All Middle East
First LookIslamic extremists target mosque frequented by Sufis in Egypt attackMembers of an extremist group affiliated with the Islamic State militant group have聽been waging a stepped-up campaign of violence in northern Sinai for years, but this was the first major militant attack on a Muslim mosque.
Amongst Bedouins, modern life blunts demand for ancient daggersIn Jordan, desert tribesmen have been using their shibriya聽daggers for centuries to cut their vegetables, shear their sheep, and kill their enemies. But modern lifestyles and Chinese imports are threatening the livelihood of the few blacksmiths who know how to make them.
First LookISIS loses its last major territory in IraqUS-supported Iraqi forces reclaimed the last Islamic State-held town. Operations will continue to retake Iraq鈥檚 western desert and the border area with Syria.
Why Jordanian mothers still can't give citizenship to their childrenJordan recently has made significant strides on women's rights. But children in Jordan whose fathers are not citizens are denied basic rights.
Why Shiite pilgrimage to Karbala had special meaning this yearOver the years, the Shiite pilgrimage to the shrine of Imam Hussein in Karbala, Iraq 鈥� bigger than the hajj 鈥� has been a frequent target of Sunni militants, including ISIS. But the faithful keep coming, and ISIS is in retreat.
First LookIran-Iraq earthquake topples state-constructed buildingsThe Iran-Iraq earthquake devastated the town of Sarpol-e-Zahab, including many of the town's newest buildings. President Hassan Rouhani is calling for an investigation into why the recently built state-constructed buildings fell so easily.
In Israel's north, seeking a measure of calm as Mideast tensions spikeIn the press are dire warnings that Saudi Arabia is angling to get Israel to attack Hezbollah as a proxy in the kingdom's conflict with its regional rival, Iran. But along Israel's quiet northern border, hopeful residents say little on the ground has changed.
First LookAs Saudis reopen borders with Yemen, rebels promise retaliationIn the face of widespread international criticism for putting civilians at risk of starvation, Saudi Arabia began reopening sea and airports with new monitoring programs to stop the flow of Iranian weapons into the hands of rebels.聽
First LookIran bears the brunt of powerful earthquake on Iraq borderA 7.3-magnitude earthquake, powerful enough to be felt on the Mediterranean coast some 660 miles away,聽struck the Iran-Iraq border Sunday evening,聽killing more than 400 people.
First LookHezbollah leader says Saudi Arabia has declared war on LebanonHezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah has accused Saudi Arabia of detaining and forcing the resignation of Lebanese Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri, saying the accusations amount to a聽declaration of war. US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson strongly backs Lebanon's independence, says there is no evidence of Hariri's detainment.
Are stunning Saudi corruption arrests about reforms or power? Yes.Saudi Arabia's young crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, has instituted an array of moderate reforms even as he has moved quickly to quiet dissent and marginalize his rivals. The bold arrest of Saudi 'untouchables' on corruption charges is no exception.
Hariri's shock resignation: What Saudis gain, and Lebanon could loseSeemingly summoned from Beirut, the Lebanese premier announced his resignation in Riyadh, reading anti-Iran remarks that Hezbollah dismissed as a 'Saudi text.' At stake for Lebanon as the regional rivals collide is its hard-won stability.
First LookISIS strongholds in Syria fall to government forcesThe self-declared ISIS caliphate continues to shrink as Syrian forces pushed ISIS militants out of the city of Deir el-Zour, one of the last ISIS strongholds in Syria. In Iraq, government聽troops are keeping up the fight in Qaim, a border town used by ISIS to traffic weapons.聽
First LookIran declares US 'number one enemy'In a televised speech聽Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei decried US hostility towards Iran and bullying on the international stage and accused President Trump of supporting terrorism in the Middle East.
First LookNewly released documents of bin Laden raise questions about IranFiles of the 2011 raid that killed Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden suggests links between Iranian funded extremist network and the Sept. 11 attacks.聽
Afghan girls' education: islands of progress in a sea of adversityAt a school in Kabul, the girls' aspirations could not be higher. But as the Taliban advance in still deeply conservative Afghanistan, concerns mount that education trends among girls have begun to reverse.
First LookRussian proposed peace talks met with opposition in SyriaRussia's proposal to sponsor peace negotiations for Syria to bring together Assad's government, rebel forces, and Syrian Kurdish leadership drew strong objections from anti-Assad forces and Turkey, which have called for UN oversight on any negotiations.聽
First LookIn response to independence vote, Iraq deploys troops to Kurdish-controlled borderIraqi forces have re-established control at the border crossing with Turkey, a stretch of land that has been under Kurdish authority since 2003. The contested border includes a major oil pipeline that holds economic significance for both Iraq and the Kurds, deepening tensions.聽
First LookKurdish leader resigns amid tensions over independence voteIraqi Kurdish leader Masoud Barzani announced his resignation as leader of the Kurdish region of Iraq. Since the independence vote, the region has seen violence, unrest, and military actions by Iraqi forces as the central government attempts to regain control.聽
First LookMoving deeper into Syria's desert, ISIS appears to be regroupingThe Sunni militant group may have lost 90 percent of its land, but many experts say that聽this territorial defeat will not mark the end of ISIS.
