Middle East
UN fears for hundreds of thousands if Syria troops encircle Aleppo
February 9, 2016
UN fears for hundreds of thousands if Syria troops encircle Aleppo
Hundreds of thousands of civilians could be cut off from food supplies if Syrian government forces succeed in their offensive…
US defense intelligence chief predicts increased ISIS attacks
February 9, 2016
US defense intelligence chief predicts increased ISIS attacks
Islamic State is likely to step up "the pace and lethality" of its attacks in the months ahead as it…
Wave of Aden killings tests Gulf role in Yemen
February 9, 2016
Wave of Aden killings tests Gulf role in Yemen
The recapture of Aden by Gulf Arab coalition troops last summer has failed to provide any respite from Yemen's civil…
Syrian opposition insists Russia should end air strikes: Interfax
February 9, 2016
Syrian opposition insists Russia should end air strikes: Interfax
Russia should immediately end its air strikes in Syria as a condition for negotiations between the opposition and the central…
Islamic State claims car bomb blast in Saudi capital
February 8, 2016
Islamic State claims car bomb blast in Saudi capital
An explosion damaged a car in the Saudi capital Riyadh on Monday, the Saudi Press Agency reported, an incident the…
Israel eyes more entry permits to Palestinian workers to douse tensions
February 8, 2016
Israel eyes more entry permits to Palestinian workers to douse tensions
Israel plans to increase the number of entry permits it grants to Palestinian workers, Palestinian and Israeli sources said on…
Russian firepower helps Syrian forces edge toward Turkey border
February 8, 2016
Russian firepower helps Syrian forces edge toward Turkey border
The Syrian army advanced toward the Turkish border on Monday in a major offensive backed by Russia and Iran that…
34 groups now allied to Islamic State extremists: UN chief
February 8, 2016
34 groups now allied to Islamic State extremists: UN chief
Thirty-four militant groups from around the world had reportedly pledged allegiance to the Islamic State extremist group as of mid-December…
Aniseh Makhlouf, mother of Syria’s Assad, dies
February 8, 2016
Aniseh Makhlouf, mother of Syria’s Assad, dies
Aniseh Makhlouf, Syria's former first lady and the mother of current President Bashar Assad, died Saturday, the presidency announced.
Obama says Mideast countries must ‘lift up their citizens’
February 8, 2016
Obama says Mideast countries must ‘lift up their citizens’
US President Barack Obama says governments across the Middle East that make a "commitment to justice and human rights" will…