Below are the news updates and special reports for the Arabic newsletter agenda for Monday, July 13, 2026

** News Updates

* International

- Military escalation between the United States and Iran following mutual strikes that included Iranian attacks on Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Jordan, and Oman, amid conflicting reports about navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, as Washington asserts it is open while Tehran warns it is closed until further notice.

- Start of trading in financial markets and oil and metal prices with the return of US-Iranian escalation to the Middle East, and Tehran's announcement of closing the Strait of Hormuz.

- A forthcoming session of the UN Security Council requested by the Yemeni government to discuss developments in the country, especially after it accused Iran of "violating Yemeni sovereignty" by sending the Iranian plane "Mahan" to "transport a Houthi delegation from Sanaa to Tehran" on July 3.

- An unspecified-duration visit by Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi to the United States, which will witness the signing of memorandums of understanding in the oil and gas sectors, and during which he will meet US President Donald Trump.

* Turkey

- Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan participates in the leaders' summit of the Coalition of the Willing regarding Ukraine, representing President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

* Israel

- Positions and political map after setting the date for general elections on October 27, 2026, and Knesset (parliament) deliberations with preparations for its official dissolution on July 17, the end of its current term.

* Palestine

- A press conference held by the Ministry of Agriculture in the Gaza Strip "to discuss the repercussions and effects of the genocide war on the agricultural sector after 1000 days since the crime of genocide."

- A weekly vigil in front of the International Committee of the Red Cross headquarters west of Gaza City, dedicated to supporting Palestinian prisoners and female prisoners inside Israeli prisons.

- Israel's ongoing violations of the ceasefire in Gaza, and the near-daily assaults by the army and settlers on Palestinians in the West Bank.

* Lebanon

- A press conference in Beirut held by a number of Lebanese MPs to call for renewing the mandate of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and strengthening its powers.

- Israel's ongoing violations of the ceasefire, which as of Saturday evening have raised the casualty toll to 4,322 dead and 12,210 wounded since March 2, 2026, according to the Ministry of Health.

* Tunisia

- A one-day strike in the informal public transport sector protesting "the authorities' backtracking on promises to increase transport fares," and includes taxi services, collective transport, and rural transport, a vital sector that helps alleviate transport crises inside and outside cities.

* Sudan

- Implications and reactions to a Sudanese court in the city of Port Sudan, eastern Sudan, issuing a death sentence in absentia against the commander of the Rapid Support Forces, Mohamed Hamdan Daglo Hemedti, and 15 others after their conviction in the case of the killing of former West Darfur governor Khamis Abakar.

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** Special Reports

*Turkey

1- From the "Muehaj" pistol to the "Ovis" rifle.. Turkish expansion in the global arms market (Report)

Report reviewing the qualitative leap in Turkish defense industry exports, which exceeded $10.8 billion in one year, highlighting the success of "Huğlu" in penetrating global markets with innovative products such as the "Muehaj" pistol and the "Ovis" sniper rifle, alongside Turkish companies' strategy in developing weapons for both military and civilian use, and consolidating Turkey's position as a pivotal player in the global defense market (Turkish newsletter / Konya / Suash Guler / photos and video / 650 words)

* Middle East

2- Jaljala village in the West Bank.. Expatriates' homes a permanent target for settler attacks (Report)

Report highlighting the suffering of the residents of "Jaljala" village in the central West Bank, where many of its homes owned by Palestinian expatriates holding American and Brazilian citizenships, and almost permanently empty, are subjected to attacks by Israeli settlers seeking to forcibly displace residents and seize their lands, in attacks that shatter the village's tranquility under intimidation, burning, and property damage (Arabic newsletter / Ramallah / Qais Abu Samra / photos and video / 750 words)

3- Yemeni bananas.. Drought and high costs threaten farmers' season (Report)

Report addressing the paradox in Yemen's banana farming sector, which in 2024 achieved its highest historical production level of about 135,000 tons, yet this achievement faces risks threatening its sustainability and profitability, foremost among them water scarcity due to climate change, exorbitant production and transportation costs, and the worsening fuel price crisis needed to operate irrigation pumps, placing farmers in direct confrontation with difficulties that threaten their only source of livelihood (Arabic newsletter / Yemen / Muhammad al-Samai / video / 950 words)

4- 2026 World Cup.. Why do foreigners prefer listening to Arab commentators? (Report)

The report addresses the phenomenon of the distinction of "Arabic football commentary" during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, reviewing the success of Arab commentators in turning matches into an emotional and exciting experience that goes beyond the stadium, through the use of emotional language, flowing rhythm, and superior ability to describe and thrill, and how these voices became a landmark in the World Cup, achieving broad public interaction whose impact extended to global media circles (Arabic newsletter / Cairo / Hussein al-Qabbani / 1200 words)

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* Multimedia

- Jaljala village in the West Bank.. Expatriates' homes a permanent target for settler attacks

- Yemeni bananas.. Drought and high costs threaten farmers' season