The Israeli strikes killed at least 10 people, including a Hezbollah military official, in the Bekaa Valley region, in another violation of the ceasefire signed in November 2024. Twenty-four people, including three children, were wounded middleeasteye.pulse.ly/rrpbv…

Anabel Mendoza has called out several of her rivals during a heated Democratic candidate debate for Congress, raising questions about AIPAC campaign funding and political influence. Speaking on stage, Mendoza said she would never accept money from corporate PACs or AIPAC, adding that other candidates in the race were funded by powerful interests rather than voters. She named Melissa Conyers Irvin for taking AIPAC-linked money and called on her to resign from her role as city treasurer, criticising her record in office. Mendoza also referenced Jason Friedman, who did not attend the debate, saying he was also taking AIPAC-aligned funding. The debate comes as several Democrats compete for their party’s nomination in a closely watched congressional race.

The Islamic State group (IS) on Saturday urged its followers to carry out attacks on Syria's government and national army, in its spokesperson's first audio message in two years middleeasteye.pulse.ly/pxia8…

On Friday evening, a Palestinian man was violently attacked and arrested by Israeli forces at Jaffa Gate near the Old City, just before Taraweeh prayers at Al-Aqsa. Witnesses said he had done nothing wrong, and some bystanders tried to intervene, with one even offering to be arrested in his place to stop the assault. Israeli forces pushed the crowd behind metal barriers and continued the assault, which was captured on video by those nearby. The footage highlights yet another instance of routine violence against Palestinians in Jerusalem.

Meanwhile, a certain interdependence in democratic repression seems to have developed between the two countries

Since then, the Algerian president has made comments and statements that sometimes sparked controversy in Tunisia, including endorsing Saied’s claims of a “plot against Tunisia” in 2023, as most Tunisian opposition figures began to be jailed on charges of conspiring against the state, or declaring in September 2025 that the two neighbours “are practically one single country”

After supporting successive Tunisian governments following the 2011 revolution that toppled long-time autocrat Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali, Algeria issued only muted calls to “return to the democratic path” after Tunisian President Kais Saied’s power grab middleeasteye.pulse.ly/l1wur…

Speaking on MS NOW's Morning Joe, Araghchi said the US side "did not ask Iran to agree to 'zero enrichment'" in the Geneva talks. He added that Iran's aim is to ensure its programme "is peaceful and would remain peaceful forever", and that Tehran is prepared to take "confidence-building measures" in exchange for sanctions relief

Tehran insists enrichment is its sovereign right, even though its centrifuges remain largely inoperable after last June's airstrikes

Despite Washington's stated demand for "zero enrichment", both Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and a senior US official have hinted that limited, symbolic enrichment might be examined if Iran can demonstrate that it poses no proliferation risk middleeasteye.pulse.ly/0iakm…

Speaking at a rally in Manchester, Green Party deputy leader Mothin Ali said the campaign in Gorton and Denton had brought together a wide range of left-wing groups to oppose the far right. The event marked cooperation between the Green Party and Your Party, with Corbyn speaking on behalf of Your Party and Ali representing the Greens. Ali said the Denton and Gorton campaign had succeeded in unifying the left, with backing from groups that do not usually work together. He said the campaign had received endorsements ranging from the Workers’ Party to independents and supporters of Corbyn. Corbyn told the crowd that Your Party and the Greens were united in the need to defeat the far right, Reform UK, fascists and racists. He confirmed his support for the Greens in the Denton by-election, saying a victory would send a clear political message that the left can work together to challenge the far right at the ballot box.

Hezbollah said on Saturday that the group “no longer has any option” but to defend itself after the deadliest Israeli strikes in weeks hit eastern Lebanon on Friday middleeasteye.pulse.ly/9rbxd…

Speaking at a Religious Zionism Party event, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich called for “eliminating the idea of a terrorist Arab state” and “cancelling the terrible Oslo Accords”. Smotrich also called for settling Gaza and expelling Palestinians from Gaza and the West Bank. “We will settle Gaza, we will apply sovereignty in Judea and Samaria,” he said.

Speaking to Middle East Eye, Green Party candidate in the forthcoming Gorton and Denton by-election Hannah Spencer emphasised the importance of events in Gaza for the local constituency. “People are really angry about how Labour failed to call it a genocide or to bring any measures against the Israeli government,” she said.

Read more ⤵️ middleeasteye.net/news/calls…

Islamic State calls for attacks on Syrian government In its first audio message in two years, the group said its priority is toppling the new Syrian government

“When a girls' tennis match between two Johannesburg schools was cancelled, allegations of antisemitism led to resignations and apologies. But students say it was a boycott over Israel” ✍️ Opinion by Azad Essa middleeasteye.pulse.ly/vcyoi…

Read more ⤵️ middleeasteye.pulse.ly/ep7me…

"The official spokesperson for the ministry, Ambassador Fuad Al-Majali, rejected these absurd and provocative statements, which constitute a violation of diplomatic norms, an assault on the sovereignty of the countries of the region," it said

The Jordanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs described the statements by Huckabee as "irresponsible, escalatory and absurd"