Middle East

Middle East

Israel to expand Gaza ops

Israel’s security cabinet approved plans for an expanded operation in the Gaza Strip, Israeli media reported on Friday, adding to signs that attempts to stop the fighting and return hostages held by Hamas have made no progress.

3h ago

Iran ‘has every right’ to enrich uranium: FM

Iran yesterday defended its “right” to enrich uranium despite growing Western concern that Tehran may be seeking nuclear weapons, and as talks with the United States were delayed.

3h ago

Israel strikes Syria, saying it hit group that attacked Druze

Israel said it carried out a strike in Syria against "an extremist group" that attacked members of the Druze community, following through on a promise to defend the minority group as deadly sectarian violence spread near Damascus.

2d ago

Qatar PM sees ‘a bit of progress’ on Gaza truce

Gaza mediator Qatar yesterday said there was some progress in talks in Doha this week aimed at securing a new truce in the Israel-Hamas war.

6d ago

Death toll from blast at Iran's Bandar Abbas port rises to 40

The death toll from a powerful explosion at Iran's biggest port of Bandar Abbas has risen to at least 40, with more than 1,200 people injured, state media reported on Sunday, as firefighters worked to fully extinguish the fire

6d ago

Hamas open to long Gaza truce but not to disarming

Hamas is open to a years-long truce with Israel in Gaza but is not willing to lay down its arms, an official said yesterday, as leaders of the Palestinian Islamist militant group met mediators in Cairo for ceasefire talks.

1w ago

Progress made in nuclear talks

The United States and Iran reported progress in their latest round of nuclear talks yesterday and agreed to meet again next week as they pursue a deal that could help ease soaring Middle East tensions.

1w ago

Huge blast at key Iran port kills 18, hurts hundreds

A powerful explosion ripped through a key port in southern Iran yesterday, killing five people and injuring more than 500, state media said.

1w ago

Israel to expand Gaza ops

Israel’s security cabinet approved plans for an expanded operation in the Gaza Strip, Israeli media reported on Friday, adding to signs that attempts to stop the fighting and return hostages held by Hamas have made no progress.

3h ago

Iran ‘has every right’ to enrich uranium: FM

Iran yesterday defended its “right” to enrich uranium despite growing Western concern that Tehran may be seeking nuclear weapons, and as talks with the United States were delayed.

3h ago

Israel strikes Syria, saying it hit group that attacked Druze

Israel said it carried out a strike in Syria against "an extremist group" that attacked members of the Druze community, following through on a promise to defend the minority group as deadly sectarian violence spread near Damascus.

2d ago

Qatar PM sees ‘a bit of progress’ on Gaza truce

Gaza mediator Qatar yesterday said there was some progress in talks in Doha this week aimed at securing a new truce in the Israel-Hamas war.

6d ago

Death toll from blast at Iran's Bandar Abbas port rises to 40

The death toll from a powerful explosion at Iran's biggest port of Bandar Abbas has risen to at least 40, with more than 1,200 people injured, state media reported on Sunday, as firefighters worked to fully extinguish the fire

6d ago

Hamas open to long Gaza truce but not to disarming

Hamas is open to a years-long truce with Israel in Gaza but is not willing to lay down its arms, an official said yesterday, as leaders of the Palestinian Islamist militant group met mediators in Cairo for ceasefire talks.

1w ago

Huge blast at key Iran port kills 18, hurts hundreds

A powerful explosion ripped through a key port in southern Iran yesterday, killing five people and injuring more than 500, state media said.

1w ago

Progress made in nuclear talks

The United States and Iran reported progress in their latest round of nuclear talks yesterday and agreed to meet again next week as they pursue a deal that could help ease soaring Middle East tensions.

1w ago

Iraqi politicians oppose Syrian leader’s possible visit to Baghdad

Several powerful pro-Iran Iraqi politicians have in recent days voiced opposition to a potential visit by Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa to Iraq for the upcoming Arab League summit.

1w ago

‘Deprivation by design’: UN 92 killed by Israel in two days

Israeli strikes killed at least 92 people in the Gaza Strip in the last 48 hours, the health ministry said yesterday, as UN said the tiny Palestinian territory is being subjected to “deprivation by design”.

2w ago