UAE says seek shelter, warning of 'potential missile threats' The UAE issued a phone alert for "potential missile threats" on Tuesday, the first such warning in months. "Due to the current situation, potential missile threats, immediately seek a safe place in the closest secure building," the interior ministry said in the alert, the first since a false alarm in June. Before that, the last missile warning came in May.
Turkey condemns Israeli air strikes on Syrian base Turkey has strongly condemned Israeli air strikes on the Abu al-Duhur air base in northwestern Syria, and called on the international community to ensure Israel is held accountable for actions which violated international laws. "We call on the international community to take a more decisive stance to end Israel's escalating aggression against Syria," the ministry said in a statement.
Trump says no talks are taking place with Iran US President Donald Trump said there were no conversations taking place with Iran, and none were scheduled, adding that the naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz remained in full force and effect.
Saudi Arabia tightens rules on financial transfers to UAE Submitted by MEE staff on Tue, 08/18/2026 - 13:49 Move appears to be latest sign of rising tensions between two Gulf nations Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bidding farewell to UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on 3 September 2025 (Abdulla al-Bedwawi/AFP) Off Saudi Arabia has tightened its oversight of financial transfers to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in the latest sign of growing tensions between the two countries. The extra layers of regulatory oversight are normally reserved for countries considered high-risk for illicit money flows, according to Reuters. Three people with direct knowledge of the matter told the news agency that the measures, which have not been announced publicly, put the UAE among more than a half dozen countries in the region deemed high risk in Saudi Arabia for financial crime.
Fear grows among Egyptians in UAE over residency cancellations, report says Submitted by Alex MacDonald on Tue, 08/18/2026 - 10:34 Workers say permits were cancelled without explanation while they were on leave in Egypt, though no official policy change has been announced Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi receives UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed al-Nahyan (L) upon his arrival at Cairo International Airport, 15 June 2026 (Hamad al-Kaabi/AFP) Off Egyptians in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) face fears over their long-term residency in the country after a number of nationals had their permits cancelled earlier this month. Several Egyptians living and working in the UAE have reported that their residency permits were unexpectedly revoked, leaving them unable to return to their jobs. Posts shared online also suggest that a new Police Clearance Certificate requirement for Egyptian work permits may be complicating plans to change jobs or travel to Egypt, even though no official change in UAE residency rules for Egyptian nationals has been announced.
Qatar says Hormuz agreement crucial for US-Iran talks to resume Qatar has said that an agreement between Iran and Oman over the Strait of Hormuz would make it easier to resume negotiations to end the Iran war. Iran and Oman, both coastal states bordering the Strait of Hormuz, have for weeks been discussing the future of navigation through the waterway, with Tehran saying the geographical coordinates of the route envisaged by both countries "have been agreed upon". "We are also awaiting an agreement between the Sultanate of Oman and Iran regarding the Strait, which would enable us to return to the framework of negotiations," Qatari foreign ministry spokesman Majed Al Ansari told reporters.
Trump labels Strait of Hormuz ‘US territory’ as Iran says Israel is biggest obstacle to negotiations Submitted by Elis Gjevori on Tue, 08/18/2026 - 13:21 Tehran says the waterway will remain closed until Washington lifts its blockade and fulfils an interim agreement On 15 August 2026, Iran rejected the US president’s threat to declare the Strait of Hormuz part of US territory, saying the crucial energy waterway it has blockaded 'will remain Iranian'. (AFP) Off US President Donald Trump has claimed the Strait of Hormuz as American territory as his frustration mounts over a war with Iran that has resisted his demands and dragged global shipping into crisis. Trump posted a map of the strategic waterway on Truth Social on Tuesday bearing the caption “New US Territory”.
Trump posts map labelling Strait of Hormuz as 'new US territory' US President Donald Trump has posted an image on social media labelling the Strait of Hormuz as "NEW U. S. Territory".
Israeli soldiers number Palestinian detainees on their foreheads Submitted by MEE staff on Tue, 08/18/2026 - 11:01 Troops round up Palestinian residents near Qabatiya and mark them with numbers before interrogating them Ahmad al-Hathnawi speaks to local media about being marked with numbers by Israeli soldiers during a military raid in Qabatiya in the occupied West Bank on 17 August 2026 (Screengrab/@qudsn/X) Off Israeli soldiers marked Palestinian detainees with numbers on their foreheads and arms during a raid in the occupied West Bank on Monday. During the raid on Qabatiya, near Jenin, Israeli forces rounded up dozens of Palestinian residents, several of whom were marked with numbers on their foreheads and arms. Ahmad al-Hathnawi, who was marked with the number 44 on his forehead, said at least 50 people were detained, including women.
Israelis are second least wanted migrants in UK after Russians, poll finds Submitted by Imran Mulla on Tue, 08/18/2026 - 11:00 Only one in 20 Britons want the UK to allow more Israeli migrants into the country, it has emerged A woman sits on the south side of the River Thames with a view of Big Ben and the Palace of Westminster, London, 19 July 2026 (AFP) Off Almost half of Britons want the UK to allow fewer Israelis or none at all to move to the country, a new study has revealed. Israelis have become the second most unwanted group in Britain after Russians . The YouGov poll released last week showed that Pakistanis , Indians , Turks , Egyptians and Nigerians rank above Israelis in popularity among the British public, although all these groups are relatively unpopular.
US Syria envoy says Israeli strikes on Syrian base 'unnecessary escalation' The US special presidential envoy for Syria and Iraq has said that Israeli air strikes on the Abu al-Duhur military air base in northwestern Syria constitute an "unnecessary escalation" that does not advance regional stability. In a statement on X, Tom Barrack said the US was deeply concerned by the attacks, and added that Washington was encouraging all parties to prioritise "logical discourse" over further military incidents.
Saudi Arabia deletes 'the Muslims will never give up Jerusalem' from its textbooks Submitted by Elis Gjevori on Tue, 08/18/2026 - 10:09 Israeli organisation still condemns Saudi lessons describing Israel as an occupation and recounting a Zionist bribery attempt to abandon Palestinians Muslim devotees with their children gather at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem on 27 May 2026 to mark the start of Eid al-Adha, the Feast of Sacrifice (Ahmad Gharabli/AFP) Off An Israel -based organisation has praised Saudi Arabia for removing the phrase “the Muslims will never give up Jerusalem” from its school textbooks, as it seeks to reshape how the kingdom teaches Islam, Palestine and Israel . Israeli research group Impact-se published its review of the Saudi curriculum at the end of July. “The statement implied that Muslim control over or presence in Jerusalem was under threat,” the report said, adding that the reference “could be interpreted as framing Jerusalem as a site of ongoing struggle between Muslims and other groups, particularly Israel.
Iran parliament speaker Ghalibaf to visit Iraq for talks Iran's parliament speaker and chief negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, will travel to Iraq on Wednesday for talks, Iranian media reported. Ghalibaf will head "a high-level parliamentary delegation to discuss regional developments, strengthen strategic cooperation between Tehran and Baghdad and explore joint solutions to contribute to stability and security in the Middle East," Iran's Fars news agency said. The visit comes as Iraq faces pressure from Washington to disarm powerful armed factions in the country supported by Iran.
Israeli press review: Israel’s genocide in Gaza costs over $140bn Submitted by Nadav Rapaport on Tue, 08/18/2026 - 09:47 Meanwhile, Mamdani features in Likud election billboard, Israeli authorities take over an Unrwa school and clinic, and a 1,300-year-old Islamic-era commercial hub is uncovered near Tel Aviv Israeli tanks and troops deployed near the Gaza Strip on 10 June 2026 (Jack Guez/AFP) Off Cost of Israel’s genocide in Gaza The cost of the Israeli genocide in Gaza has reached some 420bn shekels ($140bn), and is likely to hit half a trillion shekels soon, according to an investigation by TheMarker published on Sunday. “The price of one day of weakness is terrible, and therefore we must not reach that point again,” a former army chief told the Israeli outlet, referring to the military’s failure to prevent the Hamas-led attack in October 2023. “If we had received enough security, there would probably be no need to double the defence budget over the coming decade,” an economic expert told TheMarker, referring to the latest increase in the Defence Ministry’s budget.
Former Israeli soldier held captive in Gaza asks Ben Gvir to let him execute Palestinian prisoners Submitted by Nadav Rapaport on Mon, 08/17/2026 - 15:19 Rom Braslavski rejected the use of a rope, saying he wanted to kill Palestinian detainees 'with my own hands' Palestinian Yaqub al-Saber is pictured at a hospital in Ramallah following his release from an Israeli prison, 8 July 2026 (Ilia Yefimovich/AFP) Off A former Israeli soldier who was held captive in Gaza asked National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir to allow him to personally execute Palestinian prisoners during an interview published on Saturday, with the far-right minister responding that he would try to make it happen. Rom Braslavski, who was released from captivity in Gaza in October 2025, made the request while interviewing Ben Gvir in the first episode of his new podcast, October 8, according to footage from the programme and Israeli media reports. “I have a personal request,” Braslavski told Ben Gvir, asking the minister to let him be “the one who hangs them”, referring to Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli prisons.
Hormuz Strait to remain closed until US meets interim deal conditions, says Iran The Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until the US meets conditions of the interim deal with Iran including lifting the marine blockade and sanctions as well as freeing Iran's frozen assets, Iran's top negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has said in comments published by state media.
Is Yemen's endless war serving a US-Israeli agenda? Submitted by Shady Ibrahim on Fri, 08/14/2026 - 20:11 Washington and Tel Aviv appear comfortable in the back seat, shaping the conflict's boundaries while others bear its costs Yemeni security personnel keep watch as Houthi supporters gather in Sanaa, on 2 April 2026 (Mohammed Huwais/AFP) On For years, the war in Yemen has not been a conflict in search of a victor. It has become a struggle in which every side seeks to degrade their opponents, without achieving a victory the wider region cannot absorb.
Iran's Ghalibaf heads to Iraq on Wednesday for cooperation talks Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf will depart for Iraq on Wednesday morning to discuss regional developments and strengthening strategic ties between Tehran and Baghdad. According to Nournews, he is set to meet with senior Iraqi officials and high-ranking figures in the country, with talks aimed at bilateral relations, border security, the development of economic cooperation and the implementation of joint agreements.
Kushner says Israel can 'finish the job properly' in Gaza if Hamas disagrees to disarm Speaking to Fox News after a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, US President Donald Trump's envoy and son-in-law, Jared Kushner, said that Israel will have the support of the US to “finish the job properly” in Gaza if Hamas does not agree to disarm. Kushner also said that he had a "very cordial" meeting with Hamas and that getting the group to disarm and move forward with Trump's peace plan could materialise in about a month. However, he added that Trump's "Board of Peace" will "not restrict Israel’s right to defend itself if there are any imminent threats".
Morning update Good morning Middle East Eye readers, Here are the latest developments: The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) received a report on Tuesday that a vessel was struck by an unknown projectile while it was transiting in the Strait of Hormuz. The hit resulted in damage to the engine room as well as crew casualty. An Iranian military official has warned that shipping companies involved in "meeting US military needs" against the country will face consequences, Nournews reported.
