Israeli military says it accidentally launched an interceptor after misidentifying its own military fire Israel’s military released a statement saying it mistakenly launched an interceptor missile after initially misidentifying its own military fire from operations in southern Lebanon. No injuries have been reported from the incident, which is under review, the statement added.
Palestinian, Egyptian foreign ministers meet to discuss occupied Jerusalem Palestinian Minister of Foreign Affairs Varsen Aghabekian Shahin met with her Egyptian counterpart Badr Abdelatty on Wednesday to discuss the need to mobilise international action against Israeli policies and measures in occupied Jerusalem. The two ministers met on the sidelines of the Arab Ministerial Committee meeting in Jordan's capital of Amman tasked with mobilising such action. Shahin stressed that the need for Arab countries to take practical steps to influence the US government’s position to contribute to the safeguarding of the Palestinian people’s inalienable legitimate rights, while Abdelatty reaffirmed Egypt’s support for Palestinian statehood.
After Michigan upset, Aipac looks to back Republican candidate against Abdul El-Sayed Submitted by Yasmine El-Sabawi on Wed, 08/05/2026 - 15:39 While this was a race where Israel loomed large, the focus was on how the candidates were funded US Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed speaks to supporters and the media during a campaign rally in Detroit, Michigan, on 2 August 2026 (Rebecca Cook/Reuters) Off After spending more than $30m on a candidate who lost the Michigan Democratic Senate primary on Wednesday, the leading pro-Israel lobbying group in the US has now indicated it will pivot to the Republican in that race come November. The move highlights how the one-issue behemoth does not see itself as ideologically bound to one party or the other. "Our members remain determined to ensure that voters reject Dr El-Sayed and his radical anti-Israel agenda," the American Israeli Public Affairs Committee (Aipac) said in a statement.
Israeli forces fire artillery in Lebanon’s Majdel Zoun The Israeli military have fired artillery at the southern Lebanon’s Majdel Zoun on Wednesday, Lebanon’s National News Agency has reported. No casualties have been reported.
Israel rejects Arab committee’s declaration on occupied Jerusalem Israel’s foreign ministry has hit back after a declaration issued by the Arab Ministerial Committee condemned Israel’s policies and measures in occupied Jerusalem. In a statement posted on X, the foreign ministry said that Jerusalem is “the eternal capital of the State of Israel” and called the Arab committee’s declaration “built on false accusations, historical distortions, and complete disregard for the facts”. The declaration endorsed by the Foreign Ministers of the Arab Ministerial Committee, convened by Jordan, is built on false accusations, historical distortions, and a complete disregard for the facts.
Yemen foreign minsiter, UN envoy discuss Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping The foreign minister for Yemen’s internationally recognised government, Afrah Alzouba, spoke with United Nations special envoy Hans Grundberg on Wednesday about developments in the region, including the Houthi attacks on vessels in the Red Sea, according to Yemen’s foreign ministry. During the virtual meeting, Alzouba said Houthi attacks on commercial vessels threaten international navigation, accusing the group of using Yemen to fuel wider regional escalation. Grundberg reaffirmed the importance of preventing further regional escalation and advancing a just and comprehensive political process to achieve security and stability in Yemen.
From Michigan to Missouri: Democratic primaries deliver mixed bag on Israel and Gaza Submitted by Victoria Amani Mwaniki Kishoiyian on Wed, 08/05/2026 - 19:06 Besides an upset in Michigan, Democratic candidates endorsed by Aipac defeated progressive challengers Democratic Congresswoman Marie Gluesenkamp Perez addresses reporters on 26 May 2026 in Longview, Washington. She is one of several incumbents who fended off progressive challengers in primaries (Mathieu Lewis-Rolland/Getty Images/AFP) Off The US Democratic Party went to the polls across five states on Tuesday. The races in Michigan, Missouri, Kansas, Virginia, and Washington were not all solely focused on foreign policy, but the US-Israeli war on Iran and Israel's genocide in Gaza loomed large.
Yemen's Houthis say they targeted Saudi oil vessel in Gulf of Aden Yemen's Houthis said they targeted a Saudi oil vessel in the Gulf of Aden, according to a statement from the group's military spokesperson on Wednesday. Saudi Arabia has not yet confirmed the strike, but it comes after UK Maritime Trade Operations received a report that a vessel heard a "loud explosion" in close proximity to it in the same area.
Far-right Israeli settlers illegally enter Lebanon, most escorted back A small group of young women associated with the Uri Tzafon Movement, a far-right settler group that calls for settlement in southern Lebanon, illegally crossed the border into southern Lebanon on Wednesday, according to the Times of Israel, citing the Israeli military. The army said that most of the group have been located and were escorted back to Israel, although troops are still searching for some of them. Several far-right Israeli officials, including National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, have expressed support for building Israeli settlements in southern Lebanon.
US Centcom says it redirected three more commercial vessels The US Central Command (Centcom) said on Wednesday that it has redirected three more commercial vessels as part of continued enforcement of its blockade against Iran. In a post on X, Centcom said that 48 ships have been redirected, two disabled and two boarded since the blockade was introduced on 5 August. A U.
Arab Ministerial Committee discusses occupied East Jerusalem in meeting Foreign ministers from Arab countries participated in a meeting on Wednesday with Jordan’s King Abdullah II in Amman to discuss ongoing developments in the occupied Palestinian territories, including the escalation in Jerusalem. The meeting brought together participants of the Arab Ministerial Committee from Jordan, Qatar, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, Pakistan and Iraq in the Jordanian capital, tasked with international action to confront Israeli policies and measures in occupied East Jerusalem. Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs @MBA_AlThani_ Participates in Jordan's King Meeting with Participants in Meeting of Arab Ministerial Committee on Occupied Jerusalem Amman | August 05, 2026 HE Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin… pic.
Iran’s deputy foreign minister says no talks with the US held in recent days, Oman route almost finalised Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazen Gharibabdi said on Wednesday that the US returning to its commitments in the Islamabad memorandum of understanding is a necessary condition, but will not be sufficient for Hormuz to reopen, adding that no talks with the US have been held in recent days. In comments carried by Iran’s IRNA news, he said that an agreement is “on the verge of being finalised” with Oman on the negotiated route through the Strait of Hormuz, which could be viable for the next two to four months.
Rubio, Miliband discuss Europe taking greater role in its own security US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband discussed the importance of Europe taking a greater role in its own security during a meeting in Washington on Wednesday, according to the State Department. Miliband was recently appointed to the role by new Prime Minister Andy Burnham, a move which the White House called “deeply concerning” due to disagreements over Miliband’s net zero commitments while he served as the UK’s energy minister.
Eight Palestinians injured in large-scale Israeli raid of Jerusalem refugee camp The Palestine Red Crescent Society has reported that its crews treated eight casualties during the Israeli raid of the Qalandiya refugee camp, north of occupied Jerusalem. Earlier on Wednesday, Israeli forces broke into the camp and the nearby town of Kafr Aqab and announced the start of a large-scale military campaign. The army imposed a curfew, stationed snipers on the rooftops of residential buildings, closed major roads and prevented dawn prayers at all mosques in the area.
Netanyahu says Trump is a ‘great friend’ but Israel will do ‘whatever it takes’ for security Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday that Israel will do “whatever it takes” to ensure its security, “with or without a deal”, according to the Israeli outlet Ynet. In comments delivered at the state service for the reburial of the grandparents of Theodor Herzl, the founder of political Zionism, Netanyahu said that while Trump is “the greatest friend we have had in the White House”, regardless of any agreement, “Israel's existence is not subject to negotiation”. His comments come as Israel launches renewed attacks in southern Lebanon amid a US-brokered “framework deal” with the country to ensure Israeli withdrawal from the territory in return for Hezbollah’s disarmament.
UK maritime authority reports ‘loud explosion’ near ship southeast of Yemeni coast The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said on Wednesday that it has received a report of a “loud explosion” in close proximity to a vessel 95 nautical metres southeast of Yemen’s port city of Aden. In a post to X, UKMTO added that all the crew are safe and no environmental impact has been reported. UKMTO WARNING 106-26 Click here to view the full warning⤵️ https://t.
Qatar, Egypt discuss regional tensions during Amman meeting Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani spoke with Egypt’s Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty in Jordan's capital, Amman, to discuss bilateral relations, regional developments and diplomatic efforts to de-escalate tensions, according to a post from Qatar’s foreign ministry on X. During the meeting, Al Thani called for the implementation of the US-Iran Memorandum of Understanding, “including ensuring freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, preserving regional security, safeguarding the gains achieved, and strengthening regional stability”, the ministry added. Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs @MBA_AlThani_ Meets Egyptian Foreign Minister Amman | August 05, 2026 HE Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani met with HE Minister of Foreign Affairs, International… pic.
Iran, Oman agree on Hormuz route coordinates Iran and Oman have agreed to the geographic coordinates for a shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz, according to Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei on Wednesday. Baghaei said that Iran and Oman are finalising a joint announcement on the agreement, provided that “certain third parties” do not interfere in the process, adding that the agreement will not, by itself, guarantee security in the strategic waterway.
Exclusive: Cambridge University backtracks on divesting from arms companies Submitted by Imran Mulla on Wed, 08/05/2026 - 13:45 University investment body quietly shelved plan for at least partial divestment from weapons companies, sources say Students gather around their tents during a protest organised by Cambridge for Palestine, Cambridge University, Cambridge, eastern England, 7 May 2024 (AFP) Off The University of Cambridge has backtracked on a move towards divesting from all weapons companies, Middle East Eye can reveal. According to documents seen by MEE, on 16 April the University Council, Cambridge's central governing body, approved the introduction of a "monitoring regime" for investments in "conventional weapons". This monitoring regime was proposed by the Cambridge University Endowment Trustee Body (CUETB), which oversees the university's investments, and would track the endowment fund's "exposure to companies which primarily manufacture conventional weapons", according to the Council.
Afternoon update Good afternoon Middle East Eye readers, Here are the latest developments from across the region: Israel has conducted a drone strike in southern Lebanon, killing one and injuring 11, Lebanese media reports. The strike targeted a prayer area in a cemetery, and caused a fire and explosion. This came shortly after an Israeli warning ordering residents to leave their homes.
