Middle East

US congresswoman: Israeli genocide 'paid for by American taxpayers'

US Representative Delia Ramirez said on Wednesday that Israel's genocide against Palestinians "has not ended" and is funded by American taxpayers, urging Congress to pass her bill blocking US bomb transfers to Israel as humanitarian conditions deteriorate in Gaza.

Israel's Eisenkot mounts quiet challenge to oust Netanyahu

Former Israeli military chief Gadi Eisenkot has emerged as the leading challenger to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in upcoming elections, pledging to restore calm and international standing after years of divisive rightward drift and devastating war in Gaza.

Malaysian PM demands justice for Palestinians, condemns Gaza genocide

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on Wednesday reaffirmed his country's unequivocal condemnation of the genocide in Gaza and opposition to the indiscriminate bombing of Lebanon, stating that he has engaged with Gulf leaders to prevent the escalating conflict from spreading further.

Pakistan army chief urges Iran to curb Houthi attacks

Pakistan's army chief urged Iranian leaders to use their influence to halt Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia during his latest visit to Tehran, explaining Islamabad's commitment to defend the kingdom under the Mecca defense pact, sources told Anadolu on Wednesday.

Türkiye defense minister meets Qatari counterpart in Doha

Defense Minister Yaşar Güler met with Qatar's Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani in Doha on Wednesday to discuss bilateral military cooperation and regional security developments, according to a statement from the Turkish Defense Ministry.

Jerusalem church leaders say impunity fuels West Bank attacks

The Patriarchs and Heads of Churches in Jerusalem said Tuesday that a lack of accountability is fueling attacks by Israeli occupiers in the West Bank, condemning a recent assault on Palestinian olive harvesters and European diplomats who had come to show solidarity in the village of Taybeh.

Türkiye, Qatar, Pakistan, Indonesia sign defense pact

Türkiye will join Qatar, Pakistan and Indonesia in signing a defense industry memorandum in Doha to strengthen joint production, technology transfer and supply chain integration.

Netanyahu turns to rabbi to block right-wing rival

Netanyahu visited a West Bank rabbi to persuade Amcha Yisrael leader Ofer Winter to withdraw from Israel's Oct. 27 elections, fearing a split right-wing vote could cost his bloc seats in the Knesset.

Israeli president meets Hungarian counterpart, premier in Budapest

Israeli President Isaac Herzog met with Hungarian President Andras Baka and Prime Minister Peter Magyar in Budapest on Tuesday, with both sides emphasizing the importance of preserving peace and security while agreeing to strengthen historical, cultural and defence cooperation between the two nations.

Ben-Gvir mocks Gazans in AI video ahead of Israel elections

Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir on Tuesday released an AI-generated campaign video depicting Gaza as a ruined ghost town in 2030, mocking Palestinians who remain in the territory while boasting of the destruction inflicted by his government ahead of Oct. 27 parliamentary elections.

Israeli minister threatens Beirut suburbs over rocket fire

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned Tuesday that any rocket or drone attacks would trigger strikes on Beirut's southern suburbs, threatening to expand the occupation toward Nabatieh and the Litani River if Hezbollah joins an Iranian assault.

Israel election: Four scenarios as polls predict deadlock

Israelis will elect a new parliament on October 27 with polls showing a tight race between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing coalition and the opposition bloc led by former military chief Gadi Eisenkot, raising the prospect of protracted coalition negotiations or even a return to the polls.

Israeli army chief excluded from secret Netanyahu-Hegseth talks

KAN reported that Army Chief Zamir was excluded from secret talks between Netanyahu and US Defense Secretary Hegseth at a southern airbase ahead of Israel's Oct. 27 elections.

Lebanese army rejects Israeli claims over Hezbollah disarmament

The Lebanese army on Tuesday rejected Israeli claims that it failed to disarm Hezbollah south of the Litani River, saying its operations were fully documented by the ceasefire monitoring committee and accusing Tel Aviv of spreading misinformation to undermine credibility during ongoing negotiations.

Opera removes flag-raising singer

UN warns 1.6M children in Yemen's Taiz risk losing water access

UNICEF warns that over 1.6 million children in Yemen's Taiz risk losing water access as fighting disrupts supply routes and fuel shortages threaten critical infrastructure.

UK deploys RAF Typhoons to Saudi Arabia for defensive missions

The British government announced on Tuesday that Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter jets will deploy to Saudi Arabia to protect cities and critical infrastructure against Houthi missile and drone attacks, while warning that escalating Gulf violence could raise UK living costs and disrupt energy supplies.

Iran warns US attacks will face retaliation

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei warned that Tehran would retaliate against any US military strike, dismissing reports of a secret non-response agreement.

Israel deports Scottish businesswoman over Hamas accusations

Yasmina Ferrigan said Israeli authorities detained her for five hours at Ben Gurion Airport on Friday, accusing her of being a Hamas terrorist and threatening her with elimination before deporting her from the country despite her business mission to meet Palestinian trade partners.

Pakistan army chief to visit Iran for US mediation talks

Pakistan's army chief will travel to Tehran on Tuesday to discuss Islamabad's mediation efforts between Iran and the United States, according to Iranian media reports.