Middle East Geopolitical Reporting for 2026-02-19
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.
Russia-Ukraine war: List of key events, day 1,456
These are the key developments from day 1,456 of Russia's war on Ukraine.
Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera
Feb 19, 2026 - aljazeera.com
Warships can be sent to the seabed, Leader warns in response to Trump’s threats
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution has responded to repeated US military threats against Iran, saying that the weapon which can sink the hyped aircraft carriers are more dangerous than the warships.
Presstv
Feb 19, 2026 - presstv.ir
PM Sharif says Pakistani troops to only join Gaza 'peace mission', not disarm Hamas
Pakistan is reportedly seeking assurances from the US that any deployment of Pakistani troops to Gaza would be strictly limited to peacekeeping duties.
Presstv
Feb 19, 2026 - presstv.ir
Israeli soldier admits to murder, rape in Gaza during live stream
A video circulating on social media has sparked widespread outrage online after an Israeli soldier unashamedly admitted to committing atrocities in the Gaza Strip.
Presstv
Feb 19, 2026 - presstv.ir
Israeli reservists exploited secret bombing intelligence to bet on Gaza strikes
Israeli authorities have detained several suspects for using classified information to place bets on the prediction platform Polymarket during the Gaza genocide.
Presstv
Feb 19, 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 19, 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 19, 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 19, 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 19, 2026 - presstv.ir
Iran and Russia’s quiet economic realignment
Iran and Russia are deepening strategic economic ties through energy, trade, transit, and financial cooperation amid sanctions and geopolitical shifts.
Presstv
Feb 19, 2026 - presstv.ir
Israeli forces loot Palestinian homes across West Bank
Reports from across the occupied West Bank have documented Israeli occupation forces looting Palestinian homes during military raids.
Presstv
Feb 19, 2026 - presstv.ir
Gaza mothers in Italy recount horrors of Israel's genocide
Gaza mothers of wounded children who received treatment in Rome recount their horror at Israel's genocide.
Presstv
Feb 19, 2026 - presstv.ir
Palestinian athlete and daughter hope to return to the track despite amputation
The sports community has not been spared in the Israeli attacks on Gaza.
Presstv
Feb 19, 2026 - presstv.ir
Another Gaza medic dies in Israeli custody
A Palestinian medic has died in Israeli custody over a year after his detention, the latest healthcare worker not to return from prison.
Presstv
Feb 19, 2026 - presstv.ir
Israel approves land registration in West Bank’s Area C, raising Palestinian annexation fears
For the first time since 1967, the Israeli regime has approved opening a land registration process across the occupied West Bank.
Presstv
Feb 19, 2026 - presstv.ir
Turkey, Egypt expands military presence in Somalia
Regional security dynamics in the Horn of Africa reached a pivotal turning point on February 11, 2026, as Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud joined Egyptian military leaders in Cairo to […]
Military Africa
Feb 18, 2026 - military.africa
Hamas urges ‘Peace Council’ to assume responsibilities
Hamas has called on the so-called Peace Council to take immediate action to stop what it described as Israel’s ongoing violations of the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip. The movement urged the council to implement the principles it has announced in order to achieve peace on the ground. Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem said the past four months had shown that Israel had not halted what he desc...
Middle East Monitor
Feb 18, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
South African Navy frigate SAS Amatola visits India for Exercise MILAN 2026
The South African Navy frigate SAS Amatola (F145) recently completed its transit to India, marking the first long-range foreign deployment for the service in nearly ten years. Departing Simon’s Town […]
Military Africa
Feb 18, 2026 - military.africa
Israeli army kills Palestinian in Gaza on 1st day of Ramadan
The Israeli army killed a Palestinian man Wednesday in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis, on the first day of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, medics said. Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis said in a brief statement that a young man was killed by Israeli gunfire near the Bani Suheila roundabout, east of the city. Israeli military vehicles stationed in eastern Khan Younis opened heavy fire since ...
Middle East Monitor
Feb 18, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
Spanish civil society takes eDreams to court over profits from illegal Israeli settlements
Three Spanish civil society organisations have filed a criminal complaint in Madrid accusing the multinational travel company eDreams of laundering profits derived from activity in illegal Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) and the Occupied Syrian Golan, according to a press release issued yesterday. The complaint, submitted to the Investigating Courts in Madrid by NOV...
Middle East Monitor
Feb 18, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
Israeli soldier killed by ‘friendly fire’ in southern Gaza
An Israeli soldier was killed by friendly fire on Wednesday in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis, according to the military. In a statement, the army said a soldier in the Paratroopers Reconnaissance Unit was killed in Khan Younis, without giving further details. Israel’s public broadcaster KAN reported that the soldier was killed “by mistake by Israeli army fire,” adding that the army opened ...
Middle East Monitor
Feb 18, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
Over 80 international artists condemn Berlin Festival’s silence on Israel’s Gaza war
More than 80 actors and directors have sent an open letter to the organisers of the Berlin International Film Festival, urging them to take a clear stance against the mass killings of Palestinians. Indian novelist Arundhati Roy announced her withdrawal from the festival in protest at the organisers’ failure to adopt a firm position against Israel’s actions and the ongoing war in Gaza. The letter c...
Middle East Monitor
Feb 18, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
Gazans perform Taraweeh prayers on rubble in first Ramadan after the genocide war
Palestinians in the Gaza Strip performed Taraweeh prayers on Tuesday evening, marking the first night of Ramadan, on the ruins of destroyed mosques and in makeshift prayer spaces set up inside tents made of nylon and wood. The prayers were held amid the vast destruction left by what Palestinians describe as genocide committed by Israel. On Tuesday evening, the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem and the Pale...
Middle East Monitor
Feb 18, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
Israel probes alleged bribery, smuggling at US-run Gaza reconstruction hub
Israeli military authorities are investigating allegations that senior criminal figures bribed foreign personnel at a US-run headquarters in the city of Kiryat Gat, which oversees matters related to Gaza’s reconstruction, in order to smuggle prohibited goods into the enclave. According to i24NEWS, security officials suspect cooperation between Israeli criminals and foreign staff at the American fa...
Middle East Monitor
Feb 18, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
Berlin Film Festival rejects accusation of censorship on Gaza
The director of the Berlin Film Festival on Wednesday rejected accusations from more than 80 film industry figures that the festival had helped censor artists who oppose Israel's actions in Gaza.In an open letter published on Tuesday, Oscar-winning actors Javier Bardem and Tilda Swinton were among dozens who criticised the Berlinale's "silence" on the issue and said they were "dismayed" at its "in...
Al-Monitor: The Pulse of The Middle East
Feb 18, 2026 - al-monitor.com
Smotrich: I will cancel the ‘cursed’ Oslo Accords, dismantle Palestinian Authority
Bezalel Smotrich, leader of the Religious Zionism party and Israel’s Finance Minister, has said that one of his main goals in the next term is to cancel the Oslo Accords, dismantle the Palestinian Authority and impose full Israeli sovereignty over the occupied West Bank. Smotrich made the remarks during a special conference held on Tuesday evening with settlement leaders in the West Bank. He said ...
Middle East Monitor
Feb 18, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
Smotrich calls for reoccupation of Gaza and military rule
Israel’s Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has renewed his call for the occupation of the Gaza Strip and the establishment of a military government there, prompting sharp criticism from opposition leader Yair Lapid, who described the proposal as “delusional”. According to the Israeli newspaper Maariv, Smotrich told a press conference on Monday evening that “the goal is to occupy Gaza, establish a ...
Middle East Monitor
Feb 18, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
1,200 former Israeli officials urge Knesset to reject death penalty bill
More than 1,200 former Israeli officials and public figures have signed a petition opposing a proposed bill that would impose the death penalty on Palestinian prisoners, according to Hebrew media reports published on Tuesday. The signatories include former Supreme Court judges, Nobel laureates, ex-heads of the Shin Bet and Mossad intelligence agencies, academics, university presidents, former Isra...
Middle East Monitor
Feb 18, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
Israel conducting 'gradual de facto annexation' of W.Bank: UN official
A top UN official warned Wednesday that steps by Israel to tighten control of areas of the West Bank administered by the Palestinian Authority amount to "gradual de facto annexation."Since last week, Israel has approved a series of initiatives backed by far-right ministers to consolidate control over the West Bank where the Palestinians exercise limited autonomy under past deals.
Al-Monitor: The Pulse of The Middle East
Feb 18, 2026 - al-monitor.com
Terra Industries raises additional $34 Million to scale Autonomous defence systems in Africa
Terra Industries recently finalised a $ 22 million strategic funding extension led by Lux Capital, bringing its total capital raised in this round to $ 34 million. This investment cycle […]
Military Africa
Feb 18, 2026 - military.africa
Israel prepares for possible US green light to strike Iran’s ballistic missile system: Public broadcaster
Israel is preparing for the possibility of receiving a green light from the US to launch an attack on Iran’s ballistic missile system, Israel’s public broadcaster KAN said late Wednesday, Anadolu reports. The broadcaster noted that the scenario of Israel striking Iran’s ballistic missiles comes amid widespread focus on whether US President Donald Trump will order the attack on Iran. Israeli securi...
Middle East Monitor
Feb 18, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
Indonesia condemns West Bank annexation while sustaining a dangerous contradiction
This week, Indonesia joined Egypt, Jordan, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates in condemning Israel’s decision to designate large areas of the occupied West Bank as so-called state land. The joint statement called it a serious escalation. It cited violations of the Fourth Geneva Convention, United Nations Security Council Resolution 2334 and the advisory opinion of t...
Middle East Monitor
Feb 18, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
Israel limits number of worshippers at Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque to 10,000 Palestinians during Ramadan
Israel decided on Wednesday to limit the number of worshippers for the Friday prayers at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied East Jerusalem during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan to 10,000 Palestinians from the West Bank, requiring each worshipper to obtain a prior permit, Anadolu reports. Israeli military agency COGAT said in a statement that the political leadership approved the restriction...
Middle East Monitor
Feb 18, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
Mexico declines Trump’s Gaza Peace Board and reaffirms support for Palestine
Mexico’s president, Claudia Sheinbaum, reaffirmed this week her long-standing position with Gaza and Palestine as she declined an invitation from US President Donald Trump to join his newly established Board of Peace, while reinforcing Mexico’s economic strategy with Canada and its commitment to key trade agreements. Speaking at her regular morning press conference, Sheinbaum confirmed that Mexico...
Middle East Monitor
Feb 18, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
Adalah says West Bank land settlement plan could amount to war crime
The Adalah Center, a Haifa-based human rights organisation, has called on Israeli authorities to revoke a recent government decision on land settlement procedures in the occupied West Bank, warning that it may amount to a war crime. In a letter addressed to the Israeli defence minister, the attorney general and other relevant legal and military authorities, Adalah demanded the cancellation of a de...
Middle East Monitor
Feb 18, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
US withdrawing all forces from Syria, WSJ reports
Feb 18 (Reuters) - The United States is in the process of withdrawing all of its roughly 1,000 troops from Syria, the Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday, citing three U.S. officials.Reuters could not immediately verify the report.Last week, the U.S. military said it completed a withdrawal from a strategic base in Syria, handing it over to Syrian forces, in the latest sign of strengthening U...
Al-Monitor: The Pulse of The Middle East
Feb 18, 2026 - al-monitor.com
White House tells Iran to do deal as Trump hints at US strikes
The White House warned on Wednesday that Iran would be "wise" to do a deal with the United States as President Donald Trump once again hinted at military action.The two sides recently resumed indirect talks, mediated by Oman, after Trump repeatedly threatened military action against Iran over a deadly crackdown on protesters last month.A previous attempt at negotiations collapsed when Israel launc...
Al-Monitor: The Pulse of The Middle East
Feb 18, 2026 - al-monitor.com
Women's integration into IDF 'disaster': Rabbis send letter to Netanyahu demanding intervention
The letter came in response to the military’s new program, which would include women in the Armored Corps. It was written by leading rabbis in the religious Zionist sector.
JPost.com - The Jerusalem Post - All News from the Middle East, Israel, and the Jewish World
Feb 18, 2026 - jpost.com
Parents of Israeli soldier killed in Gaza say they are angry at the state
According to an initial investigation, Yafe was mistakenly identified as a terrorist and killed by Israeli fire during an IDF search of a suspicious building in the southern Gaza Strip
Haaretz latest headlines
Feb 18, 2026 - haaretz.com
Only indictment filed against IDF soldier for looting in Gaza war ends in plea deal
Data obtained by Haaretz shows at least six additional criminal investigations were opened in 2024 over suspicions of looting or property destruction by soldiers, but none resulted in an indictment. The military believes these cases represent only the tip of the iceberg
Haaretz latest headlines
Feb 18, 2026 - haaretz.com
Muslim countries condemn Israel's plan to claim Palestinian land in the West Bank
The signatories – Turkey, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Indonesia and Pakistan – said the decision violates international law and constitutes a 'grave escalation aimed at accelerating illegal settlement activity, land confiscation, and entrenching Israeli control'
Haaretz latest headlines
Feb 18, 2026 - haaretz.com
Russia, Iran fulfilling all military contracts
TEHRAN, Feb. 18 (MNA) – Russia and Iran are implementing all provisions of their military agreements, Iranian Ambassador to Moscow Kazem Jalali has said.
Mehr News Agency
Feb 18, 2026 - en.mehrnews.com
UN says Israel seeks West Bank displacement as seizures spark outcry
Tehran, IRNA – The United Nations has warned that the Israeli regime’s latest measures in the occupied West Bank are aimed at forcing Palestinians off their land, describing the actions as violations of international law.
IRNA English
Feb 18, 2026 - en.irna.ir
‘Regime Cleavage’: How the ‘Language of Humiliation’ is Engineering a Second American Civil War
A January 2026 Gallup poll showed that 89 percent of all Americans expect high levels of political conflict this year, as the country heads toward one of its most decisive midterm elections ever. Gallup, however, was stating the obvious. It is a surprise that not all Americans feel this way, judging by the coarse, often outright racist discourse currently being normalized by top American officials...
Middle East Monitor
Feb 18, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
Israel’s not-so-subtle annexation plans in the West Bank
Israel’s latest moves in the occupied West Bank are not being framed in dramatic language inside the country. There has been no formal declaration of annexation, no parliamentary ceremony proclaiming sovereignty over the hills and valleys east of the Green Line. Instead, the changes have come through cabinet decisions, legal revisions, and administrative transfers—quiet adjustments that, taken tog...
Middle East Monitor
Feb 18, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
‘Common enemy’: the Epstein class behind Oslo’s failure | Palestine This Week with Mouin Rabbani
In this episode of Palestine This Week, we ask whether the two-state solution has finally run out of graves to bury it in. As Israel tightens its grip on the occupied West Bank and rewrites the Oslo framework in real time, we examine the collapse of diplomatic illusions and the rise of raw power politics. We unpack the shifting narrative around Gaza’s death toll, Israel’s parallel aid system, Neta...
Middle East Monitor
Feb 18, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
‘Britain’s Index of Repression’ documents 964 incidents of anti-Palestinian crackdown
A new report by the European Legal Support Centre (ELSC) has documented 964 verified incidents of anti-Palestinian repression across Britain between January 2019 and August 2025, identifying what it describes as a cross-sector pattern of institutional crackdowns on Palestine solidarity. The findings form part of Britain’s Index of Repression, a searchable national database developed in collaborati...
Middle East Monitor
Feb 18, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
The Rise and Fall of Turkey’s Democrat Party: The Cold War and Illiberalism, 1945–60: 73
Turkish politics was fundamentally altered by the rule of the Democrat Party (DP) between 1950-1960. It has been often viewed as highly controversial party that ended with its leaders being toppled by a military coup in 1960. The Turkish memory of the DP rule and Prime Minister Adnan Menderes is polarised with some seeing them as democratic heroes and others seeing them as betraying a democratic v...
Middle East Monitor
Feb 18, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
Ben-Gvir accuses attorney general over surge in Arab community killings
Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has accused Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara of bearing responsibility for a surge in killings within the Arab community, amid mounting criticism over the government’s handling of violent crime. Speaking at a conference organised by a right-wing newspaper on Tuesday, Ben-Gvir said the attorney general’s “hands are stained with the blood” of vi...
Middle East Monitor
Feb 18, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
Turkish intelligence highlights role in Syria and Gaza diplomacy
The head of Turkey’s National Intelligence Organisation (MIT), Ibrahim Kalin, has said Ankara has taken proactive measures to prevent new threats to its national security along the Syrian border. In the introduction to MIT’s 2025 activity report, released on Tuesday, Kalın said the agency had adopted a comprehensive approach to developments in Syria following the fall of the Assad regime in Decemb...
Middle East Monitor
Feb 18, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
Trump kicks off his 'Board of Peace,' with eye on Gaza and beyond
US President Donald Trump on Thursday gathers allies to inaugurate the "Board of Peace," his new institution focused on progress on Gaza but whose ambitions reach much further.Around two dozen world leaders or other senior officials have come to Washington for the meeting -- including several of Trump's authoritarian-leaning friends and virtually none of the European democrats that traditionally s...
Al-Monitor: The Pulse of The Middle East
Feb 18, 2026 - al-monitor.com
Iran expected to submit written proposal for resolving standoff with US, senior US official says
WASHINGTON, Feb 18 (Reuters) - Iran is expected to submit a written proposal on how to avoid its standoff with the United States in the wake of U.S.-Iran talks in Geneva on Tuesday, a senior U.S. official told Reuters on Wednesday.Top national security advisers met in the White House Situation Room to discuss Iran and were told all U.S. forces deployed to the region should be in place by mid-March...
Al-Monitor: The Pulse of The Middle East
Feb 18, 2026 - al-monitor.com
Trump to host Board of Peace meeting on Thursday, White House says
WASHINGTON, Feb 18 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump will host a Board of Peace meeting on Thursday in Washington, where he will announce that member states have pledged more than $5 billion for reconstruction and humanitarian efforts in Gaza, the White House said.White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters that member states had committed to provide thousands of personnel fo...
Al-Monitor: The Pulse of The Middle East
Feb 18, 2026 - al-monitor.com
Russia doubles down on Iran nuclear cooperation as US talks inch forward
Moscow’s energy minister said Russia is currently building equipment for new units at Iran’s Bushehr nuclear plant.
Al-Monitor: The Pulse of The Middle East
Feb 18, 2026 - al-monitor.com
She took on Britain’s Palestine Action ban. Then she won.
Israel approves West Bank land claims unless Palestinians prove ownership, sparking ‘annexation’ accusations.
Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera
Feb 18, 2026 - aljazeera.com
Iran expected to submit written proposal for resolving standoff with US, senior US official says
Top national security advisers met in the White House Situation Room to discuss Iran and were told all US forces deployed to the region should be in place by mid-March, the official said.
JPost.com - The Jerusalem Post - All News from the Middle East, Israel, and the Jewish World
Feb 18, 2026 - jpost.com
Iran issues NOTAM over planned rocket launches on Thursday, US FAA says
The NOTAM is issued for areas across southern Iran from 3:30 GMT to 13:30 GMT on Thursday.
JPost.com - The Jerusalem Post - All News from the Middle East, Israel, and the Jewish World
Feb 18, 2026 - jpost.com
Smotrich doubles down on refusal to enlist daughter, claims IDF is 'no place for women'
In an interview, Smotrich also addressed his comments on crime rates in Arab communities, saying, "There is a culture of murder, killing, and jihad in Arab society."
JPost.com - The Jerusalem Post - All News from the Middle East, Israel, and the Jewish World
Feb 18, 2026 - jpost.com
Netanyahu is right: A Trump-Iran nuclear deal will not be good enough - opinion
The extensive and expanding Iranian ballistic missile arsenal is today’s clear and present danger – as is the funding for Tehran’s network of terror proxies.
JPost.com - The Jerusalem Post - All News from the Middle East, Israel, and the Jewish World
Feb 18, 2026 - jpost.com
U.S. tells Board of Peace members to disclose financial commitment to rebuilding Gaza
The draft resolution expected to be signed Thursday says 'the reconstruction and rehabilitation activities of the Board shall be dedicated solely to those who regard Gaza as their home and place of residence' in a nod to Trump's 'Gaza Riviera' statement
Haaretz latest headlines
Feb 18, 2026 - haaretz.com
'The Voice of Hind Rajab' director rejects Berlin Film Festival award over Gaza silence
Berlinale has been repeatedly criticized by pro-Palestinian activists for not taking a stand on Gaza. 'I refuse to let their deaths become a backdrop for a polite speech about peace,' Kaouther Ben Hania said. 'What happened to Hind is not an exception. It's a part of a genocide'
Haaretz latest headlines
Feb 18, 2026 - haaretz.com
Eight Palestinian prisoners released by Israel transferred to Gaza, Red Cross says
Haaretz latest headlines
Feb 18, 2026 - haaretz.com
Explained: The military conscription bill driving riots in Haredi cities
Mass demonstrations over military conscription have grown more frequent as the government seeks to advance legislation on exemptions, turning the issue into a flashpoint in Israeli society as the country approaches a general election later this year
Haaretz latest headlines
Feb 18, 2026 - haaretz.com
From Hamas to Iran, Israel's disarmament demands reveal a strategy of perpetual threat
Haaretz latest headlines
Feb 18, 2026 - haaretz.com
United States transfers naval maintenance facility to the Tanzania
The United States and Tanzania recently reached a major milestone in their bilateral defence relationship through the formal transfer of a new naval maintenance facility to the Tanzania People’s Defence […]
Military Africa
Feb 18, 2026 - military.africa
As Iran plays for time in talks with U.S., Israel prepares for war
With Iran seeking a partial deal to ease sanctions and quiet protests, and the U.S. zigzagging between talks and further military build-up, the IDF is bracing for the worst scenario: failed talks leading to America and Iran getting into a war that might well involve Israel