Mahmoud Abbas’s collapse – Middle East Monitor

SummaryIsraeli Defence Minister Israel Katz and army chief Eyal Zamir met with US Central Command (CENTCOM) commander Michael Kurilla to discuss security and regional issues, emphasizing the strengthening of the Israel-US strategic alliance. The meeting occurs amid rising tensions from Israel's ongoing military actions in Gaza, which have resulted in over 51,400 fatalities since October 2023, as well as ongoing ceasefire violations with Hezbollah in Lebanon. Additionally, the US has intensified airstrikes against Houthi targets...

Moscow and Tehran have agreed on a deal for the annual supply of 55 billion cubic meters (bcm) of Russian gas, with prices still to be determined, and Russia will also finance the construction of a new nuclear power plant in Iran. This agreement occurred as the U.S. aims to isolate Iran over its nuclear inspections, while both countries strengthen ties amid Western sanctions. Iranian Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad, during his visit to Moscow, also...

Iraq has dispatched a delegation to Damascus to explore the potential restoration of an oil pipeline that would transport Iraqi oil through Syria to Mediterranean ports. The delegation, led by the head of Iraq's National Intelligence Service, will also address counter-terrorism cooperation, border security, and trade expansion between the two nations. This visit follows a recent meeting between Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani and Syria's President Ahmed Al-Sharaa in Qatar, marking a significant diplomatic...

Hezbollah severs outstretched handNidaz Al Watan, Lebanon, April 17Hezbollah's approach to dialogue and reconciliation is rooted in a strategy of domination and suppression, dismissing any overtures as conspiracies to be crushed. Amidst Lebanon's political turmoil, President Joseph Aoun's attempts to address the illegal arms issue are met with threats from Hezbollah, which views dissent as treachery. Unless the Lebanese populace rejects Hezbollah's doctrine of sabotage, the state will remain trapped in a cycle of...

SummaryIsrael's campaign in Gaza is focused on pressuring Hamas to release hostages and diminish its military capabilities, with reports indicating a decline in Hamas's strength. Meanwhile, the Houthi organization from Yemen remains actively engaged, launching missiles at Israel and targeting international shipping routes, prompting US airstrikes against Houthi positions. The US is concerned about the Houthis' growing connections with al-Shabaab, raising fears of expanded Iranian influence in the region, despite ongoing military efforts to curb...

Israeli settlers vandalized farmland in the Masafer Yatta region, uprooting olive saplings and damaging protective fencing on the Al-Hathalin family's land, while livestock were released onto the Al-Shawahin family's crops, causing extensive damage. In a separate incident, thousands of settlers, escorted by Israeli forces, invaded the town of Kifl Haris to perform rituals at historical sites, restricting Palestinian movement and vandalizing properties with racist graffiti. This pattern of settler violence is escalating, with little accountability...