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Middle East

Middle East
Middle East
The latest news, analysis and opinion on Middle East. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.
last updated:
28 August, 2024
Pope Francis leads the traditional Urbi et Orbi Christmas Day blessing from the central balcony of Saint Peter’s Square. He called for arms to be silenced in war-torn Ukraine and in the Middle East. Photo: EPA-EFE/ANGELO CARCONI
War and conflict

Pope urges ‘all people of all nations’ to silence arms in Christmas address

He called for an end to conflict in Ukraine and the Middle East, singling out Christian communities in the region.

Pakistan

Pakistan stunned by US fears over its missiles, assesses impact on South Asia

Israel-Gaza war

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

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The Netherlands

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

The court found them guilty of public violence, theft, and assault, with one man receiving a six-month sentence stemming from riots surrounding a soccer match.

Police stand guard as Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters light flares at the Dam square, in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, on November 7. Photo: AP
Israel

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.

War and conflict

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

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

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War and conflict

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.

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People gather near a Christmas tree and a flag adopted by the new Syrian rulers, on the day of a protest against the burning of the Christmas tree in Hama, Syria on December 24. Photo: Reuters
Indonesia

What Erdogan’s summit walkout could mean for Prabowo, Indonesia-Turkey ties

Officials deny speculation of a rift even as analysts note Prabowo’s ‘diplomatic gaffe’ could indicate possible missteps in foreign policy.

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.

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China-Middle East relations

China’s diplomatic clout in Mideast at risk as threats build around ally Iran

Trump factor and fall of Assad in Syria will force nations, including China, to reassess ties.

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In October, Chinese President Xi Jinping met Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on the sidelines of the 16th Brics summit in Kazan, Russia. Photo: Xinhua
Israel

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.

Parts of a walkie-talkie that exploded in September. File photo: AP
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.

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.

European Union

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.

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

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.

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A fighter jet maneuvers on the deck of the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower. The US Navy says an F-18 Super Hornet was shot down in an apparent “friendly fire” incident over the Red Sea. File photo: AP
War and conflict

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.

China-Middle East relations

Opinion | Fall of Syria’s Assad narrows China’s diplomatic space in the Middle East

There is too much power in the hands of the US and regional actors like Turkey for China to play a key role.

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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’.

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

War and conflict

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.

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Syria

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.

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Ahmed al-Sharaa, also known as Abu Mohammed al-Golani, speaks at the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus, Syria, on December 8. Photo: AP
European Union

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.

Coastguard officers cover bodies after a speedboat carrying migrants capsized near the island of Rhodes, Greece, on Friday. Photo: AP
Syria

US diplomats visit Syria to meet new rulers, still deemed a terrorist group

Diplomats from the United States have not been to Damascus on a formal mission since the early days of the civil war, which began in 2011.

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Gold in Hong Kong

Local bullion bourse restructures to become Hong Kong Gold Exchange

Friday vote will turn Chinese Gold & Silver Exchange Society into a corporation called Hong Kong Gold Exchange.

War and conflict

US says it doubled number of its troops in Syria before Assad’s fall

Washington has for years said it has some 900 military personnel in Syria as part of international efforts against Isis.

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US soldiers and US Bradley Fighting Vehicles in northeastern Syria in 2012. File photo: AFP
Vladimir Putin

Putin says Russia is ready to compromise with Trump on Ukraine war

Putin also said he was ready to organise another missile launch at Ukraine and see if Western air defence systems could shoot it down.

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Russian President Vladimir Putin answers questions during his annual live broadcast press conference with Russian federal, regional, and foreign media at the Gostiny Dvor forum hall in Moscow. Photo: EPA-EFE
Israel

Israeli strikes hit Yemen’s capital and port city after Houthi missile intercepted

Strikes targeted power stations and an oil terminal in Yemen after a Houthi missile was launched at Israel.

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War and conflict

CNN’s gripping Syria report unravels: freed prisoner was really an intelligence officer

CNN reporter says ‘very difficult to verify information in real time’ after prisoner turned out to be an ex-intelligence officer, not a civilian.

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