Middle East Geopolitical Reporting for 2026-03-06
We've collected the top geopolitical conflict articles from the Middle East and brought them all here. If you're tired of only having access to MSM versions of the story, you've found the right place. We’ll include all of the outlets we know of.
Continuous war on media in occupied West Bank
Israel designates and bans several Palestinian digital media platforms under its so-called anti-terrorism law, alleging ties to Hamas.
Presstv
Mar 6, 2026 - presstv.ir
IRGC: 650 casualties for US military in two days as Iran missiles force aircraft carrier to flee
An IRGC spokesman says the US military suffered 650 casualties in the first two days of Iran's retaliatory strikes.
Presstv
Mar 6, 2026 - presstv.ir
Iran denies attacks on Oman as it warns of US-Israeli ‘false-flag’ ops
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Iran has denied any involvement in military strikes against the territory or ports of the Sultanate of Oman, following reports of drone attacks at the Duqm and Salalah ports.
Presstv
Mar 6, 2026 - presstv.ir
USS Abraham Lincoln flees after precision strike by IRGC drones in Sea of Oman
IRGC Navy has targeted the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier using advanced drones, forcing the strike group into a retreat from Iranian waters.
Presstv
Mar 6, 2026 - presstv.ir
IRGC strikes critical Israeli military sites with Khorramshahr-4 missiles in latest wave
Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) announced early Wednesday that its Aerospace Force launched heavy Khorramshahr-4 ballistic missiles toward key Israeli military and infrastructure targets in the 19th wave of True Promise 4 Operation.
Presstv
Mar 6, 2026 - presstv.ir
Iran slams US-Israeli attack on Tehran's 12,000-seat Azadi sports complex as war crime
Iranian sports officials have condemned the US-Israeli attack on Tehran’s Azadi Sports Complex, calling it a violation of international law and a war crime.
Presstv
Mar 6, 2026 - presstv.ir
Lavrov: Russia 'will do everything’ to make US-Israeli aggression against Iran ‘impossible’
Russian FM Sergey Lavrov has said that Russia will do “everything” to create conditions that would make the American-Israeli war of aggression against Iran “impossible.”
Presstv
Mar 6, 2026 - presstv.ir
Paris silencing pro-Palestine voices
In Paris, activists rallied in support of Olivia Zemor, a long-standing Palestinian rights advocate, charged with condoning terrorism under French law for comments on Israeli military actions in 2023, since when 350 individuals have faced similar charges in France.
Presstv
Mar 6, 2026 - presstv.ir
Iran faces off with E3 over snapback sanctions as Russia and China back Tehran
Europe’s bid to reimpose UN sanctions on Tehran has ignited a fierce backlash, with Iran denouncing the move as “illegal” and vowing firm retaliation.
Presstv
Mar 6, 2026 - presstv.ir
Silenced in France: The unjust detention of a pro-Palestine Iranian activist
Mahdieh Esfandiari, an Iranian academic who lived in France for eight years, has been unjustly detained for condemning Israel’s actions in Gaza on social media.
Presstv
Mar 6, 2026 - presstv.ir
IRGC is part of Iran’s national army: Pundit
Iranian academician states that Europe is not genuinely committed to labeling the IRGC as a “terrorist organization” and is facing significant pressure from the Israeli regime.
Presstv
Mar 6, 2026 - presstv.ir
Washington seeking regime change in Venezuela: Analyst
Podcaster and Journalist Esha Krishnaswamy believes the U-S military buildup in the Caribbean region is aimed at regime change in Venezuela.
Presstv
Mar 6, 2026 - presstv.ir
$50m sportwashing: After turning blind eye to genocide for two years, FIFA funds Gaza stadiums
After more than two years of refusing calls to suspend Israel over genocide in Gaza, FIFA is now sportwashing the crisis by pledging $50 million for football infrastructure in the war-torn territory.
Presstv
Mar 6, 2026 - presstv.ir
US santions Rwandan military leadership over Congo conflict
The United States Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) took formal action on Monday, March 2, 2026, by imposing sanctions on the Rwandan Defense Force (RDF) […]
Military Africa
Mar 5, 2026 - military.africa
Israel’s Smotrich threatens to bombard Lebanese capital to resemble Gaza’s Khan Younis
Israel’s Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich threatened on Thursday to intensify bombardment of Beirut’s southern suburbs until they resemble the city of Khan Younis in southern Gaza, Anadolu reports. The far-right minister made the threat during a field tour along Israel’s border with Lebanon, including the towns of Ma’alot, Shlomi, and Zar’it, according to the Israeli news portal Walla. Khan Youni...
Middle East Monitor
Mar 5, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
Israeli forces kill Hamas official in northern Lebanon
Israeli forces killed an official from the Palestinian resistance group, Hamas, in a strike in northern Lebanon’s Tripoli, the Israeli military claimed Thursday, Anadolu reports. Wasim Attallah Ali served as a commander and “was responsible for training and exercises in Hamas’ military wing in Lebanon,” it said in a statement. There has been no statement from Hamas on the claim. The development ca...
Middle East Monitor
Mar 5, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
Milkor unveils Frontier XL High Mobility Light Tactical Vehicle
The landscape of modern desert warfare demands a specific set of mechanical attributes: high thermal tolerance, superior ground clearance, and modularity that allows a single chassis to fulfil multiple roles. […]
Military Africa
Mar 5, 2026 - military.africa
Turkey positions itself as Africa’s security partner
The geopolitical architecture of Africa is undergoing a fundamental transformation as Turkey positions itself as a primary security partner for nations across the continent. By leveraging a combination of sophisticated […]
Military Africa
Mar 5, 2026 - military.africa
Russia says Iran has not requested any assistance
The Kremlin said on Thursday that Russia has not received any requests for assistance from Iran, including military support, Anadolu reports. “In this case, there were no appeals from the Iranian side,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters during a press briefing, when asked whether Russia plans to provide Iran with assistance, such as arms supplies. Peskov’s remarks come as Israel and t...
Middle East Monitor
Mar 5, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
Hague Group discusses travel restrictions, settlement bans, and arms limits against Israel
Representatives from around 40 countries gathered in The Hague on Wednesday to examine a range of potential measures aimed at holding Israel accountable for its ongoing genocide in Gaza and its illegal occupation of Palestinian territory. The meeting, organised by the Hague Group and co-chaired by South Africa and Colombia, marked the largest gathering of the coalition since it was established ear...
Middle East Monitor
Mar 5, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
Iran says it attacked American oil tanker in Persian Gulf
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said Thursday it attacked an American oil tanker in the Persian Gulf, as escalation continued to rise in the wake of a US-Israeli attack on Tehran, Anadolu reports. The Guards’ Public Relations Department said in a statement carried by the state news agency IRNA that Iranian naval forces “successfully targeted an American oil tanker in the northern Persian Gulf.” No fur...
Middle East Monitor
Mar 5, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
Israeli official admits Hezbollah joined conflict with unexpected intensity
A senior Israeli official has acknowledged that Israel underestimated the scale of Hezbollah’s involvement in the ongoing conflict, as the country faces simultaneous attacks from Iran and Lebanon. Speaking to Channel 13 News, the official said Israeli planners had not anticipated the intensity of Hezbollah’s response after the group entered the fighting. “We made a mistake regarding Hezbollah; we ...
Middle East Monitor
Mar 5, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
Zelenskiy says Ukraine will help US to counter Iranian drones
KYIV, March 5 (Reuters) - President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Thursday that Ukraine would provide assistance to the U.S. in response to its request for help in dealing with Iranian drones in the Middle East.Tehran has fired hundreds of drones at U.S. targets in neighboring countries after the U.S. and Israel began a massive campaign of air strikes against Iran on Saturday. During its war with R...
Al-Monitor: The Pulse of The Middle East
Mar 5, 2026 - al-monitor.com
France to strengthen cooperation with Lebanese armed forces
French President Emmanuel Macron announced Thursday that Paris will help the Lebanese military as fighting flared again this week between Hezbollah and Israel, Anadolu reports. “France will strengthen its cooperation with the Lebanese Armed Forces and will provide them with armored transport vehicles, as well as operational and logistical support,” Macron wrote on US social media platform X. He re...
Middle East Monitor
Mar 5, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
Care packages, brought to Palestinians by colonialism
Nickolay Mladenov, former UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process and now High Representative for the Board of Peace, is no stranger to diplomatic jargon. “Essential supplies, including Ramadan care packages, are once again reaching families in urgent need,” Mladenov stated, as various aid organisations warned of another surge in starvation in Gaza. Ramadan care packages? How does...
Middle East Monitor
Mar 5, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
Qatar says air defenses intercept 13 missiles, 4 drones launched from Iran
Qatar said on Thursday that its armed forces intercepted most missiles and drones launched from Iran in an attack targeting the country, with no casualties reported, according to the Defense Ministry, Anadolu reports. The ministry said in a statement that Qatar was attacked at around 11.51 am local time by 14 ballistic missiles and four drones launched from Iran. The statement said 13 ballistic mi...
Middle East Monitor
Mar 5, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
UN report says Israeli practices against Palestinians may amount to genocide
A report presented to the 61st session of the UN Human Rights Council states that Israeli practices against Palestinians since 7th October 2023 may amount to genocide under the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. The report was submitted by the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967. Titled “Tortur...
Middle East Monitor
Mar 5, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
Hezbollah launches 23 attacks on Israeli military sites on Wednesday
Lebanon’s Hezbollah group said it carried out 23 drone and rocket attacks on Israeli military sites and bases in northern and central Israel on Wednesday. It also reported clashes with Israeli forces who it said were attempting to advance towards the southern Lebanese town of Khiam. In a series of statements issued since early Wednesday, the group said the attacks were part of an escalation that b...
Middle East Monitor
Mar 5, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
US, Qatar discuss acquiring Ukrainian drones to down Iran's Shaheds, source says
By Max HunderKYIV, March 5 (Reuters) - The U.S. and Qatar are in discussions with Kyiv about acquiring Ukrainian interceptor drones as a cheap alternative to down Iranian Shahed UAVs amid the war in the Gulf, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters.The early-stage talks are taking place between government officials, not companies, and the technology being discussed includes systems to liste...
Al-Monitor: The Pulse of The Middle East
Mar 5, 2026 - al-monitor.com
Thousands of missiles and drones: Iran's attacks on Gulf states reveal where it is focusing its war effort
Iran attacks in the Gulf states targeted U.S. bases and infrastructure, but also hit hotels, shopping centers and residential buildings – on a far larger scale than its assault on Israel. According to official data, the vast majority of the missiles and drones were intercepted
Haaretz latest headlines
Mar 5, 2026 - haaretz.com
Bernie Sanders blasts Israeli premier as ‘extremist,’ criticizes US role in Iran war
US Sen. Bernie Sanders on Thursday slammed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, accusing him of pushing the US toward war with Iran, Anadolu reports. “Netanyahu is the extremist who killed 75,000 in Gaza. The extremist who said invading Iraq would create ‘enormous positive reverberations.’ The extremist who has pushed U.S. presidents to go to war with Iran for decades.” “Finally, he found a ...
Middle East Monitor
Mar 5, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
US-Israeli military operation aims to drive wedge between Iran and its Arab neighbors, Lavrov claims
One of the goals of the US-Israeli attacks against Iran is to create discord between the Islamic republic and the Arab countries of the region, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Thursday, Anadolu reports. Speaking at a round table in Moscow, Lavrov noted that until recently there had been a positive reconciliation process in relations between Iran and its Arab neighbors. “I have no do...
Middle East Monitor
Mar 5, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
Germany will not join Iran war or regime change operations: Foreign minister
Germany said Thursday it will not join US and Israeli strikes against Iran and ruled out supporting concrete measures aimed at regime change in the country, Anadolu reports. Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul told reporters in Berlin that while Germany hopes for a democratic future for Iran, such a change must come from the Iranian people themselves. “Germany is not participating in this war. And th...
Middle East Monitor
Mar 5, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
A deal was on the table. They bombed it
On the morning of 28th February, I woke to an emergency alert telling everyone in Qatar to stay indoors. Moments later came the sounds, blasts, intercepted drones, the unmistakable audio of a region entering war. I write from Doha, from inside a country that has spent years constructing the diplomatic infrastructure that made this region’s fragile stability possible. I am not a distant analyst wat...
Middle East Monitor
Mar 5, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
Iranian official blames Netanyahu for escalating conflict
Ali Larijani, Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, has accused US President Donald Trump of dragging the United States into what he described as an “unjust war” with Iran because of the “recklessness” of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In a message posted on the social media platform X in both Persian and Arabic on Wednesday, Larijani criticised Washington’s decision t...
Middle East Monitor
Mar 5, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
On Israel-Lebanon border, 'everyone is tense' as fighting with Hezbollah flares
Despite renewed fighting with the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah just over the border, the mood was almost normal Thursday on the main street of Kiryat Shmona, a small town in northern Israel.Unlike during the last war with the Iran-backed movement, when the town was evacuated over fears of rocket fire, most shops are still open and customers sit on terraces of neighbourhood cafeterias. But when s...
Al-Monitor: The Pulse of The Middle East
Mar 5, 2026 - al-monitor.com
Iran fires more missiles, drones across Gulf region amid US-Israeli attacks
Gulf countries face continued barrage of Iranian attacks as US, Israel pledge to continue military assault against Iran.
Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera
Mar 5, 2026 - aljazeera.com
Saudi Arabia fears Iran may target leaders in strikes, officials begin meeting by video
Tehran's missile and drone attacks have crossed a red line for Saudi Arabia in its dealings with the Islamic Republic, prompting the kingdom to begin discussions on the possibility of striking Iran.
JPost.com - The Jerusalem Post - All News from the Middle East, Israel, and the Jewish World
Mar 5, 2026 - jpost.com
Iran ‘confident’ it can counter potential US ground invasion, says top diplomat
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Iran is prepared to confront a potential ground invasion by the US, NBC News reported Thursday. “No, we are waiting for them,” Araghchi said in a video interview when asked if he was afraid of a possible US ground invasion. “Because we are confident that we can confront them, and that would be a big disaster for them,” he said. His remarks came after US-Israel ...
Middle East Monitor
Mar 5, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
British premier defends decision not to join US-Israel strikes on Iran
British Prime Minister Starmer on Thursday defended the decision not to join US-Israel attack on Iran, saying the best solution to the issue is “a negotiated settlement with Iran, where they give up their nuclear ambitions,” Anadolu reports. Speaking at a Downing Street news conference, Keir Starmer defended his decision not to join offensive strikes on Iran being carried out by the US and Israel....
Middle East Monitor
Mar 5, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
Slovenia condemns US-Israel attacks on Iran as ‘unacceptable violations of int’l law’
Slovenian Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon on Thursday condemned attacks by the United States and Israel on Iran as “unacceptable violations of international law,” according to a statement from the Foreign Ministry, Anadolu reports. “I condemned the attacks by Israel and the United States on Iran as unacceptable violations of international law,” Fajon said in a post on US social media platform X. She ...
Middle East Monitor
Mar 5, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
3 children injured as illegal Israeli settlers attack Palestinians in Hebron
Illegal Israeli settlers attacked Palestinian residents and shepherds Thursday in the Hebron governorate in the southern West Bank, beating them and wounding three children, a local activist said. Osama Muhawera told the official news agency Wafa that the assault occurred while residents and shepherds were in the Masafer Yatta area south of Hebron. Three children aged between 11 and 13 were injure...
Middle East Monitor
Mar 5, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
Gaza authority warns of catastrophic impact as Israel halts cooking gas supplies
The General Petroleum Authority in the Gaza Strip on Wednesday warned of serious and potentially catastrophic consequences following the continued suspension of cooking gas supplies to the territory, saying the move would have humanitarian, economic and social impacts on more than two million residents. In a statement, the authority said Gaza had already been facing a severe shortage of cooking ga...
Middle East Monitor
Mar 5, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
Hezbollah says Israeli army withdraws remaining forces after clashes in Khiam
Lebanon’s Hezbollah said on Wednesday that the Israeli army had withdrawn the remaining vehicles and soldiers to Tal al-Hamamis following clashes in the southern Lebanese town of Khiam. The group noted that its fighters carried out 18 attacks on Israeli military positions on Wednesday. In a statement, Hezbollah said: “After the heroic clashes by the fighters of the Islamic Resistance with Israeli ...
Middle East Monitor
Mar 5, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
US House rejects war powers resolution, backs Trump on Iran war
By Patricia ZengerleWASHINGTON, March 5 (Reuters) - The U.S. House of Representatives rejected an effort on Thursday to stop President Donald Trump's air war on Iran and require that any hostilities against Iran be authorized by Congress, backing the Republican president's military campaign on the sixth day of the expanding conflict.The vote was 219 to 212, largely along party lines, in the House,...
Al-Monitor: The Pulse of The Middle East
Mar 5, 2026 - al-monitor.com
NATO increases missile defence posture after Turkey incident
March 5 (Reuters) - NATO has increased its alliance-wide ballistic missile defence posture following the intercept of a missile from Iran targeted at Turkey, its military headquarters said on Thursday.The posture will remain at the heightened level until the threat from Iran's "continued, indiscriminate attacks across the region subsides," Colonel Martin O'Donnell, spokesperson for the Supreme Hea...
Al-Monitor: The Pulse of The Middle East
Mar 5, 2026 - al-monitor.com
Analysis-Isolated and under fire: Iran strikes out as Russia and China stand aside
By Samia NakhoulDUBAI, March 5 (Reuters) - With its supreme leader killed and its war machine under relentless U.S. pressure, Iran now stands largely alone - its longtime partners Russia and China offering nothing more than diplomatic condemnations and expressions of concern.
Al-Monitor: The Pulse of The Middle East
Mar 5, 2026 - al-monitor.com
Ukraine, Russia free 200 POWs each in latest swap amid stalled peace talks
Exchange comes amid a deadlock in US-brokered negotiations to end the four-year war between the two countries.
Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera
Mar 5, 2026 - aljazeera.com
Israel kills more than 100 Lebanese as it commands Beirut residents to flee
More than 38,000 Syrians flee Lebanon for Syria, as mounting violence causes displacement across the Middle East and beyond.
Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera
Mar 5, 2026 - aljazeera.com
IDF launches new phase of Iran war, confirms death of major Hezbollah operative
IDF chief Eyal Zamir: Approximately 80% of Iran's air defense systems, over 60% of ballistic missile launchers destroyed • 'Hezbollah made a strategic error, now paying a heavy price'
JPost.com - The Jerusalem Post - All News from the Middle East, Israel, and the Jewish World
Mar 5, 2026 - jpost.com
China in talks with Iran to allow safe oil and gas passage through Hormuz, sources say
The war has left the critical shipping passageway all but shut, with Iran having moved to paralyze shipping through the Strait.
JPost.com - The Jerusalem Post - All News from the Middle East, Israel, and the Jewish World
Mar 5, 2026 - jpost.com
As Iran war broke out, United Hatzalah volunteers transferred patients to underground wards
Volunteers from United Hatzalah assisted Hadassah Mount Scopus staff in moving critically ill patients to underground safe zones as Iranian ballistic missiles triggered sirens across Israel.
JPost.com - The Jerusalem Post - All News from the Middle East, Israel, and the Jewish World
Mar 5, 2026 - jpost.com
IDF logistics provides hundreds of millions of liters of fuel to enable game-changing Iran air war
The unit also manages hundreds of buses per day to distribute 110,000 reservists to their posts across several fronts.
JPost.com - The Jerusalem Post - All News from the Middle East, Israel, and the Jewish World
Mar 5, 2026 - jpost.com
Donald Trump fires Kristi Noem as Homeland Security chief, taps Senator Mullin as replacement
Noem, a former governor of South Dakota, became one of Trump's most high-profile Cabinet secretaries with social media posts that portrayed immigrants in harsh terms
JPost.com - The Jerusalem Post - All News from the Middle East, Israel, and the Jewish World
Mar 5, 2026 - jpost.com
Why Trump's fantasies for Iran go far beyond regime change
In the U.S. president's vision for the Middle East, his goal for Iran mirrors his approach to Venezuela: Installing a compliant regime that aligns with American economic interests. Democracy is not part of the plan, and neither are Israel's long-term interests
Haaretz latest headlines
Mar 5, 2026 - haaretz.com
Missiles and suicide drones: Hezbollah's remaining arsenal that threatens Israel
Up until the last two years and the repeated blows dealt by Israel, Hezbollah was better equipped than most of the world's militaries. But now, despite having to move its primary arms smuggling route, experts believe the group still holds thousands of short- and medium-range missiles, and at least a few hundred advanced, long-range ones
Haaretz latest headlines
Mar 5, 2026 - haaretz.com
Iran and Hezbollah fire simultaneously at Israel; IDF says no coordination
During the barrage on Wednesday at noon, rockets, missiles, and mortars were fired, setting off alerts in the north and center of the country, including in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem
Haaretz latest headlines
Mar 5, 2026 - haaretz.com
Iran has fired at least six cluster missiles at Israel since the war began
Cluster missiles carry relatively small bombs, which are dispersed from a high altitude and cause damage within a radius of several kilometers. According to senior defense officials, their goal is to cause as much damage as possible to the civilian population
Haaretz latest headlines
Mar 5, 2026 - haaretz.com
UN refugee agency says over 330,000 displaced by hostilities in Middle East, beyond
The UN refugee agency said Thursday that intensifying hostilities across the Middle East have triggered “significant population movement,” as more than 330,000 people have been forcibly displaced, mostly within their own countries, Anadolu reports. The UNHCR noted that clashes along the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan have forced thousands of families to flee. “We are also urgently calling...
Middle East Monitor
Mar 5, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
Lebanon decides to pursue members of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards for deportation
Lebanon’s government decided on Thursday to pursue and arrest any members of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in the country for deportation, Anadolu reports. Information Minister Paul Morcos told a press conference that the Cabinet requested the relevant ministries and administrations to issue instructions to verify whether IRGC members are present in Lebanon. He added that authori...
Middle East Monitor
Mar 5, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
Gavin Newsom, frontrunner for presidential nomination, likens Israel to ‘apartheid state’
California Governor Gavin Newsom has likened Israel to an “apartheid state,” warning that the country’s current leadership is pushing the United States towards reconsidering its long-standing military support for its ally. Newsom made the remark when he was asked by the event’s moderator, Pod Save America host Jon Favreau, about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during an event in Los Ang...
Middle East Monitor
Mar 5, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
The War on Iran: America at the Center of the Storm
As the region continues to endure the escalating Israeli-American war against Iran, international calls to halt the confrontation are growing louder. Air traffic has been suspended across several countries, economic pressures are mounting, and anxiety is spreading through a region that sits at the heart of the global energy system. The ripple effects are becoming impossible to ignore. The human to...
Middle East Monitor
Mar 5, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
US ‘investigates’ deadly strike on Iran girls’ school; Israel denies involvement
The US said that it is “investigating” an airstrike on a girls’ primary school in southern Iran that Iranian authorities say killed 168 students, while Israel denied involvement in the attack, Anadolu reports. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told reporters Wednesday that Washington is “investigating” the incident. “All I can say is we’re investigating that,” Hegseth said when asked about the bom...
Middle East Monitor
Mar 5, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
Al-Quds Day – Frequently Asked Questions
The Al-Quds Day has been commemorate for almost 50 years on the last Friday of Ramadan, around the world. Can you tell us more about the London, the UK event, what it stands for and its connection to the Al-Quds Day events worldwide? Al-Quds Day was the first ever international demonstration to be established in support of Palestinians and all the oppressed around the world. It has been commemora...
Middle East Monitor
Mar 5, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
Australia deploys military to Middle East as Canada does not rule out joining conflict
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said on Thursday that he could not rule out his country taking part militarily in the ongoing Middle East conflict. Speaking alongside Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Canberra, he said: “One can never categorically rule out participation.” Carney, who previously described US-Israeli strikes on Iran as “inconsistent with international law,” added:...
Middle East Monitor
Mar 5, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
Barzani tells Iran Kurdistan Region will not join regional conflicts
The President of Iraq’s Kurdistan Region, Nechirvan Barzani, said on Wednesday that the autonomous region would not become a party to ongoing conflicts in the Middle East. Barzani made the remarks during a telephone conversation with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, according to a statement issued by the Kurdistan Region Presidency and reported by the Iraqi News Agency (INA). The call took ...
Middle East Monitor
Mar 5, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
Hezbollah chief says rocket barrage response to ‘15 months of Israeli violations’
Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem said on Wednesday that the group’s recent rocket barrage was a response to the 15 months of Israeli violations, warning that the group’s patience “has limits”. In a televised address, Qassem said Hezbollah had adhered to the agreement reached with the Lebanese state, while accusing Israel of failing to respect any of its provisions. He argued that the diplom...
Middle East Monitor
Mar 5, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
The General who swallowed his truth
General Dan Cain, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, delivered a private warning to President Trump with the bluntness that democracies depend upon and empires routinely ignore: “We don’t have enough ammunition to win this war. It would not be pretty.” This was not timidity. This was the solitary act of institutional honesty still flickering inside the corridors of American military power. Tru...
Middle East Monitor
Mar 5, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
'Enemy at home': Iranian authorities tighten grip as war rages
War has emptied the usually traffic-jammed streets of Iran's capital, but Islamic republic authorities have filled them with checkpoints and security forces as they tighten their grip on the population.After the United States and Israel launched a war against Iran on Saturday, killing its supreme leader and urging Iranians to "take over" their government, celebrations at Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's d...
Al-Monitor: The Pulse of The Middle East
Mar 5, 2026 - al-monitor.com
France to let US planes not involved in Iran strikes use air base
US military support jets have been allowed to use a French air base, the French military said Thursday, adding it had "full guarantees" they were not involved in Iran strikes.The announcement came after President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday said that US-Israel military operations in Iran were conducted "outside international law"."US aircraft providing operational support (not combat aircraft) have...
Al-Monitor: The Pulse of The Middle East
Mar 5, 2026 - al-monitor.com
Mideast war risks pulling more in as conflict boils over
The Middle East war unleashed by US-Israeli attacks on Iran has swelled outwards to Cyprus, Sri Lanka, Turkey and Azerbaijan, and risks drawing more countries into the conflict.The United States and Israel initiated the war by launching strikes on Iran and killing its supreme leader Ali Khamenei on Saturday, but the war has since extended its geographical scope."The conflict has evolved into a hig...
Al-Monitor: The Pulse of The Middle East
Mar 5, 2026 - al-monitor.com
UK sends more fighter jets to Gulf: PM
Britain is sending additional fighter jets to Qatar amid the widening war in the Middle East, Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced Thursday as his defence minister visited Cyprus.The four Typhoon planes will join an existing UK squadron in the Gulf state "to strengthen our defensive operations in Qatar and across the region", Starmer told reporters.The announcement came after Defence Secretary Jo...
Al-Monitor: The Pulse of The Middle East
Mar 5, 2026 - al-monitor.com
Trump renews Netanyahu pardon call, saying only Iran should be troubling him
JERUSALEM, March 5 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday called again on Israel's president to grant Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a pardon for corruption charges, saying the premier should have nothing on his mind but the war with Iran.
Al-Monitor: The Pulse of The Middle East
Mar 5, 2026 - al-monitor.com
Flights for US citizens stuck in Middle East ramping up, State Dept says
By Simon LewisWASHINGTON, March 5 (Reuters) - The U.S. State Department said on Thursday it was ramping up the provision of charter flights from the Middle East after criticism over the Trump administration's planning and initial assistance to U.S. citizens trying to leave the regionsince the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran began.The strikes that began on Saturday and Iran's retaliatory attackson its nei...
Al-Monitor: The Pulse of The Middle East
Mar 5, 2026 - al-monitor.com
France to send armored vehicles to Lebanon, Macron says
PARIS, March 5 (Reuters) - France will strengthen its cooperation with the Lebanese Armed Forces and provide them with armored transport vehicles as well as operational and logistical support, French President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday, as Lebanon was pulled deeper into the war in the Middle East earlier this week."Everything must be done to prevent this country, which is close to France, f...
Al-Monitor: The Pulse of The Middle East
Mar 5, 2026 - al-monitor.com
IDF officer, soldier wounded by Hezbollah anti-tank fire in southern Lebanon
The incident is the second of its kind in as many days, raising the total of IDF soldiers wounded in southern Lebanon to four.
JPost.com - The Jerusalem Post - All News from the Middle East, Israel, and the Jewish World
Mar 5, 2026 - jpost.com
Israel can topple Iranian regime, war may last a few weeks, Energy Minister Eli Cohen tells 'Post'
Eli Cohen told The Jerusalem Post that coordination between the United States and Israel has led to “a very strong and deadly combination.”
JPost.com - The Jerusalem Post - All News from the Middle East, Israel, and the Jewish World
Mar 5, 2026 - jpost.com
Iranian FM Araghchi claims Arab neighbors are not targets, says Israel, US are losing war
"We have not attacked Muslim countries," said Aragchi, adding that Iran has "no problem" with its Muslim neighbors.
JPost.com - The Jerusalem Post - All News from the Middle East, Israel, and the Jewish World
Mar 5, 2026 - jpost.com
IDF surprised by Houthis not joining Iran war, believes they still could, sources say
It was expected by many in the IDF that the Houthis would join in the attack once Iran's former supreme leader Ali Khamenei was assassinated.
JPost.com - The Jerusalem Post - All News from the Middle East, Israel, and the Jewish World
Mar 5, 2026 - jpost.com
Europol warns Iran crisis raises threat of terror, extremism and cyberattacks
The terror threat could be heightened by individuals acting alone or small cells acting on their own initiative, Europol spokesman Jan Op Gen Oorth said.
JPost.com - The Jerusalem Post - All News from the Middle East, Israel, and the Jewish World
Mar 5, 2026 - jpost.com
Israeli schools to continue in remote format on Sunday amid war, despite workplace reopening
Schools shifted to remote learning amid the ongoing Iranian missile strikes directed toward Israel, with changes to be determined according to the situation assessment.
JPost.com - The Jerusalem Post - All News from the Middle East, Israel, and the Jewish World
Mar 5, 2026 - jpost.com
Team Israel sharp in tune-up wins as Ausmus eyes WBC statement in Miami
Symbolically, a Zoom interview conducted from Israel to Ausmus in Florida was briefly interrupted by Iranian missile attacks, underscoring the gravity of the moment.
JPost.com - The Jerusalem Post - All News from the Middle East, Israel, and the Jewish World
Mar 5, 2026 - jpost.com
Trump calls Israeli President Herzog a 'disgrace' for not pardoning Netanyahu amid Iran war
U.S. President Donald Trump said he does not want Netanyahu to 'focus on the fucking trial' but rather on the Israel-U.S. war on Iran; Herzog denied the claims and said he is currently not discussing the issue of the pardon, which was officially submitted in November
Haaretz latest headlines
Mar 5, 2026 - haaretz.com
Most Israelis back Iran war but support low among Arab citizens, poll shows
The Israel Democracy Institute poll shows that support varies by political orientation, with the Jewish left less likely to back the war and only a majority of right-wing respondents supporting continuing the fighting until the Iranian regime is toppled
Haaretz latest headlines
Mar 5, 2026 - haaretz.com
'This is my calling': Owners of Tel Aviv cafes aren't closing despite the Iran war
A missile fell in the heart of the city, turnover is down by half at best, and employees have left for safer parts of Israel. But many cafés were already open on the war's second day
Haaretz latest headlines
Mar 5, 2026 - haaretz.com
Hezbollah joining the Iran–Israel war signals Tehran's regime is far from collapse
Coordinated barrages by Iran and Hezbollah suggest the axis is still functioning. Washington signals escalation ahead, but diplomacy remains on the table
Haaretz latest headlines
Mar 5, 2026 - haaretz.com
Iran launches missiles at Israel; IDF striking in Tehran, Beirut
Haaretz latest headlines
Mar 5, 2026 - haaretz.com
Court rules evidence insufficient to charge Gaza smuggling suspects with security offenses
The Be'er Sheva District Court ordered 10 of 15 suspects be released from detention. The judge criticized the prosecution and said it was clear that the accused only sought to make money from the smuggling and that Hamas had no role in it
Haaretz latest headlines
Mar 5, 2026 - haaretz.com
UK’s Your Party leader Jeremy Corbyn tables bill to limit government war powers
A bill demanding parliamentary approval for the foreign use of UK military bases or the deployment of UK armed forces was tabled Wednesday in the House of Commons, Anadolu reports. Jeremy Corbyn, the MP for Islington North and Your Party leader, has presented the Military Action Bill that requires MPs to be given authority to decide whether UK troops and military equipment should be deployed, with...
Middle East Monitor
Mar 4, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
Israel continues to ‘heavily’ restrict shelter supplies as flooding looms in Gaza: UN
The UN said Wednesday that Israel is continuing to “heavily” restrict the entry of shelter materials into the Gaza Strip, leaving displaced Palestinians exposed to flooding as the rainy season intensifies, Anadolu reports. “More than 900 out of 1,500 sites across Gaza are at risk of flooding if the rainy season continues,” spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said at a news conference, adding that the s...
Middle East Monitor
Mar 4, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
Spanish foreign minister rejects White House claims of shift in military base policy
Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares “categorically” denied Wednesday that Spain has agreed to military cooperation with the US following tensions over base access amid the ongoing US-Israeli offensive on Iran, Anadolu reports. Speaking at Cadena SER radio, Albares denied claims made by the White House, stressing: “The Spanish Government’s position regarding the war in the Middle East and ...
Middle East Monitor
Mar 4, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
Viral disinformation: AI-generated video of Iranian missiles raining on Tel Aviv reaches tens of millions
Professional fact-checkers say AI-generated videos are becoming too advanced for everyday users to easily distinguish from real footage. A BBC Verify journalist speculates the U.S.-Israel war with Iran may boast the most AI-generated videos and images that have gone viral during a conflict
Haaretz latest headlines
Mar 4, 2026 - haaretz.com
Iran’s Health Ministry says death toll from US-Israeli attacks has risen to 926
At least 926 people have been killed in joint attacks by the US and Israel on Iran since Feb. 28, the Iranian Health Ministry announced Wednesday, Anadolu reports. Ministry spokesperson Hossein Kermanpour said 6,186 people were injured in the strikes carried out between Saturday and 5 p.m. local time (1330GMT) on March 4. In a statement posted on the US social media company X’s platform, Kermanpou...
Middle East Monitor
Mar 4, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
Qatar’s emir orders heightened military readiness to protect country’s airspace amid regional escalation
Qatar’s Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani on Wednesday ordered an increase in military readiness to protect the country’s airspace amid escalating regional tensions, Anadolu reports. The order came during an inspection visit by the emir to the Air Operations Center, where he reviewed the level of readiness of military units, according to a statement by the Emiri Diwan. During the visit, Tamim was brie...
Middle East Monitor
Mar 4, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
False gods, fake casualties: Conspiracy theories are more comfortable than facts in the Iran war
Online content about Israel and Iran in the first days of the war has been overwhelmingly false or AI-generated, revealing much about the world users wish they lived in
Haaretz latest headlines
Mar 4, 2026 - haaretz.com
Pentagon chief Hegseth vows 'sheer destruction of radical Islamist Iranian adversaries'
Speaking at an early-morning press conference, Secretary of Defense Hegseth said the U.S. and Israel would have 'complete control' of the Iranian skies soon, allowing them to 'fly all day, all night – finding, fixing and finishing the Iranian military and their leaders'