet shot down earlier on Friday, according to the Fars news agency. The jet, which the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said was launched from a British base in Suffolk, is the second of its type to be downed by Iran since the war began. Elsewhere, unverified reports have surfaced of local Iranian TV announcing a reward for anyone who captures the pilot alive.
US mercenary 'paid millions to carry out killings for UAE' A former US special forces commando made millions of dollars carrying out assassinations for the United Arab Emirates in Yemen , according to court documents. The documents were cited in a report by the New York Post (NY Post) published on Thursday. Abraham Golan, a mercenary who was allegedly behind the attempted assassination of Anssaf Ali Mayo, was named as a defendant by the Yemeni lawmaker who narrowly avoided death.
Reward promised for capture of F-35 pilot, says Turkish outlet Local Iranian TV has announced there will be a reward for the capture of a US pilot whose F-35 jet was shot down earlier on Friday. Clash Report, a popular Turkish social media account that aggregates news, said that Iranian state media is reporting that anyone who "captures the US pilot alive will receive a valuable reward". Middle East Eye was unable to immediately verify the report.
US mercenary 'was paid millions to carry out killings for UAE in Yemen' Submitted by MEE staff on Fri, 04/03/2026 - 13:04 Court documents reportedly show former US special forces commando admitting to assassinations sanctioned by Emirates Fighters drive through the streets of the port city of Aden, Yemen, on 8 January 2026 (AFP/Saleh al-Obeidi) Off A former US special forces commando made millions of dollars carrying out assassinations for the United Arab Emirates in Yemen , according to court documents. The documents were cited in a report by the New York Post (NY Post) published on Thursday. Abraham Golan, a mercenary who was allegedly behind the attempted assassination of Anssaf Ali Mayo, was named as a defendant by the Yemeni lawmaker who narrowly avoided death.
Israel plans 'Yellow Line' in Lebanon The Israeli army is proposing to replicate its Gaza “Yellow Line” model in southern Lebanon by seizing territory and destroying entire villages. In a briefing to Israeli media on Friday, military officials said disarming Hezbollah was not a realistic objective, and instead called for the creation of a “deep defensive line” inside Lebanese territory. The plan would involve demolishing dozens of homes in front-line villages to establish a de facto demarcation line, similar to the one imposed in the Gaza Strip.
Israel plans 'Yellow Line' model in Lebanon by razing southern villages Submitted by MEE staff on Fri, 04/03/2026 - 12:53 Army proposes ‘buffer zone’ inside Lebanese territory as war with Hezbollah escalates First responders work on the rubble of a building targeted by an Israeli airstrike in the southern Lebanese village of Hanouiyeh, east of Tyre, on 30 March 2026 (AFP/Kawnat Haju) Off The Israeli army is proposing to replicate its Gaza “Yellow Line” model in southern Lebanon by seizing territory and destroying entire villages. In a briefing to Israeli media on Friday, military officials said disarming Hezbollah was not a realistic objective, and instead called for the creation of a “deep defensive line” inside Lebanese territory. The plan would involve demolishing dozens of homes in front-line villages to establish a de facto demarcation line, similar to the one imposed in the Gaza Strip.
