Houthi spokesperson's X account suspended Houthi spokesperson Yahya Saree's X account has been suspended, with a message on the platform reading "Account suspended. X suspends accounts which violate the X Rules". It is unclear as to why Saree's account has been removed.
Iran's Araghchi slams France for 'hypocrisy' over human rights Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi criticised France and other countries for what he described as "hypocrisy" when it comes to human rights and international law amid continued support for Israel. "Countries like France should stop lecturing the world about 'human rights' and international law. The hypocrisy is blatant and embarrassing," he said in a post on X.
Israel has 'policy of ethnic cleansing' of Palestinians in West Bank, advocate says Aseel Baidoun, the deputy director of advocacy and campaigns for Medical Aid for Palestinians, says that the Israeli government has a "systematic policy and a campaign of ethnic cleansing of Palestinians” in the occupied West Bank Aseel Baidoun, the deputy director of advocacy and campaigns for Medical Aid for Palestinians, says that the Israeli government has a "systematic policy and a campaign of ethnic cleansing of Palestinians” in the occupied West Bank. pic. twitter.
Iraq will not be used as 'launch pad' for attacks on neighbours, prime minister says Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi says Baghdad will not allow its territory or airspace to be utilised for launching attacks against neighbouring countries, according to the Iraqi News Agency. "Iraq is working to protect its national security and sovereignty, and it will not allow its territory or airspace to be used as a launching pad for any aggression against neighbouring countries," Zaidi was quoted as saying during a visit to Iraq’s Air Defence Command Operations Centre. "Iraqi skies and sovereignty are inviolable, and any violation of its airspace or infringement upon its security will not be tolerated from any quarter.
Yemen's presidential council chief says no plans for truce with Houthis The chairman of Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council indicated the government does not want a deal with the Houthis. "We are not for a new truce that reproduces previous experiences," Rashad al-Alimi said, and instead called for "lasting and sustainable peace" based on a state that holds a monopoly on weapons and sovereignty. He added that the internationally recognised government has concluded that the Houthis amount to "a project of war and destruction, not a project of peace".
Saudi Arabia opposed Egypt's inclusion in Mecca agreement, sources say Saudi Arabia opposed Egypt joining the security pact signed with Turkey and Pakistan last week, despite Ankara's push for Cairo to be included, three Saudi sources familiar with the discussions told Middle East Eye. One of the sources, a former senior adviser to the Saudi monarchy, said Riyadh did not want Egypt to join the agreement "at least for now". All three sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the issue, said the Saudi position was driven by a growing frustration with President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi's government and a belief in Riyadh that Egypt no longer offered the strategic or military value it once did.
Hamas condemns Israeli strike on Gaza Hamas has condemned Israel for a Wednesday air strike on Gaza which left one killed and others wounded. In a statement, the group said that the attack “confirms the occupation’s insistence on thwarting the efforts of the mediators, guarantors and the Board of Peace to reach an agreement that achieves a sustainable ceasefire”.
Lebanon passes sweeping amnesty law for prisoners, wanted people Lebanon's parliament on Wednesday passed a sweeping and long-awaited amnesty law that should benefit thousands of prisoners and wanted people, in the first legislation of its kind since 1991. The law, which had been a demand of various political factions and a topic of debate for years, aims to reduce prison overcrowding, with many inmates awaiting trial for years. The office of the country's parliament speaker announced the "approval of a draft law aimed at granting a general amnesty and exceptionally reducing the terms of certain sentences".
Israeli forces detain three people in West Bank Israeli forces detained three Palestinians from Beit Ummar, north of Hebron, on Wednesday, including two who were tending farmland near the Karmei Tzur settlement, according to the Wafa news agency. The three men, aged 37, 19 and 18, were detained in Khallet al-Kataleh, south of Beit Ummar, the report said. Israeli forces earlier detained at least seven other Palestinians in raids across the occupied West Bank, including in areas near Jenin, Ramallah and Tulkarm.
Iran says no progress on reviving interim peace deal with US Iran and the United States remain at loggerheads over efforts to agree a permanent end to the war in the Gulf, according to a senior Iranian source, who said there had been no progress in talks to revive the interim deal agreed in June and define a time frame to implement it. The comments came as US President Donald Trump issued yet another broadside against Iran's leaders following new attacks on shipping in the region on Tuesday. The deal agreed in June declared an "immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts", but quickly unravelled, with Trump saying it was "over" on 7 July and Iran's foreign ministry declaring it "suspended" a week later.
Palestinian students and staff sue Columbia University over discrimination A group of current and former Palestinian students and staff have sued Columbia University, accusing the Ivy League school of discriminating against Palestinians and targeting pro-Palestinian activism on campus. The lawsuit, filed in New York State Supreme Court this week, alleges that Columbia subjected Palestinian students, faculty and staff to unequal treatment following the Hamas-led attacks on southern Israel on 7 October 2023 and the ensuing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza perpetrated by Israel. According to the complaint , Columbia "actively participated in and amplified" what the plaintiffs describe as racially, ethnically and politically motivated targeting of Palestinians.
Defence minister says Israeli military indefinitely remain in Lebanon, Syria and Gaza Israeli military “under no circumstances” will withdraw from land it occupies in Lebanon, Syria and Gaza, Israel’s i24 news reported the defence minister saying. The report said Israel Katz made the statement during a visit today to army positions on the front line in southern Lebanon.
Pentagon tells Congress US killed 153 civilians in Yemen air strikes Submitted by MEE staff on Wed, 08/12/2026 - 19:33 The Houthis have resumed attacks on vessels in the Red Sea despite enduring hundreds of US air strikes A Yemeni man who was injured in US air strikes receives treatment at Al-Jumhuri Hospital in Yemen's Houthi-held capital Sanaa, on 8 May 2025 (Mohammed Huwais/AFP) Off The US killed and wounded hundreds of Yemeni civilians during its attacks on the country last year, according to an internal US Department of War assessment shared with Congress. The US killed 153 civilians and wounded 243, the Pentagon said in a 12-page report that was sent to the Senate Armed Services Committee on Monday and reported by several news sites in the US. US President Donald Trump ordered the American military to begin bombing the Houthis in March 2025.
Iraq says no foreign military presence by 1 Oct and weapons will be under state control Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Faleh al-Zaidi said that the country will be free of any foreign military presence on its soil and that weapons will be solely under state control by 1 October. During a meeting with US Central Command Commander Charles Brad Cooper, Zaidi “affirmed the commitment to the agreed-upon timelines”, under which the international coalition’s military mission in Iraq and the withdrawal of its forces will be completed by 30 September, according to a statement published by his office. 1 October will therefore “mark a new day in the history of the Iraqi state”, as the country will be “free of any foreign military presence” and responsible for ensuring its own security and stability, the statement continued.
UK, Italy among states considered to verify Hezbollah disarmament, sources say Israel and Lebanon have agreed on Britain, Italy, Switzerland, and Indonesia as potential contributors to a proposed mechanism that could see foreign troops deployed to Lebanon to verify Hezbollah's disarmament, people familiar with the matter told Reuters. The shortlist emerged from US-mediated talks in Rome last week, the latest round of negotiations between Israel and Lebanon on implementing a June agreement that ties Israel's phased withdrawal from Lebanon to the disarmament of Hezbollah. The countries could help define the mechanism's scope, provide personnel to oversee its implementation or contribute troops to observe or take part in inspections verifying disarmament, three sources said.
New oral history project eulogises slain Palestinian journalists via friends' voice notes Submitted by MEE staff on Tue, 08/11/2026 - 16:56 The website's launch comes on the first anniversary of Israel's killing of Al Jazeera journalist Anas al-Sharif A protester holds a photo of slain Al Jazeera journalist Anas al-Sharif, as part of the 'March for Humanity' for Gaza in New York City, on 16 August 2025 (Stephanie Keith/Getty Images via AFP) Off When Anas al-Sharif was killed in Gaza by an Israeli air strike one year ago, the Reuters news agency ran the headline, "Israel kills Al Jazeera journalist it says was Hamas leader". In 2024, at the height of Israel's genocide in Gaza, Anas had helped Reuters win a Pulitzer Prize for breaking news photography. But the outlet chose to remember the 28-year-old within the scope of Israel's unproven narrative about him - as many other news organisations have done to more than 200 Palestinian journalists killed in Gaza since 2023.
Palestinian students and staff sue Columbia University over discrimination Submitted by MEE staff on Wed, 08/12/2026 - 17:30 Lawsuit accuses the university of surveillance, biased disciplinary proceedings and failing to protect Palestinians A pro-Israel supporter (right) confronts people at a vigil and protest for Palestine outside of Columbia University in New York City, on 7 October 2025 (Adam Gray/Getty Images/AFP) Off A group of current and former Palestinian students and staff have sued Columbia University, accusing the Ivy League school of discriminating against Palestinians and targeting pro-Palestinian activism on campus. The lawsuit, filed in New York State Supreme Court this week, alleges that Columbia subjected Palestinian students, faculty and staff to unequal treatment following the Hamas-led attacks on southern Israel on 7 October 2023 and the ensuing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza perpetrated by Israel. According to the complaint , Columbia "actively participated in and amplified" what the plaintiffs describe as racially, ethnically and politically motivated targeting of Palestinians.
Exclusive: UK to announce raft of new policies on Israel including settlement goods ban Since Andy Burnham became prime minister, there has been a serious shift in approach to British foreign policy. But so far none of it has been made public, beyond a change in the rhetoric of government ministers. This is set to change after parliament's summer recess.
Lebanon condemns 'systematic' Israeli destruction in south Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam on Wednesday condemned Israel's "systematic destruction" in the country's south as a violation of international law, as Israel's defence minister said its military was "destroying all the houses" there. Salam said Israeli "attacks, incursions, demolitions and the systematic destruction of homes", infrastructure, government buildings and places of worship "represent a serious violation of the principles and rules of international law and international humanitarian law". He also added that villages and towns "are entirely 'military facilities' does not stand up to any logic and cannot be used as an excuse for destroying them, displacing their inhabitants and preventing them from returning".
US strengthens military presence in breakaway Puntland amid battle for Red Sea Submitted by Victoria Amani Mwaniki Kishoiyian on Wed, 08/12/2026 - 17:09 The US has signed an agreement to expand a military base in Bosaso, a port city on the Gulf of Aden This handout satellite image from 2025 Planet Labs PBC shows the UAE-managed base in Bosaso, Somalia, on 3 September 2025 (Handout/2025 Planet Labs PBC/AFP) Off In early August, the commander of US Special Operations Command Africa, Major General Claude Tudor, signed a deal with the president of Somalia’s northeastern, semi-autonomous Puntland State, Saeed Abdullahi Deni. The two agreed to expand the American military base in Bosaso, a port city on the Gulf of Aden. According to a brief statement circulated by the Puntland Government of Somalia, the expansion is essential to “improve operations against terrorism and to help protect maritime security”.
