Middle East Geopolitical Reporting for 2026-03-13
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 13, 2026 - presstv.ir
IRGC hits US Fifth Fleet base in Bahrain with missiles, drones
The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) says it has launched a devastating missile and drone strike on the US Navy's Fifth Fleet base in Mina Salman, Bahrain.
Presstv
Mar 13, 2026 - presstv.ir
Russia, China slam adoption of unilateral resolution against Iran at UNSC
Russia and China have denounced the adoption of a unilateral resolution against Iran at the UNSC amid US-Israeli aggression against the Islamic Republic.
Presstv
Mar 13, 2026 - presstv.ir
Iran Army launches drone operation, says radar collapse makes Israeli targets easier to hit
Iran’s Army says its operations against Israeli military infrastructure are becoming easier and more precise after parts of the regime’s radar network were destroyed.
Presstv
Mar 13, 2026 - presstv.ir
True Promise 4: Iran and resistance axis ops. against US-Israeli assets on Mar. 11
Iranian armed forces and resistance groups across the region continued to carry out retaliatory military operations against the US and the Israeli regime on Wednesday, March 11.
Presstv
Mar 13, 2026 - presstv.ir
True Promise 4: Iran and resistance axis ops. against US-Israeli assets on Mar. 10
Iranian armed forces and resistance groups across the region continued to carry out retaliatory military operations against the US and the Israeli regime on Tuesday, March 10.
Presstv
Mar 13, 2026 - presstv.ir
True Promise 4: Iran and resistance axis ops. against US-Israeli assets on Mar. 9
Iranian armed forces and resistance groups across the region continued to carry out retaliatory military operations against the US and the Israeli regime on Monday, March 9.
Presstv
Mar 13, 2026 - presstv.ir
Global economic fallout from the US-Israeli war on Iran deepens
Financial markets in key parts of the world continue to suffer from the war in Iran.
Presstv
Mar 13, 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 13, 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 13, 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 13, 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 13, 2026 - presstv.ir
‘There is no end to this war’: Commander says Iran firmly determined to punish US, Israel
An Iranian military commander says the United States and Israel can’t start a war whenever they wish and end it at any time.
Presstv
Mar 13, 2026 - presstv.ir
US faces mounting logistical crisis as allies reject Trump's pleas for help in Iran war: Source
As the war against Iran enters its twelfth day, the US military is struggling with severe shortages of air defense missiles in the region, according to an informed military source.
Presstv
Mar 13, 2026 - presstv.ir
Iran’s military announces major retaliatory strikes on Israeli energy facilities
Iran’s Armed Forces have launched a coordinated series of retaliatory strikes against Israeli energy infrastructure and a United States military base in Iraq.
Presstv
Mar 13, 2026 - presstv.ir
Iran FM defends attacks on American bases in region citing US propaganda video
Iran’s foreign minister has defended Iranian strikes against US military bases in the region, citing evidence from a US Central Command video showing American rocket systems operating from neighboring countries.
Presstv
Mar 13, 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 13, 2026 - presstv.ir
Is Israel becoming a strategic liability for the US?
Indicators are mounting that the world is heading toward an era of multipolarity, signaling the twilight of the age of singular American hegemony and a redistribution of global power among multiple actors. The Chinese economy has expanded, approaching the size of the European Union’s economy and two-thirds that of the United States. China has emerged as a formidable technological leader; within ju...
Middle East Monitor
Mar 12, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
Iran strikes Israeli, US sites as Israel claims attack on Iranian ‘nuclear weapons’ compound
Iran said Thursday it launched new attacks on Israeli military sites and US bases in the region, while Israel claimed to have struck an Iranian site it said was linked to Iran’s “nuclear weapons development program,” Anadolu reports. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said in a statement that the attacks targeted military sites around Tel Aviv and Jerusalem as well as US military bases in th...
Middle East Monitor
Mar 12, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
Hamas welcomes Spain’s diplomatic downgrade with Israel
The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) on Wednesday welcomed the Spanish government’s decision to withdraw its ambassador from Israel and reduce its diplomatic representation. In a statement received by Quds Press, the movement said the step continues what it described as the honourable positions of the Spanish government and people in rejecting what is happening in the Gaza Strip. Hamas said the...
Middle East Monitor
Mar 12, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
Gaza shows how the US-Israeli war on Iran is reshaping existing fronts
While most international analysis remains focused on the implications of the U.S.-Israeli escalation against Iran —from deterrence to the risk of a wider confrontation— Gaza reveals another dimension of this war. A new regional front does not simply add another battlefield. It reshapes those already burning. Gaza offers a clear example: an existing front, already under sustained war, now affected ...
Middle East Monitor
Mar 12, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
Israel drops charges against soldiers accused of abusing Gaza detainee
JERUSALEM, March 12 (Reuters) - Israel's military on Thursday dropped charges against five soldiers accused of torturing a Palestinian detained during the Gaza war, in a case that exposed divisions within Israel over whether soldiers can abuse enemy prisoners with impunity. The military announced the decision at a time when much of the country's attention is focused on the war with Iran. Israeli P...
Al-Monitor: The Pulse of The Middle East
Mar 12, 2026 - al-monitor.com
Friends of Al-Aqsa urge leaders of Muslim-dominant countries to impose diplomatic and economic sanctions on Israel
Friends of Al-Aqsa (FOA) have today welcomed the recent joint statement by the Foreign Ministers of the UAE, Turkiye, Egypt, Jordan, Indonesia, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar condemning Israel’s closure of Masjid Al-Aqsa. The organisation, however, pointed out that while these concerns are important, they are obliged to emphasise that statements alone are not enough given the serious and growi...
Middle East Monitor
Mar 12, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
UAE says it intercepted 278 ballistic missiles, 1,540 drones since start of Iranian attacks
The United Arab Emirates said Thursday that air defenses engaged 278 ballistic missiles, 1,540 drones, and 15 cruise missiles since the outset of Iranian attacks late last month, Anadolu reports. Air defenses also shot down 10 ballistic missiles and 26 drones on Thursday, the Defense Ministry said on US social media company X. The attacks killed six people, including Emirati, Pakistani, Nepali, Ba...
Middle East Monitor
Mar 12, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
If Palestinian lives matter, violence in Gaza cannot be normalized
Indonesian diplomat Aloysius Selwas Taborat recently responded to our article titled “Indonesia’s cabinet secretary is sanitizing genocide in Gaza.” His response argues that our criticism of Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya misrepresents a factual observation about declining casualty numbers and misunderstands the realities of diplomacy. The disagreement, however, is not about statistics or th...
Middle East Monitor
Mar 12, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
US spends over $11 billion in first week of war against Iran
US lawmakers were told during a Pentagon briefing on Tuesday that the cost of the first week of the war against Iran exceeded $11.3 billion, according to a report by The New York Times, highlighting how quickly the conflict is using up weapons and resources. The newspaper cited sources familiar with the closed briefing, saying Congress members were told that this figure does not include many othe...
Middle East Monitor
Mar 12, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
Bombing won't overthrow ruling clerics, Iran dissidents say
By John IrishPARIS, March 11 (Reuters) - A senior official from a Paris-based Iranian opposition group said on Thursday that the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran would not topple the clerical leadership, arguing that only a popular uprising backed by internal resistance could do so.Almost two weeks of bombing have killed around 2,000 people in Iran including supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and dama...
Al-Monitor: The Pulse of The Middle East
Mar 12, 2026 - al-monitor.com
US and allies clash with Russia and China over Iran nuclear program
March 12 (Reuters) - The U.S. and Western allies clashed with Russia and China on Thursday over Iran's nuclear intentions, as Washington sought at the United Nations to further justify the war it launched on Iran two weeks ago.At a meeting of the 15-member U.N. Security Council, which is chaired this month by the U.S., Russia and China moved unsuccessfully to block a discussion about a committee e...
Al-Monitor: The Pulse of The Middle East
Mar 12, 2026 - al-monitor.com
Lebanon now equal primary front with Iran, IDF Chief of Staff Zamir says
Zamir's comments came as there was a flurry of messages from top Israeli defense officials about the next stage in the conflict with Hezbollah, with some emphasizing a graduated escalation.
JPost.com - The Jerusalem Post - All News from the Middle East, Israel, and the Jewish World
Mar 12, 2026 - jpost.com
IDF drops indictment against troops charged with abusing a Palestinian detainee from Gaza
Israel's Defense Minister Israel Katz welcomed the decision, saying in a statement that 'justice has been done' and labeling the case a 'blood libel.' Katz added that the IDF legal system's role is to 'defend and protect soldiers who are bravely fighting monsters in war'
Haaretz latest headlines
Mar 12, 2026 - haaretz.com
Israeli officials mull large-scale ground operation in Lebanon within a week: Report
Israeli officials are holding discussions regarding the launch of a large-scale ground operation in Lebanon, which could take place within a week, Israel’s public broadcaster KAN said on Thursday. The aim of the operation “is to take control of southern Lebanon and establish key deployment points there,” KAN said. Israel’s Security Cabinet is set to convene later Thursday “to discuss the extent of...
Middle East Monitor
Mar 12, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
US-Israeli attack on Iran pushed region toward critical breaking point: UN chief
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday said attacks launched by the US and Israel against Iran have affected several countries and pushed the region toward a critical breaking point, Anadolu reports. Guterres delivered the remarks during the Ataturk International Peace Prize ceremony at the Presidential Complex, where Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan presented him with the award. ...
Middle East Monitor
Mar 12, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
Italy plans withdrawal of troops from Erbil base: Defense minister
Italy is organizing the return of troops stationed at its military base in Erbil, Defense Minister Guido Crosetto said Thursday, noting that the withdrawal of the remaining contingent had already been planned before a missile struck the facility, Anadolu reports. “A missile hit our base in Erbil. There are no casualties or injuries among the Italian personnel. They are all safe,” Crosetto said, ci...
Middle East Monitor
Mar 12, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
Israel drops charges against 5 soldiers accused of sexually assaulting Palestinian detainee
The Israeli military prosecution on Thursday canceled the indictment of five soldiers accused of sexually assaulting a Palestinian detainee at the notorious Sde Teiman prison in southern Israel, Anadolu reports. “In light of significant developments that have occurred since the indictment was filed in the Yemen Field case, the military prosecution has decided today to cancel the indictment,” the I...
Middle East Monitor
Mar 12, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
Fire breaks out aboard USS Gerald R. Ford in Red Sea; carrier operational: US
The US Naval Forces Central Command said Thursday that a fire broke out aboard the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier while the ship was operating in the Red Sea in support of operations in Iran, Anadolu reports. “On March 12, USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) experienced a fire that originated in the ship’s main laundry spaces. The cause of the fire was not combat-related and is contained,” the comman...
Middle East Monitor
Mar 12, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
Creating impunity through diplomatic statements
Settler violence in the occupied West Bank is unacceptable, the EU and the UK stated yesterday. “Impunity for such acts risks provoking further violence,” an EU spokesperson stated, while referencing the killings of six Palestinians since 28th February by “extremist Israeli settlers.” Germany’s spokesman for Berlin’s Foreign Office called the killings “incidents”, adding, “The fact that five Pales...
Middle East Monitor
Mar 12, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
In humiliation for US, Iran sending oil to China through Hormuz
In what appears to be a significant setback for the White House’s pressure campaign against Tehran, Iran has continued exporting large volumes of crude oil to China through the Strait of Hormuz despite the US-Israeli attack and repeated warnings that the vital waterway could become unusable. Tanker tracking data shows Iran shipped between 13.7 million and 16.5 million barrels of crude from 28 Feb...
Middle East Monitor
Mar 12, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
The war on Iran started with missiles, but oil price can end it
The war began with airstrikes and missiles. But the turning point may come from the economy. In this fight, Iran is trying to win by raising the cost, and oil is its strongest card. Iran’s idea is simple: it cannot match the United States in air power or spending, so it will make the war expensive until Washington and the world feel the pressure. That is why oil prices matter more than speeches. A...
Middle East Monitor
Mar 12, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
Israeli officials say overthrowing Iran’s regime could take a year
Israeli government officials have acknowledged the difficulty of toppling Iran’s ruling system, describing regime change as a complex and uncertain objective that could take around a year. According to the Israeli public broadcaster Kan, unnamed ministers and senior officials made the remarks following a security briefing on Tuesday evening, where they discussed possible outcomes of the ongoing co...
Middle East Monitor
Mar 12, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
Shadows of deception: False-flag risks in the Israel–Iran Conflict
The concept of a false flag operation, though often dismissed as the stuff of thrillers, is a recognised tactic in security studies and international relations. It occurs when an actor—usually a state, intelligence service, or military entity—carries out an attack but engineers circumstances to make it appear as though another party is responsible. The aim is typically to generate public indignati...
Middle East Monitor
Mar 12, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
The dangerous logic of false flags: How Israel could draw allies into a wider war
Over the past ten days, West Asia has been engulfed in a conflict whose consequences are already rippling far beyond the battlefields. After the United States and Israel launched a joint air assault on targets inside Iran, Tehran responded by declaring not only Israeli territory but also American military bases legitimate targets for retaliation. Those bases are scattered across the Arab states of...
Middle East Monitor
Mar 12, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
Rights groups say Israel issued 180 administrative detention orders in 15 days
Palestinian human rights organisations say Israeli authorities have sharply increased the use of administrative detention against Palestinian detainees, issuing more than 180 detention orders within just 15 days. In a joint statement released on Wednesday, the Commission of Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs and the Palestinian Prisoners Club said Israeli authorities were continuing a dangerous es...
Middle East Monitor
Mar 12, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
The geography of hope: Why Palestine is the Middle East’s only way out
Let us imagine a liberated Palestine. Let us consider how justice for the Palestinian people would reshape not only the region but, indeed, the entire globe. This is not a conversation about a “political solution” in the narrow, bureaucratic sense. Such solutions require no particular genius: true justice can only occur when the Palestinian people are granted the totality of their rights and the f...
Middle East Monitor
Mar 12, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
Oman FM: No normalisation with Israel, no joining Board of Peace
Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi said on Wednesday that his country will not normalise relations with Israel and will not join the proposed Board of Peace, also referred to as the Peace Council. He said the current war aims to weaken Iran, reshape the region, promote normalisation with Israel, and prevent the establishment of a Palestinian state. He added that the conflict could end “soon” b...
Middle East Monitor
Mar 12, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
Settler attacks escalate in West Bank during Israel’s aggression against Iran
Attacks by Israeli settlers on Palestinians in the occupied West Bank have increased, as settlers exploit movement restrictions imposed by the Israeli army since the start of its offensive against Iran, according to reports. At least five Palestinians have been killed in recent days. Rights groups and medical teams said settlers had intensified assaults on Palestinian villages and towns, taking ad...
Middle East Monitor
Mar 12, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
US has arranged nearly 50 charter flights from Middle East amid Iran strikes, State Dept says
By Simon LewisWASHINGTON, March 12 (Reuters) - The Trump administration has organized nearly 50 flights to return U.S. citizens from the Middle East since the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran began, a State Department official said on Thursday, and officials said demand for the flights has declined.The State Department was criticized in the days after the conflict began on February 28 for its late prepa...
Al-Monitor: The Pulse of The Middle East
Mar 12, 2026 - al-monitor.com
Israel strikes heart of Beirut, signals long campaign
By Ahmed Kerdi, Maya Gebeily and Maayan LubellBEIRUT/JERUSALEM, March 12 (Reuters) - Israeli airstrikes hit two buildings in the heart of Beirut near the Lebanese government's headquarters on Thursday, ramping up Israel's offensive against Iran-backed Hezbollah and dragging Lebanon deeper into the Middle East war.A day after Iran-backed Hezbollah launched its biggest rocket salvo of the conflict, ...
Al-Monitor: The Pulse of The Middle East
Mar 12, 2026 - al-monitor.com
Iran's Shi'ite allies step up strikes despite weakened hand
By Laila Bassam, Ahmed Rasheed, Pesha Magid and Tom PerryBEIRUT/BAGHDAD/JERUSALEM, March 12 (Reuters) - Shi'ite Muslim armed groups in Lebanon and Iraq are stepping up their role in the war with the U.S. and Israel, showing the Iran-backed "Axis of Resistance" can still wage attacks despite damage inflicted on the alliance during the Gaza conflict.Groups that have long been armed and financed by I...
Al-Monitor: The Pulse of The Middle East
Mar 12, 2026 - al-monitor.com
Iran's new supreme leader vows to keep Hormuz shut, Netanyahu issues threat
By Parisa Hafezi and Maya GebeilyDUBAI/BEIRUT, March 12 (Reuters) - Iran will fight on and keep the Strait of Hormuz shut as leverage against the United States and Israel, new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei said on Thursday in defiant first comments attributed to him since he succeeded his slain father.Hours later, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu used his first press conference since th...
Al-Monitor: The Pulse of The Middle East
Mar 12, 2026 - al-monitor.com
Netanyahu threatens Iran new leader, says government collapse uncertain
By Maayan Lubell and Rami AyyubJERUSALEM, March 12 (Reuters) - Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday issued a veiled threat to kill Iran's new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei even as he acknowledged that Israel's joint air war with the U.S. may not lead to a collapse of Tehran's clerical government. Holding his first press conference since the start of the war, the Israeli leader said that...
Al-Monitor: The Pulse of The Middle East
Mar 12, 2026 - al-monitor.com
Ukraine sends teams to help Gulf counter Iranian drones: What to know
Ukraine has significant experience downing Iran’s Shahed drones, leading Gulf states to express interest in Ukrainian expertise and hardware.
Al-Monitor: The Pulse of The Middle East
Mar 12, 2026 - al-monitor.com
Cracks emerging between Iran’s political, military leaders, FM Sa'ar tells 'Post'
“Regime change may be a consequence of the operation; it does not necessarily have to be part of the military campaign itself,” Sa'ar said.
JPost.com - The Jerusalem Post - All News from the Middle East, Israel, and the Jewish World
Mar 12, 2026 - jpost.com
Iranian civilians sent Israel intel to strike Basij military sites in Tehran - WSJ
The Wall Street Journal reported that Iranians on the ground have been transmitting information in Persian through Israeli social media accounts.
JPost.com - The Jerusalem Post - All News from the Middle East, Israel, and the Jewish World
Mar 12, 2026 - jpost.com
IDF strikes Basij militia checkpoints, soldiers in Tehran
The Israeli Air Force, guided by IDF intelligence, struck the checkpoints and Basij militia members, furthering the degradation of Iranian Internal Security and Basij assets.
JPost.com - The Jerusalem Post - All News from the Middle East, Israel, and the Jewish World
Mar 12, 2026 - jpost.com
IDF drops indictment against five soldiers in Sde Teiman case for allegedly beating Palestinian
According to the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit, the decision followed a comprehensive review of the evidence, legal considerations, and procedural circumstances surrounding the case.
JPost.com - The Jerusalem Post - All News from the Middle East, Israel, and the Jewish World
Mar 12, 2026 - jpost.com
Female IDF soldiers barred from entering base on religious grounds - report
The soldiers, some seven officers and reservists, all in uniform, were met by commanders from the ultra-Orthodox Netzach Yehuda battalion who forbade them from entering.
JPost.com - The Jerusalem Post - All News from the Middle East, Israel, and the Jewish World
Mar 12, 2026 - jpost.com
Border residents demand Israel eliminate Hezbollah, create buffer zone up to Litani river
Hezbollah terrorists launched about 200 rockets against northern Israel in a single barrage on Wednesday night, according to public broadcaster KAN News.
JPost.com - The Jerusalem Post - All News from the Middle East, Israel, and the Jewish World
Mar 12, 2026 - jpost.com
Netherlands, Iceland join South Africa's ICJ case against Israel over Gaza genocide
Iceland also joined in filing a declaration in South Africa's ICJ case, accusing Israel of genocide in Gaza, saying 'forced displacement, blocked aid and harm to children' may be relevant in assessing genocidal intent. Its filing joins those of 16 others
Haaretz latest headlines
Mar 12, 2026 - haaretz.com
As Iran war dominates news, Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza say their struggles continue
Palestinian residents of the West Bank describe raids, restrictions and unchecked violence by Israeli settlers and soldiers, while families in Gaza once more face rising prices and fear of hunger returning
Haaretz latest headlines
Mar 12, 2026 - haaretz.com
'Containment' is no longer a viable policy for Iran, Hamas or Russia. But is there an alternative?
Supporters of containment once believed that, instead of endless wars, it was possible to contain an enemy through economic sanctions and international isolation. But for Iran, Russia and Hamas, money carries far less weight than holding on to power
Haaretz latest headlines
Mar 12, 2026 - haaretz.com
As many as 150 U.S. troops wounded so far by Iranian counterstrikes on American military bases
According to the Pentagon, the vast majority of casualties are minor, with most of them already back in active duty. The number of Iranian strikes on U.S. bases has fallen sharply since the start of the war, after the damage inflicted on the Iranian war infrastructure
Haaretz latest headlines
Mar 12, 2026 - haaretz.com
UN experts denounce military aggression against Iran, Lebanon
UN experts condemned the military assaults on Iran and Lebanon by the US and Israel on Thursday as “flagrant violations of international law,” Anadolu reports. “The conflict risks engulfing the wider region in catastrophic armed violence and threatens to set yet another precedent of total impunity for some of the world’s strongest military powers,” the experts said in a statement. They stressed th...
Middle East Monitor
Mar 12, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
Israeli strike kills 2 senior academics at Lebanese University in Beirut
Israel on Thursday bombed the Lebanese University, killing two senior academics, Lebanon’s state-run media reported. The director of the faculty of sciences at the south Beirut campus of the Lebanese University, Hussein Bazzi, and Professor Mortada Srour were killed by the Israeli bombing that targeted the university, Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA) reported. The targeted faculty of sciences ...
Middle East Monitor
Mar 12, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
Iran’s new supreme leader vows to keep Strait of Hormuz closed
Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, announced on Thursday that the Strait of Hormuz must remain closed as the action has been taken in retaliation for the US-Israeli strikes that began on Feb. 28, Anadolu reports. “The desire of the masses of the people is the continuation of effective and regret-inducing defense,” Khamenei added in his first public message since his appointment as the su...
Middle East Monitor
Mar 12, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
Citi evacuates Dubai offices amid Iranian threats against US-linked banks
US financial services group Citi has asked employees in Dubai to evacuate its offices due to heightened security concerns following Iranian threats to target US- and Israeli-linked financial institutions in the region. According to a source familiar with the situation, employees were instructed on Wednesday to leave Citi offices located in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) and the Ou...
Middle East Monitor
Mar 12, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
Bank of Israel warns deficit could widen amid wartime spending
The Bank of Israel has urged the government to reduce coalition funds and avoid introducing new programmes unrelated to the war effort, warning that recent fiscal decisions could significantly widen the national deficit. The warning came after the Israeli government approved budget amendments and an increase in the deficit to finance the ongoing war with Iran. According to the business newspaper T...
Middle East Monitor
Mar 12, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
US Intelligence: Iranian regime not close to collapse
US intelligence reports indicate that Iran’s leadership remains largely united and is not at risk of collapsing soon, according to three sources cited by Reuters. One source familiar with the discussions of US intelligence findings said that many reports provide consistent analyses showing the regime is maintaining control over public opinion and is not facing imminent collapse. The source added t...
Middle East Monitor
Mar 12, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
Iran threatens to target regional ports if its ports are attacked
Iran’s armed forces have threatened to target ports across the region if Iranian ports come under attack during any conflict with Israel and the United States, state television reported on Wednesday. According to the broadcaster, an unnamed spokesperson for the armed forces said: “If our ports and docks are threatened, then all ports and docks in the region will be legitimate targets for us.” The ...
Middle East Monitor
Mar 12, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
Morocco plans repatriation of IS-linked citizens from Iraq, official says
By Ahmed EljechtimiRABAT, March 12 (Reuters) - Morocco is developing plans to repatriate its nationals who fought for Islamic State in Syria and were transferred by the United States into Iraqi detention, a senior security official said on Thursday.The U.S. began moving detained IS members out of Syria in January after the collapse of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which had been ...
Al-Monitor: The Pulse of The Middle East
Mar 12, 2026 - al-monitor.com
Israeli airstrikes hit building in central Beirut, Reuters footage shows
BEIRUT, March 12 (Reuters) - Israeli airstrikes hit a building twice in central Beirut less than a kilometre from the government headquarters, Reuters video footage showed on Thursday, shortly after the Israeli military said it had begun a new wave of strikes on the Lebanese capital. (Reporting by Maya Gebeily, Writing by Yomna Ehab, Editing by Timothy Heritage)
Al-Monitor: The Pulse of The Middle East
Mar 12, 2026 - al-monitor.com
How oil is at the center of the US-Israel war with Iran
As oil prices rise, the US, Israel and Iran seem ready to keep fighting no matter the costs.
Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera
Mar 12, 2026 - aljazeera.com
Israel attacks central Beirut in escalation of deadly assault on Lebanon
Israel targets centre of Lebanese capital in escalation of military campaign that has killed nearly 700 people.
Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera
Mar 12, 2026 - aljazeera.com
Israel drops charges against soldiers in Palestinian detainee abuse case
Charges dropped against five soldiers accused of sexually abusing a Palestinian detainee at a military facility.
Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera
Mar 12, 2026 - aljazeera.com
Teenage girl hit by car, killed en route to bomb shelter amid Iran missile volley
Since the attacks began, MDA has provided care to 924 individuals, including 796 with physical injuries and 128 with anxiety symptoms.
JPost.com - The Jerusalem Post - All News from the Middle East, Israel, and the Jewish World
Mar 12, 2026 - jpost.com
Iranian diplomats in Australia, Denmark seek asylum as war rages on in their home country - report
This comes one week after US President Donald Trump urged Iranian diplomats to seek asylum during an address at the East Room of the White House.
JPost.com - The Jerusalem Post - All News from the Middle East, Israel, and the Jewish World
Mar 12, 2026 - jpost.com
Shoooter in Michigan synagogue attack dead, all others safe and unharmed
According to NBC News, no casualties or injuries resulting from the attack have been reported, other than the suspected shooter, who was killed.
JPost.com - The Jerusalem Post - All News from the Middle East, Israel, and the Jewish World
Mar 12, 2026 - jpost.com
Aliyah Minister: US-Israeli partnership causing severe blow to Iran, inspiring aliyah - interview
“I think that the fact that Israel is attacking together with the United States, the two strongest air forces in the world working together, creates a sense of Israeli pride," Sofer said.
JPost.com - The Jerusalem Post - All News from the Middle East, Israel, and the Jewish World
Mar 12, 2026 - jpost.com
Drawn weapons, attack dogs: Ben-Gvir joins televised police raid on suspect who graffitied a Palestinian flag
The suspect was arrested, handcuffed and blindfolded on Channel 14 News as heavily armed forces raided his home in a Jewish-Arab city in central Israel. Ben-Gvir told cameras, 'No one who incites against the state will be spared.' A court criticized the police for staging a 'media arrest'
Haaretz latest headlines
Mar 12, 2026 - haaretz.com
Israeli severely wounded in stabbing attack in Tel Aviv suburb
Shortly after the attack in Ramat Gan, the Israeli army said that troops killed two Palestinians who they allege opened fire at a military post in the West Bank and attempted to ram troops
Haaretz latest headlines
Mar 12, 2026 - haaretz.com
No slaps or 'seas of blood': Why Turkey's Erdogan won't confront Trump about the Iran war
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has a swathe of reasons to oppose the U.S.-Israel war on Iran. But he can't afford to upset President Trump, and that says plenty about his overblown ambitions for Turkey to replace America as the greater power in the Middle East
Haaretz latest headlines
Mar 12, 2026 - haaretz.com
'He's no Churchill': Iran war strains U.S.-U.K. special relationship
Starmer's reluctance to grant U.S. access to British bases angered Trump and exposed a growing rift – even as Britain quietly joins the military campaign
Haaretz latest headlines
Mar 12, 2026 - haaretz.com
Worry stirs in Azerbaijan over Iran, but it won't be so quick to turn its back on Israel
Israeli officials see that Baku's aggressive stance against Tehran is creating tension with Turkey, which is concerned about Israel's growing strength in the Middle East and perceived warpath to regional hegemony
Haaretz latest headlines
Mar 12, 2026 - haaretz.com
Israelis flock to this hippie town to escape the war, and it's not just the lack of sirens
The bohemian northern Israeli town of Pardes Hannah-Karkur, somewhat mysteriously spared of Iranian missile alerts, has become a subject of memes and a destination for those seeking serenity in the midst of war
Haaretz latest headlines
Mar 12, 2026 - haaretz.com
IDF renews strikes across Tehran, Beirut; Iran launches missiles at Israel
Haaretz latest headlines
Mar 12, 2026 - haaretz.com
Labour MP leads cross-party push for UK sanctions on Israel
A senior Labour Member of Parliament has led a cross-party push for the UK to impose comprehensive sanctions on Israel, citing concerns about military actions in the Gaza Strip and the potential annexation of the West Bank, Anadolu reports. Richard Burgon, the MP for Leeds East, announced more than 60 parliamentarians have formally backed a parliamentary motion demanding a significant shift in dip...
Middle East Monitor
Mar 11, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
21,720 buildings in Iran hit by ongoing US-Israeli strikes: Iranian Red Crescent
Some 21,720 buildings in Iran were hit by the ongoing US-Israeli strikes since Feb. 28, including 4,122 commercial establishments and 17,353 homes, as well as health centers, schools, and humanitarian infrastructure, the Iranian Red Crescent said on Wednesday. According to the Iranian government’s Telegram channel on Wednesday, the Iranian Red Crescent said over 56,000 people contacted its hotline...
Middle East Monitor
Mar 11, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
Dutch premier condemns Israel’s expansion activities in West Bank
Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten said Wednesday that the Netherlands condemns Israel’s expansion activities in the West Bank, Anadolu reports. Jetten wrote in a post on social media platform X that he spoke by phone with Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa and reaffirmed the Netherlands’ commitment to a two-state solution. He also said he expressed satisfaction with reform efforts...
Middle East Monitor
Mar 11, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
Report: Russia giving Iran drone strike tactics from Ukraine war, intelligence source says
The source indicates that Russia is providing Iran with tactical advice on sending Shahed drones, which it has used extensively in the war with Ukraine and which so far have been effective at hitting targets in the Gulf and Cyprus
Haaretz latest headlines
Mar 11, 2026 - haaretz.com
Even off-hand talk about Israel’s nuclear option is obscene
The “real” chances of a nuclear hit-back from Israel, driven by desperation in an existential crisis, are generally considered low due to conventional military superiority and US backing, but are not zero. Such a move is associated with the Samson Option – an unconfirmed, last-resort doctrine of massive retaliation, named after the biblical figure who died while destroying his enemies. As of Marc...
Middle East Monitor
Mar 11, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
Over 1,500 Palestinians displaced by Israel in occupied West Bank in 2026: UN
The UN on Wednesday warned that more than 1,500 Palestinians have already been displaced in the occupied West Bank in 2026, reaching 90% of the total figure recorded in 2025, Anadolu reports. Citing the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said at a news conference that “new figures indicate that more than 180 Palestinians have been displace...
Middle East Monitor
Mar 11, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
Northern Israel towns tell residents to stay near shelters ahead of possible expansion of Hezbollah rocket fire
After central Israel residents spent a sleepless night in shelters overnight into Wednesday, local governments in the north warn of a similar scenario amid threats of escalation of rocket fire from Lebanon and missile barrages from Iran
Haaretz latest headlines
Mar 11, 2026 - haaretz.com
Trump threatens to cut off trade with Spain for its opposition to Iran war
President Donald Trump threatened to cut off trade with Spain on Wednesday, accusing Madrid of failing to cooperate with NATO after it barred the US from using jointly operated bases on its territory for strikes against Iran, Anadolu reports. “I think they’re not cooperating at all. Spain. I think they’ve been very bad, very bad, not good at all. We may cut off trade with Spain,” Trump told report...
Middle East Monitor
Mar 11, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
US likely used AI in airstrike that killed 160 schoolgirls: Report
Artificial intelligence helped the US identify targets in the opening phase of Washington’s war against Iran, British newspaper The Times reported Wednesday, raising questions about a strike that killed more than 175 students and staff at a girls school, Anadolu reports. The newspaper reported that in the first 24 hours of Operation Epic Fury, US forces struck more than 1,000 targets in Iran with ...
Middle East Monitor
Mar 11, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
'Priciest real estate in town': Tel Avivians ride out the war deep underground
As missiles strike the city after the U.S.-Israeli attack on Iran, residents without safe rooms are spending their nights in a subterranean parking garage beneath the Dizengoff Center mall