All Middle East
First LookIraqi troops mop-up in Mosul after pushing out ISIS strongholdAfter an eight-month operation against the Islamic State in Mosul, the terrorist organization holds less than two square kilometers, supporting claims that the destruction of the iconic al-Nuri Mosque signified the imminent end of IS forces in the city.聽
First LookIraq reclaims Mosul mosque, declares end of ISIS caliphateThe Iraqi military announced Thursday that it has regained control of the historic Grand al-Nuri Mosque from ISIS, claiming its 'fictitious state has fallen.'
Saudi youth move? Why crown prince may struggle to win over young subjects.Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, more an economic reformer than a social one, is charged with helping ensure the House of Saud鈥檚 hold on power.
First LookTurkey to keep Qatar military base despite Arab nations' demandsIn a historic dispute with Qatar, several Arab nations sent the nation a 13-point list including 'steep' diplomatic and political demands. Turkey has refused to comply with the ultimatums and intends to bolster its military presence in Qatar.
Ramadan? There's an app for that.Millions of Muslims worldwide now are using Ramadan apps to help them observe, and revise, centuries-old traditions: when to eat, when to fast, when and how to pray, and how to donate to charity.
First LookISIS destroys Mosul mosque, thought to be act of desperationMembers of the Islamic State group blew up the al-Nuri mosque in Mosul on Wednesday. From one perspective, the loss of the 800-year-old mosque is a historic and religious tragedy. On the other hand, the destruction of Mosul鈥檚 last IS stronghold could signal the group鈥檚 impending collapse.聽
Her recycling project faced long odds in Lebanon. Still, she persisted.In a country whose inability to collect its garbage has, at times, made headlines, a feisty octogenarian has been running a recycling project for more than two decades. Neighbors have noticed.
First LookSaudi line of succession decided by royal decreeSaudi king ends the lingering uncertainty over succession, promoting his son聽Mohammed bin Salman to crown prince and聽deputy prime minister.聽
What Turkey's crackdown on NGOs means for Syrian war reliefA surge in anti-Western sentiment that fed into President Erdo臒an's campaign for broader powers is one factor behind the crackdown. Some NGOs have been closed and their workers expelled, though the need for war relief is undiminished.
First LookProtests in northern Morocco call for king's authority to ease tensionTens of thousands of Moroccans march through the capital in a movement called聽Hirak al Chaabi. Activists call for royal intervention, expressing anger at the government and the king's entourage.- First LookProtests in northern Morocco call for king's authority to ease tensionTens of thousands of Moroccans march through the capital in a movement called聽Hirak al Chaabi. Activists call for royal intervention, expressing anger at the government and the king's entourage.
First LookUN says 300 Raqqa civilians killed in US-led air strikes since MarchThe UN announced that 'excessive air strikes' to help Syria regain control over the city of Raqqa have caused 'staggering loss of civilian life.'
The ExplainerThe state of ISIS: shrinking territory, expanding reachISIS's ambition for an Islamic caliphate has suffered significant setbacks in Iraq and Syria, but analysts warn that a spate of attacks, from Britain to Iran to the Philippines, shows the jihadist group is hardly defeated.
First LookFive attackers fought for ISIS, says Iran Intelligence MinistryAn attack Wednesday on Iran's parliament and the聽tomb of its revolutionary leader, Ayatollah Ruhollah,聽killed 17 people and injured more than 40. Many across the country have suspicions Saudi Arabia had a hand in the siege.
First LookKuwait extends helping hand to Qatar in effort to 鈥榬estore the normal relations鈥�Kuwait鈥檚 emir is engaging Qatar鈥檚 emir in a series of talks intended to mediate a resolution to the disagreement that resulted in strict embargos on Qatar.聽聽
Terror in Tehran: Could attacks change Iran's ISIS strategy?The attacks on two potent symbols,聽parliament and a shrine to Ayatollah Khomeini, were shocking for Iranians. One result, says a Tehran analyst, will be to quiet the internal debate over the value of battling ISIS in Iraq and Syria.
First LookTurkish parliament pushing bill to approve troop deployment in QatarIn response to the greatest unrest in the Gulf region in decades, Turkey is fulfilling its two-year-old promise to reaffirm its military presence in Qatar.
First LookAnxiety in Arab-nation dispute rises with ISIS-claimed attacks in IranWednesday鈥檚 twin attacks in Tehran, Iran, for which the Islamic State has claimed responsibility, adds to widening political gap between Iran and Saudi Arabia.聽
At remote desert garrison in Syria, a US-Iran confrontation is brewingThe Tanf garrison used by the US coalition to train militias to fight ISIS sits on a highway Iran would like to control for its strategic advantage. Forces are gathering and shots have been fired as fundamental interests clash.
First LookUN High Commissioner urges termination of Israeli occupationOn the 50th anniversary of the Six Day War, the United Nations calls for a lasting solution that would benefit both Israelis and Palestinians.
