All Middle East
- Afghan official: Taliban attack German consulate, killing 4The Taliban issued a statement saying they had sent suicide attackers to the consulate.
Why the Trump White House may not change much in SyriaDespite the president-elect's campaign-trail promise to 'knock out ISIS,' experts say that Trump's options in Syria are already limited.
How Turkey's arrest of Kurdish lawmakers risks further civil strifeThe Turkey-Kurdish peace process that Erdo臒an once championed hits a new low, felled by Syria's conflict and his own ambition.
First LookIsrael declines invitation to Paris Middle East peace conferenceIsrael rejected an invitation from France to a Middle East peace conference in Paris later this year, saying that it wanted to engage in direct talks with the Palestinians.
Egypt tiptoes toward a 'breaking point'Another Arab Spring? Not likely. But Egyptians' frustration is rising over President Sisi's heavy hand and a faltering economy. Sisi floated the currency on Thursday under pressure from the IMF, with which Egypt is negotiating a loan.
In deeply divided Israel, Jewish and Arab women build case for peaceAt a time when peace is not high on the Israeli public agenda, Women Wage Peace unites Arab and Jewish activists with a simple demand: that leaders just 'reach an agreement.'
America's modest success in Syria, and why it's under threatThe US and its Arab partners have had some success backing rebels in southern Syria. But if the Assad regime wins in Aleppo, it could turn toward the south 鈥� changing the complexion of the war.聽
First LookTurkey coup crackdown widens as government detains journalistsIn a growing crackdown in the aftermath of an attempted coup, Turkey has detained the editor and at least a dozen senior staffers of a major opposition newspaper.聽
In Lebanon vote, counting skills and glass ballot box make all the differenceMichel Aoun became Lebanon's president Monday. At one point, 128 parliamentarians voted, even though only 127 were present. 聽
First LookWhat role is Iran playing in the Mosul offensive?Iranian-backed militias have entered the fight to retake Mosul from ISIS. Has the Iraqi military learned any lessons from previous battles with ISIS?
Reclaiming Mosul: concerns run high about the politics of the 'day after'As Iraqi forces move to retake the city from ISIS, analysts warn that 鈥� in contrast to military lessons learned 鈥� the Shiite ruling elite is not doing enough to include a disenfranchised Sunni minority, whose anger helped feed the growth of ISIS.
UN: Syria school attack may be potential war crimeU.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said that the attack, carried out against rebel-held territory, may amount to a war crime if found to be deliberate.
How Lebanon ended lengthy power vacuum and elected Michel AounPolitical wrangling left Lebanon without a president for 2-1/2 years, until Monday's vote. Mr. Aoun is a former Army commander and a leading ally of the Iran-backed Hezbollah party.- First LookBattle for Mosul: UN, aid organizations brace for humanitarian challengeThe UN's refugee agency says it will soon have enough shelters for 150,000 people聽fleeing Mosul, as Iraqi and Kurdish forces battle to retake the city from the Islamic State.
- US service member killed by roadside bomb in northern IraqU.S. officials said the American was fatally wounded as he was operating as an explosive ordnance disposal specialist in support of Kurdish Peshmerga fighters.
First LookTurkey strikes US-backed Kurdish militias battling ISIS in northern SyriaThe air strikes underscore deep tension between Turkey and the United States, which are NATO allies, united in their opposition to the so-called Islamic State but divided on the Kurds.
First LookSaudi prince executed for murder. Justice or just more bloodshed?Some see the death sentence as proof that Saudi Arabian law applies to everyone, but the news comes as human rights groups have condemned a surge in executions.
Russia, Syria halt Aleppo airstrikes for 'humanitarian pause'Moscow on Monday announced a halt in airstrikes between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Thursday to allow civilians and militants safe passage out of the city.
Iraq launches Mosul offensive to drive out Islamic StateThe Pentagon said that Iraqi forces were meeting objectives and were ahead of schedule on the first day of the offensive.
In battle to retake Mosul, Iraq launches biggest Islamic State offensive yetSome Iraqi officials worry that the Mosul fight has been rushed and if the city is retaken without a plan to broker a peace, it could lead to more violence.
