Middle East Geopolitical Reporting for 2026-02-24
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.
Trump denies Pentagon opposes war with Iran as IDF assesses possibility of U.S. strike
Israel is carefully monitoring the gathering American forces in the Middle East, but parties remain unsure of Trump's decision whether or not to strike Iran. Meanwhile, Trump says he would 'rather have a deal than not,' as U.S. envoys are set to attend talks in Geneva on Thursday
Haaretz latest headlines
Feb 24, 2026 - haaretz.com
Iran’s layered arsenal primed to deter – and decimate – US warships in Persian Gulf
As tensions rise amid the US military buildup near the Persian Gulf, Iran’s layered arsenal of missiles, drones, submarines, and mines – combined with the region’s geography – positions Tehran to effectively deter American naval power.
Presstv
Feb 24, 2026 - presstv.ir
Democrats’ secret ‘autopsy’ report of 2024 election links Harris’ loss to Gaza stance
The top Democratic Party officials’ secret “autopsy” report of the 2024 election links Kamala Harris’ loss to her stance on Israel's genocidal war on Gaza.
Presstv
Feb 24, 2026 - presstv.ir
Australia begins inquiry into antisemitism following Bondi attacks, spike in antisemitic incidents
The Royal Commission, the most powerful type of government inquiry in Australia, which can compel people to give evidence, will be led by retired judge Virginia Bell.
JPost.com - The Jerusalem Post - All News from the Middle East, Israel, and the Jewish World
Feb 24, 2026 - jpost.com
Israel, not America, first: Carlson’s Huckabee interview lays bare US foreign policy priorities
In a viral interview, Tucker Carlson challenged US envoy Huckabee on Israel’s sway over American policy, Gaza genocide, expansionism, lobbying, and Epstein, concluding Huckabee represents Israeli interests more than the US.
Presstv
Feb 24, 2026 - presstv.ir
Israeli solar projects in West Bank expand illegal settlements: Report
Israel’s solar expansion in the West Bank is leading to the expansion of illegal settlements, driving Palestinian displacement and reinforcing Israeli occupation, says a report.
Presstv
Feb 24, 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 24, 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 24, 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 24, 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 24, 2026 - presstv.ir
Declared dead, found breathing: The miraculous survival of Najwa after Israeli bombing of Gaza
A Palestinian woman has miraculously survived an Israeli strike in Gaza.
Presstv
Feb 24, 2026 - presstv.ir
Palestinian widow raises three kids in Gaza as her husband killed by Israel
In 2023, a volunteer paramedic named Ahmed Abdul Rahim left for Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza and never returned.
Presstv
Feb 24, 2026 - presstv.ir
Dublin rally condemns Western-backed genocide in Gaza
Tens of thousands of demonstrators take to the streets of Dublin, condemning the Israeli regime's ongoing genocide in Gaza while highlighting Western complicity.
Presstv
Feb 24, 2026 - presstv.ir
'Justice for Palestine' protest held in Paris
Pro-Palestinian protesters in Paris condemn the Israeli regime over ongoing violence, as a UN report detailed violations of humanitarian law in Gaza and the occupied West Bank.
Presstv
Feb 24, 2026 - presstv.ir
$50m sportwashing: After turning blind eye to genocide for two years, FIFA funds Gaza stadiums
After more than two years of refusing calls to suspend Israel over genocide in Gaza, FIFA is now sportwashing the crisis by pledging $50 million for football infrastructure in the war-torn territory.
Presstv
Feb 24, 2026 - presstv.ir
Israel designates Palestinian online platforms as Hamas affiliates, warns of escalation in Jerusalem
Israel’s Defence Minister, Israel Katz, has signed a military order classifying a number of Palestinian online media platforms as affiliates of Hamas. According to the Israeli decision, Hamas is allegedly using these platforms to incite unrest among Palestinians, particularly in Jerusalem, during the month of Ramadan. Israel’s Channel 12 reported a warning issued by the Shin Bet security agency. T...
Middle East Monitor
Feb 23, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
Trump’s “Board of Peace”: Aggrandizing theatre and the impunity of genocide
More than 75,000 Palestinians have been murdered in Gaza, with tens of thousands more still missing beneath the rubble. They did not die to “build a home,” or privatize their beaches. They had homes and free beaches. Gaza was a living city—albeit under decades of Israeli siege—before it was leveled by the most advanced global terror machine on earth, armed, financed, and diplomatically shielded by...
Middle East Monitor
Feb 23, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
Gaza death toll reaches 72,073 since Oct. 7: health min.
TEHRAN, Feb. 23 (MNA) – The Palestinian Ministry of Health in the Gaza Strip has said that Israeli forces killed 72,073 Palestinian people in the enclave since the outbreak of war between Hamas and Israel on October 07, 2023.
Mehr News Agency
Feb 23, 2026 - en.mehrnews.com
Backing Israel cost Democrats 2024 election, post-mortem reveals
Support for Israel was a key factor in the 2024 loss in the presidential election, an internal Democratic autopsy has found, according to a report by Axios. Senior party officials have concluded that Joe Biden’s unwavering backing of Israel’s genocide on Gaza cost the Democrats critical support among younger and progressive voters. The findings, which remain under lock and key at the Democratic Na...
Middle East Monitor
Feb 23, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
Mosque entrance set on fire, racist graffiti sprayed in West Bank village
Israeli settlers set fire to the entrance of a mosque and sprayed racist slogans on its walls in the occupied West Bank, Nablus, on Monday, Anadolu reports. In a statement, the Palestinian Ministry of Awqaf said settlers attempted to torch a mosque in the village of Tel, near Nablus. The statement added that the arson attempt targeted the Abu Bakr Al-Siddiq Mosque. Since the war on Gaza began on O...
Middle East Monitor
Feb 23, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
Gazans mark Ramadan without hundreds of imams killed in Israeli war
The Muslim holy month of Ramadan has arrived in the Gaza Strip without hundreds of imams, preachers and Quran teachers who were killed during the Israeli war, leaving hundreds of mosques in ruins and altering traditions Palestinians long associated with the fasting month. Palestinians say they miss the imams who once led prayers, delivered Friday sermons and offered religious lessons that shaped b...
Middle East Monitor
Feb 23, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
Gaza war policy cost Kamala Harris victory in 2024 US elections, DNC research shows - report
According to Axios, DNC officials met with activists from the IMEU Policy Project, who told the Democrats that former US president Joe Biden's administration's support for Israel "drained support."
JPost.com - The Jerusalem Post - All News from the Middle East, Israel, and the Jewish World
Feb 23, 2026 - jpost.com
Putin has 'already started' World War III, Zelensky claims in BBC interview
Zelensky claimed that “Putin will not stop at Ukraine,” adding that “stopping Putin today and preventing him from occupying Ukraine is a victory for the whole world.”
JPost.com - The Jerusalem Post - All News from the Middle East, Israel, and the Jewish World
Feb 23, 2026 - jpost.com
Turkey using all diplomatic tools to prevent attack on Iran, parliament speaker says
Turkish Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş has said that Ankara is deploying all available diplomatic channels to prevent a potential military attack on Iran, warning that the international system is undergoing profound transformation. Speaking during a meeting with directors of media institutions in Istanbul, Kurtulmuş addressed regional and global developments, alongside discussions related to t...
Middle East Monitor
Feb 23, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
Iranian ground forces commander says military monitoring enemies ‘around the clock’
The commander of the Iranian Army’s Ground Forces, Brigadier General Ali Jahanshahi, said on Sunday that Iranian forces are monitoring what he described as enemy movements continuously and remain fully prepared to respond to any threats. Speaking during an inspection visit to a military unit in the city of Piranshahr in West Azerbaijan Province near the Iraqi border, Jahanshahi stressed that prote...
Middle East Monitor
Feb 23, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
Gharibabadi: Israel’s nuclear arsenal main obstacle to nuclear-weapon-free Middle East
London, IRNA – Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs, Kazem Gharibabadi, has emphasized the necessity of complete disarmament and the non-discriminatory implementation of the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), adding that Israel’s nuclear arsenal is the primary obstacle to establishing a Middle East free of nuclear weapons.
IRNA English
Feb 23, 2026 - en.irna.ir
Hamas leadership council chief sends message to Iran’s FM on Gaza ceasefire
Tehran, IRNA – Mohammad Darwish, head of the leadership council of the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas, has sent a letter to Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, providing a detailed report on the latest status of the Gaza ceasefire agreement.
IRNA English
Feb 23, 2026 - en.irna.ir
Pan-Islamic grouping to hold emergency meeting Thursday to discuss ‘invalid’ Israeli decisions in West Bank
The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) will hold an emergency meeting of its foreign ministers on Thursday to address Israel’s decisions to expand illegal settlements and pursue annexation of the occupied West Bank, Anadolu reports. The Jeddah meeting comes at the request of Palestine “to coordinate positions and discuss ways of action to confront these invalid decisions” and measures aimed...
Middle East Monitor
Feb 23, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
Hamas: Netanyahu’s remarks on new regional axis a direct threat to Arab interests
Hazem Qassem, spokesman for the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), said that remarks by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about forming a new regional axis including Arab states amount to “blatant disregard” for Arab countries and pose a direct threat to their interests. In a statement posted on Sunday, Qassem said Netanyahu’s talk of a new regional bloc, involving Arab nations, reflects...
Middle East Monitor
Feb 23, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
Tensions rise in Tel Aviv as Netanyahu asks: “Is Trump still with us? I’m worried.”
The planned summit between the United States and Iran in Geneva on Thursday is seen in Washington as a crucial opportunity to advance talks on a new nuclear agreement. While President Donald Trump’s advisers, including Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, are seeking to allow more room for diplomacy, other figures within his circle are pressing for military action against Tehran if no breakthrough is ...
Middle East Monitor
Feb 23, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
Sudan condemns Uganda’s reception of RSF leader as ‘direct support for ‘genocide’
Sudan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has condemned Uganda’s reception of Rapid Support Forces (RSF) commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti, describing it as “direct support for the crimes of genocide” that Khartoum accuses the paramilitary group of committing. In a statement, the ministry denounced Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni’s meeting on Friday with the RSF leader. “This unprecede...
Middle East Monitor
Feb 23, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
Trump denies top US officer warned of Iran strike risks
President Donald Trump on Monday denied reports that the top US military officer had flagged the risks of a major operation against Iran, saying Washington would "easily" beat Tehran in any war.US media reported that General Dan Caine, the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, had warned of various risks associated with strikes against Iran including a long-term entanglement.But Trump said on his...
Al-Monitor: The Pulse of The Middle East
Feb 23, 2026 - al-monitor.com
EU sanctions Russian officials as Hungary blocks funds to Ukraine
European Union fails to approve further Russia sanctions and a $106bn loan to Ukraine after Hungary refuses to agree.
Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera
Feb 23, 2026 - aljazeera.com
Putin’s strategy is that Ukraine will fall before he does: Ex-FM Kuleba
Dmytro Kuleba talks to Al Jazeera as Ukraine marks the fourth anniversary of war with Russia.
Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera
Feb 23, 2026 - aljazeera.com
Australia Islamic school investigated after director shares Hamas video with prayer for victory
The school's director shared the video of Hamas on his public Instagram account on February 15 with the caption “Ameen. Ameen. Ameen”.
JPost.com - The Jerusalem Post - All News from the Middle East, Israel, and the Jewish World
Feb 23, 2026 - jpost.com
U.S. military begins withdrawing from main base in northeast Syria, Syrian sources say
U.S. officials describe the withdrawal as 'conditions-based' amid the Syrian government's alleged 'willingness' to combat the 'terrorist threat within its borders'
Haaretz latest headlines
Feb 23, 2026 - haaretz.com
Report: Israel prisons chief hosted tour at jail housing Hamas terrorists
The Channel 12 report states that IPS chief Kobi Yaakobi hosted the worshippers from a synagogue he attends at Nitzan prison, where they were given a tour of the wing that houses Hamas members who have been in detention since October 7
Haaretz latest headlines
Feb 23, 2026 - haaretz.com
4 HTS-led regime forces killed in ISIL attack in Raqqa
TEHRAN, Feb. 23 (MNA) – Four Syrian HTS-led regime forces were killed on Monday in an attack by the terrorist group ISIL targeting a security checkpoint west of Raqqa city center in northeastern Syria.
Mehr News Agency
Feb 23, 2026 - en.mehrnews.com
Iran in the face of the armed diplomacy of imperialism
The ongoing negotiations between the United States and Iran, mediated by Oman and recently held in Geneva, have been presented by Western diplomacy as a technical effort to contain nuclear risks. This version is a carefully constructed farce. What is at stake is not the so-called “non-proliferation”, but a direct dispute between national sovereignty and imperial domination, conducted in order to p...
Middle East Monitor
Feb 23, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
The digital high commissioner: Trump’s Maliki threat and the illusion of Iraqi sovereignty
When President Donald Trump took to social media to demand that former Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki withdraw his bid for a return to power, the message landed with explosive force. Within days, Maliki’s coalition Coordination Framework crumbled, withdrawing support under the weight of American pressure. What might have seemed like a passing tweet became a decisive intervention in Iraq’s fr...
Middle East Monitor
Feb 23, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
From 9/11 to Gaza, we still need Middle East studies
Middle East studies is facing a crisis stemming from both funding cuts and a broader marginalization linked to a political climate of rapidly increasing levels of Islamophobia. From the aftermath of 9/11 to October 7th, the history of Middle East studies can teach us about where we are going and why we should fight to change course. Attacks on the discipline are rooted in fears of how education ca...
Middle East Monitor
Feb 23, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
KKK-style Israeli lynching in occupied West Bank leaves American teenager dead
Details have emerged of the killing of a 19-year-old American from Philadelphia who was shot dead by an armed Israeli settler during a raid on the Palestinian village of Mukhmas in the illegally occupied West Bank. The events were reconstructed by journalist Jasper Nathaniel, who interviewed multiple eyewitnesses present during the attack. Nasrallah Abu Siyam was killed on the first full day of Ra...
Middle East Monitor
Feb 23, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
Brazil’s Samba school wins 2026 carnival title with parade honouring Palestine
The samba school “Rosa do Povo” won the Access Group championship at the 2026 Curitiba Carnival, turning its debut into a high-impact result. Beyond competition, the parade delivered a clear message of solidarity with Gaza and Palestine, embedding that position directly into its samba-enredo and aligning artistic performance with an explicit socio-political stance. Its inaugural a samba-enredo, “A...
Middle East Monitor
Feb 23, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
EU commissioner urges expanded Rafah access to boost Gaza aid
Humanitarian aid is entering Gaza only “drop by drop,” European Commissioner for Equality and Crisis Management Hadja Lahbib said Monday, calling for expanded access through the Rafah crossing, fewer restrictions on dual-use goods and greater access for NGOs operating on the ground, Anadolu reports. “The crossing point is open, but not enough,” Lahbib said at the doorstep of the EU Foreign Affairs...
Middle East Monitor
Feb 23, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
India’s hyphenated ties with Israel betray its past stand for decolonization
India and Israel have cultivated a robust strategic partnership based on shared interests in defense, technology, agriculture, and counter-terrorism. Since normalizing relations in 1992, they have transitioned into key allies, with Israel becoming a top defense supplier and India emerging as a major market for Israeli technology, fostering a “special” and high-trust relationship. This bonhomie wit...
Middle East Monitor
Feb 23, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
The day after the bombs: The strategic void of US intervention in Iran
It seems that in his second presidential term, Donald Trump is still severely suffering from the same problem he had eight years ago; he fundamentally does not understand Iran. Evidently, Trump lacks a clear understanding of Iran’s geopolitical and identity-based complexities, which has now brought him to the brink of one of his most perilous foreign policy decisions: issuing the order for war. Wh...
Middle East Monitor
Feb 23, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
Netanyahu speaks of forming ‘alliance’ against ‘Sunni and Shia axes’ including Arab states
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that efforts were under way to form what he described as a regional “alliance” to counter what he called “Sunni and Shia axes”. According to Bloomberg, Netanyahu made the remarks at a cabinet meeting ahead of a visit this week by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He said the proposed network of alliances would include India, Arab and Afri...
Middle East Monitor
Feb 23, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
Chad closes border crossings with Sudan after deadly RSF attack
Chadian authorities have closed several border crossings with Sudan without prior notice following the killing of 13 Chadian soldiers in an attack attributed to Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF), local Sudanese sources reported on Sunday. According to the sources, Chad shut all crossings along its border with Sudan, including routes used by international humanitarian organisations to deliver aid....
Middle East Monitor
Feb 23, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
US ambassador to Israel rebukes Tucker Carlson after contentious airport interview
US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee has launched a sharp criticism of commentator Tucker Carlson following a contentious interview conducted at Ben Gurion Airport, accusing him of promoting unsubstantiated claims and damaging Israel’s image. In a series of posts on the social media platform X, Huckabee said the interview contained what he claimed as “misleading assertions”, adding that one quest...
Middle East Monitor
Feb 23, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
US pulling non-essential staff from embassy in Beirut amid Iran tensions
By Humeyra PamukWASHINGTON, Feb 23 (Reuters) - The State Department is pulling out non-essential government personnel and their eligible family members from the U.S. embassy in Beirut, a senior State Department official said on Monday, amid growing concerns about the risk of a military conflict with Iran."We continuously assess the security environment, and based on our latest review, we determine...
Al-Monitor: The Pulse of The Middle East
Feb 23, 2026 - al-monitor.com
Turkey to repatriate its ISIS fighters from Iraq as jihadis escalate Syria attacks
Ankara will repatriate its nationals from among thousands of fighters transferred from Syria, Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein said.
Al-Monitor: The Pulse of The Middle East
Feb 23, 2026 - al-monitor.com
Israeli settlers deface, set fire to West Bank mosque during Ramadan
Attack on Nablus-area mosque is latest in surge of Israeli settler and military violence targeting Palestinians.
Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera
Feb 23, 2026 - aljazeera.com
Trump warns of 'very bad day' for Iran if no deal is made, defends top general
US President Donald Trump said that the reports about General John D. Caine being against the war with Iran were "fake news" and warned the regime against making a deal with the US.
JPost.com - The Jerusalem Post - All News from the Middle East, Israel, and the Jewish World
Feb 23, 2026 - jpost.com
USS Gerald R. Ford expected to dock in Haifa as US sends cargo, refueling aircraft to Israel
The USS Gerald R. Ford, the world’s largest aircraft carrier, is set to dock in Haifa as part of US reinforcements in the Middle East, amid rising tensions with Iran.
JPost.com - The Jerusalem Post - All News from the Middle East, Israel, and the Jewish World
Feb 23, 2026 - jpost.com
Iran expected to submit draft agreement to US ahead of Geneva talks
US officials expect Tehran to present a comprehensive proposal rather than a document outlining general principles.
JPost.com - The Jerusalem Post - All News from the Middle East, Israel, and the Jewish World
Feb 23, 2026 - jpost.com
Why US moved from backing Iranian protesters to bargaining over nuclear program - analysis
Trump’s rhetoric originally tied potential military action to Tehran’s repression of protesters. In less than a month, the justification had pivoted to Iran's nuclear program.
JPost.com - The Jerusalem Post - All News from the Middle East, Israel, and the Jewish World
Feb 23, 2026 - jpost.com
IDF lone soldiers mark bar and bat mitzvah at Western Wall, including some family surprises
The event was organized by Ach Gadol (Big Brother for Lone Soldiers), a nonprofit that provides one-on-one mentorship and community support for soldiers serving in Israel without immediate family.
JPost.com - The Jerusalem Post - All News from the Middle East, Israel, and the Jewish World
Feb 23, 2026 - jpost.com
‘I’ll Shout Shema in New York’: Freed hostage Segev Kalfon launches US Chabad tour
"They didn't let me shout Shema Yisrael in Gaza," Kalfon said. "I'll shout Shema Yisrael in New York."
JPost.com - The Jerusalem Post - All News from the Middle East, Israel, and the Jewish World
Feb 23, 2026 - jpost.com
Technion leads Israel, Europe in AI research in new CSRanking index, ranking 21st worldwide
The Technion claimed the top spot in Europe for AI research according to CSRankings, placing 21st globally, and has fueled a surge of successful commercial tech spinoffs.
JPost.com - The Jerusalem Post - All News from the Middle East, Israel, and the Jewish World
Feb 23, 2026 - jpost.com
'A piece of history': Freed Israeli hostages see their story retold at Berlin screening
David and Ariel Cunio received standing ovations at the screening of 'A Letter to David,' recut to include their release from Hamas captivity
Haaretz latest headlines
Feb 23, 2026 - haaretz.com
West Bank mosque torched in suspected settler attack
Last week, Israeli settlers shot and beat a 19-year-old Palestinian-American, who died the next day. As of January, the Israeli military had recorded a total of 1,720 settler attacks on Palestinians since October 7, 2023
Haaretz latest headlines
Feb 23, 2026 - haaretz.com
Israel's perfect storm: The West Bank has been sacrificed for Trump's Gaza plan
Conversations with foreign diplomats suggest many recognize Israel's concrete steps to displace Palestinians and annex their land. But with their main priority being to keep Netanyahu moving forward with Trump's Gaza plan, they are less inclined to press him over the West Bank
Haaretz latest headlines
Feb 23, 2026 - haaretz.com
Iran signed nearly $590M secret missile deal with Russia in Dec. to rebuild air defense system: Report
Iran signed a secret missile agreement worth approximately €500 million (approximately $589 million) with Russia in order to rebuild its air defense system, the Financial Times claimed in a report published on Sunday, Anadolu reports. An agreement was signed between Iran and Russia in Moscow in Dec. 2025, according to information obtained by the newspaper. Under the agreement, Russia is expected t...
Middle East Monitor
Feb 22, 2026 - middleeastmonitor.com
How the European Union's antisemitism czar became an 'unofficial Israeli ambassador'
'Preoccupied with defending Israel's government,' 'untouchable,' 'lobbyist against sanctions': For over a decade, Katharina von Schnurbein is the first and only person to serve as European Coordinator for Combating Antisemitism. More and more insiders warn of her influence on EU Israel policy