Mideast News
בצורת באיראן
Can't wash, can't farm: Iranians battle 'water bankruptcy'
Water levels in dams around Tehran plunge, with water rationing and power cuts expected for summer as rain-starved country wilts under severe drought
Reuters | 22:27 | 03.20.25
חיילים של טליבאן ליד שגרירות ארה"ב ב קאבול אפגניסטן
Taliban releases American held for over 2 years, State Department says
George Glezmann, an airline mechanic from Atlanta, was seized by Taliban’s intelligence services in December 2022; he is the third US detainee released since January
Associated Press | 16:22 | 03.20.25
אבו מוחמד אל ג'ולני מנהיג הייאת תחריר א שאם סוריה מורדים נגד משטר אסד נפל דמשק
'You can’t go from al-Qaeda to human rights overnight,' expert warns about Syria’s al-Sharaa
Amine Ayoub, fellow at Middle East Forum, says Syrian leader remains security threat despite rebranding; defends Israel’s decision to renew strikes in Gaza, arguing that Hamas cannot be negotiated with
Ynet | 10:41 | 03.19.25
ארדואן ב מצעד צבאי בחגיגות ב צפון קפריסין בחלק הטורקי של ניקוסיה לציון 50 שנה פלישת טורקיה לאי 20 ביולי
Turkey detains Erdogan's main rival in what opposition calls 'coup'
Move against Ekrem Imamoglu, popular mayor of Istanbul, appears to cap aggressive months-long legal crackdown on opposition figures; government blocks social media to prevent protests
Reuters | 10:15 | 03.19.25
מטוס אמריקני
Houthis 'coordinate Israel strikes with Hamas,' report
Rebel army spokesperson says missile force instructed to target central Israel; US conducts strikes on rebel targets; Houthis claim attacked USS Harry S. Truman
Yoav Zitun, Lior Ben Ari, News Agencies | 07:34 | 03.19.25
ארה"ב מטוס קרב ממריא מ נושאת מטוסים ב הים האדום מבצע תקיפות ב תימן נגד ה חות'ים
Houthi official: Yemen is at war with the US, escalation likely
Houthi foreign minister Jamal Amer warns Gulf states to remain neutral as tensions rise; despite US airstrikes across Yemen, Amer vows continued attacks on Israeli-linked ships and insists Iran not dictating Houthi actions
Ynet, news agencies | 22:42 | 03.18.25
סוריה
Landmines in Syria claim over 200 lives as refugees return
More than 200 returning refugees, including children, have been killed by landmines in Syria since Assad’s fall; Experts warn it could take decades to clear war remnants, leaving entire areas unsafe for returnees
Ynet, News Agencies | 18:57 | 03.17.25
כוחות הביטחון של המשטר החדש ב סוריה דרעא
At least 10 dead in escalating Syria-Lebanon border clashes
Damascus accuses Hezbollah members of crossing border on Saturday, kidnapping three soldiers and killing them on Lebanese soil
Associated Press, Lior Ben Ari | 11:07 | 03.17.25
Saidnaya Monastery, north of Damascus
Christians in Syria caught in wave of sectarian killings, stoking fear for their future
Recent sectarian violence in Syria’s coastal region killed over 1,000 Alawites and several Christians, deepening fears among the shrinking Christian minority about their future and prompting church leaders to urge national reconciliation 
Rizik Alabi/The Media Line | 13:07 | 03.16.25
כוחות הביטחון של סוריה מחסום ב לטקייה
Syria thwarts large-scale drug smuggling attempt to Jordan
Following the interception of a major drug smuggling attempt, Syrian officials accused remnants of the ousted Assad government of running organized crime rings  
Rizik Alabi/The Media Line | 12:22 | 03.14.25
משרד החוץ העביר 10,000 חבילות סיוע הומניטרי לדרוזים בסוריה
Israel sends humanitarian aid to Druze in Syria
Foreign Ministry says over 10,000 packages of humanitarian aid have been transfered to southern province of Suwayda
Reuters | 12:18 | 03.13.25
הפגנה ב דמשק סוריה אחרי טבח ה עלווים
‘No one is above the law’: Syria’s coastal massacres spark calls for justice
A wave of massacres targeting Alawite civilians in Syria’s coastal region has left over 1,000 dead, prompting an investigation and demands for accountability  
Rizik Alabi, The Media Line | 23:15 | 03.12.25
סטיב וויטקוף שליחו של נשיא ארה"ב דונלד טראמפ למזרח התיכון במהלך שיחות בסעודיה על עתיד אוקראינה מול גורמים ברוסיה
Arab states to continue talks with Trump envoy on Egypt's Gaza plan
Foreign ministers say consultations and coordination on proposal would continue with Witkoff as 'basis for reconstruction efforts'
Reuters | 22:01 | 03.12.25
המנהיג העליון של איראן עלי חמינאי
Iran's Khamenei threatens US with military action
'Military threats are unwise, we will strike back' Supreme leader says; Tehran confirms receiving Trump's proposal for nuclear talks sent via the UAE; Khamenei dismissed the offer, calling it deceptive
Lior Ben Ari, News agencies | 18:51 | 03.12.25
Druze in Syria
Damascus reportedly reaches deal with Druze as Kurds integrate into Syrian state
Local sources say pact with community leaders in al-Suwayda will reintegrate the province into state institutions after years of unrest
Lior Ben Ari | 13:07 | 03.11.25
Taliban fighters patrol in Kabul, Afghanistan late last week
Taliban lifts TV channel ban, but press freedom in Afghanistan remains in peril
As the Taliban reopens previously shuttered media outlets in Afghanistan, experts warn that the move is more about exerting control than restoring independent journalism  
Arshad Mehmood, The Media Line | 09:31 | 03.11.25
טיל איראני
UN Security Council to meet over Iran's growing stockpile of near-bomb-grade uranium
Council members also request discussion on Tehran's obligation to provide nuclear watchdog with information and access to sites
Reuters | 09:11 | 03.11.25
דמשק
Israel conducts largest airstrike in Syria in months, targeting new regime’s military sites
Israeli officials view Interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa’s regime as security threat, citing its ties to jihadist groups and potential Turkish military influence; attacks come amid concerns Hamas, Islamic Jihad could use Syria as base for attacks
Lior Ben Ari, Elisha Ben Kimon | 08:55 | 03.11.25
חות'ים מפגינים בתימן
Houthis threaten to renew hostilities 'immediately' after Gaza deadline passes
Israeli officials fear Iranian proxy threats could signal broader regional escalation, potentially involving other Iran-backed groups; U.S. is expected to take stronger stance against terror group, with heightened military coordination in Red Sea
Lior Ben Ari | 08:17 | 03.11.25
A Palestinian man walks outside a house that was damaged by Israeli strikes during Israel-Hamas fighting last May, in Khan Younis in southern Gaza Strip
Egypt’s $53 billion Gaza reconstruction plan may ‘face major obstacles'
Egypt’s plan to rebuild Gaza has been endorsed by the Arab League, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and several European states, but a lack of funding and opposition from the US and Israel might stop the plan in its tracks  
Hudhaifa Ebrahim, The Media Line | 21:57 | 03.10.25
אליזבט צורקוב עיתונאים חוקרת ישראלית, נחטפה לפני 7 חודשים על ידי ההתנגדות העיראקית
Trump administration warns Iraq: Free Israeli researcher or 'face consequences'
Officials say US envoy conveyed direct messages to Iraqi PM, making it clear Baghdad bears full responsibility for securing Elizabeth Tsurkov’s release
Lior Ben Ari | 14:23 | 03.10.25
כוחות הביטחון של סוריה מחסום ב לטקייה
Syrian defense ministry says operation against Assad loyalists is over
New regime's crackdown in the province of Latakia - former president's coastal heartland - has killed more than 1,000 people, mostly civilians
Reuters | 12:38 | 03.10.25
כוחות הביטחון ב סוריה נפרסים במחוז טרטוס
‘Living in fear’: Alawite civilians tell of massacres by Syrian security forces
Fighting between pro-Assad rebels and security forces escalates in Syria’s Latakia province, raising fears of further sectarian conflict and regional destabilization  
Rizik Alabi/The Media Line | 11:20 | 03.10.25
הפגנות בלבנון נגד מורגן אורטגוס, סגנית השליח האמריקני למזרח התיכון
After two years of deadlock, Lebanon turns to Hezbollah’s disarmament
Lebanon faces the delicate challenge of disarming a weakened Hezbollah, risking instability amid fears of renewed civil conflict after devastating losses in the recent conflict with Israel  
Taylor Thomas/The Media Line | 11:09 | 03.10.25
Druze in Syria
Syria’s Druze seek a place in a changing nation, navigating pressures from the government and Israel
Members of small religious sect find themselves caught between two forces that many of them distrust: new, Islamist-led government in Damascus and Israel, which used plight of Druze as pretext to intervene in the country
Associated Press | 09:05 | 03.10.25
שייח' נעים קאסם
Hezbollah chief: Reaching Netanyahu's home proves our capabilities
In first interview since assuming leadership, Naim Qassem acknowledged security 'flaws' and 'breaches' within the terror group but denied it had been defeated
Lior Ben Ari | 23:31 | 03.09.25
כוחות הביטחון של סוריה מחסום ב לטקייה
Syria death toll surpasses 1,000 as Alawites bear brunt of regime clashes
Al-Sharaa's government faces mounting chaos as clashes with Assad loyalists leave over 1,000 dead, including hundreds of Alawite civilians massacred in retaliatory attacks, sparking humanitarian and political crises
Lior Ben Ari, News Agencies | 21:17 | 03.09.25
US President Donald Trump, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei
Iran's Khamenei says Tehran will not negotiate under US 'bully' pressure
POTUS' overture comes as both Israel and US warned they will never let Islamic Republic acquire nuclear weapon, leading to fears of military confrontation
Associated Press | 17:25 | 03.08.25
סוריה
Syria executes hundreds of Alawite civilans: 'They killed every man they saw'
Monitoring groups say at least 311 killed since Thursday; bloodshed began following ambush of government forces by what Damascus described as 'Assad loyalist gunmen' in country's Latakia province
Lior Ben Ari | 10:42 | 03.08.25
כוחות של צבא סודן חשש ל הפיכה פורט סודן 16 אפריל
Infants as young as one raped in Sudan, UNICEF says
UN says least 16 children under five have suffered sexual violence in ongoing civil war, blaming paramilitary RSF for most incidents, as well as using sexual violence as weapon
Reuters | 13:25 | 03.04.25
שליטה בפועל של סוריה אבו מוחמד אל-ג'ולאני עם שר החוץ של טורקיה הקאן פידאן ב דמשק 23 בדצמבר
Turkey and Iran trade barbs over Syria, Israel and regional influence
Turkish top diplomat slams Iran’s costly interventions in Syria and Iraq; Tehran fires back, accusing Ankara of ignoring US and Israeli influence while defending its role in 'supporting Palestinian resistance' and 'regional stability'
Lior Ben Ari | 19:26 | 03.01.25
Rally in the German city of Cologne calling for the release of The jailed founder of the PKK Abdullah Ocalan
Jailed Kurdish leader calls on PKK to lay down arms, dissolve
Abdullah Ocalan wants the party, deemed a terrorist organization by Turkey and its Western allies, to hold a congress and formally agree to dissolve itself, move that could end 40-year conflict with Ankara
Reuters | 16:40 | 02.27.25
המשטר החדש ב סוריה מבצע צבאי בעיר חומס
EU suspends sanctions against Syria including those on energy, banking
Bloc started asset freezes, travel bans on Syrian officials, banks, agencies and other organizations in 2011, in response to then-President Assad’s crackdown on protesters, which festered into civil war
Reuters | 14:38 | 02.24.25
כוחות של צבא סודן חשש ל הפיכה פורט סודן 16 אפריל
Sudanese rebels to form parallel government
RSF, allies not expected to receive widespread recognition, but is further sign of country's splintering during a civil war that has lasted almost two years
Reuters | 08:38 | 02.23.25
חסן נסראללה
Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon as Beirut prepares slain Hezbollah chief's funeral
Ceremony begins at Camille Chamoun Sports City Stadium with mass crowds expected inside and outside, organizers say delegations from 60 or 70 countries are expected 
Lior Ben Ari | 08:37 | 02.23.25
כוחות ביטחון טורקיים באיסטנבול
Turkey arrests suspected ISIS operative accused of plotting attacks on Jewish sites
Counterterrorism units tracked Uzbek national, gaining access to his email, where they found evidence of planned attacks on potential targets included synagogues and Jewish schools
Itamar Eichner | 13:09 | 02.21.25
חסן נסראללה
Lebanon's Hezbollah to bury Nasrallah in mass funeral
Terror group's leader was killed on September 27 in an Israeli airstrike as he met fellow commanders in Beirut, a stunning blow in early phase of offensive that left the Iranian proxy a shadow of its former self
Reuters | 11:06 | 02.21.25
אבו מוחמד אל-ג'ולאני מנהיג המורדים במפגש עם שליח האו"ם גיר פדרסן ב דמשק סוריה
UN envoy says inclusive Syrian government could help lift sanctions
Geir Pedersen says remains concerned over Israel's presence in on Syrian Hermon; 'The solution is very simple: the Israelis need to withdraw'
Associated Press | 20:33 | 02.20.25
Rafic Hariri
A new Lebanon opens up, 20 years after assassination of Rafic Hariri
His assassination — along with the killing of 21 others in the explosion of a 1,000-kilogram TNT bomb — marked a breaking point in Lebanon  
Taylor Thomas/The Media Line | 14:16 | 02.20.25
ספינה חוצה את תעלת סואץ מצרים, ארכיון
Trump's Gaza displacement plan reignites Red Sea shipping concerns
Proposal to relocate Gaza’s population fuels regional tensions, delaying Red Sea shipping recovery; Houthi threat persists, forcing ships to bypass Suez Canal, dealing major economic blow to Egypt’s vital waterway revenues
Lior Ben Ari | 20:59 | 02.17.25
מטוס מהאן אייר איראן, שריפת רכב יוניפיל בכביש שדה התעופה בביירות בלבנון
Lebanon extends ban on flights from Iran amid Hezbollah funding allegations
Ban extended indefinitely after blocking Tehran-Beirut plane over Israeli warning, sparking Hezbollah-led riots near airport; Iran retaliates by barring Lebanese flights, while Beirut scrambles to bring home stranded citizens from Tehran
Lior Ben Ari | 19:07 | 02.17.25
איראן חגיגות 46 שנה ל המהפכה האיסלאמית מהפכה איסלאמית
Netanyahu, Trump effigies paraded in cages through Tehran
Marking 46th anniversary of Islamic Revolution, Iranian regime supporters parade effigies of US, Israeli leaders in cages through capital; amid 'Death to Israel' and 'Death to America' chants, officials denounce Western sanctions and vow resistance
Lior Ben Ari, News Agencies | 19:53 | 02.10.25
Marie Colvin
Accused killer of American journalist Marie Colvin is free in Syria, sparking outrage
Activists and human rights groups are demanding the prosecution of Khaled al-Fares, who is accused of aiding Syrian forces in tracking down and killing American journalist Marie Colvin in 2012
Rizik Alabi/The Media Line | 19:20 | 02.10.25
Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam meet at the Presidential Palace in Baabda
Defying US pressure, Lebanon welcomes Hezbollah into new government
Tasked with rebuilding the war-torn nation, tackling economic crises and restoring stability, 24-member cabinet must secure parliamentary approval to address Lebanon’s pressing challenges
Lior Ben Ari | 11:36 | 02.09.25
U.S. Deputy Special envoy for the Middle East Morgan Ortagus meets with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun
US warns cannot recognize Lebanese government if Hezbollah joins
During first visit by Trump administration official to Lebanon, deputy envoy warns US would not recognize Lebanese government that includes Hezbollah; key Hezbollah ally Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri insists group must be part of coalition
Reuters | 14:57 | 02.07.25
Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei
Iran mulls policy shift as Trump sanctions stifle economy
With local currency plummeting on black market and growing public distrust, Iranians hoard $70 billion worth of gold and foreign reserves as inflation soars as Trump's 'maximum pressure' policy back in force
Doron Peskin/Calcalist | 21:49 | 02.06.25
נושאת הכטב"מים שנרכשה על ידי משמרות המהפכה באיראן
Iran launches 1st drone carrier for IRGC navy
Shahid Beheshti, a former container vessel, is equipped with a 180-metre (590-ft) runway and is able to operate without refuelling for up to one year, Iran's news agency Tasnim says
Lior Ben Ari, News Agencies | 11:39 | 02.06.25
רג'פ טאיפ ארדואן, אחמד א-שרע אל ג'ולאני
Syria's Sharaa to discuss defense pact with Turkey's Erdogan, sources say
Talks focus on air defense cooperation, training a new Syrian army and countering Kurdish fighters, with Turkey eyeing bases in the Badiyah region to secure Syria's airspace
Reuters | 13:20 | 02.04.25
עבדאללה מלך ירדן ומוחמד בן זאיד
Jordan faces regional pressures as King Abdullah prepares for White House visit
Controversial proposal to resettle Gazans outside their territory has drawn strong regional opposition, all while Jordan is dealing with domestic unrest and a strained economy 
Giorgia Valente, The Media Line | 17:57 | 02.03.25
חסן נסראללה
Date set for Hassan Nasrallah's funeral, 5 months after assassination
Hezbollah announces Hassan Nasrallah’s funeral will take place in three weeks, alongside his assassinated successor Hashem Safeddine; Amid internal criticism and weakening influence in Lebanon, the group faces scrutiny as it tries to maintain political power under mounting external and internal pressure
Lior Ben Ari | 21:59 | 02.02.25
נשיא סוריה אבו מוחמד אל-ג'ולאני עם מוחמד בן סלמאן ב סעודיה
Saudi Arabia has 'genuine desire to support Syria' transitional president says after meeting Crown Prince
Ahmad al-Sharaa met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to discuss rebuilding war-torn Syria; The visit signals a shift away from Iranian influence as Syria seeks Gulf investment and international support to restore diplomatic and economic ties 
Lior Ben Ari, News Agencies | 19:41 | 02.02.25
תמונה קרועה של נשיא סוריה לשעבר בשאר אל-אסד בכלא מזה
The fall of Assad: A predetermined outcome
Syrian rebels toppled Bashar Assad’s regime in just 11 days, seizing Damascus after years of internal dissent; expert Dr. Mordechai Kedar says Assad’s fall was inevitable due to his regime’s lack of legitimacy
Jennifer Teale | 17:23 | 02.01.25
עקורים פלסטינים חוזרים לצפון רצועת עזה
Arab foreign ministers reject Trump's proposal to remove Palestinians from Gaza
In a statement representatives of Egypt, Jordan, Saud Arabia, UAE say the Trump plan would threaten regional stability, risk expanding the conflict and undermine prospects for peace
Lior Ben Ari, News Agencies | 15:34 | 02.01.25
אחמד א-שרע אל ג'ולאני
Rebel leader Ahmad al-Sharaa appointed Syrian president, armed factions disband
After 54 years of Assad family rule, Syria enters a new era with Ahmad al-Sharaa as transitional president; rebel factions unite to form a national army, pledging to rebuild the country and reshape its foreign policy and economy
Rizik Alabi/The Media Line | 22:14 | 01.29.25
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks amid expectations of an Iranian strike
Netanyahu 'hero' among young Iranians: Author in hot water following remarks
An Iranian political commentator and author finds himself in legal trouble following impromptu remarks he made in Qatar, in which he said younger Iranians are more distrustful of Palestinians and increasingly view the Israeli premier as a 'hero', prompting Tehran’s prosecutor to file a criminal complaint
Lior Ben Ari | 11:10 | 01.29.25
נעמת עאון הגברת הראשונה של לבנון
Native of Hezbollah stronghold: Meet Lebanon's first lady
Naamat Aoun steals show at husband's presidential inauguration and stirs interest in Lebanon thanks to her roots and fashion sense
Lior Ben Ari | 13:23 | 01.28.25
Syria intercepts weapons being smuggled for Hezbollah across Lebanon border
Syria intercepts weapons shipment destined for Hezbollah
New Damascus rulers fins a variety of weapons and missiles near the Lebanese border, signaling a resurgence in the group’s smuggling operations despite prior setbacks 
Rizik Alabi/The Media Line | 07:22 | 01.28.25
תושבי לבנון בכפר כילא
Some 22 dead, dozens wounded as Lebanon alleges Israeli violation of its sovereignty
With 22 civilian casualties, southern Lebanon saw heightened tensions as residents returned to border villages despite warnings; Lebanese army struggles to enforce order, while Israeli forces maintained positions, citing operational needs and cease-fire agreement directives
Lior Ben Ari, Elisha Ben Kimon | 19:32 | 01.26.25
ליאל אל-אחתיאר
Lebanese journalist detained 1 year after IDF spokesperson interview
Local authorities bring Layal Alekhtiar in for questioning before releasing on bail;  military court judge says she remains under investigation 
Lior Ben Ari | 09:59 | 01.23.25
מוחמד חמאדי
Hezbollah commander shot dead outside his home
Mohammed Hammadi, commander of Hezbollah's western al-Baqaa region, was shot by gunmen and died in hospital; It is currently unclear what the motive was and who was responsible for the shooting
Lior Ben Ari | 22:51 | 01.21.25
Mideast News
""