Iran’s leadership has blamed ‘thugs’ linked to the United States, Israel, and Saudi Arabia for stirring up unrest. Iran has promised to severely punish “mercenaries” arrested over nationwide street protests sparked by a fuel-price rise as much of the country came back online after a week-long internet blackout. A senior commander of Iran’s elite Islamic […]

BAGHDAD (REUTERS) – Seven people were killed on Thursday (Nov 21) when Iraqi security forces shot live fire and tear gas canisters at demonstrators in Baghdad, security and medical sources said, in renewed deadly violence as authorities seek to crush anti-government protests. The cause of death was live fire and tear gas canisters aimed directly […]

Israel said it carried out airstrikes early on Wednesday against Iranian forces near the Syrian capital, in response to an Iranian attack on Israel a day earlier, potentially escalating tensions along Israel’s northeastern border. The strikes killed at least 11 people, according to a rights monitoring group. The Israel Defense Forces said in a statement […]

JERUSALEM (AFP) – A coalition government or new elections? Israeli incumbent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and rival Benny Gantz traded blame over faltering talks on Wednesday (Nov 20) ahead of a midnight deadline. Former military general Gantz has until 11.59pm (2159 GMT) to cut a coalition deal, or the country will edge closer to holding […]

The Taliban yesterday freed an American and an Australian held hostage since 2016 in exchange for three top Taliban figures – a move that the insurgent group asserted could help rekindle talks to end Afghanistan’s 18-year war. The hostages – American Kevin King and Australian Timothy Weeks – were released in an area of southern […]

Protests against the Iranian government erupted for a fifth day across the country on Tuesday, as the authorities scrambled to crush the unrest and reports emerged of mounting injuries and deaths. The rights group Amnesty International said that as many as 106 protesters in 21 cities had been killed over the course of the protests, […]

Four rockets were launched from Syria toward the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights at dawn on Tuesday, setting off air-raid sirens but causing no harm, according to the Israeli military. The military said that the incoming fire was intercepted by Israel’s Iron Dome air defense system and that it appeared no rockets had fallen on the Israeli-controlled […]

The United States has effectively backed Israel’s right to build Jewish settlements on the occupied West Bank by abandoning its four-decade position that they were “inconsistent with international law.” The announcement by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was a victory for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is struggling to remain in power after two […]

Anger over sharp hike in petrol price and rationing scheme sparks demonstrations in oil-rich Iran. Protests erupted across Iran in recent days after an abrupt decision by authorities to hike petrol prices as part of efforts to blunt the effects of crippling US sanctions on the country’s economy. The move, announced at midnight on November […]

At least 10 people killed and many more wounded after two vehicles exploded in northern Syrian border town. At least 10 civilians have been killed and about 15 others wounded in a car bomb attack in the northern Syrian border town of al-Bab, according to the Turkish defence ministry. In a Twitter post, the ministry said […]