Forest fires in eastern Algeria eased after Civil Protection reported that it had extinguished 118 of 123 recorded fires. Authorities are investigating the causes, while residents have sent aid to affected areas.
Egypt and Iran’s foreign ministers discussed efforts to ease regional tensions and return to diplomacy. Egypt also emphasized the security of Gulf countries and safe international shipping.
A Damascus court sentenced Bashar al-Assad and his brother Maher to death in absentia on August 11, 2026. The ruling is a major development in Syria’s efforts to address crimes linked to the former government, while rights groups have raised fair-trial concerns.
A drone struck a storage tank at Libya’s Zawiya refinery on August 8, 2026, damaging the tank but causing no reported injuries. The incident renewed concern about the protection of vital fuel facilities near Tripoli.
A drone attack on a market in Ar Rahad, North Kordofan, reportedly killed at least two children and four adults on July 20. UN agencies say that escalating violence is putting civilians and aid access at greater risk in Sudan.
The United Nations called for de-escalation after renewed Houthi attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea. Officials warned of risks to Yemen’s peace process, seafarers, international trade, and the environment.
The World Food Programme says displacement is placing severe pressure on food, water, fuel, and public services in El Obeid. Funding shortages have reduced food rations for people receiving assistance by half.
An EU report published on July 17, 2026, says settlement planning reached record levels in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, during 2025. It warns that these developments further weaken prospects for a two-state solution.
Algeria and Germany adopted a joint declaration establishing a strategic agenda for political, economic, energy, scientific, and cultural cooperation. The declaration was concluded during President Abdelmadjid Tebboune’s official visit to Berlin.
