Jordan's armed forces said that they intercepted three Iranian missiles Jordan's armed forces reported on Monday that it has intercepted three missiles launched from Iran, in a statement carried by Jordanian state TV. The military added that no injuries or material damage were sustained.
Arab recognition of Israel rewards its relentless land theft Submitted by Joseph Massad on Mon, 07/20/2026 - 16:13 Successive normalisation agreements have accepted Israel's changing territorial claims, allowing each new conquest and annexation to become the basis for the next Israeli Ambassador Yechiel Leiter, State Department Chief of Staff Daniel Holler and Lebanese Ambassador Nada Hamadeh sign a framework agreement in Washington, DC, 26 June 2026 (Saul Loeb/AFP) Off One of the most intimidating aspects of modern US relations with the Arab and Muslim world is Washington's insistence that all Arab and Muslim-majority countries normalise relations with the state of Israel as a reward for its ongoing genocide against the Palestinian people. These demands have intensified since the US and Israel launched their war of aggression against Iran in February. Washington's long-standing push for Saudi normalisation continues unabated, as does its pressure on Qatar , Iraq , Libya , Tunisia , Syria , and Indonesia, among others, to follow suit.
Sirens sound in Jordan’s Amman Jordan state TV has reported on Monday that sirens are sounding in the Jordanian capital city of Amman. This comes as continued attacks are being traded between the US and Iran after the countries abandoned their memorandum of understanding and escalated tensions in the region.
US greenlights Saudi nuclear enrichment without safeguards: Report Submitted by MEE staff on Mon, 07/20/2026 - 17:36 Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman previously said he would acquire a bomb if Iran did Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and US President Donald Trump prepare to depart the US-Saudi Investment Forum at the John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC, on 19 November 2025 (Brendan Smialowski/AFP) Off The Trump administration has greenlit Saudi Arabia's nuclear enrichment project, but with no safeguards in place to prevent the development of a bomb, CNN reported on Friday. The draft deal, viewed by the news outlet, showed Washington's support for Riyadh’s civilian nuclear programme is still awaiting President Donald Trump’s signature, despite US-Saudi negotiations concluding in October. Unnamed officials cited in the story indicated that the documents, which include the mandatory "123 agreement" and safeguards protocols, have not yet been sent to Congress, potentially for fear of bipartisan pushback.
Ed Miliband appointed as UK foreign minister, Shabana Mahmood as interior minister New British Prime Minister Andy Burnham has appointed Ed Miliband, former leader of the Labour Party and energy secretary under Keir Starmer, as foreign minister, according to Burnham’s office on Monday. He has also appointed former Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, who was behind the ban on direct action group Palestine Action and harsher immigration reform policies, to be the UK's interior minister.
Israel kills two in strike on Gaza hospital, one killed in targeting of electric bike At least two Palestinians were killed and 16 others, mostly children, were wounded in an Israeli attack targeting Al-Yaman Al-Saeed Hospital in the Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza, Wafa news reported, citing local sources. Medical sources also told Wafa that a Palestinian was killed in another Israeli strike on an electric bike opposite the Al-Zawaida area in the central Gaza Strip. This brings the total death count from Monday to seven, adding to the 1,158 Palestinians who have been killed since the supposed “ceasefire” agreement in October.
Yemen's Houthis declare blockade on Saudi Arabia, raising Red Sea tensions Submitted by MEE staff on Mon, 07/20/2026 - 17:01 Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabian oil shipments could send energy prices higher and open a new front in the Iran war Fighters supporting the Aden-based internationally recognised Yemeni government gather during a vigil along the Red Sea shore in al-Khokha, in Yemen's western Hodeidah province, calling for a resumption of hostilities with the Houthis, on 20 July 2026 (Khaled Ziad/ AFP) Off Yemen’s Houthis announced a maritime embargo of Saudi Arabia on Monday, escalating tensions with Riyadh in the Red Sea at a time when it is serving as a linchpin for global energy markets. The Houthis did not say how they planned to impose the embargo, but it comes as tensions with Riyadh were already rising over the status of flights to Sanaa, the capital of Yemen held by the Houthis. Saudi Arabian Defence Minister Khalid bin Salman has suggested to counterparts that Riyadh has wide latitude from the Trump administration to conduct offensive strikes on the group, but other elements of the Saudi Arabian government say the kingdom’s posture is solely defensive, Middle East Eye reported recently.
Burnham appoints former Defence Secretary John Healey as UK finance minister Britain’s new prime minister, Andy Burnham, has appointed John Healey to replace Rachel Reeves as Chancellor of the Exchequer, Downing Street announced on Monday. Healey served as defence secretary under Burnham’s predecessor, Keir Starmer, and resigned in June over a military spending row, saying that the prime minister was unable to commit to a high enough defence budget.
Trump: Netanyahu will not be arrested while in US Trump said in a social media post on Monday that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “will not be arrested, in any way, shape, or form, while in the United States of America”. This comes after New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani said that he was consulting with city authorities over the possibility of arresting Netanyahu if he visits the city for the United Nations General Assembly in September.
UKMTO says it received report of vessel struck east of UAE port The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said on Monday that a vessel was struck 17 nautical miles east of Dibba, near the UAE’s Fujairah port. The attack damaged the steering gear, but the vessel's crew were reported to be safe, UKMTO said.
Iranian official reports attack on industrial unit in Khomein Iran’s IRIB broadcaster reported an attack on Monday on an industrial unit in the outskirts of the city of Khomein, in the country’s central Markazi province. The province’s deputy for political and security affairs said that the attack did not result in any casualties and the extent of any potential damage is currently being assessed.
Trump says Iran ‘will pay’ killing US soldiers US President Donald Trump said in a social media post on Monday that “every time Iran kills an American Soldier they will pay for that killing many times over”. “This directive has been passed on to Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Daniel Caine, and every Leader in the Military,” he added.
New UK PM Burnham assures Trump on UK’s commitment to securing shipping in Hormuz New British Prime Minister Andy Burnham told Trump that the UK’s commitment to securing the movement of shipping in the Strait of Hormuz was “at the top of his agenda”, according to the Prime Minister’s office after Burnham entered the role on Monday. “The Prime Minister…underlined his commitment to defence and security and said ensuring the security of the UK and its allies was at the top of his agenda,” a Downing Street spokesperson said in a readout of the call which took place shortly after Burnham became leader.
Unrwa official warns agency facing financial crisis, calls for international support The director of the UN agency supporting Palestinian refugees in the occupied West Bank, Roland Friedrich, said that Unwra continues to face growing humanitarian, social and economic challenges while resources available to meet those needs are shrinking. Friedrich stressed that sustained international support is essential to ensure the continuity of basic services and help to preserve regional stability. He said that Unrwa is currently facing a financial shortfall of over $100m in 2026, warning that the funding gap threatens its essential services for millions of Palestinian refugees while the situation in Gaza and the occupied West Bank is increasingly dire.
Iranian officer killed in US attack on Tabriz An Iranian military officer was killed in a US strike on the city of Tabriz on Monday, according to Iran’s Fars news agency. The report said that Mahdad Pashae was killed in an attack on the city located in Iran’s northwestern East Azerbaijan province.
US Centcom says its blockade redirected seven ships and disabled one US Central Command (Centcom) announced that it has been continuing its blockade of Iranian ports in the Strait of Hormuz amid renewed tensions between the US and Iran. “As of July 20, the US military has redirected seven commercial vessels and disabled one to prevent the ships from leaving or entering Iranian ports,” Centcom posted on X on Monday. U.
Khalil al-Hayya: Who is the political veteran chosen to steer Hamas forward Hamas has elected Khalil al-Hayya as the new head of its political bureau, placing one of the movement’s most experienced negotiators at the centre of its leadership during a period where Gaza is still facing Israeli genocide and the region faces a renewed war. The movement announced the result on Monday after an internal ballot of the leadership in which Hayya secured 35 votes, narrowly defeating Khaled Meshaal, the head of Hamas abroad and a former political bureau chief, who received 34, according to Al Jazeera Arabic Palestine bureau chief, Walid Al Omari. The vote completed a leadership process that began in May after Hamas failed to settle the contest in its first round.
France warns of consequences after Iranian security services detain embassy staff French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said on Monday that there would be consequences after two of its embassy officials in Tehran were detained for several hours by Iranian security services. Barrot said that the French officials were detained without reason, interrogated and in one case, assaulted, before being able to return to the embassy. “I let Iran’s foreign minister know that these extremely serious and unacceptable violations of the integrity of our agents could not go without consequences,” he wrote in a post to X.
Iranian official reports US attack on Shiraz The deputy governor of Iran’s Fars province reported that a US aerial strike targeted the Iranian city of Shiraz on Monday. “The US launched an aerial attack on one of the areas in Shiraz, it resulted in no casualties, and the situation is under control,” IRIB quoted the official as saying.
Sirens sound in Bahrain for fifth time Bahrain’s Interior Ministry said on Monday that warning sirens are sounding again for the fifth time after Iranian strikes on the country hit what it said were “drone maintenance and repair sheds” earlier today. “The siren has sounded. Citizens and residents are urged to remain calm and head to the nearest safe place,” the ministry said in a statement.
