Author: Gulf News Week
media examines the groups fighting for control in Yemen and the resulting humanitarian situation on the ground.The internationally recognised government of Yemen, known as the Presidential Leadership Council (PLC), says its forces have recaptured two strategic southern provinces, reversing a month-long takeover by the separatist Southern Transitional Council (STC).In early December 2025, the STC, a UAE-backed secessionist force, seized the two oil-rich provinces of Hadramout and al-Mahra, which border Saudi Arabia, in a campaign that Riyadh described as a red line for its national security.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3What are Saudi Arabia’s plans in southern Yemen?list…
Steve Witkoff says Donald Trump’s 20-point Gaza plan is ‘moving from ceasefire to demilitarization, technocratic governance, and reconstruction’.United States President Donald Trump’s special envoy to the Middle East has announced the launch of the second phase of a US-brokered plan to end Israel’s genocidal war against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.Steve Witkoff said in a social media post on Wednesday that Trump’s 20-point Gaza plan is “moving from ceasefire to demilitarization, technocratic governance, and reconstruction”.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3‘My leg went to heaven before me’: Israeli war extinguishes Gaza childhoodslist 2 of 3Juliet Stevenson on Gaza:…
As Western media accepts death tolls from Iran at face value, Palestinian deaths in Gaza remain endlessly questioned, revealing how belief follows power, not evidence.There is a crisis of belief in Western media, one that has little to do with evidence and everything to do with whose deaths align with the interests of empire.For two and a half years, Western media has scrutinised every dead Palestinian, and the ways in which their bodies were maimed, broken and burned in Gaza. Were they real people? If they were, were they truly dead? If dead, were they actually killed by Israel’s bombs,…
As talk of nuclear threats gives way to promises of ‘help’, the Bush-era logic of regime change re-emerges.On Saturday, just under two weeks into the protests that are now sweeping Iran, United States President Donald Trump took to his social media platform of choice to post a message of support: “Iran is looking at FREEDOM, perhaps like never before. The USA stands ready to help!!! President DONALD J. TRUMP.”As usual, Trump’s random capitalisation scheme and excessive use of exclamation points would better befit an elementary schoolchild than the leader of the global superpower. But the promise of American help is…
Trump told Iranian protesters that ‘help is on its way’ in a Truth Social post.United States President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened that Washington could intervene militarily in Iran if there is a violent crackdown on demonstrators amid ongoing protests.On Wednesday, it emerged that some personnel have been advised to leave the United States military’s al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar by Wednesday evening, heightening fears of a US strike and potential Iranian retaliation.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4Are Iran’s protests different this time around?list 2 of 4Trump says ‘help is on the way’ for Iran protesterslist 3…
Israel limits the ability of teachers from the West Bank to travel to occupied East Jerusalem.At least 25,000 students in occupied East Jerusalem are taking part in a strike after Israel prevented access to teachers from the occupied West Bank.The strike was called by the General Secretariat of Christian Educational Institutions in Jerusalem and later joined by all private schools in East Jerusalem.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Israel kills Palestinian in Hebron, raids Nablus, East Jerusalem weddinglist 2 of 3Australia festival faces mass boycott after dropping Palestinian authorlist 3 of 3Writers declare solidarity with prisoners on hunger…
The report comes amid warnings from the US that it could intervene in protests currently taking place in Iran.The United States is withdrawing some personnel from its bases in the Middle East, a US official told the Reuters news agency, after a senior Iranian official said Tehran had warned neighbours it would hit US bases if Washington launches strikes on Iran.As Iran’s leadership battles widescale antigovernment protests, Tehran is seeking to deter US President Donald Trump’s repeated threats to intervene on behalf of the protesters.Some personnel have been advised to leave the US military’s Al Udeid airbase in Qatar by Wednesday…
Special rapporteur says Israel’s nonresponse to the growing crisis reflects its attitude towards Palestinians.Francesca Albanese, the United Nations special rapporteur on Palestine, has accused Israel of treating Palestinian lives as “expendable”, linking the “hellish” impact of a deadly winter storm in Gaza directly to the deliberate destruction of the enclave’s infrastructure.Speaking to media Arabic on Tuesday as a deep weather depression pummelled the Gaza Strip, killing at least seven children, Albanese said the weather disaster had exposed the depth of Israel’s disregard for civilian survival.“It is shocking even for me sitting far away. … Their lives seem like hell,” Albanese…
Israel’s covert operations in Iran spark allegations of destabilising protests as tensions escalate.Iranian authorities have been increasingly clear that they believe foreign countries are behind the unrest sweeping the country – and are involved in fomenting unrest on the ground.On Monday, President Masoud Pezeshkian shifted focus away from Iran’s stuttering economy and suppression of dissent and towards his country’s longstanding geopolitical adversaries, Israel and the United States.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4How US sanctions crippled lives of Iranians Trump says he wants to ‘help’list 2 of 4How will Trump’s new 25% tariff impact Iran’s trading partners?list 3…
The unprecedented convergence of internal and external pressures makes these protests distinct.Protests are nothing new in Iran. Since the 1979 Islamic revolution, the sanctions-hit country has been rocked by repeated waves of demonstrations.However, experts say the current deadly upheaval is unprecedented, due to a potent mix of rising domestic pressures and aggressive threats from the United States – leaving Iran’s leaders with fewer options on what to do next.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Greenland rejects US takeover under ‘any circumstance’list 2 of 3Iran says it is ready for war as US president discusses military optionslist 3 of…