Deaths (Obituaries) – War Watch

American University of Beirut | Arabs | Arafat, Yasir | Beirut (Lebanon) | Deaths (Obituaries) | Harvard University | History (Academic Subject) | Institute for Palestine Studies (Beirut, Lebanon) | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Khalidi, Walid | Palestine Liberation Organization | Palestinians | Peace Process

Walid Khalidi, Scholar Called Father of Palestinian Studies, Dies at 100
ByClay Risen March 12, 2026March 12, 2026

As a historian and diplomat, he gave intellectual shape to his people and made sure that they played a role in negotiating their future.

Read More Walid Khalidi, Scholar Called Father of Palestinian Studies, Dies at 100
Assassinations and Attempted Assassinations | Baghdad (Iraq) | Deaths (Obituaries) | Human Rights and Human Rights Violations | internal-open-access-from-nl | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Iraq | Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Mohammed, Yanar (1960-2026) | Popular Mobilization Forces (Iraq) | Sex Crimes | Women's Rights | Yazidi (Religious Sect)

Yanar Mohammed, 65, Iraqi Women’s Rights Advocate, Is Killed by Gunmen
ByAdam Nossiter March 12, 2026March 12, 2026

She established a network of safe houses for abused women and was an outspoken critic of her country’s repressive institutions, despite the constant threat of violence.

Read More Yanar Mohammed, 65, Iraqi Women’s Rights Advocate, Is Killed by Gunmen
Clergy | Deaths (Obituaries) | Guardian Council (Iran) | Human Rights and Human Rights Violations | internal-open-access-from-nl | International Relations | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Khamenei, Ali | Khomeini, Ruhollah | Middle East | Nuclear weapons | Politics and Government | Saudi Arabia | Shiite Muslims | United States International Relations | US and Israeli Attack on Iran (2026)

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Hard-Line Cleric Who Made Iran a Regional Power, Is Dead at 86
ByAlan Cowell and Farnaz Fassihi March 1, 2026March 1, 2026

As Iran’s second supreme leader, he brutally crushed dissent at home and expanded Iran’s footprint abroad, challenging Saudi Arabia for regional dominance.

Read More Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Hard-Line Cleric Who Made Iran a Regional Power, Is Dead at 86
Assad, Rifaat al- | Damascus (Syria) | Deaths (Obituaries) | Hafez al-Assad | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Syria | War Crimes, Genocide and Crimes Against Humanity

Rifaat al-Assad, Paramilitary Leader and ‘Butcher of Hama,’ Dies at 88
ByAdam Nossiter January 22, 2026January 22, 2026

The brother and uncle of Syrian tyrants, he commanded a unit that killed up to 40,000 civilians in a 1982 uprising against his family’s rule.

Read More Rifaat al-Assad, Paramilitary Leader and ‘Butcher of Hama,’ Dies at 88
Archaeology and Anthropology | Barkay, Gabriel (1944-2026) | Bible | Deaths (Obituaries) | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Jerusalem (Israel) | Jews and Judaism

Gabriel Barkay, 81, Dies; His Discoveries Revised Biblical History
ByClay Risen January 17, 2026January 17, 2026

One of Israel’s leading archaeologists, he found evidence that the writing of the Old Testament likely began much earlier than historians had thought.

Read More Gabriel Barkay, 81, Dies; His Discoveries Revised Biblical History
Beyzaie, Bahram (1938-2025) | Culture (Arts) | Deaths (Obituaries) | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Movies | Politics and Government | Theater | Writing and Writers

Bahram Beyzaie, Filmmaker Who Led Iran’s New Wave, Dies at 87
ByAlex Williams January 9, 2026January 12, 2026

Despite a ceaseless battle against government censors, he was celebrated as one of his country’s greatest auteurs, winning praise from luminaries like Martin Scorsese.

Read More Bahram Beyzaie, Filmmaker Who Led Iran’s New Wave, Dies at 87
Actors and Actresses | Bakri, Mohammad | Beyond the Walls (TV Program) | Deaths (Obituaries) | Hanna K. (Movie) | Homeland (TV Program) | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Jenin (West Bank) | Movies | Of Kings and Prophets (TV Program) | Palestinians | West Bank

Mohammad Bakri, Palestinian Whose Film Was Banned in Israel, Dies at 72
ByAdam Nossiter December 31, 2025January 2, 2026

His 2002 documentary “Jenin, Jenin” exposed the often harsh realities of life experienced by his fellow Arabs in Israel.

Read More Mohammad Bakri, Palestinian Whose Film Was Banned in Israel, Dies at 72
Arab-Israeli War (1967) | Arab-Israeli War (1973) | Deaths (Obituaries) | Defense and Military Forces | Espionage and Intelligence Services | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel-Gaza War (2023- ) | Israel–Iran War | Mossad | War and Armed Conflicts | Zeira, Eli (1928-2025)

Eli Zeira, 97, Dies; Israeli Official Dismissed Warnings of Yom Kippur War
ByRichard Sandomir and Johnatan Reiss November 26, 2025

As Israel’s head of military intelligence, he disregarded signs Egypt and Syria were about to attack in 1973. A commission blamed him for the lack of preparation.

Read More Eli Zeira, 97, Dies; Israeli Official Dismissed Warnings of Yom Kippur War
Arab-Israeli War (1967) | Arab-Israeli War (1973) | Deaths (Obituaries) | Defense and Military Forces | Espionage and Intelligence Services | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel-Gaza War (2023- ) | Israel–Iran War | Mossad | War and Armed Conflicts | Zeira, Eli (1928-2025)

Eli Zeira, 97, Dies; Israeli Official Dismissed Warnings of Yom Kippur War
ByRichard Sandomir and Johnatan Reiss November 26, 2025November 26, 2025

As Israel’s head of military intelligence, he disregarded signs Egypt and Syria were about to attack in 1973. A commission blamed him for the lack of preparation.

Read More Eli Zeira, 97, Dies; Israeli Official Dismissed Warnings of Yom Kippur War
Archaeology and Anthropology | Clapp, Nicholas (1936-2025) | Columbia (Space Shuttle) | Deaths (Obituaries) | Deserts | Documentary Films and Programs | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Middle East

Nicholas Clapp, 89, Dies; ‘Real-Life Indiana Jones’ Pursued a Lost City
ByJeré Longman August 7, 2025

A documentary filmmaker and amateur archaeologist, he was consumed by the desire to find an ancient city in the Arabian desert known as Atlantis of the Sands.

Read More Nicholas Clapp, 89, Dies; ‘Real-Life Indiana Jones’ Pursued a Lost City