War in the Middle East

New Momentum Building Up, What Future Role for Anti-Hezbollah Shiites?
New Momentum Building Up, What Future Role for Anti-Hezbollah Shiites?

The setbacks suffered by Hezbollah in over a year of confrontations and a most devastating conflict with Israel in the past months usher in a new phase in Lebanon. The ceasefire agreement that took effect on November 27, calling for Hezbollah’s disarmament and the Army’s deployment in southern Lebanon, places the Iran-backed group at a ...

Israeli Raid on Ainata, Bint Jbeil
Israeli Raid on Ainata, Bint Jbeil

On Wednesday morning, the Israeli army launched a raid on the Aïnata area of Bint Jbeil, killing one person and wounding another. Meanwhile, as the Lebanese army (LAF) attempted to re-enter its positions in Khiam, it was confronted by Israeli forces, preventing the LAF from entering the northern quarters of the village. Earlier in the ...

US warships, Merchant Vessels Attacked by Houthis
US warships, Merchant Vessels Attacked by Houthis

Two American destroyers defeated a drone and missile attack by the Houthis while escorting three merchant vessels through the Gulf of Aden, the US military said Tuesday, confirming a claim from the Houthis. The Houthis began striking ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden in November 2023, part of the region-wide fallout from Israel's devastating ...

UN General Assembly to Vote on 'Unconditional' Ceasefire in Gaza
UN General Assembly to Vote on 'Unconditional' Ceasefire in Gaza

The UN General Assembly will vote Wednesday on a draft resolution that seeks an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, a symbolic gesture after the US previously vetoed a similar action in the UN Security Council. In addition to calling for "an immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire," the draft resolution seeks "the immediate and unconditional ...

Assad Exit Puts US at Perilous Crossroads in Syria
Assad Exit Puts US at Perilous Crossroads in Syria

For more than a decade, the United States has sought to keep out of Syria's political debacle, seeing no viable partner. Islamist rebels' toppling of strongman Bashar al-Assad has forced a change of tune and a debate over just what US interests are. Donald Trump, who returns to the White House in little more than a month, on the eve of Assad's ...

Syrian Rescuers Urge Russia to Push Assad for Secret Prison Maps
Syrian Rescuers Urge Russia to Push Assad for Secret Prison Maps

Syria's White Helmet rescuers on Tuesday called on Russia to pressure former president Bashar al-Assad into providing maps of secret jails and lists of detainees as they race against time to release prisoners. The rescuers said they "sent a request to the United Nations through an international mediator to demand that Russia pressure... Assad ...

Netanyahu Denies Charges in First Court Testimony in Corruption Trial
Netanyahu Denies Charges in First Court Testimony in Corruption Trial

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday dismissed the allegations against him as he testified in court for the first time in his corruption case. Netanyahu, who has repeatedly sought to delay his court appearance, is the first sitting Prime Minister of Israel to face a criminal trial. He faces charges of bribery, fraud, and ...

Islamic State Executes 54 Soldiers Fleeing Rebel Advance in Central Syria
Islamic State Executes 54 Soldiers Fleeing Rebel Advance in Central Syria

A Syria war monitor said Tuesday that Islamic State group jihadists in central Homs province killed 54 soldiers who were fleeing as Islamist-led rebels pressed a major offensive on government-controlled areas. IS jihadists captured "personnel fleeing military service in the desert... during the collapse of the regime" of president Bashar al-Assad ...

Syria: Mohammed al-Bashir Appointed Head of Transitional Government
Syria: Mohammed al-Bashir Appointed Head of Transitional Government

The Syrian rebels now in power in Damascus have appointed Mohammed al-Bashir as head of a transitional government that will be in place until March 1, state media said Tuesday. "The general command has tasked us with running the transitional government until March 1," said a statement attributed to Bashir on state television's ...

Qatar in Contact with Syrian Islamist Group HTS
Qatar in Contact with Syrian Islamist Group HTS

Qatari officials are in contact with the Islamist group Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which spearheaded the ouster of Syrian president Bashar al-Assad, as well as other groups in Syria, an official briefed on the developments told AFP on Tuesday. "The Qataris have established the first channel of communication with HTS. Communication with HTS ...

Erdogan: Turkey Will Never let 'Syria be Divided Again'
Erdogan: Turkey Will Never let 'Syria be Divided Again'

Syria must never be divided again and Turkey will act against anyone seeking to compromise its territory, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday. "From now on, we cannot allow Syria to be divided again... Any attack on the freedom of the Syrian people, the stability of the new administration, and the integrity of its lands will find us ...