International

Gulf Limbo: Between War and a Hard Place

How the US ‘allies’ in West Asia brought misfortune upon themselves

by Pascal Lottaz,* Japan

(17 April 2026) On 28 February 2026, the United States and Israel jointly launched an illegal military campaign against Iran. Within hours, Iranian drones and missiles struck Manama, Abu Dhabi, Riyadh, and installations across Kuwait and Qatar – although the Gulf monarchies had not declared war on Iran. Several issued statements calling for restraint. But their capitals got hit anyhow, and the reason was not difficult to understand: these countries host the military bases from which American forces were (partially) prosecuting the illegal attacks on Iran.

“A war orchestrated by Israel”

Resignation letter from the US Director of Counter-Terrorism

(27 March 2026) (CH-S) Whilst the US-Israeli war of aggression against Iran is viewed worldwide as a breach of the obligation under international law to resolve inter-state conflicts without the use of force, the White House claims that it is a preventive war of defence.

Widening hostilities across Middle East putting civilian lives in grave danger

The following is a statement from ICRC President Mirjana Spoljaric:

(20 March 2026) Geneva (ICRC) – “Widening hostilities across the Middle East are putting civilian lives in grave danger. The scale of major military operations flaring across the Middle East risks embroiling the region – and beyond – into another large-scale armed conflict that will overwhelm any humanitarian response. Without urgent steps to de-escalate the situation and respect the rules of war, further civilian lives will be lost.

This illegal US-Israeli attack on Iran is also an assault on the United Nations

by Jeffrey D. Sachs* & Sybil Fares**

(13 March 2026) Let us be clear about what the United States and Israel are pursuing. The US objective is not the security of the American people. The objective is global hegemony. The attempt is to destroy the UN and the international rule of law – an attempt that will fail.

The Epstein files and Norway's political elites

by Prof. Glenn Diesen,* Norway

(27 February 2026) (CH-S) Using his home country as an example, the author shows how Norwegian elites secured and continue to seek to secure power and high salaries under the guise of woke “humanitarian” networks. Criticism of this is considered treason. Hopefully, objective and well-documented analyses will soon be published from other countries.

Between war and war

Israel urges the US to attack, the Arab Gulf states vacillate

by Karin Leukefeld,* Beirut

(27 February 2026) For the sixth time in a year, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has travelled to Washington to dissuade US President Donald Trump from reaching a diplomatic agreement with Iran on its nuclear programme. The hasty day trip did not produce the result Netanyahu had hoped for, according to the internet platform “Al Monitor”, quoting the US President after the nearly three-hour meeting between the two.