Middle East Geopolitical Reporting for 2026-04-26
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.
Hamas, Resistance groups decry Israeli attack on Gaza
TEHRAN, Apr. 25 (MNA) – Hamas and other Palestinian Resistance groups have categorically denounced the latest wave of Israeli strikes on the Gaza Strip as “a bloody Zionist escalation and full-fledged war crimes.”
Mehr News Agency
Apr 25, 2026 - en.mehrnews.com
Pregnant mother and her two children killed in Israeli strike on Gaza residence
A pregnant woman and her two children were killed in a strike on a residential building in Beit Lahia, located in the northern Gaza Strip, on Saturday, Anadolu reports. The victims were identified by Khaled El-Tanani, the husband and father of the deceased, who stated that the family believed the location was a safe area. He further noted that the strike occurred during a period of a declared ceas...
Middle East Monitor
Apr 25, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
‘Deliberate attempts’ being made to redraw Middle East map, Egyptian president warns
“Deliberate efforts” are being made to redraw the map of the Middle East, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi warned on Saturday, Anadolu reports. “The Middle East is going through critical circumstances amid deliberate efforts to redraw its map,” Sisi said in a televised speech to mark the 44th anniversary of Sinai’s liberation from Israeli occupation. He called for full implementation of the...
Middle East Monitor
Apr 25, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
Russian forces pound Ukraine's Dnipro, other areas, killing 10 people
By Max Hunder and Serhiy ChalyiDNIPRO/KYIV, April 25 (Reuters) - Russian forces pounded the southeastern Ukrainian city of Dnipro on Saturday in waves of attacks with drones and missiles that also hit other regions, killing 10 people and injuring dozens.Dnipro was subjected to three separate attacks overnight and during the day.Regional Governor Oleksandr Hanzha said eight people were killed and 4...
AL-MONITOR: The Pulse of The Middle East
Apr 25, 2026 - al-monitor.com
American journalist Tucker Carlson feels ‘betrayed,’ criticizes Trump on Iran war: Report
Political commentator and former Fox News host Tucker Carlson said he feels “betrayed,” criticizing US President Donald Trump’s Iran war, Anadolu reports. In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, Carlson said, “I don’t hate Trump. I hate this war and the direction that the US government is taking,” adding that “I feel betrayed.” The report said that Carlson has opposed the Jan. 3 US operation...
Middle East Monitor
Apr 25, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
Hamas delegation, Malaysian officials discuss support for Palestinian cause
A delegation from the Palestinian group Hamas and Malaysian officials discussed ways to support the Palestinian cause, the group said in a Saturday statement, Anadolu reports. The talks were part of a visit to boost ties with Malaysia, review developments in the Palestinian cause “in light of the ongoing Zionist aggression,” and discuss ways to support Palestinians amid ongoing challenges, the sta...
Middle East Monitor
Apr 25, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
60 former UK ambassadors warn of Israel’s West Bank annexation steps
A group of former British diplomats has called on the UK and its allies to take stronger action against Israeli settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank, warning that current policies risk enabling annexation and undermining international law, Anadolu reports. In a letter published in the Financial Times on Friday, more than 80 former diplomats – including 60 ambassadors, high commissioners ...
Middle East Monitor
Apr 25, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
Iran says most missile capabilities ‘unused’ in war with US: Report
A Defense Ministry’s spokesperson said most of Iran’s missile capabilities have been “unused” on the war with the US, Tasnim News reported Saturday. Gen. Reza Talaei-Nik said Iran’s “significant portion of the missile capabilities remains unused,” according to the report by the semi-official news agency. Arguing that Iranian forces maintained the upper hand throughout the conflict, he said, “Our f...
Middle East Monitor
Apr 25, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
Palestinian local elections give some Gazans a chance to vote for the first time in years
By Nidal al-Mughrabi and Ali SawaftaCAIRO/RAMALLAH, April 25 (Reuters) - Palestinians were voting in local elections on Saturday that include Gaza for the first time in two decades and will gauge the political mood at a time when Israel's government is seeking to destroy any future for a Palestinian state.The West Bank-based Palestinian Authority hopes the symbolic inclusion of the Gazan city of D...
AL-MONITOR: The Pulse of The Middle East
Apr 25, 2026 - al-monitor.com
Dozens of Palestinians breach IDF checkpoints to enter Jenin refugee camp
At least 10 Palestinians were detained by Israeli forces operating in the area, with IDF using drones to monitor and locate more suspects inside the refugee camp.
JPost.com - The Jerusalem Post - All News from the Middle East, Israel, and the Jewish World
Apr 25, 2026 - jpost.com
7 killed, 22 injured in RSF drone attack on Sudan’s Kordofan: Medics
Seven people were killed and 22 others injured in a drone attack carried out by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on the city of El Obeid in North Kordofan, the Sudan Doctors Network said Saturday, Anadolu reports. In a statement, the network said the attack involved “suicide drones” that struck residential areas in Sudan’s North Kordofan, causing casualties among civilians. The group co...
Middle East Monitor
Apr 25, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
Hamas says holding municipal elections in Gaza’s Deir al-Balah is an ‘important step’
Holding municipal elections in the city of Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip is an “important step,” a Hamas spokesman told Anadolu on Saturday. Hazem Qassem’s remarks came as voting for local elections in the occupied West Bank and Deir al-Balah began earlier in the day. “Holding elections in the city of Deir al-Balah is an important step, and we hope that appropriate conditions will be pro...
Middle East Monitor
Apr 25, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
Israeli army warns civilians against returning to southern Lebanon villages despite ceasefire
The Israeli army warned on Saturday residents of some southern Lebanese villages not to return, citing ongoing military activity despite the ceasefire that was extended this week, Anadolu reports. “It is not permitted to approach the area of the Litani River, the Salhani Valley, and the Saluki,” spokesman Avichay Adraee said on US social media company X, listing over 50 villages. Meanwhile, the Is...
Middle East Monitor
Apr 25, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
Palestinians vote in first municipal elections since outbreak of Gaza war - analysis
The elections will be closely watched to see the trends. If things go well, this could boost the plans for change in Gaza.
JPost.com - The Jerusalem Post - All News from the Middle East, Israel, and the Jewish World
Apr 25, 2026 - jpost.com
Hamas to negotiate disarmament with Board of Peace on Monday
Talks between Hamas and the Board of Peace are set to resume on Monday in Cairo. The mediators' proposal includes the disarmament of Hamas and other armed groups, the reconstruction of Gaza and a withdrawal of Israeli troops
Haaretz latest headlines
Apr 25, 2026 - haaretz.com
Russian general hails Iran's 'shining' defense against US-Israeli aggression
The Russian military official says Iran demonstrated a “shining example” of defense during the recent illegal US-Israeli war of aggression.
Presstv
Apr 25, 2026 - presstv.ir
Defense Ministry: Large portion of missile capabilities unused in war
Tehran, IRNA – Iran’s Defense Ministry spokesperson says the country’s armed forces maintained control over the skies of Israeli-held territories up until the ceasefire, stressing that a significant portion of Iran’s missile capabilities remains unused.
IRNA English
Apr 25, 2026 - en.irna.ir
Israeli forces raid Syria’s Quneitra countryside, set up temporary checkpoints
Israeli forces raided two areas in the Quneitra countryside in southern Syria on Saturday, setting up temporary checkpoints and searching civilians before withdrawing, Anadolu reports. “An Israeli occupation force consisting of three military vehicles advanced along the Al-Kasarat Road in the northern Quneitra countryside, set up a temporary checkpoint and searched passersby before later withdrawi...
Middle East Monitor
Apr 25, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
Iran inflicted ‘extensive’ damage to US bases than previously disclosed: Report
Iran has inflicted more “extensive” damage to US bases and equipment in the Middle East since the start of US and Israeli strikes against Iran on Feb. 28, NBC News reported on Saturday, citing sources. The report said that the damages from Iran’s retaliatory strikes against US military bases in seven Middle Eastern countries were “far worse than publicly acknowledged and is expected to cost billio...
Middle East Monitor
Apr 25, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
Palestinian Doctors in Europe convene international conference in London
Leading international academics, clinicians, and policy experts convened in London for the conference under the theme “Advancing Health Care Education and Delivery in Palestine.” The two-day conference which began on Friday 24 opened with a keynote address by His Excellency Husam Zomlot, who emphasised the critical importance of sustaining Gaza’s healthcare system through international solidarity,...
Middle East Monitor
Apr 25, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
Iran seizes 2 cargo vessels in Strait of Hormuz for alleged links to Israel
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy detained two commercial cargo ships in the Strait of Hormuz, citing unauthorized operations and alleged ties to Israel, according to a report Friday. The IRGC identified the vessels as the “MSC-Francesca” and the “Epaminondas,” both operating under the MSC shipping line, Iran’s semi-official Mehr news agency reported. Tehran accused the ships of...
Middle East Monitor
Apr 25, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
Israel says it will attack Hezbollah 'forcefully' as four killed in strikes on southern Lebanon
April 25 (Reuters) - Israel said on Saturday it would attack Hezbollah targets forcefully, further testing a fragile ceasefire with Lebanon that U.S. President Donald Trump recently said had been extended by three weeks. Four people were killed on Saturday in Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon, Lebanon's state news agency reported, while the Israeli military said Hezbollah had fired rockets at Is...
AL-MONITOR: The Pulse of The Middle East
Apr 25, 2026 - al-monitor.com
Iran says it will not accept 'maximalist' US demands as Pakistan pursues peace
By Saad Sayeed, Ariba Shahid and Steve HollandISLAMABAD/WASHINGTON, April 25 (Reuters) - Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi laid out Iran's demands and its reservations about U.S. positions on Saturday as Pakistan made a new push to end a war that has killed thousands and shaken global energy markets.After holding talks with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and other top officials, Araqchi and hi...
AL-MONITOR: The Pulse of The Middle East
Apr 25, 2026 - al-monitor.com
War in the Middle East: latest developments
The latest developments in the Middle East war:- Pakistan 'committed' to role -Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said he had spoken by phone with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian after US-Iran peace talks in Islamabad were called off."Pakistan remains committed to serve as an honest and sincere facilitator - working tirelessly to advance durable peace and lasting stability in the region,...
AL-MONITOR: The Pulse of The Middle East
Apr 25, 2026 - al-monitor.com
Netanyahu orders IDF to attack Hezbollah in southern Lebanon after repeated violations of ceasefire
Earlier, two projectiles were launched into Israeli territory by the Lebanese terrorist organization Hezbollah, triggering sirens in the areas of Manara, Margaliot, and Misgav Am in northern Israel,
JPost.com - The Jerusalem Post - All News from the Middle East, Israel, and the Jewish World
Apr 25, 2026 - jpost.com
Spain’s stance on Israel raises concerns over growing European delegitimization - opinion
Spain’s rhetoric on Israel and silence on Hamas fuels accusations of hypocrisy and incitement.
JPost.com - The Jerusalem Post - All News from the Middle East, Israel, and the Jewish World
Apr 25, 2026 - jpost.com
Netanyahu orders IDF to strike Hezbollah targets 'with force' despite cease-fire
The announcement followed the launch of two rockets and several drone infiltrations in northern Israel, as well as a 'suspicious aerial target' identified in the area where Israeli troops have occupied in southern Lebanon as part of the so-called IDF 'buffer zone'
Haaretz latest headlines
Apr 25, 2026 - haaretz.com
Pentagon ‘covers up’ US casualties of war against Iran: Report
The Pentagon has unexpectedly subtracted 15 wounded-in-action troops from its official tally from the war against Iran, a report says.
Presstv
Apr 25, 2026 - presstv.ir
Iran parl. speaker sees financial war as frontline against US
TEHRAN, Apr. 25 (MNA) – Iran's Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has said that the main battleground for confronting the United States lies in the financial warfare, emphasizing that economic resistance is the key to weakening US influence.
Mehr News Agency
Apr 25, 2026 - en.mehrnews.com
Iran’s Parliament speaker sees financial war as frontline against US
Tehran, IRNA – Speaker of Iran’s Parliament Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has emphasized that the main battleground for confronting the United States lies in financial warfare, emphasizing that economic resistance is the key to weakening American influence.
IRNA English
Apr 25, 2026 - en.irna.ir
Iran shared with Pakistan ‘workable framework’ to permanently end US war: Foreign minister
Iran has shared a “workable framework” with Pakistan aimed at permanently ending the US war, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Saturday, Anadolu reports. In a post on the US social media company X following a visit to Pakistan, Araghchi said discussions focused on efforts to restore stability in the region and end the conflict. “We shared Iran’s position concerning a workable framework to pe...
Middle East Monitor
Apr 25, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
Over 2,490 killed in Lebanon in Israeli attacks since March 2
Lebanon said Saturday that five people were killed and six others wounded over the past 24 hours, raising the death toll from Israeli attacks to 2,496 killed and 7,725 injured since March 2, Anadolu reports. The figures were published in a report by the Lebanese Cabinet’s Disaster Risk Management Unit, as reported by the National News Agency (NAA). The update comes as Israel continues to violate a...
Middle East Monitor
Apr 25, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
Tel Aviv hired ex-Trump adviser to oversee pro-Israel social media campaign: Report
Israel launched a multimillion-dollar effort, led by a former senior aide to US President Donald Trump, to influence how artificial intelligence (AI) systems portray the country, Axios reported on Saturday. In September, Israel hired Republican digital strategist Brad Parscale, who managed Trump’s 2020 campaign, to run a pro-Israel online outreach initiative. Part of his focus was AI platforms, wh...
Middle East Monitor
Apr 25, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
Germany to deploy naval units to the Mediterranean ahead of potential Strait of Hormuz mission
Defense Minister Boris Pistorius on Saturday announced the deployment of German naval units to the Mediterranean in preparation for a possible mission in the Strait of Hormuz, Anadolu reports. Specifically, a minesweeper and a command and supply ship are to be sent. The goal is to be ready to act quickly in the event of a mandate from the parliament, Pistorius told the Rheinische Post newspaper. T...
Middle East Monitor
Apr 25, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
UK, Finland condemn ‘unacceptable’ Israeli attacks on journalists in Lebanon
The UK and Finland on Saturday condemned attacks on journalists and media workers in Lebanon, calling for urgent measures to ensure their safety, Anadolu reports. In a statement, the two countries, acting as co-chairs of the Media Freedom Coalition, said journalists play a vital role in exposing the realities of war and must be protected. “Journalists and media workers play an essential role in pu...
Middle East Monitor
Apr 25, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
Turkish delegation plays key role in Global Sumud Flotilla’s Spring 2026 Mission
Turkish activists participating in the Global Sumud Flotilla’s Spring 2026 Mission have reaffirmed their determination to break the blockade on Gaza and deliver humanitarian assistance, Anadolu reports. Fatih Varol, a board member of the Global Sumud Flotilla, told Anadolu that the Turkish delegation is among the initiative’s most significant components. “Turkiye has deep-rooted historical ties wi...
Middle East Monitor
Apr 25, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
Indonesia reiterates call for UN probe after peacekeeper dies in Lebanon attack, condemns Israel
Indonesia on Saturday condemned the killing of another Indonesian peacekeeper in Lebanon in ongoing hostilities, reiterating its call for a UN probe into the killings, Anadolu reports. Corp. Rico Pramudia, 31, serving with the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), was critically injured in a “projectile explosion” at a base in Adchit al-Qusayr on the night of March 29 and died in a Beirut hospital...
Middle East Monitor
Apr 25, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
Iranian FM meets Pakistan’s army chief to discuss possible 2nd round of talks with US
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met Pakistan’s army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir in Islamabad on Saturday, amid efforts to revive stalled peace talks between the US and Iran to end their eight-week war, Anadolu reports. The meeting, according to a short video posted by the Iranian embassy on US social media platform X, was also attended by Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Natio...
Middle East Monitor
Apr 25, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
Israel brings 240 immigrants from India under long-term plan: Report
Israel has brought in 240 immigrants from the Bnei Menashe community in India as part of a government plan to relocate around 6,000 members of the group by 2030 to support their long-term integration into Israeli society, according to The Jerusalem Post The immigrants arrived Thursday at the Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv, where they were officially received. The Post added that the group is the...
Middle East Monitor
Apr 25, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
Israeli occupiers torch Palestinian property near Nablus in West Bank
Israeli occupiers set fire to Palestinian vehicles and property on Friday during an attack on several areas south of Nablus in the occupied West Bank, as Israeli forces carried out raids and arrests across multiple areas, Anadolu reports. Local sources told Anadolu that occupiers attacked homes in the southern area of the town of Qusra, sparking clashes with residents who confronted them. The occu...
Middle East Monitor
Apr 25, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
US negotiators to go to Islamabad, but Iran says no direct talks
By Saad Sayeed, Ariba Shahid and Steve HollandISLAMABAD/WASHINGTON, April 25 (Reuters) - U.S. negotiators are scheduled to leave for Pakistan on Saturday, but Iran said its officials did not plan to meet the Americans to discuss ending the war that has killed thousands and roiled global markets.President Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner are due to depart on S...
AL-MONITOR: The Pulse of The Middle East
Apr 25, 2026 - al-monitor.com
Joy and desire for change as Gaza’s Deir el-Balah holds elections
Deir el-Balah residents vote for first time since 2006 despite destruction, displacement and genocide.
Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera
Apr 25, 2026 - aljazeera.com
'Security reality has not changed enough': Two kites from Gaza land in Kibbutz Nahal Oz
“For the residents of Nahal Oz, this is a serious incident that illustrates that the security reality has not changed enough,” the kibbutz said in a statement.
JPost.com - The Jerusalem Post - All News from the Middle East, Israel, and the Jewish World
Apr 25, 2026 - jpost.com
Winnipeg man charged for threats against Canadian PM, Jews, Muslims
55-year-old Jason Paul Rindall was charged on March 30 with advocating for genocide, and a threat against the Canadian prime minister to cause death.
JPost.com - The Jerusalem Post - All News from the Middle East, Israel, and the Jewish World
Apr 25, 2026 - jpost.com
Police detain seven minors for Independence Day stabbing of pizzeria worker in Petah Tikva
Recently-released IDF soldier Yemanu Binyamin Zalka was stabbed to death outside the pizzeria after he finished his shift on Independence Day eve.
JPost.com - The Jerusalem Post - All News from the Middle East, Israel, and the Jewish World
Apr 25, 2026 - jpost.com
In Hebron, even a documented theft by Israelis becomes too much to investigate
A Palestinian activist said an IDF officer stole his security cameras. What followed was a familiar choreography of denial, deflection and institutional indifference
Haaretz latest headlines
Apr 25, 2026 - haaretz.com
MIVSB and HAVELSAN to Advance Deep-Tech Capabilities
MIMOS International Venture Sdn Bhd (MIVSB), the strategic commercialization arm for MIMOS Berhad, and HAVELSAN, a global leader in defense and information technologies, today announced a comprehensive Teaming Agreement to […]
Military Africa
Apr 25, 2026 - military.africa
Mearsheimer: Trump has ‘no military option’, must end war on Iran quickly
Professor John Mearsheimer has stated that US President Donald Trump has “no military option” and must end the war of aggression on Iran quickly to avoid triggering a recession.
Presstv
Apr 25, 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
Apr 25, 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
Apr 25, 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
Apr 25, 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
Apr 25, 2026 - presstv.ir
Germany's complicity in US-Israeli war crimes
Germany and Italy have blocked a bid by Spain, Slovenia, and Ireland to suspend a European Union's partnership agreement with Israel.
Presstv
Apr 25, 2026 - presstv.ir
Released Gaza female prisoners narrate ordeal in Israel's Damon Prison
Israeli jails are known for the plight of Palestinians held over the years.
Presstv
Apr 25, 2026 - presstv.ir
Italy’s energy crisis deepens as US-Israeli war on Iran disrupts gas supplies
Italy's main industry group says the energy crisis from the US-Israeli war on Iran is hitting the country.
Presstv
Apr 25, 2026 - presstv.ir
U.S. asked IDF to curb Gaza strikes; Source: Israel agreed, but failed to comply
In the latest round of Cairo talks, Hamas for the first time signaled willingness to discuss disarmament. Qatar ramped up pressure by signaling to Hamas that its continued presence in Doha was no longer welcome, a source familiar with the matter told Haaretz
Haaretz latest headlines
Apr 24, 2026 - haaretz.com
Israel approves Jewish religious school project in East Jerusalem’s Sheikh Jarrah
Israeli authorities have approved a plan to build a Jewish religious school on a large plot of land in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood of East Jerusalem, a move condemned by the Palestinian Foreign Ministry as a violation of international law and an attempt to impose new realities on the ground, Anadolu reports. The Israeli rights group Ir Amim said on Thursday that a Jerusalem district planning co...
Middle East Monitor
Apr 24, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
US Treasury announces new sanctions targeting Iran-linked cryptocurrency networks
The US Department of the Treasury on Friday announced new sanctions targeting financial networks linked to Iran, including digital asset wallets, Anadolu reports. The department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) “is sanctioning multiple wallets tied to Iran — resulting in the freeze of $344 million in cryptocurrency,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on US social media company X. “We ...
Middle East Monitor
Apr 24, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
11 Palestinians killed in Israeli strikes across Gaza despite ceasefire
At least 11 Palestinians were killed and several others injured Friday in Israeli strikes targeting multiple areas across the Gaza Strip in ongoing violations of a ceasefire in effect since Oct. 2025, Anadolu reports. In a statement, Gaza’s Interior Ministry said seven people – two officers, two police assistants and three civilians – were killed when an Israeli strike hit a police vehicle in Khan...
Middle East Monitor
Apr 24, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
Palestinians vote in first elections since Gaza war
Palestinians in the West Bank and central Gaza voted for municipal councils on Saturday, the first elections since the Gaza war began. With a narrow slate of contenders, turnout was initially low in the occupied West Bank where 1.5 million people were registered to vote. But it was boosted by a last-minute surge, reaching 53.44 percent, the Ramallah-based Central Elections Commission (CEC) said, j...