Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Qatar condemn Israeli policy at Gaza-Egypt border crossing

Australia hits Afghan Taliban officials with sanctions, travel bans

SYDNEY, Dec 6 (Reuters) - Australia on Saturday imposed financial sanctions and travel bans on four officials in Afghanistan's Taliban government over what it said was a deteriorating human rights situation in the country, especially for women and girls. Australia's Foreign

Canada removes Syria from its list of foreign state supporters of terrorism

OTTAWA, Dec 5 (Reuters) - The Canadian government said on Friday that it has removed Syria from its list of foreign state supporters of terrorism and removed Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the group that spearheaded the rebel alliance that helped oust President Bashar al-Assad, from its

Iran’s new military drills near disputed islands ratchet up tensions with UAE

By combining high-tech capabilities, publicized warnings to foreign vessels and historical framing of territorial sovereignty, Tehran is seeking to assertively position itself in a dispute that has resisted resolution for decades.

France reportedly seeks to extend UNIFIL mandate in Lebanon, expand its authority

The French initiative aims to expand UNIFIL's authority to monitor both the Lebanese-Israeli and Lebanese-Syrian borders, with discussions also considering U.K. involvement in border monitoring infrastructure, according to a report by a Hezbollah-affiliated Lebanese news outlet

US strategy document names Iran 'chief' destabilizer, calls Syria 'potential problem'

The document frames US engagement as shifting away from energy and conflict and toward broader economic and defense partnerships.

Lebanon president says country does not want war with Israel

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun on Friday told a United Nations Security Council delegation his country does not want war with Israel, days after civilian representatives from both sides held their first talks in decades. Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem, whose militant group refuses

Palestinians say Israeli army killed man in occupied West Bank

The Ramallah-based Palestinian health ministry said that Israeli forces killed a man in the northern occupied West Bank on Friday. "Bahaa Abdel-Rahman Rashid (38 years old) was killed by Israeli fire in the town of Odala, south of Nablus," the health ministry said in a

'Amazing' figurines find in Egyptian tomb solves mystery

A treasure trove of 225 funerary figurines have been discovered inside a tomb in the ancient Egyptian capital of Tanis in the Nile Delta, a rare find that has also solved a long-running mystery. "Finding figurines in place inside a royal tomb has not happened in the Tanis

Eurovision faces budget squeeze after walkouts over Israel

By Olivia Le Poidevin, Johnny Cotton and Cecile Mantovani GENEVA, Dec 5 (Reuters) - The Eurovision Song Contest was facing a potential budget squeeze after Spain, the Netherlands, Ireland and Slovenia said they would withdraw from next year's competition in protest at Israel's

In blood-soaked Israel-Palestine, the dangerous status quo of before October 7 has returned

U.S. President Trump promises Hamas disarmament and IDF withdrawal from Gaza are on the horizon – but ultimately, the fate of Israelis and Palestinians is now in the hands of Gulf monarchs

Rebuilding Gaza is also Egypt's battle to boost its standing in the whole Middle East

For Cairo, reconstruction isn't just an act of philanthropy for Gaza's 2 million people, it's part of its national-security concept that fears an invasion by hundreds of thousands of Palestinian refugees

Palestinians say that contrary to hasbara claims, Gaza's Al-Shifa Hospital is 'far from fully operational'

On social media, pro-Israel influencers circulated videos of the restored maternity ward at Al-Shifa Hospital to cast doubt upon the complex's destruction by IDF airstrikes and raids. Satellite imagery and testimonies from Palestinians in Gaza prove otherwise

China, UAE to hold third air force drills as defense ties warm: What we know

China and the United Arab Emirates are further deepening their defense and military ties with a third round of aerial exercises.

Hezbollah's Qassem says sending civilian delegate to ceasefire talks is concession to Israel

BEIRUT, Dec 5 (Reuters) - Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem on Friday criticised the Lebanese government's decision to send a civilian delegate to the ceasefire committee, calling it a "free concession" to Israel and a clear violation of previous government positions. On Wednesday,

Lebanon says ceasefire talks aim primarily at halting Israel's hostilities

Dec 5 (Reuters) - Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said on Friday that ceasefire talks with Israel are primarily aimed at stopping Israeli hostilities on Lebanese territory, after the Israeli prime minister's office said it seeks economic cooperation. Israel and Lebanon entered a

Lebanon-Israel direct talks pause operation against Hezbollah — but for how long?

The US blocked Israel from widening its strikes on Hezbollah this week, yet another flare-up in their enduring conflict seems likely despite first direct talks between Lebanon and Israel.

Iran holds drills in Gulf, firing ballistic, cruise missiles at simulated targets

Dec 5 (Reuters) - Iran's Revolutionary Guards Navy fired ballistic and cruise missiles at simulated targets in the Gulf on Friday during a two-day military exercise aimed at countering foreign threats, state media reported. Earlier, Iran hosted an anti-terrorism drill in its

Congo fighting flares within hours of Trump's peace deal ceremony

Dec 5 (Reuters) - Fighting raged in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo on Friday, a day after U.S. President Donald Trump hosted Congolese and Rwandan leaders in Washington to sign new deals aimed at ending years of conflict in a region rich in minerals. Congo's President

After wins abroad, Syria leader must gain trust at home

One year after ousting Bashar al-Assad, Ahmed al-Sharaa has restored Syria's international standing and won sanctions relief. But analysts warn the former jihadist still needs to secure trust on the home front. Sectarian bloodshed in the country's Alawite and Druze minority

Greek parliament approves purchase of rocket systems from Israel

ATHENS, Dec 5 (Reuters) - Greek lawmakers approved late on Thursday the purchase of 36 PULS rocket artillery systems from Israel for about 650 million euros ($757.84 million), two officials with knowledge of the issue told Reuters. Greece has said it will spend about 28 billion