AL-MONITOR: The Pulse of The Middle East

Canada's Carney calls treatment of Gaza flotilla activists 'unacceptable'

2026-05-25T20:00:20-0400

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Monday denounced the "appalling treatment" of activists aboard the Gaza-bound aid flotilla as "unacceptable," in a call with Israeli President Isaac Herzog, according to a statement.

Last week, Israel's far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir sparked widespread condemnation and a diplomatic backlash by posting a video mocking the activists after they were seized in international waters by Israeli soldiers.

IS-linked group set to return to Australia, minister says

2026-05-25T20:00:20-0400

A group of seven women and 12 children linked to Islamic State fighters are bound for Australia after years in Syria, the Australian interior minister said on Tuesday.

The so-called "IS brides" are Australian nationals and left the Roj camp, controlled by Syrian Kurdish forces, last week.

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said they would not receive any assistance from the Australian government.

"Any members of this cohort who have committed crimes can expect to face the full force of the law," he said.

Second group of Australian women linked to Islamic State to return home

2026-05-25T19:36:39-0400

SYDNEY, May 26 (Reuters) - A group of seven Australian women and 12 children linked to the Islamic State militant group have made travel plans to return home, authorities said on Tuesday, in what would be the second such Australian group to leave a Syrian refugee camp this month.

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said the government was not assisting their travel and that any who have committed crimes "can expect to face the full force of the law".

Canada demands Israel probe 'appalling' treatment of flotilla members

2026-05-25T18:36:42-0400

OTTAWA, May 25 (Reuters) - Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Monday told Israeli President Isaac Herzog that the treatment of activists detained by Israel had been "appalling" and described the situation in Gaza as "catastrophic," Carney's office said in a statement.

"The Prime Minister reiterated that the appalling treatment of civilians, including Canadian citizens, aboard the Gaza-bound flotilla was unacceptable, and he called for an independent investigation," the statement said.

Israel steps up Lebanon strikes as Netanyahu escalates offensive

2026-05-25T15:00:19-0400

The Israeli army intensified strikes in southern Lebanon on Monday, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had ordered the military to escalate its offensive in an effort to "crush" Hezbollah.

The airstrikes come as the United States and Iran seek to finalise the terms of an agreement to end the Middle East conflict, which could include the Lebanon front, where Israel and Hezbollah have waged war since March 2.

Despite a ceasefire that came into effect on April 17, Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah have continued to exchange fire on a near-daily basis.

Iran's president orders reopening of international internet access, state media reports

2026-05-25T14:01:45-0400

May 25 (Reuters) - Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian has issued an order to reopen international internet access, Iranian state media reported on Monday, citing an official after a near-90-day blackout in the wake of the war against U.S. and Israel.

The report cited the head of public relations at Iran’s Communications Ministry.

The mechanism for how and when Iran would reconnect to the global web following the decision was unknown.

Iran would open Strait of Hormuz 30 days after peace deal, Nikkei reports citing source

2026-05-25T13:36:38-0400

May 25 (Reuters) - The U.S. and Iran are discussing a plan to open the Strait of Hormuz about 30 days after the two countries reach a deal to end hostilities, the Nikkei newspaper reported on Monday citing a Middle East diplomatic source.

Iran would proceed to clear mines from the strait during a 30-day window following an agreement, after which ships from all countries would be able to navigate freely and safely, and Iran would stop collecting transit fees, Nikkei said.

Migrants step up to support community in war-hit Beirut

2026-05-25T12:30:24-0400

At a busy Beirut centre, migrant volunteers stirred pots of okra soup and shaped balls of the African staple fufu, keeping food coming for those caught between the latest Israel-Hezbollah war.

Here, Lebanon's migrant workers, among those hit hardest by the fighting, have stepped up to support others in their community now struggling to get by.

People drifted in and out, collecting bags of food or hot plates, as the air filled with the scent of cooking.

Iran hangs another protester as dozens more risk execution: rights groups

2026-05-25T12:00:20-0400

Iran on Monday executed a man on charges related to protests this year, the latest in a spree of hangings on political or security accusations since the start of the US-Israeli war with dozens more risking execution, rights groups said.

Some three dozen men have been hanged on charges related to protests, membership of banned opposition groups, or espionage since wartime executions resumed in March, according to rights groups.

Top Syrian Kurdish official slams parliamentary vote in northeast as 'undemocratic'

Amberin Zaman — 2026-05-25T11:42:02-0400

Foza Yusuf, a senior figure in Syria’s Kurdish-led autonomous administration, said the May 24 parliamentary vote was structured to disadvantage Kurdish parties.

Top Syrian Kurdish official slams parliamentary vote in northeast as 'undemocratic'

Amberin Zaman — 2026-05-25T11:42:02-0400

Foza Yusuf, a senior figure in Syria’s Kurdish-led autonomous administration, said the May 24 parliamentary vote was structured to disadvantage Kurdish parties.

Top Syrian Kurdish official slams parliamentary vote in northeast as 'undemocratic'

Amberin Zaman — 2026-05-25T11:42:02-0400

Foza Yusuf, a senior figure in Syria’s Kurdish-led autonomous administration, said the May 24 parliamentary vote was structured to disadvantage Kurdish parties.

Top Syrian Kurdish official slams parliamentary vote in northeast as 'undemocratic'

Amberin Zaman — 2026-05-25T11:42:02-0400

Foza Yusuf, a senior figure in Syria’s Kurdish-led autonomous administration, said the May 24 parliamentary vote was structured to disadvantage Kurdish parties.

Israeli fire kills six-year-old girl and a woman in Gaza, medics say

2026-05-25T11:36:42-0400

CAIRO/GAZA, May 25 (Reuters) - An Israeli airstrike on a tent in the southern Gaza Strip on Monday killed two people including a six-year-old girl and wounded 17 other people, including children, Palestinian health officials said.

Medics said the Israeli airstrike on a tent encampment of displaced families in the Mawasi area of Khan Younis, in the south of the enclave, had killed six-year-old MennatallahAbu Libda and a 31-year-old woman, Hanan Mahmoud.

The attack was carried out by two helicopters, witnesses said.

Turkey's pro-Kurdish party condemns ousting of main opposition

2026-05-25T11:01:47-0400

By Huseyin Hayatsever

ANKARA, May 25 (Reuters) - Turkey's pro-Kurdish DEM Party condemned on Monday a court ruling that ousted the leadership of the main opposition CHP last week, calling a police operation to evict the leaders from the party's headquarters a "disgrace to democracy".

Riot police fired tear gas and forced their way into the Republican People's Party's (CHP) headquarters in Ankara on Sunday, evicting ousted leader Ozgur Ozel, whose party has rejected the ruling as a "judicial coup" and vowed to fight it.

Trump demands widespread sign-up to Abraham Accords as part of Iran peace deal

2026-05-25T10:30:21-0400

US President Donald Trump recast his bid for peace with Iran on Monday as an attempt to strike a grand bargain across the Middle East, urging Muslim-majority countries from the region and beyond to settle their disputes with Israel.

In a lengthy social media post, Trump listed countries whose leaders he spoke with in a conference call on Saturday about efforts to end the war with Iran.

Syria advances cultural revival with nine new heritage listings

Beatrice Farhat — 2026-05-25T10:09:13-0400

Nine heritage sites have been added to list of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, which restored Syria’s membership last year after a 14-year suspension.

Syria advances cultural revival with nine new heritage listings

Beatrice Farhat — 2026-05-25T10:09:13-0400

Nine heritage sites have been added to list of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, which restored Syria’s membership last year after a 14-year suspension.

Syria advances cultural revival with nine new heritage listings

Beatrice Farhat — 2026-05-25T10:09:13-0400

Nine heritage sites have been added to list of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, which restored Syria’s membership last year after a 14-year suspension.

Syria advances cultural revival with nine new heritage listings

Beatrice Farhat — 2026-05-25T10:09:13-0400

Nine heritage sites have been added to list of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, which restored Syria’s membership last year after a 14-year suspension.