Middle Orient

Syrian National Army (SNA) factions that fought the Assad government with backing from Türkiye continue to detain, mistreat, and extort civilians in northern Syria, Human Rights Watch said Wednesday. These fighters are being integrated into Syria’s Armed Forces, with their commanders appointed to key government and military positions, despite their …

An Iranian vessel may have harassed a commercial vessel in the Persian Gulf on May 10. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported that a small craft collided with a merchant vessel and attempted to collide with other vessels about 80 nautical miles northwest of Jebel Ali, the United …

The president of Syria, Ahmed al-Sharaa (Abu Muhammad al-Julani), confirmed that indirectcontacts were being held by Syria and Israel to achieve calm and prevent escalation, and heexpressed commitment to the 1974 disengagement agreement. IDF forces continued operatingin the buffer zone in the Golan Heights and supporting the Druze in southern …

Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei re-emphasized the importance of the Palestinian issuefor the Muslim world and called for not ignoring the “crimes of the Zionist regime.” The Iranianforeign minister emphasized in discussions with his Arab counterparts the need forcooperation between regional countries to stop Israel’s attacks in the Gaza Strip. …

Israel targeted Houthi-controlled al Salif and Hudaydah ports on May 16 as part of an Israeli campaign to disrupt the Houthi ability to enable attacks targeting Israel.[i] Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated after the airstrikes on May 16 that Israel will continue to strike Houthi targets “including [Houthi] leadership …

The new aid plan bypasses the UN and uses private charities and security firms to deliver aid in Gaza, with fears it is a fig leaf to advance mass displacement The US is establishing a new system relying on private firms to coordinate humanitarian aid deliveries to the Gaza Strip, …

Setting the wildfires aside, Israel and its society must confront the crimes, both ecological and engineered, it is committing in Gaza, writes Alex Foley. On the evening of April 29, a spasm of panic broke out at a Memorial Day ceremony in Tel Aviv’s Habima Square. Ushers at the event …

Iraq is a key hub allowing Iran access to the international financial system, but the US is turning up the pressure on the country’s banking system. The US is tightening its maximum pressure grip on Iran by focusing on one of the key hubs that allows Tehran access to the …

Officials in the Trump administration are confused about how to proceed with lifting sanctions on Syria after Trump’s surprise announcement Tuesday When President Donald Trump announced in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday that he would lift all sanctions on Syria, the decision, which will boost a country devastated by 13 years …

The Jordanian government has called on all individuals holding assets belonging to the now-dissolved Muslim Brotherhood Association to report them to the Ministry of Social Development within one month, or face legal consequences. In a statement issued on Wednesday, Barq Al-Damour, Secretary-General of the ministry and head of the committee …