Live Updates August 25, 2026Share to FacebookShare to XArticle printing is available to subscribers onlyPrint in a simple, ad-free formatSubscribeComments: Zen reading is available to subscribers onlyAd-free and in a comfortable reading formatSubscribeAugust 25, 2026UpdatesReport: U.S. prepares to send diplomats back to Middle East embassies after Iran war evacuationsThe U.S. ⁠State Department is ‌preparing to return diplomats to embassies in the Middle East ‌that were evacuated before and during the war with Iran, the ⁠New York Times reported on Tuesday, citing an internal State Department document.The return ⁠of Foreign Service officers and the scaling back of emergency measures at U.S. missions in the region could begin as early as this week, the report said.Reuters was not immediately able to verify the ‌report. The U.S. Department of State could not immediately be reached for comment ‌outside regular business hours.Embassies slated to restore higher staffing levels include those in Israel, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Jordan, Oman, Iraq and Kuwait, according to the report.In a statement quoted by the New York Times, the State Department said it "continuously reviews the security posture at our diplomatic missions around the world.""Based on our latest assessment, we are adjusting our staffing posture at certain posts in the Middle East to ensure we can ⁠continue advancing U.S. foreign policy objectives while protecting the safety and security of our personnel," it added.According to the document, the ‌first diplomats to return would be ⁠assigned to the U.S. Embassy in Lebanon, although staffing ‌there would remain below full levels. Ultimately, staff would return completely to the U.S. embassies in Israel, Jordan and Oman, the report said.Posts in ⁠the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Lebanon would initially be capped at 85 percent staffing, while missions in Iraq, Kuwait and Bahrain would be limited to 75 percent, according to the document.The staff reductions ‌began in February, when Washington authorized voluntary departures of non-emergency personnel and family members from Israel amid tensions with Iran.Netanyahu denounces far-right lawmaker for 'taking the law into his own hands'Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said public officials should not "take the law into their own hands" as it "prevents the IDF from focusing on its missions against terrorism and incitement," in response to the assault by a far-right lawmaker on a Palestinian monument in the West Bank, south of Nablus.Netanyahu added that "The IDF is the sovereign" in the region and is responsible "for implementing the decisions of the political echelon."Spokesman says lawmaker smashed West Bank monument because it honors slain Palestinian militant A Palestinian monument in a West Bank village south of Nablus was targeted Tuesday by far-right lawmaker Zvi Succot because it was erected in honor of a commander of the armed wing of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine who was killed by the Israeli military in 2004, the lawmaker's spokesman said.In a statement, Yossi Rainer said Yamen Faraj, a resident of Madama, was listed on the monument alongside other militants. Rainer said Faraj was responsible for the death of an Israeli woman in a 2003 attack."For ye shall destroy their altars, and break their images, and cut down their groves," Rainer quoted from the Book of Exodus, claiming that village residents commemorated Faraj's death in July by "distributing sweets 'for the elevation of his soul' at the monument."Poll: Support for U.S. military action against Iran falls to 31%U.S. ‌public approval of the war with Iran fell to its lowest level since the conflict's early days, helping to hold President Donald Trump's popularity at a record low, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll that closed on Monday. What Americans think about U.S. attacks on Iran Approve31Skipped5Disapprove63Approve69Skipped2Disapprove29Approve8Skipped2Disapprove90Approve23Skipped10Disapprove67The four-day poll showed just 31 percent of Americans support U.S. military action against Iran, down from 37 percent in a March Reuters/Ipsos poll and 34 percent earlier this month. The decline was driven by fewer self-identified Republicans backing the ⁠conflict. Some 69 percent of Republican respondents support the war, compared with 77 percent in March.The poll surveyed 1,215 U.S. adults nationwide from August 21- 24 and had a margin of error of 3 percentage points in either direction.Gaza parents urged to stop kids flying kites after Israel warning to HamasA kite bearing Arabic writing found in the western Negev on Tuesday. Credit: Used in accordance with Section 27a of the Copyright LawA kite bearing Arabic writing found in the western Negev on Tuesday. Credit: Used in accordance with Section 27a of the Copyright LawGaza parents have been warned to stop their children flying ⁠kites in the war-ravaged enclave, after Israel threatened a forceful response if the Hamas militant group revives a ⁠tactic of launching incendiary kites over the border.The popular committees, comprising representatives of local non-government organizations and charities that run Gaza displacement camps and shelters, issued the warning in a statement late on Monday.The announcement was coordinated with Hamas authorities, a source in the militant group said."We are working tirelessly on ‌the ground and doing everything possible to stop this practice, not to restrict the childhood of our children, who ‌have already been deprived of the most basic rights to play and live in safety, but to protect their innocent lives," the statement said.In 2018, Gazans sent incendiary balloons and kites over the border, causing fires across hundreds of acres of open fields and farmlands, in what they said was in protest at the Israeli blockade of the Hamas-controlled enclave.A senior Israeli defence official said that Hamas was trying to provoke Israel by encouraging Gazans to fly kites across the border.A Hamas official told Reuters the group has complained to cease-fire mediators that "Israel was making fake pretexts to continue the war on ‌Gaza."Israel complained to U.S. President Donald Trump's Board of Peace, which oversees the implementation of the 2025 Gaza cease-fire deal, about the kites, according to a second Israeli official.Minister defends far-right lawmaker's destruction of Palestinian monumentHeritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu said that "destroying a memorial for terrorists is welcome" in an interview with Israel's Kan public broadcaster, backing lawmaker Tzvi Succot, who took a sledgehammer to a Palestinian monument Tuesday in the West Bank, south of Nablus. Eliyahu added that it would be better if the state would remove such memorials, but he "does not see an issue in destroying a monument dedicated to those who murdered."Read the full articleWest Bank village leader disputes IDF account after far-right lawmaker smashes Palestinian monumentThe head of a Palestinian village raided by far-right lawmaker Zvi Succot rejected the Israeli military's claim that it was unaware of his plans to destroy a monument after Succot smashed it Tuesday. A monument damaged by lawmaker Tzvi Succot in the Palestinian village of Madama, Tuesday. Used in accordance with Section 27a of the Copyright LawRami Nassar, head of the Madama local council, told Haaretz that people in civilian clothes were seen measuring the monument several weeks ago before leaving. Nassar said he did not know whether they were settlers, government officials or security personnel.The military said Succot entered with authorization for a "monument tour" but that it was unaware of plans to destroy the monument. Nassar called the claim false.Nassar said the monument was erected more than 20 years ago and had never been damaged. During Tuesday's incident, he said, soldiers stood by as it was destroyed. "There is no one to talk to," Nassar said, describing the situation facing residents in much of the West Bank. Far-right lawmaker Zvi Succot uses a hammer to smash a Palestinian monument Tuesday in Madama, south of Nablus, under the protection of Israeli soldiers and Border Police officers. Credit: Handout/Tzvi SuccotFar-right lawmaker Zvi Succot uses a hammer to smash a Palestinian monument Tuesday in Madama, south of Nablus, under the protection of Israeli soldiers and Border Police officers. Credit: Handout/Tzvi SuccotEarlier Tuesday, Succot used a sledgehammer to smash the monument while under the protection of Israeli soldiers and Border Police officers. Footage showed members of his staff also taking part in attempts to destroy it.The military said troops stopped the tour when they saw what was happening, though footage shows soldiers watching as the monument was being destroyed.Read the full articleThree Palestinians wounded in settler attack east of Bethlehem, Palestinian media saysThree Palestinians men were wounded on Tuesday in a settler attack in the Palestinian village of Za'atara, east of Bethlehem, the Palestinian news agency Wafa reported, saying several residents were severely beaten.Speaking to Wafa, security sources said settlers attacked Palestinian residents' homes in Za'atara, after which the three were transferred to a hospital.The report added that the settlers stole a number of sheep from one of the residents.Turkey hails US removal of Syria from terrorism sponsor list Turkey ‌said on ‌Tuesday it welcomed the U.S. ⁠decision to remove ⁠Syria from its list of state sponsors of terrorism, saying the move ‌lifted "one of the biggest ‌obstacles" to Syria's reconstruction and economic development."We call upon the international community to unite its efforts towards the goal of ⁠a prosperous Syria and to fulfil its responsibilities ‌to ⁠put an ‌end to aggressive actions that jeopardise this vision," ⁠Turkey's foreign ministry said in a statement, referring to Israeli ‌attacks on Syria.Far-right lawmaker Tzvi Succot smashes Palestinian monument near Nablus Far-right Religious Zionism lawmaker Tzvi Succot took a hammer to a Palestinian monument Tuesday in the West Bank village of Madama, south of Nablus, while under the protection of Israeli soldiers and Border Police officers. Far-right lawmaker smashing Palestinian monument near Nablus.Used in accordance with Section 27a of the Copyright LawFootage from the scene showed members of Succot's staff also taking part in attempts to smash the monument.Succot confirmed to Haaretz that he participated in the action, saying it was carried out in full coordination with the Israeli military. He said the monument commemorates militants who killed dozens of Israelis and should not remain standing. The West Bank village of Madama, south of Nablus, is marked in blue.The West Bank village of Madama, south of Nablus, is marked in blue.Democrats party lawmaker Gilad Kariv criticized the IDF's involvement in the incident, noting that the army had refused to coordinate visits to the West Bank for left-wing MKs. "Time and again, we have asked to coordinate with the IDF a visit to Qusra in recent weeks," Kariv said, referencing the Palestinian village that has been under settler siege in recent weeks. "Time and again, our request was denied, without explanation, undermining parliamentary oversight." He added, saying that while the military said it lacked available troops for his requested visit, "It turns out there are enough troops to escort the pyromaniac into the heart of a Palestinian village."Kariv added that "just yesterday, it was reported that the IDF's Central Command chief warned that all it would take is a match to set the West Bank ablaze. Tzvi Succot is charging into the role with relish."Earlier in August, Succot posted a video on social media claiming the village held a "ceremony to distribute ice pops to all the village's children at a monument commemorating militants whose only act was to murder dozens of Jews because they were Jews."He called on the military to demolish the monument and others like it. "It's time to smash these monuments," he said. 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