Mena Today

The United States imposed sanctions on Tuesday targeting individuals and sham charities that it said were prominent financial supporters of the Palestinian groups Hamas and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine.

The United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) will conclude its operations by December 31, 2025, following a formal request from the Iraqi government. 

Hundreds of U.S. Marines arrived in Los Angeles overnight and more were expected on Tuesday under orders from President Donald Trump, who has also activated 4,000 National Guard troops to quell protests despite objections from California Governor Gavin Newsom and other local leaders.

Iran executed nine people it said were members of the Islamic State, state media reported on Tuesday, after their arrest in early 2018 during clashes in which three members of the Revolutionary Guards were killed.

Negotiations between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia’s Aramco for a record $5 billion oil-backed loan are stalling due to a recent drop in crude oil prices, raising concerns among banks expected to co-fund the deal, sources told Reuters. 

In a significant development ahead of a UN conference on the two-state solution, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has expressed support for Hamas to lay down its arms and step away from governing Gaza as part of a future Palestinian state.

Yemen's Houthi rebels, who were threatened with an air and naval blockade by Israel on Tuesday, are one of Iran's few allies still standing since the Gaza war spilled across the Middle East.

Several areas south of the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, are at risk of famine, the World Food Programme said on Tuesday, with need on the ground outstripping resources amidst a funding shortfall.

Israel's navy struck the Yemen Red Sea port of Hodeidah on Tuesday and Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz threatened the Iran-aligned Houthis with a naval and air blockade if attacks on Israel continue.

Greta Thunberg and other pro-Palestinian activists have been taken to Tel Aviv airport ahead of their deportation, the Israeli Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday, after the Israeli navy prevented them from sailing to Gaza.

Saudi Arabia’s economy grew faster than initially expected in the first quarter of 2025, with revised government figures showing a 3.4% year-on-year increase in GDP — up from the earlier forecast of 2.7% published in May by the Saudi General Authority for Statistics.

U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday said the U.S. and Iran would continue talks on Thursday for a nuclear deal, adding that Tehran was a tough negotiator and that the main impediment to an agreement was over enrichment.