Middle East

Middle East to get its first Trump Tower

Inspired by the legendary Trump Tower Penthouse in New York, the luxury apartments will feature floor-to-ceiling windows offering panoramic views of Dubai’s skyline with prices expected to start at approximately $700,000.

May 2, 2025

How Iran circumvents sanctions via Indonesia

The relative ease with which Iran smuggles passenger aircraft through Indonesia reflects a broader reluctance on the part of the country’s political and security institutions to curb such activities.

May 2, 2025

Fall of Assad put an end to Iran’s plan to take control of Syria – report

Iran's strategy, which was unveiled in hundreds of contracts, letters, and infrastructure plans, was intended to recoup expenses Iran had spent to support President Bashar al-Assad and satisfy Iran's imperial ambitions.

May 1, 2025

Syrian Druze call on international assistance amid violent attacks

This plea follows the murder of Hussam Warwar, the mayor of the Druze community of Sahnaya, and his son.

May 1, 2025

US backs Israel’s ban on UNRWA Gaza aid operations at World Court

Since March 2, Israel has completely cut off all supplies to the 2.3 million residents of the Gaza Strip, and food stockpiled during a ceasefire at the start of the year has all but run out.

May 1, 2025

Lebanese army pushing Hezbollah out of Israeli frontier area, Beirut claims

Lebanon’s president says his country’s army is working to implement the November ceasefire with Israel, with Beirut now controlling 85% of southern Lebanon, amid claims the army has dismantled 90% of Hezbollah’s infrastructure on the Israeli frontier.

May 1, 2025

‘Iran will pay’ for backing Houthis, Trump’s defense chief vows

US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth castigates Iran over its aid to Yemenite Houthis, vows Tehran will suffer from American reprisal.

May 1, 2025

Iran executes alleged top ‘Israeli spy’ linked to assassination of Iranian officer

Man accused by Iran of spying on behalf of Israel's Mossad intelligence agency and aiding in the daring assassination of a Revolutionary Guard Corps officer in Tehran executed.

April 30, 2025

Trump losing support among US Jews over talks with Iran

Majority of American Jews back military strikes on Iran’s nuclear program should talks fail to secure a new agreement, poll finds.

April 28, 2025

Iran deflects massive cyberattack after port explosion, Tehran claims

Tehran claims major cyberattack attempted against Iranian infrastructure one day after massive explosion at port leaves dozens dead, hundreds injured.

April 28, 2025

Tomb of revered 16th century Kabbalist desecrated in Syria

Born in Tzefat in 1542, Rabbi Chaim Vital became the principal student of Rabbi Isaac Luria, known as the Arizal, the father of modern Kabbalah.

April 27, 2025

Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani

Qatar sabotaged hostage deal, encouraged Hamas to wait for better terms – report

Multiple Israeli media reports claim that Qatari mediators encouraged Hamas to reject an Egyptian compromise proposal, suggesting a better deal could be reached if they held out despite Israeli military pressure.

April 27, 2025

PA leader Abbas names deputy in bid to reassure world powers

Born in 1960, Sheikh is a veteran of Fatah — the main PLO faction founded by Arafat and now led by Abbas — and is widely seen as a pragmatist with strong ties to Israel.

April 27, 2025

US discusses removing sanctions on Iran in 3rd round of nuclear talks

According to media reports, one of the key issues in the expert-level negotiations will be whether Washington will allow Iran to continue uranium enrichment within the framework of its nuclear program.

April 27, 2025

36,000 Gazans have left the Strip, per report

Currently, only sick and wounded Palestinians who will receive medical treatment abroad, along with their family members, Gazans with dual citizenship, and those who manage to obtain visas to third countries are legally permitted to leave.

April 27, 2025

Massive explosion at Iranian port kills 40, injures over 1,000

An aerial shot released by Iranian media after the blast showed fires burning at multiple locations in the port, with authorities later warning about air pollution from chemicals such as ammonia, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide in the air.

April 26, 2025

Hamas steals 20-40% of Gaza civilians’ salaries

With unreliable internet, poor digital infrastructure, and inconsistent pricing, many Gazans appear to see the cashless push as unrealistic.

April 26, 2025

Houthi rebels have shot down 7 US Reaper drones worth $200 million in recent weeks

The sophisticated drones, built by General Atomics, cost about $30 million each, and generally fly at altitudes of more than 40,000 feet (12,100 meters).

April 25, 2025

Baku-Damascus oil talks may bring Syria closer to normalizing ties with Israel

If Azerbaijan, which supplies a third of Israel’s energy, controls gas or oil fields in Syria, it could theoretically export it easily over the border.

April 24, 2025

Iran fortifying buried nuclear sites as talks with US continue, report says

Images taken on March 29 showed hardened entrances to the complexes, high wall panels erected along the verges of a graded road encircling the mountain peak, and excavations for the installation of more panels.

April 24, 2025

Jordan bans all Muslim Brotherhood operations

Last week, Jordan said it had arrested 16 people accused of manufacturing short-range missiles, possessing explosives and automatic weapons, concealing a ready-to-use missile, and illegally recruiting and training people.

April 23, 2025

Report: Syria’s new government arrests leaders of Palestinian terror group

Two terrorists from the Palestinian Islamic Jihad's operations in Syria were reportedly arrested by the new regime, which has also cracked down weapons smuggling by the group's sponsor, Iran.

April 22, 2025

Gazan who accused Hamas of rape arrested for spying for Israel

The report stated that the man had criticized Hamas on social media via a fake account.

April 21, 2025

Harming Iran’s oil exports to China is ‘dramatic blow’

Iran remains heavily dependent on oil revenues, which constitute 60-70% of its state budget.

April 20, 2025

No decision made on Israeli strikes on Iran’s nuke facilities, says FM

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar denies reports Israel has decided carry out strike on Iranian nuclear program next month, says Jerusalem still open to diplomatic path to resolve crisis.

April 20, 2025

‘Yes to love, no to terrorism’: Anti-Hamas protests reignite in Gaza despite Hamas threats and violence

A recent poll from the Institute for Social and Economic Progress showed that only 6 percent of Gazans want Hamas to exclusively rule the enclave after the war.

April 20, 2025

US, Iran make headway in Rome nuclear negotiations

Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer and Mossad Director David Barnea reportedly met with Witkoff in Paris ahead of the Rome talks and were present in the Italian capital during the weekend negotiations.

April 20, 2025

Iran ‘not far’ from nuclear bomb, atomic watchdog chief warns

With indirect nuclear talks between US and Iran set to continue in Oman this weekend, International Atomic Energy Agency chief Rafael Grossi visits Iran, warning Tehran’s atomic program is closing in on nuclear weapons capabilities.

April 17, 2025

Report: Hundreds of Hezbollah commanders ordered to flee Lebanon

Hezbollah issued the order due to fears that commanders could be targeted if and when the organization’s military infrastructure is dismantled.

April 17, 2025

‘Nonnegotiable’ – Iran rejects US demand to freeze uranium enrichment

After Trump envoy toughens position, insisting Iran must halt all nuclear activities - including civilian program - Tehran fires back that its uranium enrichment efforts are not up for negotiation.

April 16, 2025

Jordan arrests 16 people with Hamas connections for plotting to destabilize kingdom

The individuals connected to Hamas were found to have been manufacturing missiles with materials obtained from abroad and possessing explosives.

April 15, 2025

Iranian officials warned Khamenei: Rejecting nuclear talks with US could threaten regime’s survival

Talks between the US and Iran are expected to begin on Saturday night in Oman.

April 13, 2025

Yemen gathering 80,000 troops to destroy Houthis

'I believe we may be approaching the final chapter for the Houthis,' Gulf researcher says.

April 13, 2025

Iran says external threats could lead it to suspend cooperation with UN nuclear watchdog

'Transferring enriched material to safe and undisclosed locations in Iran could also be on the agenda,' an adviser to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei wrote.

April 11, 2025

Israel would ‘lead’ strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, says Trump

'Israel will obviously be very much involved in' strikes on Iran's nuclear centers, Trump says, adding that Jerusalem will 'be the leader of that.'

April 10, 2025

Indonesia offers to fly wounded, orphaned Gazans out of Strip

Indonesia had received 'many requests' to take a more active part in resolving the Gaza crisis, President Prabowo Subianto added without elaboration.

April 9, 2025

Iran’s water crisis threatens the regime

Two of the main catalysts for the crisis are 'poor management of the water sector,' as well as a population growth of more than 250% in only 50 years.

April 9, 2025

Preparing for war? Iran transfers long-range missiles to Iraq

According to the report, the transfer marked the first time that Iran provided advanced missiles to its Iraqi proxies.

April 9, 2025

Hezbollah: We’ll disarm if Israel stops strikes, withdraws troops

Many Lebanese, including prominent politicians, are pressuring Hezbollah to disarm after the destruction caused by recent fighting between Israel and the terror group.

April 9, 2025

Iran-backed terror groups in Iraq prepare to lay down their arms following Trump’s threats

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani is ordering 50,000 terrorist members of the Islamic Resistance in Iraq to disarm and give over their arsenals, including long-range missiles and anti-aircraft weapons.

April 8, 2025

College student dies trying to raise PLO flag

A 21-year-old college student in Tunisia fell while attempting to raise a Palestinian flag at a university building, suffering a fatal injury.

April 8, 2025

Iran confirms negotiations with US, but denies Trump’s claim of ‘direct talks’

Iran confirms Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi will negotiate with Trump envoy Steve Witkoff, but pushes back on President Trump's claim of direct talks between Iran and US.

April 8, 2025

Trump envoy denounces Hezbollah as a ‘cancer,’ demands it disarm

President Trump’s deputy special envoy for Middle East Peace Morgan Ortagus says Iranian-backed Hezbollah is a cancer that must be cut out.

April 8, 2025

Trump lauds ‘very smart’ Erdogan for ‘taking over’ Syria, says he’ll fix Israel’s ‘problem’ with Turkey

Assuaging Israeli concerns over Turkish influence in Syria, Trump says he can mediate between Jerusalem and Ankara.

April 8, 2025

Palestinian site mocked for post of TV doctor coming to Gaza

She played Dr. Izzie Stevens on the ABC television medical drama from 2005 to 2010.

April 7, 2025

Israel preparing for massive Iranian attack in near future – Report

Israel is preparing for a potential large-scale missile attack from Iran, as security coordination with the U.S. continues to grow, says Israeli official.

April 7, 2025

Khameini orders high alert for Iran’s military – report

Khamenei issued a warning to Iraq, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Turkey, and Bahrain that any support for a US attack or allowing the US military to use their air space would be interpreted as an act of hostility against Iran.

April 6, 2025

Revealed: Hamas requested huge sum of money from Iran to ‘destroy Israel’ on Oct 7th

Israeli intelligence shows that even if Iran was uncertain of the precise plans, Hamas could not have created so much devastation without Iranian funding.

April 6, 2025

Ankara not seeking fight with Israel in Syria, Turkish FM says

A Qatari report suggested that Ankara has reached an agreement with the new regime in Damascus over the establishment of several Turkish military bases in Syria.

April 6, 2025

Syria has over 100 chemical weapons depots under control of new regime, watchdog group warns

Chemical weapons watchdog group warns that the new Islamist regime in Syria likely has more than 100 chemical weapons sites under its control, holdovers from the deposed Assad regime.

April 6, 2025

US delivers advanced missile defense systems to Israel

Saudi report claims US transfers multiple air defense missile battery systems to Israel amid attacks by Yemenite Houthis and against backdrop of saber-rattling between US and Iran.

April 6, 2025

Can Trump help Qatar redeem itself? – analysis

Regardless of the value of such Qatari assistance, the core support it provides designated terror groups must stop.

April 5, 2025

Qatar, Netanyahu deny any wrongdoing in ‘Qatargate’ scandal

Netanyahu announced that he is suing former defense minister and IDF chief of staff Moshe Ya’alon over accusations that the premier accepted money from Qatar.

April 4, 2025

An unspoken alliance to challenge Erdoğan is forming between Israel, Egypt, Greece, France, and the UAE

Countering Erdoğan is not just about military pressure; it is about economic and diplomatic warfare.

April 4, 2025

Investigation finds Iran’s biggest crypto scam was scammed by its own government

Court documents cited in the report reveal Mehdi Hajipour and Mehdi Badi, senior interrogators in the IRGC’s economic branch, orchestrated the entire scheme.

April 3, 2025

President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

War with Iran is ‘almost inevitable’ if no nuke deal reached, France warns

US weighs indirect talks with Tehran after Iran rejected direct negotiations.

April 3, 2025

Iran has ‘several hundred’ missiles left in its arsenal

Iran has also built a network of tunnels under heavy concrete around the country, where they store all the missiles and can rapidly deploy them aboveground and retreat when necessary.

April 3, 2025