All Middle East
First LookIsrael declares war, promises 鈥榮teps鈥� in retaliation for attack by HamasThe declaration on Sunday portended greater fighting ahead as the toll from Hamas鈥檚 unprecedented incursion out of Gaza passed 1,100 dead and thousands wounded on both sides.
First LookHamas rockets and deadly incursion shock Israel. Sides talk of 鈥榳ar.鈥�In an early morning attack, Hamas militants broke out of the blockaded Gaza Strip and into Israeli towns as far as 15 miles away, killing hundreds and abducting others in the deadliest attack in Israel in decades. Israel launched airstrikes in Gaza, vowing to inflict an 鈥渦nprecedented price.鈥�
After Beirut blast, community brings historic photo studio back to lifeIf the 2020 Beirut port blast symbolized government neglect, the local community鈥檚 rebirth has been a story of cooperation and generosity. One beneficiary: a tiny photo studio, with images of a bygone era.
First LookTurkey strikes Kurdish targets in Iraq after Ankara suicide bombingTurkish warplanes attacked suspected Kurdish rebels in northern Iraq on Sunday, just hours after Turkey鈥檚 capital was struck by a suicide attack on a government building. Kurdish separatists have waged a violent struggle against Turkey for decades.
Tunisian beekeepers battle extreme heat to keep the buzz aliveSearing heat, wildfires, and drought all present worsening challenges for Tunisia鈥檚 agricultural sector. For keepers of the nation鈥檚 precious bees, increased resourcefulness is required.
How Lebanese people survive the 鈥榥ormalization of misery鈥�The resolve and optimism of Lebanon鈥檚 2019 鈥渞evolution鈥� have given way to a grim struggle to survive, modestly bolstered by handouts of aid. Facing social inequities and nonresponsive elites, how do people manage?
First LookPreventable flood? Experts in Libya warned of dam collapse for years.Despite Libya鈥檚 oil wealth, the country鈥檚 infrastructure has largely been ignored because of political chaos and corruption. Experts had warned of the dams near Derna for years, but no action was taken, resulting in the deaths of more than 11,000 residents.
鈥業s there any bread left?鈥� The answer in Tunisia is often no.An economic crisis has left Tunisians scrambling for bread. With the government unable to pay for imported wheat, what is needed, economists say, is for the populist president to find the courage to enact reforms.
At oldest Palestinian camp in Lebanon, violence adds to strugglesAn eruption of violence has brought into sharp focus the plight of Lebanon鈥檚 Palestinians, who for decades have lived in crowded camps. Yet individuals strive to maintain dignity and hope.
Floods, fires, failure: North Africa鈥檚 climate and governance crisesLibya鈥檚 divided government struggles to respond in the aftermath of unprecedented floods that have left thousands dead and even more missing.
Can Saudi-Israel peace talks learn lessons from the past?Thirty years after the ill-fated Oslo Middle East peace deal was signed, a new generation of negotiators should recall that political leadership is key.
Historic struggle over democracy lands in Israel鈥檚 Supreme CourtThe balance of power between Israel鈥檚 judicial and legislative branches is now before the very Supreme Court whose authority the government is seeking to curtail, with arguments invoking the country鈥檚 core democratic values.
First LookCrackdowns rise as Iran braces for anniversary of headscarf protestsIran is trying to prevent further unrest as the anniversary of the death of Mahsa Amini who was detained for a loose headscarf nears. Though some women have forgone the hijab, officials are keeping a close watch on dissenters and academics who support them.
First LookHalted Gaza housing keeps displaced families in perpetual uncertaintyThe rivalry between Gaza鈥檚 Hamas rulers and the internationally recognized Palestinian Authority has halted an Egyptian-funded housing project in the Gaza Strip. The gridlock leaves roughly 2,000 displaced Palestinian families without safe shelter.
First LookBorder closures threaten to sink Palestinian fishing industryFishermen in the Gaza Strip feel caught in the net of Israel鈥檚 border closings this week, stemming from the alleged discovery of explosives being shipped to the occupied Palestinian West Bank. Thousands of Gazan fishermen depend on exports to survive.
Lebanon: What are the intentions of a bolder, stronger Hezbollah?Hezbollah fighters in Lebanon speak with confidence about a war with their foe, Israel. But even as tensions rise, a strategy of restraint is holding.
The ExplainerToo big to fail? The consequences of Egypt鈥檚 economic troubles.From rising migration to daring expressions of political discontent, what it means that Egypt, a country of nearly 113 million people, is nearing economic collapse.
First LookIn Syria, new economic protests take an anti-government turnIn the government-controlled province of Sweida, the heartland of Syria鈥檚 Druze, protests that were initially driven by surging inflation quickly shifted focus, with marchers calling for the fall of the Assad government.
Ambitious Saudi prince plays China card for global entreeSaudi Arabia鈥檚 Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has shaken off his pariah status by spending billions of dollars and forging ties with Beijing.
FocusWhy Palestinian self-government is unraveling under President AbbasMahmoud Abbas, the Palestinians鈥� aging and autocratic president, has been holding together the Palestinian Authority. But with no succession plan in place, predictions of chaos are proliferating.