Israeli drone strike in Syria wounds at least one person An Israeli drone strike targeting a truck in Beit Jinn village in southwestern Syria has wounded at least one person, Al Jazeera Arabic is reporting. The latest attack follows a series of Israeli strikes on Syria’s Abu al-Duhur military airbase on August 18.
Lebanon economy to contract by 6. 4 percent due to war, World Bank says The World Bank projects that Lebanon's economy would contract by 6. 4 percent this year, as the ongoing war derailed the country's efforts at recovery.
Morning recap Good morning Middle East Eye readers, US President Donald Trump said he views the Strait of Hormuz as “an American territory” and reiterated that the US “cannot let Iran have a nuclear weapon”. His remarks came hours after he said he did not think that Iran was ready make the "right deal," and that Washington was observing "what happens" in the war. Tehran, meanwhile, said that new US sanctions against Iran amounted to a “declaration of war” on all nations and went beyond “an illegal economic war against a single nation”.
Israeli forces shell towns in southern Lebanon, continue demolitions Israeli forces shelled the town of al-Mansouri, around Bayt al-Sayyad and on the outskirts of Majdal Zoun in southern Lebanon, according to Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA). Israel also carried out an air raid in the vicinity of the Ali al-Tahir heights in southern Lebanon, according to Quds News Network. NNA reported that Israeli drones were seen flying continuously over villages and towns in the western and central sectors of southern Lebanon.
UKMTO report says Hormuz traffic just 20 percent of pre-war levels Commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has yet to recover from the war, with new data showing traffic still running at roughly a fifth of pre-war volumes. Data from the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) show 103 ships entered the strait and 89 left over the past week, which amounts to just 20 percent of the pre-war seven-day average. The curtailed traffic comes despite continued harassment from Iran's Revolutionary Guard, including drone overflights, VHF hailing of vessels, and active mine danger areas along the route.
Israeli forces make fresh incursion into Syria's Quneitra, search home Israeli forces entered the village of al-Basali in Syria’s Quneitra region and carried out a search operation in one of the houses before withdrawing from the area, state television reported. Since 2024, when Israel moved troops into a UN-monitored buffer zone and seized Syrian territory there, Israeli military vehicles frequently push into villages in Quneitra and parts of western Daraa, conducting house raids and detaining local civilians. Last week, a fire erupted following incursions by Israeli forces in the town of Al-Rafid in Quneitra.
Centcom says 68 vessels redirected so far in Iran naval blockade The US forces have redirected 68 commercial vessels, disabled three and boarded two others to enforce the ongoing naval blockade against Iran, US Central Command (Centcom) said. In a post on X, Centcom said more than 20 warships have been supporting the blockade, which continues amid US threats to impose ‘toughest sanctions in history’ on Iran. U.
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.
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.
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.
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’s president calls for war to end ‘today’ from position of strength Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has called for an end to the war while Tehran remains “in a position of strength and dignity”, warning that Iran would crush any renewed attack. Pezeshkian described the negotiated agreement as a “major achievement” unanimously approved by Iran’s Supreme National Security Council. “They cannot find even one clause in this agreement that indicates surrender; all the commitments are on the other side,” the Iranian Students’ News Agency quoted him as saying.
Five years after the fall of Kabul, 'war on terror' ghosts have come home Submitted by Moazzam Begg on Thu, 08/20/2026 - 16:32 From Bagram to Camp Bucca, the West's brutal carceral laboratories inadvertently forged the leaderships that would ultimately dismantle its imperial presence Activists representing the men still held at the US detention facility in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, protest outside the White House on 11 January 2023 (Alex Wong/Getty Images/AFP) Off Five years ago, the world watched in stunned disbelief as the final American military aircraft left Kabul , bringing a chaotic and humiliating end to a 20-year occupation. The images of desperate people clinging to the fuselages of US military transport planes departing the Afghan capital mirrored the panic of Saigon in 1975 , cementing a visual legacy of imperial overreach. Western media outlets trained their lenses almost exclusively on the runway of Hamid Karzai International Airport, hyper-focusing on the frenzy to manufacture a narrative of total, apocalyptic collapse.
Iran says its armed forces emerged stronger from latest war Iran’s acting Defence Minister Seyed Majid Ebn al-Reza says Tehran will resist any attack on the country’s territory, independence or security. Addressing worshippers before Friday prayers in Tehran, Ebn al-Reza said Iran entered the “Ramadan War” significantly stronger than during the earlier 12-day conflict, state broadcaster IRIB reported. He described the war as a “harsh test” that inflicted deaths and heavy losses but strengthened national confidence.
Israeli settler kills Palestinian youth and wounds elderly man near Hebron A Palestinian youth has died after Israeli settlers opened fire during an attack near Sa’ir, north of Hebron, in the occupied West Bank. Another Palestinian, a man in his 70s, suffered serious gunshot wounds in the same attack, according to the Palestinian Red Crescent. Paramedics transported both Palestinians to hospital after performing resuscitation at the scene.
Poland summons Israeli ambassador over closed Gaza aid worker probe Poland has summoned Israel’s ambassador after Israeli authorities closed proceedings into a 2024 attack that killed seven World Central Kitchen aid workers in Gaza. Polish volunteer Damian Sobol, from Przemysl, was among those killed when Israeli aircraft struck the charity’s clearly marked convoy in central Gaza in April 2024. “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland is very disappointed to receive the information ...
Israeli army advances into southern Lebanese town, shelling reported The town of Khiam in Lebanon's Nabatieh is currently facing heavy Israeli shelling as army vehicles enter the area, according to state media. Israeli troops reportedly detonated a house in the town. Fresh artillery shelling was also reported on the outskirts of Mayfadoun.
Israel shelling in Syrian Golan Height's sparks fire Israeli artillery shelling at an agricultural land south of the village of Jubata al-Khashab in Syria’s Golan Height sparked a fire, Alikhbaria TV reported. The broadcaster indicated that Israeli troops launched artillery shelling and illumination flares over the area, igniting fire in the farmland.
Ongoing Israeli air strikes, massive blasts reported in south Lebanon Israeli attacks targeted a number of areas across southern Lebanon, according to state media. Israeli air strikes and massive explosions were reported in overnight and in the early hours of Friday in the town of Mansouri, with sounds of the blasts reverberating throughout southern Lebanon. Elsewhere, the army launched a series of strikes and artillery shelling on the Ali al-Taher Hill.
