Middle East and north Africa – Page 132 – War Watch

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‘I just want to be free’: Australian children held in Syrian camps reveal their hopes and dreams
ByWilliam Christou and Baderkhan Ahmad in al-Roj February 25, 2026

Exclusive: As debate rages over their return, children of Australian women with Islamic State links dream of ice-cream, Bluey and not living in a tentGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe first thing Layla did when she left al-…

Read More ‘I just want to be free’: Australian children held in Syrian camps reveal their hopes and dreams
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The Taliban are burning musical instruments in the name of morality. It is an assault on all culture
ByTom Service February 25, 2026

The sounds of Afghan history are being erased to prevent music’s ‘moral corruption’ of the Afghan people. We can help keep Afghanistan’s music alive. Plus, Eliane Radigue’s deep listening, and the brilliance of Sinners’s scoreThe horrors of the Taliban…

Read More The Taliban are burning musical instruments in the name of morality. It is an assault on all culture
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‘A rushed execution’: the case of the woman convicted of child murder that shocked Somalia
BySarah Johnson and Mohamed Sheikh Nor in Somalia February 25, 2026

The speed at which Hodan Mohamud Diiriye was executed has raised questions about the fairness of her trialOn 12 November last year, Hodan Mohamud Diiriye called her husband to tell him that his 14-year-old great niece, Saabirin Saylaan, who had been li…

Read More ‘A rushed execution’: the case of the woman convicted of child murder that shocked Somalia
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Members of Iran’s elite accused of hypocrisy over children’s lives in west
ByRobert Tait February 25, 2026

Opposition campaigners claim top figures in regime use state wealth to fund lifestyles counter to those they preachMembers of Iran’s ruling elite have been accused of brazen hypocrisy by allegedly using the state’s wealth to help to fund their adult ch…

Read More Members of Iran’s elite accused of hypocrisy over children’s lives in west
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Palestine Comedy Club review – roving performance collective finds light in darkness
ByPeter Bradshaw February 25, 2026

This portrait of a multi-ethnic comic troupe could do with more unpicking, but its reflections on the grind of war, life on the road and the reactive nature of comedy are insightfulIt must surely, sometimes, seem to everyone involved that the name shou…

Read More Palestine Comedy Club review – roving performance collective finds light in darkness
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Marco Rubio briefs US lawmakers on Iran as Trump uses State of the Union to threaten nuclear programme
ByAndrew Roth in Washington February 24, 2026February 25, 2026

Secretary of state makes rare briefing to so-called ‘gang of eight’ as US deploys largest force of aircraft and warships to Middle East since 2003Sign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxMarco Rubio delivered a rare …

Read More Marco Rubio briefs US lawmakers on Iran as Trump uses State of the Union to threaten nuclear programme
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Armed police flood Iran’s universities to crush student protests
ByPatrick Wintour Diplomatic editor February 24, 2026

Campus clashes provide uneasy backdrop to third round of talks on nuclear programme in GenevaPlainclothes police and security forces, many of them armed, have tried to flood Iran’s remaining open universities in an attempt to crush a fourth day of stud…

Read More Armed police flood Iran’s universities to crush student protests
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Australian women held in Syrian camps say they would accept children returning home separately
ByWilliam Christou and Baderkhan Ahmad in al-Roj, and Ben Doherty in Sydney February 24, 2026

Exclusive: Some of the 11 mothers detained in Kurdish-controlled al-Roj camp say they want Australian government to repatriate children at any costFamilies in convoy from Syrian camp warned they would be attacked unless they turned aroundFollow our Aus…

Read More Australian women held in Syrian camps say they would accept children returning home separately
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The 23 Australian children stuck in Syria are not responsible for their parents. They need our government’s support to return | Donald Rothwell
ByDonald Rothwell February 24, 2026

If the circumstances of those from Roj camp become even more perilous, the Albanese government may be forced to interveneFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastEver since news br…

Read More The 23 Australian children stuck in Syria are not responsible for their parents. They need our government’s support to return | Donald Rothwell
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Australian families in convoy from Syrian camp warned they would be attacked unless they turned around
ByWilliam Christou and Baderkhan Ahmad in al-Roj, and Ben Doherty in Sydney February 23, 2026

Exclusive: Government forces issued threat because Australian government failed to coordinate with them, official saysFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastSyrian government off…

Read More Australian families in convoy from Syrian camp warned they would be attacked unless they turned around