Today's Newsletter

• Guardian analysis of 43,000 X posts during June 2026 civil unrest in Belfast and Southampton suggests that 55 per cent of accounts reaching over 1,000 views were based outside the UK, with nearly one in six located in the US. Roughly a third of all posts contained racist or anti-immigration content, demonstrating how foreign actors are leveraging algorithm-driven platforms to amplify local crises and stir social division. Read more.

• According to reports, Yasser Al-Sirri—a former Egyptian Islamic Jihad member who was sentenced to death in Egypt for a 1993 plot to assassinate the country’s prime minister—is currently running a wholesale honey and food business in London. After claiming asylum in the 1990s and spending nearly three decades fighting deportation through British courts, an Appeal Court ruled in his favour in 2021, granting him refugee status. Read more.

• Three British men convicted over the 2006 al-Qa'ida transatlantic liquid bomb plot are scheduled for Parole Board hearings between September and November, making them eligible for potential release by Christmas, the Daily Express reports. The trio, who have served 20-year-minimum life sentences for conspiracy to murder, were part of a terror cell whose plot triggered the global introduction of 100ml liquid restrictions at airport security. Read more.

• Various sources report how an elite police squad created after the Southport riots to monitor social media for protest‑related activity has flagged 106 posts since February, including 50 during unrest over Henry Nowak’s murder. Critics call the unit sinister and a threat to free speech. It was set up after false rumours about the Southport killer fuelled anti‑immigration riots. Further riots followed release of bodycam footage showing Nowak being handcuffed while dying. Police say the squad provides national strategic insight on emerging risks. Read more.

• Mahmoud Al‑Abyari, 74, is accused by the US of funnelling money to Hamas through two sham charities and being a senior Muslim Brotherhood leader. An exclusive investigation by the newspaper reveals that despite US sanctions, he moves freely in London and denies the allegations as false. His home is linked to a Muslim Brotherhood‑associated trust. Politicians call for stronger action and potential UK bans. Read more.

• Intelligence officials say the New IRA is planning a campaign of violence to force migrants out of Ireland, various sources report. The group is exploiting tensions after disturbances following the stabbing of Stephen Ogilvie, allegedly by a Sudanese asylum seeker. A far‑right video claims migrants will be given a 24‑hour ultimatum to leave. Security sources warn the New IRA has been active in attacks and aims for Irish independence and removal of migrants. Read more.

• It is widely reported that counter‑terror police have reopened a 2025 investigation into an attempted burglary at Nigel Farage’s home after discovering a missed line of inquiry. The Independent Office for Police Conduct is examining a Counter Terrorism Policing London staff member accused of failing to pursue that. This comes alongside the murder probe into Ann Widdecombe, with Joshua Kerry charged over her death following a violent hammer attack captured on camera. Read more.

• Counter‑terror police are investigating Mothin Ali’s claim that fewer people should be referred to Prevent, saying the scheme “sweeps too many innocent people into the security state”. A former Prevent counter‑terror officer called his remarks “uninformed” and warned they hinder national security efforts. New Home Office figures show Prevent referrals hit a record 10,293 last year, with only 8% linked to Islamist extremism and 20% to right‑wing extremism. Read more.

• Interviewed by the Daily Telegraph, Sadiq Khan says British Muslims are being made to feel like “second‑class citizens” as he defends his crime record and rejects criticism of a public Iftar event in Trafalgar Square, which he insists passed without incident. He argues fear‑based politics is driving division and fuelling radicalisers’ narratives. Read more.

• It is widely reported that Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has officially rejected US president Donald Trump’s 15-point peace plan for Gaza, stating that Israeli troops will not withdraw until Hamas is genuinely disarmed. While Hamas expressed commitment to US-backed proposals, Netanyahu insisted on the group’s disarmament as a pre-condition for moving forward, while confirming that discussions with US officials remain ongoing. Read more.

• Houthi rebels have claimed responsibility for a drone attack on Saudi Arabia's Aramco oil refinery in Jazan, The Guardian reports. According to the country's energy ministry, the strike caused a fire that was quickly extinguished, with no reported injuries. Separately, the Houthis claimed to have carried out missile and drone strikes on the Yemeni port city of Mocha. Read more.

• The Financial Times reports on deadly protests in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, with dozens left dead amid allegations of election-rigging. Read more.

• The Associated Press reports that militants linked to Daesh attacked the Congo village of Banana École, killing at least 13 people and burning homes. Local leaders say the ADF carried out the assault using its known tactics. The death toll may rise as residents remain missing. Many villagers are fleeing due to repeated ADF attacks and the region’s Ebola outbreak. The ADF, active for years, has previously committed large‑scale killings, including 66 deaths in 2025. Read more.

• It is widely reported that a deal between Iran and Oman on managing the Strait of Hormuz is close, but reopening the waterway requires wider conditions, including U.S. compensation to Iran. Oman calls negotiations “positive and constructive” and condemns repeated vessel attacks. Iran demands the U.S. end threats, lift sanctions, and free assets, while the UAE reports Iran struck another ship with a missile. The U.S. says reopening would lift its blockade if Iran meets commitments. Read more.

• Federal authorities investigated a bomb threat at Huntington Hospital after a caller claiming to be from online group 764 said explosives and armed suspects were targeting the facility, The Independent reports. Police secured entrances, deployed K9 units, and evacuated areas, but found no devices. The FBI describes 764 as a violent group that coerces children and conducts swatting attacks. Southern California hospitals have previously been hit by similar false threats. Read more.

• A surge in Daesh‑inspired terror attacks across Europe has raised major security fears, with experts warning the group is growing again and radicalising young extremists at a rapid pace, the Daily Mirror reports. A European security source says the rise in attacks is triggering a dangerous cycle of far‑right responses and vigilante activity. The Soufan Centre reports that recent plots increasingly involve youth suspects radicalised online, making detection and prevention far harder for European agencies. Read more.

• Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al‑Zaidi met Saudi intelligence chief Khalid al‑Humaidan to coordinate on regional security amid rising tensions between Riyadh and Iran‑aligned Iraqi armed groups, Reuters reports. Zaidi stressed Iraq would not allow its territory to be used for attacks on other states and reaffirmed its commitment to sovereignty and preventing escalation. Militias had vowed to retaliate for Saudi‑U.S. strikes but postponed their response after appeals from senior Iraqi political figures. Read more.

• According to Reuters, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan signed the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement, declaring that an armed attack on one would be considered an attack on all. The pact follows months of negotiations and comes amid Iranian missile strikes and blockades targeting Gulf states after the U.S.–Israel attack on Iran. The statement offers no specific defence obligations, but the three nations aim to bolster deterrence as regional conflicts threaten security, energy routes and political stability. Read more.

Islamist terrorist once sentenced to death for plot to kill Egyptian prime minister now runs a honey business in London

Daily Mail, 10/08/2026

A convicted Islamist terrorist sentenced to death for plotting to kill an Egyptian Prime Minister is running a honey and food supply business in north London. Yasser Al-Sirri, 63, a one-time member of Egyptian Islamic Jihad, first came to Britain and claimed asylum in the 1990s following a failed assassination plot. He was turned down but fought the decision repeatedly through the courts and appears to have won a three-decade battle to stay in Britain. In 2021, the Appeal Court ruled in his favour on the condition he took refugee status. The Daily Mail has now tracked Al-Sirri down to a £500,000 flat in upmarket Maida Vale, west London. He was also present at a honey business in north west London, where he works and appears to be the boss. It has a few employees and provides wholesale food and drink products. Staff members initially said that Al-Sirri was not in his office when a reporter visited, despite his car being parked in the driveway.

Al-Qaeda airport liquid bomb plotters could 'walk free in weeks' after parole bids

Daily Express, 09/08/2026

Three British men convicted over a 2006 Al-Qa’ida plot to detonate liquid explosives on transatlantic flights are due before the Parole Board within months and could be released by Christmas. Waheed Zaman’s hearing is listed for September 7, Arafat Waheed Khan’s for September 21 and Ibrahim Savant’s for November 12. All three received life sentences with 20-year minimum terms after a 2010 jury found them guilty of conspiracy to murder. They are now eligible to ask whether the risk they once posed can be managed in the community, reported The Sun. The men, British citizens of Pakistani heritage from north and east London, were recruited by Abdulla Ahmed Ali. Their cell planned to assemble bombs from hydrogen peroxide mixed into soft-drink bottles such as Lucozade and Oasis, with detonators made from disposable-camera parts.

Elite police unit refers over 100 social media posts to local forces

(£) Daily Telegraph, 08/08/2026

An elite police squad which was set up to monitor social media in the wake of the Southport riots has flagged more than 100 posts to local forces. The National Internet Intelligence Investigations team was created earlier this year to surveil online platforms for signs of “protest-related activity”. It was founded by ministers in response to the national unrest following the 2024 Southport murders, which prompted a series of anti-immigration riots. Political opponents have described the squad as “sinister” and said it represents a further erosion of free speech and civil liberties under Labour. Figures obtained under freedom of information laws show the team, which began operations in February, has flagged 106 posts to local forces so far. It made 50 referrals in June alone, after controversy over the police handling of Henry Nowak’s murder led to protests and riots in Southampton.

Also: Daily Mail

London-based Muslim Brotherhood member, 74, accused of living double life as terror financier by funnelling cash to Hamas through two sham charities

Daily Mail, 09/08/2026

To his neighbours in a leafy north-west London suburb, he is simply the softly-spoken, bespectacled old man who lives in the house on the corner. But unbeknownst to any of them, Mahmoud Al-Abyari has been secretly living a double life as a terror financier, accused by the US of funnelling cash to Hamas through two sham charities. It has been claimed the 74-year-old is a senior leader of the Muslim Brotherhood, the global extremist group the US banned as a terrorist entity in January. Despite the US sanctions, Al-Abyari remains free to move around London unchallenged, as our exclusive photos show. In Britain, showing support for Hamas, a proscribed organisation, can carry a jail term of up to 14 years - yet The Mail on Sunday understands he has not yet been questioned by the Metropolitan Police.

I’ve lost four friends to political murder. I don’t want to lose any more

(£) The Independent, 08/08/2026

With freedom comes the responsibility to temper the toxicity that has infected our public discourse, writes Benedict Rogers – and to be clear that political violence can have absolutely no place in any free society.

This is comment or editorial reporting.

Counter-terror police reopen probe into attempted burglary at Ann Widdecombe's London home last year

Daily Mail, 07/08/2026

Counter-terror police have re-opened a probe into an attempted burglary at the London home of Ann Widdecombe last year. The development comes after the former Tory minister was found dead, lying face down in the kitchen of her Dartmoor home on July 9, having allegedly been struck 21 times on the head with a hammer. The Metropolitan Police received a report of an attempted burglary at her Greater London address in April 2025. Counter Terrorism Policing London said officers from the Met carried out enquiries with its support, but no arrests were made and the case was later closed pending new lines of enquiry. The investigation has now been re-opened after counter-terror officers identified what they described as a new line of enquiry that was not pursued at the time and 'may have been relevant'. As a result, Counter Terrorism Policing London has today made a mandatory conduct referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).

Also: BBC News, Daily Express, Daily Mirror, (£) The Independent, ITV News, PA Media, (£) Daily Telegraph, (£) Reuters, The Guardian

Green Party deputy leader branded 'uninformed' after saying fewer people should be referred to Government's anti-terror scheme

Daily Mail, 08/08/2026

The Green Party deputy leader who said Palestinians have a right to “fight back” on October 7 has called for fewer people to be referred to the Government's anti-extremism scheme. Mothin Ali said that Prevent “sweeps too many innocent people into the security state” after figures showed a record number of referrals to the flagship counter-terror programme. Last night a former Prevent counter terror officer slammed the Green co-deputy leader's “uninformed” comments and warned they will “hinder national security efforts”. A Reform UK spokesman said: “Prevent is already unfit for purpose, opting to prioritise the ‘far-right’ over Islamist extremism which poses a real and immediate danger to our national security. “The fact Mothin Ali has still yet to be referred to Prevent for his extremist comments is evidence of that.”

British Muslim charity funded Hamas, says FBI

(£) Daily Telegraph, 08/08/2026

A British Muslim charity has been used to bankroll Hamas, the FBI has said. The Al-Khair Foundation, one of Britain’s biggest Muslim charities, was used as a front to send money and “truckloads” of goods to leaders of the terrorist organisation in Gaza under the guise of aid, it is alleged. Mohammad Yousef Hasna, its “global director”, was arrested in London last week and is now facing extradition to the United States, accused of financing and conspiring to support the Palestinian terror group. The Al-Khair Foundation, a registered UK charity and partner of the UN’s refugee agency, had an income of £74m last year alone. As well as aid work, it runs Islamic schools in Britain and abroad and has worked closely with the Government, including being quoted in a government press release on a new scheme combatting hate against Muslims.

Farage rages police chiefs are turning UK into Communist Russia after Polanski decision

Daily Express, 09/08/2026

British police forces are infected by a “woke culture” that has made them biased against Right-wingers, Nigel Farage has claimed. The Reform UK leader compared the UK to Russia and Communist China as he warned police were harassing people for expressing opinions instead of fighting crime. It follows a series of incidents in which police have turned up at people’s homes following complaints about social media posts. And Mr Farage highlighted the Metropolitan Police’s refusal to take action against Green Party leader Zack Polanski. Mr Polanksi had shared a photo of a man with a T-shirt showing a guillotine and the phrase “we’re only making plans for Nigel”. The Green leader said he had made an “inadvertent mistake” but refused to apologise. Mr Farage said: “There were more knocks at the door in this country in 2025 than there were in Communist China or Russia."

Reform: No talks until Restore expels co-founder accused of anti-Semitism

(£) Daily Telegraph, 09/08/2026

Reform UK has ruled out striking a deal with Restore Britain unless it expels a co-founder accused of antisemitism. Nigel Farage had said he was “open-minded” about working with Restore after Rupert Lowe said the pair needed to work together to bring about a “patriotic government”. Mr Lowe had demanded that the Reform leader support the deportation of millions of migrants, and exclude former Conservatives from a future Cabinet before a deal could be struck. Restore has since become embroiled in an antisemitism row over a post on X by Charlie Downes, its co-founder, which suggested that Nigel Farage had been “bought” by Jewish supporters. Mr Downes responded to a post on X by the Reform leader – in which Mr Farage said he could not be bought – with an image showing him in front of signs for the Reform Jewish Alliance.

Also: GB News

Protests continue at former RAF base after Thetford unrest

PA Media, 09/08/2026

Dozens of campaigners gathered on Sunday outside a former RAF base in Suffolk, a site the Home Office is considering for housing asylum seekers, following recent anti-immigration disorder in nearby Thetford. The demonstration at Barnham Camp comes after police were granted additional powers following unrest earlier this week. Norfolk Police arrested two people at the base on Saturday in connection with the Thetford disorder. Caspar Randles–Mills, 31, of Great Barton, Suffolk, was subsequently charged with a public order offence. Regular peaceful protests have occurred at the site since the Home Office announced its plans in June.

Also: Daily Express

Restore Britain’s talk of Gaza ‘genocide’ is as ridiculous as the Left’s

(£) Daily Telegraph, 09/08/2026

Genocide requires state intent, writes Stephen Pollard. Instead, Israel deserves praise for the humanitarian care it has taken in its fight against terrorists.

This is comment or editorial reporting.

Being Muslim makes you less British, claims Restore co-founder

(£) Daily Telegraph, 08/08/2026

A co-founder of Restore Britain has said Muslims are “less British” than Christians. Charlie Downes, who is the campaign director for the Right-wing party, said Muslims had little claim to being regarded as British because they lacked any deep connection to the country. His comments have provoked a wave of condemnation from a number of religious faiths, with Muslim leaders describing them as divisive and discriminatory. In response to a question about what makes someone British, Mr Downes told TalkTV: “It’s about a far deeper thing, it’s about a connection to this land, it’s about an ancestry here. More than anything it’s Christian faith; it’s ancestry and it’s Christian faith. You’re certainly less British if you’re not a believer in Christian principles. If somebody was Islamic then they are certainly less British.”

We must believe offenders can be rehabilitated

(£) The Times, 08/08/2026

Kemi Badenoch writes: “Controversy about our council candidate raises the same question as Andy Burnham’s prisoner release scheme: what do punishment and rehabilitation actually mean?”

This is comment or editorial reporting.

We are witnessing the emergence of a 21st century British fascism

(£) Daily Telegraph, 08/08/2026

Jake Wallis Simons writes: “From talk of ‘traitors’ to calls for mass deportations, a strain of US-inspired ethnonationalism has arrived on our shores.”

This is comment or editorial reporting.

Sadiq Khan: British Muslims are being made to feel like second-class citizens

(£) Daily Telegraph, 07/08/2026

In an interview for the Daily Telegraph, London Mayor Sadiq Khan says: “I understand at the moment that when it comes to the hierarchy of people who are trodden upon, Muslims are at the bottom. I can understand it’s possible to win votes by fear rather than hope. But I hope, on reflection, people will say, is it really a bad thing where people are doing things in the open rather than hidden away in a mosque? This is a Christian country, some would say a Judeo-Christian country. Nobody wants to fly the flag of Mohammed over Downing Street. Or I certainly don’t. I don’t understand why there’s this pushback. You’re making people feel like second-class citizens and driving this narrative about the clash of civilisations. This is music to the ears of those who are radicalising young people.”

Also: GB News

Restore co-founder ‘suggested Farage had been bought by Jews' - as Restore stands accused of being 'far-right in a suit'

Daily Mail, 07/08/2026

Restore has descended into another antisemitism row after one of its co-founders suggested Reform had been 'bought' by Jewish supporters. Charlie Downes was charged with pushing the 'oldest smear' of Jews after responding to a social media post of Mr Farage claiming he could not be bought with an image showing him at a Reform Jewish Alliance (RJA) meeting. In the original post in February, Mr Farage posted a video of himself with the caption: 'I can't be bullied. I can't be bought. I've stood for the same principles for many decades.' Mr Downes immediately replied with a picture of the Reform leader speaking at the launch of RJA, a group representing Jewish people's interests within the party. In the image, Mr Farage stood behind a turquoise lectern with the group's logo - featuring a Star of David - and its name in the background. While Mr Downes did not caption the post, antisemitism campaigners slammed the Restore figure last night for seemingly amplifying antisemitic tropes.

Also: (£) Daily Telegraph

UK admits Afghans awaiting relocation to Britain are at risk from Taliban – but still won’t help them flee

(£) The Independent, 07/08/2026

Thousands of Afghans promised sanctuary in the UK may remain at risk from Afghan Taliban attacks, the Ministry of Defence has admitted – but Britain still won’t help them flee Afghanistan. Among those likely to be in danger are former special forces commandos, who served alongside UK special forces units and were wrongly abandoned after the Afghan Taliban takeover, while others still waiting were endangered when their personal details were exposed in a catastrophic MoD data breach in February 2022. Around 7,000 Afghans have already been accepted to resettle, but are either stuck in Afghanistan or trapped in third countries as of 9 June 2026, because the UK stopped evacuation support in June 2025 – just before news of the data breach was made public.

Police issue stern warning ahead of Bristol protests on Saturday

Bristol Post, 07/08/2026

A far-right protest will be met by a counter-demonstration this weekend. A police protest action is in place ahead of a protest and counter-protest in the city centre tomorrow (Saturday, August 7). The protest, organised by Bristol Rises and The Patriotic Bristolian, will begin at Queen Square at 11am. The far-right protest will be countered by the Bristol Antifascist group, who will meet at 10.30am. Avon and Somerset Police said a policing operation is in place ahead of tomorrow. Police say they will "not tolerate criminality, disorder or hate of any kind".

Tommy Robinson in surprise apology to Muslim student targeted by online hate campaign

(£) The Independent, 07/08/2026

Stephen Yaxley-Lennon has apologised to a Muslim student targeted by an aggressive online hate campaign after a viral clip of their Oxford Union debate was taken out of context. The controversial debate in mid-June focused on the motion "This House believes the West is right to be suspicious of Islam”. Stephen Yaxley-Lennon spoke in support of the motion, alongside Reclaim Party founder, Lawrence Fox, and Times of Israel journalist, Jonathan Sacerdoti. They lost the debate. A clip circulating online after the debate was published on YouTube late last week, showed Aisha Khan-Aziz, a student speaker delivering the first speech for the opposition, introducing the speakers on the side opposite to her by making a joke about each of them, as per union tradition.

Shabana Mahmood: Muslim independents accused of murky 'Gaza plot' to oust Home Secretary

GB News, 07/08/2026

Shabana Mahmood could risk losing her seat at the next General Election as Muslim independents have been accused of a Gaza "plot" to boost the Greens. Union leaders, Labour backbenchers and even Cabinet colleagues are piling pressure on Andy Burnham and his Home Secretary to backtrack on her "unnecessary" asylum system overhaul. But the real risk, pollsters have warned, lies 120 miles from Westminster, in Ms Mahmood’s constituency of Birmingham Ladywood over an issue 2,325 miles away - in Gaza. "Birmingham is so split now, and that's one of the challenges that Shabana faces," one concerned resident said. The voter added: "Of course, what is driving the increased spread towards the Greens now is Gaza. It looks like the Greens are going to win Ladywood with a huge majority."

Police urged to monitor far right protestors who travel to inflame Scottish demos

Daily Record, 08/08/2026

Police are facing calls to crack down on Ulster Loyalist figures who are whipping up far right protests in Scotland. The calls came after a “Unite the Clans” demo in Glasgow saw figures linked to Loyalist groups in Northern Ireland in the heart of the disorder that shamed the city. The Record can reveal that strong links have been forged between Ulster Loyalist groups and Scots far-right figures driving anti-immigration protests. At the Glasgow protest sectarian killer Glen Kane teamed up with UVF-linked bank robber Mark Sin­clair. The pair from Northern Ireland published a stream of videos showing widespread disorder. Sinclair, 56, travels from city to city to spread his right wing mantra.

Rupert Lowe’s racist cheerleaders can no longer hide their despicable extremism

(£) Daily Telegraph, 07/08/2026

Allister Heath writes: “The ‘woke Right’ relies on insults, distortions and obscene definitions of Britishness to push their hateful agenda.”

This is comment or editorial reporting.

Placing Israel at centre of UK politics is helping fuel toxic climate of antisemitism

Daily Express, 07/08/2026

Keith Black writes: “No wonder bigotry, violence and bullying of Jews is rising in the UK and how sad we've dome to this.”

This is comment or editorial reporting.

How divided is the UK really? Here’s a way to find out

The Guardian, 07/08/2026

Brendan Cox writes: ‘Social media-fuelled riots and fractured politics make us feel more divided than ever, but is that so? Our study hopes to reveal what bring us together – and pushes us apart’.

This is comment or editorial reporting.

New IRA terrorists plan to drive migrants out of Ireland with campaign of violence, intelligence officials reveal

Daily Mail, 08/08/2026

Republican terrorists are plotting a campaign of violence to force migrants out of Ireland, intelligence officials have told The Mail on Sunday. The plan by the New IRA – the successor organisation to the Real IRA – comes in the wake of the disturbances on the streets of Northern Ireland in June following the stabbing of Stephen Ogilvie, allegedly by Hadi Alodid, a 30-year-old Sudanese asylum-seeker. Security sources say that the dissident republicans, who continue to fight for a ‘united Ireland’, are feeding off local community tensions on both sides of the border over a spike in cases of harassment, sexual assault and violence, which has been blamed on migrants.

Also: GB News

Most X accounts posting about Belfast and Southampton unrest were based outside UK

The Guardian, 09/08/2026

More than half the accounts that posted on Elon Musk’s X about the rioting in Belfast and the civil disorder in Southampton in June were based outside the UK, an analysis by the Guardian can reveal. Of the 8,672 accounts whose combined posts about the events exceeded 1,000 views, just 45.3% were shown as from the UK, according to the social media platform’s own location function. One in six (16.8%) came from the US, 4.5% from Ireland, and about a quarter from all European countries other than the UK. Seven of the 12 most-read tweets about Belfast and Southampton came from the US – including one from Musk himself and two other US “alt-right” commentators – while an eighth was linked to North America. The analysis underlines that US right-wing actors are seeking to influence the UK and boost their position on X in moments of disorder – an exploitation of flashpoint events that has only intermittently attracted political attention in Britain.

Russia-linked accounts spread far-right narrative online during Ceuta migration crisis, analysis finds

The Guardian, 07/08/2026

Accounts with links to the Russian military promoting far-right messages reached more than 500,000 people in the days following the mass influx of people into Ceuta, according to an analysis by 411, a counter-disinformation group. Russia-linked social media accounts frequently spread destabilising narratives in Europe, often promoting far-right talking points about immigration. But 411 and other experts suggest the scale and coordination of the disinformation that followed the Ceuta crisis is significant. Groups spreading disinformation are more organised and powerful than they were several years ago. “We keep seeing this across Europe and we find it very interesting. It seems like there is some type of machinery in place, or structure”, said Saman Nazari, the lead researcher at Alliance4Europe, a Brussels-based nonprofit.

IS-linked group kills at least 13 in Congo village

Associated Press, 08/08/2026

Militants affiliated with the Daesh group attacked a village in Congo near the border with Uganda early Saturday, killing at least 13 people and burning and looting homes, a local civil society group said. The attacks occurred in the village of Banana École, a suburb of the territorial capital of Mambasa. Marie-Noelle Anotane, the head of the New Civil Society of Congo/Mambasa, and Sylvain Andali, a local resident, told The Associated Press that the Allied Democratic Forces, or ADF, were behind the violence. Both said the militants used known ADF tactics. "This death toll of 13 civilians is only provisional because most residents aren´t responding to calls, and searches are continuing in other surrounding villages," said Anotane. The attacks forced people to choose between staying or risking travel to other parts of the province where the fastest-spreading Ebola outbreak in history rages.

Europe-wide terror concern amid rise of ISIS-inspired attacks and radicalisation

Daily Mirror, 07/08/2026

A growing number of thwarted and executed Daesh-sponsored terror attacks across Europe have sparked fears terrorism is once again on the rise across the continent, according to a new report. The most feared terror network the world has ever known is growing again, and individuals and groups are being radicalised at a terrifying rate, according to sources. Terror threats across Europe, including the UK, could spark a reaction from far-right extremism, prompting a self-perpetuating competition between militant Islamists and anti-Islam groups. There is also alarm over growing links between terror groups such as Daesh, al-Qa’ida and shadowy groups loyal to Iran, such as Hizballah-affiliates in Lebanon and Syria.

Iran says deal on Strait of Hormuz is close but is not enough to open the waterway

(£) Reuters, 08/08/2026

Iran said on Saturday that a deal with Oman on control of the Strait of Hormuz was close but would not be enough to ‌free up the waterway, and the United Arab Emirates said Iran had hit another ship there. Agreement between Iran and Oman over the strait is seen as vital to a wider deal to end the war that began with U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran on February 28 and led to Tehran establishing a chokehold over the major energy export route. A U.S. official, who declined to be identified, had said on Friday that Washington anticipated an agreement soon between Iran and ​Oman, which sit on either side of the strait, so that normal oil traffic could resume. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said Iran and Oman were "very close" to agreement on a new ​shipping route through the strait but that reopening it depended on other conditions, including U.S. compensation to Iran.

Also: BBC News, (£) The Independent, Daily Mirror, Associated Press, AFP

Bluster and backdown have turned Iran war into Trump’s own Groundhog Day

The Guardian, 08/08/2026

Being the subject of mockery may be the most intense of all Donald Trump’s known aversions. Yet more than five months after embarking on a war of choice against Iran, the US president risks attracting ridicule as he struggles to secure a military victory—while repeatedly threatening devastating bombardment against the Tehran regime, only to back down on the pretext of renewed negotiations. Critics suggest the ultimatum–climbdown sequence has acquired a Groundhog Day quality. By one count, he has adopted the same tactic seven times since launching the war in tandem with Israel on 28 February.

Iran hopes to deal Trump a blow at midterms by keeping him entangled in war

The Guardian, 07/08/2026

Tehran has set out a protracted negotiating timetable designed to keep Donald Trump embroiled in the Iran conflict until the midterm elections, in the hope of inflicting the same ruinous blow on his presidency as Jimmy Carter suffered over the 1979-81 US embassy hostage crisis. For many inside Iran, inflicting meaningful revenge on Trump is a legitimate and self-standing war aim, reflected in the mood of those attending the funeral of the late supreme leader Ali Khamenei where demands for retribution were ubiquitous. While Iranian officials since the 1979 Islamic revolution have never trusted the US, that animus is now also directed personally towards Trump. He not only tore up the painfully negotiated nuclear deal in 2018, but he also sanctioned the assassination of the military leader Qassem Suleimani and twice involved Iran in negotiations on its nuclear programme only to launch wars against it.

Houthis strike Marib again as UN warns Yemen nearing wider conflict

(£) Reuters, 07/08/2026

Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis launched ballistic missiles and drones at displacement camps and residential neighbourhoods ​in the city of Marib on Friday, killing two people and ‌wounding 14 others, state news agency SABA reported, citing local authorities. The Houthis said they had targeted Saudi-backed forces, depots, vehicles and military equipment at the Sahn al-Jinn camp in ​the city with missiles and drones. Reuters could not independently verify ​the claims by either side. The attacks came a day after at ⁠least 30 Yemeni government troops were killed in strikes on military camps in ​Marib and Hadramawt provinces, according to government sources, in one of the deadliest ​escalations in months.

Iran´s leaders believe a victory is within reach, and that time is on their side

Associated Press, 08/08/2026

The Strait of Hormuz is, by some accounts, named for a Zoroastrian deity destined to emerge victorious after a 9,000-year standoff with an adversary. Iran's leaders feel their own victory is at hand and won't require the same epic patience. They are betting that military pressure will ultimately force the United States to accept their control over the crucial waterway for global energy - and that time is on their side. They know about the diminishing stockpiles of key U.S. weapons such as advanced missile interceptors. They know the war is deeply unpopular with Americans. They know that as long as the strait is largely closed, the price of gas and other goods will stay high ahead of U.S. congressional elections in November. They know that trying to open it by force would be costly and may require American ground troops. They know their Houthi allies in Yemen could widen the war and disrupt another major trade route.

Iraqi PM, Saudi intelligence chief discuss regional security as militias delay response

(£) Reuters, 07/08/2026

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi met Saudi general intelligence chief Khalid al-Humaidan ​on Friday to discuss coordination over regional ‌security developments, the prime minister's office said. Zaidi said Iraq would not allow its territory to be used to ​launch attacks or activities targeting any other ​country. He reiterated Baghdad's commitment to protecting its ⁠sovereignty and preventing regional escalation. The meeting came amid ​heightened tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran-aligned Iraqi ​armed groups after Riyadh last month carried out strikes in Iraq with U.S. Central Command that it said targeted ​groups responsible for attacks on Saudi oil facilities, ​and warned this week of imminent attacks by Iraqi militias and ‌Yemen's ⁠Houthis.

Syria will take back control from Russia of 2 key Mediterranean bases under a new deal

Associated Press, 09/08/2026

Russian forces in Syria will give up control of two strategic bases on the Mediterranean coast, which will be used as joint Russia–Syrian training centres under a new agreement between the two countries, Syria’s foreign ministry said Sunday. Russia was the top political and military ally of ousted president Bashar al-Assad during the country’s civil war between 2011 and 2024. Assad was ousted in December 2024 by Islamist insurgents led by current interim president Ahmad al-Sharaa and has since fled into exile in Russia. Throughout the conflict, the Hmeimem air base and the Tartus naval base were key Russian military outposts in the eastern Mediterranean. Under the new agreement between Damascus and Moscow, Syria will take control of the Hmeimem air base and the commercial berth at Tartus port as part of its civil administration. The military facilities at both sites will become “joint training” centres, the foreign ministry said.

Syria's Health Ministry corrects Damascus minibus blast toll: 14 wounded, no deaths

Associated Press, 07/08/2026

Syria's Health Ministry said Friday that 14 people were wounded, three of them critically, but that there were no fatalities in the explosion of a minivan taxi a day earlier in a Damascus suburb. The Health Ministry had said Thursday night that two people were killed in the blast. In a statement Friday, it said the fatalities had been incorrectly recorded based on three severed limbs that were pulled from the wreckage. After further investigation, the limbs were determined to belong to living patients who were undergoing surgery, the statement said. Officials said the explosion in Jaramana was caused by an explosive device planted in the minivan taxi, which was carrying passengers at the time of the blast.

The phone book that led us to Assad's spy chief in hiding

BBC News, 08/08/2026

Scattered across the living room floor, under a sparkling crystal chandelier, were dozens of photos of the same slender man in different settings - sitting at his desk, even playing in the snow. And multiple prints of the same image, showing him smiling warmly as he shook the hand of ousted dictator Bashar al-Assad. The man was not instantly recognisable, but gold medals and gilded certificates piled nearby were inscribed with the name Hussam Luka. Known as "The Spider", Luka was one of Assad's top henchmen, accused of orchestrating atrocities and systematic torture, and sanctioned by the UK, US and European Union. As head of Syria's most powerful civilian intelligence agency, Luka was among the most feared men in the country. But much of his work was conducted from the shadows. Like others in the regime, Luka seemingly vanished overnight in December 2024 when Assad was toppled, leaving a trail of unanswered questions and demands for justice that many fear will never be realised.

Deadly protests in Kashmir test Pakistan’s military rulers

(£) Financial Times, 09/08/2026

Dozens of people have been killed in election clashes in Pakistan-administered Kashmir.

Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Pakistan pledge mutual defence as Middle East turmoil escalates

(£) Reuters, 07/08/2026

Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey signed a joint defence agreement in Mecca on Friday, wedding Sunni ​Muslim U.S. allies alarmed at a regional conflagration that has brought Iranian missile fire onto Gulf oil exporters. Iran and its allies have been firing on Saudi Arabia ‌and other Gulf states, and blockading their energy shipments, since the U.S. and Israel attacked it on February 28 in a major escalation after years of regional tumult. The "Mecca Joint Defence Agreement" is intended to strengthen collective deterrence against any act of aggression and stipulates that an armed attack against any of the three would be regarded as an attack on all, they said in a joint statement.

Israel rejects Trump's 15-point plan for Gaza, Netanyahu says

BBC News, 09/08/2026

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected US President Donald Trump's 15-point plan for Gaza, stating that no military pull-out will happen until Hamas is "genuinely" disarmed. Trump's Board of Peace said last month it had reached an agreement for the "complete disarmament" of Hamas and other armed groups in Gaza. But Hamas said handing over its heavy weapons was contingent on Israel ending "all forms of aggression" and withdrawing its forces from Gaza. Israel has continued to carry out strikes on Gaza since agreeing to an initial ceasefire in the territory last October. "Israel rejects the 15-point document," Netanyahu said at a cabinet meeting on Sunday. The Israeli military "will not carry out any withdrawal until Hamas is genuinely disarmed and will continue to thwart threats against our forces and our citizens", he added.

Also: Associated Press, (£) Daily Telegraph, The Guardian, (£) The Independent, (£) Reuters, (£) The Times

Israel’s mental health time bomb

(£) Daily Telegraph, 09/08/2026

This month alone, three Israeli soldiers are reported to have died by suicide, two of them young women. It takes to 17 the number who have taken their own lives since the start of the year, a rate higher than at any point in the last 15 years. The month was made worse by the news last week that the boyfriend of Liron Barda, who was murdered at the Nova music festival during the October 7 massacre, had died beside the grave of his sweetheart. Bar Asraf, 30, was having trouble coping. He had recently told his mother he was struggling without his girlfriend, reportedly saying, “there’s no one who can replace her, no one to cheer me up”. These high profile tragedies are but the tip of a mental health crisis that is sweeping Israel, according to data collected by Clalit, the country’s largest health provider.

Netanyahu calculates upsetting Trump is his least-bad option

CNN, 10/08/2026

On tricky issues, Netanyahu’s preference is to kick the can down the road, writes Andrew Carey.

This is comment or editorial reporting.

Netanyahu’s chief strategist comes out of retirement to win over Trump

(£) Daily Telegraph, 07/08/2026

Benjamin Netanyahu has dispatched his top fixer to Washington in an effort to avert a diplomatic crisis with Donald Trump about the future of Gaza. Ron Dermer, known in Israel as “Bibi’s brain”, has flown to the US to placate American officials who are “furious” at Mr Netanyahu’s defiant response to Mr Trump’s new deal for the Gaza Strip. Mr Dermer, a Florida-born former Israeli ambassador to Washington, previously served as Mr Netanyahu’s strategic affairs minister. He played a key role in the Gaza hostage negotiations leading up to the deal last October and stepped down from the role in November. Last week, Mr Trump announced a “historic” breakthrough in talks between his board of peace and Hamas.

‘America deserved 9/11?’: Meet the Press host pushes El-Sayed on Hasan Piker

(£) The Independent, 09/08/2026

Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed addressed old comments from his Twitch-streamer ally Hasan Piker as he appeared on the Sunday show circuit to take his first questions from the national media after winning his Tuesday primary. El-Sayed narrowly won the Democratic Michigan Senate primary over Rep. Haley Stevens, beating her by a single percentage point after being massively outspent during the race. Ahead of Tuedsay, he faced criticism from Stevens and others for campaigning with Hasan Piker, a far-left Twitch streamer whose stunning remark about the 9/11 terrorist attacks has saddled nearly every politician who has appeared with him or accepted his endorsement. During a 2019 Twitch broadcast, Piker derisively said that America “deserved 9/11” while arguing that American foreign policy was to blame for the attack by al-Qa’ida terrorists. On Sunday, El-Sayed was asked by Meet the Press host Kristen Welker, “Do you disavow those comments?”

Extremist 764 group allegedly linked to Southern California hospital bomb threat

(£) The Independent, 09/08/2026

Federal authorities were investigating a bomb threat at Huntington Hospital in Pasadena on Saturday after an evacuation was prompted by a caller who allegedly identified himself as a member of the extremist online group 764. The call was received at around 5:50 a.m. Friday, according to Pasadena spokeswoman Lisa Derderian. The Pasadena Police Department said the caller claimed multiple explosive devices had been placed throughout the hospital and alleged that two additional suspects were heading to the facility in a stolen vehicle. The caller also claimed the suspects intended to shoot people with automatic rifles. Officers responded to the hospital and worked with security to secure all entrances while establishing a strong law enforcement presence around the facility. Police set up a command post in the parking lot of a nearby business and called in multiple K9 units. The Pasadena Fire Department also responded and remained on standby to assist if needed.

US sanctions Dubai crypto exchange for allegedly aiding Iran’s IRGC money laundering

(£) The Independent, 07/08/2026

The United States has imposed sanctions on an unlicensed multi-state cryptocurrency exchange, alleging it facilitated millions of dollars in crypto transactions for Iran’s elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and other state-linked groups. This action follows a Reuters investigation published on July 31, which identified the Dubai-based exchange, Shelbit, as central to a $4 billion Iranian sanctions evasion network. The probe revealed Shelbit moved crypto for Iran’s central bank, a major illegal online gambling operation, and addresses linked by the Israeli government to the IRGC. The U.S. Treasury also sanctioned Siavash Kayvanpour, the expatriate Iranian founder of Shelbit and its associated companies, for providing material support to the IRGC and Nobitex, Iran’s largest cryptocurrency exchange.

US expects deal soon on Strait of Hormuz; Sunni powers unite in defense pact

(£) Reuters, 08/08/2026

A U.S. official on Friday reported progress between Iran and Oman that could soon reopen the Strait ​of Hormuz, potentially restoring oil exports that have been disrupted by the five-month-old U.S. war with Iran. The U.S. official, who declined to be identified, said Washington anticipated ‌an agreement soon between the two countries, which sit on either side of the strait, so that normal oil traffic could resume. A deal between Iran and Oman over control of the strategic waterway is seen as crucial to a wider peace agreement. "There is progress between Oman and Iran on the strait, and we expect a deal soon," a U.S. official told Reuters on Friday. "Once the deal is announced to restore commercial shipping without impediments, the United States ​will lift the blockade of Iranian ports."

Iran-aligned Houthis claim they attacked oil refinery in Saudi Arabia

The Guardian, 09/08/2026

Yemen’s Tehran-aligned Houthis have claimed responsibility for an attack on a refinery in Saudi Arabia, two days after the kingdom signed ⁠a defence pact with Turkey ⁠and Pakistan in response to ​growing regional instability caused by the US-Israel war on Iran. The attack early on Sunday came after Iran said tough new demands would have to be met before it would reopen the strait of Hormuz, and after the United Arab Emirates said one of its ships had been targeted by an Iranian missile, as a deal to open the waterway remained out of reach. Iran’s supreme national security council said the strait would not open until the US corrected its “behaviour”. The US must never threaten Iran again and permanently end the war with Tehran and its armed allies in the region, said the statement from the council’s secretary, Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, a former commander in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

No one gains from a new war front in Yemen

The National Newspaper, 10/08/2026

Editorial comment on fighting in Yemen between government forces and Houthi rebels.

This is comment or editorial reporting.

Nigerian army says it safely rescued 33 people kidnapped by gunmen

BBC News, 09/08/2026

Nigeria's army has said it safely rescued 33 people after they were kidnapped by armed men while travelling through the country's north-western Zamfara state. The army said its troops mobilised alongside the police immediately after hearing about the abduction, in the Tsafe area of Zamfara on Saturday afternoon. The military found the kidnappers in the process of moving the hostages to an unknown location, the army said, and the gunmen fled into the nearby bush after coming under fire. Kidnappings by armed groups who hold people for ransom are common in parts of north-western Nigeria and major roads have become targets for attacks. Analysts say ransom payments by desperate families, intermediaries or, in some cases, Nigerian authorities have fuelled the abductions.

Thai PM vows new gun law after deadly school shooting

(£) Reuters, 07/08/2026

Within ​hours of a shooting rampage on the outskirts of Bangkok that left at least eight dead, Thailand's ‌Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul on Friday vowed to introduce a new firearms control law in Southeast Asia's largest gun-owning nation. Anutin, who previously tightened gun laws when he was interior minister, will now propose a law to restrict the carrying of firearms by the public. "The new ​law will only allow government officials on duty to carry guns," he told reporters on Friday, but ​did not provide any specifics for the envisaged legislation, including whether it will tighten gun ownership ⁠requirements. Under Thai rules, there are separate licenses issued for owning and carrying firearms.

In Friday's incident, a ​Thai teenager fatally shot his grandparents before killing at least five people and himself at a school outside Bangkok.

This summary is not a statement of Home Office policy or opinion. Note that these outlets have a local or regional UK focus and/or a daily reach of less than 100k, and a minority may be funded by foreign governments.

Palestine campaigners raid Aberdeenshire tech firm

(£) The National, 09/08/2026

Pro-Palestine activists have been arrested after a report of vandalism and a break-in at a defence technology firm.

India to Israel and back: How a fake IRGC quote on nuclear weapons reached Netanyahu’s speech

Middle East Eye, 09/08/2026

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu repeated an alleged quote attributed to a senior Iranian commander about Tehran's determination to develop nuclear weapons, even though the statement had no identified primary source and was later traced to an Indian pro-Israel account on X.

Israeli general says Gaza should remain ‘destroyed for generations’

Middle East Eye, 09/08/2026

A former head of Israel’s National Security Council has called for Gaza to remain devastated for decades, openly presenting Palestinian despair and destruction as desirable outcomes after Israel’s war in the enclave.

Saudi Aramco refinery erupts in flames in Jizan as Houthis claim drone attack

Middle East Eye, 09/08/2026

A fire broke out early on Sunday at a facility belonging to Saudi state oil company Aramco in the coastal city of Jizan. Authorities said the blaze was later extinguished and no casualties were reported.

Edinburgh festival called to end Baillie Gifford partnership

(£) The National, 07/08/2026

Campaigners have called on the Edinburgh International Festival to end its partnership with investment firm Baillie Gifford, accusing the organisation of benefiting from companies linked to Israel's military and fossil fuel industry.

UK: Nearly one in five Prevent referrals had autism, new Home Office figures reveal

Middle East Eye, 07/08/2026

Nearly one in five people referred to Britain's controversial Prevent counter-extremism programme had autism recorded as a condition, according to new Home Office figures, raising fresh concerns over the scheme's impact on neurodivergent people.

The Briton who helped 6,000 UK Jews move to Israel

Middle East Eye, 07/08/2026

A UK-born migration consultant has helped more than 6,000 Jews move to Israel over the past 15 years - much of it while working for an organisation that advertises migration to illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank and Golan Heights.

War on Iran: Saudi Arabia warns of imminent attacks by Iraqi groups and Yemen's Houthis

Middle East Eye, 07/08/2026

Saudi Arabia has warned that Iraqi armed groups and Yemen’s Houthis could soon launch coordinated attacks against the kingdom under the supervision of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

Exclusive: ICC judges order Taliban case split from Afghanistan probe that covers US troops

Middle East Eye, 07/08/2026

Judges at the International Criminal Court (ICC) have ordered prosecutors to open a standalone investigation into allegations of gender persecution by the Afghan Taliban, separating it from the court's long-running Afghanistan war crimes probe that covered US nationals, Middle East Eye can reveal.

Alleged Nazi-saluting Young Republican appears to be back in the fold

(£) Politico, 08/08/2026

A member of the New York Young Republicans who was apparently photographed performing a Nazi salute appears to still be chummy with club leadership — despite the group previously claiming he was put on leave.

Why is Latin America becoming a breeding ground for 'fanatics of Israel'?

Middle East Eye, 07/08/2026

Propelled by disinformation, arms deals and surveillance tech, right-wing governments have helped to increase Netanyahu's reach, undermining the region's historical alliance with Palestine.

Children aged 11 to 15 lead extreme right-wing referrals, data shows

Easterneye, 07/08/2026

A record 10,293 people were referred to the UK's anti-radicalisation Prevent programme in the year to September 2025, the Home Office said, with concerns over extreme right-wing views accounting for the largest share linked to a specific ideology.

What tributes to journalist Rod Liddle say about our society

(£) The National, 08/08/2026

Mhairi Black writes: “If his ability to print the most misogynistic and racist things revealed just how embedded misogyny and racism are in our society, then the adulation following his death is a reminder of how very little has changed.”

This is comment or editorial reporting.

Elon Musk is a race-war entrepreneur

Middle East Eye, 07/08/2026

Amina Shareef writes: ‘The US trillionaire fans the flames of far-right hatred by amplifying racial antagonisms and myths of white dispossession’.

This is comment or editorial reporting.

Israel has the power to dominate, but not to lead the region

Middle East Eye, 08/08/2026

Hesham Gaafar writes: “Tactical victories in Gaza, Lebanon, Syria and Iran have not built-up Tel Aviv's hegemony - they have eroded it.”

This is comment or editorial reporting.

This summary is not a statement of Home Office policy or opinion. Note that some of these outlets have lower reach with UK audiences and/or may be state/government funded. Please also note that foreign media outlets may not have equivalent editorial standards to UK-based outlets.

Iran says Oman deal is in ‘final stages’ but US must act to open Strait of Hormuz

Al Arabiya, 09/08/2026

Iran said on Sunday that a deal with Oman defining new shipping lanes in the Strait of Hormuz was in its final stages but reiterated that the strait would only reopen once the US met other conditions.

Trump signals shift to economic pressure on Iran over new military strikes

Al Jazeera, 10/08/2026

US president Donald Trump has said Washington is relying on economic pressure rather than new military strikes to push Iran towards making a deal.

Where does Iran stand on Saudi–Pakistan–Turkiye pact?

Al Jazeera, 09/08/2026

Iran is not immediately threatened by the pact, analysts say, with officials focusing on aspect of diminishing US security role.

Iran is 'emboldened and confident' despite Trump threats, former US defence secretary says

The National Newspaper, 09/08/2026

Iran's latest demands for opening the Strait of Hormuz show country's rulers feel emboldened by their position in the continuing war with the US, a former US defence secretary said.

Pakistan dismisses Afghan Taliban claim of weapons smuggling as 'frivolous'

Geo News, 09/08/2026

Islamabad has rejected the Afghan Taliban regime's claim that weapons are being smuggled from Pakistan into Afghanistan for so-called "subversive activities", calling the allegation “frivolous, baseless and contrary to established facts”.

15 India-backed terrorists killed in Balochistan IBOs: security sources

Geo News, 09/08/2026

Security forces have eliminated 15 India-backed terrorists during multiple intelligence-based operations (IBOs) across several districts of Balochistan, security sources said on Sunday.

Concerns mount over integrity of Israel’s upcoming October elections

Al Jazeera, 09/08/2026

Concerns are being raised about the integrity of Israel’s upcoming general election with politicians, civil society groups and even President Isaac Herzog warning of potential political interference in the vote.

Israel’s ‘Green Rafah’ plan aims to fragment Gaza, experts say

Al Jazeera, 09/08/2026

Israel has quietly given the green light for infrastructure work to begin in a designated area of southern Gaza, according to Israeli media, as it advances a post-war vision that experts warn is designed to reshape reality on the ground and permanently fragment the enclave.

What now as Israel rejects Trump’s 15-point plan for Gaza?

Al Jazeera, 09/08/2026

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected United States President Donald Trump’s 15-point plan for Gaza, saying that Israeli forces will not withdraw until Hamas is “genuinely disarmed”.

Houthis renew missile and drone attacks on Yemen’s port of al-Makha

Al Jazeera, 10/08/2026

Yemen’s Houthis have launched a new wave of missile and drone attacks on the Red Sea port city of al-Makha (Mocha), extending an assault on government-held areas along Yemen’s western coast and killing at least 11 people.

Turkiye says Mecca defence pact not aimed at Iran

Al Jazeera, 09/08/2026

Turkish leaders have insisted that the new trilateral defence pact with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan is not directed at Iran.

Iran deliberates Hormuz arrangement amid uncertain prospects with US

Al Jazeera, 08/08/2026

Iran’s authorities are weighing a finalised arrangement with Oman over the Strait of Hormuz, but top officials maintain that the strategic waterway’s full reopening will hinge on concessions from the United States.

Yemen's army and Houthis exchange attacks, raising fears of large-scale conflict

The National Newspaper, 08/08/2026

Yemen’s army has attacked the Houthis on several fronts in response to attacks by the Iran-backed rebels on Marib city, raising fears of a return to large-scale conflict across the country.

Also: Al Jazeera

Israel mulls Saudi, Turkiye, Pakistan pact as elections loom

Al Jazeera, 08/08/2026

Israel is yet to officially respond to a defence agreement signed in Mecca by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkiye, which some analysts have perceived as a challenge to Israeli regional expansionism.

Three Palestinians killed and dozens wounded in Israeli attacks across Gaza and West Bank

Middle East Eye, 08/08/2026

Three Palestinians were killed in Israeli attacks on Gaza, while Israeli forces and Jewish settlers wounded dozens more across the occupied West Bank on Saturday.

Lebanese soldiers injured while Israeli troops intrude on southern town

Al Jazeera, 08/08/2026

Three Lebanese soldiers have been wounded while trying to defuse unexploded ordnance in the southern village of Zawtar al-Gharbiyah, the Lebanese army said.

Houthi attacks on gov’t forces hint that a major battle in Yemen is brewing

Al Jazeera, 07/08/2026

Houthi missiles and drones struck military locations inside Yemen on Thursday, leaving at least 30 government soldiers dead and 15 others injured in the first such attack in years.

Why are the Houthis escalating attacks on Saudi-backed targets?

The National Newspaper, 07/08/2026

A new bout of violence in Yemen cannot be viewed in isolation. The Houthi rebels' decision to escalate attacks on government forces, Saudi ships in the Red Sea and oil sites in Saudi Arabia is interlinked with the US-Iran war, experts told The National.

Oil price volatile as Houthi attacks renew supply crunch fears

The National Newspaper, 07/08/2026

Oil prices steadied after rising early on Friday, following an escalation in attacks on Saudi Arabia by Yemen's Houthi rebels that renewed supply fears in the market.

‘Still searching for truth': Daughter of Sikh activist killed 30 years ago

Al Jazeera, 07/08/2026

Slain Indian activist Jaswant Singh Khalra's daughter, Navkiran, reflects on her father's life and legacy, which also inspired a recent film on rights abuses by officials during crackdown on Punjab separatist movement.

Saudi ⁠Arabia, Pakistan and Turkiye sign defence deal amid regional turmoil

Al Jazeera, 07/08/2026

Saudi ⁠Arabia, Pakistan and Turkiye have signed a ⁠joint defence agreement, Pakistan’s ⁠foreign ministry said, deepening ‌security cooperation amid heightened military tensions and conflicts in the Middle East.

Army captain martyred, seven terrorists eliminated in Hangu IBO: ISPR

Geo TV, 08/08/2026

A Pakistan Army captain was killed while seven India-backed terrorists were killed during an intelligence-based operation (IBO) conducted by security forces in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Hangu district, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Saturday.

Al Burhan army's goal to defeat RSF this year too ambitious, experts say

The National Newspaper, 07/08/2026

Sudan's army has vowed to defeat the Rapid Support Forces by the end of 2026, but analysts say the goal is too ambitious given how deeply entrenched the paramilitary group is in the country's west.

Will Pakistan-Saudi-Turkiye alliance actually create a new regional order?

 Al Jazeera, 07/08/2026

Abubakr Al-Shamahi writes: “The Mecca Joint Defence Pact brings together countries that sit between Iran and Israel, but will it be an effective deterrent to regional threats?”

This is comment or editorial reporting.

Al Jazeera (Middle East, Arabic Language)

• Iran war live: US ‘semi-negotiating’ with Tehran; Israel rejects Gaza plan; Where does Iran stand on Saudi-Pakistan-Turkiye pact?; Israel rejects Trump’s 15-point plan for Gaza, stoking tensions with US; Oil prices climb as Iranian demands cloud outlook for Strait of Hormuz

Al Arabiya (Middle East, Arabic Language)

• Houthis target Yemen’s Mokha port with missiles, drones, killing eight; Israel rejects Trump’s 15-point Gaza plan as Hamas urges US to pressure Netanyahu; Iran’s Pezeshkian recently met Supreme Leader Khamenei: State media; Iran says Oman deal is in ‘final stages’ but US must act to open Strait of Hormuz; Netanyahu vows Iran will ‘not have nuclear weapons’ with or without deal

Geo TV (Pakistan, Urdu and English)

• US-IRAN CONFLICT: WAR AND DIPLOMACY; Polling for third phase of AJK elections underway in Poonch Division's Bagh, Haveli districts; Oil rises as Iran-Oman Hormuz deal nears but reopening remains uncertain; Pakistan dismisses Afghan Taliban claim of weapons smuggling as 'frivolous'