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Iran's Revolutionary Guards warn protesters of 'decisive' action over continued unrest

Protests have spread across Islamic Republic since Friday, turning political with demonstrators demanding that top clerical leaders step down and at least 100 banks and dozens of buildings and cars torched, according to state media

Reuters , 14:55 , 11.18.19

Russia sets up helicopter base in northern Syria after U.S. exit

Deployment comes less than month after American forces withdrawing from area were pelted with potatoes by local residents after Trump abruptly ordered them to leave country

Reuters , 11:09 , 11.14.19

Germany: Europe should mull renewed sanctions on Iran

Comment comes after Tehran says it has resumed low-grade uranium enrichment at underground Fordo nuclear plant, can refine up to 60% of fissile purity, in most significant breaches of the 2015 deal drafted by Obama and abandoned by Trump

Reuters , 15:39 , 11.11.19

UN mission proposes plan to end Iraq turmoil

World body lays out series of short- and longer-term measures to deal with crisis, including electoral reform and series of anti-corruption measures, after at least 319 protesters killed by security forces since unrest began last month

Associated Press , 10:44 , 11.11.19

Iran fuels centrifuges, resumes uranium enrichment at Fordow

Iran has gradually scaled back its commitments to the 2015 nuclear deal since the U.S. reneged on the agreement last year and imposed further sanctions on the Iranian economy

Reuters , 17:17 , 11.07.19

Jordanian official: Economy buckling under burden of Syrian refugees

Influx of 1.3 million people fleeing years-long civil war has impacted on government expenditure as well as economic growth and trade with neighboring nations

The Media Line , 13:20 , 11.07.19

Iran briefly held IAEA inspector, seized travel documents - diplomats

The nuclear deal, which the IAEA is policing, allows for 130-150 inspectors from the agency designated for Iran but a western diplomat warned the incident may impact their ability to carry out inspections in the future

Reuters , 22:30 , 11.06.19

Israel aiding Syria's Kurds, advocating for them with U.S.

Israel has maintained discreet military, intelligence and business ties with the Kurds since the 1960s, regarding the minority ethnic group whose indigenous population is split between Iraq, Turkey, Syria and Iran - as a buffer against shared adversaries

Reuters , 22:21 , 11.06.19

Tourists stabbed in Jordanian tourist hotspot

Videos from the attack in the popular tourist destination show a bleeding woman lying on the floor and another panic-stricken woman in a blood-stained T-shirt

Reuters , 14:19 , 11.06.19

In new break with nuclear deal, Iran revives uranium centrifuges

Rouhani stresses steps taken so far, including going beyond the deal's enrichment and stockpile limitations, could be reversed if Europe offers a way for it to avoid U.S. sanctions choking off its crude oil sales abroad

Associated Press , 11:11 , 11.05.19

Turkey says it captured slain IS leader's sister

Turkish officials say Al Baghdadi's sister may turn out to be an intelligence gold mine that can significantly expand the understanding of how the terror group operated and where some key players could be found

Associated Press , 08:44 , 11.05.19

Iran announces new violations of nuclear deal with enhanced centrifuges

On 40th anniversary of takeover at U.S. embassy in Tehran, head of country's Atomic Energy Organization says it is now operates twice as many advanced centrifuges banned by 2015 treaty, working on prototype that's 50 times faster than those allowed under agreement

Associated Press , 14:18 , 11.04.19

Iran marks 1979 takeover of U.S. Embassy

Main event is hardliners' rally at former American mission in Tehran, address by Iranian commander; demonstrators at other rallies chant 'Death to America!' and 'Death to Israel!'

Associated Press , 12:52 , 11.04.19

Islamic State confirms death of leader al-Baghdadi, names successor

In an audio message, the terror group - which has remained silent since the U.S. raid in northwestern Syria that killed the Iraqi Jihadist - identifies the new leader as Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi and vows revenge against the Americans

Associated Press, Reuters , 18:08 , 10.31.19

Seven countries issue Iran-related sanctions on 25 targets

Twenty-one of the targets announced Wednesday comprised a vast network of businesses providing financial support to the Basij Resistance Force which is part of the Revolutionary Guards Force

Reuters , 09:41 , 10.31.19

How Lebanese PM Hariri defied Hezbollah

Hezbollah is more deeply involved than ever in the affairs of Lebanese government and as keen as anyone to stave off deeper financial problems that could lead to a destabilizing currency crisis

Reuters , 22:20 , 10.30.19

Bursting at the seams: Inside an IS prison in Syria

An exclusive peak into the facility where the Kurds are holding thousands of dangerous Jihadists reveals prisoners from all around the world sleeping on the floor, some severely ill; 'I want to go home, wish I hadn't answered the call to arms,' says one prisoner

AFP , 15:51 , 10.30.19

PM Hariri resigns as Lebanon crisis turns violent

Hariri steps down in televised address after mob loyal to Shi'ite groups attack and destroy protest camp set up by demonstrators in Beirut; Hariri will present president with resignation of government

Reuters , 16:47 , 10.29.19

Lebanese PM to resign amid protests

Last week, Hariri sought to defuse popular anger through a set of reform measures including no new taxes for the next fiscal year, politicians pay to be axed by 50% and new anti-corruption legislations

Reuters , 15:44 , 10.29.19

Trump: Islamic State leader 'died like a dog' in Syria raid

In special statement from White House, president says Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi killed himself and three of his children when he set off his explosives vest; U.S. troops removed sensitive information from compound in Idlib

Ynet, News Agencies , 15:44 , 10.27.19

Lebanon's mainly peaceful protests enter 10th day

Demonstrators sing and lie down in streets in anti-corruption demonstrations that have spread across the country, as Hezbollah leader claims foreign powers and rival political groups are exploiting rallies to go target his Iranian-backed group

AP , 09:50 , 10.27.19

American official: IS leader believed dead in U.S. raid in Syria

Source says confirmation pending that Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was killed in an explosion in Idlib operation; Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says attack carried out by squadron of eight helicopters accompanied by warplane belonging to international coalition

Associated Press , 08:32 , 10.27.19

Iran executes children in violation of rights law, says UN expert

General Assembly's human rights committee believes there are at least 90 child offenders currently on death row in the Islamic Republic, with at least 9 children executed over the last year

Associated Press , 14:40 , 10.24.19

Russia warns Syrian Kurdish YPG must pull back or face Turkish army

Erdogan is said to consider a victory the full removal of the Kurds from Syria's northeastern border with Turkey, an area occupied by U.S. troops for many years, but will now be patrolled by Russian and Turkish forces

Reuters , 13:53 , 10.23.19

As truce deadline nears, Putin, Erdogan meet in Syria

Talks between Russian and Turkish presidents likely to be crucial in determining arrangements along Syrian-Turkish border, where Ankara demands a long "safe zone" cleared of Kurdish fighters

Associated Press , 17:43 , 10.22.19

Pompeo: Trump 'fully prepared' to use military against Turkey if necessary

The secretary of state said the president wouldn't hesitate to use force against its NATO ally, which would destroy the 70-year-old intergovernmental alliance, if the Turks continue the offensive against the Kurds in Syria despite the ceasefire

i24NEWS , 09:21 , 10.22.19

U.S. soldiers who fought alongside Kurds blast Trump's Syria retreat

Legions of American servicemembers have a deep gratitude and respect for Kurdish fighters they served alongside through the Iraq war and, more recently, conflicts with the Islamic State in Syria

Reuters , 14:10 , 10.21.19

Lebanese demonstrators protesting planned austerity measures

The government is weighing a raft of new belt-tightening measures it hopes will shore up its finances and secure the disbursement of $11 billion in aid pledged by international donors last year

AFP , 15:06 , 10.18.19

Deal between US, Turkey spawns more questions than answers

One of the biggest threats in the conflict has been the potential that thousands of imprisoned IS fighters could escape as shelling in some areas may have led to the escape of detainees while Trump said that the detained will be controlled by 'different groups'

Agencies , 08:41 , 10.18.19

Turkish patriotism on display amid invasion of Syria

Ankara has argued the Kurds they are fighting are nothing more than an extension of the Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK, which has waged a guerrilla campaign inside Turkey since the 1980s

Associated Press , 19:11 , 10.17.19

Erdogan 'threw away letter from Trump' calling for deal on Syria

Following a phone call with Erdogan, who has rejected calls for ceasefire or mediation, Trump dispatched top aides including VP Pence and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to Ankara to try to persuade Turkey to halt the offensive

Ynet, Reuters , 13:35 , 10.17.19

Facing hostile Iran, U.S. pullout from Syria worries Gulf states

Analysis: Persian Gulf nations ponder Trump's apparent acquiescence to Turkey's invasion of Kurdish territory, making their own calculations about how far to trust the American president if Iran tensions boil over

Associated Press , 16:59 , 10.16.19

U.S. carried out secret cyber strike on Iran in wake of Saudi oil attack, officials say

Two American officials say the alleged attack took place in September and targeted Islamic Republic's ability to spread 'propaganda' and affected physical hardware

Reuters , 08:44 , 10.16.19

Turkish assault in Syria weakens Iraq Kurds, strengthens regional powers

Turkey's invasion ends Syrian Kurdish rule in northeastern Syria, leaving Iraqi Kurdistan as the Kurds' only self-governed land; a cautious reaction from Iraqi Kurdish leaders shows its reliance on Turkey even as it battles their Syrian brethren

Reuters , 23:31 , 10.15.19

Trump imposes sanctions on Turkey over invasion, threatens its economy

'I am fully prepared to swiftly destroy Turkey's economy,' warns the U.S. president in an effort to restrain Turkish assault, which began following Trump's announcement to pull all American troops out of Syria, on Kurdish groups in the war-torn country

Associated Press , 08:32 , 10.15.19

Turkey says Kurdish forces emptied Islamic State prison in northeast Syria

Turkish official says YPG had emptied only Islamic State prison that Turkish forces had so far reached in the envisaged "safe zone" area, and that inmates had already been removed

Reuters , 16:49 , 10.14.19

IS supporters escape as Turkish troops near key Syrian town

Kurdish-led administration in northern Syria says 950 Islamic State supporters escaped after attacking guards and storming gates; UN says more than 130,000 Syrians have fled since Turkey's cross-border operation began five days ago

Associated Press , 13:49 , 10.13.19

Turkey rebuffs Arab, EU criticism as forces advance on northeast Syria targets

World powers fear Turkey's action could intensify the conflict, and runs the risk of Islamic State prisoners escaping from camps amid the chaos as the Security Council plans to meet Thursday and the 22 member Arab League will meet Saturday

Reuters , 16:04 , 10.10.19

Trump says 'too costly' to back Kurdish forces in Syria

U.S. president defends decision to essentially abandon Kurdish fighters who fought alongside the Americans in Syria, as Turkey prepares its ground assault; 'Kurds fought with us, but were paid massive amounts of money to do so,' Trump says

News agencies, Ynet , 15:43 , 10.07.19

Kurds: U.S. troops start pullout from Syria ahead of Turkey's invasion

Turkey's long-planned operation targeting the Kurdish YPG militia - which helped defeat the Islamic State in Syria but is considered a terror organization by the Turks - meant to establish a 'safe zone' east of the Euphrates River

Reuters , 09:19 , 10.07.19

Rouhani: U.S. offered to end Iran sanctions in return for meeting

Iranian president says he rejected offer despite pressure from Germany, Britain and France, insisting on punitive measures be halted first; Trump claims it was Tehran that proposed meeting condition sanctions were lifted

Reuters , 21:13 , 09.27.19

British tanker leaves Iran after 10-week detention

Vessel, seized by Revolutionary Guard in Strait of Hormuz after U.K. detained Iranian ship, left Bandar Abbas bound for Dubai; families of crew informed, repatriation planned

Reuters , 15:27 , 09.27.19

Iran's Rouhani warns 'a single blunder can fuel a big fire' in region

Amid U.S. tensions, Iranian president tells UN General Assembly that his country 'shall not tolerate the provocative intervention of foreigners,' rules out nuclear talks until recently imposed American sanctions are lifted

Reuters , 19:56 , 09.25.19

UK, France and Germany blame Iran for Saudi oil facility attack

Iran’s foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, denied any part in the attacks. He said Monday that Yemen’s Houthi rebels, who claimed responsibility, 'have every reason to retaliate' for the Saudi-led coalition’s aerial attacks on their country

Associated Press , 08:32 , 09.24.19

Iran asks West to leave Persian Gulf as tensions heightened

Rouhani speaking at a military parade said Iran was willing to "extend the hand of friendship and brotherhood" to Persian Gulf nations and was "even ready to forgive their past mistakes"

Associated Press , 22:46 , 09.22.19

Iranian foreign minister: 'Military strike against Iran would result in 'all-out war''

Iranian Foreign Minister Zarif 'Iran won't blink in defending itself; Iranian oil minister blames U.S. for using oil as weapon against the Islamic Republic and claims economic conditions worse than in Iran-Iraq war

Reuters , 20:58 , 09.19.19

Tehran rules out Trump talks as U.S. accuses Iran in Saudi oil strike

Drone attack on kingdom's oil infrastructure increasing already heightened fears of escalation in region, after president says U.S. is 'locked and loaded' to respond and prominent senator suggests striking Iranian oil refineries

Associated Press , 18:12 , 09.16.19

Iran: U.S. bases, aircraft carriers within range of our missiles

Threat by senior Revolutionary Guard commander comes after Pompeo says Tehran behind attacks on two plants at the heart of Saudi Arabia's oil industry and rejects Houthi claim of responsibility

Reuters , 11:49 , 09.15.19

White House says bin Laden son killed in U.S. operation

President Trump issues statement, saying Hamza bin Laden, son of the late al-Qaida terror group leader, was killed in a U.S. counterterrorism activity, without providing any further details; the 30-year-old had been viewed as an eventual heir to the leadership of al-Qaida

Associated Press , 18:46 , 09.14.19

Hezbollah facing growing criticism in Lebanon

Mainstream media, social media and politicians are becoming more vocal in their displeasure of the Iran-backed group's decision to fire missiles at an IDF base on Sunday, which resulted in a massive Israeli bombardment of a southern Lebanon town

, 14:06 , 09.04.19

Iran gives Europe two more months to save nuclear deal, warns of 'extraordinary' future breaches

State run TV says Tehran has nixed proposal to preserve 2015 agreement in return for guarantees of $15 billion in Iranian oil sales, apparently contradicting to earlier stamement by deputy FM

Reuters , 12:11 , 09.04.19

U.S. hits Iran space agency with sanctions over missile work

The Trump administration for the first time targets the agency and its affiliates after an explosion of a rocket at Iran's Imam Khomeini Space Center; sanctions would subject companies and governments working with the agency to harsh penalties

Associated Press, Reuters , 21:53 , 09.03.19

Iran acknowledges rocket explosion, blames technical malfunction during test

Tehran spokesman insists incident did not occur during launch itself, slams Trump for tweeting what appeared to be surveillance photo of aftermath of blast, suggesting U.S president 'posts satellite pictures with excitement' due to 'lack of Iran-related subjects'

Associated Press , 16:22 , 09.02.19

U.S. blacklists Iran oil tanker suspected of carrying oil to Syria

Maritime traffic monitoring websites show huge vessel currently just west of Cyprus; Tehran says it has 'sold the oil' aboard, denies sale to Damascus but says it cannot name the actual destination due to American 'economic terrorism' and its sanctions on Iranian oil sales

AFP , 10:25 , 08.31.19

Satellite photos show burning Iran space center launch pad

The black plume of smoke appears to be a result of satellite launch failure which caused the explosion; Iranian officials didn't immediately acknowledge the incident

Associated Press , 20:52 , 08.29.19

Iran sentences 2 men to long prison terms for 'spying for Israel’s Mossad'

Iran says one of the men traveled to Israel, was in touch with Mossad in India, Sri Lanka, Thailand; Dual national woman, formerly a British Council worker, also sentenced to prison time for allegedly spying on cultural activities in Iran

AP , 21:09 , 08.27.19

Explosion rocks arms depot north of Iraqi capital

Iraqi security officials say an explosion has happened in an arms depot belonging to an Iranian-backed militia faction north of Baghdad, following several similar evets, some attributed to Israel

Associated Press, Daniel Salami , 20:04 , 08.20.19

Images show Iran satellite launch looms despite US criticism

The semi-official Mehr news agency quoted Jahromi on Aug. 13 as saying that the Nahid-1 was ready to be delivered to Iran's Defense Ministry, signaling a launch date for the satellite was likely imminent. Iran's National Week of Government, during which Tehran often inaugurates new projects, begins Aug. 24

Associated Press , 22:20 , 08.18.19

Saudi Arabia taps into a long-sidelined asset - its women

Changes in traditionally conservative kingdom mean women will soon be able to obtain a passport without being required to first have the consent of a male relative and will have the same rights as men in matters of work, leisure, finance, law and health

The Media Line , 23:35 , 08.07.19

Aleppo's centuries-old bazaar making slow recovery

Years of Syrian civil war have left the UNESCO world heritage site in tatters, and its network of covered markets severely damaged, but planners are hoping that by getting some shops back open, eventually they can re-inject life into the souks

Associated Press , 21:16 , 08.07.19