Iraqi PM’s Iran visit underscores efforts to be regional mediatorMustafa al-Kadhimi’s trip to Tehran is timely ahead of October 10th electionMon Sept 13 2021 - 19:05
Lebanon agrees new government to spark hopes of easing economic crisisBreakthrough after input from France opens way to possible resumption of talks with IMFFri Sept 10 2021 - 15:46
Taliban’s all-male government adhere to narrow interpretation of IslamHardliners get key posts as international community’s call for inclusive cabinet rejectedWed Sept 08 2021 - 21:17
Afghanistan: Why have the Taliban not yet named a government?Infighting rupturing force in control and ‘a unitary Taliban has always been illusionary’Mon Sept 06 2021 - 17:48
America’s 20-year ‘war on terror’ cost $8tn and caused 900,000 deaths, report findsCosts of War project looks at consequences of conflicts the US has waged since 9/11 attacksThu Sept 02 2021 - 13:29
Where will Afghanistan’s refugees end up?Neighbouring states adopt divergent policies while Europe keen to protect itself from waves of illegal immigrantsTue Aug 31 2021 - 16:20
Explainer: who are Isis-K, blamed for the Kabul airport attack?There had been fears the group would strike Taliban fighters, US troops and Afghans and foreignersSat Aug 28 2021 - 12:10
Chaotic Afghanistan exit likely to embolden Islamist elementsEmergence of Isis-K a taste of things to come in wake of calamitous withdrawal of allied forcesFri Aug 27 2021 - 19:55
Britain to press G7 to take tough stance against TalibanUS president says he will support British calls for sanctions if Taliban commit abusesMon Aug 23 2021 - 17:15
The Taliban have not softened. So why are they pretending they have?Goal appears to be removal of terrorist designation and release of much-needed fundsFri Aug 20 2021 - 15:28
Middle East states scramble to formulate policy response to TalibanOusted Afghan president Ashraf Ghani and family are in United Arab EmiratesWed Aug 18 2021 - 17:38
Taliban victory could have major implications beyond AfghanistanFundamentalists in neighbouring Central Asian countries likely to be boosted by successMon Aug 16 2021 - 17:28
Tens of thousands of Yemenis stranded by Saudi blockade of capital’s airportSome 32,000 in rebel-held north not able to travel outside country for life-saving treatmentThu Aug 12 2021 - 17:35
Three killed in fights over fuel in Lebanon as economic crisis deepensNearly 80% of population now lives in poverty, UN says, as currency continues to tumbleTue Aug 10 2021 - 17:34
Tough challenges lie ahead for Iran’s new, unpopular hardline leaderEbrahim Raisi won 62% of vote in controversial election boycotted by 52% of votersThu Aug 05 2021 - 18:28
One year on from Beirut explosion and still no government in LebanonFamilies yet to return to homes while Norwegian Refugee Council says 70,000 joblessTue Aug 03 2021 - 18:39
US returns 17,000 archeological treasures looted from IraqItems dating back to 4500 BC flown back with Iraq’s PM following Washington visitFri Jul 30 2021 - 11:37
Lebanon’s PM-designate Mikati may have enough support to get things doneNajib Mikati is seen by many as a stalwart of the elite, but he has French and US backingTue Jul 27 2021 - 18:31
Tehran fails to curb violence of Shia militias in IraqMilitia leaders populate Baghdad parliament and fighters control villages, towns and citiesMon Jul 26 2021 - 16:53
US blaming of Middle-Eastern ‘bad actors’ challenged by think tankQuincy Institute points to US’s weapon exports and own role in region’s interventionsThu Jul 22 2021 - 16:20
Turkish Cypriot leader’s move on abandoned town sparks action by CyprusTatar says Greek Cypriots will be invited to return to Varosha amid invasion anniversaryTue Jul 20 2021 - 18:09
Anger in Lebanon as Hariri resignation deepens crisisUS and France plan conference to support stricken Beirut on anniversary of port blastFri Jul 16 2021 - 15:44
Jordanians welcome jailing of king’s aide despite questions over legitimacy of trialBassem Awadallah and businessman Sharif Hassan bin Zaid jailed for 15 years for seditionWed Jul 14 2021 - 19:46
Saudi Arabia accused of torture of high-profile political detaineesHuman Rights Watch report cites prison guards who described ‘harrowing scenes’Tue Jul 13 2021 - 16:55
Emirati and Saudi disagreements over oil production see them move further apartThe Emirati broke with the Saudis by establishing relations with Israel, while Riyadh has challenged the Emirates as a commercial hubFri Jul 09 2021 - 17:27
More than 90% of Gaza’s children suffering from trauma, report findsHuman rights body says Israel, in May, carried out disproportionate attacks in areas where 75% of the inhabitants were children and womenTue Jul 06 2021 - 15:40
Lebanon’s children bearing brunt of country’s crises – UnicefRecession, political deadlock and Covid-19 have left families in ‘dire situation’Fri Jul 02 2021 - 17:04
Iraqi militias seek truce with US, report claimsCommanders of Iran-sponsored fighters strike accord after fatalities inflicted by USWed Jun 30 2021 - 16:31
Amnesty accuses Israeli police of torturing and abusing Palestinian detaineesEvidence ‘paints a damning picture of discrimination’, says human rights groupMon Jun 28 2021 - 18:08
Saudi Arabia and Houthis close in on terms for a ceasefire in YemenHouthis seek lifting of blockades on ports, airport in exchange for talks on nationwide truceTue Jun 22 2021 - 18:57
Raisi victory puts levers of power in hands of Iran’s clerical regimeFormer ultra-conservative chief justice is a protege of supreme leader Ayatollah KhameiniSun Jun 20 2021 - 18:26
Hardline cleric leads field as Iran set to vote in presidential electionRegime presses case of Ebrahim Raisi as voters expected to shun poll seen as illegitimateThu Jun 17 2021 - 13:16
Human rights groups call on UN to investigate massive Beirut port explosionAmnesty says Lebanese authorities have ‘obstructed, evaded and delayed ongoing domestic investigation’Wed Jun 16 2021 - 17:55
Suspects in alleged plot to destabilise Jordan set to face trialCharges for ex-finance minister and minor ruling family member include inciting seditionMon Jun 14 2021 - 19:24
Saudi Arabia suspends air attacks in Yemen as ceasefire sought to resume talksDe-escalation to prepare ‘political ground for a peace process’, says Saudi spokesmanFri Jun 11 2021 - 15:44
Israel’s AG declines to intervene in flashpoint Sheikh Jarrah land disputeDecision due on evictions as Israeli far-right march in Jerusalem’s Old City is cancelledMon Jun 07 2021 - 17:33
‘No fundamental difference’: Palestinians pessimistic about Netanyahu’s exitLeaders of five parties in new Israeli coalition have served in Netanyahu cabinetsFri Jun 04 2021 - 16:08
Lebanon in one of worst global crises since 1850, says World BankBank says country ‘faces a dangerous depletion of resources, including human capital’Wed Jun 02 2021 - 15:58
Cypriot president’s party fares badly in parliamentary electionsMain Greek Cypriot parties lose out to ultra-nationalists, socialists, centrists, GreensMon May 31 2021 - 20:00
Hamas says it will not touch ‘a single cent’ of international aid to GazaUS pledges $75m in relief following 11-day bombardment, while Ireland offers €1.5mThu May 27 2021 - 18:19
Iran nuclear deal talks enter latest roundLifting of US sanctions key to progress amid eagerness to restart accord Trump cancelledMon May 24 2021 - 18:57
Gazans inspect damage after 200 hours of air strikesBuildings and vital infrastructure have been reduced to rubble by the recent fightingSat May 22 2021 - 07:52
Ongoing turmoil undermines Trump-era policies which benefited NetanyahuTwo-state solution now firmly back on the agenda of the international communityThu May 20 2021 - 17:45
Arab governments under pressure as popular anger at Israel growsDevastation in Gaza revives Arab empathy with Palestinians, forcing their rulers to actMon May 17 2021 - 15:58
Latest conflict exposes impotence of Fatah-dominated Palestinian AuthorityBy launching rockets into Israel, Hamas has laid claim to the ‘street’ in East Jerusalem, the West Bank and GazaFri May 14 2021 - 17:58
Israeli actions compound with Palestinian resentments into violenceAnalysis: Provocative Israeli moves spark most dangerous outbreak of warfare since 2014Wed May 12 2021 - 23:25
Saudi-Syrian meeting may help end decade of estrangementRiyadh no longer enjoys the unequivocal backing of the US administrationThu May 06 2021 - 19:54
French minister to visit Lebanon and press for end to political deadlockParis curbing access to its territory for officials implicated in blockage or corruptionTue May 04 2021 - 21:12
UN-brokered Cyprus talks fail to find ‘common ground’Informal meeting of divided island’s leaders aimed at resuming reunification effortsFri Apr 30 2021 - 11:06
Talks on reviving Iran nuclear deal to resume in ViennaMid-May deadline set for achieving roadmap as presidential elections take place in JuneWed Apr 28 2021 - 18:32
