live U.S. Embassy in Baghdad targeted by rockets and drones: Middle East conflict - 17 March
The U.S. Embassy in the Iraqi capital Baghdad came under fire from rockets and drones early on Tuesday (17 March), as the the Middle East conf...
Hamas is set to cede power in Gaza, as a U.S.-backed Palestinian committee prepares to take over the administration of the territory, Palestinian sources reported.
The development comes after Hamas begun talks with Egyptian mediators, in Cairo, on Wednesday (14 January).
The Hamas delegation, led by senior official Khalil al-Hayya, reportedly agreed to the creation of a technocratic committee to govern Gaza.
Under the US‑brokered framework, the committee would manage Gaza’s administration under the oversight of an international “Board of Peace.”
The move is part of a 20‑point peace plan first unveiled by President Donald Trump in October 2025.
Eighteen Palestinian officials have been invited to join the interim body that is expected to replace Hamas’s administrative structures.
Veteran Palestinian politician Ali Shaath is set to head the committee, with a retired senior intelligence official expected to oversee security, according to reports.
The committee is set to hold its first meeting in Cairo on Thursday, a key staging point for implementing the next phase of a fragile ceasefire and peace plan endorsed by Washington and regional mediators.
However, analysts caution that the change in governance alone may not be sufficient to advance the peace process.
Israeli officials have made clear that the second phase of the ceasefire (including a gradual Israeli withdrawal from parts of the territory) hinges on Hamas fully disarming, a condition the group has repeatedly rejected unless a Palestinian state is secured.
Washington, the White House has delayed the launch of the broader “Board of Peace,” instead focusing first on announcing the executive committee to run Gaza’s civil affairs.
The composition of this body has been influenced by figures with close ties to Israeli intelligence and leadership, underscoring ongoing regional tensions over Gaza’s future.
The other evening, I was fuelling my car at a petrol station in Kenya’s capital. It was one of those small moments most motorists barely notice. The attendant filled the tank, I glanced at the pump price, paid, and drove off.
Iran says it is open to talks with countries seeking safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz - disrupted by recent attacks - as Israel continues to launch wide‑scale strikes on Iranian infrastructure in the west. This live report tracks the latest developments.
President Trump called on countries to assist in reopening the Strait of Hormuz, while Starmer said the UK is working with allies to restore navigation and stabilise oil markets. It comes as a strike near Iraq’s western border killed several Hashed al-Shaabi fighters, raising regional tensions.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 15 March, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Top U.S. and Chinese economic officials launched a new round of talks in Paris on Sunday (15 March) to resolve issues in their trade truce. The discussions aim to smooth the way for U.S. President Donald Trump’s visit to Beijing to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping at the end of March.
Afghanistan has accused Pakistan of killing at least 400 people and injuring 250 others in an air strike on a drug treatment centre in Kabul on Monday night (16 March).
The U.S. Embassy in the Iraqi capital Baghdad came under fire from rockets and drones early on Tuesday (17 March), as the the Middle East conflict enters its 18th day.
Governments around the world are responding cautiously to U.S. President Donald Trump’s call for countries to send naval ships to the Strait of Hormuz to protect commercial shipping and help restore the flow of global oil supplies.
Kyrgyzstan lawmaker Shairbek Tashiev has resigned from parliament after being questioned by investigators. The Central Election Commission confirmed it has formally terminated his parliamentary mandate.
Kazakhstan’s next presidential election will be held in 2029 in line with the Constitution, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said after voting in a referendum on a draft new Constitution amid debate over whether the reforms could signal a future transfer of power.
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