The aircraft was above Baalbek when 18 people were killed there.
The UK flew a drone over Baalbek, Lebanon as Israel massacred 18 people and injured 28 others there on Wednesday, flight data shows.
The flight, first reported on by independent journalist Matt Kennard, left the RAF Akrotiri airbase in Cyprus at 8:22am local time, just hours before Israel’s massive and intense bombardment of civilian areas across Lebanon, which killed at least 303 people, including many children.
The General Atomics Protector RG1 drone circled in the sky near Baalbek for hours, data from AirNav Radar shows. The model is equipped with missiles and bombs and can be used for “surveillance, search and rescue, and armed operations”, according to the RAF’s website.
Prime minister Keir Starmer has repeatedly, and falsely, claimed that the UK’s only involvement in the war in the Middle East since 28 February is defensive.
Wednesday’s drone flight appears to mirror a pattern first seen at the height of Israel’s genocide in Gaza, when Starmer’s government flew numerous surveillance flights over the enclave on behalf of the apartheid state.
Keir Starmer explains that UK is actively supporting Israel’s genocidal expansion and repeats his previous quotation that he supports Zionism “without qualification”. Keir Starmer said “I said it loud and clear – and meant it – that I support Zionism without qualification.” here: https://www.jewishnews.co.uk/keir-starmer-interview-i-will-work-to-eradicate-antisemitism-from-day-one/Keir Starmer objects to criticism of the IDF. He asks how could anyone object to them starving people to death, forced marches like the Nazis did, bombing Gaza’s hospitals and universities, mass-murdering journalists, healthworkers and starving people queuing for food, killing and raping prisoners and murdering children. He calls for people to stop obstructing his genocide for Israel.
More than 3,300 now arrested under the Terrorism Act since 5 July 2025
Yesterday’s arrestees include Massive Attack band member Robert Del Naja
Arrests made following Met U-turn, despite leading legal figures warning the force that arrests would be unlawful in light of High Court ruling
The Met Police have confirmed 523 arrests in Trafalgar Square yesterday, where protesters staged a silent vigil against the genocide and the unlawful use of terrorism laws to silence opposition to the genocide. This brings the total number of arrests for defying the Palestine Action ban from 2,779 to over 3,302.
Last month the Met announced that the number of arrests for proscription offences relating to Palestine Action since the ban came into effect in July 2025, was 2,779 arrests.
The Met chose to make the arrests yesterday despite the High Court ruling in February that the proscription of Palestine Action was unlawful as a violation of the democratic rights to free speech and peaceful assembly. Leading legal figures warned the Met that arrests at this peaceful vigil would be unlawful in light of the High Court ruling, pending the hearing in the Court of Appeal on 28 and 29 April.
Many of those arrested were elderly or disabled, with ages ranging from 18 to 87. Arrestees included Robert Del Naja, the artist and musician from Massive Attack. The arrests took the number of terrorism arrests for quietly holding cardboard signs to over 3,300 since 5 July 2025.
Earlier in the day, a former Met police chief told BBC Radio 4 that arresting these peaceful protestors creates optics which are “very challenging for the police” and that there “will be a huge amount of people who have sympathy with what is going on with the views of Palestine Action.”
The Met Police’s mass arrests of protestors comes despite their stating publicly in February that they would not arrest people for holding signs, given the illegality of the proscription order. They said at the time that not arresting people, pending the Government’s appeal, was “the most proportionate approach we can take”. On 25 March, for reasons that are unclear, they announced a U-turn on this policy.
Meanwhile, the Devon and Cornwall Police undermined the Met’s decision by refusing to make arrests under Terrorism Act in Truro on 11 April. Protesters in Truro held exactly the same sign as protesters in London and police chose not to arrest, whereas the Met arrested 523 people.
Former Met Police chief superintendent, Dal Babu, said on BBC Radio 4:
“I think the difficulty is, when you’ve got 700 or 800 people who are willing to be arrested, that just isn’t practical. The optics of this will be very challenging for the police.
“It will present some significant difficulties for the police in terms of how they manage it and also be aware of the fact there will be a huge amount of people who have sympathy with what is going on with the views of Palestine Action.” [1]
A spokesperson for Defend Our Juries said:
“It is truly surreal that over 500 people have been arrested for defying a ban the High Court has declared unlawful. An already absurdly authoritarian measure has now descended even further into farce ahead of the Court of Appeal hearing this month.
“The Met Police has inexplicably reversed its position that, in light of the High Court ruling and pending the Government’s attempt to appeal, it would not arrest peaceful protesters defying the ban. Leading legal figures warned these arrests could themselves be unlawful, and the Met now seems destined to face legal challenge over what may amount to hundreds, if not thousands of unlawful arrests.
“The fact that Devon and Cornwall Police chose not to arrest protesters yesterday for holding the exact same signs only deepens the chaos surrounding the unlawful ban on Palestine Action and underlines a simple truth: this ban is unenforceable.
“It’s obvious to every sane observer that the Israeli and US governments are committing war crimes in Gaza, the West Bank, Iran and in Lebanon. Instead of standing up to these atrocities, which are already having dire consequences for the British public, Keir Starmer’s government supports them, including by criminalising peaceful protest against these heinous crimes.
Everyone who cares for democracy and the rule of law should be appalled by what is happening, and should ask themselves what they can do personally to prevent the descent into fascism.”
Keir Starmer explains that UK is actively supporting Israel’s genocidal expansion and repeats his previous quotation that he supports Zionism “without qualification”. Keir Starmer said “I said it loud and clear – and meant it – that I support Zionism without qualification.” here: https://www.jewishnews.co.uk/keir-starmer-interview-i-will-work-to-eradicate-antisemitism-from-day-one/Palestine Action joke that appeared in the UK satirical magazine ‘Private Eye’.Keir Starmer objects to criticism of the IDF. He asks how could anyone object to them starving people to death, forced marches like the Nazis did, bombing Gaza’s hospitals and universities, mass-murdering journalists, healthworkers and starving people queuing for food, killing and raping prisoners and murdering children. He calls for people to stop obstructing his genocide for Israel.
This work by Middle East Monitor is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Domestically produced tanks and missiles are put on display in Tehran, Iran on March 25, 2026. [Fatemeh Bahrami – Anadolu Agency.]
US intelligence suggests China may supply Iran with new air defense systems in the coming weeks, even as a delicate ceasefire with Washington remains in place, CNN reported on Saturday citing sources familiar with recent assessments, Anadolu reports.
The report claimed that Iran may be taking advantage of the ceasefire to restock certain weapons systems, with assistance from key international partners.
According to the report, there are signs that Beijing is attempting to channel these shipments through third countries to conceal their true origin.
The systems in question are shoulder-launched anti-aircraft missiles, known as MANPADS.
These weapons posed an asymmetric threat to low-flying US military aircraft during the five-week conflict and could do so again if the ceasefire collapses.
A spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in Washington said: “China has never provided weapons to any party to the conflict; the information in question is untrue.”
“As a responsible major country, China consistently fulfills its international obligations. We urge the US side to refrain from making baseless allegations, maliciously drawing connections, and engaging in sensationalism; we hope that relevant parties will do more to help de-escalate tensions.”
A two-week ceasefire took effect on Wednesday, after weeks of fighting since Feb. 28, when the US and Israel initiated war on Iran.
Nearly 3,000 Iranians have been killed according to the country’s authorities, while the conflict also left at least 13 US servicemen dead and dozens of others wounded, and disrupted the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for oil shipping.
Donald Trump calls for help from NATO allies in securing the Straight of Hormuz despite saying on 7 March 2026 that they don’t need people to join wars after they’ve already won. He’s challenged with the claim that he lies as much as the IDF.Orcas discuss Genocide-supporting and complicit Zionists. Donald Trump, Keith Starmer, David Lammy, Rachel Reeves, Angela Rayner and Wes Streeting are acknowledged as evil genocide-complicit and supporting cnuts.
This work by Middle East Monitor is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Former US Secretary of State John Kerry in Paris, France on June 8, 2024. [Mustafa Yalçın – Anadolu Agency]
Former US Secretary of State John Kerry said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had repeatedly urged US administrations to carry out military strikes on Iran, but previous presidents declined, Anadolu reports.
Speaking in an interview on The Briefing with Jen Psaki on Friday, Kerry said he had participated in multiple discussions with Netanyahu, noting: “He wanted us to strike.”
He said the Israeli premier presented the proposal directly to former President Barack Obama, adding: “President Obama refused. President Joe Biden refused. President George W. Bush refused.”
Kerry said: “The only president who has agreed to this, obviously, is President Trump.”
Referring to recent reporting, Kerry said Netanyahu made a detailed case for military action, describing it as “a four-point pitch.”
He said the proposal included claims that such a strike could “kill the leadership,” “incite a change of regime,” and “destroy the military.”
Kerry said the reporting on the discussions appeared credible, noting it “seemed like good reporting.”
He also indicated that Netanyahu had presented these arguments in meetings involving senior officials, where different views were considered.
The US and Israel launched an offensive against Iran on Feb. 28, killing then Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and many other senior political and military leaders.
Tehran retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel as well as Jordan, Iraq and Gulf countries hosting US military assets. Iran also restricted the movement of ships through the Strait of Hormuz.
Pakistan, together with Turkiye, China, Saudi Arabia and Egypt, managed to secure a two-week ceasefire on Wednesday between Washington and Tehran, 40 days after the war began.
As part of the deal, the two sides agreed to meet in Islamabad for talks to negotiate a lasting peace.
Donald Trump calls for help from NATO allies in securing the Straight of Hormuz despite saying on 7 March 2026 that they don’t need people to join wars after they’ve already won. He’s challenged with the claim that he lies as much as the IDF.Orcas discuss Genocide-supporting and complicit Zionists. Donald Trump, Keith Starmer, David Lammy, Rachel Reeves, Angela Rayner and Wes Streeting are acknowledged as evil genocide-complicit and supporting cnuts.
This work by Middle East Monitor is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
A view of a Palestinian flag as the Global Sumud Flotilla, departs once again after one year, to deliver humanitarian aid, and raise global awareness about Gaza, in Barcelona, Spain, on April 11, 2026. [Burak Akbulut – Anadolu Agency]
Global Sumud Flotilla ships were at the docks in Barcelona on Saturday, before setting off for Gaza on Sunday, Anadolu reports.
Formed to break the blockade on Gaza and deliver humanitarian aid, the flotilla will sail this time with expanded participation, with its largest participation coming from Spain.
Around 70 boats carrying up to 1,000 volunteers from 70 countries are expected to depart on April 12, nearly doubling the size of the previous mission in September 2025.
Flotilla spokesperson Pablo Castilla said the initiative aims to condemn international complicity in Israel’s actions in Gaza, demand accountability, and establish a humanitarian corridor by sea and land.
He said international attention on Gaza has declined due to recent regional developments, adding that Israel has intensified its blockade, restricted aid entry, expanded settlements, and accelerated land seizure. He emphasized that the mission complies with international law. Greenpeace will also participate the mission along with other NGOs.
Last September, the flotilla set sail from Spain, and eventually included 43 boats and 462 people. Before it could reach Gaza, Israeli forces boarded the vessels and took the participants into custody, including Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg.
Organizers say this year’s flotilla will be the largest mission yet, including more than 1,000 participants and 100 vessels in parallel with land mobilizations.
Keir Starmer objects to criticism of the IDF. He asks how could anyone object to them starving people to death, forced marches like the Nazis did, bombing Gaza’s hospitals and universities, mass-murdering journalists, healthworkers and starving people queuing for food, killing and raping prisoners and murdering children. He calls for people to stop obstructing his genocide for Israel.Orcas discuss Genocide-supporting and complicit Zionists. Donald Trump, Keith Starmer, David Lammy, Rachel Reeves, Angela Rayner and Wes Streeting are acknowledged as evil genocide-complicit and supporting cnuts.
