Lebanese Shia Islamist political party with an armed wing
Israeli strikes have continued across northern, central and southern Gaza, killing and wounding civilians since the October 2025 ceasefire. Gaza’s Health Ministry has reported more than 1,500 Palestinians killed and 5,300 injured during the truce year, and roughly 74,000 killed since the October 2023 war began. Displacement, shortages and restrictions on aid remain acute.
Saudi-led forces have intercepted a ballistic missile fired by Houthi rebels toward Riyadh, officials and residents have reported. Recent Houthi strikes have hit King Khalid and Abha airports, killed foreign residents and wounded dozens, forced flight suspensions and prompted Saudi counterstrikes on Houthi positions in Yemen.
The United States has asserted control over the Strait of Hormuz, citing sanctions and military action to pressure Iran. Iran-backed groups are responding with strikes and economic strain, while the US reports ongoing efforts to keep global oil routes open amid renewed conflict.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has used his UN General Assembly address to accuse New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani of antisemitism, of supporting Hamas and of making Jewish New Yorkers feel unsafe. Mamdani has replied that Netanyahu is repeating "baseless lies" and remains subject to an International Criminal Court arrest warrant; protests and walkouts have followed the speech.
Israel has demolished more than 2km of Hezbollah tunnel infrastructure beneath the Ali al‑Taher ridge in southern Lebanon, using over 1,000 tonnes of explosives and creating a blast that registered as a 4.1‑magnitude tremor. The Israeli military says it has established operational control above and below ground and will hold a security zone while continuing strikes when necessary.
Israel has ordered the closure of the UK consulate in East Jerusalem after Britain announced sanctions on settlement goods and firms. London has said the building will remain a UK Mission and has warned it may expel Israeli diplomats if Israel forces the consulate to close. Talks and a quiet UK security adviser visit have not resolved the dispute ahead of Thursday's deadline.
Divers are revisiting Tyre’s underwater Phoenician and Roman ruins after a shaky ceasefire. UNESCO notes submerged remains; authorities fear land and underwater sites face threats while plans for underwater parks seek to boost tourism.
Supporters mark the death of Hezbollah leader Nasrallah amid renewed calls for Hezbollah disarmament. Leaders stress Israel must withdraw before any talks, while authorities push to extend state control in the south amid stalled frameworks.
Iran has presented a seven-day plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, but Washington has rejected it and negotiations appear to resume amid mounting economic strain. U.S. and Iranian officials discuss a path to reopen the strait while sanctions and asset freezes remain a flashpoint.
Syria has calibrated navigation and landing systems at Damascus and Aleppo airports to enable round‑the‑clock operations. Officials say upgrades will boost flight capacity and open new routes, while Israel’s earlier objections to calibration flights have now eased. The move accompanies a broader drive to rehabilitate Syria’s civil aviation sector and attract investment.
Iranian mediators in New York have presented a new proposal to the United States, with Qatari and Pakistani envoys shuttling ideas between Tehran and Washington. While Washington has not accepted the terms, negotiators describe discussions as positive and constructive, with a path to possible concessions on sanctions and the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran has told Qatari mediators that they have discussed US ideas on reopening the Strait of Hormuz and expect a formal American reply within a day. Tehran is maintaining a blockade of commercial shipping and is demanding a seven-day Middle East ceasefire, the release of frozen assets and an end to US sanctions and naval restrictions. Washington has so far rejected Tehran’s seven‑day truce offer and is relying on economic pressure rather than further military strikes.
Israel’s prime minister has warned of potential attacks ahead of the elections, while opposition leaders say the warnings are political. Netanyahu’s office says a security briefing has been provided to opposition leader Lapid as polls show a tight race.
Protesters at UCLA mark the third anniversary of the Oct. 7 Hamas attack, with SJP describing escalating Palestinian resistance. The event follows related talks at UC Berkeley and Claremont Colleges and ongoing campus tensions over Israel-Hamas coverage and safety.
A Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv has diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, after an altercation on the flight deck. The airline has said all passengers are safe and accounted for. Israeli officials have said a pilot stabbed the co-pilot and tried to sabotage the aircraft; Israeli warplanes monitored the diversion and passengers restrained the assailant.
Syria says intelligence services have thwarted a Hezbollah‑affiliated cell in the Yarmuk basin, arresting three individuals and revealing plans to prepare rocket launch platforms. Hezbollah denies any link, stating it has no presence in Syrian territory. The case unfolds as Israel warns of potential attacks ahead of October elections.
Syrian officials and Hezbollah representatives have held talks in Turkey to de-escalate tensions, with both Damascus and Hezbollah denying a final agreement. Reuters cites sources indicating discussions focused on stopping arms transfers and dismantling sleeper cells, while Turkey and other actors deny the meeting. The talks are described as an initial attempt to move from battlefield hostilities toward a pragmatic, if cautious, arrangement.
Lebanon faces a delicate test as its government seeks to reassert state authority north of the Litani, amid Israeli incursions and Hezbollah’s entrenched influence. Leaders call for disarmament of Hezbollah while navigating regional tensions and international pressure, with reconstruction and sovereignty on the line.
The Lebanese army says a blast in Nabatieh Al-Fawqa wounded a soldier and three civilians during an escort operation to inspect properties. Initial reports of an Israeli strike have given way to the army's conclusion that a suspicious object caused the blast. The broader conflict involving Hezbollah and Israel continues to influence the region, with US-brokered talks and pilot zones shaping the security landscape.
Israel has stated it will continue targeting anyone involved in the Hamas attack and hostages, as violence and casualties in Gaza mount after the Hamas-led assault on Oct. 7, 2023. Leaders mark anniversaries and pledge resolve amid ongoing conflict and post-war planning.
The UN warns of growing civilian harm as fighting and displacement intensify in Tigray, Baidoa and southern Lebanon, with attacks on healthcare and critical infrastructure; UNICEF and other agencies report mounting needs among children and families amid growing access challenges for aid.
Three years after Hamas’s Oct. 7 attack, Israel faces a pivotal election that could determine the future of Benjamin Netanyahu’s premiership. Voters weigh accountability for security failures against a demand for stability as regional dynamics remain volatile and Gaza’s humanitarian toll persists.
Maritime agencies and industry groups have reported a recent surge in attacks on tankers transiting the Strait of Hormuz, including at least a dozen strikes in a single week and multiple crew injuries. Exports from the Gulf briefly recovered to near prewar levels in September, but shipping risks and higher tanker fees have pushed flows below those levels and kept crude prices volatile.
Israel marks three years since the Hamas-led attack of Oct. 7, 2023, with memorials, vigils and protests across the country. Activists demand a state commission of inquiry into security failures. The day features national ceremonies, regional gatherings, and a moment of silence at 6:29 a.m. as communities reflect on the war’s toll.
Maricarmen Abascal has died after a high-profile eviction in Madrid sparked protests and a national housing debate. The case has intensified calls for tighter eviction rules, a potential snap election, and renewed scrutiny of housing affordability.
Smuggling attempts along the Lebanon-Syria border have intensified, with recent seizures of explosives and firearms reported by Lebanese and Syrian authorities. The incidents highlight ongoing cross-border trafficking across a 330-375 km frontier, where authorities are tightening controls after renewed seizures this year.
The Guardian has found that in July and August, over 176,000 tonnes of diesel and other fuels loaded at South Korean ports were shipped on seven tankers to Russia’s Far East, including vessels under UK and EU sanctions. South Korea says its laws were not violated and will review vessel routes and declarations. Ukraine calls this a breach of sanctions amid escalating tensions with Seoul.
The European Union has established the European Union Support Mission in Lebanon (EUSM Lebanon) to train and advise the Lebanese Armed Forces and Internal Security Forces as UNIFIL winds down. The mission will run for an initial three years, with two components—military and civilian—focused on border security, maritime operations, cybercrime, anti-smuggling and sovereignty, while not replacing UN peacekeepers.
El-Sayed has sparked controversy by saying Israel is not an ally if it drags the US into unnecessary wars, during a debate in Grand Rapids. Rogers pressed him on Israel vs. Iran, and the exchange has intensified scrutiny from Jewish Democrats and donors. The candidate maintains he has condemned Hamas’s Oct. 7 attack, while critics push back on his foreign policy stance.
Israeli and Hezbollah-linked activities in the Lebanon-Syria border region have intensified following a recent surge in attacks. Lebanese authorities report casualties and a series of strikes, with Israel asserting it is targeting operatives believed to pose threats from southern Syria to Israeli forces. The situation has prompted ongoing tension along the border.
Since Oct. 15, Israeli forces have continued incursions into southern Syria, detaining civilians, seizing land and targeting farming areas near Quneitra and Daraa. The Syrian government and UN rights bodies warn of ongoing violations of sovereignty and civilian livelihoods as authorities call for Israel’s withdrawal under the 1974 disengagement framework.
Two men have been killed during the olive harvest in south Lebanon: one by Israeli shelling and the other by a war-remnant explosion. Local authorities warn residents to avoid olive groves until decontamination is complete, as sporadic attacks and ongoing fighting continue to affect the region.
A school trip near the Lebanon border has resulted in a deadly blast and multiple injuries. Initial reports point to unexploded ordnance, with investigations focusing on route approvals, safety measures, and the handling of munitions by students. Authorities are reviewing authorities and safety protocols as the area remains volatile.
Hezbollah has announced an aid programme for Lebanese households displaced by the war with Israel, offering up to $14,000 per household in Beirut and the south and $12,000 elsewhere. Daamoush notes payments will cover furniture and rent, with centers to review cases. The move comes amid sanctions pressure from the US and tighter Lebanese controls, and as the group seeks to bolster support ahead of ongoing tensions.
Israel has warned it will seize further southern Lebanon territory and evacuate Beirut’s Dahieh district if Hezbollah aligns with Iran in an attack on Israel. The remarks come amid rising tensions as Hezbollah eyes a broader confrontation, with Israel preparing a potential ground offensive in the south.
UNIFIL's mandate in southern Lebanon is being contested as Lebanon seeks a one-year extension amid regional tensions. Jean-Pierre Lacroix has met Lebanese officials and UN partners to discuss the force's future after the end of 2026, while Western and regional actors weigh options for a successor arrangement.
The Conflict Armament Research report shows the Houthis are developing longer-range missiles using Chinese parts. The effort suggests growing independence from Iran and the potential to threaten Saudi Arabia, Israel and other Gulf states. China’s role and responses are under scrutiny as the war expands.
Northern Ireland former DUP leader has been convicted of rape and indecent assault involving two girls, with a judge condemning a ‘catastrophic descent into disgrace.’ The sentences run consecutively, and his wife has been found to have aided and abetted the offences. Victims describe lifelong impacts as the case reaffirms that public status does not shield abuse from the law.
Lebanese authorities have intercepted a vehicle carrying hundreds of kilograms of explosives. Hezbollah says the explosives belong to the group and were intended for use against Israeli forces, while Lebanon vows to pursue those responsible and press for accountability.
The United States is pressing Lebanon to amend or repeal the 1955 Boycott of Israel law as Lebanon and Israel resume U.S.-brokered talks. Lebanese authorities have dismissed claims of ambassadorial contact that could breach the law, while Washington urges a focus on Hezbollah and broader reforms as negotiations continue.
Qatar has pledged ongoing support for Lebanon’s army and outlined a plan with TotalEnergies to develop a solar power plant, funded and implemented by Qatar without cost to Lebanon. The move accompanies talks on southern Lebanon’s security and reconstruction, amid Israel-Hezbollah tensions and displacement from the region’s ongoing conflict.