Middle East

Middle East

Time to ‘eradicate’ IS, Kurdish fighters in Syria

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said yesterday it was time to destroy “terrorist” groups that posed a threat to Syria’s survival, namely the Islamic State group jihadists and Kurdish fighters.

17h ago

OCCUPIED WEST BANK / Israeli settlers set fire to a mosque

Israeli settlers set fire to a mosque in the occupied West Bank, Palestinian residents said yesterday, and video showed “Revenge”, “Death to Arabs” and other slogans had been spray-painted in Hebrew on the building’s facade.

17h ago

9 killed as Israel strikes Yemen port

Israel launched strikes against ports and energy infrastructure in Houthi-held parts of Yemen early yesterday and threatened more attacks against the Iran-aligned militant group, which has launched hundreds of missiles at Israel over the past year.

1d ago

Hopes for Gaza truce deal rise

The United States, joined by Arab mediators, yesterday sought to conclude an agreement between Israel and Hamas to halt the 14-month-old offensive in the Gaza Strip where medics said Israeli strikes killed at least 20 Palestinians overnight.

2d ago

First flight since Assad's fall takes off from Damascus airport

The first flight since the ouster of Syria's president Bashar al-Assad took off on Wednesday from Damascus airport to Aleppo in the country's north, AFP journalists saw

3d ago

Israeli strikes kill 14 in Gaza

Israeli military strikes across the Gaza Strip killed at least 14 Palestinians yesterday, at least 10 of them in one house in Gaza City, medics said as tanks pushed deeper towards the western area of Rafah in the south.

3d ago

Gaza death toll surpasses 45,000

Israel’s military offensive in the Gaza Strip has killed at least 45,028 Palestinians and wounded 106,962 since October 7, 2023, the Palestinian enclave’s health ministry said yesterday.

4d ago

Golan settlements: Israel seeking to ‘expand borders’

Turkey yesterday denounced an Israeli plan to double the population living in the occupied and annexed Golan Heights as a bid to “expand its borders”.

4d ago

Turkish rescuers search infamous Syria jail

A team of Turkish rescuers began an in-depth search of Syria’s infamous Saydnaya prison yesterday, a spokesman for Turkey’s AFAD disaster management agency told AFP.

4d ago

Israeli strike kills 1 in south Lebanon

Lebanon’s health ministry said an Israeli drone strike in the south killed one person yesterday, the latest deadly raid despite a more than two-week ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah.

6d ago

Iran won’t impede IAEA access

Iran will not impede the UN nuclear watchdog’s access and inspection of its sites, the head of the country’s Atomic Energy Organization said yesterday.

6d ago

18 killed as Israel strikes shelters, aid point in Gaza

At least 18 Palestinians were killed in Israeli airstrikes in Gaza on Saturday, medics said, while the Israeli military said it targeted gunmen operating from shelters and aid storages.

6d ago

US, regional diplomats meet to discuss Syria crisis

Top diplomats from the United States, Turkey, the European Union and Arab nations met in Jordan yesterday for talks on Syria as regional and global powers scramble for influence over whatever government replaces ousted President Bashar al-Assad.

6d ago

Syrian Shias flee to Lebanon

Tens of thousands of Syrians, mostly Shia Muslims, have fled to Lebanon since Sunni Muslim groups toppled Bashar al-Assad, fearing persecution despite assurances from the new rulers in Damascus that they will be safe, a Lebanese official said.

1w ago

Israeli strike kills 33 Palestinians

An Israeli strike on a post office sheltering Gaza residents killed at least 33 Palestinians and wounded 50, medics said, and the Israeli military said yesterday it had been targeting a senior Islamic Jihad member.

1w ago

‘Prepare to remain’ in Syria buffer zone through winter

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz yesterday ordered the military to “prepare to remain” throughout the winter in the UN-patrolled buffer zone between Israeli and Syrian forces on the strategic Golan Heights.

1w ago

G7 to meet on Syria, govt pledges 'rule of law'

G7 leaders will meet virtually Friday to discuss the momentous changes underway in Syria, where the interim government has vowed to institute the "rule of law" after years of abuses under ousted president Bashar al-Assad

1w ago

Israel continues pounding Syria

Israel’s Air Force yesterday continued to pound Syria, striking ports and missile warehouses in Latakia and Tartous provinces, as Israeli ground troops moved deeper into the Syrian Golan Heights, effectively expanding their occupation.

1w ago