middle-east11.495 min read
CIA: Khamenei death could spark IRGC-led leadership swap
12 hours ago•Source: The Jerusalem Post
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7.95 min•1 day ago
Prayer-time app hack spurs defection wishes amid Iran unrest
An Iranian prayer-time app was hacked to display anti-regime messages urging defections, as protests widen and Iran faces a widespread internet blackout. The attacker remains unknown, but the incident coincides with cyberattacks on state outlets and heavy repression of demonstrations, with Netblocks noting internet access dropped to about 4%.
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Jordanian Parliament Expunges Israel From Debate Minutes Over Huckabee Remarks
The Jerusalem Post•4 days ago
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Israel warns Lebanon of strikes if Hezbollah joins any US-Iran conflict
Reuters•4 days ago
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Board of Peace Hinges on Trump, Sparking International Legal Debate
Legal scholars say the Board of Peace concentrates authority in Donald Trump rather than its member states, helping explain why key European powers and the Vatican have stayed out or refused to participate; Italy plans to attend as an observer. Debates persist over whether the Board is a treaty-based international organization or a UN-backed coordination forum. The first meeting announced multi-billion-dollar funding for Gaza reconstruction and humanitarian aid, but the amounts fall short of estimates and the arrangement leaves major questions—Hamas disarmament, Israeli withdrawal, and governance (NCAG)—unresolved, with substantial oversight and regional risk (notably Iran) shaping feasibility.
West Bank Mosque Attack Signals Ramadan Tensions as Settlers Strike
Israeli settlers defaced and set fire to the Abu Bakr as-Siddiq Mosque near Nablus in the occupied West Bank during Ramadan, with graffiti denigrating the Prophet and claims of attackers fleeing after pouring fuel. The incident follows a broader surge of settler and military violence in the area, drawing UN and rights groups’ warnings about a coercive environment and potential displacement of Palestinians.
Text blasts frame Trump as action leader amid Iranian protests
Iranian anti-regime protesters received mass SMS messages in Farsi claiming Donald Trump is a 'man of action' and urging them to wait, as outlets report Trump is weighing broader U.S. actions against Iran that could aim at regime change.
Gazans push for a nonpartisan police force, contingent on Israeli cooperation
The National Committee for the Administration of the Gaza Strip (NCAG) has begun recruiting thousands of officers for a new, technocratic police force to govern Gaza and manage civil affairs, with training planned in Egypt and Jordan. Applicants must be Gaza residents aged 18–35, in good physical shape, and with no criminal record. Backers argue the force should be independent from Hamas or Fatah, but say its success depends on Israeli cooperation and logistical support. Skepticism remains about the relinquishment of Hamas influence and how existing Hamas police could be reintegrated or accommodated.
Saudi Source Pushes Iran Regime Change, Beginning with Khamenei's Ouster
A Saudi royal family source tells N12 that the Iran crisis should be resolved through regime change beginning with the ouster of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, advocating elimination of top leadership and a post-regime election, while criticizing US/Israel strategy and noting Iran’s ongoing protests, political dynamics, and potential nuclear trajectory.
Gulf Buildup Signals Possible U.S. Strike on Iran and Risk of Regime Change
The United States has markedly increased its presence in the Gulf—with four carrier strike groups, dozens of destroyers, upgraded aircraft and bases—raising the prospect of a military strike on Iran. Analysts say the goal could extend to regime change within weeks if diplomacy fails, though timelines and targets remain uncertain and the move could trigger wide regional retaliation.
IRGC Directs Hezbollah as Lebanon Braces for Strikes
Reports say Iran’s IRGC officers are directly supervising Hezbollah from Lebanon, taking control of its military rebuilding and strategic war plans ahead of possible Israeli or US strikes. The oversight includes regular meetings with Hezbollah operatives across Lebanon and a Beqaa Valley command center, as tensions escalate with ongoing Israeli airstrikes and Lebanon’s political pressure to stay neutral.
Lebanon under fire as Israeli strikes kill senior Hezbollah commander
Israeli air strikes in eastern Lebanon killed at least 10 people, including a senior Hezbollah field commander, in the Bekaa Valley, despite a ceasefire. Israel says it targeted Hezbollah command centres embedded in civilians; Hezbollah confirms casualties and says the ceasefire only applies to southern Lebanon. The strikes are among the deadliest since the 2024 ceasefire and maintain high regional tensions amid broader Middle East hostilities.
Gulf States Urge Caution as US-Iran War Threat Looms
As the U.S. mobilizes toward possible strikes on Iran, Gulf security partners fear Tehran’s retaliation and broader chaos, pressuring Washington to pursue diplomacy; analysts warn that even a limited war could threaten Gulf bases and the Strait of Hormuz, spike oil prices, trigger refugee flows, and reshape regional power dynamics, including Israel’s leverage.
Amnesty warns Iran's protest crackdown could target minors with death sentences
Amnesty International warns that in Iran, around 30 detainees from January protests are at risk of execution after expedited trials, with eight already sentenced to death including two 17-year-olds; rights groups allege torture and denial of legal counsel in the process, and say the true number at risk may be higher.