The New Physics of Power
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US envoy calls out Israeli settler 'terrorism' in interview
US envoy calls out Israeli settler 'terrorism' in interview US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee said on Tuesday that “terrorism” is the most accurate term to describe the actions of Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank. He said in an interview to Israeli public broadcaster Kaan that settlers are engaged “in a process aimed at changing behavior and creating fear in an individual, a population group, or a society,” which fits “the description in the historical lexicon of terrorism … and I don’t know how to use any other term”. This comes after Huckabee recently condemned the settler siege of homes in the occupied West Bank village of Qusra.
Trump envoy 'deeply concerned' by Israeli strikes on Syrian air base
Trump envoy 'deeply concerned' by Israeli strikes on Syrian air base Submitted by MEE staff on Tue, 08/18/2026 - 18:11 In rare pushback against Israel, Tom Barrack said Syria did nothing to provoke the attack US special envoy for Syria and US ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack speaks onstage during the 5th edition of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum in Antalya, Turkey, on 17 April 2026 (Antalya Diplomacy Forum handout via AFP) Off US special envoy for Syria Tom Barrack defended the Syrian government on Tuesday after Israeli air strikes targeted the Abu al-Duhur military air base in northern Syria, calling it an "unnecessary escalation". "The Al-Sharaa government has neither adopted a predatory posture nor maintained proxy forces. It has, in fact, repeatedly indicated a preference for de-escalation with Israel," he wrote on X.
ICC says US sanctions 'undermine the rule of law'
ICC says US sanctions 'undermine the rule of law' The International Criminal Court (ICC) said in a statement on Tuesday that US sanctions on its top members "undermine the rule of law" after Washington imposed measures on the ICC president and its senior lawyer. "When judicial actors are threatened for applying the law, it is the international legal order itself that is placed at risk," the court said in a statement sent to reporters. It added that it remains undeterred and stands firmly behind its personnel.
Houthi ballistic missile hits house near Yemen’s Taiz
Houthi ballistic missile hits house near Yemen’s Taiz A ballistic missile launched by Yemen’s Houthis hit a house in al-Akmah village in the Maqbanah district, west of Taiz, according to the media centre connected to the country’s Saudi-backed government. The media centre said the missile caused extensive damage to the house and killed several livestock, but no human casualties were reported.
US mulls shrinking military footprint in Gulf as a result of war on Iran: Report
US mulls shrinking military footprint in Gulf as a result of war on Iran: Report Submitted by MEE staff on Tue, 08/18/2026 - 19:14 Iranian missiles and drones have exposed the vulnerability of basing troops in Gulf states, current and former US officials say US military personnel participate in the 'best squad competition' at Buehring base camp in Udairi, in the northwestern region of Kuwait, on 10 May 2023 (Yasser al-Zayyat/AFP) Off The Trump administration is examining whether to pull troops out of the Gulf as a result of the US-Israeli war on Iran , with the Pentagon weighing the risks facing large US bases in the region that have come under Iranian drone and missile attack. The evaluation is being led by the Department of War’s policy office, The Washington Post reported on Tuesday, saying the war was viewed as “a once-in-a-generation chance for the Pentagon to reconsider its presence in the region”. The report said that the US has already signalled that it might not rebuild its bases attacked by Iran to pre-war status.
US announces sanctions on ICC president and senior lawyer
US announces sanctions on ICC president and senior lawyer US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has announced sanctions against the president and a senior lawyer of the International Criminal Court (ICC). The US imposed sanctions on Tuesday on Tomoko Akane, a Japanese judge who is president of the ICC, and ICC senior trial lawyer Abdoulaye Seye of Senegal, according to the US Treasury Department website. Rubio accused the individuals of directly engaging "in efforts by the ICC to investigate, arrest, detain, or prosecute officials whose government has not consented to ICC jurisdiction".
Why Trump is mad at South Korea
The US presidents clash with Seoul is part of a wider effort to reevaluate alliances and test what American protection is worth Only hours before the annual US-South Korean military exercise Ulchi Freedom Shield was due to begin, Donald Trump issued a statement that went far beyond another dispute over how much America's allies should pay for their own security.
Israeli minister shows construction of dedicated execution unit for Palestinians
Israeli minister shows construction of dedicated execution unit for Palestinians Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir shared a video on Telegram on Tuesday showing the construction of a dedicated execution facility for Palestinians after the the death penalty law for detainees in the occupied territory was passed. “We promised – we are keeping it. I promised to worsen the conditions of terrorists in prisons – we kept it.
Israeli strike on Gaza port kills at least seven, including a child
Israeli strike on Gaza port kills at least seven, including a child Submitted by MEE staff on Tue, 08/18/2026 - 18:42 At least six people were killed, including a child, and dozens injured in an Israeli bombing of a port west of Gaza City A boy walks carrying a table on his back past salvage workers scrapping the rubble of a building destroyed by an Israeli strike in Gaza City on 16 August 2026 (Omar al-Qattaa/AFP) Off An Israeli drone attack on a cafe in the port area west of Gaza City on Tuesday killed at least seven Palestinians , including a child, and left one body so mutilated that health workers could not identify the victim, according to Gaza health officials. Most of the injured, including those in critical condition, were transferred to al-Shifa Hospital, which reported that it had received six bodies and 13 wounded, one of whom succumbed to their injuries later in the evening. The hospital said one victim appeared to have taken a direct missile hit, with the body shredded beyond recognition.
Ghalibaf slams US attempts at ‘squeezing Iran harder’
Ghalibaf slams US attempts at ‘squeezing Iran harder’ Iran’s parliamentary speaker and chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said in a post to X on Tuesday that the US is misplaced in believing that “squeezing Iran harder” will win them concessions in negotiations. “Americans think squeezing Iran harder will win concessions that were never part of the agreement,” adding that US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and War Secretary Pete Hegseth are “way out of their league” “Stop waiting for the clown crew to pull a rabbit out of their hat and clean up the mess you made”, Ghalibaf said.
UKMTO says vessel struck by unknown projectiles off Yemen's Mocha
UKMTO says vessel struck by unknown projectiles off Yemen's Mocha A cargo vessel was struck by multiple unknown projectiles 40 nautical miles southeast of Yemen's Mocha on Monday, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said on Tuesday. The vessel, which was unmanned at the time of the incident, suffered "complete constructive loss," the UKMTO said.
As the world fixates on Hamas, who will disarm the Israeli settlers storming West Bank villages?
As the world fixates on Hamas, who will disarm the Israeli settlers storming West Bank villages? Submitted by Soumaya Ghannoushi on Tue, 08/18/2026 - 17:17 Palestinians are constantly asked to prove their acceptance of Israel's right to exist - yet every day, their own existence is being erased Israeli soldiers stand by the entrance of a Palestinian house besieged by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank village of Qusra, on 14 August 2026 (Jaafar Ashtiyeh/AFP) Off In Qusra, in the occupied West Bank, Palestinian families have spent August imprisoned inside their own homes. Israeli settlers pitched tents in their yards and cut them off from the outside world.
Trump shares AI-generated image declaring Strait of Hormuz "NEW U.S. Territory" amid tensions with Iran
Washington, DC [US], August 18 (ANI): Continuing his assertions of claiming control over the world's most critical oil transit bottleneck, the Strait of Hormuz, US President Donald Trump on Tuesday (local time) shared an AI-generated image of the waterway being labelled as 'New US Territory.
UAE claims Iran fired two ballistic missiles at it
The alleged attack inflicted no damage, with both projectiles falling in water, according to Emirati officials The UAE has accused Iran of firing two ballistic missiles at the Gulf nation on Tuesday, as a two-month window for US-Iran peace talks expired without a breakthrough. DETAILS TO FOLLOW (RT.
UAE claims Iran fired two ballistic missiles at maritime navigation
The alleged attack inflicted no damage, with both projectiles falling in water, according to Emirati officials The UAE has accused Iran of firing two ballistic missiles in its direction on Tuesday, as the two-month window for US-Iran peace talks expired without a breakthrough.
UAE halts all trade with Iran after alleged attack on 'maritime navigation'
The reported attack inflicted no damage, with two ballistic missiles falling in water, according to Emirati officials The UAE has accused Iran of firing two ballistic missiles in its direction on Tuesday, as the two-month window for US-Iran peace talks expired without a breakthrough.
UAE cuts economic ties with Iran after alleged missile attack
Emirati officials reported no damage, saying two ballistic missiles fell into the water The UAE has accused Iran of firing two ballistic missiles in its direction on Tuesday, as the two-month window for US-Iran peace talks expired without a breakthrough. Following the incident, Abu Dhabi announced a halt to all trade and financial transactions with Tehran.
UAE claims Iran fired two ballistic missiles at 'maritime navigation'
The alleged attack inflicted no damage, with both projectiles falling in water, according to Emirati officials The UAE has accused Iran of firing two ballistic missiles in its direction on Tuesday, as the two-month window for US-Iran peace talks expired without a breakthrough.
From renewed military response to keeping Hormuz closed until conditions are met, Ghalibaf draws red line for US amid West Asia crisis
Tehran [Iran], August 18 (ANI): Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf on Tuesday warned of a renewed military response to what Tehran describes as US violations of its commitments under the 14-point Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in June, saying that Tehran will keep the Stra
