Arab Desk

The Arab Desk leads The Eastern Herald's reporting on the Middle East and North Africa. The desk has covered the Gaza-Israel war since October 2023, the Iran-Israel war of 2025-2026, the fall of the Assad government in Syria, Hezbollah's political and military shifts in Lebanon, the war in Yemen, and the diplomatic realignment of the Gulf states under the Abraham Accords and the Saudi-Iranian rapprochement.

Rescue boats approach burning oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz as the US carried out its tenth night of strikes on Iran

US Strikes Iran for 10th Straight Night as Burning Tankers Block Hormuz

The United States carried out its tenth consecutive night of air strikes on Iranian military targets on Tuesday, as two oil tankers caught fire in the Strait of Hormuz and rescue teams

July 21, 2026

by Arab Desk

Netanyahu cabinet meeting 2013, when Israel began systematic tracking of international NGOs over BDS support

Leaked Israeli Spreadsheet Reveals Systematic Surveillance of Over 150 Global NGOs Over BDS Support

An Israeli government spreadsheet from 2013, obtained by Al Jazeera, lists over 150 international charities including Oxfam and World Vision flagged for suspected BDS support. The document predates Israel's formal ban on BDS activists, revealing years of systematic government surveillance

July 21, 2026

by Arab Desk

Oil tanker Marlin Luanda burning in the Gulf of Aden after Houthi missile attack

Houthis Declare Naval Blockade on Saudi Arabia, Threatening Red Sea Shipping

Yemen's Houthi movement declared an immediate naval blockade on Saudi Arabia on Monday, citing retaliation for

Lebanese army vehicles patrol Froun village in Bint Jbeil district, southern Lebanon

Lebanese Return to Villages Israel Never Occupied, Exposing Pilot Zone Limits

Lebanese civilians return to Bint Jbeil villages under the pilot zone framework, but residents say Israel

Khalil al-Hayya, newly elected Hamas overall leader, during an interview in Istanbul, Turkey

Hamas Elects Khalil Al-Hayya as New Overall Leader, Ending Two-Year Vacancy Since Sinwar

Khalil al-Hayya won Hamas's leadership by a single vote on Sunday, claiming 35 of 69 politburo votes against Khaled Meshaal. The Gaza negotiator fills a two-year vacancy since Sinwar's killing, with Gaza's

July 21, 2026

Conflicts, Military and War·News

IRGC Targets US HIMARS in Kuwait, Greek Tankers Burn in Hormuz as War Enters Night Ten

Two Greek-owned tankers burned in Hormuz on the tenth night of US strikes on Iran, while the IRGC claimed to have struck US HIMARS in Kuwait and radar in Bahrain. Senate Democrats

July 21, 2026

Conflicts, Military and War·News

IDF Iron Dome fires interceptors over Eilat as Iranian missiles target Jordan's Aqaba resort city

Iran Fires Missiles at Jordan’s Aqaba as IDF Scrambles Interceptors Over Eilat

Four Iranian missiles targeted Jordan's Aqaba resort Sunday; three were intercepted as IDF Iron Dome batteries scrambled over neighboring Eilat. The attack extends the Iran war's reach to a Jordanian tourist hub

July 20, 2026

Conflicts, Military and War·News

Coffins of Iran Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei and family carried through Tehran streets during the Iran-US war

Two Oil Tankers Explode in Strait of Hormuz as Iran-US War Enters Ninth Day

Two oil tankers erupted in flames in the Strait of Hormuz as the Iran-US war entered its ninth day, with Tehran claiming mines and Washington dismissing the charge, as Iran launched a

July 20, 2026

Conflicts, Military and War·News

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun meets US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington to discuss Hezbollah disarmament

Lebanon’s Aoun Meets Rubio, Brings Hezbollah Disarmament Plan to Washington

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun met Secretary of State Rubio in Washington Sunday, heading into a Trump meeting Tuesday with a Hezbollah disarmament-for-Israeli-withdrawal plan. It is the first Lebanese presidential visit to Washington

July 20, 2026

Conflicts, Military and War·Government and Politics·News

Iranian Khorramshahr-4 ballistic missile launch as Iran expands strikes to Kuwait

Iran Strikes US Bases in Kuwait as War With Washington Escalates

Iran's army fired drones at two US military bases in Kuwait on Saturday, targeting an ammunition depot at Camp Al-Udeiri and a Patriot radar at Ali al-Salem Air Base, while the IRGC

July 20, 2026

Conflicts, Military and War·News

US military aircraft conducting strikes against Iran targets during the July 2026 US-Iran conflict

America Strikes Iran’s Under-Construction Darkhovin Nuclear Plant in Khuzestan

US forces struck Iran's under-construction Darkhovin Nuclear Power Plant in Khuzestan province at 3:39 AM on Sunday, Iran's Atomic Energy Organization confirmed, condemning the attack as a violation of international law and

July 19, 2026

Conflicts, Military and War·News

Darkened streets in Tehran during power blackouts caused by US strikes on Iran's electricity grid

Iran’s Power Grid Fractures Under US Strikes and Record Summer Heat

Rolling blackouts across Tehran deepened as US strikes knocked 4,200 megawatts from Iran's grid, damaging over 2,000 transmission points. With temperatures hitting 41 degrees, hospitals, universities, and factories face compounding crises during

July 20, 2026

Conflicts, Military and War·News

Israeli forces in northern Gaza as settlement plans announced

Israel’s Finance and Defense Ministers Announce Plan to Build Settlements in Northern Gaza

Israel's Defense Minister Katz announced plans for Nahal military-agricultural outposts in northern Gaza. Finance Minister Smotrich said the groundwork for three settlements is complete. Israeli forces control 70 percent of the Strip.

July 19, 2026

Conflicts, Military and War·News

US military strikes Iran after two soldiers were killed in Jordan

Two U.S. Soldiers Killed as America Launches Eighth Night of Strikes on Iran

Two US soldiers died Friday in Iranian strikes in Jordan, triggering America's eighth consecutive night of attacks on Iran. Targets included the port of Bandar Abbas, Qeshm Island, and Kish Island, raising

July 19, 2026

Conflicts, Military and War·News

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Arab Desk

US Strikes Iran for 10th Straight Night as Burning Tankers Block Hormuz

Leaked Israeli Spreadsheet Reveals Systematic Surveillance of Over 150 Global NGOs Over BDS Support

Houthis Declare Naval Blockade on Saudi Arabia, Threatening Red Sea Shipping

Lebanese Return to Villages Israel Never Occupied, Exposing Pilot Zone Limits

Hamas Elects Khalil Al-Hayya as New Overall Leader, Ending Two-Year Vacancy Since Sinwar

IRGC Targets US HIMARS in Kuwait, Greek Tankers Burn in Hormuz as War Enters Night Ten

Iran Fires Missiles at Jordan’s Aqaba as IDF Scrambles Interceptors Over Eilat

Two Oil Tankers Explode in Strait of Hormuz as Iran-US War Enters Ninth Day

Lebanon’s Aoun Meets Rubio, Brings Hezbollah Disarmament Plan to Washington

Iran Strikes US Bases in Kuwait as War With Washington Escalates

America Strikes Iran’s Under-Construction Darkhovin Nuclear Plant in Khuzestan

Iran’s Power Grid Fractures Under US Strikes and Record Summer Heat

Israel’s Finance and Defense Ministers Announce Plan to Build Settlements in Northern Gaza

Two U.S. Soldiers Killed as America Launches Eighth Night of Strikes on Iran

Radical Islam is being appreciated by Indian authorities too

Bangladesh; India’s Biggest Ally or China’s Dragon Nest?

Ahmadis in Bangladesh face fresh threat of persecution

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US Strikes Iran for 10th Straight Night as Burning Tankers Block Hormuz

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