Middle East

Pakistani PM visits Gulf region in quest to reduce tensions

Imran Khan says differences between countries like Iran and Saudi Arabia should be smoothed out through dialogue

Protests grip Lebanon as fury at ruling elite, corruption grows

In Lebanon's biggest protest in years, thousands of people gathered in central Beirut on Thursday evening, forcing the cabinet to backtrack on plans to raise a new tax on WhatsApp voice calls.

U.S. and Turkey agreed to a ceasefire in Syria, says Pence

Pompeo to meet Netanyahu in Jerusalem Friday

Middle Israel: What are the Kurds doing wrong?

Faced with their most recent abandonment, Kurdish nationalists must first ask themselves why they are repeatedly betrayed, and then draw several lessons from Zionist history.

Behind the Lines: Rojava sundown - a retrospective

Islamic State, that most malignant expression of the Sunni Islamist trend, was the natural enemy of this emergent Kurdish autonomy.

Despite the view of Abbas, there’s no plan to replace him

Palestinian Authority: Conflicting messages, perceived weakness

75% of Iranians against ending nuke enrichment - poll

The data also shows that a vast majority of Iranians, around 70%, are still critical of their government when it comes to corruption and whether the economy is run properly.

IAEA mum on Iran’s illicit nuclear activities in Germany

Iran was cited as a country linked to espionage targeting German universities.

Pence meets Erdogan to urge halt to Turkey's Syria offensive

On Monday, White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow told CNBC that the United States was prepared to levy additional sanctions on if necessary "to keep Turkey in line."

Turkish president Erdogan allegedly threw Trump letter in the garbage

The October 9 letter was released to the public by the White House on Wednesday. Trump wrote to Erdogan, "Don't be a tough guy" and "Don't be a fool!"

Iran-backed militias deployed snipers in Iraq protests

“We have confirmed evidence that the snipers were elements of militias reporting directly to their commander instead of the chief commander of the armed forces.”

Arab Christians pray for peace in Syria at Jerusalem prayer session

The prayer session, which drew Christians from more that one sect of the faith, was orchestrated by the "Jerusalemite initiative."

Turkish attack on Kurds inspires joint Jewish-Arab protest

"At times in which the repressive Erdogan regime in Turkey sends his army ... to invade the Kurdish Autonomous Region in Northern Syria (Rojava), we cannot stand idly by."

Amy Klobuchar: Trump’s Syria pullout endangers Israel

The move cleared the way for Turkey to invade an area of the country held by the Kurds, a U.S. ally in the fight to remove an Islamic State caliphate there.

Trump warned Erdogan in an Oct 9 letter: 'Don't be a tough guy'

"Let's work out a good deal!" Trump said.

Two Belgian Islamic State militants escape camp in north Syria -Belgium

Paul Van Tigchelt, head of OCAD, told a parliamentary committee that two men and three women, either Belgian or with links to Belgium, were no longer in prison.

Pompeo to visit Netanyahu Friday to offer assurances over U.S. Syria pullout

The two men are expected to “discuss developments in Syria and the continued need to counter the Iranian regime’s destabilizing behavior in the region,” the State Department said on Wednesday.

Saudi gov’t arrests gay man for wearing leopard shorts at beach

“The police [have changed] my charges to electronic crimes, taking photos of nudity,” Suhail al-Jameel tweeted.

Trump warns of 'devastating' sanctions if U.S.-Turkey meeting fails

"We're in a great position," Trump told reporters at the White House hours before U.S. Vice President Mike Pence was due to depart for talks in Ankara along with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

Hezbollah seeks ‘to attack and storm banks’ in Lebanon – report

The bank source said “any street protest would create concern and confusion among the people," adding “Banks play no role in the sanctions.”

U.N. Security Council concerned by situation in Syria

The U.N. Security Council "expressed deep concern over the risk of the dispersion of terrorists from U.N.-designated groups, including ISIL..."

Graham on Syria: 'could create bigger disaster than Obama leaving Iraq'

Sen. Graham responded to Trump's earlier statement that claimed "the conflict was between Turkey and Syria and that it was "fine" for Russia to help Damascus"

Trump officials rush to Turkey as Moscow advances

The administration is trying to contain the fallout from Erdogan's decision to send forces last week to attack Syrian Kurdish militia that were Washington's close allies.

From Iran to Turkey, U.S. browbeaten by 'war' narrative

Reports indicate, that the “if you don’t do this, there will be war,” threat was used during the phone call between Erdogan and Trump.

Turkey's Halkbank dismisses U.S. charges, Erdogan calls them 'ugly'

U.S. prosecutors on Tuesday charged the state-owned lender with taking part in a multibillion-dollar scheme to evade U.S. sanctions on Iran.