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Extremists see global chaos from virus as an opportunity

With most of the world's nations channeling their efforts to curb spread of COVID-19, militant groups see this shift in focus as an opening for renewed violence

Associated Press , 17:05 , 04.02.20

Packed Palestinian refugee camps face grave threat if coronavirus spreads

Most camps across the West Bank, Gaza, Lebanon, Syria and Jordan are registered under UNRWA, a Palestinian aid agency that have been cash-strapped after U.S., its biggest donor, halted its annual payment of $360 million

Reuters , 15:44 , 04.02.20

As Syria camp tackles coronavirus, young teachers adapt again

Reality in war-torn country is already hard and dangerous and coronavirus pandemic poses yet another threat, even so there are those who still fight to ensure an education for the younger population

Reuters , 21:44 , 04.01.20

Sanders urges U.S. to lift Iran sanctions to ease coronavirus 'suffering'

The Jewish senator appeals to in a tweet to Pompeo and Mnuchin telling them to put aside 'our countries' disputes'; the Democratic presidential candidate was joined by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Ilan Omar; Iran's leader says U.S. missed a chance 'to apologize'

AFP, Reuters , 15:44 , 04.01.20

Hezbollah asserts role in Lebanon's coronavirus fight

The Iranian-backed terror group deploys large group of medics, volunteers to boost the country's ill-equipped healthcare system; sees chance to repair its image battered by months-long anti-corruption protests

Reuters , 13:42 , 04.01.20

In Iran, false belief a poison fights virus kills hundreds

300 people have been killed and more than 1,000 sickened so far by ingesting methanol across the Islamic Republic, where drinking alcohol is banned and where those who do rely on bootleggers

Associated Press , 19:59 , 03.27.20

Aid group says Mideast lockdowns hinder humanitarian efforts

Norwegian Refugee Council says it cannot reach some 300,000 people in Syria, Yemen and the Gaza Strip, where authorities have imposed strict measures to halt the spread of coronavirus

Associated Press , 14:56 , 03.25.20

UN's Palestinian refugee agency suspends Gaza food aid

UNRWA says measure aims to protect its staff and their recipients, hopes to resume distribution from different locations, including schools

Ynet , 16:38 , 03.24.20

Egypt declares two-week curfew to counter coronavirus

Public services and government offices will close their doors to the public during the period and a measure to limit the number of government employees at work will be prolonged until mid-April

Reuters , 15:08 , 03.24.20

Mideast, Central Asia countries ask IMF for coronavirus support

Tourism has been hit in countries where it has an important role in the economy, such as Egypt and the UAE, says IMP official, while fragile and conflict-torn states such as Iraq, Sudan, and Yemen face an especially daunting challenge

Reuters , 11:16 , 03.24.20

War-torn Syria braces for lockdown after first virus case

Syria's Health Ministry reported the first case of coronavirus late Sunday, raising concerns the virus could run rampant in some of the most vulnerable areas in the Middle East even though many countries have already sealed their borders and cancelled flights

Associated Press , 20:21 , 03.23.20

Former member of Israel-backed militia killed in Lebanon

Security officials say man gunned down by unknown assailants at his grocery store shortly after Lebanese-American man who belonged to same militia released from prison in Beirut and flown to U.S.

Associated Press , 22:41 , 03.22.20

Arrival of virus in Gaza raises fears about vulnerable areas

Health official estimates territory can only handle first 100 cases if they appear gradually in current capacity; only 92 from hundreds who returned recently from overseas tested

Associated Press , 19:19 , 03.22.20

Jordan goes on lock-down, Egypt shuts pyramids to visitors, Mideast confronts coronavirus

As the death toll in Iran continues to climb, countries around the Middle East restrict movements closing down schools and banning gatherings, while war-torn Syria has yet to report a single case of coronavirus

Associated Press , 16:36 , 03.22.20

WHO: Mideast states must share more info on coronavirus cases

Treatment of and measure against COVID-19 have been 'uneven' in region, Mideast envoy for the agency says; over 18,000 cases confirmed, with more than a thousand deaths in seven countries

Reuters , 18:50 , 03.18.20

Pentagon: U.S. strikes Iran-backed group that hit Iraq base

Officials say fighter jets hit five locations, mainly targeting Kataib Hezbollah weapons facilities; Esper: You don't get to shoot at our bases and kill and wound Americans and get away with it

Associated Press , 11:30 , 03.13.20

Trump authorizes U.S. military to respond after Iran-backed militia kills troops

U.S. Secretary of Defense hinted that strikes against the militia itself were the priority in response to the killing of U.S. troops and would not take the possibility of striking inside Iran off the table

Reuters , 19:34 , 03.12.20

Spike in cases in Gulf pushes Mideast past 10,000 infections

Countries implement increasingly stringent measures - from travel bans to large-scale lockdowns - in effort to contain and starve off coronavirus, as COVID-19 ravages through the region

Associated Press , 14:01 , 03.12.20

Two U.S., one British personnel killed in Iraq rocket attack

U.S. officials warn death toll may rise, say too soon to assign blame; Pompeo, UK counterpart Raab agree 'those responsible for the attacks must be held accountable'

Reuters , 11:54 , 03.12.20

News agency: Iran VP, 2 Cabinet members have coronavirus

Islamic Republic faces biggest outbreak in Mideast, with neighbors blocking entry to its national, citing it as source for recent infections in the region; Revolutionary Guard called upon to assist efforts

Associated Press , 17:44 , 03.11.20

Report: Senior Hezbollah officials infected with coronavirus

Terror group members believed to have contracted virus after meeting with Iranian military officials; Nasrallah said to be in isolation, though unclear whether contracted strain

i24NEWS, Ynet , 14:48 , 03.11.20

Jordan closes borders due to coronavirus

Cabinet approves emergency measures to fight spread of pathogen across the kingdom; Jordan confirmed first case in man who returned from Italy last month

Reuters , 21:26 , 03.10.20

Russia, Turkey agree ceasefire deal for Syria's Idlib

Presidents convene in Moscow and declare truce starting midnight; Erdogan stresses right to respond to attacks by Syrian government in country's last rebel stronghold

Reuters , 21:34 , 03.05.20

Iran says IAEA case for inspecting sites based on fake Israeli intel

UN watchdog says decision to take environmental samples based in part on documents presented by Netanyahu last year, reportedly recovered by agents in the Islamic Republic

Reuters , 20:16 , 03.05.20

UN: Iran nearly triples stockpile of enriched uranium

In separate report, the International Atomic Energy Agency said it identified three locations possibly storing undeclared nuclear material without declaring it to international observers

Associated Press , 16:43 , 03.03.20

Iran raises death toll to 54 from new coronavirus

Some 1,100 infections reported throughout Middle East, prompting Islamic Republic's neighbors to take drastic measure - including closing schools, holy sites and border crossings

Associated Press , 16:07 , 03.01.20

Turkey hits back at Syria strikes with Idlib offensive

Ankara announces move after weekend attacks killed dozens of Turkish fighters in northwestern Idlib province amid regime onslaught that has displaced almost a million people

News Agencies , 14:57 , 03.01.20

Pomp, praise and a divided legacy as Egypt buries Mubarak

As the former Egyptian president's coffin arrives to capital with great fanfare, many in the country look to his replacement Sisi and ask whether the economy and society as really any better since the Arab Spring

Reuters , 15:54 , 02.26.20

Egypt to hold full-honors military funeral for Mubarak

Cairo declares three days of national mourning for late leader; Netanyahu praises Air Force officer turned 30-year head of state for commitment to peace and bilateral relations while Rivlin sends condolences on behalf of Israel

Reuters, Ynet , 11:11 , 02.26.20

Hosni Mubarak, the 'Pharaoh' toppled by Arab Spring, dies at 91

Former Air Force officer who ruled for three decades was overthrown in protests of 2011; he was cleared of conspiracy to kill protesters during the demonstrations against his rule in a 2017 trial and was freed from prison

Ynet, Associated Press , 13:12 , 02.25.20

Iran lawmaker: 50 dead from coronavirus in Qom

Infection cases confirmed in five cities, including Tehran where one of the patients is a local mayor; in response to outbreak, neighboring Kuwait closes border and evacuates some 750 national back to the Islamic Republic

Associated Press , 14:30 , 02.24.20

UN: Air strikes hit hospitals, camps in northwest Syria, relief effort overwhelmed

Refugee wave largest since WWII; aid groups report children freezing to death in camps; reports of further military achievements for Assad en route to victory

Reuters , 17:27 , 02.18.20

Disgruntled Iranians say they'll boycott Parliamentary vote

Many Iranians suffer from the current economic situation, outraged at their government and fearing a military confrontation with the U.S.; they have lost confidence in politics; this Friday, with the Islamic Republic heading to the polls, they will remain at home

AFP , 22:02 , 02.17.20

Snubbed by Gulf, Lebanon's PM Diab hosts Iranian official

Experts say the Iranian-backed terror group Hezbollah's role in helping Diab form a government could impede securing Western and Gulf aid to solve the country's financial woes

Reuters , 20:01 , 02.17.20

UAE issues licence for first Arab nuclear power plant

Barakah plant had been due to come online since 2017 but faced delays attributed to safety and regulatory requirements; experts fear plant will be vulnerable to attacks from rival Iran

AFP , 19:09 , 02.17.20

After gains in northern Syria, Assad predicts total victory

Address by the Syrian president comes amid ongoing military advance in northwestern Syria as government troops consolidate hold over Idlib, capturing over 30 villages and hamlets in a single day

Agencies , 19:05 , 02.17.20

Crisis puts Lebanon's survival at stake, Hezbollah warns

Hassan Nasrallah says supporting Diab's government, which the Iran-backed terror group heavily backs, is a 'national duty'; Hezbollah's support of new PM may hinder his efforts to secure financial aid from Western, Gulf countries

Reuters , 20:13 , 02.16.20

Hezbollah’s popularity seen waning as Lebanese protests continue

Analysis: As new Beirut government’s biggest supporter, Iran-backed group is facing possibility of losing its legitimacy as resistance movement; according to one expert, with so much poverty, few in Lebanon mention ‘resistance’ to Israel

The Media Line , 18:33 , 02.14.20

U.S. warship in Arabian Sea seizes suspected Iranian weapons

USS Normandy boarded dhow on Sunday, seizing anti-tank guided missiles, surface-to-air missiles; Senate moves to limit Trump's ability to wage war against Iran; Revolutionary Guard chief says ready to strike U.S., Israel if they give cause

Reuters , 22:03 , 02.13.20

Widowed, imprisoned, detained: remnants of Islamic State in limbo in Syria

Kurdish fighters bare the brunt of holding the former IS fighters, 10% of whom are European, in harsh and complicated conditions; many of the prisoners beg to be repatriated, but many of their home nations fear backlash for such a move

Reuters , 16:06 , 02.12.20

Lebanon government wins confidence vote as protests rock Beirut

Country's new Hezbollah-backed cabinet hopes financial rescue plan, forming basis of its confidence vote in parliament, can help pull country from deep financial crisis; hundreds hurt in unrest

Reuters , 21:02 , 02.11.20

Iranians rally on anniversary of 1979 Islamic Revolution

State media shows footage of rallies with protesters holding signs reading 'Death to America' and 'Death to Israel;' rallies come days before parliamentary elections expected to test popularity of Rouhani and his so-called moderate, pro-reform camp

News Agencies , 12:48 , 02.11.20

Egypt moves toward toughening up draconian anti-terror law

Legislation originally created in 2015 to combat IS affiliates in Sinai; critics claim law used by Egyptian President Al-Sisi to silence political rivals and dissidents

Associated Press , 23:11 , 02.10.20

Iran to execute alleged spy who gave nuclear secrets to CIA

The state-run news agencies in the country report that Amir Rahimpour received money from the U.S. state agency to share the details; the Islamic Republic in the past has sentenced alleged American and Israeli spies to death

Associated Press , 11:30 , 02.04.20

Jews, Muslims, Christians meet at UAE interfaith event

The UAE and Saudi Arabia, along with other Gulf states, have been expanding their outreach to Christian groups, like evangelicals, and Jewish organizations

Associated Press , 22:09 , 02.03.20

Report: Militants bomb gas pipeline between Israel, Egypt in northern Sinai

Al-Jazeera reports attack carried out on pipeline; Egyptian authorities confirm at least 6 militants involved in attack; energy ministry, pipeline's owners deny

Daniel Salami, Itamar Eichner , 23:21 , 02.02.20

Protesters outside U.S. Embassy in Lebanon decry Trump plan

Dozens showcase discontent with proposed peace deal, believed to heavily favor Israel; minor clashes between police forces and demonstrators

Associated Press , 17:46 , 02.02.20

Already crowded Egypt set to hit 100 million population

In Egypt, 97% live on just 8% of its territory, crowded along the Nile, as the population grows by 2.5 million each year while 1,400 people are packed into every square kilometer in some areas

Reuters , 14:53 , 02.02.20

Gulf Arabs back Trump's Mideast efforts, but not peace plan

Arab world watches eagerly for Saudi reaction to Trump's so-called Deal of the Century as Gulf states remain reluctant to officially endorse plan

Associated Press , 21:11 , 01.30.20

Iran lawmakers call for debate on quitting nuclear arms treaty

The fate of the 2015 nuclear pact has been in doubt since Trump pulled the United States out of it in 2018 and reimposed sanctions that have crippled the country's economy

Reuters , 16:03 , 01.28.20

Trump says U.S. will not lift sanctions to negotiate with Iran

The comments come in apparent response to Iranian foreign minister's remarks that Iran is willing to negotiate with the United States if the latter removes the crippling sanctions on the Islamic Republic

Reuters, Associated Press , 08:44 , 01.26.20

Lebanon forms government with backing of Hezbollah and allies

PM describes cabinet as technocratic 'rescue team' that would work to achieve goals of protesters; anti-Hezbollah Christian and Druze parties left out of coalition

Reuters , 23:28 , 01.21.20

New leader of Islamic State said confirmed by intel agencies

Amir Mohammed Abdul Rahman al-Mawli al-Salbi grew up in the ranks and received preferred status because of his scholarly background in Islamic studies, which he used to justify the enslavement of Yazidis

AFP , 15:49 , 01.21.20

New Revolutionary Guard commander said among planners of 1994 Argentine Jewish center bombing

Western intelligence sources say deputy head of Iran's Quds Force involved in planning attack at AMIA center in Buenos Aires that killed 85 people, has avoided foreign travel ever since in order to dodge Interpol warrant

Smadar Perry , 12:32 , 01.21.20

Zarif: Iran will quit NPT if nuclear issue referred to UN

Despite threat, Tehran says it has not ruled out talks to end row over violations of 2015 international agreement after Britain, France, and Germany trigger a dispute mechanism, citing Iranian breaches; move starts a diplomatic process that could lead to United Nations sanctions being reimposed

Reuters , 12:29 , 01.20.20

Lebanese security forces, protesters clash for second night

Protesters reignite unrest in capital as deepening multi-faceted crisis grapples with financial strains that have sunk currency, pushed up prices and driven banks to impose capital controls

Reuters , 23:00 , 01.19.20

Khamenei: Trump is a 'clown' who will betray Iranians

Thousands attended the Friday sermon led by the Iranian leader, chanting 'death to America'; Ayatollah calls European powers 'servants' to the United States

Associated Press , 14:48 , 01.17.20

Iran: Europe yielding to 'high school bully' Trump in nuclear row

Britain, France and Germany triggered the accord's dispute mechanism this week but according to reports the U.S. threatened a 25% tariff on European automobile imports if they refrained from the move

Reuters , 20:45 , 01.16.20

Iran: uranium enrichment at higher level than before nuclear deal

Islamic republic continues to scale back commitments in nuclear deal amid European appeal to dispute resolution mechanism, looming UN sanctions

Reuters , 11:51 , 01.16.20

Egypt's push to be east Mediterranean gas hub

With a vast network of gas pipelines, advanced infrastructure and convenient locatio, the country hopes to become a vital link for energy trading between Mideast, Africa and Europe

Reuters , 19:00 , 01.15.20