Aletho News

Australia sidesteps calls to arrest Israeli President Herzog

Al Mayadeen | February 5, 2026

Australia’s government has declined to address calls for the arrest of Israeli President Isaac Herzog ahead of his planned visit to the country.

Herzog is due to arrive on Monday for a four-day visit, following an invitation to meet with Australia’s Jewish community after a December 14 shooting at Bondi Beach in the Australian city of Sydney.

The visit has drawn criticism after a UN-mandated inquiry in 2025 found that Herzog had “incited the commission of genocide,” citing remarks in which he said all Palestinians, “an entire nation,” were responsible for October 7, 2023. […]

The Palestine Action Group has announced plans to hold a protest march in Sydney on February 9, opposing the visit of Herzog.

Josh Lees, a spokesperson for the group, urged NSW police to “exercise their discretion” and allow a peaceful march from Town Hall to the state parliament, part of broader nationwide protests against Herzog’s four-day visit to Australia. “We’ll be gathering in huge numbers at Town Hall,” Lees said. “Things will go much more smoothly if the police work with us to facilitate a peaceful march.”

On Tuesday, NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon extended a restriction order that limits public protests within parts of Sydney’s CBD and eastern suburbs, including Town Hall. The restriction, in place for another 14 days, prevents the authorization of protests via the Form 1 system, effectively banning protest marches in restricted zones. … Full article

‘Israel’ bulldozes part of Gaza war cemetery holding allied graves

Al Mayadeen | February 5, 2026

Israeli occupation forces have bulldozed sections of the Gaza War Cemetery in Gaza City’s al-Tuffah neighborhood, damaging graves of British, Australian, and other allied soldiers from the First and Second World Wars, according to an investigation by The Guardian.

Satellite imagery shows systematic earthworks in the cemetery’s southern corner, including removed gravestones, churned soil, and a large earth berm indicating the use of heavy machinery. The damage was not visible in images from March last year but appeared clearly in satellite photos taken in August and December.

Essam Jaradah, the cemetery’s former caretaker, told The Guardian that Israeli bulldozers first cleared land around the cemetery walls before later entering the graveyard itself, flattening nearly one dunum of land that included graves of Australian soldiers.

“The bulldozing covered the area from the bench where foreign visitors used to sit up to the memorial monument,” Jaradah said, adding that the operations took place after Israeli occupation forces withdrew from the area in late April or early May. … continue

Coordinated Media Messaging Is Prepping for Iran War

By Thomas Karat | The Libertarian Institute | February 5, 2026

Between January 27 and January 29, 2026, something carefully orchestrated unfolded across Western capitals. Within this forty-eight hour window, the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier group arrived in the Persian Gulf, President Donald Trump declared “time is running out,” the European Union unanimously designated Iran’s Revolutionary Guard as terrorists, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced “Iran’s days are numbered,” and oil surged 5%. This was not a spontaneous crisis but methodical preparation for military action.

Analysis of 235 news headlines from eleven countries¹ reveals a coordinated information operation mirroring Iraq and Libya’s preparatory phases. The pattern: synchronized political statements, expanding legal justifications, managed market reactions, and systematic absence of dissenting voices. What emerges is not diplomacy exhausted but deliberately sidelined.

Forty-seven headlines—twenty percent of the dataset spanning back to 2021—appeared within those two days. This clustering is inconsistent with organic news flow. News organizations covering genuine crises do not synchronize attention with such precision across multiple countries unless events themselves were coordinated to generate exactly this response. The headlines did not drive events; events were staged to generate headlines.

Military deployments require weeks of planning. Carrier groups do not sail on presidential whim. … continue

Beijing cancels Panama deals after court blocks Chinese port operations

The Cradle | February 5, 2026

Chinese authorities have asked state-owned companies to suspend talks on new projects in Panama, in response to the Central American nation’s cancellation of a contract with China’s CK Hutchison Holdings to operate two ports along its strategic canal, Bloomberg reported on 5 February.

According to sources familiar with the matter, Panama’s decision could jeopardize billions of dollars in potential Chinese investments.

Chinese authorities also asked shipping companies to consider rerouting goods through other ports if the extra cost is not prohibitive, and have stepped up inspections of Panamanian imports, such as bananas and coffee.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian issued a statement saying that the Panamanian Supreme Court ruling “ignores the facts, violates credibility,” while harming the interests of Chinese companies.

Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison responded to the Supreme Court decision by initiating international arbitration proceedings against Panama. … continue

Idea of strategically defeating Russia an ‘illusion’ – Lavrov

RT | February 5, 2026

European leaders have “changed their tune” toward Russia, moving from calls to inflict a strategic defeat on Moscow to cautious reassessment, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has told RT.

Speaking with RT’s Rick Sanchez ahead of Diplomats’ Day on Wednesday, Lavrov noted how many European politicians had initially “spoken in unison, demanding firmness, insisting on unwavering support for Ukraine, continued arms shipments, sustained financing – all to ensure Russia’s defeat, a strategic defeat on the battlefield.”

Over time, European leaders “realized it was all an illusion,” he said in a wide-ranging interview. Western military strategists, who orchestrated the Ukraine conflict and “prepared Ukrainians to fight and die advancing European interests against Russia,” are finally recognizing that their plans had collapsed, the top diplomat stated.

Lavrov added that Western governments had learned nothing from history, citing Adolf Hitler and Napoleon’s failed attempts to defeat Russia. He said Europe had once again rallied nearly the entire continent under the same ideological banners, “only this time, unlike Napoleon and Hitler, not yet as soldiers on the battlefield, but as donors, sponsors, arms suppliers.” He said this attempt had produced outcomes similar to the failures of Napoleon and Hitler, adding that the West, particularly Germany, “learns history poorly.”

Lavrov noted that German Chancellor Friedrich Merz had “lifted constitutional restrictions on military spending, then declared this was necessary for Germany to once again – I emphasize that word, once again – become Europe’s dominant military power.” The minister said the stance “speaks volumes” about Merz’s mindset, arguing that in practice it amounts to preparation for war. … continue

Russia doubts ‘bright future’ for US economic ties – Lavrov

RT | February 5, 2026

The actions of US President Donald Trump’s administration contradict its claims that it is willing to restore economic cooperation with Russia, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said.

Since returning to the White House more than a year ago, Trump has repeatedly said he wants to do business with Moscow. After a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin last March, the White House teased “enormous economic deals” between the two countries once the Ukraine conflict is settled.

Moscow doubts the sincerity of those claims by Washington, Lavrov said in an interview with RT’s Rick Sanchez on Thursday, ahead of Diplomatic Workers’ Day on February 10.

Not only the economic restrictions that had been slapped on Moscow under the previous administration of US President Joe Biden “all remain in place,” but “very harsh sanctions have been imposed against our largest oil companies, Lukoil and Rosneft, for the first time,” he said. … continue

US Missile Deployment in Greenland Could Spark New Arms Race – Analyst

Sputnik – 05.02.2026

President Donald Trump has repeatedly stated that Greenland should become part of the US. The authorities of Denmark and Greenland have warned Washington against any attempt to seize the island, stressing that they expect respect for their territorial integrity.

“If the US deploys long-range cruise missiles with conventional or nuclear warheads in Greenland, it will become a very serious factor affecting strategic stability and Russia’s national security,” Fyodor Voitolovsky, head of the Institute of World Economy and International Relations think tank, said.

The same applies to the US deployment of medium-range missiles in Europe, Voitolovsky added.

“I believe this would not contribute to further dialogue on arms control between Russia and the United States. On the contrary, it would provoke retaliatory steps by Russia and, in my view, would significantly accelerate a new arms race,” the analyst concluded.

US’s Lack of Response to Russia’s New START Proposals Regrettable – Foreign Ministry

Sputnik – 04.02.2026

MOSCOW – Washington’s approach of ignoring Russia’s ideas on the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) is regrettable, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday.
“However, no formal official response from the United States with regard to the Russian initiative has been received through bilateral channels. Public comments from the US side also give no reason to conclude that Washington is ready to follow the course of action in the field of strategic offensive arms proposed by the Russian Federation,” the ministry said in a statement.

“In fact, it means that our ideas have been deliberately left unanswered. This approach seems erroneous and regrettable,” it added Russia proceeds from the position that the parties to the New START Treaty are no longer bound by any obligations and symmetrical declarations amid the expiration of the treaty.

With the suspension of the New START Treaty in February 2023, Russia declared its intention to voluntarily stick to the central quantitative limits on weapons set by the Treaty until it expires in February 2026, the statement said.

“In the current circumstances, we assume that the parties to the New START are no longer bound by any obligations or symmetrical declarations in the context of the Treaty, including its core provisions, and are in principle free to choose their next steps,” the statement read.

Russia “intends to act responsibly and in a balanced manner,” developing its policy based on an analysis of the US military policy and the overall situation in the strategic sphere, the statement added.

Still, Moscow is open to finding ways to stabilize the situation through equal dialogue, the ministry added.

“The Russian Federation remains ready to take decisive military-technical measures to counter potential additional threats to the national security. At the same time, our country remains open to seeking politico-diplomatic ways to comprehensively stabilize the strategic situation on the basis of equal and mutually beneficial dialogue solutions, if the appropriate conditions for such cooperation are shaped,” the ministry said.

European warmongers seeking to derail Ukraine peace talks – Putin envoy

RT | February 5, 2026

European powers are ramping up efforts to derail progress toward a Ukraine peace deal, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s envoy, Kirill Dmitriev, has said. He added, however, that this campaign indicates that progress is being made.

Dmitriev, the head of Russia’s sovereign wealth fund and a key figure in Ukraine peace talks, made the comments prior to the second day of trilateral Russia-US-Ukraine negotiations in Abu Dhabi on Thursday. The talks have mainly revolved around territorial disputes between Moscow and Kiev.

Speaking to reporters, Dmitriev noted that Moscow and the administration of US President Donald Trump are pursuing “active work to restore Russia-US relations in the economic sphere” within a designated group, with the meetings “going positively.”

Asked whether there has been progress toward a peace agreement, Dmitriev highlighted what he described as European efforts to derail diplomacy.

“The warmongers from Europe, Britain, are constantly trying to hinder this process, constantly trying to interfere in it. And the more such attempts occur, the more we see that there is certainly progress and good positive movement forward,” he said. … Full article

Russia responds to EU call for ‘fresh Arctic policy’

RT | February 5, 2026

Moscow would welcome a new EU Arctic policy if it is aimed at international cooperation and not confrontation, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said. Russia is an Arctic nation and has major interests in the region, which it will not hesitate to defend, he told journalists on Wednesday.

Peskov was commenting on a recent statement by the bloc’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, who called for a “a fresh EU Arctic Policy” at the 2026 Arctic Frontiers Conference on Tuesday. Brussels needs to “ground this in strong partnerships,” she said.

Kallas, however, framed Russia as a threat and not a potential partner in her speech, as she accused Moscow of turning the Arctic into a “testing ground for Russian missiles” and launching a “military buildup in the region.”

“The Arctic region needs international cooperation,” Peskov said, commenting on Kallas’ words. If the EU seeks “confrontation, which is now fashionable in Brussels, we could hardly welcome that and it would hardly have any positive effect,” the Kremlin spokesman warned. … Full article

Russia Urges International Community to Curb Arms Flow From Ukraine to Africa

Sputnik – 04.02.2026

Russia calls on the international community to prevent the trafficking of arms and Starlink terminals from Ukraine to militants in African countries, Russian Permanent Representative to the United Nations Vassily Nebenzia said on Wednesday.

“We call on the international community to take effective measures to prevent weapons and their components from falling into the hands of terrorists. The supply of weapons to militants must not go unpunished,” Nebenzia said during a UNSC meeting on threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts.

Nebenzia added that weapons from Ukraine find their way through black markets to militants across Africa and their trafficking grows.

The diplomat stressed the need to prevent the ISIS terror group and its affiliates from acquiring and using commercial satellite communication terminals including Starlink. … continue

The US has accused the EU of censorship: Here’s how the bloc’s consensus machine works

Brussels manufactured the Romanian election debacle and faces accusations of strangling the free speech of Europeans and Americans alike

RT | February 4, 2026

[…]

What kind of speech does the EU censor?

The EU has banned RT in all of its jurisdictions. In its handbook on “borderline content,” the EU Internet Forum recommended a wide range of content for monitoring, demotion, and deletion. This list included “populist rhetoric,” “anti-government/anti-EU” content, “anti-elite” content, “political satire,” “anti-migrants and Islamophobic content,” “anti-refugee/immigrant sentiment,” “anti-LGBTIQ” content, and “meme subculture.”

The US House Judiciary Committee noted in its report that “these issues represent the dominant topics of European – indeed, global – political life today.”

When the Covid-19 pandemic hit in 2020, EU officials began pressing tech firms to “demote and remove” content skeptical of vaccines and lockdown measures, according to European Commission documents. At bimonthly meetings, the (mostly US) platforms were asked to “update [their] terms of service or content moderation practices” surrounding vaccines, long before the vaccines first hit the market.

“Vaccines will be our new focus on disinformation on covid,” the commission’s vice president, Vera Jourova, told TikTok executives in a call that November. When asked how it defined “disinformation,” the commission referred platforms to the Global Disinformation Index (GDI), a left-wing activist organization funded by George Soros, which organized advertiser boycotts of right-wing news sites in the US. – Full article

Judge Strikes Down Hawaii Deepfake Law as Unconstitutional

By voiding Hawaii’s law, the court signaled that the fear of deepfakes cannot outweigh the freedom to mock those in power.

By Cindy Harper | Reclaim The Net | February 4, 2026

A federal judge has struck down Hawaii’s election “deepfake” law, calling it a violation of free political expression. In The Babylon Bee v. Lopez, U.S. District Judge Shanlyn Park ruled that Act 191, which criminalized or penalized the use of certain AI-generated media during elections, infringed on both the First and Fourteenth Amendments.

The ruling permanently blocks enforcement of the statute, which had been set to take effect on February 1. … continue

Sen. Schumer: I Will Continue to Fight to Give Israel All the Aid It Needs

By Kyle Anzalone | The Libertarian Institute | February 4, 2026

Senator Chuck Schumer said that he would fight to get Israel “all the aid that it needs.”

“I will fight for aid to Israel. All the aid that Israel needs. I will continue to fight for it,” the Senate minority leader said on Saturday. He went on to refer to Israel aid as his “baby.”

The US has provided hundreds of billions in security assistance to Israel and fought several wars in the Middle East for Tel Aviv. Following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel, the US sent Israel $14 billion in arms that were used to conduct a genocide in Gaza.

Schumer touted his role in passing that aid package to Israel. “We delivered more security assistance to Israel, our ally, under my leadership than ever, ever before. We will keep doing that,” he told the conference of Jewish-Americans. “As long as I’m in the Senate. This program will continue to grow from strength to strength, and we won’t let anyone attack it or undo it.”

The Democratic leader of the Upper Chamber also said that he hopes the ceasefire in Gaza turns into a lasting peace. However, Israel is undermining the truce with daily strikes on Gaza. Since Saturday, Israel has killed over 60 Palestinians.

While the US holds significant leverage over Israel via military assistance, statements like Schumer’s make it clear to Tel Aviv that Washington is unprepared to threaten Prime Minister Netanyahu that if he does not comply with the ceasefire, Washington will end the flow of aid.

Epstein Files – Steve Bannon Admits Trump Administration Would ‘Not Cross Sheldon Adelson’ During First Term

The Dissident | February 4, 2026

In text messages between Steve Bannon and Jeffrey Epstein in 2018, now released as part of the DOJ’s Epstein releases , Bannon admitted that the Trump administration was captured by the Zionist lobby and the Zionist mega donor Sheldon Adelson.

While discussing U.S. policy towards Qatar with Epstein, Bannon admitted “Bolton [John Bolton, then National Security Advisor to Trump] only doing what Sheldon Adelson tells him to do– I got John the job but he will not cross Sheldon” to which Epstein replied, “I’m aware”.

This is further conformation that much of Trump’s foreign policy agenda during his first term was set by Sheldon Adelson, and since his passing, his wife Miriam Adelson. … continue

544 Mentions, Zero Accountability: The Dark Ties Between Tom Barrack and Jeffrey Epstein

By Freddie Ponton | 21st Century Wire | February 4, 2026

… The Epstein files do not prove that Tom Barrack committed a specific criminal act alongside Jeffrey Epstein. What they reveal is more corrosive. They show a man entrusted with immense diplomatic authority who chose proximity to a predator over moral clarity, silence over accountability, and access over principle. They expose a system that tolerates compromised elites so long as they remain useful, and that treats the safety of children as expendable collateral in the pursuit of power. The documents do not need interpretation to condemn this arrangement. They speak with devastating clarity. – Read full article

Epstein–Barak recording exposes multimillion-dollar fees paid to Tony Blair

Press TV – February 4, 2026

An audio recording released by the US Department of Justice, part of a trove of more than three million files disclosed last week, features convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and former Israeli prime minister Ehud Barak discussing “gigantic” sums paid to former UK prime minister Tony Blair for “consulting work.”

In the recording, Barak and Epstein appear to be discussing strategies for former political figures to earn money after leaving office.

Barak later references reports that Blair was earning around $11 million per year from the government of Kazakhstan.

He’s heard saying that he was receiving the money “just to give them advice, to help them with lobbying in some NGO or UN agency.”

Epstein expresses skepticism about how much of the money actually went to Blair.

“I don’t know what Tony’s doing for money. And I don’t know if the money that Tony is getting is actually to Tony or to somebody else,” he says.

“I hear gigantic numbers given to Tony – $5m here, $10m here, $5m there. Tony’s not making $30m a year,” Epstein adds.

Barak responds that Blair may be sharing portions of the payments with others involved in the work.

The DOJ has not confirmed when the conversation took place, though media reports suggest it occurred in early 2013. … Full article

Israel-Palestine head of HRW resigns over blocked report on Palestinians right of return

Press TV – February 4, 2026

The Israel-Palestine director of Human Rights Watch (HRW) has resigned in protest, saying the organization’s new Executive Director prevented the publication of a report exposing Israel for committing “crimes against humanity” by denying Palestinian refugees their right of return.

In separate resignations published on Tuesday, Omar Shakir, who led HRW’s Israel-Palestine team for nearly a decade, and assistant researcher Milena Ansari condemned the leadership’s decision as a break from standard approval procedures.

“I have lost my faith in the integrity of how we do our work and our commitment to principled reporting on the facts and application of the law … As such, I am no longer able to represent or work for Human Rights Watch,” Shakir wrote in his resignation letter. … continue

24 Palestinians killed, many others injured in Israeli attacks on Gaza

Palestinian Information Center – February 4, 2026

GAZA – At least 24 Palestinian citizens were martyred, including eight children and one paramedic, and many others were injured in Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip on Wednesday, amid other ceasefire violations persisting for the 116th consecutive day in different areas of the coastal enclave.

According to the Palestinian Information Center (PIC) reporter, Israeli shelling this morning struck tents sheltering displaced families in the al-Mawasi area of Khan Yunis, southern Gaza, killing two girls and one paramedic and injuring 12 others.

The Red Crescent said that paramedic Hussein as-Samiri was killed in Khan Yunis while performing his humanitarian duty.

Israeli tanks also attacked Gaza City’s al-Tuffah neighborhood, targeting a building belonging to the Haboush family. The attack resulted in the killing of four people, including two children.

Seven more Palestinians were killed in continued Israeli strikes on the same neighborhood of Gaza City.

Three civilians, including a woman and an infant, were killed in an Israeli attack on al-Zeitoun neighborhood in eastern Gaza, according to local sources.

Three people, including a child, were killed in Israeli artillery shelling that targeted tents and homes in the Qizan Abu Rashwan area, south of Khan Yunis.

Later in the afternoon, a medical source reported that one person was killed and others were injured in an Israeli airstrike targeting a group of civilians in the northern ash-Shati refugee camp, west of Gaza City.

A citizen and a girl child were also martyred and several others sustained injuries in an Israeli strike on a tent in Deir al-Balah City in central Gaza.

In the northwest of Rafah, a female employee at the Doctors Without Borders hospital was injured by Israeli random gunfire while she was on duty inside the hospital pharmacy.

Meanwhile, Israeli military vehicles opened heavy fire today in the eastern, central, and southern areas of Khan Yunis.

Israeli gunboats also opened machinegun fire towards the coastline of Khan Yunis.

On Tuesday, a child from the Abu Hadayed family died of wounds he had previously sustained from Israeli fire in Khan Yunis, while a woman was killed by Israeli drone gunfire near al-Shawa Square in Gaza City’s al-Tuffah neighborhood.

Jewish settlers pillage Palestinian school in Jordan Valley

Palestinian Information Center – February 4, 2026

JORDAN VALLEY – A horde of extremist Jewish settlers stormed and ransacked Al-Tahadi School in the hamlet of Khirbet Ibziq, north of Tubas in the northern Jordan Valley, on Wednesday.

The settlers wreaked havoc on the school’s contents and bulldozed the road leading to it in an attempt to prevent students and staff from reaching it.

Azmi Balawneh, director of education in Tubas, said that the settlers stole educational tools and materials from the school, damaged its water, electricity, and internet networks, and blocked the road leading to it with stones and holes.

Balawneh noted that it was the second such attack by settlers against the school.

Palestinians in the northern Jordan Valley have endured long months of an unprecedented aggressive Israeli campaign aimed at undermining their presence in their areas and depriving them of their natural right to live on their land.

Occupation Forces Kill One, Injure Others in Jericho

IMEMC | February 4, 2026

Israeli forces killed a Palestinian young man and injured others, on Tuesday evening, after storming the city of Jericho, in the northeastern part of the occupied West Bank.

The Palestinian Health Ministry announced that 24-year-old Sa’id Nael Sa’id Al-Sheikh was shot and killed by occupation forces during a military incursion into the city of Jericho.

For his part, the director of Jericho Governmental Hospital, Riyad Eid, said that the slain Al-Sheikh died as a result of a live gunshot wound to the abdomen, adding that he suffered a ruptured liver. … Full article

Israel to shut water, electricity at UNRWA facilities in occupied territories

Press TV – February 4, 2026

Israel will begin cutting off water and electricity to United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) facilities in the occupied Palestinian territories, a top Israeli minister announced on Wednesday.

Israel’s Energy and Infrastructure Minister Eli Cohen told The Jerusalem Post that he will “personally” oversee the shutdown of utilities to UNRWA offices in occupied al-Quds starting today.

Cohen accused the agency of operating “in a systematic way to incite against Israel.” He said utility companies had been formally instructed to carry out the cutoff, which is expected to be completed within two weeks.” … continue

UNIFIL says Israeli drone dropped device near patrol in southern Lebanon

MEMO | February 4, 2026

The UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has accused the Israeli army of endangering peacekeepers after a drone incident during a routine patrol near Kfarkela in southern Lebanon.

In a statement posted on X, UNIFIL said its personnel observed two drones flying over the patrol “in a hostile manner”. Peacekeepers then noticed that one of the drones was carrying an unidentified object and entered an area that posed “a direct threat” to their safety.

“According to standard operating procedures, the soldiers took defensive action against this threat,” UNIFIL said.

The force said the drone subsequently dropped a stun grenade, which exploded around 50 metres from the patrol before the aircraft headed back towards Israel. No injuries were reported.

UNIFIL said it informed both the Israeli and Lebanese armies of the activity, in line with standard procedures for incidents occurring near the Blue Line.

Peacekeepers concluded that the drone belonged to the Israeli army and had crossed the Blue Line in violation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701. UNIFIL said the use of an armed drone in the area was “unacceptable”.

The UN mission reiterated its call on Israel to respect the Blue Line, ensure the safety of peacekeepers, and cease attacks against or near UN forces.

UNIFIL said the incident constituted a breach of Resolution 1701 and international law, obstructed its Security Council-mandated mission, and risked undermining efforts to restore stability along the Blue Line.

President Aoun slams Israel for spraying toxic chemicals over south Lebanon

Press TV – February 4, 2026

Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun has condemned Israel for carrying out an environmental crime, following reports that Israeli forces dispersed a mysterious substance over towns in southern Lebanon, which officials in Beirut have described as toxic.

Aoun expressed strong disapproval of the Israeli actions on Wednesday, stating that he instructed government agencies to pursue all necessary diplomatic and legal channels to “address this aggression,” which he described as a “clear violation” of Lebanon’s sovereignty.

“This is an environmental and health crime against Lebanese citizens and their land,” Aoun was quoted as saying by Lebanon’s official National News Agency.

He said the incident is a “continuation of repeated Israeli attacks on Lebanon and its people”.

“These dangerous practices that target agricultural lands and the livelihoods of citizens and threaten their health and environment require the international community and relevant United Nations organizations to assume their responsibilities to stop these attacks,” Aoun said.

The UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon, known as UNIFIL, said on February 2 that the Israeli military had notified them about plans to release a “non-toxic chemical substance” from the air over regions close to the border.

“The [Israeli military] said that peacekeepers should stay away and remain under cover, forcing them to cancel over a dozen activities,” UNIFIL said. … Full article

China bans all new investment in ‘Israel’

Al Mayadeen | February 4, 2026

Settlers from the occupied Palestinian territories, namely the settlement of Kibbutz Hanita, located near the Lebanese border area, have filed a lawsuit seeking about $11 million from Ballet Vision, the Chinese investment fund that controls the Hanita Lenses plant, accusing it of refusing to honor an option to purchase the kibbutz’s remaining shares.

The lawsuit, filed with the Tel Aviv District Court, says Ballet Vision, which holds roughly 80% of Hanita Lenses, has declined to buy out the kibbutz’s minority stake, despite a deadline set for December 2025.

In a response letter attached to the filing, the fund cited political and regulatory constraints, saying Beijing has classified the occupied Palestinian territories as a “high-risk area” since the outbreak of the war and has barred any new Chinese investments there.

“Since the outbreak of the fighting in Israel, the Chinese government has classified Israel as a high-risk zone (red category) and prohibited any new Chinese investment,” the fund wrote. “As long as this restriction remains in place, there is no practical operational ability to exercise the option.” … continue

EU stole 2024 Romanian election – US House report

RT | February 4, 2026

The European Commission used unproven claims of Russian interference to overturn the results of Romania’s 2024 presidential election, a US House report has suggested.

Romania’s Constitutional Court annulled the election’s first round after intelligence services alleged anti-establishment candidate Calin Georgescu’s lead resulted from foreign meddling. A House Judiciary Committee report cited the case on Tuesday, calling it the “most aggressive censorship steps” taken by the EU executive in recent years.

The report referenced internal TikTok documents submitted to the European Commission that contradicted claims of a Russian-backed pro-Georgescu campaign on the platform. TikTok stated it found no evidence supporting the allegation, which was foundational for the court’s ruling.

“By late December 2024, media reports citing evidence from Romania’s tax authority found that the alleged Russian interference campaign had, in fact, been funded by another Romanian political party,” the document noted. “But the election results were never reinstated, and in May 2025, the establishment-preferred candidate won Romania’s presidency in the rescheduled election.” […]

The damning new US report said the European Commission is conducting a “comprehensive decade-long effort” to pressure social media companies to limit freedom of expression in the name of combatting ‘hate speech’ and ‘disinformation’. The campaign “has established sufficient control of global online speech to comprehensively suppress narratives that threaten the European Commission’s power,” and directly affects constitutionally protected rights of American citizens, it stated. – Full article

Germany eyes military space spending splurge to counter ‘threats’ from Russia, China: Report

By Deng Xiaoci | Global Times | February 4, 2026

The head of German Space Command Michael Traut reportedly claimed that Germany is considering a 35 billion euro ($41 billion) military space push, including spy satellites, space planes and offensive lasers, citing so-called “threats” from Russia and China in orbit. Chinese analysts on Wednesday slammed the move as classic double standards and Cold War mentality, as it cites baseless China “threat” claims, while ignoring the fact that the US is the top driver of space militarization. … continue

Power outages in Russian region after Ukrainian attack – governor

RT | February 4, 2026

Ukrainian strikes have severely damaged energy infrastructure in Russia’s Belgorod Region, causing widespread power outages and disrupting heating and water supplies, Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov reported on Wednesday morning.

Emergency crews worked through the night to repair the damage following what he described as a massive attack.

According to the governor, the city of Belgorod was struck by 12 munitions and three drones, with energy facilities among the damaged targets. Drone and artillery attacks were reported across nearly a dozen other districts. In the village of Dunayka, a drone attack on a truck wounded a man, requiring hospitalization. Another civilian was injured by an FPV drone in the village of Glotovo. A volunteer fighter was also wounded in Borisovsky District. … continue

IRGC drone completes lawful recon mission before contact lost

Al Mayadeen | February 3, 2026

Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) has reportedly lost contact with one of its drones during a reconnaissance mission over international waters, according to a source cited by Tasnim News Agency on Tuesday.

The Shahed 129 was conducting a routine operation when communication with the aircraft was suddenly interrupted.

Media reports earlier claimed that the US military downed an Iranian UAV that allegedly approached the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier in the Arabian Sea.

According to the Iranian source, the drone had been engaged in lawful reconnaissance and aerial photography, consistent with standard practices in international airspace. “The Shahed 129 drone was carrying out its routine reconnaissance and photography missions in international waters. This is considered normal and legal practice,” the source said.

The source added that the UAV had successfully transmitted all required imagery to the command center before contact was lost. … continue

Spain announces major social media crackdown

RT | February 3, 2026

Spain will ban social media use for children under 16 and hold tech executives personally accountable for “hateful content” spread on their platforms, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced on Tuesday.

Speaking at the World Government Summit in Dubai, Sanchez said that his administration will implement five measures to regulate social media, with sweeping consequences for free speech.

“First, we will change the law in Spain to hold platform executives legally accountable for many infringements taking place on their sites,” he announced, explaining that executives who fail to remove “criminal or hateful content” will face criminal charges. … continue

Focus on Panama’s ‘port case’ must not be misplaced

Global Times | February 3, 2026

Since the Supreme Court of Panama ruled that CK Hutchison’s concession contract to operate Panama Canal ports was “unconstitutional,” the most elated individuals over the past few days have undoubtedly been certain US politicians and media outlets. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio quickly posted on social media that the US is “encouraged,” while some American media outlets claimed this marks a “major victory” for Washington in curbing Chinese influence. The Wall Street Journal even issued a blunt threat, stating that other countries “might re-examine their ties to the world’s second-biggest economy.”

The cries of “victory” coming from the US confirm widespread outside suspicions and further expose Washington’s hegemonic arrogance in using geopolitical means to interfere with commercial cooperation and undermine trade rules. Although the US formally handed over control of the Panama Canal in 1999, in Washington’s Cold War mentality, this area remains an “inner lake” that others are not allowed to touch. The US has repeatedly expressed desire to “retake control of the Canal,” and Secretary of State Rubio chose Panama for his first overseas visit, threatening the country that it “must reduce Chinese influence.” Therefore, when the Supreme Court of Panama issued its so-called ruling, it is difficult for the international public opinion not to question its independence.

However, if one follows Washington’s rhythm and views this turmoil through the lens of “US-China competition,” they fall into a cognitive trap set by the US, and the focus on this matter becomes misplaced. These ports have never been, and should never be, bargaining chips in a geopolitical game. In fact, CK Hutchison has operated these ports for nearly 30 years; in such a long span of time, where has there ever been a shadow of a “Chinese threat”? … continue

Newly surfaced Epstein email ties him to Israel – UAE strategy targeting Qatar

MEMO | February 3, 2026

Newly uncovered emails dated July 2017 reveal disgraced sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein, long accused of acting on behalf of Israeli intelligence, lobbying for political and financial pressure to be applied against Qatar at the height of the Gulf diplomatic crisis.

The email exchange, dated 6th July 2017, sees Epstein accusing Qatar of “terrorism financing,” describing its leadership as “dangerous,” and demanding that it be made to “come out against terrorism and not just say it.” He proposes creating a billion-dollar “victim fund” for terrorism survivors to be administered by the US, UK and UN, while calling on Qatar to either contribute financially or recognise Israel—framing both as tests of its sincerity in opposing terrorism.

Epstein outlines a strategy of reputational damage and financial pressure, proposing a Western-administered fund that would publicly test Qatar’s stance on terrorism. His language reflects the broader Israel–UAE effort at the time to isolate Qatar over its support for Palestinian rights and refusal to normalise relations with Israel. … continue

Israeli Forces Kill a Palestinian Near Qalqilia

IMEMC – February 3, 2026

Israeli forces killed a Palestinian young man on Monday evening, while he and others were near the Apartheid wall, south of Qalqilia in the northwestern part of the occupied West Bank.

The Ma’an News Agency reported that occupation forces shot and critically injured the young man Omar Zuhair Sweirki, 20, from Qalqilia, while he was near the Apartheid wall south of Qalqilia.

One of his relatives stated that Omar was a married father of a four-month baby girl and died almost instantly after the soldiers shot him. … Full article

Army Demolishes Home, Cave in Beit Ummar

IMEMC – February 3, 2026

Earlier Tuesday, Israeli occupation forces demolished a home and a cave in the town of Beit Ummar, north of Hebron in the southern occupied West Bank, in a new escalation targeting Palestinian property in the area.

Activist Mohammad Awad reported that a large military force stormed the Wadi al‑Sheikh area and demolished an 80‑square‑meter house belonging to Ahmad Mohammad Hussein al‑Allami.

The structure, built to shelter his family, was reduced to rubble within minutes as heavy machinery carried out the demolition under armed protection.

Awad added that the forces also destroyed a nearby cave that had long served as a shelter for members of al‑Allami’s extended family. The cave, used seasonally for agricultural work and livestock care, was flattened despite containing no new construction or additions.

The demolition was carried out without prior warning, leaving the family unable to salvage belongings or livestock equipment.

Witnesses said soldiers surrounded the area, deployed snipers on nearby rooftops, and blocked all access roads leading to the site. … Full article

Israeli Colonizers Assault Families Near Hebron

IMEMC – February 3, 2026

Residents of Khirbet al‑Kharaba, a small Palestinian community southeast of the town of Samu’ near Hebron in the occupied West Bank’s southern region, were assaulted on Tuesday when groups of illegal paramilitary Israeli colonizers invaded the area.

The colonizers hurled stones at homes and attacked families with pepper spray. Several residents suffered suffocation and physical injuries, and some were transferred to Yatta Governmental Hospital for treatment.

Witnesses said the attackers approached from outposts connected to the nearby Susiya colony, an area that has seen a sharp rise in colonizer violence targeting isolated Palestinian communities.

Local residents reported that the colonizers surrounded homes belonging to the al‑Daghamin family, smashing windows, and attempting to force their way inside while families were still present.

The assault caused panic among residents, particularly children, as colonizers moved between the houses and continued throwing stones at anyone who attempted to approach. … Full article

Israeli army uproots 200 grapevines in occupied West Bank, raids towns

MEMO | February 3, 2026

The Israeli army uprooted about 200 long-standing grapevines Monday in the Bethlehem governorate and raided several towns and villages across the occupied West Bank, Anadolu reports.

Israeli forces used bulldozers to level agricultural land in the town of al-Khader, south of Bethlehem, uprooting roughly 200 mature grapevines, the official Palestinian news agency Wafa reported.

Deputy Mayor Husni Issa said the land-clearing took place in the Um Rukba area south of the town, Wafa added.

In separate incidents, Israeli forces raided a Palestinian home in the town of Hizma, northeast of occupied East Jerusalem, and converted it into a military post, the agency said.

Troops deployed throughout the town, stormed the house and forced the family to evacuate before using it as a military position as part of ongoing operations in the area, Wafa added.

The agency said Israeli forces also entered the villages of Kafr Malik and Barqa, northeast and east of Ramallah, with no reports of arrests or home raids.

In the southern West Bank, witnesses said Israeli troops raided the town of al-Dhahiriya in the Hebron governorate, set up a checkpoint, searched Palestinian vehicles and forced some young men to exit their cars for body searches. … Full article

Israeli Soldiers Abduct 30 Palestinians In West Bank

IMEMC – February 3, 2026

Israeli occupation forces abducted at least thirty Palestinians from across the occupied West Bank, including occupied Jerusalem, between Monday evening and Tuesday morning, in a continuation of widespread invasions and violations that have intensified since the beginning of the year.

Among those abducted were former prisoner Zahra Khadraj and her daughter Yaqin, along with a woman from Qalandia refugee camp.

Several other former political prisoners were also taken during the overnight invasions, which targeted residents in the districts of Jenin, Nablus, Qalqilia, Tulkarem, Ramallah, and Jerusalem.

The wave of abductions reflects a rapidly escalating pattern in which Israeli forces carry out field interrogations, home invasions, and mass sweeps across Palestinian communities. … Full article

Hamas condemns treatment of Palestinians at Rafah border, calls it ‘organized terrorism’

Press TV – February 3, 2026

Palestinian resistance movement Hamas has condemned the treatment of Palestinians by Israeli forces at the Rafah border crossing, calling it collective punishment and a form of organized terrorism.

In a statement released on Tuesday, the group said the “mistreatment, abuse, and deliberate extortion” faced by Palestinians returning to Gaza through Rafah “constitutes fascist behavior and organized terrorism.”

“This confirms that what is happening is not ‘crossing procedures’ but rather systematic violations aimed at instilling fear and deterring people from returning to their homes,” the statement added.

Hamas said the long-awaited reopening of Gaza’s southern border crossing with Egypt was meant to ease the territory’s punishing military siege. However, the group said field testimonies have exposed “degrading practices, including the abduction of women among travelers and their blindfolding.”

“Israeli forces subjected Palestinians at the crossing to prolonged interrogations with irrelevant questions, threatened some with their children, and attempted to coerce one individual into collaboration,” Hamas added.

The resistance group also called on the international community and human rights organizations to document the violations.

Israeli authorities, however, continue to enforce tight security restrictions and a complex bureaucratic process that allows only a small number of people to travel in either direction.

Media reports said Palestinians lined up Tuesday on both sides of Gaza’s border with Egypt after the long-awaited reopening the previous day was marred by delays and uncertainty over who would be allowed through.

On the Egyptian side were Palestinians who had previously left Gaza for medical treatment during Israel’s genocidal war.

On the Gaza side, Palestinians in need of treatment were transported by buses from the Palestinian Red Crescent headquarters in the besieged territory.

On Monday, it took more than 10 hours for only about a dozen returnees and a small group of medical evacuees to cross in each direction.

Palestinian Red Crescent spokesperson Raed al-Nims said on Tuesday that just 16 patients with chronic conditions and war wounds were transported from Khan Yunis to the Gaza side of Rafah. …. Full article

Palestinian killed by Israeli gunfire south of Gaza

Palestinian Information Center – February 3, 2026

GAZA – A Palestinian citizen was martyred on Tuesday, succumbing to injuries sustained from Israeli gunfire in the city of Khan Yunis, south of the Gaza Strip.

A medical source at Nasser Hospital reported receiving the body of a civilian killed by Israeli gunfire outside the “Yellow Line” area south of Khan Yunis.

Since the ceasefire agreement took effect on October 10, 2025, at least 526 Palestinians have been killed, and 1,447 others have been injured.

Israel pressing for Iran strike, Trump remains reluctant: Report

Press TV | February 3, 2026

The Israeli regime has been pressing US President Donald Trump to authorize a strike on Iran, but Trump has remained reluctant, according to a report citing statements from US officials.

Axios said in a Tuesday report that the head of the Israeli army, Eyal Zamir, had urged his US counterpart that the United States should launch an attack on Iran.

It said, however, that Zamir failed to persuade US Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine during a meeting in Washington over the weekend that a strike on Iran would be the right course of action.

“It’s safe to say that nothing came out of that meeting to change his or the president’s mind on attacking Iran,” the report quoted a US official as saying, referring to Caine and Trump.

“It’s really the Israelis who want a strike. The president is just not there,” the official added.

The report comes as the threat of a military confrontation between Iran and the US has de-escalated in recent days, following statements from both sides that they might resume talks surrounding Tehran’s nuclear program.

The threat had grown last week after Trump said he had ordered US military assets to sail toward waters near Iran.

Iranian authorities responded by warning that even a single shot fired at the country would trigger a massive reaction.

Axios quoted another US official as saying that Trump “really does not want to do” the attack. … Full article

Turkiye pulls out from defense pact with Saudi Arabia, Pakistan: Report

The Cradle | February 3, 2026

Turkiye will not be joining the new defense pact between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, a source close to the Saudi army revealed to western media, after reports said the three countries would be entering into a trilateral agreement.

“Turkiye won’t join the defense pact with Pakistan,” the source told AFP. “It’s a bilateral pact with Pakistan and will remain a bilateral pact.”

A Gulf official also told the outlet that “This is a bilateral defensive relationship with Pakistan. We have common agreements with Turkiye, but the one with Pakistan will stay bilateral.”

Last month, Turkiye’s foreign minister said discussions were taking place regarding Ankara’s involvement.

Since the agreement came to light, there has been heavy speculation about the three countries forming a strong alliance.

The deal was initially reported as a trilateral pact. … continue

Iran riots 2026: How the Erfan Soltani “execution” story went viral – and fell apart

By Yousef Ramazani | Press TV | February 3, 2026

The release on bail of Erfan Soltani, an Iranian national detained during recent riots in the country, on Sunday did more than conclude a domestic legal episode.

It also dismantled a carefully constructed and extremely flawed international narrative that, for weeks, had weaponized misinformation to portray his “execution” as an imminent certainty.

In mid-January 2026, a wave of alarming headlines rippled across global media, claiming without evidence that Iran was preparing to execute a young man named Erfan Soltani.

Major outlets – including the BBC, Euronews, The Guardian, and Sky News – reported his supposed “sentence” as fact, citing scandalous Western-based “human rights groups,” and triggering diplomatic warnings and an avalanche of political reactions.

“Iran set to execute protester days after arrest as Tehran speeds up death sentences,” declared Euronews. ABC News ran with: “Relative speaks out on plight of arrested Iranian protester Erfan Soltani, who had faced execution.” The Hill asked: “Who is Erfan Soltani, Iranian protester Trump mentioned facing execution?”

As the initial fog of propaganda began to lift, the narrative quietly shifted. The Guardian, which had earlier warned of Soltani’s “imminent execution,” later revised its framing: “Execution of condemned Iranian protester postponed, family told.” The BBC followed suit with: “Who is Erfan Soltani, Iranian protester who reportedly had execution postponed?”

The storyline consistently casts Iran’s judiciary as carrying out summary executions – a familiar script deployed in previous cycles of engineered unrest.

Yet on February 1, Soltani was released on bail. His case remains open, but without any death sentence outcome, Iranian judicial authorities had already signaled weeks earlier.

For charges against him, the provision of execution does not exist; they had made it clear.

The stark gap between the initial global coverage and the eventual reality revealed more than a routine correction. It exposed a complex ecosystem in which unverified activist claims, geopolitical pressure, and coordinated digital disinformation converged to shape a predetermined narrative against the Islamic Republic.

This investigation traces how the story was constructed, amplified, and sustained amid foreign-backed riots across Iran. It focuses in particular on the systematic manipulation of Wikipedia by a network of accounts linked to the exiled Mujahedin-e Khalq (MKO) cult, designated as a terrorist organization.

It also shows how contemporary information warfare is waged not only through headlines and breaking news, but through the quiet, strategic curation of what is presented as the world’s most trusted knowledge repository. … continue

‘No nuclear program, no ballistic missiles, no support for resistance’: Israel sets red lines ahead of Iran–US talks

The Cradle | February 3, 2026

Israel is pushing the US to maintain the “three no’s” in upcoming talks with Iran, Israeli media reported – referring to the demand that Tehran end enrichment and give up its nuclear program, end its ballistic missile program, and halt support for resistance groups in the region.

“Israel is expected to call for the US to uphold ‘three no’s’ during the talks with Iran. These demands are that under any deal with the US, Iran agree to have no nuclear program, no ballistic missile program, and to give no support to armed proxy groups,” the Times of Israel said.

The report says the message will be delivered during a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ahead of US envoy Steve Witkoff’s expected engagement later this week with Iran’s top diplomat.

According to Israel’s Channel 12, the chiefs of Mossad and the Israeli army will be present at the meeting, as well as other security officials.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has announced that Tehran has agreed to hold a round of nuclear talks with Washington – in an effort to de-escalate tensions – on the condition that threats be halted and that “fair and equitable” negotiations take place.

“I have instructed my Minister of Foreign Affairs, provided that a suitable environment exists – one free from threats and unreasonable expectations – to pursue fair and equitable negotiations, guided by the principles of dignity, prudence, and expediency,” he said.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi will meet Witkoff in Ankara on Friday.

Despite agreeing to hold talks, Tehran has categorically refused to capitulate to the “three no’s” demand. … continue

Showdown

By William Schryver – imetatronink – February 2, 2026

For several years now I have been making the argument that, because American military power is so widely dispersed and diluted across the planet, the only way the United States could concentrate sufficient forces to prosecute a war against one of its three major power adversaries (Russia, China, and Iran) would be to significantly deplete its force posture relative to the other two.

That is precisely what has been happening over the course of the past few weeks in relation to the military buildup in the Persian Gulf region, in apparent preparation to launch an air campaign against Iran.

Now, granted, as I wrote yesterday, the force the US is concentrating in the Middle East via an aggressive heavy airlift operation is not sufficiently potent to sustain more than about two weeks of high-intensity war against Iran. US stockpiles of precision-guided weaponry are simply too limited to allow for a more protracted campaign.

Nor do I believe the US has the logistical and maintenance capacity to keep a large percentage of its fleet of aging aircraft air-worthy for more than about two weeks — especially when there will very likely be Iranian missiles raining down on all the US bases in the region.

And therefore, if Iran proves capable of turning it into even a month-long regional war of attrition, there is no way I can see the US being able to sustain its sortie rate, nor to tolerate the losses of men and equipment it would inevitably incur. … continue

US and European forces could deploy to Ukraine under Zelensky plan – FT

RT | February 3, 2026

Kiev and its Western backers have drawn up a plan that envisages military forces from the US and European countries moving into Ukraine to fight Russian troops in the event that Moscow violates the ceasefire being demanded by Vladimir Zelensky, the Financial Times has reported, citing sources.

Russian officials, including President Vladimir Putin, have repeatedly rejected the idea of a ceasefire as a precursor to a peace deal, saying it would only be used by Kiev and its sponsors to rearm and regroup forces. Instead, Moscow has insisted that the conflict needs a permanent peace solution which addresses its root causes. Russia has also categorically ruled out the deployment of Western forces to Ukraine during or after the crisis. … continue

Three killed by Ukrainian artillery strike on Russian city – governor

RT | February 3, 2026

A Ukrainian artillery strike on the city of Novaya Kakhovka in Russia’s Kherson Region has left three civilians dead, including a local administration employee, and several others injured, Governor Vladimir Saldo reported on Tuesday.

The attack took place earlier in the day and targeted civilian infrastructure, hitting a grocery store and a multifunctional public service center, Saldo wrote on Telegram, denouncing the strike as “yet another war crime by the Kiev regime.”

“They are targeting civilians, those who simply live and work. The Ukrainian Armed Forces are murderers who stop at nothing,” the governor said, noting that the attack comes amid Kiev’s “loud declarations of ‘readiness for peace.’”

Saldo added that emergency services are working at the scene of the attack and that the families of the victims and the injured will receive full assistance. … Full article