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Current News and Analysis

West Bank is Defenseless – This is Why Israeli Settler Attacks Continue

By Robert Inlakesh | Palestine Chronicle | April 24, 2026

A string of high-profile settler attacks on villages across the occupied West Bank is part of a trend of ever-escalating assaults aimed at ethnically cleansing the territory. These extremists, backed by the Israeli army, are emboldened by the refusal of the Palestinian Authority to act.

Earlier this week, an Israeli settler assault on a school in the village of al-Mughayyer, near Ramallah, resulted in the killing of a 14-year-old school boy, Aws al-Naasan, along with 32-year-old Jihad Abu Naim, who had attempted to come to the aid of the children who had been opened fire upon. The incident caused an uproar, yet only a day later, another Palestinian man was executed by a settler in the village of Deir Dibwan, after which the Israeli military rounded up dozens of men and placed them under humiliating detention.

These assaults and ongoing series of pogroms, where settlers alongside their army comrades will burn down homes, businesses, and vehicles, are part of a larger effort aimed at ethnic cleansing.

Since October of 2023, at least 75 Palestinian villages and communities have been partially or completely ethnically cleansed, according to the latest statistics published by Israeli rights group B’tselem. Life in general has been greatly impacted throughout the occupied West Bank as a result of the ultra-emboldened settler violence problem.

However, there is a deeper-rooted issue at play here. … continue

Nablus: Settlers Assault a Palestinian Man, Damage Vehicles

IMEMC | April 24, 2026

Illegal Israeli colonizers injured a Palestinian man on Thursday while he was working on his land in the village of Orif, south of Nablus in the northern occupied West Bank. In the town of Madama, settlers damaged citizens’ property, while clashes erupted after colonizers stormed the village of Jalud, south of Nablus.

Israeli colonizers attacked a citizen while he was working on his land and fired live rounds after storming the village of Orif on Thursday evening.

Media sources reported that the citizen Abdul Fattah Al-Safadi suffered injuries to his face and head after a group of armed settlers assaulted him on his land. The invading settlers opened fire with live rounds; no further injuries were reported.

Meanwhile, a group of colonizers stormed the village of Jalud, south of Nablus, on Thursday night, sparking protests from local Palestinians. … Full article

Two Palestinians killed, several injured in Israeli attack on police post

Palestinian Information Center – April 24, 2026

GAZA – At least two civilians were killed and others injured on Friday after Israeli forces targeted a group of people in the Sheikh Radwan area, west of Gaza City.

Local sources said an Israeli drone struck a police post in the Sheikh Radwan neighborhood, killing two people and injuring several others.

The Ministry of Interior confirmed that Israeli aircraft targeted a police patrol near the Sheikh Radwan Police Station in northwest Gaza City, leading to multiple fatalities and injuries.

In a separate incident, a young girl was wounded by Israeli gunfire early Friday in the town of Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip, as ceasefire violations continue.

The Northern Gaza Medical Services Directorate said in a statement that its teams transferred a 10-year-old girl in critical condition to Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City after gunfire targeted residents and displaced people in the Beit Lahia Project area.

Eyewitnesses reported that the girl was shot in the head while inside Khalifa School, which is sheltering displaced families. … Full article

Systematic Israeli targeting of Gaza police seen as deliberate prelude to chaos

Palestinian Information Center – April 24, 2026

GAZA – The Gaza Center for Human Rights has strongly condemned the escalating targeting of police and security personnel in the Gaza Strip by Israeli forces, describing it as part of a recurring pattern aimed at weakening the structure of public order and creating conditions conducive to chaos and lawlessness. This, the Center warned, facilitates the movement of collaborators and armed gangs at the expense of civilian safety and security. … continue

Netanyahu destabilizing region, US hindering talks: Pakistani official

Al Mayadeen | April 24, 2026

In an exclusive interview with Al Mayadeen, former Pakistani Information Minister and Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed highlighted Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts in facilitating indirect and direct communication between Iran and the United States, describing the process as a rare breakthrough in regional diplomacy.

Sayed stated that Pakistan “achieved something close to the impossible” in the initial round of discussions by helping bring Iranian and US representatives to the same table. He emphasized that the significance of the effort lay in “bringing the Iranian and American sides into the same room,” describing it as a notable diplomatic achievement.

According to Sayed, expectations remain high for a second round of talks between Tehran and Washington, though he stressed that such progress depends on the lifting of the US naval blockade on Iran.

He also told Al Mayadeen that the continuation of dialogue is contingent on a shift in US policy, adding that Pakistan remains in active contact with both Tehran and Washington. He also noted that communication channels include engagement with Pakistan’s military leadership, which has played a facilitating role. … continue

Iran FM to hold no talks with Americans in Islamabad; US media lied again: Report

Press TV – April 24, 2026

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi will not hold any talks with US officials during his underway visit to the Pakistani capital Islamabad, despite CNN’s claiming otherwise, a report says.

On Friday, Tasnim News Agency rebuffed a report published earlier by the network concerning the top diplomat’s visit to the city, which is to be followed by trips to the Omani capital Muscat and the Russian capital Moscow.

CNN claimed that Donald Trump intended to send regional envoy Steve Witkoff as well as the US president’s son-in-law and advisor Jared Kushner to Pakistan for “negotiations with Araghchi.”

Commenting on the report, Tasnim wrote, “This is despite the fact that, at present, no negotiations with the Americans are on the agenda at all, and Mr. Araghchi’s trip to Islamabad is not for talks with the United States.” … continue

When It Comes to Using Proxies, The US Far Surpasses Iran as a Sponsor of Terrorism

By Larry C. Johnson | SONAR21 | April 24, 2026 

I have previously addressed the lie that Iran is the number one sponsor of terrorism. Now I want to look specifically at the question of how many Americans, both civilian and military, have been killed by proxies who have received assistance from Iran. I will flip the script… How many Iranians, civilian and military, have been killed by US proxies? The numbers are staggering. US proxies have killed almost 28,000 times the number of Iranians than Iranian proxies have killed Americans. These numbers come primarily from US Department of Justice indictments, State Department reports, American Jewish Committee (AJC), and compiled victim databases. … continue

Hidden history: How Mossad infiltrated Italy

By Kit Klarenberg | Al Mayadeen | April 24, 2026

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s April 13th announcement that Rome will suspend a longstanding defense agreement with “Israel” sent shockwaves throughout Europe. Historically, Italian governments – even when led by figures who abhor Zionism – have enjoyed constructive, close ties with Tel Aviv. Mossad and Rome’s security, intelligence, and military apparatus also have a long-running clandestine relationship. In fact, the entity’s putrid overseas spying, assassination, and sabotage nexus was effectively born in Italy and has wreaked havoc in the country ever since.

Details of how Zionist spies secured a firm foothold in Italy are provided in a fascinating paper by academic Massimiliano Fiore. Drawing on archival sources, he “traces the evolution of Israeli clandestine activity” in Rome, demonstrating how Zionist intelligence connivances were waged in and against the country even before the entity’s May 1948 founding and throughout the war of erasure against Palestine that subsequently erupted. Several case studies map how Mossad’s criminality evolved over time, growing ever bolder, while informing how the agency operates globally today. … continue

Promises, pressure, pullout: Why US nuclear talks with Iran were never about a deal

By Mohammad Molaei | Press TV | April 24, 2026

For over two decades, US-Iran nuclear negotiations have been wrapped in secrecy and sold as a mechanism for reducing tensions. Yet a closer examination reveals a far different reality.

Negotiations were never intended to deliver a just or lasting solution. As the evidence suggests, they were simply a tool, a mechanism for the United States to maintain pressure on Iran while preserving the facade of diplomacy.

From the early 2000s through the signing of the nuclear deal in 2015 and its eventual unraveling three years later, the nuclear negotiation process has been defined by a single, consistent reality: the United States has never been a trustworthy or reliable partner at the table, and the negotiations have never produced the outcomes that were initially expected. … continue

Middle East Conflict Already Deprived World of 15% of LNG Supplies Through 2030 – IEA

Sputnik – 24.04.2026

The conflict in the Middle East has deprived the world of approximately 120 billion cubic meters (bcm) of total liquefied natural gas (LNG) supplies between 2026 and 2030, accounting for about 15% of expected global supplies during that period, according to a report by the International Energy Agency (IEA) out on Friday. … Full article

Somalia bans Israeli-linked vessels from Bab al-Mandab Strait

The Cradle | April 24, 2026

The Somali government announced on 22 April that it will impose a ban on Israeli shipping passing through the Bab al-Mandab Strait, framing the move as a response to Tel Aviv’s recognition of the breakaway Republic of Somaliland.

The announcement was made by Somalia’s ambassador to Ethiopia and the African Union, Abdullah Warfa.

He warned that violations of his country’s sovereignty “would not be tolerated.” … continue

‘Profound moral failure’: Iran denounces US endorsement of assassinations amid fragile ceasefire

Press TV – April 24, 2026

Iran says the United States has turned into a state sponsor of terrorism after President Donald Trump endorsed a Washington Post op-ed that called for the assassination of Iranian leaders.

The op-ed by Marc Thiessen suggested giving Iran’s government a 72-hour ultimatum before ending the current ceasefire, resuming attacks, and “killing the ones who don’t want a deal.”

“The United States, which once presented itself as a cradle of democracy, freedom, and human values, now appears to become a promoter of terrorism, murder, and mass violence,” Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei wrote on X on Thursday.

“What should one call this, if not a profound moral failure?” he asked. … continue

US Embassy in Ukraine Paid $40M to Firm That Recruited Former Child Soldiers

Sputnik – 24.04.2026

The US Department of State spent $39.7 million on Aegis Defense Services, a firm with a documented history of recruiting former child soldiers from Sierra Leone to reduce labor costs during the Iraq War.

The contract for professional security services at the US Embassy in Kiev was signed on October 31, 2022, months after the start of the Ukrainian conflict. While approximately $39.7 million has been spent to date, the total potential value of the agreement reaches $279.1 million, with a performance period that extends through May 13, 2033, according to a Sputnik correspondent’s analysis of public contract records from the official US government portals Sam.gov and USAspending.gov.

The award comes despite a history of ethical controversies surrounding the firm’s recruitment practices. A 2016 report by The Guardian cited a former senior director at Aegis Defense Services who acknowledged that the company had recruited mercenaries from Sierra Leone for operations in Iraq in order to reduce costs for the US presence there. The director admitted the firm had not screened recruits to determine if they were former child soldiers, defending the practice by claiming that excluding such individuals would penalize them for actions they were forced to commit as children.

Aegis Defense Services was acquired by Canadian security company GardaWorld in 2015 and now operates as GardaWorld Federal Services LLC. While the company has rebranded, both names are still used across US government systems and the entities share the same Unique Entity ID.

According to the contract records, the Kiev agreement is part of a much larger institutional relationship. The firm holds a massive global mandate under a Worldwide Protective Services III umbrella contract with a combined potential award value of $1.6 billion. This broader agreement includes high-value task orders for embassy security in other volatile regions, including a $387.3 million contract for the US Embassy in Baghdad and additional services in the Central African Republic.

Over 8,000 Russian Civilians Killed by Ukraine Since February 2022 – Ambassador Miroshnik

Sputnik – 24.04.2026

MOSCOW – More than 8,000 Russian civilians have been killed and almost 20,000 have been injured in attacks by the Ukrainian armed forces since February 2022, Rodion Miroshnik, the Russian Foreign Ministry’s special envoy for crimes of the Kiev regime, said on Friday.

“The total number of injured civilians from the actions of Kiev’s armed formations since February 2022 has already reached 27,872 people, of whom more than 8,000 were killed, more precisely 8,012 people,” Miroshnik told reporters.

At least 1,725 civilians have been injured as a result of attacks by the Ukrainian armed forces in the first 90 days of 2026, the ambassador said.

Additionally, since February 2022, the Ukrainian armed forces have fired more than 400,000 rounds of ammunition at civilian targets in Russia and more than 43,000 in the first three months of 2026, Miroshnik said.

Ukrainian Drone Attacks Cause Oil Spill in Black Sea

teleSUR | April 24, 2026

On Friday, Russian authorities confirmed a new oil spill in the Black Sea caused by Ukrainian drone attacks on a crude oil export port terminal.

The spill occurred following attacks on March 16 and 20 at the port of Tuapse, in the southern Krasnodar region, one of the main targets of the Ukrainian military in recent weeks.

The oil slick reached the sea from the Tuapse River, overcoming floating containment barriers due to heavy rains that raised the river’s water level.

Dozens of people are involved in cleanup operations, using special equipment to collect crude oil that has also reached the shore.

Emergency services were only able to extinguish last night the fire that broke out four days ago at the Tuapse refinery.

On April 20, Krasnodar authorities reported that Ukraine had caused oil spills through attacks on petro-gas and port infrastructure. … Full article

London cuts funding for unit tasked with documenting Israeli war crimes in Palestine, Lebanon

The Cradle | April 24, 2026

The UK Foreign Office unit tasked with documenting violations of international law by Israel in Palestine and Lebanon has been closed because of funding cuts, The Guardian reported on 24 April.

The decision to shut the international humanitarian law (IHL) cell follows a review by Olly Robbins, the permanent secretary at the Foreign Office. Robbins was dismissed last week following the security vetting controversy regarding Lord Mandelson’s appointment as UK ambassador to the US.

The decision also means funding will be cut for the Conflict and Security Monitoring Project run by the Center for Information Resilience (CIR), and the project will be shut down.

The center had been conducting the world’s largest open-source monitoring of human rights violations and conflict incidents in Israel, the occupied Palestinian territories, and Lebanon.

The closure of the Conflict and Security Monitoring project means that the Foreign Office will lose access to a database of 26,000 verified incidents dating back to 7 October 2023, the start of Israel’s Genocide of Palestinians in Gaza.

The database is used by the Foreign Office to decide whether arms export control licenses to Israel should remain suspended and to determine whether principles of international humanitarian law, such as proportionality, are being violated by Israel. … Full article

ELNET taking UK journalists on secret pro-‘Israel’ propaganda tours

Al Mayadeen | April 24, 2026

A lobbying organization, ELNET, has been quietly arranging trips to “Israel” for British journalists and retired military personnel, according to an investigation published by Declassified. The tours coincide with the Israeli military’s ongoing campaign that has killed over 259 Palestinian and Lebanese journalists since 2023. … continue

Israeli man arrested for wearing kippah with Palestinian flag

RT | April 24, 2026

A lecturer at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem has said that he was detained by police for wearing a kippah with the Israeli and Palestinian flags on it.

Alex Sinclair said in a post on Facebook on Thursday that he had been sporting the kippah for 20 years due to “a messy ambivalence of my Jewish-Zionist identity” and it was never a problem.

But a few days ago, a man approached him at a cafe in his hometown of Modi’in in central Israel, telling him that his skullcap was illegal and that he was going to call the police, he wrote.

Officers arrived some five minutes later. “They immediately tell me that my kippah is against the law and that they are going to confiscate it,” Sinclair recalled.

The lecturer said he refused to give up his head covering as it “meant so much” to him and he ended up being detained. He was swiftly released, but the police tried holding on to the kippah.

When he demanded it back, a female officer returned it to him only after cutting the Palestinian flag out of the head covering, the educator wrote. The symbol is not illegal under Israeli law. … Full article

Venezuela aggression, Maduro capture, boat strikes cost US hefty $4.7B

Al Mayadeen | April 24, 2026

The US Department of War will not disclose the price tag of its wars in the Western Hemisphere, but a new analysis by Brown University’s Costs of War Project, provided exclusively to The Intercept, offers the first window into the ballooning costs. By the most cautious estimate, the US military’s aggression on Venezuela and attacks on boats in the Caribbean and the Eastern Pacific have already cost taxpayers at least $4.7 billion.

The Costs of War analysis is the most comprehensive accounting of US air, naval, and Special Operations expenses used in the two campaigns between August 1, 2025, and March 31, 2026. The need for such an estimate stems from the refusal of the Department of War to provide a tally of costs to lawmakers or The Intercept.

The researchers behind the estimate say it is almost assuredly an undercount. “Operations do not have a clear end date and are actively expanding. They carry significant human, financial, and strategic costs and risk,” wrote authors Hanna Homestead and Jennifer Kavanagh.

The naval deployment, which comprised the largest concentration of US ships in the region since the Cuban missile crisis of 1962, constituted the single largest expense at an estimated $3.8 billion. Costs of War puts the daily operating costs of these ships at around $9 million per day.

The steep naval expenditures are followed by at least $616 million spent on the deployment of aircraft, including P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft, F-35A Lightning II fighters, and MQ-9 Reaper drones used in both operations. The continuing daily cost of operating at least 20 aircraft that remain deployed in the region is $2.6 million.

Under “Operation Southern Spear,” the US military has conducted 53 attacks on alleged drug boats since September 2025, killing more than 180 civilians. The latest strike, on April 19 in the Caribbean, killed three people. The Trump administration claims its victims are members of cartels and criminal gangs but refuses to name them.

Experts in the laws of war and members of Congress from both parties say the strikes are illegal extrajudicial killings because the military is not permitted to deliberately target civilians, even suspected criminals, who do not pose an imminent threat of violence.

The summary executions are a significant departure from standard practice in the long-running US war on drugs, in which law enforcement agencies arrested suspected drug smugglers.

The Costs of War analysis puts the price tag of the munitions employed in these attacks on boats at between $12.5 million and $50 million, the range owing to the lack of transparency surrounding the strikes. The report notes that the individual cost of armaments used in each strike may top $1 million.

Beyond expenses captured under “Southern Spear”, ancillary costs of “Operation Absolute Resolve,” a large-scale air campaign and the abduction of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, top $206 million.

This includes the deployment of at least 150 aircraft along with precision munitions, such as Tomahawk cruise missiles and JASSM-ER missiles. […]

Trump has said he expects the US to be running Venezuela for years. The Intercept previously reported that Department of War procurement documents indicate the US plans to maintain a massive military presence in the Caribbean until late 2028.

“Much of the military forward presence involved in these operations appears to now have become the ‘steady state,’ that is, it is likely to remain in the region for the foreseeable future,” said Kavanagh. “This means that the costs will continue to accumulate.” … Full article

Dutch riot police beat demonstrators protesting new asylum center in brutal crackdown, one victim left unconscious

Videos show riot police beating children and defenseless protesters

Remix News | April 23, 2026

For three consecutive nights, locals in the Dutch city of Loosdrecht have protested against a proposed asylum seekers’ center, resulting in serious police violence targeting the protesters with baton charges, which left at least one protester unconscious on the pavement, which was caught on film.

The North Holland police response resulted in at least two arrests and left one officer injured, according to the municipality of Wijdemeren. Protesters are fighting against the arrival of 110 asylum seekers in their small town of approximately 8,000 people. However, scenes of violence involving riot police have spread across social media. Former MEP Robert Roos condemned the police violence, writing on X:

“A baton may only be used in cases of necessity, proportionately, and aimed at less vulnerable areas (arms/legs). Striking someone until they are unconscious raises serious questions: was there really acute danger, or has the boundary been crossed here?”

“Also highly concerning, someone who is unconscious should be placed in the stable side position to prevent suffocation. Why does the police just leave him lying there?”

Full article

The Surveillance Accountability Act Demands Warrants for Data

By Dan Frieth | Reclaim The Net | April 23, 2026

Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) and Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) have introduced the Surveillance Accountability Act, a bill that feels like someone took the Fourth Amendment and actually meant it.

The legislation aims “to ensure that all searches that significantly impinge on the privacy or security of a person require a warrant based on probable cause” and to create “a right of action for violations of Fourth Amendment rights.” That covers the kinds of searches federal agencies currently conduct without judicial oversight: pulling your financial records from banks, requesting your browsing history from ISPs, buying your location data from brokers, and harvesting your biometric information from surveillance cameras.

The bill lands in the middle of a brutal Congressional fight over FISA Section 702, the surveillance authority that currently lets the FBI search Americans’ communications.

The new legislation goes much further than the various reform bills circulating around that debate. Where the SAFE Act and the Government Surveillance Reform Act target specific loopholes in FISA, the Surveillance Accountability Act tries to close all of them at once by rewriting the baseline rule: if the government wants your data, it needs a judge’s permission. … continue

#FreeYousofAzizi: Petition launched to seek release of Iranian academic, anti-war activist detained in US

Press TV – April 23, 2026

A petition has been launched calling for the release of Yousof Azizi, an Iranian researcher, journalist, political analyst, and PhD candidate at Virginia Tech, who has been detained by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) despite holding valid legal status.

According to a website launched by his supporters, Azizi was taken into custody in front of his home in Maryland on April 13 and denied access to a lawyer. … continue

US-Israeli terrorist war damaged 150 Iranian historical, cultural sites: Ministry

Press TV – April 23, 2026

Iran’s Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts says US-Israeli terrorist attacks have so far caused damage to 149 historical and cultural monuments across 20 provinces.

The damaged sites include five registered on the World Heritage Sites list, seven historical structures and 54 museums, it added on Thursday.

Latest assessments show that Tehran, Isfahan, and Kurdistan provinces had the highest number of damaged historical monuments with 70, 27, and 13 monuments, respectively.

Khuzestan, Kermanshah, Lorestan, and Qom were the other provinces that suffered the most damage from the aggression, with 12, 5, 4, and 3 monuments, respectively. … Full article

Confusion, delusion, and how Israel drives the Iran War

By Jamal Kanj | MEMO | April 23, 2026

The closure of the Strait of Hormuz following the temporary ceasefire is the culmination of an American policy defined by strategic incoherence. At the center stands Donald Trump, whose shifting positions, confused war objectives, and conflicting actions have not only failed to ease regional tensions but have actively deepened them.

Nowhere is this clearer than in Trump’s threats to blow up the whole country, including its bridges and power plants. At the same time, he touted a military “big day,” presenting potential war crimes as diplomatic tool, aggression as diplomacy, and destruction as leverage.

Trump’s inflated, almost delusional, promises ahead of potential talks come across less as statesmanship and more as a calculated sales pitch to the American public. His vows “to end up with a great deal,” coupled with an almost obsessive focus on Barack Obama by insisting his agreement will be “far better” than the one negotiated over a decade ago. An approach that reflects a tendency toward messaging driven less by policy depth and more by projection, comparison, and to frame outcomes in terms of self-aggrandizement and personal glory.

Instead of articulating clear strategic objectives, his policy relies on distinguishing himself and image cultivation to project authority and superiority, leaving the underlying substance vague and open to question. … continue

Iran’s Red Crescent: US-pirated ship carried vital kidney dialysis supplies

Press TV – April 23, 2026

The Iranian Red Crescent Society says a commercial vessel pirated by US forces near Iran’s coastline in the Sea of Oman was carrying vital raw materials needed to produce medical supplies for kidney dialysis patients, warning that disruption of the shipment could threaten lives.

The US forces targeted the vessel on Sunday in a blatant act of piracy, boarding the ship and disabling its navigation systems.

The supplies belong to Saha Medical Equipment Company, a subsidiary of the Iranian Red Crescent, the organization said in a statement on Thursday.

Part of the ship’s cargo, it said, consisted of raw materials required to produce consumable medical supplies for dialysis patients.

“Any disruption in the supply of these critical items could directly threaten the health and lives of patients in need of dialysis services,” the Red Crescent warned.

The Red Crescent added that the US action, which it said created threats and intimidation and endangered the lives of civilian crew members, contradicted fundamental principles of humanitarian law, including the principles of distinction and precaution in military operations.

It said the act could violate international obligations regarding the maintenance of peace and stability and could be examined as an instance of unlawful use of force under UN General Assembly Resolution 3314 (1974). … Full article

Germans turned into ‘cash cows’ for Ukraine – veteran politician

RT | April 23, 2026

Veteran German politician Sahra Wagenknecht has lashed out at Chancellor Friedrich Merz after a €90 billion ($106 billion) emergency loan to Ukraine, which Berlin had been actively promoting, was approved by the bloc.

On Thursday, the European Council announced that the interest-free loan has been finalized and that it will begin disbursements “as soon as possible” in the second quarter of 2026. A day earlier, EU ambassadors agreed the transfer of funds to Vladimir Zelensky’s government, just hours after Kiev resumed the flow of Russian oil to Hungary and Slovakia via the Druzhba pipeline.

The financial package had previously been vetoed by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who rejected Ukrainian explanations about the pipeline being damaged in a Russian strike and insisted that Kiev halted oil supplies in January deliberately to influence the outcome of the election in Hungary. Orban’s Fidesz party ended up losing the April 12 vote to the pro-EU Tisza party led by Peter Magyar.

Wagenknecht took to X on Wednesday, saying: “Great! Another 90 billion for Zelensky’s corrupt cronies in Kiev – this is going to cost the German taxpayer dearly.” “Merz, who bears significant responsibility for this madness, has turned his own citizens into cash cows for Ukraine.” … Full article

70-year-olds fit enough for service – German reservist chief

RT | April 21, 2026

The upper age limit for military reservists in Germany should be raised to 70 given that people stay fit longer, Bastian Ernst, the newly elected president of the country’s Reservists’ Association, has said.

Following the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in 2022, Germany has pursued a major recruitment drive, aiming to increase Bundeswehr personnel from the current 186,000 to 260,000 active soldiers and another 200,000 reservists by the mid-2030s. […]

Late last year, another EU and NATO member state, Finland, announced that it would raise the upper age limit for rank-and-file military reservists from 50 to 65, starting in 2026.

The UK government has similarly hiked the maximum liability age for reservists from 55 to 65.

Andre Denk, the head of the European Defense Agency (EDA), suggested earlier this month that compulsory military service could be reinstated in the EU. … Full article

France and Poland to practice nuclear strikes on Russia – media

RT | April 23, 2026

France and Poland are preparing joint military exercises simulating conventional and nuclear strikes on Russia and Belarus, according to Polish media. Moscow has claimed that NATO will practice the blockade and seizure of Russia’s Kaliningrad Region at the same time.

The Wirtualna Polska (WP) news outlet reported on Thursday, citing sources within the military, that the nuclear drills are set to take place “soon” over the Baltic Sea and northern Poland, and are meant to develop a “Polish-French military arm… outside of NATO bureaucracy” to deter supposed Russian aggression. […]

Meanwhile, the Finnish parliament took up a bill to allow the import and storage of nuclear weapons on the country’s territory. The move would overturn legal barriers that had banned such devices in the country since the 1980s.

Moscow has warned that any deployment of nuclear weapons in Finland would be a direct threat to Russia and would trigger retaliatory measures. … Full article

US suspends arms deliveries to NATO ally Estonia as war on Iran draining US arsenal

Press TV – April 23, 2026

The United States has suspended arms deliveries to NATO ally Estonia as its aggression on Iran has put a major strain on US weapons stockpiles.

‎Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur announced the news on Tuesday, saying that his American counterpart Pete Hegseth had told him in a phone call that the US would be suspending all arms deliveries to the Baltic state.

‎According to Pevkur, Washington will no longer ship HIMARS light multiple rocket launcher ammunition and Javelin missiles to its NATO ally, which borders Russia.

‎The US, in collaboration with Israel, waged an unprovoked war of aggression against Iran on February 28. … Full article

US launches air bridge to restock Israeli air force munitions – Hebrew sources

 MEMO | April 23, 2026

Hebrew media reported on Wednesday that the United States has set up an air bridge to replenish Israeli Air Force stockpiles with munitions, in preparation for a possible renewal of war with Iran.

Channel 12 previously cited sources as saying Washington had informed Israel that US President Donald Trump had set next Sunday as a deadline for negotiations with Iran.

According to the report, Trump did not formally announce such a date, but Israeli officials understood this to be the timeline following updates received from the Americans.

The channel added that this period would allow a third US aircraft carrier to reach the region.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to hold further discussions on Thursday to complete preparations on both the defensive and offensive fronts.

Palestinian teen killed by IOF gunfire in Nablus

Palestinian Information Center – April 23, 2026

NABLUS – A Palestinian teenager was martyred on Thursday after being shot by the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) during a raid in Nablus City.

According to eyewitnesses, as IOF vehicles withdrawing from the western side of Nablus, specifically in the Beit Wazan area, they opened fire directly at the boy while he was near a road, critically injuring him in the upper part of his body.

The boy, identified as 15-year-old Yousef Shtayyeh, was immediately rushed to one of the city’s hospitals, where doctors attempted to save his life, but he was later pronounced dead from his injury. … Full article

Three children among fatalities in fresh Israeli strike on northern Gaza

Press TV – April 23, 2026

‎‎At least five people, including three children were killed in the northern side of the war-ravaged Gaza Strip after an Israeli airstrike struck a group of civilians.

‎Gaza’s civil defense agency announced in a statement on Wednesday that the Israeli aerial attack targeted several individuals near al-Qassam Mosque in the city of Beit Lahia. It added that their bodies were taken to al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City.

‎The agency, however, did not provide any information on how old the children were.

‎The Gaza Health Ministry announced that the death toll in the Gaza Strip has reached 72,562 people amid ongoing Israeli attacks since October 7, 2023.

‎Since the announcement of a ceasefire on October 11, 2025, at least 786 people have been killed and 2,217 injured, the ministry said.

These figures, combined with earlier records from the genocide that began on October 7, 2023, bring the total number of injured individuals to 172,320. … Full article

After the ceasefire illusion: Why Gaza’s “Day After” still has no buyer?

By Dr Mustafa Fetouri | MEMO | April 23, 2026

The international community remains fixated on a phantom: Gaza’s “Day After.” While Washington, Cairo, and Doha debate elaborate governance frameworks and the “Board of Peace,” these plans share a fatal flaw—they lack a viable “buyer” on the ground.

This diplomatic theatre has been eclipsed by the US-Israeli aggression against Iran that began on 28th February. Since then, Gaza has been sidelined globally, yet the genocide—begun in October 2023—has never stopped. Even before the Iran escalation, the 10th October ceasefire was a hollow promise; Israel violated the agreement over 2,400 times through near-daily air raids and shelling. … continue

Shifting to Guerilla Warfare, Hezbollah Delivers Massive Blows to Israel

By Robert Inlakesh | Palestine Chronicle | April 22, 2026

Hezbollah has shifted to waging a guerrilla war against the Israeli occupiers in southern Lebanon, reminding Tel Aviv why it decided to withdraw from the country in the year 2000. Instead of allowing Israel to violate the ceasefire unchecked, the responses have been immediate and painful. … continue

Three martyred, others wounded in Israeli strikes on South Lebanon

Al Mayadeen | April 23, 2026

Lebanon’s Ministry of Public Health announced on Thursday that three people were martyred in an Israeli airstrike targeting the area of Shoukin in the Nabatieh district, southern Lebanon.

According to the ministry, two others were wounded in a separate artillery attack on the town of Yater in Bint Jbeil district, including a child.

Field reports indicated that an Israeli drone strike targeted a civilian vehicle on the road to Shoukin, resulting in casualties and injuries. The attack forms part of a broader escalation of Israeli aggression on Lebanon, further adding to the list of violations of the ceasefire.

Israeli artillery also carried out heavy shelling on Yater, while additional air raids targeted the town of Rshaf in the south.

In a separate development, Israeli forces reportedly conducted a large-scale demolition of houses and civilian infrastructure in the town of Shamaa, near the coastal city of Tyre, further expanding the scope of military activity in the region. … Full article

Israeli forces accused of widespread looting amid outrage over journalist killing in southern Lebanon

Palestinian Information Center – April 23, 2026

BEIRUT – Reports from Israeli media and field testimonies have revealed widespread looting by Israeli occupation forces during operations in southern Lebanon, as outrage grows over the assassination of a Lebanese journalist in the same region.

According to accounts published by the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, soldiers and officers involved in ground operations in southern Lebanon said both regular and reserve troops have been systematically looting civilian property from homes and shops. Items reportedly taken include motorcycles, televisions, artwork, furniture, and carpets.

Soldiers described the looting as widespread and routine, with both junior and senior officers aware of the practice but largely failing to stop it. Some testimonies indicated that troops openly transported stolen goods in military vehicles without attempting to conceal them. … Full article

Al-Akhbar’s Amal Khalil assassinated by Israel, left to die under rubble

The Cradle | April 23, 2026

Lebanese Civil Defense confirmed late on 23 April the death of Amal Khalil, Lebanese journalist and reporter for Al-Akhbar newspaper, who was deliberately targeted by Israel and trapped for hours under the rubble as the Lebanese government awaited permission to rescue her.

Khalil was reporting in south Lebanon’s Tayri with fellow journalist Zainab Faraj when the strikes took place.

A civilian vehicle accompanying the journalists – who were in a separate car – was first hit by an Israeli drone, killing the two people inside it.

Khalil and Faraj exited their car and took cover behind a tree upon the first strike. Contact was then made with ambulance teams and Lebanese army intelligence, yet the Red Cross was not allowed to act until receiving clearance from the US-led ceasefire monitoring mechanism.

Another drone strike hit right near the journalists’ vehicle shortly after, prompting them to shelter near a house.

About an hour later, amid reports that access to the site was being refused and that UNIFIL was asked to avoid the Haddatha–Bint Jbeil Road, a warplane hit Tayri. It was later confirmed that the house where they were sheltering was targeted.

The Red Cross was not given approval to move until 10 minutes after the Israeli warplane struck home.

Rescue workers reached and rescued Faraj, who was seriously wounded, while also retrieving the bodies of the two who were killed in the first strike.

Israeli forces fired at the rescue teams as they attempted to reach Khalil, halting search efforts, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry. … continue

Monitoring group finds UK media guilty of ‘systematic’ dehumanization of Palestinians

The Cradle | April 23, 2026

A British media monitoring group accused major UK media outlets on 23 April of “systematic” anti-Palestine bias in their coverage of Israel’s genocide of Palestinians in Gaza over the past two years.

NewsCord announced it had analyzed thousands of articles published by BBC, The Guardian, and Sky News in their coverage of Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza since 2023.

The group quantified various bias metrics, including “attribution, passive voice, source qualification, humanization, legal framing, and the reporting of documented genocidal statements by Israeli officials.”

NewsCord found systematic patterns of anti-Palestine bias in the reporting of all three news outlets. For example, the BBC names Israel as the perpetrator in just 50 percent of reports of casualties and uses passive voice, which obscures responsibility, in 80 percent of sentences reporting casualties from Israeli attacks. … continue

Wired for War: Israel’s Black Cube and the infiltration of Europe

Israeli spies-for-hire interfered in elections in Cyprus and Slovenia

RT | April 23, 2026

Political hit-jobs in Cyprus and Slovenia are just the tip of an election interference iceberg in Europe, involving a dark nexus of Israeli spies, defense chiefs, and tech companies. The threat is real, but the EU is staying silent. … continue

Trump Asks FIFA to Expel Iran From 2026 World Cup Amid US War of Aggression

RT | April 23, 2026

A US special envoy is pressuring FIFA to replace Iran with Italy at the upcoming World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the three North American nations.

Italy failed to qualify for the tournament for a third successive time after a humiliating loss to Bosnia and Herzegovina in a playoff, triggering widespread backlash at home and leading to the resignation of the head of the national football federation. […]

The proposal is impossible and inappropriate, Sports Minister Andrea Abodi told the Italian news agency La Press, stressing: “You qualify on the pitch.” Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti called the idea “shameful.” […]

Separately, media reports last week stated that Trump’s special envoy for combating anti-Semitism, Rabbi Yehuda Kaploun, warned European officials they could face travel restrictions during the World Cup in retaliation for alleged lapses in addressing the issue. … Full article

US naval blockade has disrupted but ‘not broken’ Iran’s oil exports: Kpler

Al Mayadeen | April 23, 2026

The US naval blockade of Iranian ports has disrupted the country’s oil machine, but its loading infrastructure remains intact, and cargoes are still flowing toward China, according to maritime analytics firm Kpler.

US Central Command announced overnight that American forces have redirected 31 vessels to return to port or turn around as part of the ongoing US blockade against Iran. Most of the redirected vessels were oil tankers, CENTCOM posted on X.

The US has also seized an Iranian-flagged vessel in the Gulf of Oman and boarded a sanctioned vessel in the Indian Ocean.

Despite the blockade, tankers are still positioned in Iran’s loading zones and Iranian crude continues to move toward China, Kpler data shows. The maritime analytics firm estimated the flow of crude from Iran to China to be 985,000 barrels per day in the first half of April. Since then, this flow has not been interrupted, Kpler said. … continue

Fire breaks out aboard identity-fluid $8bn USS Zumwalt

RT | April 23, 2026

Three sailors were injured after a fire broke out aboard USS Zumwalt while the stealth destroyer was sitting pierside at HII Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Mississippi, undergoing a costly modernization meant to give the ship a whole new identity. … continue

On Mass Surveillance, Will the Deep State Win Again?

By Harrison Berger | The American Conservative | April 22, 2026

… For now, Section 702 survives on a 15-day temporary extension, and the prospects for blocking a clean renewal of the government’s surveillance authorities remain uncertain. Greenwald, whose reporting alongside Snowden’s disclosures first revealed the true scope of NSA mass surveillance, frequently says that “the deep state always gets what it wants,” though he told The American Conservative that he “has been through about four of these and got [his] hopes up every time.” During a livestream last Friday, Glenn Greenwald sustained that pattern, holding up some hope that there were enough votes in Congress to stop reauthorization.

Tucker Carlson, who has covered surveillance overreach extensively on his show, seemed even more skeptical. “I doubt it,” he told The American Conservative when asked whether Trump’s push for a clean renewal could still be stopped. “He’s determined. It’s very dark.”

“Well there are a couple of clues,” he continued, pointing to the raw intelligence sharing agreement between the NSA and Israeli intelligence, first revealed by Snowden and reported by Greenwald, under which Americans’ signals intelligence data is handed over “to be used, God knows how.” He also pointed to a 2024 presentation by Rep. Mike Turner (R-OH), a security state loyalist and then-chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, in which the Congressman advocated for using Section 702 authorities against American college students protesting the war in Gaza. To his point, a “Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations,” in 2024 told Congress that FISA 702 was needed for “the safety and security of Israel.” … Read full article

Pentagon Requests Record $50Bln for Military Intelligence in 2027

Sputnik – 22.04.2026

The US Department of War said it had requested a record $50 billion for the military intelligence program in fiscal year 2027, a 49% increase compared to 2026.

“Today, the Department of War released the Military Intelligence Program (MIP) top line budget request for fiscal year 2027. The total was $50.0 billion and is aligned to strategic priorities of the Secretary of War,” the department said in a statement on Tuesday.

However, the details of the allocation of these funds remain classified for national security reasons, the statement added.

The fiscal year 2027 budget requests a nearly 50% increase in military intelligence spending compared to the current $33.6 billion and a nearly 80% increase compared to the $27.9 billion allocated in 2023, according to Pentagon budget documents.

Palantir’s Technological Republic is a blueprint for digital tyranny

The surveillance company’s unapologetically dystopian vision for the future is just 1984 updated for the AI era

By Constantin von Hoffmeister | RT | April 22, 2026

Walking through the glass-and-steel corridors of the modern tech-security apparatus reveals that the telescreen is a tireless processor of our very souls.

Palantir Technologies’ vision of a “Technological Republic” arrives as a manual for the refinement of the boot, the one destined to remain on the human face, provided the boot remains equipped with the latest predictive sensors. In the spirit of a clear-eyed look at the clock striking thirteen, we must dissect the alliance between corporate algorithmic power and the Zionist state. This is a new Newspeak, where “defense” is a moral debt and “deterrence” is the silent humming of an algorithm deciding who shall disappear. … continue

Ukrainian drone strike wrecks Russian apartment block, killing two – governor

RT | April 22, 2026

Two people were killed and at least 12 others injured when a Ukrainian drone strike led to the partial collapse of an apartment block in the city of Syzran in Russia’s Samara Region, local authorities have said.

The bodies of a woman and a child were recovered from the rubble of the four-story building, Governor Vyacheslav Fedorishchev wrote in a post on Max on Wednesday morning. Two of the injured required hospitalization, while the rest received treatment on site, he added.

“I express my sincere condolences to those who lost their loved ones. We’re seeing another inhumane criminal act against civilians,” the governor said.

The local emergencies ministry said earlier that there were at least two children among the wounded. … Full article

The Murder Of The IRIS Dena – Fist Public Testimony By The Surviving Captain And First Officer

By John Helmer | Dances With Bears | April 21, 2026

Testimony from the survivors of the Iranian frigate, IRIS Dena, attacked and sunk in a US Navy operation, led by the submarine USS Charlotte on March 4, has just been released in Iran, broadcast by an Iranian television outlet. […]

The evidence provided by the two officers indicates the Mouj-class warship did not have its regular armament of anti-ship and anti-air missiles, and torpedoes for anti-submarine combat. This was a condition of the Indian invitation for the exercise. The US Navy, which also participated in MILAN 2026, not only knew this but US air-patrol electronic surveillance of the Dena in the days before it reached Visakhapatnam on February 15 confirmed this disarmament. … Read full article

Nablus: Israeli Colonizers Burn Vehicles, Cut 150 Trees

IMEMC | April 22, 2026

A number of citizens suffered injuries on Tuesday night, after Israeli colonizers set fire to two vehicles in the village of Beit Imrin, north of Nablus. Another group of colonizers cut down 150 olive trees in the village of Al-Lubban Ash-Sharqiya, south of Nablus in the northern West Bank.

Media sources reported that a group of illegal colonizers from a nearby colonial outpost, stormed the village of Beit Imrin on Tuesday night.

The settlers set fire to two vehicles belonging to citizens and attempted to burn a home, before local residents confronted them and forced them to withdraw.

The Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) reported that its ambulance crews provided medical treatment to seven citizens, including an infant, who suffered smoke inhalation and one who sustained first-degree burns as a result of the fire.

Meanwhile, illegal colonizers stormed the village of Al-Lubban Ash-Sharqiya on Tuesday night and cut down dozens of olive trees on lands owned by Palestinian citizens.

Media sources reported that Israeli settlers cut down at least 150 olive trees in the Al-Khan and Wadi Ali areas of the village of Al-Lubban Ash-Sharqiya.

Palestinian killed in terrorist settler attack in West Bank town

Palestinian Information Center – April 22, 2026

WEST BANK – A Palestinian young man was martyred on Wednesday evening, succumbing to serious injuries from live bullets fired by armed Jewish settlers during their terrorist attack on the town of Deir Dibwan, east of Ramallah in the occupied West Bank.

According to local and medical sources, 29‑year‑old Atef Awawdeh died shortly after arriving at Palestine Hospital from wounds sustained when settlers shot him in the back in the town.

Eyewitnesses reported that a horde of armed settlers attacked the outskirts of Deir Dibwan, firing live ammunition at residents, critically wounding Awawdeh.

They added that Israeli forces closed the town’s entrance during the attack before later storming it and kidnaping at least 40 citizens.

At the same time, Israeli forces closed the road between the towns of Beitin and Deir Dibwan, northeast of Ramallah.

Yesterday, three Palestinians were killed in terrorist settler attacks in the West Bank.

Israeli-backed armed gang kidnaps 25 Palestinians in Gaza’s Zeitoun neighbourhood

MEMO | April 22, 2026

An armed gang backed by Israel has reportedly kidnapped 25 Palestinians, including women and children, in Gaza City’s Zeitoun neighbourhood.

In a statement issued yesterday, the “Deterrence” force, affiliated with the Palestinian resistance’s security forces, said that the gang attacked families in the Al-Dawla and Al-Sawafiri areas before abducting several people.

The statement added that these areas are effectively under Israeli army control, making it difficult to obtain accurate information about the identities or fate of those abducted. … continue

Israeli Drone Attack Kills Palestinian in Jabalia

IMEMC | April 22, 2026

A Palestinian man was killed, and several others were wounded, on Wednesday when an Israeli drone fired a missile at a group of residents in Jabalia town in the northern Gaza Strip.

The men had returned to what was left of their neighborhood to clear the rubble of a destroyed home. Instead, they found themselves under fire again — a scene that has become painfully familiar across Gaza despite the ceasefire announced in October.

Medical teams said the drone struck as residents were lifting debris on Old Gaza Street, killing one man, Abdul‑Jalil Jonaid, instantly and injuring several others. Family members said Abdul‑Jalil was preparing to be engaged in two days.

Ambulance crews transported the wounded to nearby hospitals, where doctors continue to work with almost no supplies, damaged equipment, and exhausting shifts that have stretched into months.

Residents told reporters that the neighborhood had already been hit several times in previous attacks. Families were trying to recover whatever belongings they could, or searching for missing relatives, when the drone fired. … Full article

Double Israeli attack on al-Tiri kills 2 people, injures journalists

Al Mayadeen | April 22, 2026

Israeli warplanes targeted a vehicle on the al-Tiri road in South Lebanon in violation of the 10-day ceasefire, Al Mayadeen’s correspondent reported on Wednesday.

According to Lebanon’s National News Agency, the Israeli attack resulted in the martyrdom of two civilians and the injury of several others.

Shortly after, our correspondent reported that al-Tiri was attacked for a second time, resulting in multiple injuries, including journalists, in a grave violation of international law. He added that Israeli occupation forces prevented the evacuation of the victims and blocked ambulances from reaching the southern town, in an attempt to inflict maximum losses.

Al Mayadeen’s correspondent also reported another airstrike on a vehicle in Yohmor al-Shqif.

Aggression continues unabated

Israeli artillery attacks, large-scale demolitions and detonations, airstrikes, and drone invasions continue despite the ceasefire and despite engagement with the Lebanese government, which claimed its efforts would halt the aggression on Lebanon. … Full article

IDF Gives Order To Fire On Civilians In Southern Lebanon

The Dissident | April 21, 2026

The Israeli paper, The Jerusalem Posthas admitted that the Israeli IDF has been given the order to slaughter any civilians attempting to return to South Lebanon.

For context, Israel has been carrying out a new Nakba in South Lebanon, with the intention of ethnically cleansing its civilian population and setting up Jewish settlements.

After forcing South Lebanon’s population to flee past the Litani River, Israel intended to create a “new northern border” in South Lebanon, as the Likud-connected journalist Amit Segal admitted.

Israeli Finance Minister, Bezalel Smotrich, said “the new Israeli border must be the Litani,” and Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said, “Israeli forces would control ‘the entire area’ from the border to the Litani River after the offensive had concluded”. … continue

No war crimes in Gaza, says Nigel Farage’s Israel tsar

Jason Pearlman is among several pro-Israel figures behind the party predicted to win big in May elections

By Martin Williams | Declassified UK | April 21, 2026

Israel has not committed a single war crime in Gaza, the head of the newly-formed Reform Friends of Israel has claimed.

Speaking to Declassified, Jason Pearlman also described the torture and abuse of Palestinian detainees held in Israeli prisons as “the minutiae of individual claims”.

Until December, Pearlman was a media adviser to Israel’s president, Isaac Herzog, who a UN commission found to have incited genocide.

Speaking from Israel, where he still lives, he told Declassified that he started a conversation with Reform about turning the party’s ‘Friends of Israel’ group into a “full-time” organisation while he was still working for Herzog.

“We did have a dinner with Nigel and some key backers,” he said. “We were able to put seed funding together.”

Pearlman refused to say who Reform Friends of Israel’s (RFOI) donors were. … continue

Nearly half of Polish citizens say Israel’s crimes against Palestinians ‘comparable to Nazi Germany’: Poll

The Cradle | April 22, 2026

A study released on 21 April by the UNESCO Chair for interdisciplinary research on antisemitism at the University of Warsaw revealed that 45 percent of Polish citizens see Israel’s actions against Palestinians as similar to Nazi Germany’s treatment of Jews.

In Poland, 45 percent of respondents agreed with the statement that “Israel’s actions against Palestinians are no different from the Nazis’ treatment of Jews.” Only 18.7 percent disagreed, while 36.2 percent said they had no clear opinion.

The research was conducted by specialists in Holocaust studies across Eastern European universities, and found similar patterns were recorded across the region, with a sizable portion of the population viewing Israel’s actions toward Palestinians as comparable to Nazi treatment of Jews.

In Austria and Germany, over 40 percent agreed with the comparison, while around 25 percent disagreed.

Slovakia also saw over 42 percent agreement, while only around 15 percent opposed the notion.

More splits in opinion were reported elsewhere, with the Czech Republic and Hungary showing roughly similar shares for both agreement and opposition, at around 30 percent.

A notable share of respondents across all surveyed countries remained undecided, which the study suggests points to the sensitivity of the issue and the growing visibility of such comparisons in public discourse. … Full article

Islamabad’s post-war push: A new Gulf security order takes shape

Regional powers are moving quickly to fill the vacuum before Washington can reassert control

By F.M. Shakil | The Cradle | April 22, 2026

… intense diplomacy is underway between Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Turkiye, and Egypt over a possible “Muslim” replacement for the US-led Gulf security architecture.

A quadripartite meeting on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum, held from 17–19 April in Turkiye, reportedly focused on lowering tensions and building a new regional security structure. Sources speaking to The Cradle say there is now broad support for an “internal security apparatus” rooted in economic integration and defense coordination.

Ankara has proposed what it describes as an “organized regional security platform” built around the idea that regional states, not outside powers, should be responsible for defending West Asia.

The urgency behind those discussions is easy to understand.

Several Arab states, particularly Saudi Arabia and Qatar, now believe that US bases in the Persian Gulf have become liabilities rather than assets. After Iranian strikes damaged or destroyed multiple US military facilities in the region, Gulf governments began to question whether the US presence protects them or simply turns them into targets.

Zahir Shah Sherazi, executive vice president of Bol News, tells The Cradle:

“Targeting the US bases and installations in the Gulf states, where American outposts were located, was a strategic and insightful military tactic of Iran that exposed the true nature of Washington. The Gulf nations came to understand that the US is unable to safeguard them, as its primary focus lies on the Zionist state and its expansionist ambitions.”

Sherazi states that the concept of a Greater Israel stems from the expansionist designs of the Zionist state, which is working on it in the West Bank, Lebanon, Gaza, and Syria under US protection. This situation, he argues, has worried the Gulf states, and even Turkiye is at risk of clashing with Israel in Syria and Lebanon.

These apprehensions led to the formation of a NATO-like force in West Asia, not to counter Iran but Israel’s expansionist designs. He says Iran may join this force after its war, making it a strong military alliance against the US and Israel. … Read full article

IRGC seizes Israeli ship, second vessel for violations in Strait of Hormuz

Press TV – April 22, 2026

The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy says it has intercepted and transferred to Iranian territorial waters two vessels for having committed violations in the Strait of Hormuz.

In a statement released on Wednesday, the IRGC identified the vessels as the MSC-Francesca, which it said belongs to the Israeli regime, and the Epaminodes.

The vessels, it said, were operating without authorization, committing repeated violations, tampering with navigation aid systems, and endangering maritime security in an attempt to exit the strait covertly. … continue

US Embargo on Iran Undermined as 34 Tankers Slip Through, Vortexa Says

Al-Manar | April 22, 2026

At least 34 oil tankers linked to Iran have managed to circumvent the US embargo imposed on the country since it took effect, according to the shipping tracking group Vortexa. Several of the vessels were carrying Iranian crude oil, contradicting President Donald Trump’s declaration that the embargo has been a “tremendous success,” the Financial Times reported.

In an interview with CNBC on Tuesday, Trump said, “The embargo has been a tremendous success,” adding that he would not lift the US embargo on the Strait of Hormuz until Washington reaches a “final agreement” with Iran.

However, Vortexa data shows that dozens of ships have bypassed the restrictions. At least 19 oil tankers linked to Iran have crossed the US blockade to leave the Gulf, while at least 15 others have entered the Gulf from the Arabian Sea heading toward Iran. At least six of the departing vessels were carrying Iranian crude oil, totaling 10.7 million barrels.

Among them was the Iranian-flagged supertanker Dorina, which evaded the embargo by switching off its transponder the device that broadcasts its location and identity. According to Vortexa, the Dorina was one of two tankers that left Iranian waters on April 17, while two other crude oil carriers transited the area on April 20. Satellite images analyzed by the Financial Times in March showed the Dorina off the coast of Malaysia conducting a ship-to-ship oil transfer; its last recorded position was off southern India on April 18.

Meanwhile, several sanctioned tankers entered the Persian Gulf from the Gulf of Oman, including the Morelicious and Alicia, both sanctioned by the United States last year. The two ships passed through the Strait of Hormuz on the night of April 14 before sailing to the northern end of the Gulf. … continue

Trump’s erratic behavior signals US deadlock: Ansarullah

Press TV – April 22, 2026

A senior member of Yemen’s Ansarullah popular resistance movement says US President Donald Trump’s erratic behavior signals his entanglement in a deadlock amid Iran’s continued successful steadfastness in the face of Washington’s demands.

Remarking on Tuesday, Nasr al-Din Amer, deputy head of Ansarullah’s Media Authority, said, “Iran’s refusal to sit at the negotiating table demonstrates its upper hand.”

He was referring to the Islamic Republic’s turning down the United States’ offer of resumption of negotiations, which saw Tehran insist that an unlawful American blockade against Iranian vessels and ports had to be lifted before the process could be re-launched.

“In contrast, the Americans’ haste to travel to Islamabad, even before Iran agreed to a new round of talks and the subsequent extension of the ceasefire, shows how deeply Trump is trapped in a deadlock,” the Yemeni official added. … continue

US nuclear official accused of leaking data on Iran, nerve agents

Al Mayadeen | April 22, 2026

A senior US Army official responsible for nuclear and chemical safety has been placed on administrative leave following the release of an undercover video exposing sensitive national security discussions. … continue