Aletho News

Israeli Occupation Forces Burn Houses in Houla Border Town, South Lebanon

Al-Manar | October 27, 2026

The Zionist occupation forces continued on Tuesday their barbaric attacks against the civilian properties in South Lebanon. In this regard, the enemy troops burned a number of Houses in Houla border town after carrying out two explosions.

The Israeli occupation forces also detonated a building in Mais Al-Jabal border town.

Moreover, the Zionist artillery targeted Wadi-Slouki area in addition to the outskirts between Haddatha and Haris.

Former Syrian soldier assassinated in Beirut following online incitement campaign

The Cradle | October 27, 2026

A young Syrian man was assassinated in Beirut, Lebanon, on 26 October, following a month-long incitement campaign led by pro-Syrian government social media influencers and media figures, the Syrian Justice Archive (SJA) reported.

Ali Alawi Aaqel, 36, from the Alawite community, was shot and killed while inside his car in the Hadath neighborhood of the Lebanese capital on Monday. His body was taken to Baabda Government Hospital.

Aaqel had been active on social media while serving as a soldier in the Syrian army during the US-backed insurgency that began in 2011.

The US and its allies supplied weapons and funding to Al-Qaeda-linked groups, including the Nusra Front and ISIS, in a bid to topple the Syrian government of Bashar al-Assad.

Aaqel stopped posting on social media around two years ago.

Last month, influencers and media figures linked to self-appointed Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa, the former Nusra leader, launched an incitement campaign against Aaqel based on his former military service during the war. The influencers and media figures circulated photos of the Aaqel in his military uniform to justify his assassination, despite there being no evidence that he committed any war crime, SJA stated.

“He was simply fulfilling mandatory military service as required by Syrian law, which applied to more than a million young men during the Syrian war, from all sects,” SJA wrote.

While speaking in social media posts as a soldier during the war, Aaqel rejected sectarian strife, called for reconciliation between sects, and affirmed that the Syrian army was fighting against extremist armed groups such as ISIS, viewed as terrorists by the international community. … Full article

The Mecca Pact Courts Iran: Containment Comes Full Circle

By Junaid S. Ahmad | MEMO | October 27, 2026

For nearly half a century, Iran’s adversaries have tried to isolate it, intimidate it, sanction it into submission and bomb it into irrelevance. Now, in a remarkable inversion of regional power politics, three countries historically invested in its containment have arrived in Tehran to discuss their security with the very state they were supposed to marginalise.

The country they could not defeat is becoming the country they cannot afford to ignore.

Yesterday, Saudi Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman, Pakistan’s army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir and Turkish intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalın met Iranian officials in an encounter whose diplomatic courtesies barely concealed its strategic significance.

The Mecca Pact, the joint defence agreement that Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan signed in Mecca in August, was supposed to consolidate a formidable Sunni-led defence alignment. Yet its representatives have come to Tehran confronting an inconvenient reality: Iran cannot be excluded from regional security merely because Washington and its partners find its independence intolerable.

Apparently, the Islamic Republic has become considerably more respectable since demonstrating that it cannot be conveniently eliminated. … continue

Oman FM: Persian Gulf states, Iran, Iraq should form security pact excluding US

Press TV – October 27, 2026

Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi has called for the formation of a non-aggression security pact involving six Persian Gulf states plus Iran and Iraq, slamming US attempts to demonize the Islamic Republic as a threat.

Speaking at Girton College, Cambridge, on Monday, Albusaidi stressed that Washington has promoted for almost half a century the false image of Tehran as a threat to the Persian Gulf states, holding back West Asia’s ability to solve its own problems.

The Omani foreign minister, speaking to break the deadlock over the region’s future, stressed that the US would no longer be the region’s primary security provider. … continue

Trump peddles fresh falsehoods, claims Iran ‘started the war’ as US aggression drags on

Press TV – October 27, 2026

US President Donald Trump has again resorted to brazen falsehoods while defending Washington’s ongoing war of aggression against the Islamic Republic of Iran, claiming Tehran initiated the war and dismissing an earlier ceasefire as a “waste of time.”

Speaking at a campaign rally in Corinth, Mississippi, on Monday, ahead of the November midterms, Trump echoed the talking points of hardline Republicans by asserting: “We didn’t start the war with Iran. Iran started the war with us.”

He further claimed the Islamic Republic had developed missiles capable of striking American cities, declaring that “they’d hit San Diego, they’d hit Los Angeles, they’d hit our cities too,” and argued that the military offensive “should’ve been done a long time ago.”

Trump’s remarks stand in stark contradiction to the established record. … continue

Chaos Sown Abroad Returns Home: Macron in the Persian Gulf amidst Firestorm at Home

By Simon Chege Ndiritu – New Eastern Outlook – October 27, 2026

… Western countries have been driving policies to restrict Russian oil exports and replace it with Israeli energy, which has backfired and resulted in the prevailing elevated fuel prices. Destruction of Russia’s energy export capacity through EU sanctions and the US bombing of Nord Stream 2 was greatly celebrated by European leaders. Radosław Sikorski, a Polish foreign minister, then a member of European Parliament, thanked the US for the bombing. Later, in February 2023, France’s delegation to the UN, despite agreeing that the Nord Stream 2 explosion appeared deliberate, rejected Russia’s request to have an independent UN investigation into the matter, in favor of probes by Germany, Denmark and Sweden, parties that were likely to be influenced by Washington. European leaders then appeared confident that restricting Russia’s energy exports would not affect their interests, while the European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, stated that the EU was developing energy cooperation with Israel to reduce dependence on Russian energy, a shift that would cause conflagration in the Middle East.

Israel’s natural gas export volume was 22 billion cubic meters (bcm), grossly insufficient to replace 155bcm imported by Europe from Russia in 2021. Therefore, the EU was willing to urge Israel to export gas from reserves belonging to Gaza and Lebanon, an attitude that may have accelerated violence later in 2023. For context, over 31 bcm had been discovered off the shores of Gaza (Gaza Marine) in 1999, but the Israeli occupation had conveniently restricted its development. Also, in October 2022, Israel and Lebanon embarked on settling their disputed maritime borders to delineate gas reserves in anticipation of high revenues from increased gas demand by the EU. These negotiations were driven by the US, which supported Israeli claims to proceeds from Lebanon’s Qana fields, using a justification of preventing war. A war occurred anyway. The US or EU are always on hand to negotiate on behalf of Israel, which they also arm to keep the Middle East under their control. EU’s hurried demand for gas provided resources and justification for Israel and the US to raze down the Middle East, ultimately causing the closure of the Straits of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandeb. … Full article

US intelligence hypes Chinese, Russian space threats while accelerating its own military buildup in orbit

By Deng Xiaoci | Global Times | October 27, 2026

Like Don Quixote tilting at windmills he mistook for menacing giants, Washington appears to be sounding the alarm over alleged threats in outer space, even as it presses ahead with its own military buildup in orbit.

In its latest assessment, released on Monday, the US Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) claimed that China could deploy space-based directed-energy weapons by the late 2020s, while also highlighting Russia’s expanding anti-satellite capabilities, according to SpaceNews.

However, the claims come even as the US itself accelerates the militarization of outer space, having already publicly acknowledged deploying weapons in orbit while advancing its ambitious Golden Dome missile defense initiative. … continue

Ukraine quagmire? Yes, but it’s for NATO, not Russia

By Finian Cunningham | Strategic Culture Foundation | October 27, 2026

Western politicians and media claim that Russia is bogged down in a Ukrainian quagmire. We are told that Russian forces are taking heavy losses, held in a stalemate by gritty Ukrainian soldiers. Nearly five years after invading, it is claimed, Russia’s military is still confined to Ukraine’s far eastern territory with little progress.

But this upbeat Western narrative is flawed and wearing thin. The NATO-backed Ukrainian regime is straining from collapse. The grinding losses on the battlefield, as disproportionate body exchanges attest, the corruption within the Kiev regime, the dredging of conscripts to include women, and the incessant pounding by Russian air strikes are exposing a state teetering on defeat.

Even U.S. President Donald Trump seems to have sobered up from drinking the Kool-Aid about Ukraine winning. He’s peeved and telling Vladimir Zelensky it’s time for him to step aside and cut a peace deal.

There is a growing foreboding sense that European NATO leaders are dreading the inevitable implosion of their “Ukraine project”. As German MEP Michael von der Schulesburg pointed out in an interview with Glenn Diesen, European politicians are increasingly uneasy that their lies about Ukraine will soon be blown wide open. There will be hell to pay for bankrupt economies and impoverished societies, all based on lies. … continue

One killed in Ukrainian strike on passenger bus – governor

RT | October 27, 2026

A Ukrainian drone strike on a passenger bus bound for Moscow has killed one person and wounded several others, according to Evgeny Balitsky, the governor of Russia’s Zaporozhye Region, where the attack took place.

The attack was reported on Tuesday morning near the town of Primorsk, on the Sea of Azov between the towns of Melitopol and Berdyansk. The area, which Ukraine claims as its territory, lies within the zone of so-called “middle strikes,” where Ukrainian forces have regularly launched drone attacks on purported Russian military and logistics targets using the Starlink satellite system for guidence.

Balitsky said 31 people were aboard the bus, which was traveling from Simferopol, the capital of the Crimean Republic, to Moscow. He said the wounded were taken to hospital, while other survivors were provided with food and accommodation.

The incident comes amid a dispute between Kiev and Elon Musk over Ukraine’s use of his Starlink satellite communications network for military purposes.

Musk has accused Ukraine of abusing Starlink for deadly “middle strike” operations, saying the system was intended as a civilian communications service rather than an offensive military tool. He contrasted it with Starshield, SpaceX’s military-oriented satellite service developed for US government customers. … Full article

Hundreds of Russian Children In Ukrainian ‘Myrotvorets’ Database – UN Envoy

Sputnik – 26.10.2026

Hundreds of underage Russians aged between two and 17 have been added to the database of the notoriously controversial Ukrainian website Myrotvorets, Russian Permanent Representative to the United Nations Vassily Nebenzia said on Monday.

“By the end of 2021, more than 300 underage Russians aged two to 17 had been added to the ‘Myrotvorets’ database. In 2025, more than a hundred minors from Russia were added to the database,” the diplomat told the UN Security Council.

The diplomat reminded that the creators of this internet resource consider those included in the lists to be “enemies of Ukraine” who are to be eliminated. He emphasized that, in addition to Russian citizens, the portal contains personal information about minors from Belarus, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Israel, Uzbekistan, Moldova, and other countries.

As an example, Nebenzia cited the story of Faina Savenkova, a resident of Lugansk, who appeared on the website in 2021 at the age of 12 after publishing an open video message to the members of the UN Security Council on Children’s Day, calling for attention to be paid to the situation of children in Donbass. … Full article

The NYPD’s New Cell Tracker Is Built for Mobility

The data is expansive, and accountability remains mostly theoretical.

By Ken Macon | Reclaim The Net | October 26, 2026

The New York Police Department (NYPD) is negotiating a three-year contract with Cognyte, an Israeli surveillance company, for a portable cell-site simulator.

The New York Daily News reported about the $750,500 sole-source deal on October 24, noting that the system, called FalcoNet, comes with “undisclosed AI capabilities that analyze people’s behaviors” – this according to the New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU)’s Daniel Schwarz. […]

In August 2026, a federal judge in Mississippi ruled that “tower dumps” – a technique used to collect data from all phones in a certain area by contacting cell phone towers – is unconstitutional.

The judge said that the technique reaches “countless individuals, the vast majority of whom were merely passing by a location at the ‘wrong’ time.”

Just weeks before that, the US Supreme Court ruled that a person “has a reasonable expectation of privacy in records about his cell phone’s location.”

A cell-site simulator is essentially a tower dump done live, on the street, and in real-time, and it is indiscriminate in that it targets every phone in a given area. The courts are only now getting around to stating the obvious – that this type of collection is unconstitutional – and yet, New York is about to acquire a faster, more portable version of it.

The police department has dropped its previous claim that cell-site simulators are not using AI, while the vendor, Cognyte, advertises that it sells behavior analysis. Nobody outside the NYPD will be told when and where the new device is switched on, and the people who will know least about it are the New Yorkers whose phones it reads. – Full article

Two Palestinians injured as Israeli settlers attack farmers and steal olive harvest in West Bank

Palestinian Information Center – October 26, 2026

WEST BANK – Two Palestinians were injured in Israeli settler attacks across the occupied West Bank on Monday, as farmers faced assaults, olive crops were stolen and settlement expansion continued on Palestinian land.

The two Palestinians sustained injuries when settlers attacked residents in Khirbet al-Kharaba, east of the town of al-Samu, south of Al-Khalil.

In the Hamroush area, east of the town of Sair, north of Al-Khalil, settlers assaulted Palestinian farmers and stole their olive harvest.

Meanwhile, southwest of Jenin, settlers attacked farmer Khaled Hamdouni in an area between Khirbet al-Makhal and Umm Rihah, near the town of Yabad.

In a related development, construction work continued at a settlement outpost established several weeks ago on land belonging to the town of Salem, east of Nablus. … Full article

Over 3,000 displaced as Israeli siege of Hebron enters fourth day

The Cradle | October 26, 2026

Over 3,000 Palestinians have been forcibly displaced from the occupied West Bank city of Hebron as a result of the brutal, ongoing siege imposed by Israel several days ago, authorities said on 26 October.

According to the Hebron Municipality, the number of displaced people has reached 3,189. This includes more than 200 infants.

Officials in the city said earlier that almost half of those displaced are babies and people under the age of 18 years.

“We left with nothing but the clothes on our backs. Our savings, belongings, and documents are all in the house. I tried to go back after I got my family out safely, but I couldn’t. It’s not safe anymore,” a Palestinian resident of Hebron told Al Jazeera on Monday.

Palestinian authorities in Hebron have declared a state of emergency in the occupied and besieged city. Officials have put together a crisis group.

Rami Khamis, a member of the group, told Al Jazeera that “philanthropists who could not bear the thought of fellow Palestinians staying in temporary shelters opened their homes to the displaced.”

The current siege and Israeli attack on Hebron, launched on 23 October after a resistance operation killed two occupation soldiers, entered its fourth day on Monday. … Full article

Palestinian ‘doctor of the poor’ released after nearly four months in Israeli detention

Press TV | October 26, 2026

Palestinian physician Mazen al-Rantisi has been released from Israel’s notorious Ofer prison after nearly four months in detention, with photographs circulated following his release showing him gaunt and bearing a prominent red wound on his forehead.

The 72-year-old, widely known as the “doctor of the poor” for providing affordable medical care to disadvantaged Palestinians, was released from the facility, widely known to be playing host to rampant torture and physical abuse of Palestinians, on Sunday.

He was detained during a pre-dawn raid on his home in Ramallah’s al-Tira neighborhood in the occupied West Bank on June 21.

Prosecutors subsequently indicted him for serving as chairman of the board of the Union of Health Work Committees, a Palestinian non-profit organization that provides medical care to thousands of Palestinians annually.

For decades, al-Rantisi has treated low-income patients, often waiving medical fees, supplying medicines, and providing treatment free of charge. His clinic in Ramallah became a refuge for Palestinians seeking affordable healthcare and personal support. … Full article

7-year-old girl among 4 Palestinians killed in Israeli attacks in Gaza

MEMO | October 26, 2026

Four Palestinians, including a 7-year-old girl, were killed and 14 others injured in attacks by the Israeli army and Israel-backed gunmen in the Gaza Strip on Monday, amid daily violations of last year’s ceasefire agreement, a medical source said, Anadolu reports.

The source at Nasser Hospital in southern Gaza told Anadolu that the bodies of two young men and a girl were brought to the hospital following an airstrike and gunfire in the Bir 19 area west of Khan Younis.

An Israeli drone carried out several strikes on Bir 19, an area housing tents for displaced Palestinians, killing a young man and moderately injuring four others, witnesses said.

Israeli military vehicles also opened heavy fire toward the displacement tents as Israeli-backed gunmen fired in the surrounding area, killing another young man and a 7-year-old girl, who was shot while inside her tent, they added.

Another Palestinian man was killed and four others were injured in an Israeli strike west of Khan Younis, the source said. … Full article

Israeli army sets tent camp ablaze in Gaza, displacing over 200 families

Palestinian Information Center – October 26, 2026

GAZA – The Israeli occupation army set fire on Sunday evening to a tent camp sheltering displaced families at the Shuja’iya junction east of Gaza City.

The arson attack forced more than 200 Palestinian families, comprising over 800 displaced people, to flee the camp, according to Gaza’s ministry of public works and housing.

The ministry said that Israeli quadcopters set fire to the displaced families’ camp around 8 p.m., destroying tents and belongings as the blaze raged for hours past midnight.

The ministry added that most of those affected were vulnerable groups, women, children, the elderly, and the sick, who were left without shelter after the fire destroyed their tents, compounding the already dire humanitarian conditions facing the displaced people across the Gaza Strip. … Full article

Somali regional leaders meet in UAE amid tensions with Mogadishu

Al Mayadeen | October 26, 2026

Former Somali National Intelligence and Security Agency chief and lawmaker Abdullahi Mohamed Ali, known as Sanbaloolshe, has disclosed meetings in the United Arab Emirates with leaders of three Somali regional administrations, amid reports of efforts to form a political alliance against President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s federal government.

Somali media outlets quoted Sanbaloolshe as saying the meetings brought together Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, known as Irro; Puntland President Said Abdullahi Deni; and Jubaland President Ahmed Mohamed Islam, known as Ahmed Madobe. The discussions reportedly addressed political relations and disputes with Mogadishu.

The meetings come as tensions persist between Somalia’s federal government and regional administrations over constitutional amendments, upcoming elections, and the division of powers. They also take place against the backdrop of a deepening rift between Mogadishu and Abu Dhabi, with Mohamud accusing the UAE of encouraging Somaliland’s secession from Somalia. … Full article

China, Djibouti oppose diplomatic recognition of Somaliland

Al Mayadeen | October 26, 2026

China and Djibouti have reaffirmed their support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Somalia, rejecting efforts to secure diplomatic recognition for Somaliland as an independent entity.

The position was outlined in a joint statement issued in Beijing on Sunday following talks between Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Djiboutian Foreign Minister and Minister of International Cooperation Abdoulkader Houssein Omar.

The two officials discussed strengthening bilateral relations and cooperation on regional and international issues of mutual interest. Their joint statement stressed support for Somalia’s efforts to safeguard its national sovereignty and territorial integrity, describing Somaliland as an integral part of the Federal Republic of Somalia. … Full article

Egypt authorizes military support for Saudi’s aggression against Yemen

Al Mayadeen | October 26, 2026

Egypt’s parliament authorized the military to provide support to Saudi Arabia on Monday, according to lawmakers and local media, raising the prospect of deeper Egyptian involvement in the Saudi aggression against Yemen.

President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi requested parliamentary approval last week for Egypt to assist Saudi Arabia if Riyadh sought help in confronting Yemen’s Armed Forces, which have been defending Yemen against the Saudi-led aggression since the intervention over a decade ago.

El-Sisi’s request followed a visit to Riyadh last Wednesday by Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and Egyptian General Intelligence Service chief Hassan Rashad, who delivered a message from the Egyptian president to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

In the message, el-Sisi stressed that Egyptian support would be limited to protecting Saudi territory and borders and would not extend to participating in attacks inside Yemen. Following the visit, Abdelatty said Cairo was calling for all available opportunities to be used to reach a diplomatic solution to the war in Yemen. … Full article

How US, Europe, Persian Gulf states exhausted missile stockpiles, splurged billions to defend Israel

By Arman Shariati | Press TV | October 26, 2026

Israeli regime’s airspace – the airspace over the occupied territories – is widely regarded as among the most heavily defended in the world.

Yet the scale of its protection cannot be explained by Israeli military technology alone. Russia, China and even the United States do not benefit from an equivalent network of allied support dedicated to intercepting threats before they reach their territory.

Israel’s own defenses are indeed formidable. Arrow 3 is designed to intercept ballistic missiles outside the atmosphere, while Arrow 2 targets ballistic missile threats within it. David’s Sling is built to counter medium-range threats, and Iron Dome intercepts rockets and other short-range projectiles.

These systems are backed by fighter jets and an extensive radar network, creating multiple layers of protection against incoming attacks.

But Israel’s air defense shield extends well beyond its own arsenal. From October 2023 through Iran’s retaliatory missile and drone operations in 2024, 2025 and 2026, a group of allied states has played an active role in protecting the regime.

They have provided interceptors, radar capabilities, fighter aircraft, military bases and personnel, helping the Tel Aviv regime detect, track and counter incoming threats.

What emerges is not simply a domestic air-defense network, but a wider umbrella sustained by the resources and involvement of powerful allies – from the US to Europe to Arab countries. … continue

EU facing trillion-euro debt hole while seeking more cash for Kiev

RT | October 26, 2026

The EU faces a growing budget squeeze after borrowing hundreds of billions for pandemic recovery and Ukraine. Rising repayment costs threaten future spending and rushed payouts raise fraud risks, its chief auditor has warned. Brussels is nevertheless seeking billions more for Kiev.

Speaking to Rapporteur, Tony Murphy, president of the European Court of Auditors, described the budget situation as a “pressure cooker,” with EU debt potentially reaching €1 trillion (1.12 trillion) by the end of 2027. The bloc’s debt stood at €739 billion (825 billion) in 2025, up from €601 billion ($671 billion) a year earlier.

“You have to pay it back at some time. It’s not free money,” Murphy said. He emphasized that “it’s real money that has to be paid back.”

However, concerns have repeatedly been raised about the EU getting back any of the billions it has spent on Ukraine, including its recent €90 billion ($100 billion) loan, which Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico recently slammed as “gifts” that Ukraine will “never pay back.”

Kiev is required to repay the loan only after receiving Russian reparations – something Moscow has vehemently ruled out. Ukraine’s own former Prime Minister Nikolay Azarov has also acknowledged that such scenarios are “just fairy tales” and that Brussels will never get its money back, which is being actively embezzled by Kiev. … continue

Up in arms… Koreans reject U.S. empire’s plan to make South Korea the next Ukraine

By Finian Cunningham | Strategic Culture Foundation | October 26, 2026

South Korea is rebelling against U.S. dominance. It is witnessing a formidable opposition movement against the United States’ historic control over the Asian country’s military forces.

There is also growing pressure on the South Korean government to refuse demands by U.S. President Donald Trump for Korean troops to deploy in the Persian Gulf.

A major driver of this surging opposition movement is the widely held concern that Washington is maneuvering South Korea to fight a war with China.

Political analyst KJ Noh explains that the Korean people perceive the United States as positioning their country as a proxy to fight an eventual war with China, in a similar way to how Ukraine is being used as a front line to provoke Russia. … continue

Yemen’s health ministry condemns Saudi airstrike on hospital in Ta’iz

Press TV – October 26, 2026

Yemen’s Health Ministry has condemned a Saudi airstrike on a maternity hospital in Ta’iz province, describing the attack as a violation of international humanitarian law.

In a statement carried by Yemen’s Arabic-language Al-Masirah television network, the ministry said Saudi warplanes had struck the maternity hospital in the Shamaytin district of Ta’iz, damaging parts of the facility.

“We condemn the targeting of the maternity hospital in Shamaytin district in Ta’iz by Saudi warplanes and the damage caused to parts of the facility,” it said.

The ministry added that the attack reflected Saudi Arabia’s continued efforts to deprive Yemenis of their basic right to safe healthcare.

“Targeting hospitals and medical facilities is a clear violation of international humanitarian law,” it said.

Meanwhile, Yemen’s armed forces said Saudi warplanes and missile forces had carried out 56 air and missile attacks against civilian sites in the previous 24 hours. The reported attacks targeted the provinces of Hajjah, Lahij, Amran, Saada, Al-Jawf, Ta’iz and Ibb.

According to the statement, the airstrikes were conducted using F-15 and Typhoon aircraft that took off from the Saudi air bases at Khamis Mushait and Taif, while missile attacks were launched from the Najran area. … Full article

Iran taking measures amid reports of Ukrainian drone deployments

Al Mayadeen | October 26, 2026

Tehran is prepared to take steps to safeguard its territory amid reports of Ukrainian drone deployments in countries bordering Iran, Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said Monday.

Speaking to reporters, Baghaei said Iranian authorities responsible for assessing security risks were continuing their work and would act to counter potential dangers to the country. “Those who must carefully monitor the situation, I can assure you, are monitoring it and will continue to do so. They will take the necessary measures to protect the country and repel any threats,” he said.

The report follows reporting by Tasnim News Agency last week, which cited an Iranian security source that thousands of Ukrainian military drones had been positioned in neighboring countries.

The source also reported that Ukrainian personnel were instructing armed groups in Iraq’s Kurdistan region in the use of drones for sabotage activities. According to the source cited by Tasnim, Iranian authorities regard the reported activities as hostile.

The reports come as Tehran steps up its security measures along its borders, targeting Kurdish separatist groups based in Iraq’s Kurdistan region, which Tehran accuses of receiving foreign support. […]

Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdistan region hosts camps and bases belonging to several Iranian Kurdish separatist groups, which Iranian forces have repeatedly targeted since the war began in February.

Tehran has accused these groups of receiving support from “Israel”. Israeli Channel 13 reported in late August that Israeli occupation authorities had trained thousands of Kurdish fighters as part of a plan to overthrow Iran’s government. “As part of the preparations, thousands of Kurdish fighters arrived in Israel, where they were trained for operational scenarios,” the report stated. … Full article

Iran-Iraq trade remains robust despite temporary border closure: Official

Press TV – October 26, 2026

Iran’s trade relations with Iraq remain robust and uninterrupted, with all but one border crossing continuing to operate normally, according to the head of the Joint Iran-Iraq Chamber of Commerce.

Yahya Ale-Eshaq dismissed concerns over the temporary closure of the Chazzabeh border crossing, emphasizing that the bilateral relationship is deeply strategic and backed by strong mutual economic needs.

He noted that while localized, temporary developments may affect the immediate volume of trade, they do not undermine the fundamental pillars of cooperation between the two neighboring nations.

“The closure of a single border is not in the interest of either country,” Ale-Eshaq stated, adding that active negotiations between relevant authorities in Tehran and Baghdad are already underway to restore normal operations. … Full article

Welcome to Dubai: Fewer Tourists, Oily Beaches, and Water by the Truckload

By Larry C. Johnson | SONAR21 | October 25, 2026

… The beaches are uncrowded, the hotels have plenty of rooms, and the views of the tankers burning offshore are spectacular. Just bring your own water. – Full article

Iran, Turkey, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia could advance region-led security framework in Tehran: FM spox

Press TV – October 26, 2026

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei says a meeting in Tehran with senior officials from Turkey, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia could lay the groundwork for a regional security framework based on the interests and decisions of countries in the region.

Speaking at a weekly press conference on Monday, Baghaei said Tehran would host Saudi Arabia’s defense minister, Pakistan’s army chief and Turkey’s intelligence chief as part of an initiative to discuss regional security.

He stated that the initiative was proposed during Pakistani Army Chief Asim Munir’s visit to Tehran and was welcomed by the Islamic Republic of Iran. … continue

Settlers attack Palestinian citizens, property in West Bank

Palestinian Information Center – October 25, 2026

WEST BANK – Extremist Jewish settlers launched a new spate of violations and attacks across the occupied West Bank on Sunday, targeting Palestinian citizens, homes, and agricultural property.

In the vicinity of Occupied Jerusalem, settlers sabotaged the water supply lines feeding the Bedouin community of al-Tabana near al-Khan al-Ahmar.

In Nablus, a horde of settlers escorted by soldiers detained several olive pickers in a grove in as-Sawiya village before taking them to the illegal settlement of Rehelim, where they were assaulted. The settlers also stole an agricultural tractor and an olive harvest.

In al-Khalil, settlers bulldozed, under military protection, swaths of Palestinian-owned land in the areas of Khallet al-Farra and Marah al-Rabia for the second consecutive day. They also pitched tents in preparation for establishing an outpost and farms in the area adjacent to the settlement of Otniel.

In a separate incident, the Israeli occupation forces kidnaped two children from the al-Fahs area of southern al-Khalil and took them to a military base for interrogation.

A West Bank War for Netanyahu’s Election Campaign, Could It Backfire?

By Robert Inlakesh | Palestine Chronicle | October 25, 2026

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared a new military operation in the occupied West Bank to collectively punish the people of al-Khalil, all in the lead-up to the scheduled national elections early next week. Is the Premier playing with fire?

Following years of ever-escalating settler violence and the intensification of Israel’s military occupation across the occupied West Bank, two Palestinian men in their twenties – Hamouda and Firas al-Ja’ba – decided to carry out a resistance operation against an Israeli army guard post.

The two resistance fighters carried out their attack, injuring four Israeli soldiers and killing two, using pistols and a rifle near the Farsh al-Hawa checkpoint in al-Khalil. The Israeli army called in backup, leading to an armed clash in which both of the Palestinians were killed during a 20-minute clash.

From the CCTV footage of the clash, it appears as if the two Palestinians were not professionally trained and acted alone. No Palestinian movement claimed the attack, although it was widely praised. Israel was quick to blame Hamas and then launch a new military campaign targeting the entire city of al-Khalil.

There are a number of reasons that the attack, which, although the most significant carried out in the West Bank in over a year, is not exactly unusual, has been reacted to in the way we see today. … continue

Eight Palestinians killed, others injured in Gaza, Israeli drone targets a gathering of students on campus

Palestinian Information Center – October 25, 2026

GAZA – Seven Palestinian civilians were martyred and several others were wounded in fresh Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip on Sunday, while a young girl died of injuries sustained yesterday.

According to media sources, three citizens were killed in an Israeli drone strike that targeted the campus of the Islamic University of Gaza, southwest of Gaza City, in the afternoon.

The sources identified the three martyrs as employees of the Islamic University of Gaza, Sami Baward, Ashraf Dahlan, and Shadi Abu Ataya.

This deadly strike occurred shortly after an Israeli drone targeted a gathering of students on campus, injuring at least five people, some of them critically.

Another Israeli attack killed a citizen and wounded three others in the west of Gaza City.

In southern Gaza, a strike claimed the lives of two citizens and injured several others, some critically, in northern Khan Yunis.

In central Gaza, a citizen was killed following a drone strike in the al-Mazra’ah area of Deir al-Balah.

Earlier today, eight-year-old Fatima al-Bayouk died from wounds she sustained after being shot by Israeli forces in the al-Mazra’ah area of Deir al-Balah yesterday.

Meanwhile, widespread military activity, including shooting incidents, artillery shelling, drone overflights, and demolitions, was reported in different areas of Gaza.

Israeli bombs shower south Lebanon as Tel Aviv places troops on ‘highest alert level’

The Cradle | October 25, 2026

Tel Aviv stepped up its violent bombardment of southern Lebanon on 25 October, with warplanes carrying out airstrikes across multiple villages – as Hebrew media says Israel is on “high alert” and has deployed thousands of troops to the Lebanese border.

Another strike hit Wadi al-Hujair in south Lebanon on Sunday morning, following earlier attacks on the area overnight and the day before.

Israel also bombed the Lebanese town of Kfar Tebnit.

The outskirts of Baraachit came under Israeli artillery fire a short while earlier. Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA) reported that Israeli occupation forces positioned in the south advanced toward the town of Aita al-Jabal and carried out an attack.

“This morning, two Merkava tanks were spotted positioned on the outskirts of Aita al-Jabal. They carried out machine-gun fire with heavy machine guns while residents were present in the olive groves harvesting the olive crop. No casualties were reported,” it said.

Israeli army vehicles also advanced in Haddatha and carried out an artillery attack on the town. Additionally, artillery shelling hit Majdal Zoun, Mansouri, Wadi al-Saluqi, and Zawtar al-Sharqiya.

Further violations included Israeli military vehicle movements in Zawtar al-Sharqiya and a series of explosions carried out by Israeli occupation forces in Majdal Zoun, targeting civilian infrastructure. Overnight, heavy airstrikes hit Wadi al-Hujair, destroying several buildings.

Israel’s Broadcasting Corporation (KAN) reported on 24 October that the Israeli army has raised its state of alert to the “highest level” ahead of the Israeli elections in two days. It said “tens of thousands of troops” were deployed to multiple fronts, including the Lebanese border.

The outlet says it is preparing itself for rocket or missile launches from Lebanon or Iran – although military sources told KAN that “there is no specific intelligence.” Israel has reportedly been building a helicopter landing site in south Lebanon and has no intention of withdrawing, KAN’s reporting adds. … Full article

Yemen denounces European Parliament’s ‘hypocritical’ push to blacklist Ansarullah

Press TV – October 25, 2026

The speaker of the Yemeni House of Representatives has denounced the European Parliament’s push to blacklist the Ansarullah resistance movement, saying the step is rooted in hypocrisy and double standards.

In a statement on Saturday, Yahya Ali Ahmed al-Raee emphasized that the legislature’s stance on Yemen is nothing more than a political cover for the war crimes being perpetrated by Saudi Arabia and its forces against the Yemeni nation.

“The European Parliament’s latest resolution is a clear sign of double standards and hypocrisy. It is an attempt to distort the position of the Sana’a-based Yemeni government, and blatantly ignores its repeated guarantees and commitment to international maritime security,” he noted.

Raee stated that the European Parliament should have designated Israel as the source of terrorism, given the genocidal crimes it is committing in the Gaza Strip. … continue

Qalibaf: UAE’s UN bid aims to ‘clear the runway’ for ‘Greater Israel’, whitewash genocide

Press TV – October 25, 2026

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf says a United Arab Emirates diplomat’s bid to become the next United Nations secretary-general aims to clear the diplomatic runway for Israel’s expansionist and aggressive ambitions under the so-called “Greater Israel” scheme.

Qalibaf made the remarks in a post on X on Sunday, saying UAE Minister of State Lana Nusseibeh’s candidacy for the UN’s top job also aims to whitewash Israel’s “systematic genocide” against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

He added that defending the Gaza tragedy had become a résumé for the UAE’s decision to seek the UN post, drawing a comparison between the country’s pursuit of the position and a fox seeking a job guarding a henhouse. … continue

Iran denies offering opening Hormuz for US lifting naval blockade

Al Mayadeen – October 25, 2026

Iran has denied reports that it offered the US a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for lifting the naval blockade, insisting that it has submitted no new proposal to Pakistan, Tasnim News Agency reported, citing an informed source.

The source’s remarks came in response to claims by a Saudi satellite channel that Tehran had proposed such an arrangement, slamming them as “lies and pure fiction.”

“This is similar to many other reports about Iran published by the same media outlet,” the source stated. … Full article

Pakistan reopens Iran border after boosting security: Report

Press TV – October 25, 2025

Pakistan has reopened a major border crossing with Iran that handles key energy and commodity supplies between the two countries amid improved security in the region.

Pakistan’s Dawn newspaper reported on Sunday that the Gabd-Rimdan border crossing, also known as Gate 250, in the country’s Gwadar region, had reopened a day earlier following a weeklong suspension that began on October 17.

The report quoted Mir Naveed Jan Kalmati, president of the Gwadar Chamber of Commerce and Industry, as saying that import and export operations between Pakistan and Iran had resumed.

It said the decision came amid dwindling LPG supplies in Pakistan ahead of the winter season. … continue

Why are so many Brazilians voting for Flávio Bolsonaro?

By Lucas Leiroz | Strategic Culture Foundation | October 25, 2026

… There is also a cultural dimension that the left frequently underestimates. Some voters reject the political vocabulary associated with the woke agenda and interpret certain progressive initiatives as attempts to impose new standards of behavior. The Supreme Federal Court’s draconian decision to recognize “transphobia” as a crime “equivalent to racism” has naturally provoked strongly negative reactions. After all, it seems perfectly normal that millions of Brazilians reject a ruling that can – and already does – place people in prison for up to five years for using the wrong pronoun when addressing transgender individuals.

Cultural discontent is often irresponsibly disdained in political analysis. Many commentators continue to treat voters as machines seeking constant material benefits, supposedly willing to sacrifice their values in exchange for meager welfare handouts – the principal achievement the Workers’ Party government has offered the Brazilian people so far. This analysis is mistaken. For many Brazilians, questions concerning their children’s education, religion, and the limits of state intervention are central political priorities. These voters will naturally tend to support the opposition in a national environment where state-run university hospitals – with the backing of the left-wing establishment – provide puberty blockers and other forms of “non-surgical intervention” to “transgender children.”

Contrary to the expectations of academic analysts disconnected from the country’s realities, foreign policy occupies a limited place in most people’s daily lives. Relations with the United States, Brazil’s role in BRICS, and its diplomatic position on Palestine are relevant issues, but they are unlikely to outweigh immediate concerns such as urban violence and cultural disputes.

Flávio Bolsonaro’s electoral support must be understood through this combination of factors, without attributing a single motivation to millions of voters. Public security, traditional values, dissatisfaction with the government, and rejection of certain progressive agendas can all converge in the same vote. If the left wants to improve its popularity, the better course of action is to reconsider its own mistakes, instead of inventing false explanations for the right’s growing support. – Read full article

UK defense secretary says Britain has 1,000 days to prepare for war

Al Mayadeen – October 25, 2026

Britain has a little more than 1,000 days to be ready to fight a war alongside its allies, UK Defense Secretary Wes Streeting said in a piece for The Telegraph on Saturday, arguing that “adversaries” could be capable of attacking the country by 2030.

“My defining priority… is to make sure that this country is ready to fight and win a war,” Streeting wrote, setting out a two-step logic.

“To prevent the worst, we have to prepare for it,” he said, explaining that Britain should first expand its capabilities “so our adversaries think twice about attacking us,” and that if deterrence fails, “we must ensure that Britain is ready for war.”

Streeting wrote that hostile states have long wished Britain harm, and their expanding armed forces and war economies are what could give them the means to act by 2030. “By 2030 their force strength and war economy could put them in a position to attack,” he said, adding that this “gives us a little over 1,000 days to complete our mission.”

Streeting did not link this to Britain’s aggressive foreign policy and military interventions alongside the US around the world, including arming proxy wars and supplying military intelligence, such as in Ukraine, and instead presented Britain as taking a “defensive” stance.

He presented the window as the time left to finish preparations, with the goal of being ready “with our allies to fight and win,” and pledged that the government “will make sure it is mission accomplished.” […]

The comments come ahead of Wednesday’s Budget, where Chancellor John Healey faces pressure to commit to spending 3 percent of GDP on defense by 2030. Healey resigned as defense secretary in June over the previous government’s refusal to set that date. The government under Prime Minister Andy Burnham now points instead to NATO’s target of 3.5 percent by 2035.

Streeting’s article came days after the government launched its “Be Ready” campaign, which urges households to keep at least three days of water, non-perishable food and other basics, plus items such as blankets and radios. … Full article

Democrats Put Anti-Russia Agenda Ahead of American Workers

Sputnik – 25.10.2026

Even as the US diesel deal with Russia that was brokered by Donald Trump could help bring the price of oil down, the Democrats’ Russophobia “is leading them to try to sabotage the deal,” Dr. Jeremy Kuzmarov, managing editor of CovertAction Magazine, tells Sputnik.

“Trump may be making some steps at the beginning to try to end the conflict in Ukraine, whereas the Democrats, I think, want to escalate that conflict. And they are totally irrational,” he adds.

Only a small number of Democrats opposed the anti-Russian sanctions bill, arguing that it is “totally irrational and is going to have a very negative effect on the US economy.”

“This is a case in point where this hysteria about Russia and Russophobia reaches the extent that the government is actually advocating for positions that are very harmful to the American economy and to American workers or farmers — even though the Democrats purport that they are more for the working people.” … continue

Two killed in drone strike on Belgorod – governor

RT | October 25, 2026

Two civilians were killed and thirteen others wounded in a major attack on the Russian city of Belgorod, regional governor Aleksandr Shuvayev has said.

The death toll from an overnight drone strike has risen to two. One of the injured victims who was hospitalized following the attack has died, Shuvayev added.

Overall thirteen people were injured, according to updated data from regional authorities.

Earlier reports said one person had been killed and 14 injured.

“The enemy launched a large-scale drone strike on residential areas in the center of the city,” Mayor Valentin Demidov wrote in a post on social media early on Sunday. … Full article

Albania PM plans $550 fines as anti-government protests escalate

Al Mayadeen | October 25, 2026

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama has announced plans to fine participants in violent demonstrations more than $550, as months of anti-government protests intensify in Tirana and demonstrators continue to demand his resignation.

The Socialist Party leader said Sunday that a new law, expected this week, would penalize people who remain in crowds involved in violence or looting in public spaces, as well as those concealing their identities. The legislation would also authorize police to restrict gatherings when there is a risk of violence.

The announcement follows days of escalating confrontations between protesters and security forces, with demonstrators targeting government buildings over corruption allegations and demands for better conditions for students. … Full article

Putin: Europe Paying the Price for Own Political and Economic Mistakes

Sputnik – 25.10.2026

European leaders have only themselves to blame for growing unrest and economic problems across the continent, Russian President Vladimir Putin said.

“This is bad for them, and why? Because they won’t address the root cause … And what is that cause? It lies in their own mistakes, mistakes made across various areas, including the economy and finance,” Putin said.

He pointed to mounting public debt, large budget deficits, and declining industrial production, calling the situation dramatic for many European economies. By comparison, he said, Russia’s external debt stands at just 2.6% of GDP, with total government debt at 17.5%, while Russian industrial output has grown since 2021.

He also criticized Europe’s green energy policies and described its decision to ban everything Russian as “stupidity.” Putin noted that Europe cut itself off from Russian markets and energy supplies, although it continues to import substantial amounts of Russian energy.

“They have cut themselves off from our energy resources and our market. You have to understand, we weren’t just supplying relatively cheap primary energy resources, we were also providing access to our market! A market that is, in fact, quite large for European countries,” Putin said.

Putin added that some Western companies “almost cried” when they were forced to abandon the Russian market under pressure from their own governments.

Turning to migration, Putin argued that European countries lack the financial resources to integrate and assimilate migrants, contributing to growing social tensions.

He also accused Europeans of dismantling their own traditional and historical values, arguing that societies abandoning their own traditions have little left to pass on to newcomers.

Putin Calls Attempts to Accuse Russia of Inciting Unrest in Europe Clear Exaggeration

Sputnik – 25.10.2026

MOSCOW – Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Sunday that attempts to accuse Russia of inciting unrest in Europe is a clear exaggeration.

“My first reaction upon seeing this was surprise. To suggest that we are provoking mass protests in major European cities, well, that is clearly going too far, it’s something that, in my view, is obvious to the ordinary citizens of European countries,” Putin told Russian media.

Accusations that Russia has allegedly orchestrated unrest in Europe point to the weakness of European politicians and their inability to take responsibility for the events taking place, the Russian president said.

“This speaks to the weakness and inability of certain leaders in European countries to take responsibility for what is happening,” Putin said.

The Russian leader added he was surprised that the United States was initially blamed for the protests in Europe.

“I did not expect European leaders to lash out like that at their primary ally, their protector, so to speak, in the military sense, across the ocean. But they quickly came to their senses and reverted to their customary accusations against the Russian Federation,” Putin said.