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Latest news and features from theguardian.com, the world's leading liberal voice
Site URL: www.theguardian.com/world/middleeast
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Middle East crisis live: Trump warns ‘clock is ticking’ for Iran to reach peace deal
Published: May 18, 2026 07:48
US president says there ‘won’t be anything left’ of country if it doesn’t come to an agreementUAE blames Iran or its proxies for drone strike fire near nuclear plantOman’s foreign ministry has condemned the drone strike that caused a fire at the perimeter…
‘It fails under testing, but it’s what we have’: ban forces Palestinians to make their own cement from rubble
Published: May 18, 2026 06:00
With Israel blocking imports of building materials, those rebuilding in Gaza are recycling ruins to make new homesIt is difficult to see through the dust inside the cramped, low-roofed tent on the eastern edge of Khan Younis. Ibrahim al-Aloul works…
UAE blames Iran or its proxies for drone strike fire near nuclear plant
Published: May 17, 2026 19:33
Abu Dhabi denounces ‘dangerous escalation’ as Iran war ceasefire grows more precariousThe United Arab Emirates has blamed a fire near its nuclear power plant on a drone launched by Iran or one of its proxies in what the UAE called a “dangerous…
Israeli strikes kill six in southern Lebanon hours after extension of ceasefire
Published: May 16, 2026 15:57
Three paramedics at health centre among dead, while Israel also says it killed Hamas military chief in GazaIsrael carried out airstrikes in southern Lebanon, killing at least six people, including three paramedics working at a health centre, just hours…
Palestinians demolish family homes as Jerusalem municipality plans biblical theme park
Published: May 16, 2026 07:00
Residents of al-Bustan district told to make way for Kings Garden, with knocking down own houses cheaper optionAt the bottom of a steep and densely populated valley just below Jerusalem’s old city walls, the earth has been shaken in recent weeks by…
I’m a Eurovision superfan, but this year’s contest brings only sadness. I won’t be tuning in
Published: May 16, 2026 04:00
Mismanagement and political campaigning have sucked the joy out of an event meant to bring people togetherFor the past two years, amid intensifying controversy over Israel’s participation in Eurovision, I and most other Eurovision superfans have stuck by…
Shaky truce between Israel and Lebanon extended for 45 days, US says
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/may/15/israel-and-lebanon-agree-ceasefire-extension-us-says
Published: May 15, 2026 19:05
Statement following ‘productive’ talks in Washington comes as Israel launches strikes on southern city of TyreIsrael and Lebanon have agreed to a 45-day extension of their ceasefire after another round of talks in Washington, the US state department has…
The week around the world in 20 pictures
Published: May 15, 2026 18:40
Russian drone attacks on Kyiv, Israeli strikes in Lebanon, Trump in Beijing and a mural of Lamine Yamal – the past seven days as captured by the world’s leading photojournalists Continue reading...
‘Extremely cruel and tragic’: Iranian director Asghar Farhadi speaks out against state violence and the war
Published: May 15, 2026 16:39
The film-maker, who won the Grand Prix for A Hero in 2021, condemned both the killing of protestors and the conflict’s bombing campaigns during a Cannes press conferenceOscar-winning Iranian director Asghar Farhadi has described the deaths of civilians in…
Oman caught between US and Iran after Tehran claims joint strait of Hormuz plan
Published: May 15, 2026 16:04
Muscat silent about plans – opposed by US – to charge fee and demand details on nationality of all transiting shipsOman has been caught in geopolitical crossfire after Iran said it was coordinating with Muscat over the future management of the strait of…
What was actually achieved at Trump and Xi’s ‘stalemate summit’ in Beijing?
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/may/15/what-was-achieved-trump-xi-summit-beijing
Published: May 15, 2026 13:37
US president said he and Chinese leader ‘settled a lot of different problems’ but gave little detail on solutionsTrump China visit live – latest updatesDonald Trump’s whirlwind trip to Beijing – the first US presidential visit in nearly a decade – wrapped…
UAE to complete second oil pipeline bypassing strait of Hormuz by 2027
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/may/15/uae-oil-pipeline-strait-of-hormuz-by-2027
Published: May 15, 2026 11:28
State oil company fast-tracks previously undisclosed project, which is expected to double export capacityBusiness live – latest updatesThe United Arab Emirates has announced it will complete a new oil pipeline bypassing the strait of Hormuz by next year to…
‘God gave us this city’: Israeli nationalists join Jerusalem Day protest to mark city’s capture
Published: May 14, 2026 18:51
State-sponsored march through Muslim quarter of Old City saw protesters waving flags and chanting ‘Death to Arabs’ on anniversary of city’s annexationIsraeli nationalist demonstrators chanted “Death to the Arabs”, “May your villages burn” and “Gaza is a…
The backlash to revelations of sexual torture of Palestinian prisoners aims to raise the cost of speaking out | Yuli Novak
Published: May 14, 2026 17:02
Israel’s response to recent New York Times reporting detailing the horrific sexual violence inflicted on detainees seeks to silence those who assert the basic fact of Palestinian humanityxWhat’s most shocking about the latest accounts of sexual torture of…
Cambridge University’s proposed Saudi deal endangers academic freedom | Letters
Published: May 14, 2026 17:00
Academic freedom would be compromised by a planned deal between Cambridge University and Saudi Arabia’s defence ministry, warns Jemimah SteinfeldYour report (Cambridge University seeks deal with Saudi defence ministry despite rights concerns, 11 May)…
When will the Iran war end? The US can’t even decide when it began | Lawrence Douglas
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/may/14/iran-war-criminal-aggression
Published: May 14, 2026 16:00
A state department document seeks to justify the war as part of a years-long conflictIs the war in Iran over? Within hours of secretary of state Marco Rubio’s assurance that “the operation is over” last week, Donald Trump used social media to declare that…
‘It’s like stealing’: Palestinian family’s seized property listed on Booking.com
Published: May 14, 2026 14:04
West Bank home described as ‘ideal for outdoor gatherings’ is among 41 listed rentals in illegal Israeli settlements Some of Mohammad al-Sbeih’s fondest childhood memories are of his small farm in the hills south of Bethlehem, where three generations of…
Iran says ships entering strait of Hormuz must cooperate after vessel seized
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/may/14/iran-strait-of-hormuz-navy-uae
Published: May 14, 2026 13:11
Docked ship reportedly seized outside UAE port by “unauthorised personnel”The Iranian foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, has said ships entering the strait of Hormuz must cooperate with the Iranian navy as reports emerged of a ship being seized outside a…
Lebanon divided: Hezbollah, Israel and the cost of resistance – video
Published: May 14, 2026 09:47
Fighting between Israel and Hezbollah continues and is deepening divisions across Lebanon. Supporters of Hezbollah call the group “the resistance” and see the conflict as existential. Despite agreeing to a ceasefire, Israel still occupies parts of southern…
‘Inevitable’ jet fuel shortages will drive up air fares this summer, says Willie Walsh
Published: May 14, 2026 08:35
Impact of disruption caused by US-Israeli war on Iran may be felt into 2027 even if strait of Hormuz reopens, says aviation body bossIncreases in air fares for travellers in Europe are “inevitable” over the peak summer period because of the high cost of…
Wife of Briton pleads for Saudi Arabia to release him from ‘arbitrary detention’
Published: May 14, 2026 04:00
Ahmed al-Doush’s health said to be in sharp decline since his arrest in 2024 in relation to social media postsThe wife of a British national who has been imprisoned in Saudi Arabia since 2024 for social media posts, has pleaded for his release as his…
The secret mission to rescue the UN’s vital Palestinian refugee archive
Published: May 14, 2026 04:00
Millions of documents chronicling generations of trauma saved from Gaza and East Jerusalem in 10-month Unrwa operationEast Jerusalem to Amman should have been an easy trip: a short drive down to the Dead Sea, across the border checkpoint and swiftly on to…
Remains of second US soldier who went missing during military exercises in Morocco have been recovered
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/may/13/second-us-soldier-recovered-remains-morocco
Published: May 13, 2026 23:01
Mariyah Symone Collington and Kendrick Lamont Key Jr, who also died, had fallen off a cliff during an off-duty hikeThe remains of the second US army soldier who went missing during military exercises in Morocco have been recovered, the army said on…
Israel’s ruling coalition proposes early elections amid ultra-Orthodox anger at Netanyahu
Published: May 13, 2026 22:48
Prime minister under pressure over failure to grant military service exemptions as multi-party government looks at risk of collapseIsrael’s ruling coalition has submitted a proposal to dissolve parliament to pave the way for early elections as the prime…
Family of British couple jailed in Iran say they have lost contact
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/may/13/family-british-couple-jailed-iran-lost-contact
Published: May 13, 2026 20:04
Lindsay and Craig Foreman were given 10-year sentences after entering the country on a motorcycling tripThe “terrified” family of a British couple jailed for 10 years in Iran on spying charges have said they have lost all contact with them.Lindsay and…
Benjamin Netanyahu made secret trip to UAE at height of the Iran war
Published: May 13, 2026 18:54
The covert meeting with the UAE’s president is the latest milestone in a rapidly developing Middle East allianceBenjamin Netanyahu has revealed he made a secret trip to the United Arab Emirates at the height of the Iran war to meet president Sheikh Mohamed…
The UAE tries hard to keep its reputation spotless. But with the war in Sudan, how can it? | Nesrine Malik
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/may/13/uae-sudan-civil-war-gulf-country
Published: May 13, 2026 13:51
Outrage is mounting about the Gulf country’s complicity in Sudan’s catastrophic civil war – and it might be starting to hit them where it hurtsThere are certain states whose reputations in the global community are tainted. For habitual violations of…
Zineb Sedira review: A chic ode to revolutionary cinema, brainy boozers – and exceptional berets
Published: May 13, 2026 10:10
Tate Britain, LondonThe Franco-Algerian artist’s exploration of radical film-making in the 1960s and 70s is so seductive it makes you wish the crowd was livelier and the wine was flowing‘WHEN WORDS FALL SILENT, CINEMA SPEAKS …” announces a giant sign.…
Public health at risk across Asia as price of gas for cooking soars
Published: May 13, 2026 03:00
Families turn to dirty fuels such as firewood, bringing fears over air pollution and fragility of energy transitionIn the ramshackle lanes of a south Delhi slum, Afshana Khatoon crouched wearily on her haunches and began lighting a small pile of…
UAE’s secret attack on Iran risks drawing Gulf states into the war
Published: May 12, 2026 16:37
If current precarious ceasefire between US and Iran ends, Emirates are more likely to be targeted by TehranMiddle East crisis: live updatesThe risk of some Gulf states becoming embroiled in a direct war with Iran has risen after it was reported the United…
Head of Microsoft’s Israel branch to step down after inquiry into dealings with Israeli military
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/may/12/microsoft-head-israel-step-down
Published: May 12, 2026 16:24
The inquiry came after the Guardian revealed Israel used company technology to support mass surveillance of Palestinian phone callsThe head of Microsoft’s Israeli subsidiary will step down in the wake of an inquiry that has scrutinised its business…
How Hezbollah’s $300 drones are challenging Israeli military
Published: May 12, 2026 12:42
Non-state group learns from Ukrainian warfare to develop cabled drones that evade hi-tech defences of state armyThe three Israeli soldiers clustered by a tank heard the noise before they saw its source. By the time they spotted the drone, it was too late.…
Israeli MPs back special tribunal with death penalty powers for alleged 7 October attackers
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/may/12/israel-special-tribunal-death-penalty-7-october-attack
Published: May 12, 2026 11:23
Knesset approves plan for livestreamed trials in military court, which has drawn comparisons to Eichmann trialIsraeli lawmakers have approved setting up a livestreamed special tribunal with the power to sentence to death Palestinians convicted of taking…
In the 1979 hostage crisis, why did Iran free 10 Black Americans before the others?
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/may/12/black-american-iran-solidarity-war
Published: May 12, 2026 11:00
Sgt James Hughes was one of the hostages released early. With US-Iran relations once again in the spotlight, he talks about being ‘handcuffed, under armed guard’Since the United States launched a joint military campaign with Israel on Iran in February,…
More than 110 Nobel laureates call on Iran to release gravely ill activist Narges Mohammadi
Published: May 12, 2026 10:37
As human rights advocate is treated in Tehran hospital after transfer from Zanjan prison, prize winners demand her freedomMore than 110 Nobel laureates have called for the immediate and unconditional release of Narges Mohammadi, the imprisoned Iranian…
Internal displacements caused by violence or conflict at record high in 2025
Published: May 12, 2026 08:01
The 32.3m surpasses those caused by disasters for the first time, as 82.2m people displaced in total around worldThe number of internal displacements triggered by conflict or violence around the world reached a record high in 2025, surpassing the number of…
Middle East crisis live: Trump says Iran ceasefire is on ‘massive life support’
Published: May 12, 2026 07:22
US president says Tehran’s peace proposal ‘totally unacceptable’ and ‘a piece of garbage’The Israeli military has ordered residents of towns and villages in southern Lebanon to evacuate immediately “by a distance of at least 1000 meters to open areas” in…
Trump says ceasefire with Iran on ‘life support’ after rejecting peace proposals
Published: May 11, 2026 18:13
US president says he is considering restarting naval escorts in strait of Hormuz in attempt to end Iranian blockadeMiddle East crisis – live updatesDonald Trump has said the ceasefire with Iran is on “life support” and that he is considering restarting US…
EU announces sanctions against violent Israel settlers
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/may/11/eu-announces-sanctions-against-violent-israel-settlers
Published: May 11, 2026 17:54
Bloc breaks its lengthy deadlock on the issue but falls short of imposing full-scale trade sanctionsMiddle East crisis – live updatesThe EU has agreed sanctions on violent Israeli settlers, ending a years-long deadlock over the issue but still taking only…
Israeli troops jailed for desecration of Virgin Mary statue in Lebanon
Published: May 11, 2026 15:58
IDF says two soldiers will spend weeks in military prison over incident it said was viewed with great severityTwo Israeli soldiers will spend weeks in military prison for the desecration of a Christian object after one stuck a cigarette in the mouth of a…
Vision of destruction: Israel’s assault on southern Lebanon in video, maps and charts
Published: May 11, 2026 12:16
More than 1.2 million people have been forced to flee their homes amid bombings, evacuation orders and demolitionsMiddle East crisis – live updatesIsrael’s destruction in southern Lebanon happened in phases. Hours after Hezbollah launched rockets at Israel…
Middle East crisis live: Trump rejects Iran response to US peace proposal as Tehran warns of new attacks
Published: May 11, 2026 08:03
US president calls Iranian response ‘totally unacceptable’ while Tehran says it will retaliate against any new US strikes or foreign warships in strait of HormuzTrump calls Iran’s response to peace plan ‘totally unacceptable’ as ceasefire fraysThe US…
‘It’s like we went bankrupt overnight’: poorest Somalis suffer as piles of worthless shillings mount up
Published: May 11, 2026 05:00
Banknotes are now so tattered that even buses refuse to accept them, as a dollarised economy and mobile phone payments push up the cost of essentialsAs US troops withdrew from Somalia in the spring of 1994, a teenaged Muse Omar Jama began working as an…
Iran says it has replied to US proposal as reported drone strikes strain ceasefire
Published: May 10, 2026 14:36
State media says Tehran’s response to peace plan passed to Pakistan as drone strikes or incursions reported in UAE, Kuwait, Qatar and IraqIran has said it has replied to a US peace proposal, on a day when a month-old ceasefire showed signs of fraying, with…
‘Degree of complacency’: are supply chains prepared for impact of ongoing Iran war?
Published: May 10, 2026 14:00
The economic warnings are bleak, but full extent of shortages are still not felt for many European countriesThe biggest energy shock in modern history, jet fuel shortages “within weeks”, a global recession – since Iran throttled shipping flows through the…
Saudi Aramco profits jump despite conflict in Middle East
Published: May 10, 2026 11:01
Saudi Arabia’s state oil company’s profits up 26% to £26.9bn in first three months of yearBusiness live – latest updatesSaudi Arabia’s state oil company reported a 26% jump in profits in its first quarter as its east-west pipeline allowed it to ship…
Nobel laureate’s smuggled memoir details beatings and neglect in Iranian prisons
Published: May 10, 2026 10:00
Writing by Narges Mohammadi, arrested 14 times for activism, offers a disturbing insight into treatmentIn an exclusive extract of writing smuggled from prison in Iran, the Nobel peace prize laureate Narges Mohammadi has described the “torture” of solitary…
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards threaten US sites in Middle East if tankers come under fire
Published: May 10, 2026 05:06
Revolutionary Guard issue warning as Trump awaits Iran’s response to Washington’s latest proposal for peace dealIran’s Revolutionary Guard has threatened to target US sites in the Middle East if its tankers come under fire, Iranian media reported on…
Donald Trump will arrive in Beijing this week knowing that Xi holds all the cards | Simon Tisdall
Published: May 10, 2026 05:00
The US president will be counting on China to influence Iran and help him out of his latest mess. But the price may be high – including for TaiwanLike an out-of-control wrecking ball, swinging wildly back and forth, Donald Trump smashes up the…