News

Mike Robinson: Casualties of Iran war fall far from the bombsites  Stop Climate Chaos Scotland

US responsible for deadly attack on Iranian school: Amnesty International  Al Jazeera

The Gulf states’ offensive options against Iran  The International Institute for Strategic Studies

Turkey condemns Israel’s Lebanon invasion, warns of ‘new humanitarian catastrophe’ Turkey has strongly condemned Israel’s ground invasion of southern Lebanon, warning that the assault risks plunging the region deeper into crisis. In a statement, the Turkish Foreign Ministry accused Israel’s leadership of extending destructive policies beyond Gaza. “The [Benjamin] Netanyahu government’s implementation of genocidal and collective punishment policies, this time in Lebanon, will lead to a new humanitarian catastrophe in the region,” the ministry said. Ankara also stressed its support for Lebanon as Israeli forces expand operations across the border. “We reiterate our solidarity with Lebanon in the face of these attacks, which violate Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.”

War on Iran: These are the heritage sites devastated by US and Israeli attacks Rayhan Uddin on Mon, 03/16/2026 - 15:37 From Isfahan to Tehran to Khorramabad, Israeli and American strikes have damaged landmarks, including some inscribed by Unesco Debris at the historical monument Golestan Palace after it was damaged in strikes, Tehran, Iran, on 3 March (Majid Asgaripour/West Asia News Agency via Reuters) Off Iran’s history is layered with conquest, cultural renewal and craftsmanship - all of which can be seen in its remarkable heritage sites.  The iconic turquoise domes of Isfahan and the intricate interiors of mosques and palaces across the country are internationally renowned.  Iran's architectural heritage can be divided roughly into two eras. The first is the pre-Islamic period, which included Iranian empires such as the Achaemenids and Sassanids, and the second involves a succession of Islamic empires and states, starting with the Rashidun caliphate and ending with the Qajar state until the early 20th century. Iran has 29 sites recognised as World Heritage Sites by Unesco - the tenth most sites in the world. But these sites have come under attack over the past two and a half weeks by Israel and the US.  From Isfahan to Tehran to Khorramabad, Israeli and US strikes have devastated Iranian landmarks, including several inscribed by Unesco.  (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); As the war drags on and the precedent is set, more heritage sites are at risk, with one Iranian official describing the attacks as a “declaration of war on a civilisation”. Middle East Eye takes a look at the sites that have been damaged so far. Golestan Palace  On 1 March, a day into the conflict, a strike damaged Golestan Palace - the only Unesco World Heritage Site in Tehran.  The blast from a missile strike nearby blew out the palace’s windows and damaged the iconic mirrors and glasswork in the complex, according to images published by Iranian media.  Seyyed Ahmad Alavi, head of Tehran’s tourism and heritage committee, said the blast had also damaged historic Orsi doors and lifted sections of tarmac within the grounds. Israel is bombing Iranian historical monuments dating as far back as the 14th century. Multiple UNESCO World Heritage Sites have been struck. pic.twitter.com/7eu09Cjiyf March 12, 2026 Golestan Palace was originally built during the Safavid period in the 14th century.  (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Most of its current features and ornaments date from the 19th century during the Qajar era, when it became the seat of the dynasty’s government. The Qajars made Tehran the country’s capital in 1786.  It consists of eight palace structures, most of which now serve as museums, as well as a garden complex surrounded by a gated wall.  Chehel Sotoun Palace A string of key heritage sites in Isfahan were damaged by US-Israeli attacks, including the Chehel Sotoun Palace (Forty Columns).  Pictures published by Iranian media showed broken doors, smashed windows and debris scattered throughout the palace. The site, commissioned by Abbas I, the Safavid shah often known as Abbas the Great, is famed for its frescoes depicting battle scenes and royal receptions.   Iran - US and Israel war https://t.co/dsM1sksxSg@GeoConfirmed pic.twitter.com/ONHmSiARrQ March 9, 2026 Footage online showed a large crack down the middle of a 17th-century fresco depicting Safavid Shah Tahmasp welcoming Mughal ruler Humayun to Iran. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); The gardens of the palace are part of nine historic gardens in Iran that have together been inscribed as a Unesco World Heritage Site.  Ali Qapu Palace Near Chehel Sotoun, the Ali Qapu palace was also damaged.  Local media reported that the doors and windows of the complex had been shattered.  Ali Qapu is inscribed as a Unesco World Heritage site as part of a collection of sites in the Naqsh-e Jahan Square in Isfahan.  The palace was first opened in 1597.  The six-storey building has elaborate ceilings with intricate inlay work, as well as a number of paintings and frescoes.  Jameh Mosque  A historic mosque in Isfahan was damaged too. A blast on 9 March sent turquoise tiles in the Jameh Mosque crashing to the ground, The New York Times reported.  It cited photographs from Iran’s ministry of culture and heritage, which showed plumes of smoke rising behind the mosque.  US-Israeli strikes within the boundaries of the Naqsh-e-Jahan Square Unseco World Heritage Site in Isfahan damaged the historic Jameh Mosque (Tasnim News Agency) A mosque was first built on the site in the late eighth century during the Abbasid era. It was rebuilt a century later, with new additions and renovations over more than a millennium.  It is considered to be one of the most important examples of Persian and Islamic architecture.  Royal Precinct (Dawlat Khaneh) As well as the two palaces and the historic mosque, several other sites in the Royal Precinct, known as Dawlat Khaneh, were reportedly damaged too.  According to an art newspaper, citing local media, the 17th-century Rakeb-Khaneh pavilion (House of the Jockey) was also damaged.  Ashraf Hall, a residential structure from the Safavid court, was also impacted.  As was Teymouri Hall, a building from the Timurid-era which later became Iran’s Natural History Museum.  Falak-ol-Aflak castle  The Falak ol-Aflak citadel in the Khorramabad area of Lorestan province was also damaged. The site dates back to the Sassanian period (between the third and seventh centuries). Iranian authorities said that Israeli air strikes struck the vicinity of the hilltop castle on 8 March. The strikes targeted Lorestan’s cultural heritage department, destroying the building. The Falak-ol-Aflak hilltop castle in Khorramabad, in the Lorestan province (Wikimedia/Flickr/Leoboudv) The blast also damaged the site’s archaeology and anthropology museums, a local official said, as well as the citadel’s barracks, regimental buildings and other structures.  “Fortunately, the main structure of Falak-ol-Aflak Castle was not damaged,” said Ata Hassanpour, the head of Lorestan’s cultural heritage department.  War on Iran These are the heritage sites devastated by US and Israeli attacks in Iran News Post Date Override 0 Update Date Mon, 05/04/2020 - 21:19 Update Date Override 0

At least 886 deaths in Lebanon, says health ministry The number now understood to have been killed in Lebanon since the start of the war has reached at least 886 with more than 2,000 injured, according the Lebanon's health ministry. As Israel announces widening its assault into southern Lebanon which began after Hezbollah began launching attacks against Israel in response to the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the number of casualties in Lebanon continues to rise rapidly. Around a million people have also been displaced in the country since the war began. Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, has said in a news briefing on Monday that it intends to continue its attacks.

Reza Pahlavi’s supporters in Iran are turning against him MEE correspondent on Mon, 03/16/2026 - 16:06 The son of Iran’s last monarch has encouraged protesters to risk their lives and stayed silent on civilians killed by the US and Israel A protester holds an image of Reza Pahlavi during a demonstration against the Iranian government, in New York City, 15 March 2026 (Reuters/Adam Gray) Off Two weeks into the US-Israeli war on Iran, a growing number of Iranians who saw Reza Pahlavi as an alternative to the ruling establishment say they are losing faith in the exiled opposition figure. For some, the turning point came before the war broke out, when Pahlavi urged Iranians to rise up against their rulers despite the dangers of a ferocious crackdown. For others, it is his latest call for demonstrations during the traditional Persian festival of Chaharshanbe Suri, set to be held on Tuesday. Dina, a 39-year-old resident of Tehran, said she once believed the son of Iran’s last monarch might be able to unite the country’s fragmented opposition. Now she no longer feels that way. “I wish he had even a fraction of his father’s political judgment,” she said. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); “Or even the wisdom of his mother. If he did, he would know how to use the enormous energy among people who oppose this government.” Dina and all other Iranians Middle East Eye spoke to are identified by pseudonyms for security reasons. She was among those who took part in the nationwide protests in January, which were encouraged by Pahlavi and the Israeli and US governments. “At that time I hoped he could lead the movement,” she said. “But now I think differently.” Dina witnessed the violent crackdown on the protests firsthand. While authorities said more than 3,000 were killed when security forces confronted protesters, human rights groups have put that number at 7,000 people and even higher. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); “Two months ago thousands of people listened to him and went to the streets,” Dina said. “What did they get? Bullets.” A call for protest during wartime Pahlavi took to X on Sunday to once again urge Iranians to take to the streets, using Chaharshanbe Suri - an ancient celebration ahead of the Persian new year – to mobilise the public. He suggested that the traditional festival is hated by the Islamic Republic, and so celebrating it would challenge the authorities. Notably, reports have suggested that Israel and the United States hoped their attacks on Iran’s leadership - including the killing of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei on 28 February - would prompt a popular revolution. Yet there is no sign of that materialising. Normally, Chaharshanbe Suri fills Iranian cities with crowds celebrating on the streets, accompanied by bonfires and fireworks. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); But this year the situation is very different. 'Two months ago thousands of people listened to him and went to the streets. What did they get? Bullets' - Dina, Tehran resident For more than two weeks, Iranian cities have been subjected to Israeli and US air strikes. According to the Red Crescent, more than 1,500 civilians have been killed. In such circumstances, many Iranians say the call for street celebrations feels detached from the fear dominating daily life. Majid, a 21-year-old student in Tehran, says he no longer sees Pahlavi as a leader. During the January protests, Majid says he watched a close friend die after security forces opened fire. “My friend was shot right in front of my eyes,” he said quietly. “I still cannot process it.” While he blames the Iranian authorities for the killing, he also believes opposition figures raised expectations that never materialised. “Now he tells people to go celebrate in the streets,” Majid said. “Does he even know what life is like here? People go to sleep not knowing if they will wake up alive in the morning.” “We are afraid every time we step outside that another air strike might hit somewhere nearby. And in this situation he says we should celebrate?” he added. Expectations that never materialised Pahlavi, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump have all been accused of misleading the Iranian public. During the January protests, which were sparked by economic woes and spiralled into calls for the fall of the Islamic Republic, the three men hinted that help was on the way for demonstrators. Yet, other than rumours of Israeli agents encouraging and even arming demonstrators on the ground, the protesters were left high and dry as the security forces moved in. Morteza, 24, once strongly supported Pahlavi. He believed the opposition figure had a concrete plan to remove the authorities and unite the people. “For many of us who were exhausted by the Islamic Republic, he looked like the only possible alternative,” he said. Amid holy war on Iran, will the West examine the roots of Christian and Jewish rage? Read More » During the protests, Morteza recalls, Pahlavi repeatedly encouraged people to take to the streets. “He said help was on the way,” Morteza said. “He said he was preparing to return to Iran.” At the time, Morteza said, some people genuinely believed Pahlavi might soon appear in Tehran - much as Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini returned from exile shortly before the 1979 revolution that removed Pahlavi’s father. “We thought maybe his plane would land in Tehran in a few days,” he said. “We believed it.” Shirin, a 43-year-old mother in Tehran, said she similarly initially believed Pahlavi must have had some kind of strategy. “We were desperate,” she said. “We were tired of the Islamic Republic.” She says many Iranians had already placed their hopes in different political alternatives over the years: reformists, former President Hassan Rouhani and even the current administration of Masoud Pezeshkian. “All of it led nowhere,” she said. So when Pahlavi spoke confidently about his plans and called on people to protest, she assumed he had a serious strategy. “I even argued with my friends about it,” she said. Some of those friends warned her not to trust him. “They told me: ‘Don’t you see the government kills people? Don’t you see he has no real understanding of Iran?’” At the time, Shirin dismissed those warnings. “Now I realise they were right,” she said. “I was wrong.” Long-time critics speak more openly For others, the recent developments have reinforced doubts they always had about Pahlavi’s political leadership. Amir, a 40-year-old resident of Gorgan in northern Iran, said critics of Pahlavi are now speaking more openly. “In the past, if you criticised him, his supporters would immediately accuse you of being an agent of the Islamic Republic,” he said. “Now that atmosphere has changed.” Amir believes Pahlavi’s political positions have often appeared inconsistent. In recent months, the exiled opposition figure has at times urged the United States to support the Iranian people, while in other statements insisted that Iranians do not need foreign help. Amir says such shifts reflect uncertainty about how international powers view Iran’s future. “Whenever Donald Trump says something that suggests he does not take Pahlavi seriously, suddenly Pahlavi says Iranians do not need foreign support,” Amir said. “But when he fears that foreign powers might negotiate with the current government or choose another option for Iran, he starts praising Israel and the United States again.” Silence over civilian deaths Pahlavi’s reaction to casualties during the war has also drawn controversy. Since the beginning of the US-Israeli strikes, Pahlavi has posted condolences for American soldiers killed in attacks. But critics say he did not publicly react to the deaths of civilians in Iran, including the scores of children killed when a school in the southern city of Minab was hit by a double-tap strike. For Dina, the contrast was painful. “How can someone claim to represent the Iranian people and stay silent when children are killed?” she said. “Yet he quickly sends condolences for foreign soldiers.” 'How can someone claim to represent the Iranian people and stay silent when children are killed?' - Dina, Tehran resident The debate over Pahlavi’s leadership is unfolding in an increasingly tense atmosphere inside Iran. Iranian authorities have issued explicit warnings against new street protests. Ahmad Reza Radan, the commander of Iran’s national police force, said on 11 March that security forces were “ready to pull the trigger” if people took to the streets at what he described as the enemy’s request. He warned that anyone participating in such protests would be treated “like an enemy”. Many Iranians say such threats make the idea of public demonstrations even more dangerous. Despite the criticism, Pahlavi still retains support among some Iranians who see him as a possible figure for a transitional government if the Islamic Republic collapses. But the mood among critics of the Islamic Republic appears increasingly divided. Two trends seem to be emerging: Some who once saw him as the only alternative are becoming disillusioned. Others who always doubted his leadership now feel more comfortable expressing their criticism. Amir says the debate around Pahlavi has changed dramatically. “He has made so many mistakes that criticising him no longer carries the same cost,” he said, pausing. “Still, that doesn’t mean things are better. We are just stuck. Trapped in a dead end.” War on Iran Tehran News Post Date Override 0 Update Date Mon, 05/04/2020 - 21:19 Update Date Override 0

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The Iran war 'is not NATO’s war:' EU allies demand clarity from Trump after he asked for their help  Fortune

Greene left Congress after public blow-up with Trump over Epstein files

The US-Israeli war with Iran has seen sustained attacks on Tehran and Beirut as retaliatory strikes are felt in Israel and Gulf states

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says his country has shown it is ready to take the war “as far as necessary".

One of the president’s justifications for going to war with Iran could throw a wrench into a long-awaited trial for a top lieutenant of the 9/11 terror mastermind, Andrew Feinberg reports

Six dead in strike on PMF in western Iraq A strike on Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF) in Iraq has left six dead near the Syrian border, according to the group. The group has said the "Zionist bombing" had left another four fighters injured in the latest of recent attacks against the group in Iraq. Parts of the umbrella group of paramilitaries that was founded in 2014 are known to be Iran-backed. Another three were killed on Saturday with a further ten in al-Qaim on Thursday.

Trump Floats Treason Charges Against Media Outlets Over Iran War Coverage  Truthout

Wary allies show there's no quick fix to Trump's Iran crisis  BBC

US told Turkey war would last just four days, expert says The United States government had told Turkey through official channels that the war on Iran would only take four days, Asli Aydintasbas, a Washington-based Turkey expert, said during an interview on Sunday. “Turkey and some of its allies were told, through official channels, that this operation would take days and be completed in four days,” Aydintasbas, a fellow at the Brookings Institution, said in an interview with the Serbestiyet news site. “You cannot tell a Nato ally that you have made a four-day plan and then extend the operation to 14 days. In a sense, this was also a betrayal of the regional countries.” US told Turkey war on Iran would end in just four days, expert says

Bardem hits out at film industry for lack of activism Actor Javier Bardem has called out members of the film industry for their lack of activism at Sunday's Oscars. Bardem, 57, told the Independent that "I think it's comfortable-ness" that prevented members of the industry from speaking out. He added, "I think they don't want to feel, themselves, uncomfortable. And that makes me uncomfortable; me and many others." The actor, who has appeared in films like No Country for Old Men and Dune, was criticised for using his apperance at the Oscars to declare "no to war and free Palestine", which was met with a round of applause. Bardem also wore a pin that he wore in 2003 to protest against the Iraq war, "which was an illegal war and we are here 23 years after with another illegal war", he told reporters, referring to the war on Iran. Javier Bardem says “no to war and free Palestine” at the #Oscars, earning a huge round of applause from everyone in the room. pic.twitter.com/7p3whJzhbm March 16, 2026

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Strikes have killed over Iranian 200 children, says Araghchi Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has blamed the US-Israeli strikes for the deaths of "hundreds" of Iranian civilians, including "over 200 children" in a social media post. The minister also cited reports claiming "that some neighboring states which host US forces and permit attacks on Iran are also actively encouraging this slaughter". Nearly 1,500 civilians are reported to have died in the country since the start of the war and millions have been displaced.