Middle East War

A daily tracker on the war in the Middle East: reporting from the Times of Israel and Al Jazeera plus analysis from the Institute for the Study of War.

Cadence: Daily
Length: 2 minutes

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Episodes

Middle East War August 14: Iran Accused of Hormuz Vessel Attacks as Washington Weighs Naval Blockade
Created: August 14th, 2026 - 05:15 PT
Script

Here is today's Middle East War for Friday August 14th. The Hormuz crisis is escalating from a contest over access into a direct threat to commercial shipping. Abu Dhabi National Oil Company said yesterday that two of its vessels were attacked in the Strait of Hormuz, while the Gulf Cooperation Council condemned what it described as an Iranian attack. Iran has not been represented in the supplied reports as confirming responsibility. Today, Washington is considering an indefinite naval blockade of Iran, according to Al Jazeera, and oil benchmarks were headed for a weekly gain of roughly four percent on renewed fears over crude supplies. Tehran, meanwhile, insists it retains control of the strait. The immediate danger is that military pressure intended to force concessions may instead make an already restricted waterway even more hazardous.

In Gaza, Israeli drone strikes yesterday killed Gaza City police chief Jamal Abu Kamil and another person in Khan Younis, according to Al Jazeera. Today, three Palestinian fishermen were reported wounded when Israeli naval boats and drones fired on a fishing vessel west of Gaza City. These incidents indicate that, alongside the larger regional confrontation, Gaza’s civilian policing and access to coastal livelihoods remain exposed to continuing military operations. [1]

The Israel-Lebanon front also remains active. Today, Israeli warplanes and drones reportedly struck the Al-Mashaa neighborhood and agricultural areas linked to al-Mansouri, in Lebanon’s Tyre district. Al Jazeera also reported fires in a southern Lebanese municipality after Israeli shelling. The attacks come despite the continuing expectation of talks on localized Israeli withdrawal arrangements, underscoring the gap between diplomatic planning and conditions on the ground. [2]

In the West Bank, the dispute around Qusra remains unresolved. Yesterday, the Israeli military reversed an earlier decision to move Palestinian residents from their homes, amid pressure over surrounding illegal outposts. But today the IDF ordered the evacuation of 15 homes as part of an operation it says is aimed at clearing several outposts. That sequence highlights the uncertainty facing residents when security operations, settler activity, and legal enforcement overlap. [3]

The larger trend is escalation across multiple layers: maritime coercion is pushing energy markets higher, while violence in Gaza, Lebanon, and the West Bank continues to outpace fragile diplomatic efforts. Thank you for listening to Middle East War from The Daily FM. See you tomorrow!

Source Evidence
  1. Recent tweets from @AJEnglish
    ...pulled into the opening. https://t.co/mIYvCmXzOG
Posted: 2026-08-14T10:48:27.000Z
Tweet: https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2088216173900976246
Links: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/8/14/engine-debris-shattered-ryanair-window-pulling-passenger-out-ntsb-says

Three Palestinian fishermen have been injured after Israeli naval boats and quadcopter drones opened fire at a fishing boat west of Gaza City, reported the Palestinian news agency, Wafa.

🔴 LIVE updates: https://t.co/1oumCXW9wy https://t.co/PH9lLeC4T1
Posted: 2026-08-14T10:46:25.000Z
Tweet: https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2088215662686613784
Links: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2026/8/14/iran-war-live-us-eyes-indefinite-iran-naval-blockade?update=4853711, https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2088215662686613784/photo/1

BREAKING: Pakistan’s Deputy PM Ishaq Dar told US Chargé d’Affaires Natalie Baker in Islama...
    Links in excerpt: https://t.co/mIYvCmXzOG, https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2088216173900976246, https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/8/14/engine-debris-shattered-ryanair-window-pulling-passenger-out-ntsb-says, https://t.co/1oumCXW9wy, https://t.co/PH9lLeC4T1, https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2088215662686613784, https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2026/8/14/iran-war-live-us-eyes-indefinite-iran-naval-blockade?update=4853711,, https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2088215662686613784/photo/1
  2. Recent tweets from @AJEnglish
    ...000Z
Tweet: https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2088202525451157983
Links: https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2026/8/14/fear-and-attacks-grip-taybeh-the-last-all-christian-town-in-the-west-bank, https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2088202525451157983/photo/1

BREAKING: Israeli warplanes and drones have attacked in intervals, targeting the Al-Mashaa neighbourhood and the agricultural outskirts area connected to the town of Al-Mansouri in the Tyre district of southern Lebanon.

🔴 LIVE updates: https://t.co/SQIkHcyCzt https://t.co/SFhPa6TV43
Posted: 2026-08-14T09:38:10.000Z
Tweet: https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2088198485761778171
Links: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2026/8/14/iran-war-live-us-eyes-indefinite-iran-naval-blockade?update=4853666, https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2088198485761778171/photo/1

"Israel has never implemented a single UN resolution involving Pale...
    Links in excerpt: https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2088202525451157983, https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2026/8/14/fear-and-attacks-grip-taybeh-the-last-all-christian-town-in-the-west-bank,, https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2088202525451157983/photo/1, https://t.co/SQIkHcyCzt, https://t.co/SFhPa6TV43, https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2088198485761778171, https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2026/8/14/iran-war-live-us-eyes-indefinite-iran-naval-blockade?update=4853666,, https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2088198485761778171/photo/1
  3. Recent tweets from @TimesofIsrael
    The IDF on Thursday ordered the evacuation of 15 homes in the northern West Bank village of Qusra, as part of an operation that is purportedly aimed at clearing several Israeli illegal outposts surrounding the town.

Army Radio reported that the IDF was planning a multi-day https://t.co/PmPOedUvnP
Posted: 2026-08-14T09:00:13.000Z
Tweet: https://x.com/TimesofIsrael/status/2088188936979927410
Links: https://x.com/TimesofIsrael/status/2088188936979927410/video/1

IDF confirms killing Hamas commander who held multiple Israelis captive in Gaza

https://t.co/BMhl9dnyXD
Posted: 2026-08-14T07:35:25.000Z
Tweet: https://x.com/...
    Links in excerpt: https://t.co/PmPOedUvnP, https://x.com/TimesofIsrael/status/2088188936979927410, https://x.com/TimesofIsrael/status/2088188936979927410/video/1, https://t.co/BMhl9dnyXD, https://x.com/...
Sources
Middle East War August 13: US, Iran Clash Over Hormuz as Washington Rebukes Israel Katz
Created: August 13th, 2026 - 05:15 PT
Script

Here is today's Middle East War for Thursday August 13th. The deadline for the United States and Iran to turn their memorandum of understanding into a final agreement—or extend their ceasefire—is approaching, with major disputes still unresolved. Al Jazeera reports both sides remain far apart on key terms. The central question remains the Strait of Hormuz: Tehran and Washington continue to offer opposing accounts of who controls access and under what conditions shipping can safely resume. Iran’s central-bank governor also says the country will soon join the BRICS-backed New Development Bank, a potential effort to expand economic options while sanctions and maritime pressure persist. [1]

In the occupied West Bank, the village of Qusra has become a new focus of international concern. At least three Palestinian families have reportedly been under siege by Israeli settlers, while video reporting described settlers establishing an outpost near Palestinian homes. Israeli forces attempted to evacuate the settlers yesterday, and the tent at the site was reportedly dismantled Wednesday morning, but residents and reporters say the underlying intimidation has not ended. A US envoy says Washington is “very” involved in efforts to end the siege. Separate Times of Israel reporting says US officials are increasingly angry over what they describe as unchecked settler violence and disorder. [2]

On the Israel-Lebanon front, Washington has publicly rebuked Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz after he declared that Israel was “here to stay” in southern Lebanon. The criticism is notable because it comes as US-backed talks are still expected to resume in Rome next month, focused on potential pilot zones for Israeli military withdrawal. The dispute shows how difficult it will be to translate localized security arrangements into an agreed timetable for de-escalation. [3]

Finally, a new Institute for the Study of War assessment says Iran is adapting militarily based on lessons from recent conflicts. It cites the reported use of drone swarms to gather targeting information before an April attack that downed a US F-15E. The implication is that even if diplomacy prevents immediate escalation, Iran is preparing for more technologically coordinated confrontation. [4]

The broader trend is a region balancing on narrow diplomatic tracks while actors preserve—and refine—their coercive leverage. Thank you for listening to Middle East War from The Daily FM. See you tomorrow!

Source Evidence
  1. Recent tweets from @AJEnglish
    ...m reports from the occupied West Bank. https://t.co/UhoCYEmTbq
Posted: 2026-08-13T09:55:58.000Z
Tweet: https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2087840576099983413
Links: https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2087840576099983413/video/1

People explore the wreckage of a World War II German warship exposed by falling water levels in the Danube River near Prahovo, Serbia.

📸 AFP https://t.co/r21U33dhdw
Posted: 2026-08-13T09:49:41.000Z
Tweet: https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2087838996428669041
Links: https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2087838996428669041/photo/1

Iran’s central bank governor says that the country will soon join the New Development Bank, the multilateral lender established by the BRICS group of nations.

🔴 LIVE updates: https://t.co/5BEuurLfLI https://t.co/YLvoPzBPJR
Posted: 2026-08-13T09:30:27.000Z
Tweet: https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2087834155665006705
Links: https://www...
    Links in excerpt: https://t.co/UhoCYEmTbq, https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2087840576099983413, https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2087840576099983413/video/1, https://t.co/r21U33dhdw, https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2087838996428669041, https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2087838996428669041/photo/1, https://t.co/5BEuurLfLI, https://t.co/YLvoPzBPJR, https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2087834155665006705, https://www...
  2. Recent tweets from @TimesofIsrael
    ...he site was dismantled Wednesday morning following https://t.co/WAyUjEl92U
Posted: 2026-08-12T12:43:26.000Z
Tweet: https://x.com/TimesofIsrael/status/2087520335734116519
Links: https://x.com/TimesofIsrael/status/2087520335734116519/video/1

Search ongoing for Israeli mother and daughter missing in Vienna: ‘The ground has swallowed them up’

https://t.co/QZ9Lrsjc3H
Posted: 2026-08-12T12:22:04.000Z
Tweet: https://x.com/TimesofIsrael/status/2087514957512413394
Links: https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/search-ongoing-for-israeli-mother-and-daughter-missing-in-vienna-the-ground-has-swallowed-them-up/

State Department says next round of talks to take place in September in Rome, will focus on roadmaps for future pilot zones for IDF withdrawal.

Read more: https://t.co/YcWC7BYZ6a https://t.co/vQguD8Me6K
Posted: 2026-08-12T11:00:33.000Z
Tweet: https://x.com/TimesofI...
    Links in excerpt: https://t.co/WAyUjEl92U, https://x.com/TimesofIsrael/status/2087520335734116519, https://x.com/TimesofIsrael/status/2087520335734116519/video/1, https://t.co/QZ9Lrsjc3H, https://x.com/TimesofIsrael/status/2087514957512413394, https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/search-ongoing-for-israeli-mother-and-daughter-missing-in-vienna-the-ground-has-swallowed-them-up/, https://t.co/YcWC7BYZ6a, https://t.co/vQguD8Me6K, https://x.com/TimesofI...
  3. Recent tweets from @TimesofIsrael
    ...026-08-12T12:22:04.000Z
Tweet: https://x.com/TimesofIsrael/status/2087514957512413394
Links: https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/search-ongoing-for-israeli-mother-and-daughter-missing-in-vienna-the-ground-has-swallowed-them-up/

State Department says next round of talks to take place in September in Rome, will focus on roadmaps for future pilot zones for IDF withdrawal.

Read more: https://t.co/YcWC7BYZ6a https://t.co/vQguD8Me6K
Posted: 2026-08-12T11:00:33.000Z
Tweet: https://x.com/TimesofIsrael/status/2087494444119359662
Links: https://www.timesofisrael.com/us-insists-israel-lebanon-talks-moving-in-positive-direction-despite-setback-last-week/, https://x.com/TimesofIsrael/status/2087494444119359662/photo/1

Wisconsin Democrats choose David Crowley as nominee for governor over anti-Israel candidate

https://t.co/RvQE3O5gFC
Posted: 2026-08-12T09:14:26.000Z
Twe...
    Links in excerpt: https://x.com/TimesofIsrael/status/2087514957512413394, https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/search-ongoing-for-israeli-mother-and-daughter-missing-in-vienna-the-ground-has-swallowed-them-up/, https://t.co/YcWC7BYZ6a, https://t.co/vQguD8Me6K, https://x.com/TimesofIsrael/status/2087494444119359662, https://www.timesofisrael.com/us-insists-israel-lebanon-talks-moving-in-positive-direction-despite-setback-last-week/,, https://x.com/TimesofIsrael/status/2087494444119359662/photo/1, https://t.co/RvQE3O5gFC
  4. Recent tweets from @TheStudyofWar
    ...e Special Report, August 12, 2026: https://t.co/vWKDQ9gScs
Posted: 2026-08-12T22:19:18.000Z
Tweet: https://x.com/TheStudyofWar/status/2087665253718925802
Links: https://understandingwar.org/research/middle-east/iran-update-special-report-august-12-2026/

NEW: Iran is adapting its tactics based on lessons from recent conflicts, such as the Russia-Ukraine War. Iran deployed a swarm of drones into an area that US fighter jets had entered before downing the US F-15E with MANPADS in April 2026. The drones reportedly transmitted the https://t.co/bkXz75S15f
Posted: 2026-08-12T22:19:12.000Z
Tweet: https://x.com/TheStudyofWar/status/2087665231136694597
Links: https://x.com/TheStudyofWar/status/2087665231136694597/photo/1

2/ A new ISW report examines how the Kremlin maintains its lasting media influence through journalism training initiatives and investing in global media tale...
    Links in excerpt: https://t.co/vWKDQ9gScs, https://x.com/TheStudyofWar/status/2087665253718925802, https://understandingwar.org/research/middle-east/iran-update-special-report-august-12-2026/, https://t.co/bkXz75S15f, https://x.com/TheStudyofWar/status/2087665231136694597, https://x.com/TheStudyofWar/status/2087665231136694597/photo/1
Sources
Middle East War August 12: Iran Defies Trump on Hormuz as Oil Supply Forecast Plunges
Created: August 12th, 2026 - 05:15 PT
Script

Here is today's Middle East War for Wednesday August 12th. The standoff over the Strait of Hormuz remains unresolved. Iran today rejected President Trump’s assertion that the United States has “total control” of the waterway, insisting the strait will stay closed until Washington accepts Iranian demands and changes its behavior. Al Jazeera also reports that US forces fired missiles at a cargo ship accused of violating Iran’s blockade. The immediate issue is no longer simply who can claim control of Hormuz, but whether either side can enforce its position without triggering a wider confrontation at sea. The International Energy Agency now forecasts global oil supply will fall by 4.3 million barrels per day this year, highlighting the economic stakes of a prolonged disruption. [1]

In Iraq, the Institute for the Study of War says indicators suggest Baghdad may be considering a major operation against Iranian-backed militias. The assessment says the federal government could try to retake militia-controlled strongholds, an effort that would require substantial mobilization and could face serious resistance. If confirmed, that would mark an important shift: pressure on Iran’s regional network may increasingly come not only from the United States and its allies, but from governments where those militias operate. [2]

In the occupied West Bank, Israeli raids, arrests, demolitions, and settler violence are again intensifying. Al Jazeera reports that Israeli forces arrested at least 23 Palestinians and demolished several homes, as the United Nations warned the territory has reached a “breaking point.” Separate reporting from Jericho describes settlers demolishing Palestinian homes and displacing families. Israeli sources also report clashes as security forces sought to remove settlers from an outpost built outside a Palestinian home. The competing incidents underline how settlement expansion and enforcement actions are creating a volatile security environment beyond Gaza. [3]

Finally, there is a modest diplomatic opening on the Israel-Lebanon front. The State Department says the next round of talks will be held in Rome in September and will focus on roadmaps for pilot zones of Israeli military withdrawal. That suggests negotiators are exploring phased, localized arrangements rather than a sweeping settlement. [4]

The trend is clear: maritime and energy pressure remain central, but the conflict’s political risks are spreading through militia control, contested land, and fragile local security deals. Thank you for listening to Middle East War from The Daily FM. See you tomorrow!

Source Evidence
  1. Recent tweets from @AJEnglish
    Iran has refuted President Donald Trump’s claim that Washington has “total control” of the Strait of Hormuz, saying the critical waterway will remain closed until the US accepts its demands and changes its “behaviour.”

Here's what you need to know https://t.co/sCoKSL7Ws6 https://t.co/ZI5KQU28DT
Posted: 2026-08-12T12:14:06.000Z
Tweet: https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2087512952316293265
Links: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/8/12/iran-refutes-trumps-claim-to-control-hormuz-whats-the-latest-in-talks, https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2087512952316293265/photo/1

Rescuers have saved more than 100 passengers and crew...
    Links in excerpt: https://t.co/sCoKSL7Ws6, https://t.co/ZI5KQU28DT, https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2087512952316293265, https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/8/12/iran-refutes-trumps-claim-to-control-hormuz-whats-the-latest-in-talks,, https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2087512952316293265/photo/1
  2. Recent tweets from @TheStudyofWar
    .../TheStudyofWar/status/2087350520662896729
Links: https://understandingwar.org/research/middle-east/iran-update-special-report-august-11-2026/, https://x.com/TheStudyofWar/status/2087350520662896729/photo/1

NEW: Some observed indicators suggest that the Iraqi federal government is considering a major crackdown on Iranian-backed Iraqi militias, including by entering and retaking militia-controlled strongholds. Such an effort would require major mobilization, and the militias would https://t.co/QtkyHcatCF
Posted: 2026-08-12T01:28:33.000Z
Tweet: https://x.com/TheStudyofWar/status/2087350494238838872
Links: https://x.com/TheStudyofWar/status/2087350494238838872/photo/1

2/ Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, August 11, 2026: https://t.co/pA6N2n7NNO https://t.co/p8RoFxdwQr
Posted: 2026-08-12T00:24:34.000Z
Tweet: https://x.com/TheStudyofWar/status/2087334392901386719
Lin...
    Links in excerpt: https://understandingwar.org/research/middle-east/iran-update-special-report-august-11-2026/,, https://x.com/TheStudyofWar/status/2087350520662896729/photo/1, https://t.co/QtkyHcatCF, https://x.com/TheStudyofWar/status/2087350494238838872, https://x.com/TheStudyofWar/status/2087350494238838872/photo/1, https://t.co/pA6N2n7NNO, https://t.co/p8RoFxdwQr, https://x.com/TheStudyofWar/status/2087334392901386719
  3. Recent tweets from @AJEnglish
    ...weet: https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2087434955064213928
Links: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2026/8/12/iran-war-live-us-fires-missiles-at-cargo-ship-violating-iran-blockade?update=4847739, https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2087434955064213928/photo/1

Israeli forces have continued their crackdown in the occupied West Bank, arresting at least 23 Palestinians and demolishing several homes, as the UN warned that the situation in the territory was at a “breaking point.”

Read more https://t.co/0MiExRIfp9 https://t.co/emRQGWKAmj
Posted: 2026-08-12T06:57:04.000Z
Tweet: https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2087433169565810778
Links: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/8/12/israeli-raids-demolitions-continue-as-un-warns-west-bank-at-breaking-point, https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2087433169565810778/photo/1
    Links in excerpt: https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2087434955064213928, https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2026/8/12/iran-war-live-us-fires-missiles-at-cargo-ship-violating-iran-blockade?update=4847739,, https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2087434955064213928/photo/1, https://t.co/0MiExRIfp9, https://t.co/emRQGWKAmj, https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2087433169565810778, https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/8/12/israeli-raids-demolitions-continue-as-un-warns-west-bank-at-breaking-point,, https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2087433169565810778/photo/1
  4. Recent tweets from @TimesofIsrael
    State Department says next round of talks to take place in September in Rome, will focus on roadmaps for future pilot zones for IDF withdrawal.

Read more: https://t.co/YcWC7BYZ6a https://t.co/vQguD8Me6K
Posted: 2026-08-12T11:00:33.000Z
Tweet: https://x.com/TimesofIsrael/status/2087494444119359662
Links: https://www.timesofisrael.com/us-insists-israel-lebanon-talks-moving-in-positive-direction-despite-setback-last-week/, https://x.com/TimesofIsrael/status/2087494444119359662/photo/1

Wisconsin Democrats choose David Crowley as nominee for governor over anti-Israel candidate

https://t.co/RvQE3O5gFC
Posted: 2026-0...
    Links in excerpt: https://t.co/YcWC7BYZ6a, https://t.co/vQguD8Me6K, https://x.com/TimesofIsrael/status/2087494444119359662, https://www.timesofisrael.com/us-insists-israel-lebanon-talks-moving-in-positive-direction-despite-setback-last-week/,, https://x.com/TimesofIsrael/status/2087494444119359662/photo/1, https://t.co/RvQE3O5gFC
Sources
Middle East War August 11: Trump Demands Iran Compensation as Hormuz Talks Advance
Created: August 11th, 2026 - 05:15 PT
Script

Here is today's Middle East War for Tuesday August 11th. Negotiations over the Strait of Hormuz appear to be advancing, but the political gap between Washington and Tehran remains wide. Qatar says Iran-Oman talks on the waterway are at an advanced stage. At the same time, President Trump says US negotiators have been told to demand compensation from Iran for decades of alleged damages. That adds a potentially major obstacle to any arrangement on shipping access. The Institute for the Study of War reports that Iran is also carrying out an extensive military reorganization, reflecting lessons its leadership drew from the wars of the past year. Tehran is preparing both for negotiations and for the possibility that confrontation continues. [1]

The maritime threat is not limited to Hormuz. A cargo vessel was struck off Yemen’s coast near al-Makha today, according to the UK Maritime Trade Operations agency, with Yemeni authorities saying a Houthi attack killed three people. The Houthis have also been accused of firing ballistic missiles at al-Makha and the central city of Marib. This is the second major regional shipping chokepoint under pressure: even progress around Hormuz would not make commercial sea routes secure while attacks continue near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. [2]

In Israel’s northern arena, an Israeli drone reportedly struck a vehicle near Nabatieh in southern Lebanon, while Lebanese sources reported artillery and machine-gun fire toward several southern communities. Yet officials say the next round of Israel-Lebanon talks is expected in early September. The coexistence of scheduled diplomacy and recurring cross-border fire shows how little confidence exists on either side. [3]

Elsewhere, Libya’s Zawiya refinery, the country’s largest operating refinery, caught fire after a drone attack. Libya’s National Oil Corporation says it may suspend operations if the attacks persist. No casualties were reported, but another attack on energy infrastructure reinforces the region-wide economic stakes. [4]

The broader trend is that diplomacy is becoming inseparable from coercion. Talks are focused on reopening trade routes, but each side is using military pressure, economic demands, and control of infrastructure to improve its bargaining position. Thank you for listening to Middle East War from The Daily FM. See you tomorrow! [5]

Source Evidence
  1. Recent tweets from @AJEnglish
    ...ttps://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2087131060991828199
Links: https://twitter.com/i/broadcasts/1XxygwgwMrLGM

Search and rescue teams are racing against time across western Colombia after a powerful earthquake killed at least 132 people and left thousands missing, says authorities.

— in pictures https://t.co/LWjaXf57cx https://t.co/4rrUm5hJV5
Posted: 2026-08-11T10:35:50.000Z
Tweet: https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2087125834360328214
Links: https://www.aljazeera.com/gallery/2026/8/11/rescue-efforts-intensify-as-quake-devastates-western-colombia-towns, https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2087125834360328214/photo/1

US President Donald Trump is sending mixed signals on Iran, alternating between threats of force and calls for patience as economic pressure mounts on Tehran.

Al Jazeera’s Mike Hanna explains. https://t.co/CjGdDSmuXv
Posted: 2026-08-11T10:17:58.000Z
Tweet: https://x....
    Links in excerpt: https://twitter.com/i/broadcasts/1XxygwgwMrLGM, https://t.co/LWjaXf57cx, https://t.co/4rrUm5hJV5, https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2087125834360328214, https://www.aljazeera.com/gallery/2026/8/11/rescue-efforts-intensify-as-quake-devastates-western-colombia-towns,, https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2087125834360328214/photo/1, https://t.co/CjGdDSmuXv, https://x....
  2. Recent tweets from @AJEnglish
    ...om/AJEnglish/status/2087090494065246689/video/1

The armed forces of Yemen’s internationally recognised gov't have accused the Houthis of launching another round of ballistic missile attacks on the Red Sea port city of al-Makha and on residential areas in the central city of Marib.

Read more https://t.co/YihhYos8Or https://t.co/a4XaKS1oqx
Posted: 2026-08-11T07:53:08.000Z
Tweet: https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2087084890835607616
Links: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/8/11/yemens-houthis-launch-ballistic-missile-attacks-on-al-makha-and-marib, https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2087084890835607616/photo/1

Overnight Russian attacks have killed at least six people in southeastern Ukraine and struck a children’s hospital in the capital Kyiv, according to local officials. https://t.co/0dkykyKwxT
Posted: 2026-08-11T07:29:25.000Z
Tweet: https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2087078...
    Links in excerpt: https://t.co/YihhYos8Or, https://t.co/a4XaKS1oqx, https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2087084890835607616, https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/8/11/yemens-houthis-launch-ballistic-missile-attacks-on-al-makha-and-marib,, https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2087084890835607616/photo/1, https://t.co/0dkykyKwxT, https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2087078...
  3. Recent tweets from @TimesofIsrael
    ...6-08-11T08:55:49.000Z
Tweet: https://x.com/TimesofIsrael/status/2087100663243120833
Links: https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/israeli-drone-strike-reportedly-hits-vehicle-near-lebanons-nabatieh/

Palestinian family trapped in home for third day; IDF reportedly prevented ambulance from reaching them overnight

https://t.co/M0GP64GECF
Posted: 2026-08-11T08:55:20.000Z
Tweet: https://x.com/TimesofIsrael/status/2087100543038599281
Links: https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/palestinian-family-trapped-in-home-for-third-day-idf-reportedly-prevented-ambulance-from-reaching-them-overnight/

Next round of Israel-Lebanon talks to take place in early September, official says

https://t.co/HCE0afRNOV
Posted: 2026-08-11T08:54:50.000Z
Tweet: https://x.com/TimesofIsrael/status/2087100418727747864
Links: https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/next-round-of-isra...
    Links in excerpt: https://x.com/TimesofIsrael/status/2087100663243120833, https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/israeli-drone-strike-reportedly-hits-vehicle-near-lebanons-nabatieh/, https://t.co/M0GP64GECF, https://x.com/TimesofIsrael/status/2087100543038599281, https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/palestinian-family-trapped-in-home-for-third-day-idf-reportedly-prevented-ambulance-from-reaching-them-overnight/, https://t.co/HCE0afRNOV, https://x.com/TimesofIsrael/status/2087100418727747864, https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/next-round-of-isra...
  4. Recent tweets from @AJEnglish
    ...2026-08-11T05:31:23.000Z
Tweet: https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2087049218938568920
Links: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/8/11/huge-fire-breaks-out-at-libyas-zawiya-refinery-after-drone-attack, https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2087049218938568920/photo/1

A drone attack ignited gasoline at Libya's Zawiya oil refinery, the country's largest operational facility. No casualties were reported, but days of strikes from unknown attackers have forced Libya’s National Oil Corporation to consider suspending operations. https://t.co/NNFkRsMaLX
Posted: 2026-08-11T05:30:00.000Z
Tweet: https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2087048868064002224
Links: https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2087048868064002224/video/1
    Links in excerpt: https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2087049218938568920, https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/8/11/huge-fire-breaks-out-at-libyas-zawiya-refinery-after-drone-attack,, https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2087049218938568920/photo/1, https://t.co/NNFkRsMaLX, https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2087048868064002224, https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2087048868064002224/video/1
  5. Recent tweets from @TheStudyofWar
    ...086550804660449431
Links: https://x.com/TheStudyofWar/status/2086550804660449431/photo/1

MORE: The US naval blockade is imposing high costs on Iran’s oil exports and broader economy, but this pressure has not yet caused Iranian decisionmakers to soften their position on the strait.

Increased economic pressure may strengthen arguments within the regime for reaching https://t.co/M3YCMtFVHq https://t.co/ZZ3qesuIXE
Posted: 2026-08-09T16:00:54.000Z
Tweet: https://x.com/TheStudyofWar/status/2086482863273156620
Links: https://x.com/TheStudyofWar/status/2086482863273156620/photo/1, https://twitter.com/TheStudyofWar/status/2086249371599798349

Russian strikes against Kyiv City’s energy infrastructure in the coming weeks will disrupt Ukrainian efforts to repair and strengthen the energy facilities that Russia damaged in Winter of 2025-2026. Russia may aim to start its strikes...
    Links in excerpt: https://x.com/TheStudyofWar/status/2086550804660449431/photo/1, https://t.co/M3YCMtFVHq, https://t.co/ZZ3qesuIXE, https://x.com/TheStudyofWar/status/2086482863273156620, https://x.com/TheStudyofWar/status/2086482863273156620/photo/1,, https://twitter.com/TheStudyofWar/status/2086249371599798349
Sources
Middle East War August 10: Iran Names Mohsen Rezaei Security Chief as Hormuz Standoff Deepens
Created: August 10th, 2026 - 05:15 PT
Script

Here is today's Middle East War for Monday August 10th. Iran is hardening its position over the Strait of Hormuz, as oil prices rise on fears that the vital shipping route will remain constrained. Tehran says the strait will not return to prewar conditions without major US concessions. Iranian officials argue Washington must address Iran’s security and economic demands before normal maritime traffic can resume. The Institute for the Study of War says the US naval blockade is imposing serious costs on Iranian oil exports, but has not yet compelled Tehran to soften its stance. The key takeaway is that economic pressure may be pushing Iran toward talks, while also giving hardliners an incentive to demand more. [1]

Iran’s leadership also made a significant security appointment yesterday. Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei named former Revolutionary Guard commander Mohsen Rezaei as secretary of the Supreme National Security Council. Rezaei is a longtime military figure, and the choice suggests that Tehran is placing an experienced security insider at the center of decisions on negotiations, the strait, and the regional conflict. [2]

In Yemen, the Houthis have resumed missile and drone attacks on the Red Sea port of al-Makha. Al Jazeera reports that the latest strikes killed seven people and came less than a day after an earlier barrage hit the commercial port. The attacks reinforce the point that even if access through Hormuz improves, shipping and infrastructure remain vulnerable at the Red Sea’s Bab el-Mandeb choke point. [3]

In Gaza, the political obstacles to a postwar settlement remain stark. A Gaza militia leader says Hamas will not agree to surrender its weapons, while reports say Israel has rejected the current Gaza plan. Germany has argued that the proposal could eventually lead to Hamas’s disarmament, but the public positions from both sides indicate that this core issue remains unresolved. [4]

Finally, in the West Bank, a new report says settler attacks rose 63 percent in the first half of this year. That increase, alongside disputes over the handling of settlers accused of violence, points to a worsening security and accountability problem far from the main diplomatic tracks. [5]

The broader trend is that diplomacy is becoming more conditional, while military pressure is spreading across several fronts. Thank you for listening to Middle East War from The Daily FM. See you tomorrow!

Source Evidence
  1. Recent tweets from @TheStudyofWar
    ...The Iranian regime has continued to threaten regional https://t.co/Jga9lKxphA
Posted: 2026-08-09T20:30:52.000Z
Tweet: https://x.com/TheStudyofWar/status/2086550804660449431
Links: https://x.com/TheStudyofWar/status/2086550804660449431/photo/1

MORE: The US naval blockade is imposing high costs on Iran’s oil exports and broader economy, but this pressure has not yet caused Iranian decisionmakers to soften their position on the strait.

Increased economic pressure may strengthen arguments within the regime for reaching https://t.co/M3YCMtFVHq https://t.co/ZZ3qesuIXE
Posted: 2026-08-09T16:00:54.000Z
Tweet: https://x.com/TheStudyofWar/status/2086482863273156620
Links: https://x.com/TheStudyofWar/status/2086482863273156620/photo/1, https://twitter.com/TheStudyofWar/status/2086249371599798349

Russian strikes against Kyiv City’s energy infrastructure in the coming weeks...
    Links in excerpt: https://t.co/Jga9lKxphA, https://x.com/TheStudyofWar/status/2086550804660449431, https://x.com/TheStudyofWar/status/2086550804660449431/photo/1, https://t.co/M3YCMtFVHq, https://t.co/ZZ3qesuIXE, https://x.com/TheStudyofWar/status/2086482863273156620, https://x.com/TheStudyofWar/status/2086482863273156620/photo/1,, https://twitter.com/TheStudyofWar/status/2086249371599798349
  2. Recent tweets from @TheStudyofWar
    ...an Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei appointed his former senior military adviser, Major General Mohsen Rezaei, as the new Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) secretary on August 9. (1/2)

Other Key Takeaways: 

The Iranian regime has continued to threaten regional https://t.co/Jga9lKxphA
Posted: 2026-08-09T20:30:52.000Z
Tweet: https://x.com/TheStudyofWar/status/2086550804660449431
Links: https://x.com/TheStudyofWar/status/2086550804660449431/photo/1

MORE: The US naval blockade is imposing high costs on Iran’s oil exports and broader economy, but this pressure has not yet caused Iranian decisionmakers to soften their position on the strait.

Increased economic pressure may strengthen arguments within the regime for reaching https://t.co/M3YCMtFVHq https://t.co/ZZ3qesuIXE
Posted: 2026-08-09T16:00:54.000Z
Tweet: https://x.com/TheStudyofWar/status/2086482863273156620...
    Links in excerpt: https://t.co/Jga9lKxphA, https://x.com/TheStudyofWar/status/2086550804660449431, https://x.com/TheStudyofWar/status/2086550804660449431/photo/1, https://t.co/M3YCMtFVHq, https://t.co/ZZ3qesuIXE, https://x.com/TheStudyofWar/status/2086482863273156620...
  3. Middle East News | Today's latest from Al Jazeera
    ...s prison death.Video Duration 00 minutes 28 seconds 00:28Video Duration 00 minutes 28 seconds 00:28 From: NewsFeedHouthis launch fresh ballistic missile and drone attacks on al-Makha portIran-backed Houthis have resumed attacks on Yemen’s al-Makha port in the Red Sea.Published On 10 Aug 2026Could Morocco’s football chief Fouzi Lekjaa become its next prime minister?Lekjaa’s decision to join a political party has fuelled speculation about his political ambitions.New Houthi missile and drone attacks kill seven in Yemen’s al-MakhaThe latest Houthi attacks come less than 24 hours after an earlier barrage struck al-Makha and its commercial port.Live updates, Iran says ‘no military solution’ to Strait of Hormuz reopeninglist 1 of 10Published 12 minutes ago‘Bottom line is that Israel doesn’t want Palestinian self-determination’list 2 of 10Published 27 minutes agoGaza plan cou...
  4. Middle East News | Today's latest from Al Jazeera
    ...n’s al-MakhaThe latest Houthi attacks come less than 24 hours after an earlier barrage struck al-Makha and its commercial port.Live updates, Iran says ‘no military solution’ to Strait of Hormuz reopeninglist 1 of 10Published 12 minutes ago‘Bottom line is that Israel doesn’t want Palestinian self-determination’list 2 of 10Published 27 minutes agoGaza plan could lead towards disarmament of Hamas: Germanylist 3 of 10Published 42 minutes agoIsrael ‘deliberately obstructing the path to de-escalation’ in Gaza: Media Officelist 4 of 10Published 57 minutes agoAzerbaijan’s Aliyev thanks Iran’s Pezeshkian after comments on aidPublished On 10 Aug 2026Union reports 108 attacks on Palestinian journalists in JulyPalestinian Journalists Syndicate exposes rising threats, with over 270 journalists killed in Gaza since October 2023.Video Duration 01 minutes 42 seconds 01:42Video Durati...
  5. Recent tweets from @TimesofIsrael
    Settler attacks in West Bank surge by 63% in first half of 2026 – report https://t.co/bqpRNxdm9h
Posted: 2026-08-10T11:33:13.000Z
Tweet: https://x.com/TimesofIsrael/status/2086777889324699921
Links: https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/settler-attacks-in-west-bank-surge-by-63-in-first-half-of-2026-report/

IDF: Settler accused of attack to be freed from house arrest, barred from West Bank

https://t.co/9nk4aau61n
Posted: 2026-08-10T11:22:07.000Z
Tweet: https://x.com/TimesofIsrael/status/2086775092890017892
Links: https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/idf-settler-accused-of-attack-to-be-freed-from-h...
    Links in excerpt: https://t.co/bqpRNxdm9h, https://x.com/TimesofIsrael/status/2086777889324699921, https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/settler-attacks-in-west-bank-surge-by-63-in-first-half-of-2026-report/, https://t.co/9nk4aau61n, https://x.com/TimesofIsrael/status/2086775092890017892, https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/idf-settler-accused-of-attack-to-be-freed-from-h...
Sources
Middle East War August 9: Iran Sets Hormuz Conditions; Houthis Strike Saudi Aramco; Netanyahu Rejects Trump Gaza Plan
Created: August 9th, 2026 - 05:15 PT
Script

Here is today's Middle East War for Sunday August 9th. Iran is signaling interest in talks, but attaching steep conditions to any diplomatic breakthrough. President Masoud Pezeshkian says he hopes negotiations mediated by Oman can end the “neither war nor peace” state with Washington. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says talks on a new maritime route through the Strait of Hormuz have reached their final stage, while stressing that this does not mean the strategic waterway is reopening. Tehran has also laid out six conditions for engagement, including an end to threats and military action, lifting the maritime blockade, compensation for war damage, and sanctions relief. The Institute for the Study of War assesses that Iran is seeking further US concessions while demonstrating it still intends to control traffic through the strait. [1]

Yemen is again showing how quickly the conflict can spread beyond Hormuz. The Houthis claimed an early-morning missile and drone attack on a Saudi Aramco facility in Jizan, causing a fire but reportedly no casualties. Yemeni media also reported missile and drone strikes around the Red Sea port of al-Makha, with civilian areas said to have been targeted. The internationally recognized Yemeni government has announced retaliatory operations against Houthi positions. These exchanges threaten both Saudi infrastructure and shipping near the Bab el-Mandeb, the other crucial maritime choke point. [2]

In Gaza, the political gap over postwar arrangements remains wide. Al Jazeera reports that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected President Trump’s Board of Peace plan for Gaza. Separately, an Israeli report says Netanyahu approved reconstruction in areas outside Hamas control. Together, those developments suggest Israel may be pursuing a phased reconstruction model tied to territorial and security control, rather than a comprehensive political settlement. [3]

In the West Bank, reports of settler violence are mounting. Six Palestinians were reportedly injured in an attack yesterday, including one by gunfire, while Al Jazeera says residents near Bethlehem describe increasingly frequent attacks and loss of land. The Israeli military says it is investigating video that appears to show a soldier beating a Palestinian alongside settlers. [4]

The larger trend is that limited, transactional diplomacy is being pursued alongside widening localized violence. Maritime access, reconstruction, and territorial control are becoming bargaining tools—not yet foundations for a durable settlement. Thank you for listening to Middle East War from The Daily FM. See you tomorrow!

Source Evidence
  1. Recent tweets from @AJEnglish
    ...-09T09:30:00.000Z
Tweet: https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2086384491418050695
Links: https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2086384491418050695/video/1

Iran has set six conditions for diplomatic engagement with the US, including an end to threats and wars, lifting the maritime blockade, compensation for war damage and sanctions relief. 

Al Jazeera’s Tohid Asadi reports. https://t.co/Z3vDZpgcsW
Posted: 2026-08-09T09:00:02.000Z
Tweet: https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2086376951380668636
Links: https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2086376951380668636/video/1

Indonesia faces a mounting waste crisis as landfills reach capacity. At Bantargebang, rubbish spans 100 hectares and rises 65m high. 

Al Jazeera’s Jessica Washington reports from Bekasi, Indonesia. https://t.co/6I6c7zsTmC
Posted: 2026-08-09T08:35:00.000Z
Tweet: https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2086370648876556762
Links: https://x.co...
    Links in excerpt: https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2086384491418050695, https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2086384491418050695/video/1, https://t.co/Z3vDZpgcsW, https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2086376951380668636, https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2086376951380668636/video/1, https://t.co/6I6c7zsTmC, https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2086370648876556762, https://x.co...
  2. Recent tweets from @AJEnglish
    ...by Sisonke Msimang ⤵️

https://t.co/GE9AKwznjR
Posted: 2026-08-09T11:30:00.000Z
Tweet: https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2086414688993329453
Links: https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2026/8/9/womens-day-in-south-africa-turns-70-with-equality-still-out-of-reach

Yemen’s internationally-recognised government has announced retaliatory military operations against Houthi positions after accusing the Iran-backed group of escalating attacks on military sites. 

Al Jazeera’s Yousef Mawry reports from Sanaa. https://t.co/ph2vf4Fwpe
Posted: 2026-08-09T11:10:00.000Z
Tweet: https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2086409656029884423
Links: https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2086409656029884423/video/1

From coup to conflict – how decades of rivalries and miscalculations have shaped one of today’s most dangerous wars.

Watch the film: https://t.co/VJLNC5QVEg https://t.co/JyZVQxy7gZ
Posted: 2026-...
    Links in excerpt: https://t.co/GE9AKwznjR, https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2086414688993329453, https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2026/8/9/womens-day-in-south-africa-turns-70-with-equality-still-out-of-reach, https://t.co/ph2vf4Fwpe, https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2086409656029884423, https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2086409656029884423/video/1, https://t.co/VJLNC5QVEg, https://t.co/JyZVQxy7gZ
  3. Recent tweets from @TimesofIsrael
    ...ign Ministry is warning Israelis in Greece to lie low and avoid displays that give away their identity, with large anti-Israel protests set to take place across the country today.

A group of pro-Palestinian organizations are planning a “day of rage” over the Gaza war in https://t.co/pHUwwjIGJx
Posted: 2026-08-09T09:10:21.000Z
Tweet: https://x.com/TimesofIsrael/status/2086379545440010687
Links: https://x.com/TimesofIsrael/status/2086379545440010687/photo/1

Netanyahu okayed reconstruction in part of Gaza outside Hamas control — report

https://t.co/iFqmZMUDAJ
Posted: 2026-08-09T06:41:10.000Z
Tweet: https://x.com/TimesofIsrael/status/2086342004624019681
Links: https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/netanyahu-okayed-reconstruction-in-part-of-gaza-outside-hamas-control-report/

Israelis in Greece warned to lie low ahead of pro-Palestinian ‘day of rage’ protests

ht...
    Links in excerpt: https://t.co/pHUwwjIGJx, https://x.com/TimesofIsrael/status/2086379545440010687, https://x.com/TimesofIsrael/status/2086379545440010687/photo/1, https://t.co/iFqmZMUDAJ, https://x.com/TimesofIsrael/status/2086342004624019681, https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/netanyahu-okayed-reconstruction-in-part-of-gaza-outside-hamas-control-report/
  4. Recent tweets from @TimesofIsrael
    ...tus/2086078971754524814
Links: https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/hamas-official-says-terror-group-ready-to-proceed-with-gaza-peace-plan-urges-us-pressure-on-israel/

WATCH: Israel is revoking entry permits of Jewish Americans who volunteered in the West Bank to protect Palestinians from settler violence, The Forward reports.

Read more on The Times of Israel. https://t.co/2EbAoXYgM2
Posted: 2026-08-08T12:30:32.000Z
Tweet: https://x.com/TimesofIsrael/status/2086067537775566931
Links: https://x.com/TimesofIsrael/status/2086067537775566931/video/1

High-earning Israelis working in tech and healthcare are emigrating in sharply rising numbers, almost doubling over five years, a new study by the Israel Tax Authority has found.

Read more: https://t.co/hvuXXKPXUs https://t.co/ovsCQWlmtN
Posted: 2026-08-08T09:00:37.000Z
Tweet: https://x.com/TimesofIsrael/status/208...
    Links in excerpt: https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/hamas-official-says-terror-group-ready-to-proceed-with-gaza-peace-plan-urges-us-pressure-on-israel/, https://t.co/2EbAoXYgM2, https://x.com/TimesofIsrael/status/2086067537775566931, https://x.com/TimesofIsrael/status/2086067537775566931/video/1, https://t.co/hvuXXKPXUs, https://t.co/ovsCQWlmtN, https://x.com/TimesofIsrael/status/208...
Sources
Middle East War August 8: ADNOC Tanker Hit in Hormuz as Iran-Oman Deal Nears
Created: August 8th, 2026 - 05:15 PT
Script

Here is today's Middle East War for Saturday August 8th. The Strait of Hormuz is again the most dangerous and consequential front. The United Arab Emirates says an Abu Dhabi National Oil Company tanker was hit by a missile while transiting the strait this morning, calling it Iranian aggression and a flagrant breach of a UN resolution. Tehran has not been represented in the supplied sources responding to that accusation. At the same time, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says Iran is very close to an agreement with Oman on Hormuz, while accusing Washington of violating an earlier memorandum reached in Pakistan. The juxtaposition is stark: a possible shipping arrangement is taking shape even as an attack threatens to make commercial traffic still more dangerous. [1]

There are also signs that actors on the Iranian side are trying, at least temporarily, to limit escalation elsewhere. The Institute for the Study of War reports that the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, a coalition of Iran-backed militias, said yesterday it would postpone retaliation for recent US-Saudi strikes on militia positions in Iraq. It cited mediation by the Badr Organization. A delay is not a settlement, but it could reduce the immediate likelihood of another Iraqi front opening while Hormuz diplomacy remains unsettled. [2]

In the occupied West Bank, Al Jazeera reports five Palestinians were killed near Nablus as four new Israeli outposts were erected. The report frames the events as part of a cycle in which settlement expansion, Palestinian resistance, and Israeli military operations reinforce one another. The continuing violence highlights how little the wider regional diplomacy has changed conditions on the ground for Palestinians. [3]

Meanwhile, pressure is rising for an exit from the US-Iran war. The Times of Israel reports that America’s top military officer is seeking an “off-ramp.” That report, alongside President Masoud Pezeshkian’s call for dialogue, suggests that all sides recognize the costs of a prolonged conflict. But the tanker strike shows the central problem: negotiating navigation rules is far easier than ensuring that armed forces and proxies stop testing them. [4]

The emerging trend is fragile, transactional de-escalation. Regional governments are building defense partnerships and intermediaries are pursuing narrow deals, but attacks at sea and violence on land can quickly outrun diplomacy. Thank you for listening to Middle East War from The Daily FM. See you tomorrow! [5]

Source Evidence
  1. Recent tweets from @AJEnglish
    BREAKING: Iran's FM Abbas Araghchi says Tehran is “very close to an agreement” with Oman over the Strait of Hormuz, while accusing the US of violating a memorandum of understanding (MoU) previously reached in Pakistan.

🔴 LIVE updates: https://t.co/WMnlo2s2y0 https://t.co/InbM6qyBUj
Posted: 2026-08-08T12:14:44.000Z
Tweet: https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2086063560086446169
Links: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2026/8/8/iran-war-live-trilateral-mecca-defence-pact-signed-as-hormuz-deal-looms?update=4838281, https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2086063560086446169/photo/1

BREAKING: UAE says Iranian attack on an ADNOC tanker while it was transiting through Hormuz Strait constitutes a 'flagrant violation' of UN resolution and condemns 'the Iranian aggression.'

🔴 LIVE updates: https://t.co/n77rM4dzKQ https:...
    Links in excerpt: https://t.co/WMnlo2s2y0, https://t.co/InbM6qyBUj, https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2086063560086446169, https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2026/8/8/iran-war-live-trilateral-mecca-defence-pact-signed-as-hormuz-deal-looms?update=4838281,, https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2086063560086446169/photo/1, https://t.co/n77rM4dzKQ
  2. Recent tweets from @TheStudyofWar
    .../x.com/TheStudyofWar/status/2085870203125063972
Links: https://understandingwar.org/research/middle-east/iran-update-special-report-august-7-2026/, https://x.com/TheStudyofWar/status/2085870203125063972/photo/1

Iran Update Special Report, August 7, 2026: The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, which is a coalition of Iranian-backed Iraqi militias, announced on August 7 that it would postpone its response to recent US-Saudi strikes on militia positions in Iraq due to mediation by Badr https://t.co/gzSxvOXVHS
Posted: 2026-08-07T23:26:22.000Z
Tweet: https://x.com/TheStudyofWar/status/2085870194841329736
Links: https://x.com/TheStudyofWar/status/2085870194841329736/photo/1

2/ Read the full update: https://t.co/jsQ87cu3RH
Posted: 2026-08-07T19:12:12.000Z
Tweet: https://x.com/TheStudyofWar/status/2085806231004885197
Links: https://understandingwar.org/research/china-taiwan/china-...
    Links in excerpt: https://understandingwar.org/research/middle-east/iran-update-special-report-august-7-2026/,, https://x.com/TheStudyofWar/status/2085870203125063972/photo/1, https://t.co/gzSxvOXVHS, https://x.com/TheStudyofWar/status/2085870194841329736, https://x.com/TheStudyofWar/status/2085870194841329736/photo/1, https://t.co/jsQ87cu3RH, https://x.com/TheStudyofWar/status/2085806231004885197, https://understandingwar.org/research/china-taiwan/china-...
  3. Recent tweets from @AJEnglish
    ...:22:39.000Z
Tweet: https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2086050452550942855
Links: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/8/8/us-announces-400m-investment-in-australian-rare-earth-mine, https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2086050452550942855/photo/1

Israel is trapped in a cycle it created. Occupation fuels resistance, and resistance is used to justify more occupation.

Near Nablus, that cycle turned deadly yet again: five Palestinians killed as four new outposts were erected.

Al Jazeera's @leilashww reports. https://t.co/EqfG38FCU3
Posted: 2026-08-08T11:02:29.000Z
Tweet: https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2086045376751247737
Links: https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2086045376751247737/video/1

BREAKING: A vessel belonging to the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) was targeted by a missile while crossing the Strait of Hormuz earlier today, according to the UAE’s WAM state news agency...
    Links in excerpt: https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2086050452550942855, https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/8/8/us-announces-400m-investment-in-australian-rare-earth-mine,, https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2086050452550942855/photo/1, https://t.co/EqfG38FCU3, https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2086045376751247737, https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2086045376751247737/video/1
  4. Recent tweets from @AJEnglish
    ...last census, authorities are preparing to count the population again. https://t.co/zYFps81DS6
Posted: 2026-08-08T09:30:49.000Z
Tweet: https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2086022306879418741
Links: https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2086022306879418741/photo/1

Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian calls for dialogue over war, while a new Saudi-Turkey-Pakistan defense pact aims to strengthen regional deterrence.

Defense expert Patrick Bury says the deal could reshape Gulf security and increase militarization. https://t.co/7mhyZrH1gG
Posted: 2026-08-08T08:39:27.000Z
Tweet: https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2086009380416426484
Links: https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2086009380416426484/video/1

Since the “ceasefire” in the Gaza Strip began in October last year, Israeli attacks have killed at least 1,257 Palestinans and wounded 4,131 others in near-daily attacks in the occupied territor...
    Links in excerpt: https://t.co/zYFps81DS6, https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2086022306879418741, https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2086022306879418741/photo/1, https://t.co/7mhyZrH1gG, https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2086009380416426484, https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2086009380416426484/video/1
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Middle East War August 7: Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Türkiye Sign Defense Pact Amid Iran Crisis
Created: August 7th, 2026 - 05:15 PT
Script

Here is today's Middle East War for Friday August 7th. Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkiye signed a joint defense agreement today, deepening military cooperation as the region confronts the Iran conflict and wider instability. The pact follows President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s visit to Riyadh and appears designed to create a new regional security framework. A Saudi official also warned that the kingdom expects possible attacks from both its northern and southern fronts, underscoring the immediate threat perception behind the agreement. [1]

The Strait of Hormuz remains the central diplomatic test. Yesterday, President Trump said a deal to reopen the waterway had not yet been reached, but could come soon. Iranian media have portrayed the emerging arrangement with Oman as preserving Tehran’s control over the strait. The Institute for the Study of War warns that any agreement granting Iran substantial authority over shipping could hurt American and global commercial interests, even if it allows more vessels to sail. Shipping sources say Chinese and Indian refiners are already seeking discounted Iraqi crude cargoes through Hormuz, suggesting traders are cautiously testing whether passage is becoming viable. [2]

In Yemen, the Houthis launched missiles and drones at government military sites yesterday, killing at least 30 soldiers and wounding 15, according to Al Jazeera. It was described as the first attack of its kind in years and may signal preparations for a larger battle inside Yemen. That would add another active front at the same time Gulf states are trying to organize collective defenses. [3]

On the Israel-Lebanon border, violence continued after yesterday’s Rome talks ended. Lebanon’s army says one of its soldiers was lightly injured when Israel struck an army bulldozer. Israeli strikes and displacement orders in southern Lebanon are fueling anger among residents, while the recent casualties on both sides show how fragile the ceasefire environment remains. [4]

The broader trend is a region moving in two directions at once: diplomatic efforts are focused on reopening trade routes and containing Iran, while new military alignments and renewed attacks in Yemen and Lebanon are widening the conflict’s geography. Thank you for listening to Middle East War from The Daily FM. See you tomorrow! [5]

Source Evidence
  1. Recent tweets from @AJEnglish
    ...n trap’ with Iran and how that relates to the upcoming US midterms. https://t.co/dtFr3wXtHf
Posted: 2026-08-07T11:50:25.000Z
Tweet: https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2085695053272387961
Links: https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2085695053272387961/video/1

BREAKING: Saudi ⁠Arabia, Pakistan and Turkiye have signed a ⁠joint defence agreement, Pakistan’s ⁠foreign ministry said, deepening ‌security cooperation amid heightened military tensions and conflicts in the Middle East.

Read here https://t.co/k1SnCj118U https://t.co/mHVb3AVPFt
Posted: 2026-08-07T11:19:23.000Z
Tweet: https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2085687241649664301
Links: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/8/7/saudi-%e2%81%a0arabia-pakistan-and-turkiye-sign-defence-deal-amid-regional-turmoil, https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2085687241649664301/photo/1

At least eight people, including students and teachers, were killed...
    Links in excerpt: https://t.co/dtFr3wXtHf, https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2085695053272387961, https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2085695053272387961/video/1, https://t.co/k1SnCj118U, https://t.co/mHVb3AVPFt, https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2085687241649664301, https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/8/7/saudi-%e2%81%a0arabia-pakistan-and-turkiye-sign-defence-deal-amid-regional-turmoil,, https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2085687241649664301/photo/1
  2. Recent tweets from @TheStudyofWar
    ...ate Special Report, August 6, 2026: https://t.co/8DP3eZgpSX
Posted: 2026-08-06T22:51:48.000Z
Tweet: https://x.com/TheStudyofWar/status/2085499108903563547
Links: https://understandingwar.org/research/middle-east/iran-update-special-report-august-6-2026/

NEW: Iranian regime media claimed that the emerging Iran-Oman deal would enable Iran to maintain control of the Strait of Hormuz. Any agreement that grants Iran control over the strait would be detrimental to US and global commercial interests. Achieving international recognition https://t.co/iaLQqglqyi
Posted: 2026-08-06T22:51:43.000Z
Tweet: https://x.com/TheStudyofWar/status/2085499085625151766
Links: https://x.com/TheStudyofWar/status/2085499085625151766/photo/1

MORE: Russian occupation officials continue to struggle to adequately respond to worsening water, food, and electricity shortages in occupied areas that a...
    Links in excerpt: https://t.co/8DP3eZgpSX, https://x.com/TheStudyofWar/status/2085499108903563547, https://understandingwar.org/research/middle-east/iran-update-special-report-august-6-2026/, https://t.co/iaLQqglqyi, https://x.com/TheStudyofWar/status/2085499085625151766, https://x.com/TheStudyofWar/status/2085499085625151766/photo/1
  3. Recent tweets from @AJEnglish
    ...3:38.000Z
Tweet: https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2085700895451299990
Links: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2026/8/7/trump-says-war-cant-go-much-longer-hormuz-deal-close?update=4835996, https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2085700895451299990/photo/1

Houthi missiles and drones struck military locations inside Yemen on Thursday, leaving at least 30 government soldiers dead and 15 others injured in the first such attack in years. https://t.co/Oq6tYK3Gzs
Posted: 2026-08-07T12:08:16.000Z
Tweet: https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2085699542507241520
Links: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/8/7/houthi-attacks-on-govt-forces-hint-that-a-major-battle-in-yemen-is-brewing

University of Chicago Professor Robert Pape explains why President Donald Trump is caught in an ‘escalation trap’ with Iran and how that relates to the upcoming US midterms. https://t.co/dtFr3wXtHf
Posted: 20...
    Links in excerpt: https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2085700895451299990, https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2026/8/7/trump-says-war-cant-go-much-longer-hormuz-deal-close?update=4835996,, https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2085700895451299990/photo/1, https://t.co/Oq6tYK3Gzs, https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2085699542507241520, https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/8/7/houthi-attacks-on-govt-forces-hint-that-a-major-battle-in-yemen-is-brewing, https://t.co/dtFr3wXtHf
  4. Middle East News | Today's latest from Al Jazeera
    ...ration 00 minutes 32 seconds 00:32 From: NewsFeedDeadly explosion on minibus near DamascusTwo people were killed and 13 injured when an explosion ripped through a minibus in Jaramana, southeast of Damascus.Published On 6 Aug 2026Israeli attacks wound eight in Lebanon despite Rome talksIsrael launches strikes on southern Lebanon’s Tyre as third day of the seventh round of US-brokered talks concludes.Video Duration 01 minutes 45 seconds 01:45Video Duration 01 minutes 45 seconds 01:45 From: NewsFeedSudan war threatens ancient Meroe pyramidsSudan’s ongoing war is endangering the ancient Meroe pyramids, which are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.Published On 6 Aug 2026Ceuta’s leader says 100 died in border rush as up to 5,000 still in enclaveAfter migrant surge from Morocco, EU says Spain assured Schengen is safe but warns Europe’s borders are ‘vulnerable’.
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Iran Update Special Report, August 6, 2026

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) and The Critical Threats Project (CTP) at the American Enterprise Institute are publishing daily updates to provide analysis…

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Middle East War August 6: Iran Nears Oman Strait of Hormuz Shipping Deal Amid Gaza Standoff
Created: August 6th, 2026 - 05:15 PT
Script

Here is today's Middle East War for Thursday August 6th. Iran says it is close to finalizing an agreement with Oman to reopen shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, after the two sides agreed on coordinates for vessel routes. That would be an important step toward restoring traffic through one of the world’s most consequential energy chokepoints. But the deal is not complete. The Institute for the Study of War says competing factions inside Iran may be delaying approval, while Tehran’s military establishment remains resistant to major concessions. The broader issue is not just navigation, but whether Iran retains practical leverage over who can enter the Gulf. Iran also announced today that it had arrested 21 people it alleges were linked to Israel’s Mossad. [1]

On the Israel-Lebanon front, a third day of talks began in Rome today after deadly fighting yesterday in southern Lebanon. The Israeli military says two reservists were killed and four seriously wounded by an explosive device in Majdal Zoun. Al Jazeera reports at least one Lebanese person was also killed. The renewed casualties underline how fragile the negotiations are, even as Beirut seeks a phased Israeli troop withdrawal. Talks are continuing, but violence on the ground is still setting the political temperature. [2]

In Gaza, regional pressure on Israel is growing. The foreign ministers of Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Pakistan, Turkiye, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Egypt met in Amman and condemned what they called Israel’s escalatory attacks. The UAE also joined Turkiye and Saudi Arabia in accusing Israel of undermining President Trump’s Gaza plan. That follows Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s insistence yesterday that Israeli forces will not withdraw from their current positions until Hamas is fully disarmed—a stance that appears to conflict with a US-backed proposal for an initial pullback. [3]

In the occupied West Bank, Israeli forces expanded raids around the Qalandiya and Kufr Aqab refugee-camp area, blocking a key Ramallah-Jerusalem road and imposing curfews, according to Al Jazeera. [4]

The trend is clear: diplomacy is active, but every negotiating track faces immediate military and political spoilers—from disputed control of Hormuz to casualties in Lebanon and incompatible terms for Gaza. Thank you for listening to Middle East War from The Daily FM. See you tomorrow!

Source Evidence
  1. Recent tweets from @AJEnglish
    ...sing curfews.

Al Jazeera’s Nida Ibrahim reports from the occupied West Bank. https://t.co/87TBVcg2uw
Posted: 2026-08-06T10:56:33.000Z
Tweet: https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2085319106937389177
Links: https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2085319106937389177/video/1

Iran says a deal with Oman to reopen the Strait of Hormuz is “on the verge of being finalised” after both countries confirmed they had agreed coordinates for shipping routes through the critical waterway. Here’s what we know⤵️
https://t.co/rb8zypFCdk
Posted: 2026-08-06T10:31:12.000Z
Tweet: https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2085312730303459659
Links: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/8/6/hormuz-deal-close-whats-the-latest-on-each-sides-positions

Two years after being ousted and forced to flee to India following a student-led uprising, former Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina has vowed to return. But will Bangladesh acce...
    Links in excerpt: https://t.co/87TBVcg2uw, https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2085319106937389177, https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2085319106937389177/video/1, https://t.co/rb8zypFCdk, https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2085312730303459659, https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/8/6/hormuz-deal-close-whats-the-latest-on-each-sides-positions
  2. Recent tweets from @TimesofIsrael
    ...eet: https://x.com/TimesofIsrael/status/2085261475648528867
Links: https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/vance-denies-report-netanyahu-confronted-him-says-their-meeting-was-pleasant-but-direct/

The Israel Defense Forces announced Thursday morning that two reservist soldiers were killed, and four were seriously wounded after being hit by an explosive device in the southern Lebanon town of Majdal Zoun a day earlier. The deadly attack prompted the military to resume https://t.co/JQO5YPEJpX
Posted: 2026-08-06T05:20:34.000Z
Tweet: https://x.com/TimesofIsrael/status/2085234554588020904
Links: https://x.com/TimesofIsrael/status/2085234554588020904/photo/1

BREAKING: IDF announces 2 reservists killed, 4 seriously wounded by IED blast in south Lebanon
https://t.co/SFLQgvmaeN
Posted: 2026-08-06T04:50:17.000Z
Tweet: https://x.com/TimesofIsrael/status/2085226934573633660...
    Links in excerpt: https://x.com/TimesofIsrael/status/2085261475648528867, https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/vance-denies-report-netanyahu-confronted-him-says-their-meeting-was-pleasant-but-direct/, https://t.co/JQO5YPEJpX, https://x.com/TimesofIsrael/status/2085234554588020904, https://x.com/TimesofIsrael/status/2085234554588020904/photo/1, https://t.co/SFLQgvmaeN, https://x.com/TimesofIsrael/status/2085226934573633660...
  3. Recent tweets from @AJEnglish
    ...5338850776211739
Links: https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2085338850776211739/video/1

The foreign ministers of Jordan, the UAE, Indonesia, Pakistan, Turkiye, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Egypt have condemned Israel’s escalatory attacks in Gaza following a meeting in Amman.

🔴 LIVE updates: https://t.co/GoI3D9wae0 https://t.co/xEwU4BNDqa
Posted: 2026-08-06T12:10:05.000Z
Tweet: https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2085337613183951202
Links: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2026/8/6/iran-war-live-tehran-oman-close-in-on-hormuz-deal-houthis-attack-tankers, https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2085337613183951202/photo/1

Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence has arrested 21 people allegedly linked to the Israeli spy agency Mossad, according to state broadcaster IRIB.

🔴 LIVE updates: https://t.co/GoI3D9wae0 https://t.co/tdeQM3Ysed
Posted: 2026-08-06T11:57:19.000Z
Tweet: https://x.com/AJE...
    Links in excerpt: https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2085338850776211739/video/1, https://t.co/GoI3D9wae0, https://t.co/xEwU4BNDqa, https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2085337613183951202, https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2026/8/6/iran-war-live-tehran-oman-close-in-on-hormuz-deal-houthis-attack-tankers,, https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2085337613183951202/photo/1, https://t.co/tdeQM3Ysed, https://x.com/AJE...
  4. Recent tweets from @AJEnglish
    ...qyk
Posted: 2026-08-06T11:00:08.000Z
Tweet: https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2085320009073480110
Links: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/8/6/how-the-middle-east-conflict-is-upending-european-travel, https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2085320009073480110/photo/1

Israeli forces tightened their military raid around the Kufr Aqab refugee camp, blocking a key road linking Ramallah and Jerusalem, disrupting movement and imposing curfews.

Al Jazeera’s Nida Ibrahim reports from the occupied West Bank. https://t.co/87TBVcg2uw
Posted: 2026-08-06T10:56:33.000Z
Tweet: https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2085319106937389177
Links: https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2085319106937389177/video/1

Iran says a deal with Oman to reopen the Strait of Hormuz is “on the verge of being finalised” after both countries confirmed they had agreed coordinates for shipping routes through the critical water...
    Links in excerpt: https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2085320009073480110, https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/8/6/how-the-middle-east-conflict-is-upending-european-travel,, https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2085320009073480110/photo/1, https://t.co/87TBVcg2uw, https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2085319106937389177, https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2085319106937389177/video/1
Sources
Middle East War August 5: Trump Says Iran Deal Near as Houthis Target Saudi Oil Tanker
Created: August 5th, 2026 - 05:15 PT
Script

Here is today's Middle East War for Wednesday August 5th. The lead is a fragile diplomatic opening over Iran and the Strait of Hormuz. President Trump said today that an all-day negotiation with Iran had made progress and that a deal could come within a day or two, while again warning Tehran of a far harsher military response if talks fail. Iran, however, says the United States is not directly involved in its ongoing discussions with Oman. That discrepancy matters. The Institute for the Study of War says Washington and Tehran are still offering competing versions of any prospective shipping arrangement, especially over whether Iran would retain influence over vessels entering the Gulf. [1]

The maritime conflict is escalating even as those talks continue. Yemen’s Houthi movement said today it fired a ballistic missile at a Saudi oil tanker as part of a newly declared blockade of Saudi shipping. Al Jazeera reports Brent crude rose above 80 dollars a barrel after the claimed Red Sea attack. The immediate implication is that a Hormuz deal alone may not restore confidence in regional shipping: commercial risk is now being spread across both the Gulf and the Red Sea. [2]

In Gaza, Israeli gunfire and shelling were reported today across several areas of the Strip, according to the Palestinian Wafa news agency. The humanitarian pressure remains severe. Al Jazeera reports that more than 250 dialysis patients face worsening access to lifesaving treatment after air attacks damaged medical-supply warehouses. Even if the wider ceasefire roadmap and Hamas disarmament discussions advance, the continuing violence and medical shortages show that daily civilian conditions remain disconnected from high-level diplomacy. [3]

Finally, Israel has approved 113 million shekels, or roughly 37 million dollars, to take control of more than 70 historical sites in the occupied West Bank. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich presented the move as heritage policy, but it is likely to deepen Palestinian concerns that administrative and cultural measures are being used to extend Israeli control. [4]

The broader trend is that diplomacy is trying to reopen trade routes and reduce the risk of major war, while conflict actors are creating facts on the ground, at sea, and in the West Bank. That makes any agreement more difficult to translate into durable de-escalation. Thank you for listening to Middle East War from The Daily FM. See you tomorrow!

Source Evidence
  1. Recent tweets from @TheStudyofWar
    ...ugust-3-2026/, https://x.com/TheStudyofWar/status/2084423023818314168/photo/1

Iran Update Special Report, August 3, 2026: Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei may be trying to reduce President Masoud Pezeshkian and other “pragmatist” officials’ ability to influence the regime’s approach toward the United States in the current conflict. Senior cleric https://t.co/Y5v9DRAeVn
Posted: 2026-08-03T23:35:44.000Z
Tweet: https://x.com/TheStudyofWar/status/2084422998178599418
Links: https://x.com/TheStudyofWar/status/2084422998178599418/photo/1

Key Takeaway: An arrangement in which Iran controls inbound traffic in the Strait of Hormuz would still enable Iran to control which vessels can enter the Persian Gulf and thus continue to undermine the United States’ interests as well as global commerce. https://t.co/hdYTVEKUp1 https://t.co/4wFFkMlr3f
Posted: 2026-08-03T15:30:00.00...
    Links in excerpt: https://x.com/TheStudyofWar/status/2084423023818314168/photo/1, https://t.co/Y5v9DRAeVn, https://x.com/TheStudyofWar/status/2084422998178599418, https://x.com/TheStudyofWar/status/2084422998178599418/photo/1, https://t.co/hdYTVEKUp1, https://t.co/4wFFkMlr3f
  2. Recent tweets from @AJEnglish
    ...t further tragedies. https://t.co/tnw2Z9UAal
Posted: 2026-08-05T08:15:51.000Z
Tweet: https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2084916281296212124
Links: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/8/5/as-spain-grieves-recurrent-heatwaves-stir-fears-of-more-wildfires

BREAKING: Ballistic missile attack on a Saudi oil tanker is part of the “implementation of the Yemeni Armed Forces’ decision to impose a maritime blockade” on the neighbouring country, says Houthi military spokesman.

🔴 LIVE updates: https://t.co/AUZ8YrPG1a https://t.co/aPdwH8B7nI
Posted: 2026-08-05T07:33:13.000Z
Tweet: https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2084905549380866269
Links: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2026/8/5/iran-war-live-tehran-oman-talks-on-hormuz-positive-ship-hit-in-red-sea?update=4830477, https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2084905549380866269/photo/1

BREAKING: Abdul El-Sayed, a progressive public health...
    Links in excerpt: https://t.co/tnw2Z9UAal, https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2084916281296212124, https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/8/5/as-spain-grieves-recurrent-heatwaves-stir-fears-of-more-wildfires, https://t.co/AUZ8YrPG1a, https://t.co/aPdwH8B7nI, https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2084905549380866269, https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2026/8/5/iran-war-live-tehran-oman-talks-on-hormuz-positive-ship-hit-in-red-sea?update=4830477,, https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2084905549380866269/photo/1
  3. Recent tweets from @AJEnglish
    ...paceX rocket has crashed into the Moon, according to tracking data, creating a new crater on the lunar surface. https://t.co/KTNJZSxTnK
Posted: 2026-08-05T09:01:48.000Z
Tweet: https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2084927843033661675
Links: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/8/5/piece-of-spacex-rocket-the-size-of-a-school-bus-crashes-into-the-moon

For Gaza’s more than 250 dialysis patients, lifesaving treatment is becoming harder to access as Israel's air attacks damage medical supply warehouses, raising fears of shortages and reduced care.

Al Jazeera’s Moath Al Kahlout reports from Deir al-Balah. https://t.co/Mb8lfIMZez
Posted: 2026-08-05T08:37:00.000Z
Tweet: https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2084921600621543431
Links: https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2084921600621543431/video/1

Anthropic and OpenAI’s top-of-the-line AI models attempted “autonomous” and “unsanctioned” cybera...
    Links in excerpt: https://t.co/KTNJZSxTnK, https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2084927843033661675, https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/8/5/piece-of-spacex-rocket-the-size-of-a-school-bus-crashes-into-the-moon, https://t.co/Mb8lfIMZez, https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2084921600621543431, https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2084921600621543431/video/1
  4. Recent tweets from @AJEnglish
    ...to the moon at high speed at around 0635 GMT on Wednesday. https://t.co/dMhR9r3JCU
Posted: 2026-08-05T06:29:46.000Z
Tweet: https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2084889583867601309
Links: https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2084889583867601309/photo/1

Israel's far-right Minister of Finance Bezalel Smotrich has announced a 113 million shekel ($37m) allocation to take control of more than 70 historical sites across the occupied West Bank.

Read more https://t.co/zoXthfD61i https://t.co/b1FWUNF7eK
Posted: 2026-08-05T06:16:04.000Z
Tweet: https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2084886135927443650
Links: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/8/5/israel-approves-37m-to-seize-more-than-70-occupied-west-bank-sites, https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2084886135927443650/photo/1
    Links in excerpt: https://t.co/dMhR9r3JCU, https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2084889583867601309, https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2084889583867601309/photo/1, https://t.co/zoXthfD61i, https://t.co/b1FWUNF7eK, https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2084886135927443650, https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/8/5/israel-approves-37m-to-seize-more-than-70-occupied-west-bank-sites,, https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2084886135927443650/photo/1
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