Category: 2. Middle East

The Jordanian State Security Court yesterday sentenced four Jordanians to 20 years in jail for transporting weapons and explosives to the Palestinian resistance in the occupied West Bank, Quds Press reported.

The defendants, Huthaifa and Ibrahim Jabr, Khaled Al-Majdalawi and Ahmed Ayesh were arrested during a security campaign carried out in July 2023 and in March 2024.

The prosecution charged the defendants with “committing acts that disturb public security…

The Sudanese army yesterday denied statements by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) about thwarting an attempt to smuggle illegal weapons and military equipment to the Sudanese army, Russia’s Sputnik news agency reported.

A spokesman for the Sudanese armed forces, Brigadier General Nabil Abdullah described the accusations as “ridiculous, untrue” and “very strange”.

He explained that Sudan is a fully sovereign state that has the right to obtain weapons…

Israeli occupation forces (IOF) imposed a complete closure on Beita village in southern Nablus yesterday, the Palestinian Information Centre reported.

This came after an Israeli occupation soldier was seriously injured when an explosive device went off in a military vehicle.

The Beita Municipality said in a statement today that occupation forces closed all entrances leading to the village and stormed it in large numbers while firing at citizens’ homes and their…

Palestinian prisoner Hasan Salameh has been subjected to severe torture and held under inhumane conditions in solitary confinement at Israel’s Megiddo Prison, according to the Asra Media Office.

In a statement issued yesterday, Asra Media said Salameh had been assaulted by Israeli jailers six times in the last two months, adding that his weight dropped drastically to 62 kilogrammes as a result of his exposure to deliberate starvation.

“Salameh suffers from…

Four more civilians have been killed and nine others injured in artillery shelling by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on the city of El-Fasher, the capital of North Darfur in western Sudan, the army said today.

The army’s Sixth Infantry Division in El-Fasher said its forces repelled an assault by RSF militants and cut a supply line for the RSF in the city, killing ten militants, destroying five military vehicles and seizing three others.

“The RSF…

Julen Lopetegui, sacked by Premier League side West Ham in January, was appointed the new head coach of Qatar on Thursday.

“Ready for a new chapter. Welcome Lopetegui.

“We’re excited to embark on this journey together,” the Qatar football federation wrote on social media.

“I’m ready” the Spaniard said in a video accompanying the post on X.

The 58-year-old former Real Madrid and Spain coach has signed a contract with the hosts of the 2022 World Cup until 2027 when Qatar will defend their Asian…

Bushfires that erupted near Jerusalem were largely brought under control on Thursday, authorities said, with major roads reopened and firefighting teams still tackling lingering hotspots.

The blaze, which ignited along the main Jerusalem–Tel Aviv highway on Wednesday, prompted widespread evacuations and road closures as firefighters battled through the night to contain what officials have called the largest fire in a decade.

“The fire is under control,” said Shlomi Harush, a senior official…

Morocco win inaugural Women’s Futsal AFCON with last-second victory over Tanzania

Morocco’s women’s futsal team clinched the inaugural Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON Morocco 2025) title with a dramatic 3–2 comeback win over Tanzania yesterday evening in Rabat.

Playing before a… pic.twitter.com/jyaqqKf2nr

— Middle East Monitor (@MiddleEastMnt) May 1, 2025

Morocco’s women’s futsal team clinched the inaugural Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON Morocco…

British counter-terrorism police Thursday launched an investigation into online videos of Irish rappers Kneecap after the band denied supporting Hamas and Hezbollah or inciting violence against UK politicians.

The announcement came as nearly 40 other groups and artists, among them Pulp, Paul Weller and Primal Scream, rallied around the band amid an escalating row about political messaging at its concerts.

Other artists offering their support are The Pogues, Massive Attack, Dexys and Thin…

British counter terrorism police Thursday launched an investigation into online videos of Irish rap group Kneecap after the band denied supporting Hamas and Hezbollah or inciting violence against UK politicians.

The announcement came as nearly 40 other groups and artists, among them Pulp, Paul Weller and Primal Scream, rallied around the band in an escalating row about political messaging at its concerts.

Other artists who have offered their support include The Pogues, Massive Attack, Dexys…