Middle East

Strike Kills Two Pro-Iran Fighters in Southern Iraq
Strike Kills Two Pro-Iran Fighters in Southern Iraq

Two fighters from the powerful Tehran-backed Kataeb Hezbollah group were killed on Wednesday in a strike near their base in Iraq, as the war in the Middle East raged across multiple fronts. Attacks were also reported in Baghdad and Erbil throughout the day, as the US embassy urged its citizens to leave the country as soon as they were able. Two ...

Qassem: ‘As Long as Occupation Exists, Resistance and its Weapons Retain a Legitimate Right’
Qassem: ‘As Long as Occupation Exists, Resistance and its Weapons Retain a Legitimate Right’

Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem delivered televised remarks amid Israeli strikes in Beirut’s southern suburbs. Qassem’s speech marked his first appearance since Hezbollah opened fire on Israel on Monday morning. He spoke on issues including the ongoing U.S. and Israeli strikes in the region, the internal displacement of ...

Lebanon Bans Hezbollah’s Military Activities, But Stops Short of Terrorism Label
AnalysisLebanon Bans Hezbollah’s Military Activities, But Stops Short of Terrorism Label

In an unprecedented move, Lebanon’s government on March 2 banned all Hezbollah’s military and security activities and instructed the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) to immediately move forward with its plan to disarm the militia. The decision came hours after a Hezbollah rocket barrage into Israel, which triggered a widescale military ...

Israel Initially Planned to Strike Iran in Mid-2026: Minister
Israel Initially Planned to Strike Iran in Mid-2026: Minister

Israel had initially planned to strike Iran in mid-2026, but developments inside the Islamic republic and shifting regional dynamics brought the timetable forward to February, Defence Minister Israel Katz said on Wednesday. "An operation was planned for the middle of the year with the same target set," Katz said in an address to ...

Hezbollah and Iran Strike Israel as Israel Continues Attacks
Hezbollah and Iran Strike Israel as Israel Continues Attacks

Hezbollah and Iran carry out further strikes in Israel as Israel continues to expand its operations in Lebanon. Hezbollah struck two Israeli military vehicles in the town of Houla in southern Lebanon, saying that it hit with “appropriate weapons, achieving a direct hit.” The organization also stated that it hit an Israeli Merkava ...

Israel Is Preparing a Buffer Zone in Southern Lebanon
Israel Is Preparing a Buffer Zone in Southern Lebanon

The President of the Republic, Joseph Aoun, and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam informed the ambassadors of the Quintet that the government’s decision banning all military and security activities of Hezbollah will be fully implemented. According to diplomatic sources, including U.S. ambassador Michel Issa, there will be no cessation of Israeli ...

U.S. Claims Air and Maritime Dominance Over Iran as War Intensifies
U.S. Claims Air and Maritime Dominance Over Iran as War Intensifies

The United States said it has established full control of Iranian airspace and key maritime corridors, as Washington signals a major expansion of its military campaign against Iran. Speaking during a press briefing on Wednesday, the U.S. Secretary of Defense said American forces now have “complete control over Iranian airspace” and are ...

Turkey Says Missile Launched from Iran Destroyed by NATO
Turkey Says Missile Launched from Iran Destroyed by NATO

A ballistic missile launched from Iran and heading toward Turkish airspace via Iraq and Syria was destroyed by NATO air defence systems, Turkish officials said Wednesday. The defence ministry said it had been "engaged and neutralised by NATO air-and-missile defence assets deployed in the eastern Mediterranean". It did not specify the ...

Syria Strengthens Military Presence on Borders with Lebanon, Iraq
Syria Strengthens Military Presence on Borders with Lebanon, Iraq

The Syrian army reinforced its presence along the borders with Lebanon and Iraq on Wednesday, both of which have been dragged into the regional war with Iran. A Syrian government source told AFP that the Syrian army had sent reinforcements to the border with Lebanon. "Syrian military forces are heading toward the Lebanese-Syrian border near Homs ...

Gulf States Withstand Fifth Consecutive Day of Iranian Attacks
Gulf States Withstand Fifth Consecutive Day of Iranian Attacks

On the fifth consecutive day of Iranian attacks targeting Gulf states, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar all reported intercepting missiles and drones as the regional escalation showed no sign of slowing. Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia’s defence ministry said Wednesday that two cruise missiles were intercepted and ...