Middle East and north Africa – Page 21 – War Watch

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei | Benjamin Netanyahu | Donald Trump | Gaza | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Middle East and north Africa | Nuclear weapons | Palestinian territories | Petrol prices | Strait of Hormuz | Trump administration | US foreign policy | US-Israel war on Iran

Israeli strikes in Gaza kill five, local officials say – as it happened
ByMark Saunokonoko April 20, 2026April 21, 2026

This blog is now closed. See our latest full report here: JD Vance to lead US delegation in Pakistan if Iran agrees to talksThe US has just released some more footage of the encounter with the Iranian flagged vessel, the M/V Touska.In a post on X, US C…

Read More Israeli strikes in Gaza kill five, local officials say – as it happened
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei | Benjamin Netanyahu | Donald Trump | Gaza | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Middle East and north Africa | Nuclear weapons | Palestinian territories | Petrol prices | Strait of Hormuz | Trump administration | US military | US news | US-Israel war on Iran | World news

US military seizes Iran-flagged ship trying to pass strait of Hormuz blockade
ByGloria Oladipo April 19, 2026April 20, 2026

Iran calls seizure an act of piracy as Trump says ship tried to get past US naval blockade ‘and it did not go well for them’ Middle East crisis – live updatesThe US military has attacked and seized an Iranian-flagged container ship that attempted to ge…

Read More US military seizes Iran-flagged ship trying to pass strait of Hormuz blockade
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei | Benjamin Netanyahu | Donald Trump | Gaza | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Middle East and north Africa | Nuclear weapons | Palestinian territories | Petrol prices | US foreign policy | US news | US-Israel war on Iran | World news

Intemperate Trump brings chaos and confusion to Iran talks
ByPatrick Wintour Diplomatic editor April 19, 2026

US president’s unreliable style sows diplomatic confusion but leaves Tehran clear on strategic value of strait of HormuzDonald Trump’s decision to send US officials to Islamabad for further talks on Monday with Iran just 24 hours after Iran once again …

Read More Intemperate Trump brings chaos and confusion to Iran talks
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei | Benjamin Netanyahu | Donald Trump | Gaza | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | JD Vance | Lebanon | Middle East and north Africa | Nuclear weapons | Pakistan | Palestinian territories | Petrol prices | US news | US-Israel war on Iran | World news

Tehran has ‘no plans to participate’ in talks with US, state media reports
ByAngela Giuffrida and agencies April 19, 2026April 19, 2026

Reported response comes hours after Trump announced delegation to Islamabad, having earlier threatened to raze Iran’s infrastructureMiddle East crisis – live updatesTehran is not currently planning to take part in new talks with the US, Iran state medi…

Read More Tehran has ‘no plans to participate’ in talks with US, state media reports
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei | Benjamin Netanyahu | Donald Trump | Gaza | Hezbollah | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Lebanon | Middle East and north Africa | Nuclear weapons | Palestinian territories | Petrol prices | US-Israel war on Iran | World news

‘Everything has changed’: bittersweet emotions as Lebanese return south
ByAbbas Abdelkarim in south Lebanon and William Christou in Beirut April 19, 2026

Determined to see their homes, displaced residents use shaky ceasefire to journey to their villages – but the mood turns sombre when they arriveMohammed Ashour was on the road at 5am, speeding towards his hometown of Shaqra. The Lebanese army, the Isra…

Read More ‘Everything has changed’: bittersweet emotions as Lebanese return south
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei | Benjamin Netanyahu | Donald Trump | Europe | European Union | Gaza | Giorgia Meloni | Hungary | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Italy | Middle East and north Africa | Nuclear weapons | Palestinian territories | Petrol prices | Viktor Orbán | World news

Israel had a bad week in Europe. Does it herald a wider shift in EU relations?
By April 19, 2026April 19, 2026

With Orbán gone and Meloni distancing herself, EU sanctions on trade and settlers are looking more likelyIt was a bad week for Israel in Europe: the country lost its staunchest regional ally when Viktor Orbán was toppled from power in Hungary, and Ital…

Read More Israel had a bad week in Europe. Does it herald a wider shift in EU relations?
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei | Benjamin Netanyahu | Donald Trump | Gaza | Hezbollah | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Lebanon | Middle East and north Africa | Nuclear weapons | Palestinian territories | Petrol prices | Strait of Hormuz | Trump administration | US-Israel war on Iran

IDF map shows its advance into southern Lebanon – as it happened
ByVivian Ho (now) and Wendy Frew (earlier) April 19, 2026April 20, 2026

This blog is now closed.UN secretary-general António Guterres has strongly condemned the killing of a French peacekeeper and the wounding of three others in an attack in southern Lebanon, spokesman Stéphane Dujarric said in a statement to the Associate…

Read More IDF map shows its advance into southern Lebanon – as it happened
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei | Benjamin Netanyahu | Donald Trump | Gaza | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | JD Vance | Middle East and north Africa | Nuclear weapons | Palestinian territories | Petrol prices | Pope Leo XIV | US foreign policy | US news | US-Israel war on Iran | World news

JD Vance could yet save his political skin. But it will mean turning on Trump – and soon | Simon Tisdall
BySimon Tisdall April 19, 2026

The vice-president has endured his most humiliating – and damaging – week as his boss’s fall guy. How much more can Maga’s great hope take? For a would-be president, JD Vance has an unfortunate habit of getting into fights he cannot win. Three losing…

Read More JD Vance could yet save his political skin. But it will mean turning on Trump – and soon | Simon Tisdall
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei | Benjamin Netanyahu | Donald Trump | Gaza | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Journalist safety | Media | Middle East and north Africa | Nuclear weapons | Palestinian territories | Petrol prices | Transnational repression | UK news | World news

Stabbings, kidnap threats and arson attacks: how the Iranian regime targets UK journalists
ByTom Levitt, Deepa Parent and Maryam Foumani April 19, 2026

Staff at outlets critical of Tehran have faced chilling intimidation and violence, amid calls for greater protection and supportIranian journalists working in London say they fear for their lives after a recent spate of threats and physical attacks, wh…

Read More Stabbings, kidnap threats and arson attacks: how the Iranian regime targets UK journalists
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei | Benjamin Netanyahu | Digital media | Donald Trump | Gaza | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Middle East and north Africa | Nuclear weapons | Palestinian territories | Petrol prices | Social Media | US news | US-Israel war on Iran | World news

Trump and Tehran’s series of mismanaged posts stall progress towards peace
ByPatrick Wintour Diplomatic editor April 18, 2026

US president’s desperation for war to end has seen him trying to speed through a process he does not fully controlMiddle East crisis – live updatesA set of mismanaged and premature media announcements by Donald Trump and Tehran has led to the collapse …

Read More Trump and Tehran’s series of mismanaged posts stall progress towards peace