Middle East Geopolitical Reporting for 2026-02-13
We've collected the top geopolitical conflict articles from the Middle East and brought them all here. If you're tired of only having access to MSM versions of the story, you've found the right place. We’ll include all of the outlets we know of.
Hamas: Any war against Iran amounts to attack on entire Muslim world
The al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, warns that any aggression against Iran is tantamount to an attack on the entire Islamic Ummah.
Presstv
Feb 13, 2026 - presstv.ir
Gaza genocide's death toll may exceed 200,000: Report
A leading institute warns Israel’s war on Gaza may have killed over 200,000 as the population fell by more than 10 percent.
Presstv
Feb 13, 2026 - presstv.ir
Over 2,000 Britons served in Israeli military during Gaza genocide: Report
Over 2,000 British nationals fought alongside Israeli forces during the Gaza genocide, a report says.
Presstv
Feb 13, 2026 - presstv.ir
‘Colonial eradication of Palestine’: Iran condemns Israel’s West Bank annexation push
Iran has strongly condemned the Israeli regime’s recent decision to seize more land from Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, saying the move aims to expand “illegal settlement-building” and entrench occupation.
Presstv
Feb 13, 2026 - presstv.ir
Iran faces off with E3 over snapback sanctions as Russia and China back Tehran
Europe’s bid to reimpose UN sanctions on Tehran has ignited a fierce backlash, with Iran denouncing the move as “illegal” and vowing firm retaliation.
Presstv
Feb 13, 2026 - presstv.ir
Silenced in France: The unjust detention of a pro-Palestine Iranian activist
Mahdieh Esfandiari, an Iranian academic who lived in France for eight years, has been unjustly detained for condemning Israel’s actions in Gaza on social media.
Presstv
Feb 13, 2026 - presstv.ir
IRGC is part of Iran’s national army: Pundit
Iranian academician states that Europe is not genuinely committed to labeling the IRGC as a “terrorist organization” and is facing significant pressure from the Israeli regime.
Presstv
Feb 13, 2026 - presstv.ir
Washington seeking regime change in Venezuela: Analyst
Podcaster and Journalist Esha Krishnaswamy believes the U-S military buildup in the Caribbean region is aimed at regime change in Venezuela.
Presstv
Feb 13, 2026 - presstv.ir
Our missiles have put Zionist regime in its place: Iran’s top security official
Iran’s top security official hails that the Islamic Republic’s missile capability has checked the Israeli regime’s regional ambitions.
Presstv
Feb 13, 2026 - presstv.ir
Gazans say Israel seeks permanent military presence
Israeli forces have been digging a trench along the eastern edges of Deir al-Balah and Gaza City for nearly a month now.
Presstv
Feb 13, 2026 - presstv.ir
Israeli commentators warn Gaza devastation could strengthen Hamas
Concerns are emerging in Israel that continued devastation in Gaza could ultimately drive more support towards Hamas, even as members of the right-wing government in Israel press for an intensification of military operations. According to commentary published in the Israeli newspaper Maariv, some analysts argue that leaving Gaza in ruins could lead to the rise of a more radical iteration of Hamas,...
Middle East Monitor
Feb 12, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
Number of Palestinian female prisoners in Israeli jails rises to 59, Hamas office says
The Prisoners’ Media Office affiliated with Hamas has said the number of Palestinian women held in Israeli prisons has risen to 59, following more than 680 arrests of women since 7th October 2023. In a statement issued on Wednesday, the office said the total includes minors and noted that the figure does not account for detainees from Gaza whose whereabouts are reportedly unknown in military deten...
Middle East Monitor
Feb 12, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
Hamas official says Netanyahu joining ‘peace council’ is a farce
Osama Hamdan, a leader in the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), said on Wednesday that the joining of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court, to the so-called “Peace Council” represents “the farce of the era.” In remarks broadcast by Al Jazeera, Hamdan said the movement had not received from mediators any draft or official proposals concerni...
Middle East Monitor
Feb 12, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
Hamas documents name former World Vision Gaza director as member of terror group
The documents discovered by the IDF proved Hamas monitored and restricted the movement of World Vision staff, fearing whistleblowing attempts.
JPost.com - The Jerusalem Post - All News from the Middle East, Israel, and the Jewish World
Feb 12, 2026 - jpost.com
US completes withdrawal from al-Tanf base in Syria: CENTCOM
The US military has completed its withdrawal from the al-Tanf base in southern Syria after nearly a decade, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed on Thursday, Anadolu reports. “U.S. forces remain poised to respond to any ISIS threats that arise in the region as we support partner-led efforts to prevent the terrorist network’s resurgence,” CENTCOM commander Adm. Brad Cooper said in a statement...
Middle East Monitor
Feb 12, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
China opposes new illegal Israeli settlements in occupied West Bank
China on Thursday opposed Israel’s new illegal settlements and new rules aimed at strengthening control on the occupied West Bank, according to state-run media. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said that Gaza and the West Bank are “inseparable” parts of the Palestinian territory, and the two-state solution is the fundamental way to resolve the Palestinian question, Global Times repor...
Middle East Monitor
Feb 12, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
Israel allows Abu Shabab militia to take part in Rafah crossing inspections
Israeli authorities have allowed members of the Abu Shabab militia to help inspect Palestinians entering and leaving the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt, the official Israeli broadcaster reported on Wednesday evening. Kan TV said the militia hopes to take over this task on a permanent basis. A photo taken earlier this week on the Gaza side of the crossing showed Ghassan al-Dahini, the...
Middle East Monitor
Feb 12, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
Israeli media say Netanyahu entered White House through back entrance amid protests
Israeli media have reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu entered the White House through a rear entrance on Wednesday as pro-Palestinian demonstrators gathered nearby ahead of his meeting with US President Donald Trump. The newspaper Yediot Aharonot said the meeting between the two leaders had begun at the White House, adding that chants from protesters could be heard in the area. It rep...
Middle East Monitor
Feb 12, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
Exclusive-Trump plans to announce Gaza funding plan, troops at first Board of Peace meeting, US officials say
By Steve HollandWASHINGTON, Feb 12 (Reuters) - President Donald Trump will announce a multi-billion dollar reconstruction plan for Gaza and detail plans for a U.N.-authorized stabilization force for the Palestinian enclave at the first formal meeting of his Board of Peace next week, two senior U.S. officials said on Thursday.Delegations from at least 20 countries, including many heads of state, ar...
Al-Monitor: The Pulse of The Middle East
Feb 12, 2026 - al-monitor.com
Israel Navy commandos, submarines train to protect Eilat from invasion
Many of the scenarios the IDF trained to defend against were based on special intelligence the IDF obtained from a highly placed Hezbollah secret naval commander.
JPost.com - The Jerusalem Post - All News from the Middle East, Israel, and the Jewish World
Feb 12, 2026 - jpost.com
Iran condemns Israeli decision to expand illegal settlements in West Bank
Tehran, IRNA – Iran has strongly condemned the Israeli regime’s recent decision to seize more land from Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, saying the move aims to expand “illegal settlement-building” and entrench occupation and security control over the territory, alongside the continuation of “genocide” in Gaza.
IRNA English
Feb 12, 2026 - en.irna.ir
2026 will be ‘toughest financially’ due to Israel’s withholding of tax revenues: Palestine
Palestinian Finance Minister Istifan Salameh warned Thursday that the Palestinian Authority is facing an “existential threat” due to Israel’s continued withholding of tax revenues, stressing that 2026 will be its most difficult financial year, Anadolu reports. Speaking at a press conference in Ramallah, Salameh said Israel has seized around 70% of Palestinian revenues, exacerbating the fiscal defi...
Middle East Monitor
Feb 12, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
Palestinian mother, daughter recount strip searches, harsh conditions in Israeli detention
Two Palestinian women detained by Israel have detailed mistreatment in custody, including strip searches, prolonged interrogation and severe detention conditions, according to the Palestinian Commission of Detainees Affairs, Anadolu reports. The commission said Thursday that Amina Suweilim, 55, and her daughter Ayat, 22, from Nablus in the occupied West Bank, have been held in Damon prison since t...
Middle East Monitor
Feb 12, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
Australia should not provide a platform for Israel’s security narrative
Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s visit to Australia was largely tied to the Bondi memorial. However, in a Q&A session with Jewish students attending Moriah College in Sydney, the tone shifted to Israel’s security narrative. “I know that the demonstrators and protesters who are cursing us, saying the biggest lies and affirmations against our nation, do not want to hear this, but I believe that the ...
Middle East Monitor
Feb 12, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
US surveillance aircraft operate near Iranian border amid tensions
Two US military aircraft have operated near Iranian airspace after taking off from bases in Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, according to flight tracking data cited by Russian outlet Novosti. The report said a US Navy P-8A Poseidon reconnaissance aircraft departed from Bahrain and flew over the Strait of Hormuz, marking its second such mission in recent days. At the same time, an MQ-4C Triton...
Middle East Monitor
Feb 12, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
Corbyn alleges UK ‘complicity’ after Streeting’s admission of Gaza abuses
Jeremy Corbyn asks government minister Wes Streeting why he did not resign despite acknowledging Israeli war crimes.
Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera
Feb 12, 2026 - aljazeera.com
'I regret meeting him': Former PM Ehud Barak responds to Epstein Files recording in N12 interview
Barak had told Epstein that Israel could “easily absorb another million” immigrants from Russian-speaking countries, and that many would apply and adapt under “social pressure."
JPost.com - The Jerusalem Post - All News from the Middle East, Israel, and the Jewish World
Feb 12, 2026 - jpost.com
Trump to unveil multibillion-dollar Gaza reconstruction plan, stabilization force at BoP meeting
Delegations from at least 20 countries, including many heads of state, are expected to attend the meeting in Washington, DC.
JPost.com - The Jerusalem Post - All News from the Middle East, Israel, and the Jewish World
Feb 12, 2026 - jpost.com
Israel indicts reservist, civilian for using classified information to bet on IDF military action
The case follows reporting that Israeli authorities were examining whether insider information had been used to profit from prediction markets tied to Israeli operations in Iran in June 2025.
JPost.com - The Jerusalem Post - All News from the Middle East, Israel, and the Jewish World
Feb 12, 2026 - jpost.com
Not a massacre? Netanyahu's whitewashing of October 7 reveals a dark strategy
Netanyahu and his government play victim on the international stage while telling an entirely different story at home. His war on history over his failure to protect Israelis from Hamas only emphasizes how responsible he was for this disaster
Haaretz latest headlines
Feb 12, 2026 - haaretz.com
Bundestag president's Gaza tour with IDF bashed in Germany as 'catastrophe tourism'
Julia Klöckner's visit included an official Knesset welcome and a tour of Gaza accompanied by IDF soldiers. Reports said the Knesset and the Israeli embassy in Berlin prepared the tour despite objections from Germany's Federal Foreign Ministry and the German Embassy in Tel Aviv
Haaretz latest headlines
Feb 12, 2026 - haaretz.com
After 2 years in Hamas captivity, an Israeli musician plays his first concert
Alon Ohel savored every moment of his performance in Tel Aviv this week. The show fulfilled a vision his mother first imagined during his early months in captivity
Haaretz latest headlines
Feb 12, 2026 - haaretz.com
Saudi, Pakistan defense chiefs reaffirm strategic partnership in bilateral talks
Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman on Thursday held talks in Riyadh with Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defense Forces, Field Marshal Asim Munir, reaffirming strong relations between the two countries and their strategic defense partnership, Anadolu reports. In a post on US social media company X, Prince Khalid said the meeting focused on strengthening bilateral military ...
Middle East Monitor
Feb 12, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
Beyond Oslo: Engineering a new reality in Palestine
It has become clear that Benjamin Netanyahu and his right-wing government are seeking to leverage their current alignment with the administration of US President Donald Trump, a government that strongly backs Israeli policies, to cement a reality in Palestine that will be difficult to reverse in the future. Under Israeli law, general elections are ordinarily held in October of the fourth year of t...
Middle East Monitor
Feb 12, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
Pakistani premier to attend Board of Peace inaugural meeting in Washington
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will attend the inaugural meeting of the Board of Peace (BoP), scheduled for Feb. 19 in Washington, the Foreign Ministry said Thursday, Anadolu reports. “I can confirm that the prime minister will attend the upcoming BoP meeting. He will be accompanied by the Deputy Prime Minister-Foreign Minister [Ishaq Dar],” spokesman Tahir Andrab told reporters in Islama...
Middle East Monitor
Feb 12, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
Lebanese army closes ‘illegal’ crossings with Syria
The Lebanese army said Thursday that it had closed several “illegal” crossings with Syria in the northern Bekaa region in eastern Lebanon, as part of efforts to combat smuggling, Anadolu reports. A military statement said the “illegal” crossings were shut in the areas of Martisa and Mikyal Farah in northern Bekaa. The statement did not provide further details about the crossings. There was no imme...
Middle East Monitor
Feb 12, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
UAE weaponised antisemitism in Washington in its feud with Saudi Arabia
The UAE sought to weaponise allegations of antisemitism in Washington as part of its escalating rivalry with Saudi Arabia, according to current and former US officials cited by Middle East Eye. Officials said Abu Dhabi approached prominent American Jewish organisations and encouraged them to raise concerns about alleged antisemitic rhetoric in Saudi Arabia — a move seen as an attempt to influence ...
Middle East Monitor
Feb 12, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
Iran at 47: An anniversary or an obituary?
As the sun rose over Tehran yesterday, 11th February, the familiar echoes of revolutionary slogans filled Azadi Square, marking the 47th anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution not its collapse. For decades, observers have peered through the fog of sanctions and social unrest, wondering if each anniversary might be the Republic’s last. Yet, as the 47th year arrives, the expected “obituary” has ...
Middle East Monitor
Feb 12, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
In milestone, US pulls out of strategic Syria base and hands it over to Damascus
By Phil Stewart, Idrees Ali and Tala RamadanWASHINGTON, Feb 12 (Reuters) - The U.S. military said it completed a withdrawal from a strategic base in Syria on Thursday, handing it over to Syrian forces, in the latest sign of strengthening U.S.-Syrian ties that could enable an even larger American drawdown.The al-Tanf garrison is positioned at the tri-border confluence of Syria, Jordan and Iraq.
Al-Monitor: The Pulse of The Middle East
Feb 12, 2026 - al-monitor.com
Israel's Netanyahu says Trump may be creating conditions for Iran deal
JERUSALEM, Feb 12 (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday expressed hope that U.S. President Donald Trump may be creating the conditions to reach a deal with Iran.Netanyahu, in a statement before leaving Washington for Israel, said he had expressed "general scepticism" during his meeting with Trump and that if an agreement is indeed reached, it must include the elements t...
Al-Monitor: The Pulse of The Middle East
Feb 12, 2026 - al-monitor.com
US readying another aircraft carrier for Middle East deployment: Trump
Despite nuclear diplomacy with Iran, US president suggests Washington will send more military assets to the region.
Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera
Feb 12, 2026 - aljazeera.com
How Israel used discriminatory laws to strip Palestinians of citizenship
Critics say Israel's move to revoke the citizenship of two Palestinian citizens sets an 'alarming precedent'.
Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera
Feb 12, 2026 - aljazeera.com
War split into two stages, or a mostly nuclear deal: What comes after Trump, PM meeting? - analysis
In any event, two pretty stark most likely scenarios are coming into contrast: either there will be a two-stage war with Iran, or Tehran and Trump will strike a nuclear deal.
JPost.com - The Jerusalem Post - All News from the Middle East, Israel, and the Jewish World
Feb 12, 2026 - jpost.com
Iran rushes to protect Natanz, its most crucial nuclear site, from potential US strike
Tehran may have used the delay in the US's potential strike to make the beneath-mountain facility nearly untouchable.
JPost.com - The Jerusalem Post - All News from the Middle East, Israel, and the Jewish World
Feb 12, 2026 - jpost.com
Netanyahu after Trump meeting: US conditions for Iran must include nuclear weapons, MidEast proxies
He said that although he remains skeptical of any deal with Iran, Trump believes that the conditions for Tehran "may lead them to accept terms that would allow for a good deal."
JPost.com - The Jerusalem Post - All News from the Middle East, Israel, and the Jewish World
Feb 12, 2026 - jpost.com
Why a global investor sees Israel as a resilient financial hub
Israel remains a ‘very strong player’ in global private markets
JPost.com - The Jerusalem Post - All News from the Middle East, Israel, and the Jewish World
Feb 12, 2026 - jpost.com
No Israel–Azerbaijan rift after Armenia unveils Harop-like drone, experts say
"Even if India did leak such technology, Azerbaijan would surely understand that this was not an intentional move by Israel."
JPost.com - The Jerusalem Post - All News from the Middle East, Israel, and the Jewish World
Feb 12, 2026 - jpost.com
N.Y.C's Brad Lander fires 'Hot Girls for Zohran' co-founder for reposts praising Hamas, Oct. 7
Kaif Gilani, a consultant to the congressional campaign of New York's Jewish progressive Democrat Brad Lander, was fired after a Jewish news site drew attention to his social media history
Haaretz latest headlines
Feb 12, 2026 - haaretz.com
German airline Condor to resume flights to Israel in May as Gaza tensions ease
As airlines slowly creep back to Ben-Gurion and resume a full flight schedule after last month's scare of a war with Iran breaking out, the airline announced five weekly flights between Frankfurt and Tel Aviv – competing with El Al and Lufthansa's routes
Haaretz latest headlines
Feb 12, 2026 - haaretz.com
Ukrainian athlete says ban on war-tribute helmet is discriminatory, citing Israeli athlete's kippa
Ukranian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych was barred minutes before his race over a helmet honoring Ukrainians killed in the war. He said the ban was discriminatory, after an Israeli athlete wore a kippa bearing the names of Israeli athletes and coaches killed in the 1972 Munich Games
Haaretz latest headlines
Feb 12, 2026 - haaretz.com
An Israeli woman was stuck in Gaza throughout the war. Now Israel won't grant her residency
On October 7, 2023, Leila was making final arrangements in Gaza to move with her children to Jaffa, her birthplace. They didn't know it would take more than two years of bombardment, hunger and displacement before they arrived – or that the state would pose new challenges
Haaretz latest headlines
Feb 12, 2026 - haaretz.com
After the war with Israel, the key to Hezbollah's weapons may lie with Lebanon's Shi'ite public
Beirut is seeking to mobilize Shi'ite backing to advance its agenda and offset Hezbollah's influence, even as it relies on donor states and Washington's goodwill. After the war, Hezbollah finds itself financially strained and politically exposed – and no longer able to treat the Shi'ite voice as guaranteed
Haaretz latest headlines
Feb 12, 2026 - haaretz.com
Five killed in 12 hours across Israel, as homicide rates continue to skyrocket
In 2025, Arab Israelis were killed in a suspected homicide every 36 hours on average. The chief of Israel Police said Israel's 'war on criminal organizations requires a root cause treatment,' adding that, 'Everyone must get involved – including the IDF'
Haaretz latest headlines
Feb 12, 2026 - haaretz.com
'I'm touched,' the businessman replied when I enquired about his late-night meeting with Netanyahu's military aide
I sent questions on the matter to the prime minister, the IDF and Israeli-American businessman Dovi Frances. One thing I did not receive: denials
Haaretz latest headlines
Feb 12, 2026 - haaretz.com
Top Senate Democrats urge Trump to oppose recent Israeli West Bank moves
The senators' statement is a response to an Israeli cabinet decision earlier this week to expand law enforcement in Palestinian-controlled areas of the West Bank, which they say contravenes 'decades of bipartisan United States policy, including that expressed by President Trump'
Haaretz latest headlines
Feb 12, 2026 - haaretz.com
“High-Technology Partnerships and Localization Collaboration” – Havelsan message from World Defense Show
The World Defense Show (WDS), held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, has emerged as a strategic global platform reflecting the Kingdom’s ambitious technological transformation and the rapid advancement of its defense […]
Military Africa
Feb 12, 2026 - military.africa
Netanyahu joins Trump's Board of Peace set to discuss Gaza reconstruction, Hamas disarmament sidelined
Netanyahu has repeatedly said Gaza reconstruction cannot start before Hamas demilitarization. Haaretz has recently revealed that the board tends to share his view, but is weighing a gradual rebuild in cleared zones to be managed by the Palestinian technocratic committee
Haaretz latest headlines
Feb 11, 2026 - haaretz.com
Dozens of Palestinians cross Rafah back into Gaza, families reunited
Forty-one Palestinians returned to the Gaza Strip through the Rafah border crossing on Wednesday (Feb. 11) reuniting with relatives after being stranded outside the enclave for a long time, Anadolu reports. Relatives waited at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis as vehicles carrying… pic.twitter.com/VsPpC43aea — Middle East Monitor (@MiddleEastMnt) February 11, 2026 Forty-one Palestinians returned to t...
Middle East Monitor
Feb 11, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
The predicted ‘collapse of Israel before its centenary’ | Palestine This Week with Mouin Rabbani
Is Israel collapsing before its centenary? In this episode of Palestine This Week, we examine warnings from a former Israeli major general that the state may not exist by 2048, citing internal fracture and growing international isolation. We analyse how the language of ceasefire now functions to manage, rather than end, Palestinian death and destruction, while dismantling Israeli claims used to ju...
Middle East Monitor
Feb 11, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
Trump says he insisted on further Iran talks during meeting with Netanyahu
US President Donald Trump said Wednesday that there was no concrete result from his closed-door meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, but said he insisted on further talks with Iran, Anadolu reports. “There was nothing definitive reached other than I insisted that negotiations with Iran continue to see whether or not a deal can be consummated. If it can, I let the prime minister ...
Middle East Monitor
Feb 11, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
Israeli army reinforces border security after civilian trucks approach Egypt fence: Media
The Israeli army reinforced security along its border with Egypt on Wednesday after small Egyptian civilian trucks approached the frontier fence, Israeli media reported, Anadolu reports. Channel 12 said the vehicles reached an area roughly 100 meters from the Israeli settlement of Shlomit in the Negev desert, around 700 meters from the Egyptian border, prompting the military to dispatch additional...
Middle East Monitor
Feb 11, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
France to demand Francesca Albanese's resignation at upcoming UN Human Rights Council session
The decision comes as result of Albanese’s antisemitic remarks at Saturday’s Al Jazeera Forum.
JPost.com - The Jerusalem Post - All News from the Middle East, Israel, and the Jewish World
Feb 11, 2026 - jpost.com
Trump says he 'insisted' that negotiations with Iran continue in meeting with Netanyahu
Shortly after the meeting between the two ended, it was reported that Pentagon has ordered a second aircraft carrier strike group to get ready for deployment to the Middle East. No press statements were made before or after the meeting held at the White House