26 stories for 2026-03-17
A 17-year-old Palestinian was killed by Israeli gunfire near Ramallah on Monday night, with Israeli forces withholding his body. Separately, a Palestinian couple and their two young children were killed on March 15 in the occupied West Bank after being shot by Israeli forces. Medical crews were prevented from reaching the wounded in the first incident.
Israeli forces closed Al-Aqsa Mosque during Ramadan, preventing Palestinian Muslims from praying inside. Dozens of Palestinians were dispersed while attempting to pray in the surrounding area, and a mosque guard was removed from his position.
Gaza's markets are under strain due to closure of crossing points ahead of Eid al-Fitr. Additionally, prices for private generator electricity have increased, creating new hardships for residents.
Israeli occupation forces raided Al-Amari refugee camp in the central West Bank on Wednesday, according to eyewitnesses. The operation involved a large military force entering from the direction of Al-Bireh city, and troops began demolishing dozens of homes. Soldiers were deployed on foot into the camp during the raid.
Health officials reported that Israeli forces killed 16 Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank in one day, marking one of the highest daily casualty counts in recent weeks.
The Israeli military announced it has begun limited ground operations in southern Lebanon targeting what it describes as terrorist infrastructure and elements. The operations are described as aimed at securing a defensive buffer zone and eliminating threats to northern Israeli communities. Turkey condemned the operations, warning of a new humanitarian catastrophe in the region. Meanwhile, hospitals in Lebanon have halted operations in areas affected by fighting, leaving patients with chronic conditions facing life-threatening risks.
Israel's defense minister warned that refugees displaced by fighting with Hezbollah in Lebanon will not be permitted to return to their homes before northern Israeli security is guaranteed. The Israeli military announced on Monday the beginning of operations in southern Lebanon to reinforce the defensive zone along the border. Additionally, hotels and rental apartments in Lebanon are closing their doors to refugees over concerns they may become targets of Israeli strikes.
Lebanon has fulfilled its commitment to a judicial agreement by transferring 137 Syrian prisoners held in Lebanese prisons to Syrian authorities. The handover was conducted in accordance with the terms of the judicial agreement between the two countries.
Large numbers of Lebanese schools have been converted into basic shelter centers for displaced persons following the outbreak of war. This conversion is disrupting education and exacerbating inequality among students.
At least four people were killed in Baghdad as US forces and Iraqi militia groups exchanged fire, with explosions reported across the capital. US Embassy and diplomatic facilities in Baghdad were targeted with rockets and drones, with air defense systems intercepting several attacks. Additional strikes targeted militia positions in western Iraq near the Syria border, resulting in further casualties.
Kurdish leaders have called for compensation for victims of the Halabja chemical attack on the 38th anniversary of the incident.
A new European migration and asylum pact is being implemented amid rising tensions in global politics and increasing conflicts in southern countries. The policy framework is framed as reforming Europe's shared migration and asylum system.
France has begun an in absentia trial of suspected extremist Sabri al-Sayed, who is accused of participating in the collective genocide of the Yazidi minority in Syria. The trial marks France's first such proceeding against an individual on these charges.
Yemeni government-aligned forces appear to have used excessive force in February against protesters supporting the Southern Transitional Council in Aden. Government forces in multiple locations fired at the demonstrators.
Yemen's presidential leadership council chairman accused the Houthi group of attacking a civilian gathering in Hajjah governorate on Sunday, killing eight civilians including children and wounding dozens more. Official and human rights organizations have condemned the attack, with reports indicating approximately 38 civilians were killed and injured in strikes on a Houthi military position.
A report titled "Wherever They Went" documents how Egyptian authorities treat citizenship not as a rights-based status but as a control mechanism, using it to restrict, deny, and suppress citizens according to political calculations. The state's reach extends beyond prisons through bureaucratic means, maintaining control over exiled Egyptians through documentation and legal mechanisms.
Iran's ambassador to Moscow announced that Tehran will seek reparations from the United States and Israel following an attack on a girls' school in Minab on 28 February that killed more than 160 people, including over 100 children. Iran attributes responsibility to the United States. Amnesty International stated that evidence indicates the school building was directly struck and called for accountability of those responsible for the unlawful attack.
Kuwaiti authorities arrested a terrorist cell of 16 individuals allegedly affiliated with Hezbollah. The group was reportedly seeking to destabilize security in the country and recruit others to join the militant organization.
Security agencies in Tripoli discovered two sets of remains being extracted from a mass grave at a facility in the Hadeeqa prison. The National Commission for the Missing is investigating a suspected mass grave site in the Lafaqiya area following a report, as part of national and humanitarian efforts.
Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Defense said its air defenses intercepted and destroyed three drones in the eastern region. The ministry also reported engaging and successfully shooting down six additional drones in the same area. No further details were provided about the origin or purpose of the drones.
Tensions are escalating among sub-Saharan migrants in Tunisia amid violent crimes and misinformation on social media. A Sierra Leonean migrant's death and the alleged rape of an Ivorian woman have reignited heated debates in a context of increasingly restrictive migration policies.
One person, a Pakistani national, was killed by falling debris from an intercepted missile in Abu Dhabi's Bani Yas area. The incident occurred as Qatar reported intercepting a rocket attack and Iraq reported an airstrike targeting Iranian advisors in Baghdad. Israeli military aircraft also conducted strikes in Lebanon.
Qatar's Interior Ministry reported a minor fire in a Doha industrial area after debris fell from a missile interception, with no injuries reported. Authorities issued a public safety alert urging residents to stay indoors. Kuwait's National Guard shot down a drone as part of ongoing security efforts.
Tehran residents report new security checkpoints around the capital where people are being stopped and searched, according to accounts shared with the BBC. The measures appear aimed at preventing anti-establishment protests.
Civilians in Gulf Cooperation Council countries face significant danger from ongoing Iranian missile strikes, which are reported as responses to US and Israeli military attacks. The strikes have targeted military installations, including a US Navy base in Bahrain.
The US Supreme Court announced it will examine the legality of the Trump administration's decision to end temporary protected status for migrants from Syria and Haiti.