Middle Orient

Attack on Erbil airport in Iraq reported

This is the third attack reported in the last two days; the other attacks have targeted US forces in Asad base and near the US embassy in Baghdad since July 4. An attack on Erbil International Airport in the Kurdistan region of northern Iraq took place on Tuesday evening, reports …

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Should the Mossad have publicly revealed seizing nuke archives?

“Was there a need to publicize it? Maybe we could have held onto the information and revealed it a little bit at a time, drawn out over several years.” There is still an ongoing debate over whether it was wise to publicly reveal to the world the Mossad’s seizing of …

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In Tehran talks, Iran offers help to resolve Taliban-Afghan crisis

Shi’ite Muslim Iran has been a foe of the hardline Sunni Muslim Taliban for decades, but for the past few years it has been openly meeting Taliban leaders. Iran on Wednesday told Taliban and Afghan government representatives it stood ready to help end the crisis in Afghanistan, urging the country’s …

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Foreign Ministry chief heads to Morocco on diplomatic mission

Director-General of the ministry Alon Ushpiz slated to meet his Moroccan counterpart and other senior diplomats in Rabat visit that comes ahead of the start of commercial flights between the two countries as part of the Abraham Accords signed last year The director-general of the Foreign Ministry, Alon Ushpiz, flew …

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UN report assesses rebuilding Gaza after recent fighting to cost $485 million

Damage assessment finds there was $380 million in physical damage and an additional $190 million in economic losses; Israel called on to upgrade border crossing A UN report released Tuesday found that it will cost an initial $485 million to repair the damage caused in the Gaza Strip during eleven …

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US hosts highest-level Saudi visit since Khashoggi killing

White House says grisly murder of journalist may be raised in meetings with delegation led by Khalid bin Salman, Riyadh’s deputy defense minister and brother of crown prince Top Biden administration officials on Tuesday hosted a brother to Saudi Arabia’s powerful crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, in the highest-level such …

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Abducted From Kyrgyzstan, Educator Orhan Inandi Paraded in Turkey as a ‘Terrorist’

Turkish President Erdogan, who previously denied knowing anything about Inandi, announced his “capture” by Turkish intelligence. Three weeks after reportedly replying to an inquiry directly from Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov that he did not know Orhan Inandi, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan lauded the “genuine and patient” work of the …

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Pro-Kurdish lawmaker released from Turkish prison after five-day delay

Pro-Kurdish lawmaker Omer Faruk Gergerlioglu was finally released from prison Tuesday, five days after Turkey’s Constitutional Court ruled his rights had been violated in his detention. Pro-Kurdish lawmaker Omer Faruk Gergerlioglu was released from prison Tuesday. Turkey’s Constitutional Court ruled on July 1 that his rights were violated in his …

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Turkey’s anti-PKK assault leaves Kurds more divided

Turkey’s unremitting assault against the PKK is destabilizing Iraqi Kurdistan, weakening the rebels on the one hand while bolstering support for them among disaffected locals on the other. On Nov. 16, 2013, Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan presided over a mass wedding in the Kurds’ informal capital, Diyarbakir, amid piercing …

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Kyrgyzstan denies role in Turkey’s rendition of Gulen-linked educator

While the Kyrgyz government has denied helping Turkish intelligence services kidnap a Turkish-Kyrgyz educator, rights groups say it’s unlikely that he could have been taken otherwise. Kyrgyz authorities have denied claims that they conspired in the kidnapping by Turkish intelligence services of a Turkish-Kyrgyz educator who went missing from Bishkek …

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