More from MEF
Two IDF company commanders at Beaufort Castle, southern Lebanon, July 12, 2026.
Middle East Forum Online
At Beaufort Castle, the IDF’s 36th Division Prepares for Hezbollah’s Next Move
With the IDF Dug in at Beaufort, Its Next Challenge Is Preventing Hezbollah from Returning to the Guerrilla Tactics That Once Drove Israel from Southern Lebanon
July 13, 2026
 · 
Jonathan Spyer
The entrance to a Hezbollah tunnel in Yohmor al-Shaqif, Lebanon.
Middle East Forum Online
Israel’s Buffer-Zone Military Strategy
In Lebanon, Syria, and Gaza, the Jewish State Addresses the Islamist Threat from Alliances Led by Iran and Turkey
July 13, 2026
 · 
Jonathan Spyer
Summer temperatures in Qom, Iran, often reach 110°F.
Middle East Forum Observer
Iranian Leadership Prioritizes Vengeance While Citizens Endure Blackouts
In Southern Iranian Cities, Temperatures Will Climb to 122°F, Yet the Headlines Across Iran’s State Media Ignore the Electricity Crisis
July 13, 2026
 · 
Potkin Azarmehr
Palestinians storm Israeli territory, east of the city of Khan Yunis, on October 7, 2023.
Middle East Forum Observer
Anglican Parliament Endorses Libelous Palestinian Manifesto Denying Israel’s Legitimacy
General Synod Snubs Pleas from Chief Rabbi, Jewish Deputies, Clergy, Warning of Consequences for Jews
July 13, 2026
 · 
Jules Gomes
Inside the new Gulf of Sirte Airport in Libya.
Middle East Forum Observer
Benghazi 2026 Is Dubai 1994
Libyans Want Unity, but They Do Not Want Unity to Absolve Failure and Corruption
July 13, 2026
 · 
Michael Rubin
The Islamic Republic is not only burying a former supreme leader but, more importantly, trying to convert his death into a staged affirmation of authority, legitimacy, and transnational Shia leadership. Image: Mourners attend a farewell ceremony for Iran’s late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on July 6, 2026, in Tehran, Iran.
Middle East Forum Observer
Tehran Uses Khamenei’s Funeral to Reinforce That Iraq Is Still in Iran’s Orbit
President Trump Should Not Treat a New Iraqi Prime Minister as Proof That Iraq’s Balance of Power Has Changed
July 13, 2026
 · 
Ali Mahmoud
The Syrian army secured dozens of villages in the Northeast after the withdrawal of Kurdish fighters from Syrian Democratic Forces.
Middle East Forum Observer
Why Aren’t Displaced Kurds in Northeast Syria Returning Home?
Few Kurds Are Likely to Feel Safe Returning as Long as the Current Security Conditions Remain Unchanged
July 13, 2026
 · 
Sirwan Kajjo
Sirte, Libya is located along the central Mediterranean coast.
Middle East Forum Observer
Sirte as Libya’s New Capital Could Advance Unity and Security
Halfway Between Tripoli and Benghazi, Sirte Is Also the Gateway to Sebha, the Regional Capital of Libya’s South
July 12, 2026
 · 
Michael Rubin
The Coptic Orthodox Church of the All Saints in the Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt.
Middle East Forum Observer
Coptic Christians Accuse Egypt of Football Apartheid
Egypt’s FIFA World Cup Defeat to Argentina Sparks Fresh Anti-Israel Libels
July 12, 2026
 · 
Jules Gomes
Outdoor cafes in the old town of Xanthi, Greece, attract crowds in the summertime.
Middle East Forum Observer
Turkey Tries to Play the ‘Islam Card’ to Subvert Greece’s Western Thrace
The Principal Challenge in Thrace Is Not Only Turkish Pressure, but Also the Local and National Political Establishment
July 12, 2026
 · 
Christos Konstantinidis