Mideast News
Erdogan warns Israel, Greece and Cyprus: Turkey will defend its maritime rights
Remarks come ahead of a trilateral summit in Jerusalem aimed at deepening security and energy cooperation with Athens and Nicosia amid tensions with Ankara
ynet | 12:49 | 12.21.25
תיעוד תקיפה של ארה"ב נגד דאעש ב סוריה
‘Strikes will continue for weeks’: Operation Hawkeye and ISIS’s evolving threat
US launched overnight airstrikes on ISIS targets in Syria after an ambush killed two US soldiers and an interpreter; officials said the campaign could last weeks, and warned that ISIS, though weakened, can still inspire attacks and recruit online
Lior Ben Ari | 03:52 | 12.21.25
חמושים ב מיליציה מיליציות פרו-איראניות ליד המטה שלהם ב בגדד עיראק שהופצץ
'Israel is preparing to strike': under pressure, Iran-backed militias in Iraq signal willingness to disarm
Pro-Iranian militia leaders call to hand over weapons to the state ahead of a new government, amid rare warnings of imminent Israeli strikes, possibly with US backing
Lior Ben Ari | 23:33 | 12.20.25
טראמפ, נתניהו, נעים קאסם, צה"ל חוזר לשגרת הצבת הכוחות בגבול לבנון
'Likelihood of war is high': deputy national security adviser joins ceasefire talks in Lebanon
Jerusalem agreed to join UN-brokered Trilateral Monitoring Committee, aimed at preserving fragile ceasefire, after Beirut agreed to include civilian representative in talks on economic and civilian issues
Itamar Eichner, Lior Ben Ari | 10:40 | 12.19.25
נתניהו, א-סיסי, אסדת גז לווייתן
Egypt says $30B gas deal with Israel is commercial only, not tied to Gaza
Cairo said agreement was signed for economic reasons, involves international energy firms including Chevron, and aims to boost Egypt’s role as a regional gas hub
Lior Ben Ari | 18:06 | 12.18.25
דונלד טראמפ
Uncertainty follows Gaza force summit as US seeks commitments, Israel left out of talks
Western diplomats say key details of the proposed Gaza stabilization force remain unresolved, including its mandate, deployment zones and rules of engagement; US aims for a January rollout, but concerns over clashes with terrorists persist
Itamar Eichner | 02:04 | 12.18.25
אסמה אסד
Learning Russian, getting back to ophthalmology: the Assads' new life in Russian exile
The former Syrian dictator and his family are believed to be living in Rublyovka, an affluent Moscow suburb known for housing members of Russia’s political and business elite
ynet correspondents | 13:45 | 12.15.25
אנשי כוחות ביטחון סוריים ומספר חיילים אמריקאים נפצעו מירי בתדמור
Two US soldiers, civilian interpreter killed in rare Syria ambush
Pentagon said an unidentified attacker opened fire on a joint US-Syrian patrol in Palmyra, wounding three others; the gunman was killed, Syrian troops were injured, and US helicopters evacuated the wounded to a base near the Iraqi border
Reuters | 18:47 | 12.13.25
תושבי יאנוח מנסים למנוע חיפוש נוסף בבית ריק בחשד לאמל"ח
Israel calls off planned strike on Hezbollah targets after intervention by Lebanese army
IDF had warned residents of Yanouh to evacuate after a UN-Lebanese force searched an empty home for weapons; strike was suspended after additional Lebanese troops deployed and Israel agreed to renewed inspection through ceasefire mechanism
Itamar Shashoa, Einav Halabi | 18:39 | 12.13.25
איראן טהרן גל חום
The greatest crisis facing Iranians today
From extreme drought and water depletion to toxic air pollution, Iran faces an unprecedented ecological crisis shaking its natural, economic and social systems; as hardships mount, could public unrest against the regime be on the horizon?
Prof. Adi Wolfson | 12:29 | 12.13.25
לוחמים בדואים ב א-סווידא סווידא מעוז הדרוזים דרוזים ב סוריה
Druze teen details rape by Syrian jihadists in Swedia: 'dragged me into the freezer'
Israel’s Druze spiritual leader, Sheikh Mowafaq Tarif, appealed to the international community after presenting new testimony alleging rape, torture, executions and kidnappings carried out against Druze residents in Syria’s Sweida province last July
Lior Ben Ari | 01:58 | 12.11.25
דונלד טראמפ
Trump says Gaza Board of Peace lineup to be announced early next year, calls it ‘legendary’
US president says various leaders have expressed interest in joining the board, which was created as part of a Gaza plan establishing a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas
Reuters | 01:18 | 12.11.25
Syria Alawite women
In post-Assad Syria’s chaos, Alawite women endure kidnappings, sexual violence
Alawite women in coastal Syria report abductions and rape since Assad’s fall; rights groups cite Sunni extremists and foreign fighters, while victims say the new government response is weak and a state panel has dismissed most reports
Associated Press | 17:36 | 12.10.25
פורום דוחא, קטאר
Qatar's PM says won't fund Gaza reconstruction: 'We will not rebuild what Israel destroyed'
Mohammed al-Thani promised not to leave the Palestinians behind but insisted that, just as Europe expects Russia to be responsible for the reconstruction of Ukraine, Israel must also pay for the damage it has caused in the Gaza Strip
Lior Ben Ari | 17:34 | 12.07.25
מעבר רפיח מצרים
Arab foreign ministers warn Israel over one-way Rafah Crossing plan
Foreign ministers from the UAE, Egypt, Jordan, Indonesia, Pakistan, Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Qatar voice deep concern over Israeli statements about one-way access at Rafah, rejecting any displacement of Gaza residents and urging adherence to the Trump plan
ynet | 01:49 | 12.06.25
Report: Assad’s exiled spy chief, billionaire cousin plot uprisings in Syria from Russia
Rami Makhlouf and Kamal Hassan are financing tens of thousands of Alawite fighters and vying for control of hidden command centers along Syria’s coast, even as al-Sharaa’s government moves to block their efforts and rising unrest shakes the region
Reuters | 13:34 | 12.05.25
Syria
US raid reportedly killed Syrian undercover agent instead of Islamic State official
October raid in Dumayr, carried out with the Syrian Free Army, ignited controversy after relatives said the victim had spent years infiltrating IS for Syria’s interim government
Associated Press | 08:45 | 12.05.25
ה מנהיג ה עליון של איראן אירן יום ירושלים ה בינלאומי עלי חמינאי מנהיג איראן, נשיא לבנון ג'וזף עאון
Lebanon slams Iran over claim that 30% of Lebanese soldiers are Hezbollah members
Tehran-linked remarks sparked a sharp response from Beirut, with the army urging an end to reports it says damage its credibility as Lebanese media warned the claims risk inflaming tensions and undermining efforts to bolster state authority
Lior Ben Ari | 18:15 | 12.04.25
עבד אל-מלכ בדר א-דין אל-חות'י, נעים קאסם
Iraq backtracks after briefly labeling Hezbollah and Houthis as terror groups
Baghdad reverses unprecedented Justice Ministry decision after uproar from Iran-aligned factions as Iraq struggles to balance Washington’s demands with powerful militias at home
Lior Ben Ari | 14:40 | 12.04.25
הצהרה של ראש הממשלה נתניהו ומזכיר המדינה של ארה"ב מרקו רוביו
What led Netanyahu to cancel his statement on exemption law
The Prime Minister's Office claimed 'schedule constraints,' while the opposition said 'he got cold feet': Netanyahu's surprising U-turn, moments before his first reference to the law that is shaking the coalition, led to questions; There is still no clear answer to the cancellation
Moran Azulay | 00:25 | 12.03.25
נתניהו , נעים קאסם, צה"ל חוזר לשגרת הצבת הכוחות בגבול לבנון
US working to save ceasefire in north but Israel is clear: 'Heading for escalation. We will decide when'
Last ditch effort to prevent ceasefire collapse: Israel agreed not to attack Lebanon until the end of the Pope's visit, but in light of Hezbollah's refusal to disarm, an Israeli official clarifies that 'there is no point in continuing with the agreement'
Itamar Eichner | 00:11 | 12.03.25
בכירי חמאס בטקס בקטאר
Hamas leadership mourns Rafah terrorists in Qatar home previously struck by the IDF
Ceremony was for Abdallah Hamad, killed by IDF in tunnels under Rafah and the son of Ghazi Hamad, a senior member of terror group’s political bureau and negotiating team
Einav Halabi | 22:13 | 12.02.25
הריסות פיצוץ נמל ביירות לבנון
IDF says Hezbollah assassinated Lebanese officials to hide role in 2020 Beirut port blast
Military said group’s Unit 121 killed four Lebanese figures to stop them from revealing the group’s alleged role in storing ammonium nitrate that led to the 2020 Beirut port blast, which killed more than 200 people
Lior Ben Ari | 18:45 | 12.02.25
האפיפיור עוזב את ביירות
Pope leaves Lebanon amid rising fear of new conflict between Israel and Hezbollah
Officials in Beirut say the pontiff's visit was 'defense' for the country in time of security tensions; Netanyahu and Katz met with Trump delegation - the goal: to increase pressure on the Lebanese government to disarm Iranian proxy
Itamar Eichner, Lior Ben Ari | 18:07 | 12.02.25
תקיפות ישראליות ב איראן מבצע עם כלביא
Iran airs new footage of Israeli strikes from 12-day war
Five months into ceasefire, Iranian and Saudi media release videos showing Israeli cruise missile attacks on air defense sites; Tehran says its defenses remained operational despite casualties and heavy damage
Lior Ben Ari | 10:47 | 11.29.25
דובאי, איחוד האמירויות הערביות
Report: Iran sent hundreds of millions of dollars to Hezbollah through Dubai businesses
Iran and Hezbollah are turning to Dubai as a key conduit for moving oil revenue through exchange shops, private firms and couriers, using the Hawala system to quietly route funds into Lebanon
ynet Global | 22:49 | 11.27.25
עלי חמינאי עלי טבטבאי ג'וזף עאון
Lebanon slams Iran's boast that Hezbollah is 'vital as bread' after killing of top commander
Beirut confronts Tehran after Dahieh strike that killed Hezbollah’s Haytham Ali Tabatabai, as Foreign Minister Youssef Rajji rejects Iran’s statements, warns that portraying Hezbollah as 'vital' violates Lebanon’s sovereignty
Lior Ben Ari | 03:01 | 11.27.25
ליאור בן ארי פינת יא אללה דובאי חלל
Inside the Arab space race: how the UAE is outpacing rivals with advanced space tech and partnerships
Dubai Air Show was the Emirates' big moment, but neighboring Saudi Arabia is battling it out for space supremacy, and Oman, Egypt, Jordan and Morocco are also developing space programs; What to expect: astronautics, radars and observation satellites named after MBZ
Lior Ben Ari | 14:54 | 11.24.25
הפגנת חות'ים בתימן
Houthi court sentences 17 to death by firing squad for alleged spying
Specialized Criminal Court in Sanaa says the defendants were part of 'espionage cells within a spy network affiliated with American, Israeli and Saudi intelligence'
Associated Press | 10:21 | 11.23.25
Bin Salman against the backdrop of the vision of the city of Neom, and an F-35 aircraft
Saudi tech and nuclear gains: Mohammed bin Salman is recasting Saudi Arabia as a regional power
Mohammed bin Salman returned from meeting Trump with major deals, as attention to F-35s overshadowed significant advances in technology and civilian nuclear development; as Riyadh pushes toward its Vision 2030 goals and sheds its hardline image, it is also deepening its involvement in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict
Lior Ben Ari | 14:57 | 11.22.25
לבנון נוח זעיתר סוחר סמים מרכזי נעצר
Lebanon captures notorious drug kingpin tied to Hezbollah and Assad regime
Nouh Zaiter, long wanted for leading a cross-border Captagon smuggling empire, arrested in a military operation in the Beqaa Valley; his capture comes amid growing regional pressure on Lebanon to dismantle drug networks linked to Hezbollah
Lior Ben Ari | 18:22 | 11.20.25
נשיא ארה"ב דונלד טראמפ עם יורש העצר מוחמד בן סלמאן בסעודיה
Not just F-35s: Saudis set for major US defense ‘shopping spree’ during MBS visit
Trump hopes to cash in on a $600 billion Saudi investment pledge made during his visit to the kingdom in May; senior White House official said that US-Saudi deals on technology, manufacturing, defense and more are expected
Reuters | 11:07 | 11.18.25
מינוי מפקד צבא לבנון החדש רודולף היכל בארמון הנשיאותי בעבדא
Report: US cancels Lebanese army chief’s visit over frustration with Hezbollah disarmament
Rodolphe Haykal had been expected to meet senior US officials and discuss military issues, including aid programs for the Lebanese Armed Forces, as the army seeks additional international support to maintain basic operations
Lior Ben Ari | 09:14 | 11.18.25
ביבי טראמפ מוחמד בן סלמאן
Trump says US will sell F-35s to Saudi Arabia
Sale would mark a significant policy shift, potentially altering the military balance in the Middle East and testing Washington's definition of maintaining Israel's 'qualitative military edge'
Reuters, ynet | 22:06 | 11.17.25
א-שיבאני וא-שרע במטוס
Asaad al-Shaibani, from jihadist operative to Syria's global front man
Asaad al-Shaibani has rapidly become the chief emissary of Syria’s new leadership, evolving from a little-known operative to a globe-trotting foreign minister who sets the stage for President Ahmad al-Sharaa as the government seeks a national revival
Lior Ben Ari | 16:35 | 11.17.25
עננים
Iran says launched cloud seeding operations as severe drought bites
State media says Iran begins cloud-seeding over the Urmia Lake basin as rainfall drops 89% below average and reservoirs hit record lows; officials warn that without rain, severe water shortages could force evacuations in Tehran and other parts of the drought-stricken country
AFP | 14:02 | 11.16.25
עבד אל-מלכ בדר א-דין אל-חות'י , מנהיג החות'ים בתימן.
Iran is taking advantage of the Houthi crisis to establish itself in Yemen
The Houthis are in crisis, 'confused' and investing their efforts in preparing for a future confrontation with Israel; Allied Iran wants to strengthen its influence in Yemen, as compensation for losses in Lebanon and Syria, and is increasing its support for the Houthis  
Lior Ben Ari | 01:40 | 11.16.25
Iran seizes tanker
Iran confirms seizure of tanker off UAE coast, citing 'unauthorized cargo'
Revolutionary Guard captures Marshall Islands-flagged Talara near UAE, in first confirmed tanker seizure in months; incident comes amid renewed maritime tensions and Iran’s ongoing confrontation with Western and regional powers
Lior Ben Ari | 14:09 | 11.15.25
חצי חצי דגלי ישראל במחאות דרוזים ב סוריה והנשיא הסורי אחמד א-שרע
Druze continue to resist al-Sharaa’s push for integration into 'new Syria'
Months after massacre in Syria’s Sweida province, tensions persist as Druze leaders remain divided between supporting President al-Sharaa’s government and demanding self-determination, while sporadic violence continues despite a fragile ceasefire
Lior Ben Ari | 12:32 | 11.12.25
הפגנה נגד ישראל באיסטנבול
US-Turkey axis emerges: Ankara eyes Gaza deployment, deepens role in Syria deal
Washington hosts rare trilateral meeting with Syria and Turkey on integrating Kurdish forces and stabilizing Gaza; Erdoğan officials push for greater role in postwar Gaza amid resistance from Egypt and Israel as debate over multinational force intensifies
Lior Ben Ari | 21:44 | 11.11.25
סוריה המוזיאון הלאומי הסורי דמשק
Thieves steal ancient Roman-era statues from Syria's national museum
Six Roman-era marble statues stolen as officials warn of renewed looting risks amid post-Assad turmoil
Associated Press | 17:41 | 11.11.25
אבלים משתתפים באירוע לזכרו של נסראללה בביירות
US pushes Beirut to crack down on Hezbollah funding ahead of Lebanese elections
Undersecretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence John K. Hurley says the US believes the Lebanese terror group is attempting to bring $1 billion into the country by the end of the year
Associated Press | 19:41 | 11.10.25
מסעוד פזשכיאן בתדרוך עיתונאים בניו יורק
Pezeshkian: Iran will not be coerced into abandoning nuclear and missile programs
Iranian president says Tehran seeks peace but will not give up its nuclear or missile programs under pressure, rejecting US coercion and calls to limit its defense capabilities
Reuters | 14:35 | 11.07.25
הפגישה של נשיא ארה"ב דונלד טראמפ עם נשיא סוריה אחמד א-שרע ובן סלימאן
US to set up military presence at Damascus airbase to oversee Israel-Syria pact, sources say
Base lies near southern Syria, an area set to become a demilitarized zone under a proposed Israel-Syria non-aggression pact brokered by the Trump administration, aimed at easing regional tensions and preventing future cross-border clashes
Reuters | 12:38 | 11.06.25
תומכי חיזבאללה במהלך אירוע לציון יום השנה לחיסול מנהיג חיזבאללה, חסן נסראללה, בביירות
Hezbollah rejects political talks with Israel, vows to defend Lebanon despite ceasefire
Statement followed Israeli accusations that the group is rearming and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun’s renewed call for negotiations
AFP | 10:57 | 11.06.25
ראש סבא"א רפאל גרוסי עם שר החוץ של איראן עבאס עראקצ'י פגישה בטהרן ב-2024
IAEA chief urges Iran to 'seriously improve' cooperation to ease tensions with West
Grossi says that while the UN agency has conducted about a dozen inspections in Iran since hostilities with Israel began in June, inspectors have not been granted access to key nuclear sites such as Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan
Reuters | 10:25 | 11.05.25
מטוס F-35 של צבא ארה"ב
Report: Saudi request to purchase F-35 fighter jets advances after Pentagon review
Sale would mark a significant policy shift, potentially altering the military balance in the Middle East and testing Washington's definition of maintaining Israel's 'qualitative military edge'
Reuters | 07:49 | 11.05.25
עיראק מיליציה אל חשד א שעבי בגדד
Iraq can disarm factions only when the US withdraws, prime minister says
Mohammed Shia al-Sudani says full disarmament of militias hinges on US coalition exit by 2026; defends ties with Iran, courts US investment and touts record infrastructure push ahead of Nov. 11 election, vowing continued reforms
Reuters | 21:12 | 11.03.25
Rita Badran
Ya Allah: Young Christian tour guide redefines post-war Syria, one battlefield tour at a time
Rita Badran, a 21-year-old dental student from Damascus, is the only woman in Syria guiding tourists through former war zones, including Jewish visitors, aiming to show the world that her country and its women are ready to be seen again
Lior Ben Ari | 20:37 | 11.03.25
חנוכת המוזיאון המצרי הגדול
Tutankhamun, fireworks and LEGO: Egypt unveils $1B Grand Egyptian Museum
After more than two decades of planning and construction, Egypt unveiled the Grand Egyptian Museum near the Giza pyramids, featuring 100,000 artifacts including the full Tutankhamun collection, in a lavish ceremony attended by world leaders
Lior Ben Ari | 20:31 | 11.02.25
'Bodies lying in pools of blood': Some 2,000 massacred after Darfur city falls to RSF
New and harrowing reports have emerged from the city of El-Fasher in Sudan’s Darfur region, describing atrocities carried out by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) after they seized the city, the last stronghold of the Sudanese army in the region
Lior Ben Ari, News Agencies | 02:45 | 10.30.25
הקריקטורות של כמאל שרף תחת הכותרת הזהה "החרם נמשך"
Boycotts and arrests: Houthi rebels focus inward after halting attacks on Israel
Iran-backed rebels shift attention to arrests, propaganda and economic pressure amid Gaza ceasefire; UN staff among dozens detained as Houthis warn attacks could resume if fighting restarts
Lior Ben Ari | 23:04 | 10.28.25
נמנה מחמוד עיסא ועז א-דין אל-חממרה מחבל ששוחרר ע"י ישראל ושוהה ב מלון חמישה כוכבים יוקרתי במצריים
Report: Hamas terrorists expelled from Cairo five-star resort, relocated to another luxury site
After a Daily Mail exposé revealed that Hamas terrorists freed in a hostage deal were staying at a five-star Cairo hotel, management expelled them; they were later relocated to another luxury resort under tight Egyptian security
ynet | 14:46 | 10.28.25
כוחות צבא לבנון
Lebanon runs out of explosives as it rushes to disarm Hezbollah in the south
Lebanon’s unprecedented move to dismantle Hezbollah’s armed network marks a turning point in the nation’s postwar history, challenging the balance of power that has long defined its politics and security landscape
Reuters | 13:22 | 10.28.25
טראמפ וא-סיסי
Egypt asserts role in Gaza, pushing aside Qatar and Turkey to lead Palestinian future
Egypt’s decision to send a team into Gaza to search for hostage bodies underscores its growing influence in the ceasefire process and its determination to shape the postwar political and humanitarian landscape
Lior Ben Ari | 19:14 | 10.26.25
חוסיין א-שייח
Palestinian Authority President Abbas names ex-Israel liaison as successor amid calls for reform
Mahmoud Abbas named his longtime deputy, Hussein al-Sheikh — who once oversaw coordination with Israel — as his temporary successor in case of death or incapacity, replacing a previous appointee
Einav Halabi | 18:02 | 10.26.25
ארדואן
In Gaza, Erdogan finds next step for Turkey's 'neo-Ottoman' regional ambitions
Despite Turkey’s growing role in Gaza and President Erdogan’s ambitions for regional influence, Israel has held no formal discussions or formed a clear policy on Ankara’s involvement, leaving officials uneasy about what comes next
Guy Asif | 12:51 | 10.25.25
רנסנס קהיר מיראז' מלון חמישה כוכבים יוקרתי במצריים בו שוהים מחבלי חמאס ששוחררו בעסקה עם ישראל
Report: Hamas terrorists freed under Gaza ceasefire staying in five-star Cairo hotel
154 released terrorists are staying at Renaissance Cairo Mirage City Hotel, five-star Marriott resort with restaurants, a pool, spa and fitness center, according to the Daily Mail
ynet | 09:54 | 10.25.25
הפגנה בקזבלנקה שבמרוקו בדרישה לשירותים ציבוריים טובים יותר
Discord emerges as organizing tool for Arab Gen Z protesters
With over 210,000 members, Morocco’s Gen Z 212 group uses the app to demand reforms; platform draws praise from activists, concern from governments as political use spreads across the region
Lior Ben Ari | 08:39 | 10.24.25
פריז נשיא צרפת עמנואל מקרון עם נשיא סוריה אבו מוחמד אל-ג'ולאני
Syrian forces launch major raid on French Jihadist group near Turkish border
Operation said to target al-Ghurabaa, or 'the Strangers,' a French-led jihadist organization headed by Omar Omsen, a French national of Senegalese descent who is wanted in France
Lior Ben Ari | 12:50 | 10.22.25
Mideast News
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