Middle Orient

The Turkey-backed Syrian National Army’s (SNA) ranks may include some four percent child soldiers, according to a report released on Wednesday by the Foundation for Political, Economic and Social Research (SETA), an Ankara-based research company known for its close relations with the Turkish government. child soldiers

Secretary tours Syrian border with Israeli counterpart, scoffs at US elites and ‘salons of Europe’ who want Assad to control strategic ridge; is briefed on Iran’s influence in area Mike Pompeo on Thursday visited the Golan Heights, a first trip to the contested territory since Washington recognized Israeli sovereignty over …

Israel has accused Lebanon of changing its position in talks on their disputed maritime border and warned it could lead to a “dead end” that would be damaging for the whole region.

Egypt’s military said it was a “limited explosion.” Egypt’s military said a “limited explosion” struck a gas pipeline in North Sinai on Thursday, an incident for which the Islamic State’s local branch has claimed credit.

Riyadh’s hosting of the annual summit has drawn criticism from a broad coalition of human rights groups.

Moscow is set to create a strategic foothold in Africa along vital shipping routes. Russian President Vladimir Putin approved on Nov. 16 the government’s plans to create a naval facility in Sudan to service the needs of the Russian navy in the region and serve as a logistics center. The …

The newly promoted Luna al-Shibl has posted on her Facebook page, that the Syrian army will soon be conducting an assault on northern Syria reports Baladi News.

The Islamic Republic reiterated that any attack on it by the United States would face a “crushing” response. Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards have added a warship capable of carrying aircraft, missile launchers and drones to its naval fleet, state media said on Thursday, at a time of high tension between …

Israel’s energy minister, overseeing the talks with Lebanon, said Lebanon had now changed its position seven times and was contradicting its own assertions. Lebanon’s army chief said on Friday that there would be no compromise on the country’s sovereignty in maritime border negotiations with Israel, the Saudi-based Arab News reported.

The Palestinians on Thursday condemned US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s visit to the settlement of Psagot. They also condemned the US administration’s decision to consider goods made in settlements as Israeli products.