All Middle East
First LookIraqis fear loss of Mosul dialect amid ruinsThe Maslawi dialect is a unique form of Arabic that reflects the city's cosmopolitan past. The war against the Islamic State killed thousands of its speakers and caused many more to flee, raising fears it may die out.
First LookPresident Ghani assures Afghans in light of peace deal progressThe US envoy tasked with resolving the 17-year war reports that American and Taliban officials have agreed 鈥� in principle 鈥� to a tentative peace deal. But given that the Taliban stages near-daily attacks against Afghan forces, the country's leader must manage expectations.聽
First LookSinkholes spread across Iran, triggered by drought and excessive pumpingA 30-year drought and over-reliance on ground aquifers聽have caused fissures and massive holes to appear in Iran, threatening vital infrastructure including the international airport, an oil refinery, and a key highway.
Postwar Syria? Arab world moving to bring Damascus back into the fold.If conflict creates opportunity, so does its resolution. Syria's civil war created openings for outside powers Iran and Turkey. But by embracing an eager Syria anew, Arab diplomats are pushing back.
First LookBy running away, Saudi women seek to rebel against male-dominated cultureAfter聽Rahaf al-Qunun made headlines last week for escaping her strict Saudi family and seeking asylum through the internet, another Saudi woman has called out for help via Twitter, this time from within Saudi Arabia.
For Turkey's strongman Erdo臒an, trouble seeing eye to eye with TrumpBehind closed doors (or on the phone), what do world leaders expect to accomplish with each other? In the latest US-Turkish clash over Syria, unmet expectations played a central role.
Iran's Syria war blockbuster: cinema in the service of politicsCan pop culture move politics? The war movie 鈥楧amascus Time鈥� represents the fruit of a long effort by Iranian conservatives to gain supportive voices in the arts. But its impact may be limited.
Arab-Israeli 鈥榩ragmatist鈥� was a big hit. Elections loom as daunting Act II.鈥楿niting in the face of adversity.鈥� 鈥楻eaching across divides.鈥� The value of these political goals seems almost self-evident. But in the rough and tumble of Israeli politics, the animosities and challenges are real.
Prophet, or prattler of the impossible? Israel recalls Amos Oz.
Is it safe for Europe to force Afghan migrants to return home?Safety fears are a primary reason people flee their homes. Now rising violence in Afghanistan, even in Kabul, is calling into question a 2016 agreement for EU countries to forcibly repatriate Afghan migrants.
Syria at war: How departure of US forces opens up a Wild EastSyria's civil war has been especially destructive. How stabilizing has been the minimal US military presence on the ground? The list of local, regional, and global actors affected by a US withdrawal is long.
Tiny Jordan's outsize role fostering interfaith understandingMention religion in the Middle East and what often leaps to mind is conflict: Muslim vs. Jew, Sunni vs. Shiite. But from Jordan, a religious crossroads, comes a forceful call for interfaith harmony.
How Trump鈥檚 announcement of a withdrawal reverberated across SyriaHow deep was the US commitment to its allies in Syria? That question has been asked all along. The Kurds and others knew President Trump favored a US withdrawal. Still, the timing came as a surprise.
Haifa鈥檚 Happy Holidays: Three religions, one giant block partyThe city-funded festival in the blue-collar Israeli port of Haifa brings together 海角大神s, Muslims, and Jews to dance to music performed outdoors, on streets festooned with holiday lights.
For Mideast 海角大神s, US refugee policy puts a damper on ChristmasThe vision of life in America has long been a beacon of hope for 海角大神s in the Arab world. But President Trump's refugee policy has left families in transit to the US torn in two聽鈥� half in, half out.
First LookUS sanctions against Iran unravel Persian rug industryIran's Persian rug industry previously brought in $425 million a year, but with sanctions prohibiting the carpets from being imported to the US and limiting tourists' ability to buy carpets in Iran, many are unsure if the ancient tradition will continue to be profitable.聽
First LookAs wars in Syria and Yemen wind down, conflicts still roil Middle EastWith Syria and Yemen showing signs of ending their armed conflicts soon, the peace that will follow is still deeply uneasy and divided by sectarianism. Economic stagnation and tension between Iran and Saudi Arabia continue to define the region.聽
Israel booms with babies as developed world鈥檚 birth rates plummet. Here鈥檚 why.Israel is not the only developed county to subsidize parenthood, so why is its birthrate an outlier? The centrality of the family is one reason, as are tribalism, nationalism, and the fulfillment of a historic imperative.
First LookPeace talks lead to cease-fire in Yemen, UN chief saysThe civil war in Yemen, lasting more than four years, has left thousands dead in one of the world's worst humanitarian crises. Ending the conflict has been slow, though both sides agreed this week to a province-wide cease-fire in Hodeidah, a principal port on the Red Sea.
First LookIranian hackers target nuclear officials and US federal governmentA recent report by cybersecurity group Certfa identified Charming Kitten, an Iranian hacking group likely backed by the Islamic Republic, is targeting nuclear experts, US officials, and government contractors. The group uses phishing tactics to gain access to email accounts.聽
