Middle Orient

The fifth election since the overthrow of Saddam Hussein in 2003 generated a record-low turnout of just 41 percent. However, the results contained some surprises. While the elections took place about three weeks ago, the Pro-Iranian groups continue to denounce the results from Iraq’s elections as “manipulation” and a “scam.” …

LEBANON A diplomatic spat erupted with Gulf states after footage emerged of Lebanese Information Minister George Kordahi criticising the Saudi-led war in Yemen before his ministerial appointment. In response, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates expelled Lebanese ambassadors from their countries and recalled their own ambassadors, while …

Factions pulling out of the recently formed Syrian Liberation Front raise questions about the future of Turkish-backed rebel groups. Sources close to Sultan Soleman Shah Brigade, one of the largest factions of the Syrian Liberation Front, said that the brigade has effectively withdrawn from the front to join the Thaeeroun …

Washington is trying to bring its Middle Eastern allies into line with international efforts to revive the transition to democracy in Khartoum. The United States, the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates released a joint statement on Wednesday calling on Sudan’s military to immediately release those arrested …

An Islamic State attack has triggered a crescendo of acts of violence against and displacement of Sunnis in Iraq’s Diyala province, which borders Iran and has long suffered the presence of cells operating in its dense orchards and parts of the Hamrin Mountains. An Islamic State (IS) attack against members …

Raisi, under personal US sanctions over allegations of human rights abuses in his past as a judge, said Iran seeks the “lifting of all US sanctions and neutralization of sanctions.” Iran will not back down “in any way” in defending its interests, President Ebrahim Raisi said on Thursday, a day …

Ex-Mossad official: Talks may be tactic for Tehran to buy time to advance its nuclear program. A new nuclear deal that may emerge between Iran and the world powers in the coming months “will likely be worse” than the 2015 deal, former IDF intelligence chief Aharon Zeevi Farkash told The …

“Iran poses a strategic threat to the world and an existential threat to Israel, and they ought not to be allowed to get away with it,” said Prime Minister Naftali Bennett. Israel will do what is necessary to protect itself against the Iranian existential threat, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said …

According to local reports, militants linked to the Islamic State terror group have stepped up their attacks in eastern and central Syria in recent days. The local North Press Agency reports that at least two Syrian government soldiers were killed Monday in an attack carried out by suspected IS fighters …

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s visit to three Gulf of Guinea countries last month brings attention to the importance not only of this body of water, but also the competition for influence there. The Gulf of Guinea is hotter than ever. Erdogan visited Angola, Togo and Nigeria on his latest …