Middle East Geopolitical Reporting for 2026-08-15

Vance says low oil prices are top US goal in Iran conflict

Vice President JD Vance said Thursday that the top US priority in the Iran war was keeping oil and gasoline prices low for Americans, with preventing Tehran from acquiring a nuclear weapon ranking second. The remarks constrasted with President Donald Trump's repeated framing of the fight: that entering the war had the sole objective of preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon,...

AL-MONITOR: The Pulse of The Middle East

Aug 13, 2026 - al-monitor.com

3 Palestinian fishermen injured by Israeli naval fire off Gaza City despite ceasefire

Three Palestinian fishermen were injured Friday when Israeli naval vessels opened fire on them while they were working off the coast of Gaza City, a local union official said, Anadolu reports. The attack was the latest Israeli violation of a ceasefire agreement in effect in the Gaza Strip since Oct. 10, 2025. The violations have killed 1,260 Palestinians and injured 4,154 others, according to Pale...

Middle East Monitor

Aug 14, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com

US wants Netanyahu to condemn settler siege in Palestinian village, officials say

By Pesha Magid and Rami AyyubQUSRA, West Bank, Aug 14 (Reuters) - The United States wants Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to publicly condemn militant settlers who have besieged Palestinians in their homes in the occupied West Bank, U.S. and Israeli officials said on Friday, as settlers pressured residents by pitching a new tent before Israeli soldiers arrived and it was taken down.

AL-MONITOR: The Pulse of The Middle East

Aug 14, 2026 - al-monitor.com

Ansarullah: Yemeni forces will hit Saudi oil fields, airports if all-out war erupts

A senior Ansarullah official says the Yemeni armed forces will target all Saudi oil fields, airports and electricity transmission lines in case a comprehensive war breaks out.

Presstv

Aug 14, 2026 - presstv.ir

(Archive.today -- Archive.org)

Israeli forces seize Palestinian homes after siege of West Bank village

Israeli military forces seize Palestinian homes in Qusra days after besieging the village in the occupied West Bank.

Presstv

Aug 14, 2026 - presstv.ir

(Archive.today -- Archive.org)

Gaza health official: Israeli delays caused deaths of 1,700 Palestinians seeking treatment abroad

The number of Palestinians killed in the Gaza Strip has exceeded 73,000, including more than 23,000 children, while more than 173,000 have been injured, Dr Khalil al-Daqran, spokesman for the Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza, said. Speaking to Cairo News on Wednesday, al-Daqran said Israel had targeted Palestinians across the Gaza Strip since the start of the war, destroying homes over their oc...

Middle East Monitor

Aug 14, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com

Israeli occupiers reestablish illegal Ganim settlement near Jenin in West Bank after 21 years

Israeli occupiers on Thursday reestablished the illegal Ganim settlement on Palestinian land east of Jenin in the northern occupied West Bank, 21 years after it was evacuated under Israel’s 2005 disengagement plan, the Palestinian news agency Wafa reported. Israeli forces closed entrances and side roads along the main route from Haddad Roundabout to the Al-Jalama military checkpoint, saying the me...

Middle East Monitor

Aug 13, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com

US lost 45 Reaper drones in Iran war, raising supply concerns for future hostilities - report

In May, Chief of Staff Gen. Kenneth S. Wilsbach told the House Armed Services committee that during the war, the Reaper was "perhaps the most valuable player."

JPost.com - The Jerusalem Post - All News from the Middle East, Israel, and the Jewish World

Aug 14, 2026 - jpost.com

Trump adviser, Board of Peace envoy to visit Israel for talks on US Gaza plan: Report

Jared Kushner, US President Donald Trump’s senior adviser and son-in-law, plans to visit Israel next week with Nickolay Mladenov, the Board of Peace’s high representative for Gaza, for talks on advancing the US plan for the enclave, Axios reported Thursday. The planned trip would be Kushner’s first visit to Israel since January, the news outlet said in a report citing five sources familiar with th...

Middle East Monitor

Aug 14, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com

Yemen’s Houthis bury 57 fighters, including 31 officers, in 10 days: State media

Yemen’s Houthi group has buried 57 fighters, including 31 officers and three brigadier generals, killed over the past 10 days in fighting on various fronts, state-run Saba TV reported Thursday, Anadolu reports. The broadcaster did not specify where or under what circumstances the fighters were killed. There was no immediate comment from the Houthis. Earlier Thursday, the Houthi-run Al-Masirah TV r...

Middle East Monitor

Aug 13, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com

Lebanon's creative talent suffers as Iran war squeezes Gulf economies

By Nazih OsseiranBEIRUT, Aug 14 (Reuters) - For decades, the Gulf served as the center of gravity for much of Lebanon's creative talent, with swathes of designers and marketing executives flocking to its cities to find clients or relying on its foundations and cultural centers for funding.But with Gulf economies now under pressure from a nearly six-month-old regional war, Lebanese creatives say fi...

AL-MONITOR: The Pulse of The Middle East

Aug 14, 2026 - al-monitor.com

Israeli forces, settlers carried out 108 attacks on Palestinian journalists in July

The Palestinian Journalists Syndicate documents at least 108 attacks by Israeli forces and illegal settlers against Palestinian journalists and media workers in the West Bank in July.

Presstv

Aug 14, 2026 - presstv.ir

(Archive.today -- Archive.org)

Lebanese PM, speaker urge clear timetable for Israeli withdrawal

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri discussed the military track of the negotiation framework and developments in southern Lebanon with US officials on Friday, Anadolu reports. The Lebanese Presidency of the Council of Ministers said in a statement that Salam received US Ambassador to Beirut Michel Issa and Gen. Joseph Clearfield, head of the military coordinatio...

Middle East Monitor

Aug 14, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com

US military loses roughly 25% of Reaper drone fleet in Iran war: Report

The US military has lost at least 45 MQ-9 Reaper drones, or roughly 25% of its fleet, during its war with Iran, The Washington Post reported on Thursday, citing three officials, Anadolu reports. The losses involve an aircraft used for surveillance and targeted strikes that can cost between $30 million and $50 million depending on its equipment, according to the report. The newspaper said the poten...

Middle East Monitor

Aug 13, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com

US to send aircraft carrier to Middle East: Report

The US is planning to send the USS George Washington aircraft carrier to the Middle East to replace the USS Abraham Lincoln in a previously scheduled rotation, The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday. The Lincoln has been deployed for more than 250 days with no port call in 200 days, raising concerns among lawmakers about living conditions for the sailors, said the report. The Lincoln began depl...

Middle East Monitor

Aug 13, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com

Hezbollah vows to keep weapons until Israeli occupation ends

Hezbollah Secretary General Sheikh Naim Qassem has vowed the group will not disarm while Israeli occupation persists, denouncing Lebanon’s cabinet decision on its weapons as a US-driven move that risks sparking civil strife.

Presstv

Aug 14, 2026 - presstv.ir

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She counseled Israelis and Palestinians through war and grief. Here's her lesson on coping with hatred

A Buddhist teacher who has become a spiritual touchstone for millions around the world, Tara Brach believes compassion for those who hurt us isn't weakness – and that joy is possible even in the darkest moments

Haaretz latest headlines

Aug 14, 2026 - haaretz.com

Netanyahu calls U.K. 'Islamic Republic of Britain' in podcast appearance

Netanyahu said Israel is 'making sure' Iran doesn't become a nuclear-armed Islamic Republic and quipped that the U.K. is becoming one, as new British PM Burnham recently vowed to apply more pressure on the Israeli gov't amid the war in Gaza and West Bank settler violence

Haaretz latest headlines

Aug 14, 2026 - haaretz.com

Israel meddling in Slovenian election

Black Cube, led by former Israeli intelligence personnel, orchestrated a hybrid election meddling operation, releasing fake recordings of Slovenian officials to discredit the pro-Palestinian government of Prime Minister Robert Golob.

Presstv

Aug 14, 2026 - presstv.ir

(Archive.today -- Archive.org)

Israeli defeat in 33-day war in 2026 still resonates today

August 14th marks the anniversary of the end of the 33-day war on Lebanon.

Presstv

Aug 14, 2026 - presstv.ir

(Archive.today -- Archive.org)

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

Aug 14, 2026 - presstv.ir

(Archive.today -- Archive.org)

Kushner to visit Israel to bridge gaps on Gaza plan

US President Donald Trump's envoy and son-in-law Jared Kushner will visit Israel next week in hopes of bridging gaps on a Gaza plan rejected by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, officials said Friday. Kushner and Nickolay Mladenov, the high representative for Gaza of Trump's so-called Board of Peace implementing the deal, will visit both Israel and key mediator Egypt.

AL-MONITOR: The Pulse of The Middle East

Aug 13, 2026 - al-monitor.com

US Senate minority leader calls for defense secretary’s firing over conditions aboard USS Abraham Lincoln

US Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called Thursday for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to be fired amid reports of difficult conditions faced by sailors aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier. “When Pete Hegseth was nominated, everyone knew he was completely incompetent,” Schumer said in a post on the US social media platform X. “Now our brave sailors are paying the price in a horrifi...

Middle East Monitor

Aug 14, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com

Yemeni Armed Forces announce strikes on Saudi ship and military sites

Tensions remain high in the Red Sea as Yemen’s Armed Forces announce new military operations against Saudi forces.

Presstv

Aug 14, 2026 - presstv.ir

(Archive.today -- Archive.org)

Israel only understands language of force; Resistance will not surrender: Hezbollah chief

Hezbollah Secretary General Sheikh Naim Qassem says Israel’s 33-day war against Lebanon in 2006 has proved that the occupying regime only knows the language of force.

Presstv

Aug 14, 2026 - presstv.ir

(Archive.today -- Archive.org)

IRGC says air defense deliveries uninterrupted as downed US-Israeli drones, fighter jet unveiled

A senior IRGC commander says the production and delivery of the country’s air defense systems continue without interruption.

Presstv

Aug 14, 2026 - presstv.ir

(Archive.today -- Archive.org)

Israeli occupier opens fire at Palestinian, Israeli peace activists in southern West Bank

An armed Israeli occupier opened fire Friday at Palestinian and Israeli peace activists during a joint event near Beit Sahour in the southern occupied West Bank, with no injuries reported, an Israeli group said, Anadolu reports. Combatants for Peace, a left-wing Israeli organization, said in a statement that the shooting took place during a joint activity organized by its activists and Palestinian...

Middle East Monitor

Aug 14, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com

Right to defend: Lebanon rises against US-backed plan to disarm Hezbollah

Massive protests erupt across Lebanon as citizens reject a US-backed plan to disarm Hezbollah, warning it would expose the country—especially its southern border—to increased Israeli aggression and undermine national security.

Presstv

Aug 14, 2026 - presstv.ir

(Archive.today -- Archive.org)

Yemeni forces conduct new missile strikes on Saudi-backed mercenaries

Yemeni military units have launched a fresh round of ballistic missile attacks on the positions of Saudi-backed mercenaries at the strategic Port of Mokha in southwestern Yemen.

Presstv

Aug 14, 2026 - presstv.ir

(Archive.today -- Archive.org)

The Board of Peace: The same old prejudice and injustice of the US administration

The recent statement by Nikolay Mladenov, the High Representative of the so-called “Board of Peace,” should not go unquestioned or unnoticed. In an interview with an Israeli news outlet, Mladenov declared that destroying Gaza’s tunnels, which form part of the Palestinian resistance’s military infrastructure, could take up to ten years. Brazenly, and without a hint of irony, he handed the Israeli o...

Middle East Monitor

Aug 13, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com

US wants Netanyahu to condemn settler violence in Qusra

Mike Huckabee, US ambassador to Israel, described the settlers in Qusra as "Israeli terrorists" amid weeklong siege.

Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera

Aug 14, 2026 - aljazeera.com

US CENTCOM chief pushing for renewed strikes on Iran, claims Israeli media

The head of US Central Command (CENTCOM) is pushing for the resumption of attacks on Iran, including strikes on oil, gas and electricity facilities, to increase pressure on Tehran, Israeli media claimed Thursday. Israel’s Channel 13, citing unnamed informed political sources, said Adm. Brad Cooper presented the proposal during a visit to Israel last week. Cooper attended a meeting of the Israeli m...

Middle East Monitor

Aug 14, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com

Israeli strikes kill two in Gaza, medics say; IDF says Hamas militant targeted

Thursday's fatalities are the first since the U.S. pressed Israel to curb strikes. Last week, Israel's political leadership instructed the military not to carry out strikes in Gaza without the IDF chief's approval, with the exception of 'imminent danger'

Haaretz latest headlines

Aug 13, 2026 - haaretz.com

Israeli cadet in flight training course commits suicide at military base

A cadet in a flight training course has died by suicide at an Israeli Air Force base in the southern part of the Israeli-occupied territories.

Presstv

Aug 14, 2026 - presstv.ir

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US failed to achieve its goals in war on Iran: senior cleric

TEHRAN, Aug. 14 (MNA) – Ayatollah Seyed Ahmad Khatemi, Tehran’s temporary Friday Prayer leader, says that the the United States has failed to achieve its goal in the imposed war on Iran which was destroying Iran's missile caablities.

Mehr News Agency

Aug 14, 2026 - en.mehrnews.com

(Archive.today -- Archive.org)

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

Aug 14, 2026 - presstv.ir

(Archive.today -- Archive.org)

Police officer among 2 killed in Israeli drone strikes in Gaza despite truce

Two Palestinians, including a senior police officer, were killed and several others injured in two Israeli attacks Thursday on the Gaza Strip, medical sources told Anadolu Agency. A Palestinian was killed and another injured in an Israeli drone strike targeting an electric bike in Khan Younis in southern Gaza. The drone struck the bike in the Al-Amal neighborhood west of the city. Another Palestin...

Middle East Monitor

Aug 13, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com

Israeli settlers divert Palestinian water to fill West Bank pool

By Pesha MagidFASAYIL, West Bank, Aug 14 (Reuters) - On a searing summer day, Israeli settlers splashed in a West Bank pool created by siphoning off water that had irrigated Palestinian crops, one of many seizures of water resources across the occupied territory.The spring served as a lifeline for the nearby village of Fasayil in the fertile Jordan Valley, where Palestinians have relied on it for ...

AL-MONITOR: The Pulse of The Middle East

Aug 14, 2026 - al-monitor.com

Iran says it downed US-made MQ-9 drone over southern Hormozgan province

Iran said Friday that its forces had intercepted and destroyed an US-made MQ-9 drone over the southern province of Hormozgan. “An MQ-9 drone was intercepted and shot down over Iran’s Hormuzgan Province by the IRGC’s new advanced air defense system,” state broadcaster Press TV reported. Citing three officials, The Washington Post reported Thursday that the US military has lost at least 45 MQ-9 Reap...

Middle East Monitor

Aug 14, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com

Iran adapted war tactics as US interceptor stocks dwindled: Report

Iran adapts its missile and drone tactics during the recent US aggression, increasingly challenging US air defenses across West Asia, according to a report.

Presstv

Aug 14, 2026 - presstv.ir

(Archive.today -- Archive.org)

Pakistan, Norway call for peaceful resolution of global conflicts, independent Palestinian state

Pakistan and Norway on Thursday called for the peaceful resolution of international conflicts, including the US-Iran war, and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, Anadolu reports. Speaking at a joint press stakeout after bilateral talks in Islamabad, Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and his Norwegian counterpart Espen Barth Eide reaffirmed their countries’ support for multila...

Middle East Monitor

Aug 13, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com

Israel calls for police to replace military in handling West Bank settlers

Israel's defence minister called Friday for the police to take over law enforcement in the occupied West Bank from the military, which has come under fire from the right-wing for trying to remove settlers harassing Palestinians. The measure, if implemented, would be a step towards Israeli annexation of the occupied Palestinian territory -- something several ministers in Prime Ministe...

AL-MONITOR: The Pulse of The Middle East

Aug 14, 2026 - al-monitor.com

Turkey, Egypt agree to take “more serious measures” regarding Gaza

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan announced on Thursday that Ankara and Cairo have reached an agreement to take “more serious measures” regarding the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip. Speaking at a joint press conference with his Egyptian counterpart, Badr Abdelatty in the Egyptian coastal city of Alamein, Fidan emphasized that the two nations held extensive talks on the unfolding ...

Middle East Monitor

Aug 14, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com

Protest held over Israeli cruise ship’s arrival at Greek port

People held a protest at the port of Piraeus near Athens, Greece, on Friday, against the arrival of the Crown Iris cruise ship carrying Israeli tourists, Anadolu reports. The arrival of an Israeli cruise ship at a port near Athens in June was also met with protests by pro-Palestinian activists. Last summer, visits by the same ship, the Crown Iris, to several Greek ports, including Syros, Rhodes, A...

Middle East Monitor

Aug 14, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com

Iran rejects US claims of sending arms to Yemen by flights

TEHRAN, Aug. 14 (MNA) – Iran’s ambassador and deputy permanent representative to the UN has rejected “baseless” US allegations that Tehran is destabilizing Yemen or using commercial flights to Sana’a to transfer military personnel or equipment.

Mehr News Agency

Aug 14, 2026 - en.mehrnews.com

(Archive.today -- Archive.org)

Foreign Ministry issues statement on anniversary of adopting four 1949 Geneva Conventions on laws of war

Tehran, IRNA – In a statement marking the anniversary of the adoption of the four 1949 Geneva Conventions on the laws of war, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran has emphasized that the US ruling establishment's blatant and systematic disregard for fundamental rules of international humanitarian law—alongside explicit statements by high-ranking officials, including the US President, the Secretary of War, and the Secretary of State, and a recurring pattern of attacks on civilians, civilian sites, and infrastructure—demonstrates the US government's intent to commit gross, severe, and organized violations of the rules of armed conflict.

IRNA English

Aug 13, 2026 - en.irna.ir

(Archive.today -- Archive.org)

Huckabee brands Israeli settlers ‘terrorists’ over siege of Palestinian-American family

“Israeli terrorists” have been slammed by US ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee after settlers laid siege to Palestinian homes in the occupied West Bank village of Qusra, including one belonging to a Palestinian-American family. In an unusually strong condemnation, Huckabee, who has described himself as a Zionist, said the US Embassy had pressed Israeli forces and police to remove those responsibl...

Middle East Monitor

Aug 14, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com

The lessons of Lebanon and Ukraine: Why the IDF wants 100,000 drones a year

Fiber-optic explosive drones deployed by Hezbollah are eating away at Israeli air superiority in Lebanon. First proven in the Russia-Ukraine war, these micro-weapons are redefining the balance of power, and perhaps even changing warfare altogether

Haaretz latest headlines

Aug 14, 2026 - haaretz.com

Houthis claim drone attack on Saudi Aramco refinery in Jizan

Yemen’s Houthi group announced on Thursday that it targeted an Aramco oil refinery in the Jizan region of southwestern Saudi Arabia using two explosive-laden drones. The Houthi-run Saba news agency cited a military source as saying that the operation was carried out in retaliation for what the group termed ongoing Saudi “violations” of Yemeni airspace in the Sa’ada and Hajjah governorates. The mil...

Middle East Monitor

Aug 13, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com

US says lower oil prices, not Iran's nuclear program, are now top priority in war

The top US priority now in the Iran war is no longer its nuclear program but to bring gasoline prices down for American consumers, the vice president said Thursday, with the treasury secretary adding that new economic punishment to wear down Tehran is imminent. The comments by Vice President JD Vance and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent illustrate the powerful leverage Tehran has gai...

AL-MONITOR: The Pulse of The Middle East

Aug 13, 2026 - al-monitor.com

Israeli army attacks southern Lebanon, demolishes buildings despite framework deal

The Israeli army carried out fresh attacks and demolition operations in southern Lebanon early Friday, accompanied by tank movements, machine-gun fire and artillery shelling, despite a framework agreement providing for its withdrawal, Anadolu reports. Israeli warplanes struck the Masha al-Mansouri area, while forces dropped explosive-filled canisters and opened machine-gun fire on the outskirts of...

Middle East Monitor

Aug 14, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com

Israeli army seizes 16 Palestinian homes in West Bank’s Qusra village, turns them into military posts: Official

The Israeli army has seized 16 Palestinian homes in and around Qusra in the northern occupied West Bank and converted them into military posts, a local official said Thursday. Abdul Azim al-Wadi, head of the Qusra village council, told Anadolu Agency that the army was continuing its military offensive in the town, south of Nablus, and had informed the council that it would last until Sunday mornin...

Middle East Monitor

Aug 13, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com

US military adventurism killed 153 civilians in 2025: Pentagon report

From acts of aggression against Yemen, to attacks on Iran’s nuclear sites, to strikes on boats in the Caribbean; these are among examples of US military adventurism last year.

Presstv

Aug 14, 2026 - presstv.ir

(Archive.today -- Archive.org)

'No substitute': Kuwait's future tied to Hormuz strait fate

Kuwait's once prosperous oil sector has stood largely paralysed for months, with petroleum exports plummeting as fighting raged across the Gulf -- triggering the country's largest crisis in decades. Half a year into the war, Kuwait remains a hostage to its uncompromising need to access the Strait of Hormuz -- where the war between the US and Iran has choked off the once plentiful ene...

AL-MONITOR: The Pulse of The Middle East

Aug 13, 2026 - al-monitor.com

Israel only understands language of force: Qassem

TEHRAN, Aug. 14 (MNA) – Hezbollah Secretary General Sheikh Naim Qassem says Israel’s 33-day war against Lebanon in 2006 has proved that the occupying regime only understands the language of force.

Mehr News Agency

Aug 14, 2026 - en.mehrnews.com

(Archive.today -- Archive.org)

US sailors hit by strain of long aircraft carrier deployment

Some sailors have reportedly tried throwing themselves into the sea, basic supplies can run short and sanitation is going awry: life on America's giant Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier is increasingly difficult as the Iran war drags on. The ship -- now in its ninth month of deployment -- is expected to be replaced in the Middle East by another carrier, the George Washington, in a mov...

AL-MONITOR: The Pulse of The Middle East

Aug 13, 2026 - al-monitor.com

Trapped in own village: Qusra and stories of Palestinian steadfastness

What began as an Israeli settler attack on Palestinian homes in Qusra, south of the occupied West Bank city of Nablus, has escalated into a wider military lockdown.

Presstv

Aug 14, 2026 - presstv.ir

(Archive.today -- Archive.org)

US wants Netanyahu to condemn settler siege in Palestinian village, officials say

Extremist settlers have been encircling homes in the West Bank town of Kusra for almost a week.

JPost.com - The Jerusalem Post - All News from the Middle East, Israel, and the Jewish World

Aug 14, 2026 - jpost.com

One year on, Gaza journalist Anas Al-Sharif remembered as brave chronicler of Israel’s genocidal war

A year after the Israeli regime killed Palestinian journalist Anas Al-Sharif in a targeted strike, his fearless frontline reporting from Gaza is remembered as his voice and sacrifice continue to expose the genocide he bravely documented.

Presstv

Aug 14, 2026 - presstv.ir

(Archive.today -- Archive.org)

Iran dismisses US claims of full control over Strait of Hormuz as ‘baseless lies’

Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters on Thursday dismissed US claims of full control over the Strait of Hormuz as “baseless lies,” saying the strategic waterway remains under Tehran’s control, Anadolu reports. “The false US claims regarding the normal passage of vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, which reflect the helplessness and confusion of that country’s military, are nothing but fa...

Middle East Monitor

Aug 13, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com

Pay-for-slay: Could the Palestinian Authority be held legally liable for October 7?

LEGAL AFFAIRS: Thousands of plaintiffs are taking the PA to court, arguing that its financial and employment policies toward convicted terrorists create a link to the Hamas massacre.

JPost.com - The Jerusalem Post - All News from the Middle East, Israel, and the Jewish World

Aug 14, 2026 - jpost.com

Stop living in la-la land: Only the IDF can curb Israel’s enemies – opinion

Praise to America for the Jared Kushner-driven initiative to stop Hamas and Hezbollah, but make no mistake, apart from the IDF, no external good-willed individual can stop these terrorists

JPost.com - The Jerusalem Post - All News from the Middle East, Israel, and the Jewish World

Aug 14, 2026 - jpost.com

'Surrounded': Israel's new West Bank settlements bring chaos to Palestinians

AL-MONITOR: The Pulse of The Middle East

Aug 14, 2026 - al-monitor.com

Kushner to visit Israel after Netanyahu rejects Gaza Board of Peace plan

Visit to address Israeli opposition to plan for Hamas to disarm, Israel to withdraw from Gaza, board official says.

Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera

Aug 14, 2026 - aljazeera.com

Palestinians, foreign and Israeli activists protest in West Bank town, head to besieged homes by Israeli occupiers

Palestinians, along with foreign and left-wing Israeli activists, held a protest Friday in the occupied West Bank town of Qusra before heading toward three Palestinian homes that have been besieged by Israeli occupiers for five consecutive days, Anadolu reports. The protesters gathered in the Ras al-Ain area of Qusra, south of Nablus, before moving toward the besieged homes to check on the residen...

Middle East Monitor

Aug 14, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com

'This is what occupation looks like': MK Cassif says IDF tried to prevent him from entering Kusra

“This is exactly what apartheid looks like. This is exactly what occupation looks like. We will continue to fight against the terror of the occupation and for a just peace," Cassif said.

JPost.com - The Jerusalem Post - All News from the Middle East, Israel, and the Jewish World

Aug 14, 2026 - jpost.com

Pro-Palestine campaigners urge boycott of new Spider-Man film over producer’s support for Israel

Pro-Palestinian campaigners in Lebanon, Jordan and elsewhere in the Arab world have called for a boycott of “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” over producer Avi Arad’s support for Israel and his rejection of criticism directed at Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during the war on Gaza, Anadolu reports. The Campaign to Boycott Supporters of Israel in Lebanon urged audiences not to purchase ticket...

Middle East Monitor

Aug 13, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com

Once a safe haven, Christian Palestinians say they 'have no future' in this village

Residents of the West Bank village describe constant harassment by Israeli settlers, threats, damage to vehicles and arson. Fifteen families have left, along with dozens of young people. Since October 7, they say, 'everything has changed'

Haaretz latest headlines

Aug 13, 2026 - haaretz.com

Palestinian says Israel plan for occupier policing entrenches West Bank annexation

Palestinian Vice President Hussein al-Sheikh said Friday that Israel’s plan to transfer law enforcement powers over occupiers in the West Bank to Israeli police is an attempt to impose sovereignty on the territory and entrench its illegal annexation, Anadolu reports. In a statement, al-Sheikh strongly condemned Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz’s intention to transfer law enforcement powers ove...

Middle East Monitor

Aug 14, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com

‘Syria is Gaza on steroids’: Israeli minister says war with Damascus is ‘absolute certainty’

“Syria is Gaza on steroids, and that is the next war, with absolute certainty”, said Amichai Chikli Israeli Diaspora Affairs Minister. “There is no avoiding it.”  Israeli Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli on Syria: Syria is Gaza on steroids, and that is the next war, with absolute certainty. There is no avoiding it. pic.twitter.com/KbH0KndkWG — Clash Report (@clashreport) August 13, 2026 Ch...

Middle East Monitor

Aug 14, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com

Indonesia condemns Israel’s rejection of Gaza roadmap

Indonesia on Thursday condemned Israel’s rejection of a 15-point roadmap for Gaza on Thursday, describing the move as an attempt to undermine international efforts to end the conflict, state-run media reported, Anadolu reports. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Vahd Nabyl A. Mulachela said Jakarta views the roadmap as a collective international effort to restore living conditions for Palestinians in G...

Middle East Monitor

Aug 13, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com

Art offers young Gaza survivors solace and escape from war’s devastation

Young survivors of Israel's genocidal war in Gaza find safe spaces to process trauma and rediscover joy.

Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera

Aug 14, 2026 - aljazeera.com

Iran war hits Americans at gas pumps as conflict drives up energy cost

Nearly six months into the US war with Iran, its most visible impact for ordinary Americans is increasingly being felt far from the battlefield — at gas stations, airports and in household budgets, Anadolu reports. The national average retail price for regular gasoline stood at $4.006 per gallon as of Aug. 10, according to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA), keeping fuel around the pol...

Middle East Monitor

Aug 14, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com

The secret Smotrich kept from his wife: Israel was going to war with Iran - interview

He voted against the January 2025 hostage deal, his own voters demanded he resign, and Ben-Gvir walked out. Smotrich stayed silent for five months. In an interview with the Post, he explained why.

JPost.com - The Jerusalem Post - All News from the Middle East, Israel, and the Jewish World

Aug 14, 2026 - jpost.com

Canada’s medal award to military official exposes Ottawa’s complicity in war on Iran

The Canadian government’s quiet awarding of a medal to a senior military official has revealed the country’s complicity in last year’s criminal US-Israeli war of aggression against Iran.

Presstv

Aug 14, 2026 - presstv.ir

(Archive.today -- Archive.org)

US says it can keep naval blockade on Iran 'indefinitely,' vows more economic pressure

By Phil Stewart and Idrees AliPANAMA CITY, Aug 13 (Reuters) - The United States on Thursday said that it could maintain a naval blockade of Iran indefinitely and would ratchet up economic pressure on Tehran as ceasefire talks have floundered, global oil supply is dropping and regional tensions are rising.Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told reporters that the U.S. military has the capability to mai...

AL-MONITOR: The Pulse of The Middle East

Aug 13, 2026 - al-monitor.com

Gaza journalist dies in Israeli imprisonment nearly three years after being jailed

Palestinian journalist Ihab Diab has been confirmed dead in Israeli imprisonment, nearly three years after he was taken away in Gaza.

Presstv

Aug 14, 2026 - presstv.ir

(Archive.today -- Archive.org)

Iran's offensive strategy to change global power equations

TEHRAN, Aug. 14 (MNA) – An adviser and aide to Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei says the Leader’s strategy for Iran to shift the war to an offensive phase will undoubtedly change the equations of power in the world.

Mehr News Agency

Aug 14, 2026 - en.mehrnews.com

(Archive.today -- Archive.org)

France condemns Israeli occupiers’ seizure of Palestinian homes in West Bank

France on Friday condemned “in the strongest possible terms” the Israeli occupiers’ seizure of several Palestinian homes in the occupied West Bank village of Qusra, Anadolu reports. “France condemns in the strongest possible terms the occupation by Israeli settlers of several Palestinian homes in the village of Al-Qusra in the West Bank, as well as the violence perpetrated against Palestinian civi...

Middle East Monitor

Aug 14, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com

Italy monitors situation in Israeli-besieged Palestinian village where 5 Italians reported present

Italy is closely monitoring the situation in the occupied West Bank town of Qusra, which has been under siege by Israeli occupiers for five consecutive days, while five Italians were also reported to be under siege, ANSA news agency reported Friday. The Italian Foreign Ministry confirmed that five Italian nationals were also in Qusra, which is under siege by Israeli settlers. The ministry also rea...

Middle East Monitor

Aug 14, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com

Palestinian Christian-majority Taybeh in occupied West Bank caught between Israeli army restrictions, occupier attacks

In the Christian-majority Palestinian town of Taybeh, located in the central occupied West Bank, residents say Israeli occupier attacks are increasingly targeting their land, homes and sources of income, putting further pressure on Palestinians determined to remain on their land, Anadolu reports. Fears have grown since the Israeli army declared Taybeh a “closed military zone” on Aug. 9 for Israeli...

Middle East Monitor

Aug 13, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com

Colombia’s new far-right regime recognizes Israeli occupation of Golan Heights

Colombia’s newly installed far-right regime on Monday formally recognized the Israeli regime’s so-called “sovereignty” over the occupied Syrian Golan Heights.

Presstv

Aug 14, 2026 - presstv.ir

(Archive.today -- Archive.org)

OIC warns of rising Israeli regime’s crimes in West Bank

Tehran, IRNA – Following the escalation of aggression against the village of Qasra in Nablus, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has warned of increasing crimes by Zionist settlers in the West Bank, describing the crimes as a clear violation of international law.

IRNA English

Aug 14, 2026 - en.irna.ir

(Archive.today -- Archive.org)

UK signs $22M agreement to support Lebanese army, security forces

The UK has signed a memorandum of understanding worth £16.3 million (approximately $22 million) to support the Lebanese army and Internal Security Forces, the British Embassy in Beirut said Friday, Anadolu reports. The memorandum was signed Thursday with Lebanon’s Interior and Municipalities Ministry and National Defense Ministry under the 31-month Internal Security Assistance Programme for Lebano...

Middle East Monitor

Aug 14, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com

Israel defies Trump on Lebanon as Netanyahu, Katz prioritize elections

Both Benjamin Netanyahu and Donald Trump face fateful elections this fall, but one needs progress in Lebanon while the other wants more of the same.

AL-MONITOR: The Pulse of The Middle East

Aug 14, 2026 - al-monitor.com