Daily Archives: 23. März 2026


23.03.2026 - 22:01 [ Middle East Eye ]

Exclusive: ‚Handful‘ of ICC states aim to sabotage report clearing Karim Khan

A minority of members from the bureau of the Assembly of States Parties (ASP) at the International Criminal Court (ICC) are calling for the findings of a judges‘ report, which found no evidence of misconduct against ICC prosecutor Karim Khan, to be ignored, Middle East Eye can reveal.

MEE reported exclusively on Saturday that the court’s chief prosecutor had been cleared of any wrongdoing by a panel of three senior judges appointed by the bureau of the ASP, the ICC’s governing body, to review the findings of a United Nations investigation into complaints of alleged sexual misconduct.

23.03.2026 - 21:52 [ Middle East Eye ]

Exclusive: Judges clear ICC’s Karim Khan over sexual misconduct claims

(March 21, 2026)

Karim Khan, the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, has been cleared of all wrongdoing by a panel of judges appointed to review the findings of a United Nations investigation into sexual misconduct allegations against him, Middle East Eye can exclusively reveal.

The highly confidential report by the panel of three judges was submitted to the ICC’s executive oversight body, the Bureau of the Assembly of States Parties (ASP), on 9 March. It will not be made publicly available, and has not been seen by the majority of the court‘s 125 member states.

23.03.2026 - 21:45 [ Common Dreams ]

Israel Defense Minister Deploys ‚Gaza Model‘ in Lebanon, Ordering Destruction of Villages

Israel is planning to use Gaza as a „model“ for its expanding assault on Lebanon, its defense minister said on Sunday as he pledged to begin the demolition of homes in border villages.

In a statement Sunday, Defense Minister Israel Katz said he and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had ordered the Israel Defense Forces to „immediately destroy all the bridges over the Litani River that are used for terrorist activity, in order to prevent the passage of Hezbollah terrorists and weapons southward.“

23.03.2026 - 21:27 [ LBCI Lebanon ]

Lebanon death toll rises to 1,039 as Israeli strikes continue: Health Ministry

Lebanon‘s Public Health Ministry said the total number of people killed since March 2 has risen to 1,039, with 2,876 others wounded, according to its daily report on Israeli attacks across the country.

The report, issued by the ministry‘s emergency operations center, said that in the past 24 hours alone, 10 people were killed and 90 others injured.

23.03.2026 - 20:52 [ LBCI Lebanon ]

Israel expands ground operations in South Lebanon, deepens buffer zone strategy

As Israel escalates its operations in Lebanon, it is also preparing for a potential escalation in its conflict with Iran. While awaiting developments regarding possible U.S.-Iran negotiations, Israel‘s air force is reportedly preparing for joint operations with the United States Army if diplomacy fails, including scenarios involving the Strait of Hormuz.

23.03.2026 - 19:58 [ Dr. S. Jaishankar, External Affairs Minister of India / X ]

Had a detailed telecon this evening with US @SecRubio . Our discussions focused on the West Asia conflict and its impact on the international economy.

We particularly spoke about energy security concerns. Agreed to remain in touch.

23.03.2026 - 19:50 [ Al Jazeera ]

Photos: Long lines for two-wheeler refuelling across India

People queue for petrol for two-wheelers amid concerns over potential supply disruptions, as authorities say there are no shortages, during the ongoing US-Israeli war on Iran, in Ahmedabad, India

23.03.2026 - 19:26 [ PressTV.ir ]

Iran confirms no talks held with US during war

Arab officials said their efforts to broker an understanding between Tehran and Washington have so far failed to yield results.

Baghaei confirmed that Iran has received messages through some friendly countries over the past few days regarding the US request for negotiations to end the ongoing war. He said Iran has responded appropriately and based on the Islamic Republic’s principled positions.

23.03.2026 - 19:21 [ Al Jazeera ]

Pakistan’s Sharif speaks to Iran’s Pezeshkian, discuss ‘grave situation in Gulf region

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif says he has spoken with Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian, promising his country’s help in bringing peace to the region.

“We discussed the grave situation in the Gulf region and agreed on the urgent need for de-escalation, dialogue, and diplomacy,” Sharif said in a social media post.

23.03.2026 - 19:12 [ New York Times ]

Israel Thought It Could Spur Rebellion Inside Iran. That Hasn’t Happened.

Within days of the war’s beginning, said David Barnea, the Mossad chief, his service would likely be able to galvanize the Iranian opposition — igniting riots and other acts of rebellion that could even lead to the collapse of Iran’s government. Mr. Barnea also presented the proposal to senior Trump administration officials during a visit to Washington in mid-January.

Mr. Netanyahu adopted the plan.

23.03.2026 - 15:10 [ Reuters ]

Saudi Aramco cuts oil supply to Asia for second month in April

Saudi Arabia ​has exported 4.355 million barrels per day of crude so ‌far ⁠in March, data from analytics firm Kpler showed, down from 7.108 million bpd in February.

The producer is trying to boost crude exports via ​Yanbu to ​offset the ⁠Strait of Hormuz disruption, with loadings seen rising to record volumes in ​March. China‘s top refiner Sinopec (600028.SS), opens new tab is ​set ⁠to load about 24 million barrels of Saudi crude from Yanbu in March.

23.03.2026 - 15:03 [ Reuters ]

UK sees no evidence of Iran targeting Britain, says Starmer

He was asked if Britain could ​be targeted by Iran ​after reports at the weekend that ‌Iran ⁠had fired two ballistic missiles at the U.S.-U.K. military base Diego Garcia in the ​Indian Ocean.

Starmer ​also ⁠said that any attempt to reopen the ​Strait of Hormuz needed ​careful ⁠consideration and a viable plan, and that his number ⁠one ​priority was to ​protect British interests and de-escalate.

23.03.2026 - 14:59 [ Middle East Eye ]

Netanyahu calls for international involvement in US-Israeli war on Iran

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called on world leaders to participate in the US-Israeli assault on Iran.

Speaking from the site of an attack in the southern Israeli city of Arad, Netanyahu said: „It‘s time for world leaders to join us, and I’m seeing movement from some in that direction.“

He warned that Iran „has the whole world in its sights“.

23.03.2026 - 14:53 [ Jerusalem Post ]

Netanyahu warns Iran can reach ‚deep into Europe,‘ urges world leaders to act at Arad missile site

(March 22, 2026)

“They have the capacity to reach deep into Europe,” Netanyahu warned. “They are putting everyone in their sights.”

“If you want proof that Iran endangers the entire world, the last 48 hours have proved it,” he said. “They fired on Jerusalem right next to the holy sites of the three monotheistic faiths.”

“It’s time to see the leaders of the rest of the countries join up,” Netanyahu pointed out. “I’m happy to see that some of them are moving in that direction, but more is needed.”

23.03.2026 - 14:12 [ New York Times ]

Shortly after President Trump announced that the United States had held productive talks to end the war, the Israeli military said it had conducted a new wave of strikes against the Iranian government.

(55 min ago)