Middle East Geopolitical Reporting for 2026-03-19
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.
All US bases in region, Israeli gathering points ‘shoveled’ in wave 62 of retaliation: IRGC
IRGC tatgeted all US bases across the region and Israeli military gathering points and combat support centers with a barrage of advanced missiles and precision drones.
Presstv
Mar 19, 2026 - presstv.ir
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 19, 2026 - presstv.ir
One killed from shrapnel impact following Iran missile attack, six killed in 24 hours
A foreign worker in Israel's Sharon region was killed on Wednesday night, shortly after three Palestinian women were killed when Iranian cluster munitions hit a hair salon in the West Bank.
JPost.com - The Jerusalem Post - All News from the Middle East, Israel, and the Jewish World
Mar 19, 2026 - jpost.com
True Promise 4: Iran and resistance axis ops. against US-Israeli assets on Mar. 18
Iranian armed forces and resistance groups across the region continued their retaliatory military operations against the US and the Israeli regime on Wednesday, March 18.
Presstv
Mar 19, 2026 - presstv.ir
Russia's president condoles with Iran's Leader over Dr. Larijani's martyrdom
Russian President Vladimir Putin condoles with Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei over the martyrdom of Iran's top security official.
Presstv
Mar 19, 2026 - presstv.ir
Over a dozen US Reaper drones valued at $330 million destroyed by Iran: Report
American forces have lost more than a dozen MQ-9 Reaper drones in the ongoing war against the Islamic Republic of Iran, costing hundreds of millions of dollars, according to a report.
Presstv
Mar 19, 2026 - presstv.ir
True Promise 4: Iran and resistance axis ops. against US-Israeli assets on Mar. 17
Iranian armed forces and resistance groups across the region continued their retaliatory military operations against the US and the Israeli regime on Tuesday, March 17.
Presstv
Mar 19, 2026 - presstv.ir
True Promise 4: Iran and resistance axis ops. against US-Israeli assets on Mar. 16
Iranian armed forces and resistance groups across the region continued their retaliatory military operations against the US and the Israeli regime on Monday, March 16.
Presstv
Mar 19, 2026 - presstv.ir
Pope condemns those who invoke God to justify war amid US-Israeli war on Iran
Pope Leo XIV has issued a condemnation of those who invoke religion to justify warfare, in remarks widely interpreted as a critique of Donald Trump’s peace-through-strength policy and the US-Israeli war of aggression against Iran that has killed thousands of civilians.
Presstv
Mar 19, 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 19, 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 19, 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 19, 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 19, 2026 - presstv.ir
US suffered over 3,200 casualties, staggering equipment losses in first week of war: Source
A senior Iranian intelligence official, speaking to a Press TV correspondent, has revealed detailed estimates of damage inflicted on the US military in the region during the first seven days of the ongoing war.
Presstv
Mar 19, 2026 - presstv.ir
Iran declares support centers for USS Gerald R. Ford legitimate targets
The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has issued a warning that all logistical and service centers supporting the US aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford in the Red Sea are now considered legitimate targets for Iranian armed forces, as the warship takes refuge at Saudi Arabia's Jeddah port.
Presstv
Mar 19, 2026 - presstv.ir
Egypt warns regional war must not overshadow Gaza’s humanitarian catastrophe
Egypt has warned that the ongoing regional war must not divert attention from the humanitarian catastrophe in the Gaza Strip, urging renewed focus on relief and reconstruction efforts. Foreign Minister Badr Abdel-Aty made the remarks during a meeting on Tuesday with Zhai Jun, China’s special envoy to the Middle East, who is visiting Cairo as part of a regional tour, according to a statement from t...
Middle East Monitor
Mar 18, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
Israeli violence in West Bank surges as Iran war shifts global focus
As the US-Israel war on Iran escalates, violence in the occupied West Bank is intensifying, largely out of the global spotlight, Anadolu reports. Rights groups and analysts say Palestinians are facing a sharp rise in attacks by Israeli forces and settlers, alongside tighter movement restrictions and growing displacement, as international attention shifts toward the wider regional conflict. Recent ...
Middle East Monitor
Mar 18, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
Iran denies reports Mojtaba Khamenei transferred to Russia for treatment
Iran has denied reports that its Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei was transferred to Russia for medical treatment, describing the claims as part of a “psychological warfare tactic.” Iran’s ambassador to Moscow, Kazem Jalali, rejected the reports in a statement posted on the social media platform X on Tuesday, insisting that Iran’s leadership remains present inside the country. “This is a new psycho...
Middle East Monitor
Mar 18, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
Tunisian rights groups demand release of Gaza flotilla activists
Sixteen Tunisian organisations have called for the immediate release of activists detained in connection with the “Sumud Flotilla”, an initiative aimed at breaking the Israeli blockade of Gaza. In a joint statement titled “Supporting the Palestinian cause is not a crime!”, the organisations condemned the arrests and urged authorities to halt all legal proceedings against those detained. The signat...
Middle East Monitor
Mar 18, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
First Iranian attack to kill Palestinians hits West Bank, three women dead
JERUSALEM, March 18 (Reuters) - Three Palestinian women were killed in an Iranian missile attack in the occupied West Bank late on Wednesday, the Palestinian Red Crescent said, in the first deadly Iranian strike there — and the first to kill Palestinians — since the start of the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran.The missile struck a hair salon in the town of Beit Awwa, southwest of Hebron, the Palestinia...
Al-Monitor: The Pulse of The Middle East
Mar 18, 2026 - al-monitor.com
Iraqi Kurdish shepherds stoic in face of yet another war
Through one conflict after another, herders in Iraqi Kurdistan have grazed their animals under the endless blue skies of the Zagros Mountains -- a lifestyle they are stoically trying to maintain as yet another war engulfs the region.Since the beginning of the US and Israeli campaign against Iran, the Zagros range, which separates the northern autonomous region from the Islamic republic some 50 kil...
Al-Monitor: The Pulse of The Middle East
Mar 18, 2026 - al-monitor.com
Killing of Larijani complicates Iran's decision-making, shrinks its options
By Parisa HafeziDUBAI, March 18 (Reuters) - The killing of Iran's most influential powerbroker, Ali Larijani, has pushed the Islamic Republic into a more uncertain phase, complicating decision-making in Tehran and narrowing its options as the war grinds on.The U.S.-Israeli war on Iran began with the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei alongside a group of military commanders, and show...
Al-Monitor: The Pulse of The Middle East
Mar 18, 2026 - al-monitor.com
Terra arms Duma UGV for combat
Nigerian defence startup Terra Industries (formerly Terrahaptix) has officially weaponised its flagship Duma Unmanned Ground Vehicle (UGV) with machine guns and rocket launchers to support active combat operations. The move […]
Military Africa
Mar 18, 2026 - military.africa
Saudi Arabia says 4 people injured by fallen missile debris in Riyadh
Four people were injured by debris falling from an intercepted ballistic missile in Riyadh on Wednesday, the Saudi Civil Defense said, Anadolu reports. The agency said in a statement that the injuries were reported after fragments fell on a residential building in the city of Riyadh. Four Asian residents were injured in the incident, which also caused limited material damage, it added. The agency ...
Middle East Monitor
Mar 18, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
Russia condemns ‘murder’ of Iranian officials amid killing of Tehran’s security chief
The Kremlin condemned on Wednesday what it described as the “murder and liquidation” of representatives of Iran’s leadership, a day after Tehran confirmed the death of its security chief in an Israeli strike earlier this week, Anadolu reports. “We strongly condemn actions aimed at causing harm to the health, or especially the murder and liquidation, of representatives of the leadership of sovereig...
Middle East Monitor
Mar 18, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
When diplomacy nears the threshold: What two wars in nine months reveal about how the Iran war will end
In February, Ali Larijani shuttled between Muscat and Doha as part of the diplomatic channel between Iran and the United States. On 18 March, Iran confirmed that he had been killed in an Israeli strike alongside his son and several aides. Between those two moments, the channel he had helped sustain was replaced by what officials in Washington and Tel Aviv have described as the most significant joi...
Middle East Monitor
Mar 18, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
Macron rejects sending navy to Hormuz as Europe urges Trump to halt war
The European Union has called on Donald Trump and Iran to stop their conflict “so that all sides can save face”, while the French President Emmanuel Macron insisted France will not send naval forces to escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz. France is the latest NATO member to ignore the US president’s call for a “joint effort” to reopen the waterway, through which about 20 per cent of global o...
Middle East Monitor
Mar 18, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
Gaza security’s ambush kills suspected collaborators in Khan Younis
A unit known as “Rada” within Gaza’s security forces said it had ambushed a group it claims was linked to Israeli forces in the south of Khan Younis, leaving several people dead and wounded. In a statement posted on Telegram, the unit said it carried out a field operation after monitoring and tracking the group from the moment they advanced from what it described as the “yellow line”. It added tha...
Middle East Monitor
Mar 18, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
Reuters: US pressures Syria to join Israel in war against Hezbollah
The administration of Donald Trump is putting pressure on Syria to send troops into eastern Lebanon to help disarm Hezbollah. However, Damascus is reluctant to take part, fearing it could be drawn into a wider conflict and inflame sectarian tensions, Reuters reported. In a report published on Tuesday, Reuters cited informed sources as saying the proposal had been presented to the Syrian government...
Middle East Monitor
Mar 18, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
UK looks to provide more support to Gulf allies amid Iranian attacks
LONDON, March 18 (Reuters) - Britain said it was working to provide more support for its partners in the Gulf who are under attack from Iran, as it announced plans to buy extra missiles to protect the region. Britain's fighter jets and other forces have been helping shoot down Iranian drones, and one of its warships is heading to the eastern Mediterranean, although the government has been criticis...
Al-Monitor: The Pulse of The Middle East
Mar 18, 2026 - al-monitor.com
Three Palestinian women killed in Iranian missile attack near Hebron, Palestinian Red Crescent says
This is the first Iranian strike to kill Palestinians since the war between the US, Israel, and Iran began three weeks ago.
JPost.com - The Jerusalem Post - All News from the Middle East, Israel, and the Jewish World
Mar 18, 2026 - jpost.com
WATCH: IDF strikes Iranian assets in Caspian Sea for first time in war
This comes after Israel Air Force fighter jets struck over 200 Iranian regime targets in western and central Iran over the past day, the IDF announced on Wednesday.
JPost.com - The Jerusalem Post - All News from the Middle East, Israel, and the Jewish World
Mar 18, 2026 - jpost.com
IDF eliminates Imam Hussein Division Commander within a week of eliminating his predecessor
Hassan Ali Marwan was previously responsible for the division’s operations, commanding the launch of missiles, UAVs, and rockets toward the State of Israel and IDF troops in southern Lebanon.
JPost.com - The Jerusalem Post - All News from the Middle East, Israel, and the Jewish World
Mar 18, 2026 - jpost.com
Nigerian Army receives DICON Vanquisher and Arquus Dagger light tactical vehicles
The Nigerian Army has received two different types of armoured vehicles to enhance its tactical mobility. The vehicles are Vanquisher 4×4 light APC and Arquus Dagger 4×4 tactical vehicle. The […]
Military Africa
Mar 18, 2026 - military.africa
Israel plans to occupy 1st line of villages in southern Lebanon: Israeli media
Israel plans to occupy the first line of villages in southern Lebanon to prevent rocket fire, Israeli media reported on Wednesday, Anadolu reports. Channel 12 said the political echelon intends to instruct the army to occupy any area in Lebanon from which anti-tank weapons are launched, “until further notice.” “Israel intends to control all areas that threaten the population, especially the first ...
Middle East Monitor
Mar 18, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
The Global Cost of Israeli Domination | Palestine This Week with Mouin Rabbani
In this episode, we explore why Palestine remains central to understanding the region’s escalating crises, from the war on Iran and Gaza to Lebanon and the mounting pressure on Gulf states. We unpack the dangerous assumptions, political delusions and power plays driving the Middle East deeper into chaos. WATCH: Israel’s Dystopian Vision: From Gaza to Iran | Palestine This Week
Middle East Monitor
Mar 18, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
Israeli army arrests 16 Palestinian women in West Bank raids
The Israeli army detained 16 Palestinian women in military raids in the West Bank city of Qalqilya on Wednesday, local sources said. Most of the detained women “are wives of freed prisoners or detainees and mothers of killed Palestinians,” the sources told Anadolu. According to the sources, Israeli forces raided and searched several homes in the city of Qalqilya and the towns of Azzun, Kafr Thulth...
Middle East Monitor
Mar 18, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
UN warns of “ethnic cleansing” as 36,000 Palestinians displaced in West Bank
The United Nations has warned of “ethnic cleansing” committed by Israel in the occupied West Bank, citing the displacement of more than 36,000 Palestinians over the past year. In a report released on Tuesday, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said the scale of displacement represents “forced displacement on an unprecedented scale”, raising concerns about a coordinated policy ...
Middle East Monitor
Mar 18, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei rejects ceasefire proposals, source says
Iran’s new supreme leader has rejected de-escalation proposals conveyed to Tehran by intermediaries, demanding Israel and the United States first be “brought to their knees”, a senior Iranian official said on Tuesday, according to Reuters. Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei had held his first foreign policy session since being named supreme leader, and had taken a stance for revenge against the US and I...
Middle East Monitor
Mar 18, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
Iran executes man on charges of spying for Israel
Iran has executed a man accused of spying for Israel, according to a statement from Iranian judicial authorities published by the Fars News Agency on Wednesday. The death sentence handed down to Kurosh Keyvani, who was alleged to have ties to Israel’s foreign intelligence service, Mossad, was carried out, the statement said. Keyvani’s death sentence, following the completion of his trial for alleg...
Middle East Monitor
Mar 18, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
Israel exploiting regional crises to expand illegal settlements in West Bank: Palestinian foreign minister
Israel is exploiting regional crises to intensify illegal settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank, the top Palestinian diplomat has said, according to a statement by the Foreign Ministry, Anadolu reports. Speaking during a briefing to members of the diplomatic corps accredited to the State of Palestine on Tuesday, Varsen Aghabekian Shahin warned that Israel is accelerating policies aimed at...
Middle East Monitor
Mar 18, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
Israeli forces prevent worshippers from performing Tarawih prayers in Jerusalem neighbourhoods
Israeli forces on Tuesday evening prevented Palestinian worshippers from performing Tarawih prayers in several areas of Jerusalem, as restrictions on access to Al-Aqsa Mosque continue. Local sources said Israeli forces were deployed around a number of neighbourhoods, including areas near Bab Al-Amud and Bab Al-Sahira. Worshippers were dispersed and prevented from holding prayers, and were forced t...
Middle East Monitor
Mar 18, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
Pentagon seeks more than $200 billion in budget request for Iran war, Washington Post reports
WASHINGTON, March 18 (Reuters) - The Pentagon has asked the White House to approve a more than $200 billion request to the U.S. Congress to fund the war in Iran, the Washington Post reported on Wednesday, citing a senior administration official. (Reporting by Jasper Ward and Ismail Shakil; Editing by Christian Martinez)
Al-Monitor: The Pulse of The Middle East
Mar 18, 2026 - al-monitor.com
Trump attends return of US aircrew killed in Iran war crash
US President Donald Trump attended the return Wednesday of six crew members killed when their refueling aircraft crashed during the Iran war.It was the second time since the start of the conflict that Trump has traveled to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware, where the remains of US troops are returned to American soil.The KC-135 plane crashed in western Iraq on Thursday, bringing the number of US tr...
Al-Monitor: The Pulse of The Middle East
Mar 18, 2026 - al-monitor.com
From Faraja to Sepah: Iran's multiple security forces
Since the 1979 revolution, Iran has taken steps to ensure it is not reliant on a single security force but rather multiple structures to defend the Islamic republic against external and internal threats.All these forces have been mobilised since the start of the war between Iran and the United States and Israel, which began on February 28 with the killing of supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei a...
Al-Monitor: The Pulse of The Middle East
Mar 18, 2026 - al-monitor.com
Israel doubles troops in Hezbollah fight, searches homes in south Lebanon
By Pesha MagidEILON, Israel, March 18 (Reuters) - Israel has more than doubled the number of troops along its border with Lebanon since March 1 and they are searching homes in southern Lebanese villages that the military has ordered evacuated, a senior Israeli commander said on Wednesday.As Israeli warplanes pound Beirut in operations against Hezbollah that have become the deadliest spillover of ...
Al-Monitor: The Pulse of The Middle East
Mar 18, 2026 - al-monitor.com
How many cargo ships are passing Hormuz strait?
Just a trickle of cargo ships and tankers has made it through the Strait of Hormuz since Iranian forces blocked the crucial trade route in the Middle East war.Here are facts and figures about vessels that have passed through the 167-kilometre (104-mile) strait since the war broke out with US-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28.- Shipping near zero -The channel typically sees around 120 daily tr...
Al-Monitor: The Pulse of The Middle East
Mar 18, 2026 - al-monitor.com
Who are the most senior Iranian officials left alive after weeks of Israeli-US strikes? - explainer
In the wake of the devastation on the political and military echelons of the Islamic Republic, who are some of the most significant figures remaining in Iran?
JPost.com - The Jerusalem Post - All News from the Middle East, Israel, and the Jewish World
Mar 18, 2026 - jpost.com
Joe Kent exposes truth: Evangelicals are still Israel’s real base on right-wing - comment
The bigger question is whether the American right will remain reliably pro-Israel once this war fades and the debate shifts from missiles and headlines back to culture, loyalty, and identity.
JPost.com - The Jerusalem Post - All News from the Middle East, Israel, and the Jewish World
Mar 18, 2026 - jpost.com
Who are the most senior Hamas, Hezbollah figures left alive? - explainer
In the wake of the devastation suffered by the groups, who are some of the most significant figures remaining in Hamas and Hezbollah?
JPost.com - The Jerusalem Post - All News from the Middle East, Israel, and the Jewish World
Mar 18, 2026 - jpost.com
How Trump's Iran war adds strain to NATO's already shaky foundation
Concerned over U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to remove sanctions on Russian oil and not being wholly dependent on oil coming from the Strait of Hormuz, European members of NATO do not have faith in Trump's plans for Iran
Haaretz latest headlines
Mar 18, 2026 - haaretz.com
How far-right criticism of the Iran war is a gateway drug for the antisemites among them
The problem with former Trump official Joe Kent's view isn't that it criticizes Israel, but that it uses legitimate opposition to unpopular wars to promote conspiratorial, antisemitic narratives that put Jews at risk
Haaretz latest headlines
Mar 18, 2026 - haaretz.com
Pro-Palestinian coalition announces 'largest yet' flotilla trying to break Israel's blockade on Gaza
Organizers said the initiative – dubbed the "Spring 2026 Flotilla" – could involve thousands of participants from more than 100 countries and over 100 vessels. But uncertainty looms as regional war tensions and Israel's past crackdowns cast doubt on whether the flotilla will reach its shores
Haaretz latest headlines
Mar 18, 2026 - haaretz.com
IDF officials: Hezbollah avoiding Israeli troops in Lebanon, hiding ammunition
Despite no Hezbollah operatives in the first line of villages bordering Israel, the army is concerned about armed men in the area and the group's efforts to launch an extensive missile barrage into Israeli territory every few days
Haaretz latest headlines
Mar 18, 2026 - haaretz.com
Israeli settlers accused of sexually assaulting Palestinian in front of family
Israeli settlers sexually assaulted a Palestinian man during a raid on the community of Khirbet Humsa in the northern Jordan Valley, according to witness testimony cited by Haaretz, in an attack that survivors say also involved beatings, threats of rape, the humiliation of women and girls and the looting of livestock and valuables. Testimonies from eyewitnesses showed that settlers split into smal...
Middle East Monitor
Mar 18, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
Iranian gas supply to Iraq stops after South Pars gas facilities attack
Iraq’s Electricity Ministry said Wednesday that Iranian gas flows have stopped following developments in the region, significantly reducing power generation and taking about 3,100 megawatts offline, Anadolu reports. The disruption came after Iranian media reported that several facilities linked to the South Pars gas field in the Assaluyeh energy zone on Iran’s southern Gulf coast were targeted Wed...
Middle East Monitor
Mar 18, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
Trump and Hegseth cannot define the truth of the US-Israeli War on Iran
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth appears to have little patience for questions that do not conform to his preferred style of declaring unsubstantiated victories, whether against South Americans or in the Middle East. In a charged press conference on March 13, Hegseth did more than attack journalists for questioning his unverified claims about the course of the war in the Middle East. He singled o...
Middle East Monitor
Mar 18, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
Protesters call on Brussels university to cut partnership with Israeli defense-linked firm
Pro-Palestine activists protested on Wednesday at the Free University of Brussels’ (VUB) Etterbeek campus, demanding that the university administration end its collaboration with an Israeli defense-linked company, Anadolu reports. Demonstrators hung a large banner reading “VUB helps kill Palestinians” and placed portraits of Palestinian figures across the campus, accusing the university of complic...
Middle East Monitor
Mar 18, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
Trump suggests ‘finishing off what’s left’ of Iran
US President Donald Trump on Wednesday suggested “finishing off” what is left of the “Iranian Terror State” and urged countries relying on the Strait of Hormuz to take responsibility, criticizing “non-responsive” allies, Anadolu reports. “I wonder what would happen if we ‘finished off’ what’s left of the Iranian Terror State, and let the Countries that use it, we don’t, be responsible for the so c...
Middle East Monitor
Mar 18, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
Indonesia’s religious affairs minister says boycotts of Israel are “not a solution.” He’s wrong
It is a strange moment when a nonviolent act of conscience—refusing to buy a burger, skipping a cup of coffee—draws more concern from public officials than the devastation that inspired it. Indonesia’s Minister of Religious Affairs, Nasaruddin Umar, recently argued that boycotts of companies linked to Israel are “not a solution,” pointing instead to layoffs and economic disruption at home. His rem...
Middle East Monitor
Mar 18, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
Indonesia suspends Gaza troop deployment amid Middle East tensions
Indonesia has suspended its plans to deploy up to 8,000 troops to the Palestinian enclave of Gaza, a cabinet member announced on Tuesday. “Everything is on hold,” Minister of State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi said after a coordination meeting at the Defense Ministry, Antara News reported on Wednesday. Jakarta had pledged the troops for deployment under the International Stabilization Force (ISF) to th...
Middle East Monitor
Mar 18, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
Iran’s political system ‘strong’ despite killing of officials: Foreign minister
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the country’s political system remains strong, despite the killing of senior officials in US-Israeli attacks, insisting that such actions will not weaken the structure of the state. In an interview with Al Jazeera, Araghchi stressed that the Islamic Republic has a solid political system. “I do not know why the Americans and the Israelis still have not un...
Middle East Monitor
Mar 18, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
Settlers gather at junctions south of Nablus and Bethlehem, obstructing Palestinian movement
Dozens of Israeli settlers gathered on Tuesday evening at road junctions south of Nablus and Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank, obstructing the movement of Palestinians. Palestinian local sources said groups of settlers assembled at the entrances to several villages and towns south of Nablus, blocking traffic and preventing residents from moving freely. In the southern Bethlehem area, security s...
Middle East Monitor
Mar 18, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
War hits Tehran’s grand bazaar as prices surge and shops shut
By Maggie MichaelTEHRAN, March 18 (Reuters) - Nearly three weeks of war on Iran have hit the usually teeming alleys of Tehran's grand bazaar, shutting many of the shops and driving up prices for Iranians already suffering from years of sanctions that have throttled the economy. The days before the Persian new year and Muslim Eid al-Fitr holidays would normally fill the bazaar with traders racing t...
Al-Monitor: The Pulse of The Middle East
Mar 18, 2026 - al-monitor.com
Five reasons China is in no rush to end Iran war
Despite global economic disruptions, China may tolerate prolonged US involvement in Iran, as it could drain American resources and shift focus away from the Indo-Pacific.
Al-Monitor: The Pulse of The Middle East
Mar 18, 2026 - al-monitor.com
Iranians mark Festival of Fire with rare public celebrations as Basij under pressure - analysis
The shift in public mood followed reports of the killing of senior Iranian officials, as many appeared to be celebrating what they see as the weakening of the regime’s enforcement forces.
JPost.com - The Jerusalem Post - All News from the Middle East, Israel, and the Jewish World
Mar 18, 2026 - jpost.com
Why is Israel, not US, carrying out most senior Iranian assassinations? - analysis
Israel has taken the lead in assassinating top Iranian officials, with the US playing a minimal role, signaling a major shift in strategy amid escalating tensions.
JPost.com - The Jerusalem Post - All News from the Middle East, Israel, and the Jewish World
Mar 18, 2026 - jpost.com
Netanyahu could call early elections as wartime success influences political strategy - interview
The timing of the elections will “heavily depend” on the results of the war and can cause the date to be moved up, said Prof. Gideon Rahat, a senior fellow at the Israel Democracy Institute.
JPost.com - The Jerusalem Post - All News from the Middle East, Israel, and the Jewish World
Mar 18, 2026 - jpost.com
Syria unveils plan to rid country of Assad's chemical weapons stockpile
Syria has unveiled a plan to eliminate Assad's chemical weapons with international support. The operation will inspect 100 sites to track and destroy remaining toxic munitions.
JPost.com - The Jerusalem Post - All News from the Middle East, Israel, and the Jewish World
Mar 18, 2026 - jpost.com
Iran's IRGC Navy chief threatens retaliatory strikes on oil facilities across Gulf
Later, after Iran threatened Gulf states with retaliatory strikes, Qatar and Saudi Arabia reportedly intercepted multiple incoming missile barrages targeting oil and industrial sites.
JPost.com - The Jerusalem Post - All News from the Middle East, Israel, and the Jewish World
Mar 18, 2026 - jpost.com
Hezbollah, Iran target large swaths of Israel after earlier attacks kill two, wound at least three
One Wednesday barrage marked the first Hezbollah rocket attack on southern Israel since the beginning of Operation Roaring Lion.
JPost.com - The Jerusalem Post - All News from the Middle East, Israel, and the Jewish World
Mar 18, 2026 - jpost.com
Zamir warns West Bank settler violence is harming Israel’s security during wartime
“It cannot be that during a multi-front war, the IDF is forced to contend with a threatening minority from within. These are rioters who do not represent the settlement movement," Zamir said.
JPost.com - The Jerusalem Post - All News from the Middle East, Israel, and the Jewish World
Mar 18, 2026 - jpost.com
Conspiracist Joe Kent isn’t alone in building the narrative against Israel - opinion
Joe Kent’s resignation letter highlights his belief in antisemitic conspiracy theories about Israel’s influence on the US. He’s not alone in spreading these false narratives.
JPost.com - The Jerusalem Post - All News from the Middle East, Israel, and the Jewish World
Mar 18, 2026 - jpost.com
IDF chief condemns settler violence, calls on Israeli authorities to combat it
IDF Chief of Staff Zamir said settler violence causes strategic damage, but claimed those responsible are a minority who do not represent the settlement movement. Seven Palestinians have been killed in settler attacks since the beginning of the month
Haaretz latest headlines
Mar 18, 2026 - haaretz.com
Israeli reporter on Polymarket blackmail and death threats tied to his Iran war coverage
When an Israeli journalist wrote about an Iranian missile strike, he was deluged with threatening messages from online bettors demanding he alter his reporting. 'It wouldn't surprise me' if there are more Polymarket-related influence attempts on journalism than previously thought, he tells Haaretz
Haaretz latest headlines
Mar 18, 2026 - haaretz.com
Three lightly wounded after Iranian cluster missile hits several sites in central Israel
Several impact sites were reported in Ramat Gan, including a residential apartment and a playground, as well as damage in sites in Rosh Ha'ayin and Kafr Qasem, with no casualties. In Petah Tikva, several cars caught fire, and the city's cemetery was also hit
Haaretz latest headlines
Mar 18, 2026 - haaretz.com
Iran strikes Gulf energy assets after IDF hits South Pars gas field
The Wall Street Journal reported later on Wednesday, citing U.S. officials, that though President Trump supported Israel's strike on the gas field, he is now reluctant to greenlight additional strikes on Iranian energy sites
Haaretz latest headlines
Mar 18, 2026 - haaretz.com
Kremlin condemns U.S.-Israeli 'murder' of Iran's leaders after Ali Larijani killing
Iran is a close partner of Russia, which built and helps run Iran's only nuclear power station. However, Russia denied earlier reports of it sharing satellite imagery and improved drone technology with Iran, calling it 'fake news'
Haaretz latest headlines
Mar 18, 2026 - haaretz.com
How freed Hamas hostages' sexual assault testimonies led other male survivors to speak out
Eran Hahn, director of an Israeli helpline for male sexual assault survivors, explains why many keep their trauma secret for decades and discusses the surge in calls after October 7
Haaretz latest headlines
Mar 18, 2026 - haaretz.com
Time, money – and Germany: The factors that could leave Israel short of missile interceptors
Israel Aerospace Industries is working round the clock to produce more Arrow interceptors, but production is complex and slow ■ The company must also produce hundreds of interceptors for Germany by 2030 ■ Home Front Command's order to change the alert system will make it possible to prolong the war
Haaretz latest headlines
Mar 18, 2026 - haaretz.com
War culture: From Gaza to Iran, where have Israel's protest songs gone?
When facts and figures don't penetrate, maybe culture can break through the hard shell Israelis built around their minds
Haaretz latest headlines
Mar 18, 2026 - haaretz.com
Senior Trump official who quit over Iran war to speak at Catholic gala
Joe Kent, the first senior U.S. to resign over the Iran war, claimed that Israel and its lobby deceived Trump into war
Haaretz latest headlines
Mar 18, 2026 - haaretz.com
Saudi Arabia says ballistic missile, 24 drones intercepted amid escalation
Saudi Arabia said Tuesday evening that air defenses had intercepted a ballistic missile and 24 drones targeting its territory amid escalating tensions across the region, Anadolu reports. A Defense Ministry statement said a ballistic missile fired toward the central province of Al-Kharj was shot down. The ministry added that air defenses had intercepted and destroyed 24 drones in the Eastern Provin...
Middle East Monitor
Mar 17, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
Russia is reportedly expanding military cooperation with Iran
Sources tell The Wall Street Journal that Russian satellite imagery and drone guidance have enabled Iran to carry out more precise strikes on radar and missile systems in the Gulf, while analysts note the support mirrors intelligence Western nations have shared with Ukraine
Haaretz latest headlines
Mar 17, 2026 - haaretz.com
Germany dismisses regime change in Iran as unrealistic, warns of chaos risks
Germany’s foreign minister on Tuesday rejected the idea of pursuing regime change in Iran and warned that any resulting chaos would harm the region and Europe, Anadolu reports. “A controlled regime change is, I would say, a hypothetical idea which is not realistic,” Johann Wadephul told the Europe 2026 conference, emphasizing that all past regime change efforts have failed. “If you look at what ha...
Middle East Monitor
Mar 17, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
Lebanon’s death toll in Israeli attacks since March 2 surpasses 900: Health Ministry
More than 900 people have been killed in Israeli attacks across Lebanon since March 2, according to the country’s Health Ministry on Tuesday, Anadolu reports. Citing the ministry, Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA) reported that the total number of fatalities between March 2 and March 17 reached 912, while 2,221 people were injured. On Tuesday morning, the Israeli army announced that the 36th Di...
Middle East Monitor
Mar 17, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
'We weren't consulted': Qatari official warns Gulf will face Iran's retaliation if U.S. ends war
A senior Qatari official says region will 'live with the consequences' of a war it didn't choose. He urges stronger deterrence, closer cooperation with Europe and warns that unchecked Israeli and Iranian 'hegemony' risks repeated regional wars