Shafaq News | Latest breaking news in Iraq and the world https://shafaq.com/en/en?rss=1 Shafaaq News Agency Sat, 31 Oct 2026 09:59:09 +0000 ar hourly 3 https://shafaq.com/en/Middle-East/Israeli-military-convoy-enters-Syria-s-Daraa-province https://shafaq.com/en/Middle-East/Israeli-military-convoy-enters-Syria-s-Daraa-province Israeli military convoy enters Syria’s Daraa province

Shafaq News- Daraa

An Israeli military convoy of six vehicles enteredwestern Daraa province in southern Syria on Saturday, the Syrian Observatoryfor Human Rights (SOHR) said.

The vehicles left Al-Jazirah barracks near Maariyah,crossed Abdin village in the Yarmouk Basin, and headed toward Wadi Al-Raqqad, withno arrests, casualties, or property damage reported.

Late Friday, Israeli forces fired illumination flaresover Breqa in neighboring Quneitra province and targeted the Tal Akashawoodland on the village’s outskirts with heavy machine guns, according to SOHR.

The Sijil Center, which monitors Israeli activity inSyria, documented at least 10 incidents it classified as “Israeli violations”on Friday across Quneitra, Daraa, and Rural Damascus (Rif Dimashq), comprisingthree ground incursions, two checkpoints, four aerial operations, and one otherincident.

In an earlier report covering October 15–21, thecenter recorded 88 incidents across four provinces: 58 in Quneitra, 17 inDaraa, nine in Rural Damascus, and four in Damascus. The breakdown included 31aerial operations, 28 ground incursions, 11 checkpoints, seven raids, sixdetentions, two shelling incidents, and three other violations.

Read more: Syrians protest Israeli incursions

]]> Sat, 31 Oct 2026 08:45:01 +0000 https://shafaq.com/en/Middle-East/Six-killed-in-Yemen-as-Saudi-Houthi-fighting-escalates https://shafaq.com/en/Middle-East/Six-killed-in-Yemen-as-Saudi-Houthi-fighting-escalates Six killed in Yemen as Saudi-Houthi fighting escalates

Shafaq News- Sanaa

At least six people, including a woman and four of herchildren, were killed in an alleged Saudi attack on a house in Yemen’s Taizprovince on Saturday, Houthi-affiliated Al-Masirah TV said, while Saudi Arabiaannounced the interception of two drones.

Rescue teams were unable to reach the site inAl-Masahin, Al-Shamayatayn district, for several hours because of continuedSaudi air operations, according to Al-Masirah, which reported furtherairstrikes in Al-Shamayatayn and artillery shelling in Qatabir district alongthe Saudi border in Saada province.

Saudi-led Coalition spokesperson Maj. Gen. TurkiAl-Malki, meanwhile, said air defenses intercepted and destroyed a drone overRiyadh, with falling debris causing no injuries. A second drone, which heattributed to the Houthis, was shot down in southern Saudi Arabia.

On Friday, Al-Masirah said Saudi shelling killed threepeople, including a girl, and wounded three others in Taiz’s Hayfan district,while an airstrike on telecommunications infrastructure in Al-Majasha, Maqbanahdistrict, left one person dead and five injured. The Health Ministry inHouthi-controlled Sanaa also reported that a civilian was seriously wounded ina strike on Al-Ramah village in Al-Misrakh district. Other attacks reportedlytargeted a detention facility in Mokha and Yarim district in Ibb province.

Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree accused Saudiforces of launching 93 airstrikes and missile attacks over the previous 24hours across Sanaa, Al-Jawf, Taiz, Saada, Marib, Dhamar, Hajjah, Ibb, and Lahj,bringing the Houthi-reported total since the latest escalation to 3,689.

Saree also denied conducting operations inside SaudiArabia, disputing Riyadh’s earlier claim that it had intercepted a drone overMedina.

Yemen’s internationally recognized government accusedthe Houthis of firing ballistic missiles toward Aden International Airport andthe Maashiq Presidential Palace, military spokesperson Col. Majed AbdullahAl-Nuzaili said. Government forces also reported carrying out 1,087 strikesagainst Houthi positions under the ongoing “Dawn of Yemen” offensive, claimingto have inflicted losses on 336 Houthi fighters and commanders and damaged ordestroyed 112 military assets.

]]> Sat, 31 Oct 2026 06:32:32 +0000 https://shafaq.com/en/Middle-East/Houthis-launch-ballistic-missile-strikes-on-Aden https://shafaq.com/en/Middle-East/Houthis-launch-ballistic-missile-strikes-on-Aden Houthis launch ballistic missile strikes on Aden

Shafaq News- Sanaa

Yemen's military accused the Houthis (Ansarallah) on Friday of launching ballistic missiles at Aden International Airport and the Maashiq Presidential Palace, the seat of the internationally recognized government, military spokesperson Col. Majed Abdullah al-Nuzaili said in a statement.

The reported strikes followed an October 15 missile attack on the Maashiq Palace complex that killed and wounded several guards.

Earlier on Friday, Yemen's government forces said they had carried out 1,087 military operations against Houthi positions under the ongoing "Dawn of Yemen" offensive, claiming to have killed 336 Houthi fighters and damaged or destroyed military assets.

]]> Fri, 30 Oct 2026 22:09:41 +0000 https://shafaq.com/en/Middle-East/Ship-hit-by-unknown-projectile-near-Iran-s-Lavan-Island https://shafaq.com/en/Middle-East/Ship-hit-by-unknown-projectile-near-Iran-s-Lavan-Island Ship hit by unknown projectile near Iran's Lavan Island

Shafaq News- Tehran

A vessel was struck by an unidentified projectile on itsport side, sparking a fire on board, about 40 nautical miles south of Iran'sLavan Island, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported onFriday.

The vessel's crew were safe, and no environmental impact hadbeen reported so far, UKMTO added. 

Meanwhile, Iran'sIslamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced that a fourth supertankerhad suffered a major explosion on Friday evening after striking a mine, and wasnow on fire.

The IRGC claimed that the tanker was carrying more than twomillion barrels of crude oil and had ignored warnings from its naval forces toavoid an unauthorized southern route through the Strait of Hormuz.

]]> Fri, 30 Oct 2026 21:16:03 +0000 https://shafaq.com/en/Middle-East/Yemen-forces-report-1K-attacks-on-Houthi-positions https://shafaq.com/en/Middle-East/Yemen-forces-report-1K-attacks-on-Houthi-positions Yemen forces report 1K+ attacks on Houthi positions

Shafaq News- Sanaa

The Yemeni forces affiliated with the internationally recognized government carriedout 1,087 strikes against Houthi targets, the forces spokesperson, AbdullahAl-Nuzaili, said on Friday.

He announced that around 336 Houthi fighters and commanders had been “neutralized,”while 112 military vehicles, pieces of equipment, supply assets, and heavyweapons had been destroyed or damaged.

According to Al-Nuzaili, the strikes targeted Houthi command centers, troopconcentrations, reinforcements, fortifications, and supply routes. Governmentforces and allied resistance fighters also carried out raids and counterattacksin Taiz, while operations in Al-Jawf, Marib, Al-Bayda, and southern Yemensought to prevent Houthi infiltration and restrict the movement ofreinforcements.

The Saudi-led coalition reported intercepting and destroying a drone in theRiyadh region and a ballistic missile launched by the Houthis toward southernSaudi Arabia.

Meanwhile, Houthi-aligned Al-Masirah television reported two attacks inHayfan district, Taiz province. Shelling attributed to Saudi forces killed acivilian and wounded his son, while mortar fire by Saudi-backed fighters strucka house, killing two people, including a girl, and injuring two women.

In Maqbanah district, a Saudi airstrike on telecommunications infrastructurein Al-Majasha killed another civilian and wounded five others, including awoman and a child, according to the channel. The Health Ministry inHouthi-controlled Sanaa also reported that an airstrike on Al-Ramah village inAl-Misrakh district seriously wounded a civilian.

Al-Masirah said a Saudi attack targeted a security detention facility inMokha, on Yemen's western coast, and airstrikes on Yarim district in Ibbprovince.

]]> Fri, 30 Oct 2026 17:04:23 +0000 https://shafaq.com/en/Middle-East/Israel-claims-killing-six-Hamas-members-in-Gaza https://shafaq.com/en/Middle-East/Israel-claims-killing-six-Hamas-members-in-Gaza Israel claims killing six Hamas members in Gaza

Shafaq News- Gaza

Israeli airstrikes in Gaza killed six members of Hamas'armed wing, including three commanders, the Israeli military said on Friday.

The army identified two commanders killed in one strike,Ihab Jamil Abu Taqiya, a Hamas cell commander, and Ibrahim Jihad Mohammed AbuOshaiba, a platoon commander in the group's armed wing. It accused both men ofrecently working to carry out attacks against Israeli civilians and troops andrebuild Hamas' capabilities, calling their alleged activities a “systematicviolation of the ceasefire agreement.”

Separately, the military said two strikes on October 28 inKhan Younis and Rafah, southern Gaza, killed four other Hamas members,including a member of the group's elite Nukhba unit and a commander.

]]> Fri, 30 Oct 2026 15:57:58 +0000 https://shafaq.com/en/Middle-East/Newlyweds-in-Ahvaz-stand-before-resort-ruins-after-strike https://shafaq.com/en/Middle-East/Newlyweds-in-Ahvaz-stand-before-resort-ruins-after-strike Newlyweds in Iran's Ahvaz stand before resort ruins

Shafaq News- Khuzestan

A bride and groom stood before the ruins of a damaged guest house at theRitaj tourist resort in Ahvaz, southwestern Iran, in a scene that captured boththe destruction of war and a determination to move forward.

The resort in Ahvaz —the capital of Khuzestan province— was hit in anairstrike early on March 21, 2026, during Nowruz celebrations, according to statements from local officials. Iranian officials and localreports accused Israel and the United States of carrying out the attack. Thecomplex includes a restaurant, cultural halls and 18 guest houses for visitorsand travelers.

In an interview with Shafaq News, Tabar Gharib, deputy head of Khuzestan'sHeritage Department, said the resort was “a public and tourist site, not amilitary site or a place used for military purposes.”

She said the strike took place at night and that two people staying in oneof the targeted houses were killed, while others were wounded in thebombardment.

Images showed the wreckage of a place that once welcomed families andvisitors. One photograph showed the newlyweds standing beside the rubble, theirwedding clothes contrasting with the damaged buildings around them.

]]> Fri, 30 Oct 2026 14:13:45 +0000 https://shafaq.com/en/Middle-East/Two-oil-tankers-stopped-south-of-Strait-of-Hormuz https://shafaq.com/en/Middle-East/Two-oil-tankers-stopped-south-of-Strait-of-Hormuz Two oil tankers stopped south of Strait of Hormuz

Shafaq News- Tehran

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy said onFriday that two oil tankers had been involved in an incident and stopped inwaters south of the Strait of Hormuz.

The incident occurred after the two vessels ignored warningsand attempted to use an unauthorized route through the strategic waterway, theNavy added.

US Central Command (CENTCOM) chief Brad Cooper said USforces have cleared Iranian mines from key shipping routes in the Strait. In avideo statement, Cooper added that he had visited US forces in the Middle Eastthis week and watched oil tankers pass through the strait.

]]> Fri, 30 Oct 2026 13:33:48 +0000 https://shafaq.com/en/Middle-East/Houthis-deny-Saudi-claim-of-drone-over-Mecca https://shafaq.com/en/Middle-East/Houthis-deny-Saudi-claim-of-drone-over-Mecca Houthis deny Saudi claim of drone over Mecca

Shafaq News- Aden

Yemen's Houthis denied launching an attack on Saudi Arabia on Friday after the Saudi-led coalition said it had intercepted and destroyed a drone fired by the group over the Mecca* region.

“This is an outright fabrication,” the group’s military spokesman Yahya Saree said.

A day earlier, the Houthis carried out six operations across Saudi Arabia targeting oil facilities, airports, and a military site. Saree said the group fired a barrage of missiles at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, while a drone struck King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, disrupting air traffic.

The Saudi-led coalition has not commented on Thursday's claims.

*Mecca, Islam’s holiest city, is the birthplace of the Prophet Muhammad and home to the Kaaba, which Muslims around the world face in daily prayer.

]]> Fri, 30 Oct 2026 07:28:28 +0000 https://shafaq.com/en/Middle-East/Israel-elections-Netanyahu-bloc-wins-53-seats-falls-short-of-majority https://shafaq.com/en/Middle-East/Israel-elections-Netanyahu-bloc-wins-53-seats-falls-short-of-majority Israel elections: Netanyahu bloc wins 53 seats, falls short of majority

Shafaq News- Middle East

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's bloc secured 53seats in the Knesset, while the opposition bloc led by Yashar party leader GadiEisenkot won 48 seats and Arab parties took 19, after 100% of votes werecounted on Thursday.

The results fall short of the 61 seats needed to secure amajority in Israel's 120-seat parliament and form a government.

Israeli media expect complex political negotiationsfollowing Tuesday's election, which saw Netanyahu's bloc emerge ahead withoutsecuring enough seats to govern, while Arab parties gained a potentiallyinfluential position in coalition negotiations.

Netanyahu, leader of the Likud party, will remain head of acaretaker government until a new administration is formed. President IsaacHerzog is expected to begin consultations with party representatives after theofficial results are announced.

Possible scenarios include a unity government, a minoritygovernment backed by an agreement with Arab parties, efforts to attractlawmakers or parties from the opposing bloc, or another election if coalitionnegotiations fail.

Meanwhile, opposition parties are considering whether tocooperate in parliament to change the Knesset speaker and influenceparliamentary committees and legislation, even before the next government'scomposition is settled.

]]> Thu, 29 Oct 2026 19:50:28 +0000 https://shafaq.com/en/Middle-East/US-envoy-dismisses-Greater-Israel-vision https://shafaq.com/en/Middle-East/US-envoy-dismisses-Greater-Israel-vision US envoy dismisses 'Greater Israel' vision

Shafaq News- Washington

US Special Envoy for Iraq and Syria Tom Barrack on Thursday called for diplomacy and regional cooperation to end conflicts in the Middle East, dismissing the idea of a "Greater Israel" as an “illusion promoted by political opponents.”

In an interview with CNN, Barrack said the October 7, 2023, attacks had prompted Israel to reassess its borders, arguing that regional disputes should be resolved through diplomacy regardless of who serves as Israeli prime minister.

Countries across the Middle East increasingly recognized the need for cooperation, he argued, pointing to differences between Iraq's and Syria's economic prospects.

Barrack said Iraq's substantial oil revenues gave it an advantage in attracting investment, while Syria faced major obstacles, including limited revenues, an unstable banking system, export restrictions and security concerns. Those challenges made it difficult for Syria to attract international investors, he continued, particularly major US and Western energy companies, and would require sustained efforts to overcome.

Barrack praised Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates for supporting Syria's stability. He also commended Syria's current leadership for avoiding military escalation in response to repeated Israeli cross-border incursions.

]]> Thu, 29 Oct 2026 18:34:55 +0000 https://shafaq.com/en/Middle-East/Hormuz-tensions-mount-following-dhow-sinking https://shafaq.com/en/Middle-East/Hormuz-tensions-mount-following-dhow-sinking Hormuz tensions mount following dhow sinking

Shafaq News- Hormuz

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported on Thursday that a vessel caught fire near Oman's Khasab, with regional authorities identifying it as a traditional dhow that subsequently sank after a maritime security incident.

Earlier on Thursday, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy claimed that three oil tankers had struck naval mines and caught fire over the previous 24 hours while attempting to cross an unauthorized route through the Strait of Hormuz.

The IRGC said the vessels had ignored navigation warnings and were subsequently abandoned along the strait's southern shores. It did not identify the tankers or provide details about their crews.

Separately, Iran's Navy reported that a tanker had caught fire after allegedly striking a mine east of the strait while navigating a restricted area without coordination.

The accounts have not established whether the incident near Khasab involved any of the tankers mentioned by the Iranian military.

On Wednesday, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said American forces had cleared internationally recognized shipping lanes in the Strait of Hormuz of naval mines, rejecting Iranian reports that commercial vessels had struck mines.

Meanwhile, Iran's Tasnim news agency reported on Thursday that Tehran had received a message from US Vice President JD Vance but had yet to respond. According to The Wall Street Journal, Vance contacted Iranian Supreme National Security Council Secretary Mohsen Rezaei through Qatari intermediaries in an effort to revive negotiations.

Axios reported that Washington wanted the negotiations to address Iran's nuclear program, while Tehran continued to insist that the United States meet its conditions for ending the conflict. President Donald Trump, however, said the message primarily concerned efforts to facilitate medical supplies for Iran.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran remained in contact with mediators over proposals to implement its seven-day framework for ending the war and reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

]]> Thu, 29 Oct 2026 17:06:37 +0000 https://shafaq.com/en/Middle-East/Iran-arrests-16-over-alleged-terror-cells-in-southeast https://shafaq.com/en/Middle-East/Iran-arrests-16-over-alleged-terror-cells-in-southeast Iran arrests 16 over alleged terror cells in southeast

Shafaq News- Tehran

Iranian authorities on Thursday dismantled four alleged “terroristcells” and arrested 16 members, as well as three individuals accused ofgathering and sending information to an “enemy” in the country's southeast.

In a statement, Iran's Intelligence Ministry said securitypersonnel identified the cells in central and southern parts of Sistan andBaluchestan province, with the help of public reports, continuous intelligenceand operational surveillance, and cooperation with other security agencies. Itdescribed the cells as working for Israel and the United States. “Some of thosearrested had come from abroad.”

Several of the detainees were involved in assassinationstargeting members of Iran's Law Enforcement Command in the city of Iranshahr,the ministry added.

Security forces also seized weapons and ammunition from thedetainees, including nine Kalashnikov rifles, two US-made M4 rifles, and sevenColt pistols, along with their ammunition.

In a separate operation, the ministry identified andarrested three individuals accused of collecting and transmitting informationabout the locations of military, defense, and security headquarters andfacilities in the southern part of the province.

]]> Thu, 29 Oct 2026 16:36:57 +0000 https://shafaq.com/en/Middle-East/Floods-swamp-displacement-camps-in-Al-Hasakah https://shafaq.com/en/Middle-East/Floods-swamp-displacement-camps-in-Al-Hasakah Floods swamp displacement camps in Al-Hasakah

Shafaq News- Al-Hasakah

Heavy rainfall flooded dozens of tents in two displacement camps in Syria's northeastern Al-Hasakah province on Thursday, forcing many residents to spend Wednesday night outdoors and prompting urgent appeals for humanitarian assistance.

A Shafaq News correspondent reported that floodwaters inundated tents at the Washokani (Al-Tuwaina) and Serekaniye (Al-Talae) camps, which shelter families displaced from Ras Al-Ain (Serekaniye).

At Washokani camp, the flooding severely damaged tents, bedding and other belongings, leaving many families without adequate shelter.

Sulaiman al-Hasso, a displaced resident from the Ras Al-Ain countryside, told Shafaq News that the water flooded tents that were already in poor condition, while the camp's infrastructure is inadequate, adding that “most humanitarian organizations had withdrawn and assistance had been suspended for about a year.”

Al-Hasso appealed to humanitarian organizations to provide emergency assistance, including food, infant formula, replacement tents, clothing and bedding.

He also called on the Syrian government to accelerate the return of displaced families to Ras Al-Ain as winter approaches and conditions deteriorate in camps and temporary shelters.

Meanwhile, Syrian Minister of Emergency and Disaster Management Raed al-Saleh urged residents of Raqqa, Deir ez-Zor and Al-Hasakah to remain indoors unless necessary, protect children and avoid low-lying areas and flood channels.

Since Wednesday, thunderstorms accompanied by hail and strong winds have affected the three provinces, along with parts of eastern Homs, Hama and Aleppo, triggering flash floods, overflowing waterways and road closures.

The flooding comes amid ongoing efforts to return families displaced from Ras Al-Ain by fighting in northeastern Syria in 2019. On October 13, a fifth convoy carrying 385 displaced families left camps in Al-Hasakah for Ras Al-Ain and its countryside.

]]> Thu, 29 Oct 2026 12:44:07 +0000 https://shafaq.com/en/Middle-East/IRGC-downs-drone-near-Hormuz https://shafaq.com/en/Middle-East/IRGC-downs-drone-near-Hormuz IRGC downs drone near Hormuz

Shafaq News- Tehran

Iran's IslamicRevolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said on Thursday it had shot down an MQ-1drone in the airspace east of the Strait of Hormuz, the 14th such aircraft itsays it has destroyed.

The drone wasbrought down by a new, advanced IRGC air defense system opposite the coastaltown of Sirik, in southern Iran's Hormozgan province, about an hour before theannouncement, the force's public relations office said in a statement.

The incident comesamid renewed diplomatic efforts to end the war. US Vice President JD Vance senta letter to Mohsen Rezaei, head of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council,seeking to revive peace talks, The Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday.Qatari mediators have also presented Tehran with a new draft deal, an officialbriefed on the negotiations told Reuters, though a senior Iranian officialdismissed it as unacceptable.

Iranian ForeignMinister Abbas Araghchi said on Wednesday that Tehran was still givingdiplomacy a chance to succeed, adding that Iran's seven-day plan could becompleted in less than a week if adopted.

]]> Thu, 29 Oct 2026 05:49:41 +0000 https://shafaq.com/en/Middle-East/Syria-summons-Jordanian-ambassador-over-strikes-in-Daraa https://shafaq.com/en/Middle-East/Syria-summons-Jordanian-ambassador-over-strikes-in-Daraa Syria summons Jordanian ambassador over strikes in Daraa

Shafaq News- Damascus

Syria’s Foreign Ministry summoned Jordanian Ambassador toDamascus Sufian al-Qudah and handed him a formal protest note over Jordanianstrikes on civilian sites in Daraa province on Monday, the Syrian Arab NewsAgency (SANA) reported on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Syrian authorities reopened the Nassib bordercrossing with Jordan after both countries reaffirmed their commitment toovercoming tensions and preventing further damage to bilateral relationsfollowing the strikes. 

Both countries agreed to form a joint security committee to investigate the circumstances of recent Jordanian airstrikes on Syrian territory and assess their impact. The agreement was reached during a phone call between Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani and Jordanian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi. 

The committee will establish the details of the recent military operations and assess their consequences. Both sides also agreed to strengthen field and intelligence coordination to counter terrorist threats while ensuring respect for Syrian sovereignty and protecting civilians.

]]> Wed, 28 Oct 2026 18:10:48 +0000 https://shafaq.com/en/Middle-East/Netanyahu-bloc-leads-with-53-seats-after-85-6-of-votes-counted https://shafaq.com/en/Middle-East/Netanyahu-bloc-leads-with-53-seats-after-85-6-of-votes-counted Netanyahu bloc leads with 53 seats after 85.6% of votes counted

Shafaq News- Middle East

Israel’s Central ElectionsCommittee reported that preliminary results, with 85.6% of votes counted in theparliamentary election, showed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s bloc winning53 seats, compared with 48 for opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot’s bloc and 19for Arab parties.

The committee put voterturnout at 77.7%, the highest level since the 1999 election. It also estimatedon Wednesday that between 430,000 and 480,000 double-envelope ballots remain tobe counted, including votes cast by soldiers, police officers, prisoners,hospital patients, Israeli diplomats abroad and others unable to vote at theirdesignated polling stations. Officials verify that voters have not voted twicebefore counting the ballots.

Israeli President Isaac Herzogsaid he would meet with representatives of parliamentary blocs next week forconsultations ahead of assigning a candidate to form the next government. “Iask everyone who comes to meet with me to come with an open mind.”

Israel’s Channel 12 reportedthat the preliminary results suggested Eisenkot had a strong chance of beingtasked with forming the next government. The broadcaster also cited a source assaying that ultra-Orthodox parties had not ruled out cooperating with Eisenkotif he formed a government.

The Israeli newspaper Maarivlikewise assessed that President Isaac Herzog could first ask Eisenkot to forma government.

Earlier in the day, Netanyahusaid he was waiting for the final results, arguing that they would show Likudwas Israel’s largest party and that the right-wing bloc held a decisivemajority. “A strong national government must be formed,” he said.

Eisenkot declared thatNetanyahu’s political career was over and accused him of using Israel’ssecurity for political gain. “He must not use Israel’s security for hispolitical interests.”

Read more: Israelis vote in first election since October 7 attack

]]> Wed, 28 Oct 2026 16:06:07 +0000 https://shafaq.com/en/Middle-East/Souq-Al-Tabakha-Medina-s-traditional-food-market https://shafaq.com/en/Middle-East/Souq-Al-Tabakha-Medina-s-traditional-food-market Souq Al-Tabakha: Medina’s traditional food market

ShafaqNews- Medina

Undera latticed wooden roof in Medina, Islam’s second-holiest city in western SaudiArabia, cooks in Souq Al-Tabakha move between pots and grills. Brown woodensigns above each doorway list what the kitchens serve: grilled, fried and bakedfish, shrimp, rice and meat.

Themarket, once known as Souq Al-Khan, sits in the Al-Maghariba district on PrinceAbdulmohsen bin Abdulaziz Road, known locally as Quraban Road, about akilometer from the Prophet's Mosque. Visitors enter through a pointed arch ofdark basalt stone, a material long used in the city's older buildings, and walkinto a corridor of dozens of restaurants serving Medina's popular dishes.

Themenus trace the city's history as a destination for pilgrims and migrants.Kabuli and Bukhari rice recall cooks from Afghanistan and Central Asia, mandicomes from the Yemeni tradition of slow-cooked meat over spiced rice, and mantudumplings and yaghmash (Yaghmoush) pastries share roots further east. Alongsidethem sit local staples such as muqalqal, small cubes of stir-fried meat, andkammouniya, a cumin-heavy stew closely tied to Medina, as well as fish andseafood.

Ona weekday afternoon, the crowd mixed residents with visiting pilgrims, somestill wearing the lanyards of their tour groups, sharing platters of grilledfish and flatbread at tables wrapped in plastic.

AhmedAl-Harbi, who owns one of the restaurants, said the market's appeal rests onvariety and consistency. "Many customers come looking for the traditionalflavor they have known for years," he told Shafaq News, adding that dinerscan choose between fish, grilled meat, rice dishes and older home-style recipesin one place.

Forthe cooks, that flavor depends on technique handed down through families."Popular dishes need experience and knowledge of the details, fromchoosing the ingredients to balancing the spices and the cooking time,"said Khaled Al-Oufi, a chef in the market. "What sets these dishes apartis a taste tied to people's memory, and we try to keep that flavor and pass iton to new generations."

AbdulrahmanAl-Juhani, a regular visitor, said the concentration of restaurants is whatdraws him back. Having many kitchens side by side, he told Shafaq News, letsvisitors try several dishes in one trip while taking in an atmosphere thatreflects part of Medina's heritage.

]]> Wed, 28 Oct 2026 15:39:20 +0000 https://shafaq.com/en/Middle-East/Netanyahu-calls-for-a-right-wing-government https://shafaq.com/en/Middle-East/Netanyahu-calls-for-a-right-wing-government Netanyahu calls for a right-wing government

Shafaq News- Middle East

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said right-wing parties hadsecured a "decisive majority" among the Zionist public, arguing thatno leader should govern with the support of Israeli Arabs.

Addressing Likud supporters, Netanyahu described his party as thelargest and called for the formation of a "national right-winggovernment."

He cautioned against drawing conclusions from preliminary figures,saying he was waiting for "real results."

Exit polls, however, showed no outright winner, with Netanyahu'scoalition holding a narrow lead over the main opposition alliance led by GadiEisenkot's Yashar party.

Voter turnout reached 77.7%, its highest level in nearly 30 years,according to the Central Elections Committee. With more than 57% of ballotscounted, the Likud-led bloc was projected to win 55 seats, five short of the 61needed for a parliamentary majority, while the opposition alliance wasprojected to secure 49 seats, according to a Channel 12 exit poll.

Arab-led parties collectively secured 18 seats, improving on theirperformance four years earlier, although neither of the two main blocsindicated that it would invite them to join a governing coalition.

The Joint List, an alliance comprising Hadash, Taal, and Balad and ledby Yousef Jabareen, was projected to win 11 seats, while Mansour Abbas's Raam(United Arab List), which ran separately, was expected to take seven.

The election is Israel's first since the Hamas-led attack on October 7,2023, and comes amid scrutiny of Netanyahu's handling of the attack and thesubsequent wars in Gaza, Lebanon, and Iran.

Read more: Israelis vote in first election since October 7 attack

]]> Wed, 28 Oct 2026 07:35:29 +0000 https://shafaq.com/en/Middle-East/Syria-s-Al-Sharaa-Border-with-Iraq-is-secure https://shafaq.com/en/Middle-East/Syria-s-Al-Sharaa-Border-with-Iraq-is-secure Syria’s Al-Sharaa: Border with Iraq is secure

Shafaq News- Damascus

Syrian transitional President Ahmed al-Sharaa said on Tuesday that theborder with Iraq was fully secure and that the two countries were coordinatingclosely, adding that no armed group posed a threat to both countries.

In a televised interview with Dijlah TV, al-Sharaa describedSyria as Iraq’s gateway to the Mediterranean Sea, arguing that Damascus couldprovide Baghdad with an export route for its oil through Mediterranean ports. “Syriacould serve as a corridor linking Iraq’s Grand Faw Port to the Mediterranean,while Iraq could connect Syria with Saudi Arabia.”

Al-Sharaa welcomed a visit by Iraqi Prime Minister Alial-Zaidi.

The Syrian transitional president stressed that Damascus did not viewIraq through a sectarian lens and that the two countries shared numerousinterests.

Al-Sharaa described the agricultural land extending acrossSyria and Iraq as a potential source of food for the wider region. “The two countries shared around 100 million dunamsof agricultural land, which he said could produce enough food to feedapproximately 130 million people.”

Regarding the transfer of ISIS detainees to Iraq, al-Sharaa said that the move had taken place at a sensitive time, with around 3,000 Syrians wereamong those transferred. He added that discussions had taken place with the Iraqijudiciary over the possible repatriation of Syrian detainees.

Addressing Iraq’s efforts to bring weapons under statecontrol and combat corruption, al-Sharaa argued that the proliferation of armedfactions weakened the state rather than protecting it. He called on Iraqipolitical forces to support the disarmament process pursued by Prime MinisterAli al-Zaidi, whom he praised for his commitment to fighting corruption.

]]> Tue, 27 Oct 2026 22:46:51 +0000 https://shafaq.com/en/Middle-East/Syria-and-Jordan-agree-to-security-committee-on-airstrikes https://shafaq.com/en/Middle-East/Syria-and-Jordan-agree-to-security-committee-on-airstrikes Syria and Jordan agree to security committee on airstrikes

Shafaq News- Amman/Damascus

Syria and Jordan agreed on Wednesday to form a jointsecurity committee to investigate the circumstances of recent Jordanianairstrikes on Syrian territory and assess their impact, while Amman expressedregret over civilian casualties and reaffirmed its respect for Syria’ssovereignty and territorial integrity.

The agreement was reached during a phone call between SyrianForeign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani and Jordanian Deputy Prime Minister andForeign Minister Ayman Safadi, according to a joint statement by the twocountries’ foreign ministries.

The committee will establish the details of the recentmilitary operations and assess their consequences. Both sides also agreed tostrengthen field and intelligence coordination to counter terrorist threatswhile ensuring respect for Syrian sovereignty and protecting civilians.

Al-Safadi and Al-Shaibani discussed Jordanian military strikes againstsites inside Syria that Amman said were linked to the Islamic State (ISIS)group. Al-Safadi maintained that the operations were based on fieldintelligence indicating confirmed threats and imminent terrorist attackstargeting Jordan’s security.

The ministers emphasized the importance of addressing thefallout from the incident through direct dialogue, preserving bilateralrelations and strengthening institutional cooperation to tackle shared securitychallenges.

Tensions between Damascus and Amman escalated afterJordanian airstrikes targeted sites in Syria’s southern provinces of Daraa andSuwayda on Monday evening. Syrian authorities reported that the strikes killedseven civilians, including three children and a woman, and wounded severalothers.

]]> Tue, 27 Oct 2026 22:21:52 +0000 https://shafaq.com/en/Middle-East/Israel-exit-polls-show-Likud-leading-no-majority https://shafaq.com/en/Middle-East/Israel-exit-polls-show-Likud-leading-no-majority Israel exit polls show Likud leading, no majority

Shafaq News- Middle East (Updated at 00:27)

Polling stations closed across Israel on Tuesday, with turnout reaching 74.3% two hours before voting ended, as exit polls projected Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud as the largest party in the 120-seat Knesset but showed neither political bloc securing a majority.

According to a Channel 12 exit poll, Likud was projected to win 24 seats, followed by Gadi Eisenkot's opposition Yashar party with 22.

The survey projected 52 seats for the bloc of Jewish-led parties opposing Netanyahu, compared with 50 for his alliance, leaving both short of the 61 seats required for a parliamentary majority.

Arab-led parties were projected to win a combined 18 seats, potentially giving them greater influence over the formation of Israel's next government.

The Joint List, an alliance of Hadash, Ta'al and Balad led by Yousef Jabareen, was projected to secure 11 seats, while Mansour Abbas's Ra'am (United Arab List), which ran separately, was projected to win seven.

Earlier, Israel's Central Elections Committee rejected a request by Likud to extend voting beyond the scheduled closing time of 10 p.m. local time (11 p.m. Baghdad time).

The election is Israel's first since the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023, and comes amid scrutiny of Netanyahu's handling of the attack and the subsequent wars in Gaza, Lebanon and Iran.

Read more: Israelis vote in first election since October 7 attack

]]> Tue, 27 Oct 2026 20:43:56 +0000 https://shafaq.com/en/Middle-East/Israel-kills-four-Palestinians-in-Gaza https://shafaq.com/en/Middle-East/Israel-kills-four-Palestinians-in-Gaza Israel kills four Palestinians in Gaza

Shafaq News- Gaza

Israeli military fire killed four Palestinians across the Gaza Strip on Tuesday and injured several others in separate attacks, according to media reports.

Among them, a young man died shortly after being critically wounded by Israeli gunfire in Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza. Another Palestinian was killed in an Israeli attack in the Al-Mawasi area of Rafah, southern Gaza, with his body taken to Nasser Medical Complex.

In the occupied West Bank, the Palestinian Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission reported 13 attacks by Israeli settlers and soldiers against Palestinian farmers across four governorates on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the Palestinian cabinet approved 1.5 million shekels (approximately $500,000) in assistance for Al-Khalil (Hebron) to address the impact of an ongoing Israeli military operation that led to the displacement of thousands of Palestinians.

On Monday, a UN-appointed commission of inquiry accused Israel of crimes against humanity in the occupied West Bank, including extermination, and of continuing acts of genocide in Gaza. Israel has rejected allegations of genocide.

According to Gaza's Health Ministry, at least 74,561 Palestinians have been killed and 175,759 injured since Israel launched its military campaign following the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023.

]]> Tue, 27 Oct 2026 20:06:49 +0000 https://shafaq.com/en/Middle-East/Houthis-claim-attacks-on-Saudi-defense-ministry https://shafaq.com/en/Middle-East/Houthis-claim-attacks-on-Saudi-defense-ministry Houthis claim attacks on Saudi defense ministry

Shafaq News- Sanaa/Riyadh

Yemen’s Houthi movement (Ansarallah) targeted Saudi Arabia’sDefense Ministry in Riyadh with a ballistic missile and Abha InternationalAirport with a drone, the group’s military spokesman, Yahya Saree, announced onTuesday.

Saree claimed that both attacks had hit their targetsaccurately and that the strike on Abha airport had disrupted air traffic.

Earlier in the day, he announced that the group had targetedtwo military transport aircraft with ballistic missiles, one at Najran Airportand the other at King Khalid Air Base in Khamis Mushait.

Saree also claimed that the Houthis had targeted the RasTanura oil refinery in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province with a ballisticmissile, setting off large fires at the site. 

Saudi Civil Defense reported that debris from twointercepted ballistic missiles had fallen in Riyadh, causing material damage toa building, a construction site and a vehicle.

Separately, the Saudi-led coalition supporting Yemen’sinternationally recognized government announced earlier in the day that it hadintercepted and destroyed seven aerial targets launched by the Houthis towardSaudi territory. The coalition did not specify the targets.

Saudi Arabia has led a military coalition since March 2015to support Yemen’s internationally recognized government against the Houthis,who have controlled the capital, Sanaa, and other parts of the country sinceSeptember 2014. 

]]> Tue, 27 Oct 2026 16:08:07 +0000 https://shafaq.com/en/Middle-East/Netanyahu-warns-of-Arab-vote-alleges-election-theft https://shafaq.com/en/Middle-East/Netanyahu-warns-of-Arab-vote-alleges-election-theft Netanyahu warns of Arab vote, alleges election theft

Shafaq News- Middle East (Updated at 16:27)

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged Likudsupporters to vote on Tuesday, warning that high Arab turnout could threatenhis party’s chances in a closely contested general election.

In a video message, Netanyahu claimed that Arab voterturnout in the southern Negev region was far higher than Jewish turnout,without providing figures to support the comparison. “They are trying to stealthe election from us,” he said, referring to the arrest of three operativesfrom the Arab-led Ra’am party on suspicion of bribing voters.

Netanyahu called on supporters to head to pollingstations rather than spend the day at the beach or attend barbecues, warningthat a victory by opposition Zionist and Arab parties would “bring an end tothe Jewish state as we know it.” He also raised concerns in several social media postsabout higher turnout among Arab and left-wing voters than among right-wingsupporters.

The Yashar party, headed by Netanyahu’s mainchallenger, Gadi Eisenkot, accused him of attempting to undermine publicconfidence in the vote through “unsubstantiated fraud allegations.”

“Netanyahu is panicking and has begun making upstories and claiming that the election is being stolen. This is no accident. Heis already laying the groundwork to challenge the election results,” the partystated, calling on supporters to deliver a “decisive victory that would leaveNetanyahu little room to challenge the result.”

Israelis began voting on Tuesday in their firstgeneral election since the Hamas-led attack of October 7, 2023, with Netanyahufacing former military chief Eisenkot in a race that final opinion pollssuggested was too close to call.

According to the Central Elections Committee,approximately 7.3 million eligible voters are choosing 120 Knesset members fromaround 36 party lists at more than 12,000 polling stations. Voting opened at7:00 a.m. and is scheduled to close at 10:00 p.m. local time, when broadcastersare expected to release exit polls.

Turnout reached 44.9%by 2:00 p.m., the highest level recorded at that stage of an Israeli electionsince 1977, Channel 12 reported.

Two Arab-led lists are competing: the Joint List, analliance of Arab and left-wing parties, and the United Arab List (Ra’am), ledby Mansour Abbas. Israel’s Supreme Court cleared both to participate on October2, overturning an earlier disqualification by the Central Elections Committee.

Eisenkot has ruled out including Arab parties in agoverning coalition, although their results could influence the parliamentarybalance. Arab voter turnout is projected at around 63%, compared with 56% in2022.

Read more: Israelis vote in first election since October 7 attack

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