World
Middle East
Oil tanker hit by Houthis now appears to be leaking oil, Pentagon says
The Houthis, who control Yemen’s most populous regions, said they attacked it in the Red Sea, as the Iran-aligned group has been attacking ships in solidarity with Palestinians.
Latest
Released Hamas hostage holds rave party, wants to dance again with kidnapped boyfriend
Noa Argamani was rescued in an Israeli special forces raid in June, but her partner, Avinatan Or, who was also kidnapped, remains missing.
- by Tony Diver
Analysis
Israeli-Palestinian conflict
‘The first stage’: Tensions between Israel and Hezbollah could escalate further
Hezbollah’s retaliation for the killing of a senior commander appeared to be over before it began. But analysts said tensions could escalate further.
- by Isabel Kershner
‘Take a breath’: Israel, Hezbollah launch rockets, attack with drones - then pause
Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah said his organisation could launch more attacks. But Sunday’s exchange of fire did not set off a long-feared war.
- by Josef Federman, Abby Sewell and Kareem Chehayeb
Updated
Israeli-Palestinian conflict
Israel and Hezbollah exchange fire, threatening to trigger all-out war
Hezbollah said it had launched more than 320 rockets towards Israel and hit 11 military targets. Israel’s cabinet met in response.
‘My fault’: Tearful Israeli military intelligence head leaves post
Major General Aharon Haliva said the failures of October 7 would haunt him for the rest of his life.
- by Emily Rose
Israel recovers six more hostage bodies, Blinken says Netanyahu agreed to ‘bridging agreement’
The top US diplomat, in his ninth trip to try to end the Gaza war, says this ceasefire plan may be “the last opportunity” to free dozens of hostages.
- by Courtney McBride and Dan Williams
Israeli airstrike kills 18 people from one family in Gaza
Israeli airstrikes in Gaza and Lebanon killed at least 28 people, just hours after mediators expressed optimism for an imminent ceasefire.
- by Wafaa Shurafa and Samy Magdy
Explainer
Middle East tensions
Houthis, Hamas and Hezbollah: who they are and what they want
As old enmities simmer and alliances shift, tensions are ratcheting up still more in the region. Who’s who – and what’s next?
- by Jackson Graham, Angus Holland and Cindy Yin
World of photos, August 18, 2024
The best photos from the international wire agencies as chosen by our picture editors.
As Gaza toll passes 40,000, the dead are buried in yards, streets, stacked graves
Inside Gaza the small, densely populated strip of land is now packed with bodies. Families, fleeing repeatedly to escape offensives, bury their dead wherever possible.
- by Julia Frankel and Wafaa Shurafa