Middle East Watch

Turkish court overturns convictions against four human rights ...

Turkish court overturns convictions against four human rights ...

Turkish court delays verdict in case that could oust opposition party’s leader – Click2Houston
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A Turkish court on Monday delayed a verdict in a case seeking the annulment of an internal leadership election of the country’s main opposition party over alleged irregularities, a decision that could restore the party’s unpopular former leader and inflame political tensions.

The court in Ankara adjourned the trial over the legitimacy of the 38th congress of Republican People’s Party, or CHP, until Oct. 24. The congress in 2023 ousted long-time leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu and elected current chairman Ozgur Ozel.

Did the Kurds help the U.S. during World War II? - News - Missouri ...

Did the Kurds help the U.S. during World War II? - News - Missouri ...

Kurdish-led forces arrest ISIS leader in east Syria: Monitor – rudaw.net
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The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) on Sunday carried out a “precise security operation” to arrest a “prominent” Islamic State (ISIS) leader in Syria’s eastern Deir ez-Zor province, a war monitor reported.

The operation, conducted with support from the US-led global coalition, “resulted in the arrest of a prominent ISIS leader,” said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based war monitor, adding that it took place in the town of al-Shuhail.

The SDF has carried out numerous operations this year to counter what they say is a resurgence in ISIS activity targeting both their forces and civilians.

The Observatory noted that the suspect was whisked away “to a security agency for further investigation.”

Friends of the IDF – Supporting Israel Defense Forces

Friends of the IDF – Supporting Israel Defense Forces

Britain Bans IDF Officers From Elite Military Academy Founded by Churchill– gellerreport.com
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Why did they bother to fight the Nazis? How long before we see King Charles reciting the shahada?

This is what happens when a left-wing bankrupt nation sells out to barbarians.

According to news reports from September 14, 2025, the recent UK ban on Israeli nationals from enrolling at the Royal College of Defence Studies appears to be unprecedented.

This is the first time in the college’s history since its founding in 1927 that it has excluded students from a particular country.

The institution was established nearly a century ago following a recommendation from a committee led by Winston Churchill, then colonial secretary, with the vision of fostering “understanding between senior military officers, diplomats, civil servants and officials.”

Winston Churchill was a strong supporter of the Zionist movement and the creation of a Jewish National Home, which he believed would be a blessing to the world. He envisioned a Jewish state under British protection, becoming a reality through Jewish majority-rule and the reclamation of desert lands.

The Spanish government: politics in Spain | Expatica

The Spanish government: politics in Spain | Expatica

Spanish government calls for sports ban on Israel, threatens to boycott Eurovision– www.france24.com
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PRESS REVIEW – Tuesday, September 16: We look at reactions from the Spanish press after the government calls for a sports and Eurovision boycott of Israel. Also, it’s been three years since Mahsa Amini died at the hands of Iran’s morality police – what has changed in the country? Plus: Armand Duplantis is celebrated for his new world record. Finally, in Britain, locals band together and save the world’s smallest theatre from demolition.

Zohran Mamdani Vows to Arrest Benjamin Netanyahu – PJ Media– pjmedia.com
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When most people think of mayoral campaign promises, they picture fixing potholes, improving schools, or reducing crime. But Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic Socialist nominee for New York City mayor, is vowing to have the NYPD arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should he dare show his face in the Big Apple.

This isn’t your typical political grandstanding. Mamdani wants to honor an International Criminal Court arrest warrant targeting Netanyahu for alleged war crimes in Gaza, stemming from the ongoing war that erupted after Hamas’s October 7 attack on Israel. The socialist firebrand claims that Netanyahu is committing genocide and insists New York must “stand up for international law,” where the federal government supposedly hasn’t.

The practical implications are staggering. If Mamdani were serious about this crusade, Netanyahu couldn’t address the United Nations while Mamdani was mayor. The leader of one of America’s closest allies would be effectively banned from speaking at the UN headquarters because New York’s mayor decided to play international prosecutor.

There’s just one tiny problem with this plan: it’s completely bonkers from a legal standpoint.

The United States isn’t even a member of the ICC and doesn’t recognize its authority. Legal experts are having a field day pointing out that arresting Netanyahu would be practically impossible and could violate federal law. Matthew Waxman, a Columbia Law School professor, called this “more a political stunt than a serious law-enforcement policy.” He’s right: This isn’t even close to being legally feasible.

Jerusalem bus shooting will exacerbate already high tensions between Israelis and Palestinians | World News– news.sky.com
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A few hours after this attack, and Ramot Junction was getting back to normal.

The bodies had been removed, the wounded were being treated in hospital, and pools of blood had been scrubbed and washed away.

But the shockwaves will linger and reverberate. Tensions between Israel and the Palestinians are already very high, and this will only exacerbate that.

Put simply, there are those in the Israeli cabinet who believe that Israel should do everything it can to subordinate the Palestinians, including effectively annexing both Gaza and the West Bank.

Among them are Itamar Ben-Gvir, the national security minister, and Bezalel Smotrich, the finance minister.

Qatar condemns ‘criminal assault’ as Israel launches airstrikes against Hamas leaders in Doha – Middle East crisis live | Israel– www.theguardian.com
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Dr Majed Al Ansari, spokesperson for Qatar’s foreign ministry, has issued a statement on X in response to the Israeli attack in Doha.

Here is the statement from the foreign ministry’s spokesperson in full:

The State of Qatar strongly condemns the cowardly Israeli attack that targeted residential buildings housing several members of the Political Bureau of Hamas in the Qatari capital, Doha.

This criminal assault constitutes a blatant violation of all international laws and norms, and poses a serious threat to the security and safety of Qataris and residents in Qatar.

The Ministry affirms that the security forces, civil defense, and relevant authorities immediately began addressing the incident and taking necessary measures to contain its repercussions and ensure the safety of the residents and surrounding areas.

While the State of Qatar strongly condemns this assault, it confirms that it will not tolerate this reckless Israeli behavior and the ongoing disruption of regional security, nor any act that targets its security and sovereignty.

Investigations are underway at the highest level, and further details will be announced as soon as they are available.

Israel’s forex reserves hit new record– en.globes.co.il
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Israel’s foreign exchange reserves at the end of August 2025 rose to $230.321 billion – a new record – an increase of $3.553 billion from their level at the end of July, the Bank of Israel reports. The level of the reserves relative to GDP at the end of July was 41%.

 

The increase was the result of a revaluation that increased the reserves by about $3.759 billion, partly offset by foreign exchange activities by the government totaling about $209 million.

 

<b>Israeli military launches first ground operation into central Gaza city of Deir al-Balah</b>- <i> www.euronews.com</i>

<b>Israeli military launches first ground operation into central Gaza city of Deir al-Balah</b>- <i> www.euronews.com</i>

DNC Chair Withdraws Resolution Recognizing Israel’s Right to Exist – legalinsurrection.com

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Democratic National Committee (DNC) Chair Ken Martin withdrew his Israel-Gaza resolution from consideration after the members punted on a more extreme resolution.

The Democrats are in disarray.

Martin’s resolution demanded the release of all hostages, a two-state solution, and a ceasefire.

Martin said:

So today, I introduced a resolution, resolution three, which was focused on finding common ground in our party on a very heartbreaking humanitarian issue, and it’s aligned with our party platform. This crisis in Gaza is urgent, and my resolution is focused on that humanitarian crisis, and makes it clear that it must be addressed as the emergency that it is.

Now I know that there are some who are interested in making changes today, but as we’ve seen, there’s divide in our party on this issue.

This is a moment that calls for shared dialogue. It calls for shared advocacy, and that’s why I’ve decided today, at this moment, listening to the testimony and listening to people in our party, to withdraw my amendment and resolution to allow us to move forward on a conversation on this as a party.

<b>US envoy to discuss ceasefire with Israel after Lebanon commits to disarming Hezbollah</b>- <i> www.euronews.com</i>

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The US special envoy to Lebanon said on Monday that his team would hold talks with Israel on a long-term ceasefire after Beirut endorsed a Washington-backed plan for Hezbollah to disarm.

Following a meeting with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun in Beirut, Tom Barrack also said Washington would seek an economic proposal for post-war reconstruction in the country.

“I think the Lebanese government has done their part. They’ve taken the first step,” said Barrack. “Now what we need is for Israel to comply with that equal handshake.”

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 Yemen is witnessing a sharp escalation in political violence amid a significant drop in fuel imports to Houthi-controlled territories, raising concerns over humanitarian fallout and regional stability.

According to recent reports, the Saudi-backed Yemeni government has suspended approvals for fuel shipments destined for the port of Hudaydah, a key entry point for supplies into northern Yemen.

As of late June, over 20 fuel tankers carrying approximately 500,000 metric tons of fuel were stranded in the Coalition Holding Area in the Red Sea, awaiting clearance.

The move follows allegations that the Houthis misappropriated 45 billion Yemeni rials from a special account at the Central Bank’s Hudaydah branch, diverting funds to support their military operations.

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After the recent Israeli war against the Iranian regime and the American attack on the Fordo nuclear site, the mullahs in Tehran are feeling the heat. This is the most fragile the regime has been over the past 46 years, and talk of regime change is spreading. For the past year and a half, some in the regime have been preparing for a plan B, in case they need to flee urgently. While that does not mean that the regime is about to fall, it is still a valid indicator of the nervousness of the leadership.

After Hamas, one of Iran’s proxies, attacked Israel by surprise on October 7, 2023, the Iranian regime and its allies have sustained major military and strategic losses at the hands of Israel. For instance, Hezbollah, from far its most powerful proxy, is just a shadow of itself after the elimination of most of its leadership, including its long-time ruthless chief Hassan Nasrallah. Therefore, apparatchiks of the regime started panicking, deciding that it was time to either turn against the regime by defecting and/or working for the Israelis or the Americans to build a life abroad.

Israeli Settlers Attack Christian Town

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After a second assault upon the Christian town of Taybeh in as many weeks on Monday, the Patriarchs and Heads of Churches in Jerusalem (PHCJ) issued a statement decrying the “prevailing climate of impunity” for such crimes of aggression by Israeli settlers backed by Israeli authorities who fail to hold these terrorists accountable.

The prelates, including Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, expressed their “unwavering condemnation following yet another violent assault” against the Christians in this town. “Several vehicles were set ablaze, and hateful graffiti was sprayed — an unambiguous act of intimidation directed at a peaceful and faithful community rooted in the land of Christ.”

<b>Netanyahu assassination plot busted, Shin Bet claims terminally ill anti-government activist arrested for plotting to kill Israeli Prime Minister - MSN</b>-

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Israeli authorities have arrested and indicted a woman in her 70s, described as a terminally ill anti-government activist, for conspiring to assassinate Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu using a rocket-propelled grenade or explosive device according to KAN public broadcaster.

The suspect, a resident of Tel Aviv, was detained approximately two weeks ago following intelligence gathering and a police investigation led by the Shin Bet security service. Police say she sought help from fellow activists to acquire weapons and gather detailed information about Netanyahu’s security arrangements.

The indictment states the suspect “was involved in political protest activities against the Israeli government” and, after receiving a terminal diagnosis, decided to attempt assassination as a “sacrifice” to save the state.

She revealed her assassination plan to another activist and asked him to assist her in acquiring a rocket-propelled grenade for the attack.

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U.S. military personnel carried out a raid in Aleppo, Syria, overnight that resulted in the deaths of a “senior ISIS leader” and his two sons who had affiliations with the Islamic State, according to U.S. Central Command.

The leader targeted and killed in the raid was Dhiya’ Zawba Muslih al Hardani, and his two sons were Abdallah Dhiya al Hardani and Abd al Rahman Dhiya Zawba al Hardani. A CENTCOM statement said they were with three women and three children who were not harmed in the mission.

“We will continue to relentlessly pursue ISIS terrorists wherever they are. ISIS terrorists are not safe where they sleep, where they operate, and where they hide,” CENTCOM Commander Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla said. “Alongside our partners and allies, U.S. Central Command is committed to the enduring defeat of ISIS terrorists that threaten the region, our allies, and our homeland.”

The raid is notable because it put U.S. troops in harm’s way to carry out the mission, compared to drone strikes, which forces in the region also rely on because they pose little risk to the service members who launch them.

The U.S. military has had a footprint in Iraq and Syria for about a decade to ensure the lasting defeat of ISIS and has worked with its partners in the Iraqi Army, the Peshmerga security forces representing the Kurds, and the Syrian Democratic Forces.

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DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — A raid by U.S.-led forces in northwestern Syria on Friday killed a senior leader in the Islamic State militant group, the U.S. military said Friday.

The U.S. Central Command said in a statement that it had killed IS leader Dhiya Zawba Muslih al-Hardan and his two adult sons, who were also affiliated with the group, early Friday in a raid in the town of al-Bab, in Syria’s Aleppo province.

It said the men “posed a threat to U.S. and Coalition Forces, as well as the new Syrian Government,” adding that three women and three children at the site were not harmed.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a U.K.-based war monitor, said the raid was carried out through an airdrop of forces, the first of its kind to be carried out by the U.S.-led coalition against IS this year, and that ground forces from both the Syrian government’s General Security forces and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces participated.

The observatory said the operation was “preceded by a tight security cordon around the targeted site, a heavy deployment of forces on the ground, and the presence of coalition helicopters in the airspace of the area.”

<b>Is Israel Losing American Christians? - The American Conservative</b>

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As Israel continues its assault on Gaza, enables settler violence in the West Bank, and launches strikes on Syria, Lebanon, and Yemen, American conservatives are taking special note of one form of Israeli belligerence: attacks on Christians in the Holy Land.

An Israeli tank last week shelled the only Catholic church in Gaza, killing three and gravely wounding several. Over in the West Bank, settlers in recent weeks have intensified their attacks on Christian communities, including in the town of Taybeh, where they set cars aflame and erected a sign that read “there is no future for you here,” among other indignities.

Many American Christians, including high-profile MAGA influencers, have had enough—jeopardizing one of Israel’s most vital bases of Western support.

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A Christian man has been arrested in Lahore under Pakistan’s controversial blasphemy laws, following what local rights groups allege is a fabricated accusation stemming from a neighbourhood dispute—not a religious offence.

Aamir Masih, a retired government education worker and father of two, was taken into custody by South Cantonment police after Sanwar Ali, a Muslim shopkeeper in Nishat Colony, lodged a complaint accusing Masih of making derogatory remarks about the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). The FIR was registered under Section 295-C of the Pakistan Penal Code, a section that carries a mandatory sentence of life imprisonment or death.

The complainant alleges that Masih made the remarks during a discussion in his shop about the country’s current political and economic challenges. According to the FIR, Masih fled the scene when confronted.

However, local residents and human rights defenders have strongly contested the allegations, saying the charge is being misused to settle a personal grudge related to a drainage dispute.