Middle East

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Islamic militancy

Syrian conflict

Then-Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his wife, Asma, arrive for a dinner hosted by Britain’s Lord Chancellor, Lord Irvine of Lairg, at Lancaster house in London in December 2002. Photo: AFP

Middle East

Wife of Syria’s Assad badly ill, has 50-50 chance of surviving, reports say

Earlier reports – denied by the Kremlin – suggest Asma al-Assad wants to divorce her husband and leave Russia for treatment in London.

41 minutes ago

Israel-Gaza war

Israel says Rafah military operations led to killing of 6 Gaza hostages

25 Dec 2024 - 9:11AMvideocam

The Netherlands

Amsterdam court sentences 5 men for ‘hit-and-run’ style attacks on Israeli fans

25 Dec 2024 - 12:08AM

Middle East

Israeli army forces patients out of Indonesian Hospital in Gaza, doctors say

The Kamal Adwan hospital, one of the few still functioning in the area, was targeted by Israeli troops who claim it is a Hamas stronghold.

25 Dec 2024 - 12:02AM

UN-branded vehicles are parked at the Kamal Adwan Hospital in the northern Gaza Strip. Photo: AFP

Middle East

Syria says armed groups agree to disband, merge under defence ministry

The move aims to unify the country after years of civil war.

24 Dec 2024 - 8:30PMvideocam

Middle East

Syrian Christians protest ‘injustice’, burning of Christmas tree

Protesters were demanding Christian rights and condemning injustice amid growing Islamist influence post-Assad, after Islamist fighters burned a Christmas tree.

24 Dec 2024 - 6:23PM

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Middle East

Israel-Gaza war

Israel acknowledges it killed ex-Hamas leader Haniyeh in Iran

Defence chief Israel Katz admitted to killing Ismail Haniyeh in July, warning the military would ‘decapitate’ leadership of Yemen’s Houthis.

24 Dec 2024 - 5:17AMvideocam

Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, centre, in Tehran, Iran on July 30. He was assassinated the following day. Photo: EPA-EFE

Middle East

Ex-Israeli spies describe exploding devices operation against Hezbollah

The Mossad operation, spanning a decade, was executed in September when booby-trapped walkie-talkies and pagers were set off in Lebanon.

23 Dec 2024 - 1:34PM

Middle East

Israel-Gaza war

Netanyahu vows to act with ‘force, determination’ against Yemen’s Houthis

Israeli prime minister makes statement a day after a missile fired from Yemen fell in the Tel Aviv area, injuring 16 people.

23 Dec 2024 - 12:13PM

Middle East

Israel-Gaza war

Israeli order to evacuate Gaza hospital ‘next to impossible’ to obey, medics say

Staff at Kamal Adwan hospital say evacuation impossible due to lack of ambulances.

23 Dec 2024 - 2:13PM

Badly damaged Palestinian houses during the ongoing Israeli military operation in Beit Lahiya, in the northern Gaza Strip. Photo: Reuters

Middle East

Qatar vows to stop EU gas sales if fined under due diligence law: media report

Companies operating in the EU face fines of up to five per cent of global turnover if found in violation of the new law.

22 Dec 2024 - 3:54PM

Qatar has threatended to retaliate agains the EU if its fined under due dilligence laws. File photo: AFP

Middle East

2 US Navy pilots shot down over Red Sea in apparent ‘friendly fire’ incident

The US Navy is investigating the cause of the accident which saw a two-seater F/A-18 Super Hornet shot down over the Red Sea.

22 Dec 2024 - 12:38PM

Middle East

Turkey says it will take action on Kurdish militias if Syria doesn’t

Turkey’s stance may put it at loggerheads with the United States, which has relied on the Kurds in its fight against ISIS.

22 Dec 2024 - 9:32AM

Middle East

Israel-Gaza war

Hamas, 2 other Palestinian groups say Gaza ceasefire deal ‘closer than ever’

A Hamas leader said talks had made ‘significant and important progress’.

21 Dec 2024 - 11:57PM

People receive food relief at a food distribution centre in the city of Deir al-Balah, central Gaza Strip. Photo: Xinhua

Middle East

Israel-Gaza war

Israel-Gaza war: rocket from Yemen strikes Tel Aviv, injures 16

The strike comes days after Israeli air strikes hit Houthi rebels launched missiles in solidarity with Palestinians.

21 Dec 2024 - 10:19PM

Residents stand near the scene of a missile attack in Tel Aviv, after a missile fired from Yemen hit a playground in Tel Aviv. Photo: EPA-EFE

Politics

Israel and Turkey seize the chance to shape Syria’s future post-Assad

While Turkey backs the HTS regime, Israel is destroying its military capacity and claiming territory – fuelling fears of fragmentation.

21 Dec 2024 - 5:30PM

Middle East

US scraps US$10 million bounty on Syria’s new leader Ahmed al-Sharaa

Top US diplomat for the Middle East Barbara Leaf welcomed ‘positive messages’ from their talks, including a promise to fight terrorism.

21 Dec 2024 - 4:28AM

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Middle East

Israel-Gaza war

Thousands of Israelis leave Israel since October 7 attack

It is possible that 2024 ends with more people leaving than entering, with Spain, Canada and Australia among favoured destinations.

20 Dec 2024 - 11:43PMvideocam

Michael Levy, the brother of Or Levy, 34, who has been held hostage in Gaza since he was abducted during last year’s attack by Hamas, holds a poster of Or during an interview on Tuesday. Photo: Reuters

United States & Canada

International students urged to return to US before Trump inauguration

Amid concerns Trump may again impose travel bans, some university officials worry students from more nations might be hit, including China.

20 Dec 2024 - 10:52PM

Europe

8 dead off Greek island of Rhodes as speedboat carrying migrants capsizes

The boat was carrying out ‘dangerous manoeuvres’ to try to evade a patrol vessel, the coastguard said.

20 Dec 2024 - 10:45PM

Middle East

Video | Syria’s new de facto leader Golani calls on West to lift sanctions

Golani said Syria’s success depends on Western countries lifting sanctions after the fall of the Assad regime.

20 Dec 2024 - 9:10PMvideocam

Photo: SCMP

Open Questions series

China’s rise, potential recession, no WWIII yet: 11 key interviews from 2024

23 Dec 2024 - 2:30PM

Illustration: Victor Sanjinez

Why eco-warrior Ma Jun sees hope for China’s role in Cop29 amid US uncertainty

22 Nov 2024 - 12:38PMvideocam

Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen

Historian on why we aren’t heading towards WWIII yet and how wars have changed

8 Nov 2024 - 12:01AMvideocam

Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen

China’s evolving role in Middle East conflicts, according to an academic

29 Aug 2024 - 10:09AMvideocam

Illustration: Victor Sanjinez

This economist says China’s property oversupply is far from over. Here’s why

6 Aug 2024 - 9:19AMvideocam

Illustration: Victor Sanjinez Garcia

Ex-World Bank economist on why ‘China will not be misled’, dodging Japan’s fate

5 Aug 2024 - 8:16PMvideocam

Illustration: Victor Sanjinez Garcia

China’s rise, potential recession, no WWIII yet: 11 key interviews from 2024

23 Dec 2024 - 2:30PM

Illustration: Victor Sanjinez

Why eco-warrior Ma Jun sees hope for China’s role in Cop29 amid US uncertainty

22 Nov 2024 - 12:38PMvideocam

Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen

Historian on why we aren’t heading towards WWIII yet and how wars have changed

8 Nov 2024 - 12:01AMvideocam

Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen

China’s evolving role in Middle East conflicts, according to an academic

29 Aug 2024 - 10:09AMvideocam

Illustration: Victor Sanjinez

This economist says China’s property oversupply is far from over. Here’s why

6 Aug 2024 - 9:19AMvideocam

Illustration: Victor Sanjinez Garcia

Ex-World Bank economist on why ‘China will not be misled’, dodging Japan’s fate

5 Aug 2024 - 8:16PMvideocam

Illustration: Victor Sanjinez Garcia

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