Middle East

The US issues a warning for citizens to evacuate Iran as protests intensify, with many Iranians seeking refuge in Turkey, crossing the Kapikoy border gate into Van Province.

The city in Iraq is home to one of Shi’ite Islam’s holiest shrines and has long relied on Iranian pilgrims, who have traditionally made up the largest proportion of visitors.

This week is crucial in terms of the protests. Many issues are coming together at the same time as Iran’s regime seeks to ride out the challenge. 

Hezbollah insists that the deal only applies to the southernmost region of Lebanon that borders Israel and has refused to relinquish its arsenal elsewhere.

This comes despite the return of all the hostages held in Gaza being a key tenet of the first phase of the ceasefire. The remains of St.-Sgt.-Maj. Ran Gvili remain in captivity.

“You are the national military of Iran, not the military of the Islamic Republic. You have a duty to protect the lives of your compatriots," Pahlavi wrote.

“I saw what we call a ‘mass casualty’ situation in medicine. That is when your potential and facilities to provide services are less than the population of patients,” said an Iranian doctor.

"The United States and Israeli regime bear direct and undeniable legal responsibility for the resulting loss of innocent civilian lives, particularly among the youth,” said the Iranian Ambassador.

Five days of fighting last week left at least 23 people dead, according to Syria's health ministry, and saw more than 150,000 flee the two Kurdish-run pockets of the city.

Iran is currently seeing its biggest anti-government demonstrations in years as the administration of President Donald Trump weighs how to respond.