All Middle East
Reformist view of Iran's Rouhani: 'Yes he can' becomes 'No, he didn't'Hossein Dehbashi once worked to get Hassan Rouhani elected president of Iran. Now, he says, he and other supporters of reforms feel taken for granted.
FocusGen. Soleimani: A new brand of Iranian hero for nationalist timesNot a Shiite religious figure and not a martyr, Qassem Soleimani, the living commander of Iran's elite Qods Force, has been elevated to hero status.
FocusTo enlist Iran's youth, Islamic Republic adds a nationalist pitchGlorified religious sacrifice, a staple of the regime's efforts to secure its citizens' support, is giving way to an updated appeal to Iran's youth.
Diplomats aim for temporary Syria truce in a weekJohn Kerry hailed the results but noted they were "commitments on paper." It was not clear if deep and festering differences between the US and Russia on these issues could be overcome.
Syrian war: It took time, but Russia was game-changer for AssadThousands of rebel fighters are on the verge of being surrounded by pro-regime forces in Aleppo, Syria's largest city. For that, Assad can thank Russia's intervention.
Under Russian fire, Syrian rebels blame West for abandoning their fightAmid a Russian-backed regime offensive in Aleppo, rebel factions in Syria say they face defeat without imminent military aid from the US, Turkey, and other allies.
Rising tensions? Iranian drone spies on US warshipThe Jan. 12 reconnaissance flight by the Iranian Shahed drone was the latest in a series of tense naval encounters between the US Navy and the Islamic republic's military.
Amid Syrian refugee exodus, Turkey's open door swings shutTens of thousands of Syrians are fleeing a Russian-backed offensive in Aleppo. Turkish aid groups are providing food and shelter to those trapped over the border.聽
To counter Iranian rival, Saudi Arabia steps up Washington lobbyingSaudi officials feel slighted by the Obama administration's pursuit of a nuclear agreement with Iran. In a shift, Saudi lobbyists are targeting Congress and news organizations.聽
Turkey: Reaching limits but will keep taking in refugeesUp to 35,000 Syrians have massed on the Turkish border, which has been closed for three days, authorities say, and a possible siege of the major city of Aleppo could send thousands more in the coming days.
UAE says ready to support anti-Islamic State coalition with troopsSeveral other聽Sunni Muslim states, including Saudi Arabia, say they are ready to participate in ground operations against the IS, but the UAE's foreign minister says American leadership "is a pre-requisite."
Turkey faces pressure as thousands of Syrians gather at borderAs many as 35,000 Syrians have massed along Turkey's closed border. Will the country give into pressure to open the border?
Afghanistan meeting ends with call for talks with TalibanAfghanistan, Pakistan, the US and China concluded their聽talks aimed at ending Afghanistan's 15-year Saturday with a call for direct negotiations between the government and the Taliban by the end of February.
Shrill wind from Israel: Does it risk alienating its allies?Even as Israel loudly tangles with Sweden, the UN, and the US envoy, Netanyahu is quietly trying to 'muddle through' amid signs of eroding US diplomatic cover.
Syrian peace talks to take 'temporary pause' as government nears AleppoThe United Nations on Wednesday declared a halt to peace talks in the Syrian civil war.聽The delay reflects the rocky start of the talks two days before.
Jerusalem violence: Israel says it thwarts attack at tourist siteThree heavily armed Palestinians and an Israeli security officer were killed in the clash outside the Old City's Damascus Gate.
Islamic State: Why family fled capital of the caliphate for 'land of infidels'Syrians are finding it increasingly difficult to leave Raqqa, but airstrikes and inflation make life hard. Even those who side with the jihadists are ready to flee.
In Iran, fierce political winds buffet a grandson of the revolutionAmid a wave of maneuvering by Iranian hard-liners, Seyyed Hassan Khomeini has been disqualified for election to a powerful political body.
For Israeli-Palestinian interaction, a new venue: the Arab doctor's officeAs a more ambitious Palestinian middle class seeks to integrate, the number of those pursuing medical careers is surging.
Israeli professors shunned as global boycott grows. Right target?Israeli universities are widely seen as liberal bastions, and their professors are some of the most vocal government critics.
