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Pompeo discusses Middle East peace agreements with Saudi foreign minister

U.S. State Department says diplomats spoke of advancing humanitarian aid and peace in Yemen, mending ties between the Gulf countries and the historic signing of the Abraham Accords

i24NEWS , 18:21 , 09.29.20

Kuwaiti ruler Sheikh Sabah has died at 91

The Emir, who reigned for 14 years, was a staunch U.S. ally who struggled with the effects of the aftermath of the 2011 Arab Spring and seesawing crude oil prices on the Gulf state

Associated Press , 17:20 , 09.29.20

Syria minister calls Turkey main terrorism sponsor in region

Using unusually harsh language, Syrian diplomat calls out northern neighbor for its growing belligerence throughout the Middle East; Turkey shoots down statement as 'delusional' and 'ridden with ludicrous allegations'

Associated Press , 10:11 , 09.27.20

Lebanese nominated premier resigns, in blow to Macron plan

Less than a month after receiving the nomination, Mustapha Adib steps down following the insistence of Shiite groups Hezbollah and Amal to maintaining control of the Treasury

Associated Press , 20:38 , 09.26.20

In UN debut, Saudi king calls for comprehensive solution on Iran

King Salman says Iran exploited 2015 nuclear deal with world powers 'to intensify expansionist activities, create terrorist networks, and use terrorism'; monarch calls to disarm Hezbollah

Reuters , 20:14 , 09.23.20

Security source: Technical error causes Hezbollah arms depot to blow up in Lebanon

Explosion shakes the southern village of Ain Qana, above the port city of Sidon, sending grey smoke billowing over the village; Hezbollah members impose a security cordon around the area

News Agencies , 16:12 , 09.22.20

U.S. Space Force deploys to vast new frontier: Arabian Desert

U.S. military deploys 20-strong squadron of newly formed military service to Qatar in bid to secure national interests against 'nations that are extremely aggressive in preparing to extend conflict into space'

Associated Press , 12:51 , 09.21.20

Saudi state TV says Bahrain stops militants planning attacks

Officials claim terror plot was to be retaliation for the U.S. killing of Qassem Soleimani in January; militants arrested, weapons found; some 7,000 serve in American bases in Bahrain

Associated Press , 21:23 , 09.20.20

Pompeo: Hezbollah weapons risk French efforts in Lebanon

With fractious Lebanese politicians set to miss Tuesday deadline agreed with Macron for forming new government, secretary of state says U.S. 'will stop Iran buying Chinese tanks and Russian air defense systems and then selling weapons to Hezbollah'

Reuters , 17:10 , 09.15.20

Iran says 1,044 centrifuges active at underground plant

Tehran announces resumption of enrichment at Fordo site last November in a further step away from 2015 nuclear accord abandoned by Washington in 2018

AFP , 10:00 , 09.14.20

90 UN peacekeepers in south Lebanon contract COVID-19

UNIFIL says infections won’t affect force’s operations along the Israeli-Lebanese border; 88 of those with virus in the same unit; Lebanon sees spike in cases since Beirut port explosion

AFP , 23:00 , 09.13.20

Macron presses Lebanese politicians as cabinet deadline looms

As international groups and donors condition millions in aid to ailing nation on thorough political reforms, PM-designate Adib expected to present government outline Monday

Reuters , 18:10 , 09.13.20

Iran begins expansive annual war games amid tensions with U.S.

State television says Iranian submarines and drones deployed to Gulf of Oman where navy, air force and ground force units participate in training for potential conflict with U.S.

Reuters , 18:23 , 09.10.20

Large fire erupts in Beirut port, month after massive blast

State TV says blaze started at warehouse storing tires and oil, but police say unknown what was in facility; Red Cross says no casualties are reported as army sends helicopters to help bring flames under control

Reuters , 14:57 , 09.10.20

Sri Lanka tea storm swirls around Lebanon president

Massive delivery of supplies, destined for victims of Beirut port blast, found to have been given to Michel Aoun's staff and military elite, spurring vast criticism by citizens on social media

AFP , 23:42 , 09.09.20

Hezbollah-allied parties say U.S. sanctions target whole Lebanon

Washington sanctions senior members of Christian Marada movement and Shi'ite Amal party, saying they 'provided material support to Hezbollah and engaged in corruption'

Reuters , 18:15 , 09.09.20

Trump planning to withdraw more U.S. troops from Iraq

Top American general for Mideast says he believes army will keep a smaller but enduring presence in country, with full withdrawal possible in the future

Associated Press , 10:36 , 09.09.20

US Slaps Sanctions On Two Lebanese Ex-ministers Over Hezbollah

Action comes as the United States, as well as former colonial power France, press for a new government in Lebanon to push urgent reforms

AFP , 08:52 , 09.09.20

Iran building new centrifuges site near Natanz

Tehran seeking to replace facility hit by fire earlier this year, says blaze was result of sabotage and caused significant damage that could slow development of advanced uranium enrichment centrifuges

Reuters , 18:36 , 09.08.20

As cases in Syria rise, U.N. staffers infected

Three people medically evacuated, but most other UN staff and families show mild symptoms; officials say fighting, internal migration and political instability, hide scope of outbreak understood

AFP , 15:03 , 09.08.20

In crisis-hit Lebanon, Paris and Washington at odds over Hezbollah

While U.S. sees terror group as obstacle for much needed governmental reforms, France says willing to cooperate with Hezbollah political wing

AFP , 09:48 , 09.08.20

Saudi court sentences Khashoggi killers after son's pardon

Riyadh Criminal Court orders maximum 20 years in prison for 5 main defendants, another receives 10-year sentence, 2 more to serve 7 years in killing of 59-year-old critic of crown prince in Istanbul consulate in 2018

Associated Press , 18:21 , 09.07.20

Cyprus worried as 4 migrant boats reach island in 48 hours

Some 21 migrants remain aboard a boat that is adrift off Cyprus' southeastern tip as a result of a faulty engine after some have been permitted to disembark

Associated Press , 22:21 , 09.06.20

Mideast's confirmed coronavirus death toll goes over 50,000

Iran remains hardest-hit nation, which saw region’s first major outbreak with over 21,900 people dead from the virus and over 380,000 confirmed cases

Associated Press , 15:41 , 09.03.20

Amnesty: Iran flogged, tortured prisoners in brutal post-protest crackdown

Human rights group finds widespread use of torture, other ill-treatment by Iran police, security agents and prison officials in aftermath of nationwide 2019 protests, with at least 3 sentenced to death in biased trials

Ynet , 11:56 , 09.02.20

Hamas leader visits Beirut for first time in 27 years

Ismail Haniyeh to participate from Lebanese capital in meeting called by Palestinian President Abbas to discuss Israel-UAE deal; confab will include all Palestinian factions including PLO and Islamic Jihad

i24NEWS, Ynet , 23:22 , 09.01.20

Macron to Lebanese leaders: Reform swiftly or face sanctions

French president on second trip to Lebanon in less than a month; pressure from Paris secured deal on new prime minister as country faces biggest threat to stability since civil war

Reuters , 20:03 , 09.01.20

Iran nuclear deal members meet, as US pressure mounts

Iran has enough enriched uranium to make a bomb, but not amount or purity it had before 2015 nuclear deal; allows IAEA inspectors into sites believed to be storage of undeclared nuclear material

Associated Press , 19:13 , 09.01.20

Egyptian military kills 77 terrorists in northern Sinai

Egyptian Airforce reports 317 dens, hideouts and stores, as well as 10 vehicles loaded with weapons and ammunition destroyed; three officers and four soldiers were killed during the anti-terror operations

i24NEWS , 20:58 , 08.31.20

Lebanon agrees on a new prime minister under French pressure

The former diplomat named hours before Macron's arrival in Beirut for his second visit in less than a month to push politicians to enact reforms as donors demand to tackle corruption

Reuters , 18:25 , 08.31.20

Lebanese ambassador Adib emerges as front-runner to be PM

If designation goes without last-minute complications, country's envoy to Germany will be nominated before visit by French President Macron on Monday, who is leading efforts to press Lebanese leaders to reform

Reuters , 20:43 , 08.30.20

Masks And Tears: Shiites mark Ashura at Iraq shrines despite virus

Thousands of worshippers, wearing gloves and face masks flock to the site marking the battle and death of Prophet Mohammed's grandson Hussein, the defining moment of schism within Islam

AFP , 18:31 , 08.30.20

From golden age to war and ruin: Lebanon in turmoil as it turns 100

As the Land of Cedars approaches the centennial of its independence, many reflect on its haphazard foundation, sectarian violence and corruption and ask where did the democratic Levantine dream go

Reuters , 22:58 , 08.27.20

U.S. slams Turkey's Erdogan for hosting Hamas officials - Turkey rejects statement

State Department says Ankara's decision to hold meeting with terror group's leaders 'isolates Turkey, harms the interest of the Palestinian people and undercuts global effort to stop fighting in Gaza'

Reuters , 21:20 , 08.25.20

Explosion at gas pipeline leads to blackout in Syria, says energy minister

TV channel showes footage of a large fire following the explosion which occurred northwest of the capital of Damascus; minister says possible terror attack

Reuters , 09:15 , 08.24.20

Iran official says sabotage caused fire at Natanz nuclear site

Spokesperson tells state TV that security officials will ‘reveal in due time’ the cause of the explosion at the nuclear site; article by IRNA alleges U.S. or Israel behind incident

Reuters , 21:44 , 08.23.20

Erdogan hosts top Hamas officials in Ankara

Senior members of terror group tell Turkish president that Hamas is working against what it calls the 'Judaization of Jerusalem'; meeting comes days before U.S. secretary of state due to visit Israel and UAE in wake of normalization deal

Ynet, i24NEWS , 13:44 , 08.23.20

Iran summons UAE envoy over killing of 2 fishermen, seizes ship

Foreign Ministry says it seized a UAE-registered ship violating its territorial waters and detained its crew members on the same day Emirati Coast Guard seized one Iranian vessel and detained the anglers

Associated Press , 14:11 , 08.20.20

Iran announces locally made ballistic and cruise missiles amid U.S. tensions

Following UN decision to not extend arms embargo past October, Tehran unveils a surface-to-surface missile, called 'Qassem Soleimani' and a cruise missile, called 'Abu Mahdi', all of which have a range of over 1,400 km

Reuters , 11:23 , 08.20.20

Saudi calls for Hezbollah to be 'punished' after Hariri verdict

Saudi officials say 'views the ruling as the emergence of truth and the beginning of a process of achieving justice by chasing, arresting and punishing those involved'; Hezbullah member found guilty by ICC

AFP , 08:58 , 08.19.20

American released from Lebanon after jailed for months dies

Amer Fakhoury's family says he was tortured by Hezbollah while in Lebanon, where he was accused of torturing prisoners during his service in a prison belonging to the Israeli-backed South Lebanon Army in the '90s

Associated Press , 18:47 , 08.18.20

UN tribunal: no evidence Hezbollah leadership tied to Hariri's killing

The UN-backed special judges' panel also says there is no evidence of Syria's involvement in the 2005 killing of the former Lebanese PM

Reuters , 16:11 , 08.18.20

'Impossible' that Beirut port blast was caused by Hezbollah arms, says president

Michel Aoun, an ally of Iran-backed Hezbollah tells Italian daily that the terror group did not store any weapons at the warehouse, echoing dismissals by the organization's leader Nasrallah

Reuters , 11:53 , 08.18.20

Beirut blast prompts new exodus from Lebanon

Expert expects many departures abroad among Lebanon's largely highly educated, multilingual middle class; 'Country may lose a generation it needs to rebuild, to achieve necessary political change'

AFP , 20:11 , 08.17.20

UN-backed court to issue verdicts in murder of ex-Lebanon PM

Tribunal to release ruling for four Hezbollah members accused of role in 2005 assassination of Rafik Hariri in Beirut suicide bombing that killed another 21 people; terror group denies involvement, blames Israeli plot to tarnish Iranian-backed organization

Associated Press , 13:14 , 08.17.20

UAE summons Iranian diplomat over 'unacceptable' Rouhani speech

Iranian president calls UAE peace deal with Israel a 'huge mistake' and a 'treacherous act' while UAE foreign ministry warns Iran it must protect citizens of Gulf state from harm while in Iran

Reuters , 21:53 , 08.16.20

UN votes to end arms embargo on Iran, despite U.S. demands

Washington's resolution to extend weapons ban resoundingly defeated; Pompeo says Israel, Gulf states expect Tehran to ‘spread chaos and destruction’ after embargo lifted in October

Associated Press , 09:45 , 08.15.20

Child survivors battle trauma after deadly Beirut blast

Parents in the Lebanese capital lament the loss of their children's innocence after the massive explosion exposed them to sights of blood, death and destruction

Associated Press , 17:01 , 08.12.20

Lebanese demand change after government quits over Beirut blast

Despite PM Diab and his cabinet resigning, many in Lebanon believe that unless serious changes are done to the corrupt political system, no real change will come to the beleaguered nation

Reuters , 17:34 , 08.11.20

French expert: Dangerous chemicals remain at Beirut port

Special unit is identifying potential leaks and securing an area of the seaport where at least 20 containers holding unsafe materials are still situated, including some that were damaged by the massive blast

Associated Press , 14:06 , 08.11.20

Iran sentences 2 men to prison over spying for Israel, West

Judiciary spokesman says one of the accused - co-chairman of Austrian-Iranian Society - gathered intel on nuclear projects for Israel and Germany, while the second spied for UK, gathering info on Iran's banking system

Associated Press , 13:54 , 08.11.20

Lebanon's leaders warned in July about explosives at Beirut port

A report of Lebanon's security official includes a private letter addressed to the leadership, which warns that storage of ammonium nitrate could cause explosion that would destroy Beirut; the port blast killed at least 163 people, injured 6,000 more

Reuters , 09:10 , 08.11.20

Lebanese PM steps down in wake of Beirut explosion, protests

Diab blames corrupt predecessors for negligence that led to the disaster; current government will assume caretaker role as leadership factions, who protesters want out, bicker over new one

Associated Press , 20:35 , 08.10.20

Lebanon health minister: Cabinet resigns over Beirut blast

Lebanese lawmakers resign en masse after days of violent demonstrations that saw clashes between security forces and protesters; PM Diab will head to presidential palace to hand resignation in name of all ministers

Associated Press , 18:18 , 08.10.20

Lebanon PM said set to resign as anger grows over Beirut blast

Information, environment, justice ministers have already quit, as sources say cabinet set to meet with many more wanting to offer resignation; irate Lebanese want entire government to step down

Ynet, Reuters , 14:08 , 08.10.20

Blast destroyed landmark 19th century palace in Beirut

Three-story mansion had been a landmark in the Lebanese capital, its spacious garden the venue for countless parties and events; it had survived multiple wars but succumbed to last week's port explosion

Associated Press , 11:11 , 08.10.20

Beirut protesters hurl rocks as anger over devastating blast reignites

Demonstrators gather around the capital's Parliament Square, call for the government and its Hezbollah ally to leave from power; top Christain cleric calls for cabinet to resign 'if it is unable to help the country'

Reuters , 21:35 , 08.09.20

Angry Lebanese say Hezbollah worse than Israel

After catastrophic Beirut blast, Lebanese citizens demand prosecution of corrupt politicians, direct ire at Iranian-backed Shi'ite group and its leader Hassan Nasrallah

Daniel Salami , 18:28 , 08.09.20

Police fire tear gas at Beirut protesters furious after explosion

Some 7,000 people gather in Martyrs' Square in Lebanon's capital, throwing rocks and carrying banners saying, 'Leave, you are all killers' as death toll from the port blast is up to 158; earlier, Christian party resigns from parliament over gov't's backing of Hezbollah

Reuters , 18:42 , 08.08.20

Beirut's accidental cargo: how an unscheduled port visit led to disaster

Captain of the Russian ship transporting ammonium nitrate says 'cargo was highly explosive and of a very high concentration,' which is why kept on board for so long, before being stored inside the port

Reuters , 21:29 , 08.06.20