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Trump says Iran 'would love' to make a deal with the US but isn't prepared to make the right one

BY JERUSALEM POST STAFF AND REUTERS — Sat, 22 Aug 2026 00:47:12 GMT

Trump also said that the US had total control over the "entire region having to do with the Strait of Hormuz."

Over 750 US servicemen have been wounded in Iran war, Pentagon numbers reveal - report

BY ARIELLA ROITMAN — Fri, 21 Aug 2026 22:31:46 GMT

A total of 18 US soldiers have been killed and 756 wounded in the US-Iran war, a number that has risen despite recent ceasefire efforts.

Syrian FM says Damascus mulling Mecca Joint Defense pact, but rejects strengthening Iran ties

BY ARSHAD MEHMOOD/THE MEDIA LINE — Fri, 21 Aug 2026 19:54:13 GMT

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani visited Islamabad for the first visit by a Syrian foreign minister to Pakistan since the fall of the Assad regime in December 2024.

International contention continues as eight more countries condemn Israel's E1 settlement plan

BY ARIELLA ROITMAN — Fri, 21 Aug 2026 19:25:58 GMT

A spokesperson for the US State Department spoke to N12 News later on Friday, saying that the US government "does not support annexation."

Iran’s Pezeshkian says war should end while Tehran holds 'position of power'

BY JERUSALEM POST STAFF — Fri, 21 Aug 2026 15:04:56 GMT

Pezeshkian's comments come after sources said earlier on Friday that the chances of the Iran conflict expanding in the near future have decreased.

Israel’s new Syria dilemma: Netanyahu’s Russia playbook faces 'Turkey test'

BY HERB KEINON — Fri, 21 Aug 2026 13:45:32 GMT

NATIONAL AFFAIRS: Can the kind of deconfliction mechanism PM Benjamin Netanyahu established with Putin in Syria be replicated with Erdogan’s Turkey?

Iran's Ghalibaf calls for strategy to counter 'toughest' US sanctions threat

BY REUTERS — Fri, 21 Aug 2026 11:45:08 GMT

Following Washington's announcement of what it called the toughest sanctions on Iran, Tehran said it would pursue measures to withstand economic pressure.

Chance of Iran war expansion dropped after Trump declared economic warfare, officials say

BY AMIR BOHBOT — Fri, 21 Aug 2026 10:23:11 GMT

According to the officials, US President Donald Trump’s decision to impose another harsh package of economic sanctions is intended to “buy time” until after the US midterm elections.

Lebanese Shiite scholar says Hezbollah brought 'destruction' and 'hatred' to Lebanon

BY LEO FEIERBERG BETTER — Fri, 21 Aug 2026 01:40:24 GMT

When asked on the likelihood of Hezbollah disarming, Fuani showed optimism, citing the aftermath of President Ahmed al-Sharaa's successful overthrow of Bashar al-Assad.

US planning to block Abbas from addressing UN next month, sources tell 'Post'

BY AMICHAI STEIN AND IDAN KWELLER AND JERUSALEM POST STAFF — Thu, 20 Aug 2026 22:36:24 GMT

One person with knowledge told the Post that Abbas reportedly asked Turkey for help to convince the US to reverse the decision.

US hits Hezbollah with fresh sanctions, emphasizing ties to Iranian government

BY REUTERS — Thu, 20 Aug 2026 22:24:12 GMT

The Treasury Department redesignated the group "for service to the Iranian regime under the command of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Quds Force," according to a statement.

UN says two staff members detained in Afghanistan have been freed

BY REUTERS — Thu, 20 Aug 2026 20:57:39 GMT

The two Afghan staff members of the UN's Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) were detained in the western city of Herat on August 9, following a string of detentions by Taliban authorities.

Israel faces emerging regional alignment as Syria turns to Pakistan after strikes - analysis

BY SETH J. FRANTZMAN — Thu, 20 Aug 2026 18:38:06 GMT

Talk of Saudi Arabia joining the Abraham Accords appears to underestimate how much Riyadh and other countries have become concerned about Israeli strikes in places like Syria.

How Ghalibaf’s visit could redefine Iran-Iraq ties amid regional tensions - analysis

BY SETH J. FRANTZMAN — Thu, 20 Aug 2026 18:37:45 GMT

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf visited Iraq as Tehran sought to protect its allied militias and signal it would not budge on the Strait of Hormuz.

Iranian Parliament Speaker Ghalibaf's Iraq visit seeks to reshape ties amid regional unrest

BY DANIELLE GREYMAN-KENNARD — Thu, 20 Aug 2026 17:33:59 GMT

Upon Ghalibaf’s arrival, he insisted that the two countries needed to strengthen a “new regional order” and denounced “foreign interference.”

Gaza mediators say latest Israeli strikes undermine efforts to end conflict at critical stage

BY REUTERS — Thu, 20 Aug 2026 17:29:34 GMT

Turkey, Egypt, and Qatar condemned recent Israeli strikes in Gaza, saying they undermined regional and international efforts to implement a peace plan.

Hamas using Nasser Hospital as interrogation, torture center in Gaza, IDF says

BY TOBIAS HOLCMAN — Thu, 20 Aug 2026 16:31:02 GMT

An investigation by the Shin Bet and the IDF revealed that masked Hamas terrorists were spotted in the hospital, with its second floor being used to torture Palestinians.

Israeli curbs on labor, banking, and trade drive West Bank economic crisis - report

BY SHOSHANA BAKER — Thu, 20 Aug 2026 16:26:42 GMT

Unemployment, reduced public salaries and strained healthcare are worsening the West Bank’s economic crisis amid Israeli restrictions, The New York Times reported.

Huckabee says Turkish military was 'further south than supposed' before Israel's attack on Syria

BY TOBIAS HOLCMAN AND REUTERS — Thu, 20 Aug 2026 15:24:27 GMT

US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee told Al Arabiya in a Thursday interview that he didn't believe the Israeli attack on Syria was a provocation against Turkey, but more of a reaction.

Iranian woman sentenced to three years in prison for comment on Netanyahu social media post

BY DANIELLE GREYMAN-KENNARD — Thu, 20 Aug 2026 12:39:10 GMT

Iranian human rights groups say Azar Yahu was jailed after reacting to posts by Netanyahu and Trump, with authorities accusing her of acting against national security.

Turkey denies Israeli claims, says no troops were at Syrian airbase struck by IDF

BY JERUSALEM POST STAFF AND REUTERS — Thu, 20 Aug 2026 12:15:21 GMT

Turkey's defense ministry: Israel’s military interventions against neighboring countries must not be accepted • Israel insists Ankara, Damascus were 'on verge' of breaking status quo

Trump's economic 'D-Day' will only bring further defeat to US, Iran's Araghchi warns

BY JERUSALEM POST STAFF — Thu, 20 Aug 2026 09:21:37 GMT

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warns Trump’s economic campaign will fail, as IRGC spokesman Hossein Mohebbi threatens a more destructive Iranian response if another war breaks out.

'Economic D-Day': Trump threatens economic warfare against countries aiding Iran

BY REUTERS AND JERUSALEM POST STAFF — Thu, 20 Aug 2026 02:06:08 GMT

UAE suspending all trade activities, commercial exchanges and financial transactions with Iran following Trump statement • Trump promises 'economic warfare and isolation on an unprecedented scale'

Lebanon hands Assad-era general to Syria in first such transfer since Assad’s fall

BY REUTERS — Thu, 20 Aug 2026 00:48:32 GMT

The ministry said Issa was wanted under an arrest warrant on charges including intentional homicide, facilitating a felony, killing more than two people, and more.

US military created secret path through Hormuz, 10 million barrels of oil pass daily - report

BY ESTHER DAVIS — Thu, 20 Aug 2026 00:14:14 GMT

US President Donald Trump told reporters "The Strait is open. A lot of boats are coming through, adding that "We are getting a lot of oil out."

Iran plans to weaken Kurdish forces in Iraq to prevent disarmament of militias - analysis

BY SETH J. FRANTZMAN — Wed, 19 Aug 2026 21:58:25 GMT

Iran will use the militias to do whatever is necessary to preserve its role in Iraq, while also aiming to weaken its Kurdish rivals in the country.

Are Israel, Turkey gearing up to fight in Syrian territory? - analysis

BY SETH J. FRANTZMAN — Wed, 19 Aug 2026 21:08:30 GMT

Rhetoric is one thing. Action is another. The bombing of Syria is not entirely new. Israel carried out thousands of airstrikes before the fall of the Assad regime in December 2024.

Mossad director, Syria foreign minister discussed Turkish military presence before strikes

BY REUTERS AND ESTHER DAVIS — Wed, 19 Aug 2026 20:28:33 GMT

The call, which the sources said took place on August 14, came days before Israel launched airstrikes on a Syrian military airbase in the north of the country on Tuesday.

Israel struck Syria to avoid a direct clash with Turkey, experts say

BY DANIELLE GREYMAN-KENNARD — Wed, 19 Aug 2026 15:28:47 GMT

Ankara rejected allegations made by Jerusalem that the deployment of Turkish forces violated the “status quo” and posed a threat to Israel’s security.

Syria says it can stop buying wheat abroad, but analysts say the reality is more complicated

BY RIZIK ALABI/THE MEDIA LINE — Wed, 19 Aug 2026 13:53:08 GMT

Economist Yafa Nawaf said sustainably eliminating the need for wheat imports depends on continued support for producers, access to fertilizer and seed, affordable fuel, and more.