Middle East and north Africa – Page 4 – War Watch

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Displacement Film Fund review – Cate Blanchett masterminds short film collection that brims with life and intensity
ByPeter Bradshaw January 30, 2026

Rotterdam film festivalA set of shorts by film-makers from Afghanistan, Iran, Ukraine, Syria and Somalia are shocking, funny and mysterious in equal measureWith considerable chutzpah and elan, and in her capacity as producer and UNHCR Goodwill ambassad…

Read More Displacement Film Fund review – Cate Blanchett masterminds short film collection that brims with life and intensity
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Starmer signals support for Trump’s aggressive approach towards Iran
ByPippa Crerar in Shanghai and Peter Walker January 30, 2026

Prime minister says ensuring that Iran does not develop a nuclear programme is a ‘number one priority’Keir Starmer has signalled support for Donald Trump’s aggressive approach towards Iran, saying it is vital the Iranian leadership is not able to devel…

Read More Starmer signals support for Trump’s aggressive approach towards Iran
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei | Benjamin Netanyahu | Donald Trump | Energy | Gaza | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Middle East and north Africa | Nuclear power | Nuclear weapons | Palestinian territories | Petrol prices | US foreign policy | US news | World news

‘Deeply ideological’: the rationale behind Iran’s insistence on uranium enrichment
ByPatrick Wintour Diplomatic editor January 30, 2026

Tehran’s nuclear ambitions date back to the shah and the 1970s and remains undimmed despite the damage caused by sanctionsA desperate effort to avert war between the US and Iran is once again under way, but trying to locate common ground between the tw…

Read More ‘Deeply ideological’: the rationale behind Iran’s insistence on uranium enrichment
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei | Benjamin Netanyahu | Donald Trump | Gaza | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Kurds | Middle East and north Africa | Nuclear weapons | Palestinian territories | Petrol prices | Syria | World news

Syrian government and Kurdish forces reach deal on permanent truce
ByWilliam Christou January 30, 2026

Milestone appears to resolve escalating tensions over the question of Kurdish autonomy in north-east SyriaThe Syrian government and Kurdish-led forces have reached an agreement to extend a fragile ceasefire into a permanent truce, laying a framework fo…

Read More Syrian government and Kurdish forces reach deal on permanent truce
Africa | 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 | South Africa | World news

South Africa expels top Israeli diplomat over ‘insulting attacks’ on president
ByRachel Savage in Johannesburg January 30, 2026

Ariel Seidman declared persona non grata and given 72 hours to leave country after remarks on social mediaSouth Africa has ordered Israel’s top diplomat to the country to leave within 72 hours, citing “insulting attacks” on South Africa’s president Cyr…

Read More South Africa expels top Israeli diplomat over ‘insulting attacks’ on president
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Killing Khamenei? Hitting military sites? It is unclear what a US attack on Iran would achieve | Dan Sabbagh
ByDan Sabbagh Defence and security editor January 30, 2026

Trump now has the firepower in place, but using it might not end wellA fortnight ago, when Donald Trump first threatened Iran’s regime, telling protesters in the country that “help is coming”, there were not enough US military assets in the Middle East…

Read More Killing Khamenei? Hitting military sites? It is unclear what a US attack on Iran would achieve | Dan Sabbagh
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei | Benjamin Netanyahu | Donald Trump | Gaza | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Law | Middle East and north Africa | Mohammed bin Salman | Nuclear weapons | Palestinian territories | Petrol prices | Saudi Arabia | UK news | World news

Saudi dissident awarded £3m damages threatens enforcement action if he is not paid
ByHaroon Siddique Legal affairs correspondent January 30, 2026

London-based satirist hails ‘amazing’ ruling that found Gulf state targeted and attacked him for his criticismA London-based Saudi dissident who a judge decided should receive more than £3m in damages from the kingdom for assault and the hacking of his…

Read More Saudi dissident awarded £3m damages threatens enforcement action if he is not paid
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei | Benjamin Netanyahu | Donald Trump | Gaza | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Middle East and north Africa | Nuclear weapons | Palestine | Palestinian territories | Petrol prices | West Bank | World news

Settler-only IDF units functioning as ‘vigilante militias’ in West Bank
ByEmma Graham-Harrison and Quique Kierszenbaum in Jerusalem January 30, 2026

Exclusive: ‘Regional defence’ settler units are escalating violent displacement of Palestinians, Israeli reservists and activists sayIsrael’s army has become a vehicle for violent settlers to escalate their campaign against Palestinians across the occu…

Read More Settler-only IDF units functioning as ‘vigilante militias’ in West Bank
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 | World news

Trump says he believes Iran wants to make deal as he extols size of US ‘armada’
ByPatrick Wintour Diplomatic editor January 30, 2026January 30, 2026

US president declines to say whether he plans Venezuela-like operation, after Tehran signalled it was ready for talksKilling Khamenei? Hitting military sites? It is unclear what a US attack on Iran would achieveDonald Trump has said he believes Tehran …

Read More Trump says he believes Iran wants to make deal as he extols size of US ‘armada’
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Britain unlikely to assist US in possible attack on Iran – but may support Gulf if Tehran retaliates
ByDan Sabbagh Defence and security editor January 29, 2026

Deployment of RAF Typhoon squadron to Qatar signals willingness to help protect country from counterattackBritain is unlikely to assist the US in an attack on Iran but a deployment of RAF Typhoons to Qatar last week signals a willingness to assist regi…

Read More Britain unlikely to assist US in possible attack on Iran – but may support Gulf if Tehran retaliates