Rocket attack hits Iranian Kurdish opposition camp, security sources say A rocket attack hit a training camp for the Iranian Kurdish opposition northeast of the Iraqi city of Erbil on Tuesday, reported Reuters citing security sources. The sources blamed Iran for the assault, adding that no casualties were reported.
Iran says US went from demanding surrender to seeking talks as oil price rises Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says Iran has proved itself “a tough and invincible power” by resisting the US and Israel , as collapsing shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz pushes oil prices higher. “I have heard this many times from foreign ministers and officials from other countries: ‘You Iranians created a miracle; you surprised the whole world,’” Araghchi told a televised news conference covered by the semi-official Tasnim news agency on Tuesday. “No one thought that Iran could resist America like this,” he said, noting that Washington entered the war with Israeli, western and other international support.
Pakistan says US-Iran arrangement is close as minister visits Tehran The US Iran are close to "some sort of an arrangement," Pakistan's defence minister Khawaja Asif told Bloomberg. "Things are shaping up again in favour of a peace arrangement or a deal," Asif said. "The signals in the last two three days are that we are close to some sort of an arrangement," he added.
Israeli settler who took part in brutal assault on Palestinians released from house arrest Submitted by MEE staff on Tue, 08/11/2026 - 13:05 During the March attack, six settlers bound Palestinians of all ages with zip-ties, beat them with wooden sticks, and threatened to kill them A Palestinian woman dries her clothes before being evacuated from Khirbet Humsa on 15 May 2019 (MEE) Off An Israeli settler who took part in a brutal attack in which a Palestinian man was stripped naked, had his genitals bound with a zip-tie and was paraded in front of his family has been released from house arrest. The Israeli army said in a statement on Monday that Tal Yinon Dardik, who reportedly took part in the 13 March attack on the Palestinian community of Khirbet Humsa in the occupied West Bank, was being freed from house arrest but would have to report to a police station twice a day. The army said that the decision came after the Jerusalem District Court ruled that the location of his house arrest was untenable.
US fires on ship breaking its Iran blockade The US military fired on a Panama-flagged ship that attempted to break the American blockade of Iranian ports on Tuesday, the Wall Street Journal reported citing an official source. The official said a US military helicopter fired at a ship after its crew ignored warnings from American personnel, as Trump said yesterday he was considering waiting for economic pressures to weaken Iran's position. Reuters confirmed that there have been no reports of any casualties so far.
Is the Mecca Agreement Israel's worst nightmare come true? Submitted by Kamal Alam on Mon, 08/10/2026 - 16:22 Tel Aviv has been warning of a threat of 'a new Sunni axis' - it remains to be seen if this alliance is purely symbolic or a salutary warning Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman signs a joint defence deal with the leaders of Turkey and Pakistan, in Mecca, on 7 August 2026 (Turkish Presidency Press Office/AFP) On The Mecca Joint Defence Agreement , a trilateral pact announced last week between Saudi Arabia , Pakistan and Turkey , marks a significant and hugely symbolic step for the region. Penned in the holy city of Mecca rather than the Saudi capital, and accompanied by visuals of the leaders of the three nations praying, the agreement sent a clear message to the world.
Israel holding bodies of 1,700 Palestinians as bargaining chips, says report Submitted by MEE staff on Tue, 08/11/2026 - 11:09 Shin Bet chief David Zini reportedly backs move despite no Israeli captives being held by Palestinian groups Body bags containing human remains after civil defence teams exhumed graves at Al-Ahli Arab Baptist Hospital in Gaza City, 7 December 2025 (AFP) Off Israel is holding the dead bodies of about 1,700 Palestinians as potential bargaining chips despite there being no Israeli hostages currently held by Palestinian armed groups, the Israeli newspaper Haaretz has reported. According to the report, Shin Bet chief David Zini has urged Israel to retain the remains for possible use in future hostage negotiations, a position supported by the Israeli military. Haaretz reported that most of the remains belong to Palestinian combatants involved in the Hamas-led 7 October attack in 2023 but also include Palestinian civilians and 13 Israeli citizens.
Three killed in Houthi attack on cargo ship in Bab al-Mandab The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations centre (UKMTO), the international reference for maritime security incidents, has received a report of an attack on a cargo ship in Bab al-Mandab off the coast of Mocha from an "unknown projectile" which resulted "in casualties". Yemeni official sources from the coast guard and military say at least three crew members have been killed. They say the attack came from the Houthis, which control much of Yemen's Red Sea coast.
Israel pursuing ‘undeclared annexation’ of West Bank, Peace Now says Submitted by MEE staff on Tue, 08/11/2026 - 11:06 Group says expanded Israeli civilian powers, settlement growth and pressure on Palestinian Authority are eroding Oslo framework Israeli soldiers aim their weapons and take up positions towards Palestinians during the demolition of a home in Nablus on 11 August (Reuters/Nasser Ishtayeh/SOPA) Off A leading Israeli advocacy group has accused the government of pursuing the undeclared annexation of the occupied West Bank through coordinated measures that undermine the Oslo Accords. Peace Now, which monitors Israeli violations in the West Bank, said the measures include broadening the powers of the Israeli Civil Administration, expanding settlements and weakening the Palestinian Authority. “Netanyahu’s government is playing with fire, disregarding its international commitments and endangering Israel’s security - all in order to take control of more territory and land in the West Bank,” the movement said in the report, obtained and reported by Ynet on Tuesday.
Qatar says Oman-Iran talks on Hormuz in advanced stage Talks between Oman and Iran on the future of shipping in the Strait of Hormuz are now in an advanced stage, Qatar's foreign ministry spokesperson said in a briefing on Tuesday.
Colombia recognises Israeli sovereignty over Golan Heights Colombia's far-right president Abelardo de la Espriella recognised Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights on Monday. “The Government of Colombia recognises Israeli sovereignty over this territory, as well as that State’s right to protect itself against external threats,” read an online statement. It added that “Colombia recognises that maintaining Israel’s control and sovereignty over the Golan Heights is an essential component of its national defence”.
UKMTO reports incident involving military in Gulf of Oman The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said on Tuesday it received a report of an incident involving a tanker and military forces in the Gulf of Oman. UKMTO ADVISORY 109-26 Click here to view the full product ⤵️ https://t. co/oKdOtMYEKi #MaritimeSecurity #MarSec pic.
Brent oil price passes $90 as Iran-US deal hopes fade The price of Brent North Sea crude, the main international oil contract, climbed above $90 on Tuesday as hopes that the US and Iran reach a deal to end the war fade. Brent reached $90. 02 a barrel, a gain of more than 2.
Syria: Court sentences Bashar al-Assad to death in absentia in landmark trial Submitted by MEE staff on Tue, 08/11/2026 - 09:46 Damascus court sentenced Syria's former strongman, his brother Maher and former security official Atef Najib to death on charges of murder, torture and incitement to murder Off A Damascus court sentenced Syria's former strongman Bashar al-Assad, his brother Maher and former security official Atef Najib to death on Tuesday on charges of murder, torture and incitement to murder. Najib was tried in person, while Bashar and Maher were tried in absentia. The court convicted Assad of premeditated murder of multiple people, including children, as well as torture, arbitrary detention and crimes against humanity.
Two wounded in Israeli drone attack in Lebanon Lebanon's health ministry said on Tuesday that an Israeli drone strike in the city of Nabatieh wounded two civilians. The ministry added that a second strike targeted a rescue team from the Al-Risala Association, damaging an ambulance that was transporting a wounded person. مسيّرة استهدفت فرق اسعاف اثناء نقلها اصابة جراء غارة على سيارة في حي الجامعات https://t.
Iran to increase gas production, says state minister Iran will bring back 95 million cubic metres of gas to its production cycle by the end of September, oil minister Mohsen Paknejad said on Tuesday according to the oil ministry's news outlet, as Tehran conducts repairs on energy infrastructure targeted by Israel and the US. In July, a senior government official said Iran expects to restore around 100 million cubic metres per day of natural gas production capacity "within the coming months," after strikes removed about 230 million cubic metres from output since the war started in late February.
Israel's 'pilot zones' turn Lebanese sovereignty on its head Submitted by Belen Fernandez on Sun, 08/09/2026 - 16:51 Under the guise of restoring state authority, Washington's plan demands Hezbollah's disarmament while allowing military occupation and territorial conquest to continue Lebanese soldiers patrol Zawtar al-Gharbiya on 28 July 2026, as residents return to inspect their homes a week after the army deployed to the southern village under the US-sponsored 'pilot zones' agreement (Joseph Eid/AFP) On Imagine, for a moment, that Country A is conducting an illegal occupation of Country B and regularly slaughtering its inhabitants despite an alleged ceasefire agreement . By any modicum of logic, a resolution to the situation would first require Country A to stop occupying and slaughtering people in Country B, right? Wrong - at least if Country A happens to be Israel , which has never felt compelled to abide by international legal or moral standards.
Morning update Good morning Middle East Eye readers, Here are the latest updates: A drone fell near a key oil tank and pipeline network at the Zawiya Oil Refining Company's oil blending plant, Libya's National Oil Corporation (NOC) said. This is the third such attack in two days, with no casualties or damage reported in the latest incident. NOC indicated that it would declare a possible refinery shutdown if the attacks continue.
Israel withholding 1,700 Palestinian bodies for future exchange deals Israel is withholding the bodies of about 1,700 Palestinians for potential use in future exchange deals, despite no Israeli captive being held by Hamas, according to Haaretz. The daily indicated that the figure of Palestinian bodies held by Israel was increased during recent discussions between top Israeli leaders. Israel has long maintained a policy of withholding the bodies of Palestinians.
Report: Trump boarded secret flight from Turkey amid Iranian assassination threat US President Donald Trump secretly left Turkey on a military aircraft last month amid an alleged Iranian assassination threat, The Washington Post reported citing several sources. According to the report, Trump boarded the an Air Force One jumbo jet in view of television cameras in Ankara, and was later transferred to a smaller Air Force C-32A.
