Ceasefires have been announced, often to great fanfare, in Gaza, Lebanon and Iran. So why is there still so much fighting?
Archiv: Westasien („Naher / Mittlerer Osten“) / West Asia („Near / Middle East“)
I had a very productive call with Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, of Israel, and there will be no Troops going to Beirut, and any Troops that are on their way, have already been turned back.
Likewise, through highly placed Representatives, I had a very good call with Hezbollah, and they agreed that all shooting will stop — That Israel will not attack them, and they will not attack Israel. President DONALD J. TRUMP
Bundeswehreinsatz gegen den „Islamischen Staat“ wird fortgesetzt
(January 29, 2026)
Vor allem an der Grenze zur irakischen Region Anbar, aber auch in den zwischen Bagdad und Erbil umstrittenen Regionen in Nordirak sei der IS bestrebt, sich Rückzugsräume zu schaffen und erneut territorial Fuß zu fassen. Dabei stelle sich die Terrororganisation in ihren Befehls- und Kampfstrukturen zunehmend dezentral auf. So gelinge es ihr dem hohen Verfolgungsdruck teils auszuweichen.
Völkerrechtliche Grundlage für den Fähigkeitsaufbau der regulären irakischer Streit- und Sicherheitskräfte ist laut Bundesregierung die Zustimmung der irakischen Regierung sowie mehrere Resolutionen des UN-Sicherheitsrates, nach denen vom IS eine Bedrohung für den Weltfrieden und die internationale Sicherheit ausgeht.
Iran says its proposal was generous as US insists on ‘unreasonable demands’
Regarding the US accusations against Iran, Baghaei said, Iran has proven to be a responsible power in the region, and at the same time, it is anti-bullying.
“It is enough to look at Iran‘s record. Were we the ones who deployed troops? Are we the ones bullying countries in the Western Hemisphere? Were we the ones who committed assassinations twice during negotiations?” he added.
He further noted that the very presence of the US in the region is itself an example of creating a cycle of violence.
Saudi Arabia and its allies must curb the growing Israeli-Emirati axis
(4 May 2026 16:12 BST | Last update: 2 hours 57 mins ago)
Iranian sources told MEE that Iranian intelligence had established the Emirati role in the attacks went beyond hosting US bases.
One official said: „Iranian intelligence believes the UAE also made some of its own air facilities available for operations against Iran.“ Abu Dhabi has served as an advanced platform for Israeli interests in the region, the official said.
He suggested this included „deception operations“ – false-flag Israeli attacks on Oman and at least one other country intended to look like Iranian ones.
Iran also believes that cooperation included the use of the AI infrastructure within the UAE to support data collection and analysis for US and Israeli targeting.
If Iran were to be invaded, the UAE would be treated as an aggressor, one diplomat told MEE.
That the UAE has gone way beyond its Gulf neighbours in supporting the US and Israeli attack on Iran, is down to one man, its President Mohammed bin Zayed, often referred to by the acronym MBZ.
Israel Knew Hamas’s Attack Plan More Than a Year Ago
(November 30, 2023)
The document circulated widely among Israeli military and intelligence leaders, but experts determined that an attack of that scale and ambition was beyond Hamas’s capabilities, according to documents and officials. It is unclear whether Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu or other top political leaders saw the document, as well.
(…)
Last year, shortly after the document was obtained, officials in the Israeli military’s Gaza division, which is responsible for defending the border with Gaza, said that Hamas’s intentions were unclear.
“It is not yet possible to determine whether the plan has been fully accepted and how it will be manifested,” read a military assessment reviewed by The Times.
Israel Found the Hamas Money Machine Years Ago. Nobody Turned It Off.
(December 16, 2023)
Israeli leaders believed that Hamas was more interested in governing than fighting. By the time the agents discovered the ledgers in 2018, the prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, was encouraging the government of Qatar to deliver millions of dollars to the Gaza Strip. He gambled that the money would buy stability and peace.
Mr. Levy recalled briefing Mr. Netanyahu personally in 2015 about the Hamas portfolio.
US Navy currently has 19 ships in the Middle East
The US Navy currently has 19 ships in the Middle East, including two aircraft carriers, and seven ships in the Indian Ocean, a US official said Thursday.
Hadash Announces Primary Elections and Push for Joint List Consolidation
During the session, political leaders, including the Communist Party of Israel Secretary-General Adel Amer and Hadash Secretary Amjad Shbita, addressed the regional political situation. Discussions centered on the fragile ceasefire, the risk of renewed war on Iran and Lebanon, and the concerning rise of internal fascism and ongoing occupation of Palestinian, Lebanese and Syrian territories.
“The establishment of the Joint List is not merely a tactical maneuver,” Hadash stated in an official communique. “It is a fundamental mission to shift the political balance of power and intensify the struggle against the occupation.” In addition to election preparations, Hadash leadership issued a formal call for public mobilization. Activists and supporters are urged to participate in International Workers’ Day events on Friday, May 1, in Tel Aviv, on Saturday, May 2 in Nazareth and other localities.
Pakistan urges caution over US-iran talks speculation
Speaking at a weekly press briefing in Islamabad, Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andarabi said diplomatic engagements between the two sides remain sensitive and require confidentiality. He stressed that premature reporting on dates or delegations could undermine trust between parties involved in the mediation process.
CPI and Hadash: The Ceasefire Is a Critical Step that Must Become a Permanent Peace
The Communist Party of Israel and the Democratic Front for Peace and Equality (Hadash) condemned on Wednesday evening, April 8, “the heinous and horrific massacre committed by the far-right Israeli government in Lebanon, only hours after the announcement of a temporary ceasefire in the war. This is a clear sign of the crisis facing war criminals, whose aggressive policies repeatedly fail to establish what they term the New World Order. Furthermore, Netanyahu and his government understand that ending the war signifies the collapse of their legitimacy and the end of their time in power.”
“We view the ceasefire in the war with Iran as a crucial development that must be maintained, defended, and turned into a standing agreement that guarantees peace and rights for the peoples of the region, while standing firm against any Israeli attempt to thwart it. We emphasize that this war has once again exposed the failure of the policies of aggression and the imperialist bullying of the US and Israel. It has proven that the logic of force, destruction, and occupation does not create security or stability, but rather drags the entire region into further ruin and bloodshed. We reaffirm that the only path to security, stability, and a better future for all peoples of the land and the region is not the path of war and aggression, but a political path based on ending the occupation—as it is the heart of the regional conflict—and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state in all territories occupied by Israel in June 1967,” they said in the common communique.
Israel‘s priority lies in destroying chances of peace between Iran, US: Ex-UN nuclear chief
Mohamed ElBaradei, former head of the United Nations nuclear watchdog, has strongly warned of the Israeli regime‘s full intention to destroy chances of peace between the United States and Iran.
„The most important thing Israel will work on by all means is eliminating any chances for peace between Iran and America,“ he wrote in a post on X on Wednesday.
‚Stop This Madness‘: Former IAEA Chief Urges Gulf, UN To Act Before ‚Madman‘ Trump Turns Region Into ‚Ball Of Fire‘
In his post in Arabic, he implored regional leaders to take immediate diplomatic action. „Please, once again, do everything in your power before this madman turns the region into a ball of fire,“ the former IAEA chief wrote, directing his remarks at the neighbouring Gulf states.
The warning follows a sharp pivot in Washington‘s rhetoric, where Trump threatened the destruction of essential Iranian infrastructure and the forced reopening of the Strait of Hormuz if a peace agreement is not reached within the specified deadline.
ElBaradei also questioned the role of international institutions in preventing an all-out war. In a separate post written in English and addressed to the United Nations, he asked if „nothing can be done to stop this madness?“
Is Donald Trump Considering Tactical Nukes Against Iran? What We Know
(June 20, 2025)
The Trump administration has not taken anything „off the table,“ including the use of tactical nuclear weapons, if it decides to take military action against the underground Iranian nuclear facility at Fordow, Fox News reported, citing a White House official.
It followed a report in The Guardian that the president „is not considering using a tactical nuclear weapon on Fordow.“
The Pentagon declined comment to Newsweek, instead referring to a statement by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who said on June 16 that he had directed „the deployment of additional capabilities“ to the Middle East.
UN Security Council passes resolution urging Iran to stop Gulf attacks; China, Russia abstain
The United Nations Security Council on Wednesday (March 11) adopted a resolution urging Iran to stop its attacks on Gulf nations, but the text avoided mentioning recent US or Israeli strikes on Iran, drawing sharp criticism from Tehran.
The resolution passed with 13 votes in favour, while veto-holding members China and Russia abstained. It “demands the immediate cessation of all attacks by the Islamic Republic of Iran against Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Jordan.”
UNO isoliert den Iran
Der UN-Sicherheitsrat hat am Mittwoch mit klarer Mehrheit eine Resolution angenommen, in der ausschließlich die Angriffe des Iran auf die Golfstaaten verurteilt werden – nicht jedoch die vorangegangenen Angriffe der USA und Israels auf den Iran. China und Russland haben sich enthalten.
UN Security Council adopts resolution condemning Iran‘s attacks on Gulf states
Presented by Bahrain and co-sponsored by 135 countries, the resolution emphasized „strong support for the territorial integrity, sovereignty and political independence“ of the GCC states and Jordan.
It strongly condemns the „egregious attacks by the Islamic Republic of Iran against“ the Gulf countries and Jordan, emphasizing that the attacks „constitute a breach of international law and a serious threat to international peace and security.“
Iran will not target any country not used for aggression: Pezeshkian
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has reiterated that the country will refrain from any action against neighboring countries provided their airspace, territory, or waters are not used as platforms for attacks on Iranian soil and people.
He made the remarks in a telephone conversation with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to discuss regional developments following the recent US-Israeli military aggression against Iran.
He categorically rejected media claims propagated by outlets aligned with Israel and the United States that Iran had launched missile strikes against Turkey.
Turkish President Erdogan tells Iran that the violation of Türkiye‘s airspace ‘cannot be excused for any reason’
Last Wednesday, the ministry said a ballistic munition fired from Iran toward Turkish airspace after crossing Syria and Iraq was intercepted and neutralized by NATO air and missile defense units in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Türkiye is „negatively affected“ by conflicts in which it is not a party, Erdogan also told his Iranian counterpart.
Ankara does not approve of the „unlawful interventions“ against Iran and Iran‘s targeting of countries in the region, Erdogan stressed, adding that targeting brotherly countries „is not in anyone‘s interest” and “these actions must end.“
Iran war live: Military academy among locations hit by US, Israeli attacks
Massive explosions hit several locations in Tehran overnight, including residential areas and the vicinity of Tehran University, as the war enters its seventh day.
Israeli jets have bombed southern and eastern Lebanese towns, including Douris in the Bekaa Valley, as well as targeting the southern suburbs of the capital Beirut.
Iran war live: Israeli-US strikes hit Tehran‘s residential neighbourhoods
US likely responsible for Iran school attack, military investigation says
Nato raises ballistic missile defence posture after Turkey attack
Israeli jets bomb areas in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley
Live Updates: Israel launches heavy airstrikes on Tehran after Beirut bombardment
Here‘s the latest
• Strikes in Iran: Explosions lit up the sky in Tehran after Israel said it had begun a “broad-scale wave of strikes” there. CNN saw thick black smoke in the capital, while state media reported that a busy shopping street was hit. Tehran residents tell CNN they experienced the “worst night” of airstrikes since the war began.
• Panic in Beirut: Fresh strikes also hit Beirut, hours after Israel said it targeted Hezbollah overnight in the latest strikes on the Lebanese capital’s southern suburbs.
Exclusive: Iranian officials say Israel carried out some of the drone strikes on Gulf energy sites
Previous attacks have included the assassination of a top Iranian nuclear scientist travelling at high speeds in a car on an isolated road with a remote-controlled automatic machine gun; malware attacks on computers running key parts of Iran’s nuclear programme; and the theft of an archive of nuclear documents.
Another Iranian source told MEE that amid the latest attacks, Iran had „made a clear statement“ to Saudi Arabia that it was not behind the strikes on Saudi Aramco‘s Ras Tanura, which houses the kingdom‘s largest domestic refinery and is a key crude export terminal.
„This is an Israeli effort to sabotage regional peace and alliances between neighbours,“ the source added.
Iran accuses Israel of drone strikes on Gulf energy sites to widen war
A Foreign Ministry official told Middle East Eye that Israel was behind strikes against Saudi Arabia and at least one attack on Oman, asserting: „I can categorically say that some of the attacks were not carried out by us [Iran].“
The claims follow at least five drone and missile strikes on Saudi facilities, including the Ras Tanura oil refinery and the US embassy in Riyadh, alongside two targets at Oman‘s Duqm Port.
US-Israel attacks on Iran: Death toll and injuries live tracker
Preliminary figures are 555 dead in Iran, at least 10 in Israel, four US soldiers and five killed in Gulf states.
Jeremy Corbyn – Stop the War Speech – 15 February 2003
In 2003, I spoke at hundreds of meetings and protests against the government’s plans to go to war in Iraq.
I was proud to have spoken at this demonstration in Hyde Park on 15 February 2003 – the largest ever in British history.
The British people showed the war was “not in our name”.
CPI & Aljabha/Hadash condemn the Israeli-US aggression against Iran and warn of the dangers of a comprehensive war
The Communist Party of Israel & The Democratic Front for Peace & Equality (Aljabha/Hadash) condemn the war of aggression launched by Israel in the early hours of Saturday morning, February 28, against Iran, and affirm that this attack is a joint Israeli-American aggression, warning that it may ignite a large-scale regional or global war.
CPI and Aljabha/Hadash reaffirm that Israel is not only an instrument of global American imperialism, but also a partner in it and in its efforts to impose American imperialist hegemony over the world and its natural and economic resources, and to subject all governments to US political and economic interests. This includes all parts of the world – especially the Middle East and Latin America.
CPI & Aljabha/Hadash also point to the danger of the near-consensus among the government and the main Israeli opposition parties regarding the war of agression against Iran, and warn against exploiting the preoccupation of public opinion with this attack to intensify massacres and crimes of ethnic cleansing in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, and to expand the fascist onslaught and the rise of racism in Israel.
We also call on all true peace movements within Israeli society to raise their voices against Israeli-US aggression, and to demand the removal of US forces and all nuclear weapons from the Middle East.