Lebanon death toll rises to 4,348 Israeli attacks have killed at least 4,348 people in Lebanon since 2 March and injured more than 12,300, according to the latest figures published by the Lebanese ministry of health. The ministry also said at least 8,915 people had been killed and more than 30,540 injured since the war began on October 2023.
Turkey denounces Netanyahu's 'petty political tactics' Turkey on Friday denounced Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's "petty political tactics" in a statement from the president's office. In a statement posted on X, it condemned what it called the Netanyahu government's attempt "to present Turkey as a new threat".
Trump says Iran not ready to make the 'right deal' US President Donald Trump said on Friday he did not think that Iran was ready make the "right deal," and that Washington was observing "what happens" in the war. "It just means that we're seeing what happens," Trump told reporters when asked if US military options with Iran were limited. "We have total control of that entire region having to do with the Strait of Hormuz, and that means well into it, the land areas.
Israel launches attacks in southern Lebanon Israeli warplanes carried out two strikes on southern Lebanon five minutes apart, targeting the Ali al-Taher ridge in Nabatieh province, Lebanon’s National News Agency reported. The ridge overlooks southern Lebanon and northern Israel. The agency also reported an attack near the town of Deir Siryan, a raid on Doha Kafr Rumman and a bombing in the al-Mansouri area.
Indian workers in Israel demand accountability after murder of Indian caregiver Submitted by Shraddha Joshi on Fri, 08/21/2026 - 20:17 The stabbing of an Indian domestic worker has raised concerns about the vulnerability of thousands of Indian workers in Israel Long lines of Indian men queued on January 25, applying for jobs in Israel (Naeem Ansari / AFP) Off Indian workers in Israel have filed an appeal demanding justice and accountability following the murder of Indian caregiver Rajeev Acharya, who was stabbed to death by an Israeli national, India's NDTV news channel reports . Israeli authorities have since indicted Avior Zaken, the grandson of the elderly couple who employed Acharya, for attacking him repeatedly with a sharp object on 23 July. Workers have called for the Israeli government to prosecute the case fully, provide compensation to Acharya's family, and protect Indian foreign workers from violence and abuse, according to NDTV.
EU's von der Leyen joins European countries to condemn Israel's West Bank plan European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Friday joined European countries to condemn plans by Israel to open up construction tenders for a settlement project called 'E1' in the occupied West Bank. "The Israeli Government's decision to publish construction tenders for the E1 settlement project is unacceptable," she said in a post on X. "We have long opposed this step.
Iran’s Ghalibaf: ‘We stay out of Iraq’s affairs’ Iran’s parliament speaker and chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said on Friday Iran does not interfere in Iraqi internal affairs and will support any agreement between the factions and the Iraqi government. Ghalibaf's statement follows Baghdad's 30 September deadline for all paramilitary factions to integrate into formal state security structures.
US elections: Aisha Wahab becomes first Afghan-American in Congress Submitted by MEE staff on Fri, 08/21/2026 - 18:19 Wahab will assume the seat of Eric Swalwell, who resigned in April, but she will still compete in the November midterms California State Senator Aisha Wahab speaks to reporters during an election night watch party at Firefighters Local 1909 in Hayward, California on 18 August 2026 (Heather Diehl/Getty Images via AFP) Off The first Afghan-American to take a seat in the US Congress will represent California, following an election which saw a well-financed campaign led by pro-Israel voices to defeat her. Aisha Wahab, a progressive California state senator, was declared the winner of the tight runoff election in her state's 14th district on Thursday, some 48 hours after polls closed. The district includes the cities of Fremont and Hayward, and is located north of San Jose, along the San Francisco bay.
'Shameful:' UK, Canada and Australia condemn Israel's refusal to investigate aid worker attack Israel's decision not to launch a criminal investigation into an attack on a World Central Kitchen (WCK) convoy in Gaza is "shameful", according to the UK , Canada and Australia. The 2024 attack by Israel killed at least seven humanitarian workers. "The announcement by the [Israeli military] on August 19, 2026, that it would not pursue criminal investigations into this strike, without further explanation, is shameful," the three countries wrote in a statement on Friday.
Israeli forces kill Palestinian man in Gaza Israeli forces shot dead 29-year-old Palestinian Ibrahim Mohammed Kawar’a in the Qizan al-Najjar area, south of Khan Younis in southern Gaza, on Friday evening, Wafa news agency reported. The Palestinian Red Crescent said Kawar’a was handcuffed and shackled before the killing. Medical sources said his body was taken to Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis.
Iran president says time to end war while in position of strength Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Friday it was time to end the months-long war with the United States because Tehran appeared to be in a stronger position than Washington. Talks between the longtime foes remain on hold, and the war started by the US and Israel in February has been locked in a stalemate. Tehran is keeping the key Strait of Hormuz partially shut and Washington is persisting with a naval counter-blockade of Iran.
FM Araghchi says US economic pressure campaign is doomed to fail Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said US President Donald Trump’s threat to launch the “most crushing economic operation ever” against Iran was “doomed to failure”. “We’ve seen this movie before; the same old story, just with different bullies,” Araghchi said, adding that US threats to impose the “most crippling sanctions in history” 14 years ago had failed.
'Shameful:' UK, Canada and Australia condemn Israel's refusal to investigate aid worker attack Submitted by MEE staff on Fri, 08/21/2026 - 18:45 Israel sidelining death of aid workers is 'egregious', allies say A boy walks carrying a table on his back past salvage workers scrapping the rubble of a building that was destroyed during Israel's war against Hamas in Gaza, to use the recycled remains in the future, in Gaza City on August 16, 2026. (Omar AL-QATTAA / AFP) Off Israel's decision not to launch a criminal investigation into an attack on a World Central Kitchen (WCK) convoy in Gaza is "shameful", according to the UK , Canada and Australia. The 2024 attack by Israel killed at least seven humanitarian workers.
Turkey to seek Interpol notice for Netanyahu in Gaza flotilla case Turkey said on Friday it would seek an Interpol red notice for the arrest of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as part of a domestic criminal case linked to an attack on activists seeking to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza. Nato member Turkey has been one of the fiercest critics of Israel's war on Gaza and has previously issued domestic arrest warrants for Netanyahu over the war there. It has repeatedly called for international measures against Israel over what Ankara calls its violations of human rights and international law.
Iran, Oman discuss resuming talks, Strait of Hormuz navigation The Omani and Iranian foreign ministers discussed in a phone call ways to create suitable conditions for resuming dialogue and negotiations, and developments affecting navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, Oman's state news agency said on Friday.
Middle Eastern powers condemn Israeli settlement policies, reject 'E1' West Bank plan The foreign ministers of Turkey, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE condemned Israel's settlement policies in Palestinian territories and said they categorically rejected the Israeli construction called "E1" in the occupied West Bank. "The Ministers call for immediate action to halt the 'E1' settlement plan, rescind all measures taken in connection with it, and cease all settlement activities and other measures aimed at altering the geographic and demographic character of the Occupied Palestinian Territory," they said in a joint statement, adding that the plan constituted a "dangerous escalation" that further advanced settlement expansion and annexation of Palestinian lands.
'Bloodline punishment': Iranian family faces ongoing punitive ICE detention A Los Angeles-based Iranian family has spent over 130 days in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention to date due to their relative’s political activity nearly 50 years ago. In a letter published in The Nation, Iranian academic Maryam Tahmasebi described the arrest and detention of her husband, Eissa Hashemi, their 16-year-old son and herself, as "bloodline punishment" as the three permanent residents were stripped of their green cards following an online campaign. Neither of the three family members has any criminal history.
China calls for US-Iran dialogue Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian has called for a dialogue between the US and Iran amid threats of looming sanctions from Washington. Jian said in a statement on X that "China “opposes unilateral sanctions that lack basis in international law and UN Security Council mandate. " “Military force and pressure tactics will only lead to escalation that serves no one’s interests.
Anas Altikriti case raises crucial questions about Britain's alliance with the UAE Submitted by Peter Oborne on Fri, 08/21/2026 - 15:17 Amid chilling revelations of an Emirati surveillance operation targeting the London-based analyst, it's past time for the UK to reassess bilateral relations Anas Altikriti said London police warned him a decade ago that his life was in danger (Screengrab) Off In the long-lost days when I was chief political commentator for the Daily Telegraph, I used to engage with Anas Altikriti , chief executive of the Cordoba Foundation, on Muslim issues. Cordoba disputes the proposition, much favoured by other American and British think tanks, of an inevitable clash of civilisations between Islam and the West. Altikriti himself came into the spotlight after revealing that he had suddenly - and without warning - been stripped of his bank account by HSBC in 2014.
Muslims advised to use less water to perform ablutions Submitted by Imran Mulla on Fri, 08/21/2026 - 11:46 Initiative by UK's water industry regulator also encourages Asians in Britain to use less water to wash rice The fountain in the Islamic garden of Cambridge Central Mosque, Britain's first eco-friendly mosque, pictured in 2021 (AFP) Off The United Kingdom 's water industry regulator has advised Muslims in the country to use less water for religious ablutions - the act of washing or cleansing the body - and Asian communities to reduce water use when washing rice. The advisory comes as part of the project by the “water efficiency in faith and diverse communities” programme funded by Ofwat, the Water Services Regulation Authority. One of the project's recent initiatives was a partnership between South Staffordshire Water, the University of Cambridge's divinity faculty and the Cambridge Central Mosque, Britain's first eco-friendly mosque, as well as other organisations and water companies.
