Lebanon: Levantine republic at the crossroads of the Mediterranean and Middle East
Haaretz has published book extracts saying UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed has warned Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in late September 2023 that Hamas planned a major operation; Haaretz says Netanyahu reacted calmly and did not share the warning with security chiefs. Netanyahu has denied the call and has ordered a libel suit; Haaretz has stood by its reporting. Today is Thu, 10 Sep 2026 20:04:38 +0100.
The IAEA board has voted 23–3 with eight abstentions to refer Iran to the UN Security Council after inspectors lost access to bombed sites and Iran failed to explain uranium traces. China, Russia and Niger opposed the motion. The referral is unlikely to trigger UN action because Russia and China hold vetoes.
Authorities say a 42-year-old woman and a 60-year-old man have been arrested in London on suspicion of assisting a foreign intelligence service. Both have been released on bail until late October. The operation is not linked to earlier attacks targeting Jewish or Iranian sites in the capital this year.
Renewed U.S.–Iran exchanges have resumed after a pause, with U.S. forces striking three Iranian tankers and Iran claiming attacks on U.S. vessels. Iran's parliament speaker has warned the United States that "the rules of the game have changed" while Tehran is also confronting mounting economic strain and threats to oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz.
Brent crude has risen above $100 a barrel after US forces struck multiple Iranian tankers and Iran and its proxies have struck vessels and Saudi facilities. Markets have pushed UK petrol and gas prices higher and analysts warn wholesale and household energy bills will increase ahead of winter.
Brent crude has climbed toward $97 a barrel after renewed exchanges of strikes between the United States and Iran over the past week. US strikes have hit sites along Iran's southern coast while Iran has attacked US-linked vessels and bases in the region; shipping through the Strait of Hormuz remains constrained and US pump and diesel prices have risen.
Prince William and the Royal Foundation have launched On Your Side, a toolkit and online resources to embed suicide prevention in sport. The programme, backed by the FA, Premier League and Team GB, aims to empower grassroots and elite levels to spot warning signs, start conversations, and direct people to help. The launch coincides with World Suicide Prevention Day.
The Israel Defense Forces have adopted a policy of zero containment and zero tolerance toward launches of kites and balloons from Gaza toward the Negev, with officials stating that any balloon or kite will be treated as a drone, with or without explosives. The move follows clashes linked to the 2023 Hamas attacks and raises the stakes in the broader Gaza conflict.
Palestinian and Israeli sources report a sharp rise in West Bank violence. Dozens of settler attacks have targeted towns including Masafer Yatta, Jenin, Qusra and Hebron, with Palestinians injured, property damaged and several homes besieged. The violence coincides with increased Israeli military operations and ongoing clashes.
Three years into displacement in Gaza’s Deir-al‑Balah camps, women face severe menstrual health challenges as sanitation and water access collapse amid the siege. Pads have vanished, prices have soared, and private, dignified care has become a luxury.
The United States has escalated economic pressure on Iran with new sanctions, while markets digest the implications for oil supply and global finance. Iran vows resilience as China defends its interests amid the push. Prices wobble but stabilize after early volatility.
Israel has launched airstrikes against targets in Syria, citing imminent threats from a Turkish deployment near Aleppo. The move follows recent strikes on Abu al-Duhur airbase and has drawn condemnation from Syria, Turkey, and the US, who call for de-escalation. The situation remains fluid as regional actors weigh their next steps.
The Israel Defense Forces have downed a drone and struck Hezbollah infrastructure in southern Lebanon after a drone attack targeted troops in Nabatieh Ridge. The incidents prompt warnings near Arab Salim and Nabatieh as strikes continue and regional tensions rise amid ongoing ceasefire negotiations.
The latest sanctions have intensified economic pressure on Tehran as a U.S.-led effort to reopen the Strait of Hormuz stalls. Tehran says it will respond with intensified measures while Washington maintains its economic campaign.
Barrack’s comments about Israel’s status over the Golan Heights have sparked renewed international criticism and intensified debate over U.S. policy dating back to 2019. The ambassador says the remarks describe historical status, not UN positions, and emphasizes that ongoing negotiations shape the region’s future.
A Damascus court has found Ahmad Hassoun, Syria’s former grand mufti, guilty of inciting violence and supporting the regime, delivering a life sentence and additional terms. The ruling comes amid a wave of trials against Assad-era officials as the new authorities push for accountability.
Iran and the United States are locked in a widening standoff over the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran arrays for potential retaliation as Washington expands sanctions targeting Iran’s digital assets, gold, aviation and shipping. Mediators in the region push to reopen Hormuz and end hostilities amid rising economic pressure.
The United States has removed Syria from its state sponsor of terrorism list, and has also delisted the al-Nusrah Front. Damascus says the move unlocks investment and accelerates reconstruction as it seeks to reintegrate with the global economy. Washington frames the step as a path to stability, while analysts caution continued regional risks.
A year after the Aug. 25, 2025 strike on Nasser Hospital, whistleblowers and witness accounts challenge Israel’s stated rationale. Reports allege a pattern of targeting journalists and emergency workers, with calls for accountability increasing across rights groups and policymakers.
The Strait of Hormuz has seen mines cleared, enabling greater tanker traffic. Iran and Oman are negotiating a temporary corridor while broader management of the strait remains under discussion. Sanctions and regional tensions continue to shape energy markets.
The Strait of Hormuz remains a focal point in the ongoing conflict. The US has pursued an open-ended economic strategy to pressure Iran, while regional diplomacy seeks a safer passage. Several sources indicate tactical gains for the US and renewed talks, but no durable off-ramp has been established.
Israeli and international carriers are expanding routes and resuming services amid ongoing conflict-related volatility. Delta and United are returning to Ben Gurion, Israir is launching Tel Aviv-New York, and Israeli airlines are increasing capacity, while fares remain high in the near term. A direct Manila route is planned, and fares to the US show volatility through the fall travel season.
US forces have carried out strikes on Iranian rocket launchers on Larak Island after they detected efforts to deploy rockets with naval mines into the Strait of Hormuz. Iran has launched missile and drone attacks at US bases in Jordan and the UAE in response. Both sides are signalling readiness to hit back again while diplomatic and economic pressure continues.
The State Department has begun lifting staffing restrictions in several embassies, citing HR policy constraints and a plan to resume normal operations. Family members of diplomats are returning in Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Israel(Lebanon staff over 21). The move marks a shift six months into the Iran conflict, with embassies operating under a new “restricted operations” status as cases are reviewed.
Lebanon and Israel are engaged in direct talks mediated by the US, after Hezbollah-triggered conflict escalations. A framework signed in June calls for Hezbollah disarmament and a staged Israeli withdrawal from south Lebanon, with Greece and Athens’ arms deal cited as regional context. Lebanon seeks renewed UNIFIL support as violence persists.
The Shin Bet has confirmed a significant threat to Yair Netanyahu and has extracted him and his security team from Florida, returning them to Israel. Netanyahu has claimed Iran targeted one of his sons, prompting international security actions and ongoing scrutiny of the case.
Democratic Senate hopeful Abdul El-Sayed has apologized for remarks linking a Temple Israel attack to broader context and is pursuing outreach to Jewish voters in Michigan as the race against Republican Mike Rogers intensifies.
Muslim leaders are urged to unite against what Tehran deems the enemies of Islam, with calls for cooperation and mutual defense as the Iran war enters its sixth month. Reports say West Bank violence and regional tensions are escalating alongside diplomatic engagements in Istanbul and Tehran.
In Nepal, a teacher evacuates Tribhuvan Trishuli Secondary School as floods follow a glacial collapse, saving around 900 students while at least two staff members remain missing. The disaster has killed more than 900 people across Nepal and China, with thousands more missing, and destroyed dozens of schools.
Israel has secured a nearly €3 billion defense export deal with Greece, delivering a multi-layered air‑defense array including David’s Sling, SPYDER and BARAK MX, plus radars and a national command system. A supplementary €26 million deal covers Rafael’s Drone Dome. The package elevates relations amid regional tensions and Europe’s security recalibration.
Arab party Raam will run on an anti-crime platform with Yoav Segalovitz, a Jewish former police official, joining the list. Abbas says cooperation is possible; poll projections place Raam at five or six seats in the Knesset. The move signals a shift toward coalition politics but is met with criticism from Likud.
Meta has agreed to an $18 billion settlement with 48 states to strengthen age-verification and safety tools on Instagram and Facebook. The deal does not admit liability and carves out ongoing oversight, with audits and time-bound improvements. Other platforms like YouTube and TikTok are urged to follow suit.
Iran and the United States remain locked in a volatile standoff over a June ceasefire framework. Iran says it will reciprocate if the US returns to commitments under the MoU, while regional diplomacy at the SCO summit in Kyrgyzstan seeks to de-escalate and reopen Hormuz. Attacks in the Strait of Hormuz continue, and allied diplomacy intensifies.
Israel has intensified strikes across south Lebanon, killing dozens and hitting towns near Nabatieh and Tyre amid ongoing clashes with Hezbollah. The attacks target suspected Hezbollah facilities and infrastructure after a recent ceasefire framework, with casualties including women and children and displacement continuing in border regions.
The UK has announced a broader policy review on its stance toward Israeli settlements, with ministers signaling potential bans on settlement goods and related services to push for a two-state solution. The stance follows recent calls for a comprehensive reset of UK-Israel relations and ongoing debates over international law.
US carriers are returning to Ben Gurion, expanding seats as demand climbs for the Jewish New Year and holidays. Despite new capacity, fares remain high through autumn, with relief not expected until November as demand shifts post-election.
Israel’s parties have submitted candidate lists ahead of the 2026 elections. Likud and Religious Zionist Party are among the last to file, while the Joint List also appears on the slate. Polls suggest no single party will secure a majority, and democracy concerns are rising among Israelis amid a shifting political landscape.
The Iran war has entered its seventh month. White House aides warn Tehran can resist pressure and sustain the conflict beyond January 2029, while President Trump argues the war could end immediately after the November midterms. Public remarks differ from private assessments, signaling a possible continuation of hostilities through the president’s term.
The United States has pressed economic measures against Iran while warnings of potential unrest rise at home. In parallel, President Trump and allies have framed the conflict as ongoing and not yet a declared war, with lawmakers debating constitutional authority amid rising energy prices.
Israel has operational control of the Ali al-Taher ridge and is conducting strikes in southern Lebanon. The ridge overlooks Nabatieh and the Litani, with Hezbollah remaining in control of much of the south. The situation follows a US-brokered ceasefire framework and broader regional tensions.
The UAE has granted a presidential pardon to Abdul Rahman Yusuf al-Qaradawi, who faced a 10-year prison sentence and a 200,000 dirham fine in Abu Dhabi. The pardon follows extensive international scrutiny and his extradition from Lebanon in 2024-2025.
US Central Command has said it has permanently disabled two Iranian crude oil tankers off Kharg Island and Jask and has destroyed a third in the Gulf of Oman after Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps fired ballistic missiles toward a US aircraft carrier and destroyer. CENTCOM said no US personnel were harmed.
Tensions in the West Bank have intensified as Israeli settlers clash with Palestinians amid recurring violence. Ambassadors and officials condemn attacks, while Palestinian communities report damage to homes and religious sites. International actors warn of escalating instability in the region.
Adidas faces backlash after an Israel-only campaign featuring Shalev Biton, an ex-soldier who lost a leg, prompts boycott calls amid Gaza war coverage. Adidas says the posters were local to Israel and not a global campaign, while activists accuse the brand of normalising violence. The controversy follows similar criticism of Ralph Lauren’s campaign featuring Gal Gadot.
The International Court of Justice is hearing Germany’s objections to Nicaragua’s genocide case, arguing the court lacks jurisdiction and that key claims are inadmissible. The hearings come amid ongoing Gaza violence and a wider legal battle over Israel’s actions in the territory. Germany is defending its arms exports while Nicaragua accuses Berlin of facilitating genocide through support for Israel.
The latest from Al Jazeera, AP, Independent and France 24 shows a surge in Yemen-Houthi-Israel- Lebanon-Israel-Hezbollah clashes. Houthis claim to have shot down a Saudi reconnaissance plane; Yemen's conflict has intensified around Bab al-Mandeb and al-Jawf, with air strikes and drone battles raising regional tensions. UN warns risk of full-scale war.
Gadi Eisenkot’s Yashar is gaining ground ahead of the October 27 election, while rival blocs struggle to form a majority. Netanyahu’s Likud expands reserved spots, but polls show no clear winner. Several parties submit candidate slates amid concerns about democracy and unity.
The Gaza roadmap proposed by Trump and the Peace Council has sparked clashes between Washington and Israeli leadership. Netanyahu is delaying aspects of the plan, while a new Palestinian administration could supervise disarmament and border arrangements. Hamas has signaled conditional acceptance, but Israeli cooperation remains in question. US pressure and regional dynamics are shaping the next steps as Israel nears its October elections.
More than 70,000 migrants have entered Ceuta from Morocco in a chaotic July surge. Morocco denies involvement and urges careful handling of the incident; Spain has faced internal and EU pressure. The EU is providing emergency aid to bolster border security and returns.
The Temporary Protected Status for El Salvador is expiring this week, and the Department of Homeland Security has not set a firm end date. If DHS takes no action, protections and work permits are automatically extended for six months. Officials say a final decision will be announced at the appropriate time, with implications for about 200,000 Salvadorans and broader TPS policy changes.