Middle Orient

French Minister of Defense Jean-Yves Le Drian stressed Monday the interrelation between the security and stability of Europe, on one hand, and that of the Middle East and the Arab region on the other. The situations in the Arab region impact not only on the French nationals in the region …

Lebanon received today the first batch of French armaments under a Saudi-financed deal worth US$3 billion to boost the country’s defensive capabilities. The handing over ceremony was held at Beirut Air Base and attended by Lebanese Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, Sameer Muqbel, French Defence Minister, Jean-Yves Le …

Over 2,000 families have been forced to flee the Iraqi city of Ramadi owing to heavy clashes between the Islamic State (IS) militants and government forces. Most of the displaced families headed to capital Baghdad and settled in predominantly Sunni districts in southern and western Baghdad, a security source said.

Aid from the Egyptian Armed Forces to Syrian refugees in Lebanon will arrive in Beirut over three days starting Tuesday. The aid, which will be loaded in three airplanes, consists of medicine, medical supplies, foods, tents, blankets and other relief supplies, and will go to refugees in Arsal in east …

The UN Security Council has demanded humanitarian access to Syria’s Yarmuk Palestinian refugee camp as residents described fleeing in terror after the arrival of jihadists of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). The advance by the extremists into the battered neighbourhood of south Damascus has alarmed the …

Tunisa’s foreign ministry says it has recalled its ambassador to Syria because of the “dangerous” developments in that country. President Bashar Assad’s regime has dramatically escalated the crackdown on a five-month-old uprising since the start of the holy month of Ramadan in August, killing hundreds and detaining thousands.

Iraqi forces have retaken the Salaheddin provincial government headquarters in Tikrit from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), a significant advance in the battle to recapture the city, officials said March 31. The spokesman for the Badr militia said members of the Popular Mobilisation units — pro-government …

Arab leaders have agreed to form a joint military force, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi announced on Sunday at a summit overshadowed by a Saudi-led offensive on Shi’ite rebels in Yemen. Arab representatives would meet over the next month to study the creation of the force, according to the resolution …

Turkey will provide a military facility in the southern province of Hatay, along with the Hirfanlı military base in the central Anatolian province of Kırşehir, for the training-equip program with the U.S. in the struggle against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), a Turkish official announced.

The EU Monday decided to appoint an Italian diplomat, Fernando Gentilini, as new special representative for Middle East, EU High Representative Federica Mogherini told a news conference at the end of a meeting of EU foreign ministers. Analysts opine that the re-establishment of the post of the special EU envoy …