All Middle East
First LookIn a surprise move, Ahmadinejad says he鈥檚 running for president again in IranThe decision comes against recommendations from the nation's聽Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.聽
First LookISIS weakens: most of the territory it took over in Iraq has been secured by Iraqi forcesThe Islamic State once controlled 40 percent of the country, but that percentage has whittled to about 7 percent after extensive military operations.聽
US strike sends message to Syria: what it didn't sayThe Tomahawk cruise missiles fired at a Syrian air base were a clear message to Assad from President Trump that the use of chemical weapons would not be tolerated. They did not signal support for regime change.
First LookIn wake of Syria airstrike, approval and criticism from US allies, rivalsThe United States' traditional allies, along with supporters of the Syrian opposition, welcomed the surprise airstrike on Syrian military facilities, while Russia and Iran condemned it.
First Look'Heinous' chemical attack kills dozens in Syria, US blames Assad, as aid workers scramble to helpTuesday's attack is being described as the worst chemical attack since a 2013 chemical assault left hundreds dead.
Lebanon鈥檚 dual approach to Syrian refugees: the personal and politicalEven as Prime Minister Hariri canvasses Europe for investment to rescue Lebanon's overburdened infrastructure, grass-roots efforts work to improve the quality of individual lives.
How 'anti-terror' information sharing soured German-Turkish relationsWhen Turkey shared with Berlin a list of 300 names and 200 organizations in Germany that Ankara was spying on, it sparked a strong response from Germany.
Would Israeli bill squelching mosque calls violate freedom of religion?Israel's parliament is considering two bills that would silence mosque loudspeakers, at least during night hours, on the grounds that they cause an unnecessary noise disturbance.
US-Turkey deal on ISIS assault? Why that's a tough sell for Tillerson.On the secretary of State's agenda in Ankara Thursday is the Raqqa, Syria, offensive. But his real challenge is Turkey's disappointment that Trump's election hasn't brought a new alignment of US and Turkish interests.
On display at Arab Summit: division and declining influenceArab leaders are gathered in Jordan, but the region's main movers and shakers 鈥� Iran, Russia, and Turkey 鈥� are absent, a telling sign that the Arab League's influence over events and its own citizens has waned.
After ISIS: For Iraqis, reconciliation in Mosul will be challenging, and vitalThe goal of post-ISIS reconciliation in multi-ethnic Mosul is to avoid the sectarian fighting and Sunni disenfranchisement that helped spawn the jihadist movement and spread its reach in the first place.
First LookLegendary tomb of Jesus resurrectedA Greek restoration team has completed its renovation of the Edicule where, according to 海角大神 tradition, Jesus was buried after his crucifixion.
'Apartheid': How one word reignited UN tensions over IsraelA UN report used the word 'apartheid' to describe Israeli policies in Palestinian territories, in a first for the organization. But amid uproar from the US and Israel, the report has since been pulled.
Has Iran's success in Syria made it an arena for longer-term conflict?Having spent heavily to preserve its geopolitical link to Hezbollah, Iran appears to be settling in for a long presence in Syria. That has caught the attention of the US and Israel, which fears a widening of its Southern Lebanon front to the Golan Heights.
Is this the end of Turkey's flirtation with Europe?It wasn't long ago that Turkey and Europe earnestly sought to forge a common future. But the exchange of accusations between the two, rooted in Erdo臒an's effort to empower his presidency, may have pushed the relationship to a point of no return.
How far will Erdo臒an go in fanning Turkey's diplomatic crisis with Europe?Turkey's President Erdo臒an lashed out at the Dutch for blocking rallies aimed at garnering support from Turkish voters abroad ahead of an April referendum on his presidential powers. While that plays well at home, he may not want to push too hard, given close economic ties and shared interests.
Why Turkey鈥檚 feud with the Dutch is good for nationalists 鈥� on both sidesDutch anti-Islam candidate Geert Wilders and Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdo臒an聽are both angling for electoral advantages as they exchange harsh words.聽
For students at an American university in Iraq, travel ban debate is keenly feltIraq was removed from the revised executive order President Trump signed this week. But at an American-founded school that aims to produce Iraq's next generation of leaders, the issue has tested perceptions of the US.
First LookBuried treasure: huge statue of Egyptian king unearthed in Cairo neighborhoodArchaeologists say the 26-foot tall statue is聽likely a depiction of Pharaoh Ramses II, considered the most powerful ruler of ancient Egypt.
First LookIsrael wants Arab neighbors to turn down volume on call to prayerArab Israelis say a bill being reviewed by Israel's parliament would take unfair aim at the Muslim call to prayer.
