Mideast News
דונלד טראמפ
Pro-Iranian militias in Iraq consider disarmament following US pressure
Four powerful pro-Iranian militias in Iraq in advanced talks with Iraqi government to disarm; following US threats of airstrikes, discussions include integrating fighters into Iraq’s armed forces, marking potential shift in regional dynamics
Reuters | 23:26 | 04.07.25
תקיפה בשדה התעופה בדאחייה
Lebanon eyes new airport to escape Hezbollah grip
Beirut says Kleiate Airport in northern Lebanon could open to commercial flights within a year, aiming to boost the economy and break free from Hezbollah’s control over the capital’s main hub
Lior Ben Ari | 01:17 | 04.07.25
נשיא איראן מסעוד פזשכיאן לצד תמונתו של חסן נסראללה בישיבת הממשלה
Iran says wants dialogue 'on equal footing' with US
Pezeshkian speaks as Iranian rial hits record low against US dollar, but does not clarify stance on direct talks; 'If you want negotiations, what’s the point of threats?' he asks in public address
News agencies | 16:49 | 04.05.25
תקיפת כינוס של חות'ים על ידי חיל האוויר האמריקני
Trump shares video claiming US strike foiled planned Houthi attack
Rebels say video showed strike on tribal gathering; US officials admit costly campaign has done little to curb Houthi attacks on ships, drones
Ynet | 11:31 | 04.05.25
תומכי חות'ים בכינוס לציון יום קודס בצנעא, תימן
'Their final days': Iran orders advisers to leave Yemen, abandoning Houthis
Senior officials say move, notable shift in Tehran's regional policy, intended to avoid direct confrontation with U.S. in event Iranians are hurt by air offensive
Ynet | 23:50 | 04.03.25
נשיא סוריה אבו מוחמד אל ג'ולאני
In Syria, 2 currencies and no stability
Syrian pound's collapse, worsened by war and sanctions, has driven parts of northern Syria to adopt Turkish lira; while offering short-term relief, dual-currency system deepens economic instability and highlights Syria’s fractured financial and political landscape
Rizik Alabi/The Media Line | 22:35 | 04.02.25
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan
How a cup of coffee became one of Erdoğan's biggest fears
Arrest of Turkish president's top rival sparked protests and consumer boycott targeting businesses operating as usual, including pro-government EspressoLab chain; move has also hit Turkey’s economy just as it showed signs of recovery
Zeev Avrahami, Berlin | 19:05 | 04.02.25
עצרת הפגנה ענקית ב איסטנבול טורקיה נגד מעצר יריבו המרכזי של ארדואן , אכרם אימאמאולו
‘They’ve crossed the fear threshold’: Turkey’s youth rise up against Erdoğan
University students with no history of activism are now at the forefront of demonstrations against Turkish president's increasingly authoritarian rule following arrest of popular Istanbul mayor
Giorgia Valente / The Media Line | 19:12 | 04.01.25
החשודים ברצח הרב צבי קוגן ז"ל בדובאי
UAE sentences 3 Uzbek nationals to death for murder of Israeli Chabad emissary
Zvi Kogan was abducted in Dubai in January, his body found in the city of Al Ain several days later; Israeli authorities say the killing was an antisemitic terror attack
Itamar Eichner | 14:30 | 03.30.25
נתניהו, טראמפ, חמינאי, נתנז איראן תקיפה באזור ביטחוני בסוריה
Trump warns Iran of decisive US measures in newly revealed letter
Iran releases contents of letter from US president urging Tehran to engage in nuclear talks, offering sanctions relief but warning Islamic regime must end support for terror and threats to US and its allies
Lior Ben Ari | 11:32 | 03.29.25
טהרן, איראן
How Iran spies—and how women activists stay one step ahead
Iranian women activists spoke about the creative strategies they’ve developed to evade digital and physical surveillance as the government intensifies its cyber-repression
Giorgia Valente / The Media Line | 18:36 | 03.28.25
יום ירושלים האיראני
Iran speaker says US bases will be struck if Trump attacks Iran
Speaking at ceremony marking Al-Quds Day, Mohammad Qalibaf warns attack on Islamic Republic will cause entire region to 'blow up like spark in ammunition dump'
Reuters | 14:31 | 03.28.25
U.S. President Donald Trump
Trump says Houthis 'want us to stop so badly' as U.S. air campaign enters third week
Despite attacks, Iranian proxy continues to launch missiles and drones, with officials in internationally recognized government in Aden skeptical operation will deliver a decisive blow
News Agencies, Lior Ben Ari | 09:54 | 03.28.25
Syrians look for sweets to buy during Ramadan, the holy month for Muslims, in Damascus, Syria
Syrians are observing their 1st Ramadan without Assad: 'People are overjoyed'
Across Syria, citizens are observing the Muslim holy month free from the threats and repression that marked the Assad regime and its times; Not only celebrating holy month but also renewed sense of national dignity and freedom.
Rizik Alabi/The Media Line | 01:20 | 03.27.25
Turkish military artillery strikes Kurdish targets in Syria; Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
After 45 years, will the Kurdish-Turkish conflict in Iraq come to an end?
The jailed founder of a Kurdish nationalist group has called for the movement to lay down its arms, but Kurdish forces seem unwilling to do so as long as Turkish strikes continue
Hudhaifa Ebrahim/The Media Line | 10:12 | 03.26.25
פינת יא אללה ליאור בן ארי קרקל תקף חיילים
Desert lynx lauded in Egypt after biting IDF soldiers near border
The feline's attack on IDF soldiers near Egyptian border becomes viral pro-Palestine symbol, with AI-generated content and media glorification
Lior Ben Ari | 18:31 | 03.24.25
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
Mideast News
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