Zaidi cancels Riyadh trip after US-Saudi strikes on Iran-backed militias in Iraq

The move comes after Riyadh joined Washington in targeting Iraqi militias, dealing a setback to Baghdad's efforts to strengthen ties with Gulf Arab states.

UN rights office warns of worsening settler violence in West Bank

By Olivia Le Poidevin GENEVA, July 29 (Reuters) - The U.N. human rights office on Wednesday warned of worsening violence by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank, and urged international action against the killing of Palestinians as well as the creation of settlements,

New Jewish-Arab party may complicate bid to oust Netanyahu

By Benjamin Raab TEL AVIV, July 29 (Reuters) - A new Jewish-Arab political party is courting young voters ahead of Israel's October election. But critics say it risks weakening the bid by the already underrepresented Arab minority to unseat Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and

Exclusive-US military may require some troops in Mideast to surrender cell phones, sources say

By Phil Stewart July 29 (Reuters) - The top U.S. commander for the Middle East has warned troops that cellphone videos shared online can help Iran target American bases, and sources told Reuters some deployed personnel could soon be ordered to surrender their phones. Any

Exclusive-US commander warns troops their videos help Iran, sources say

By Phil Stewart July 29 (Reuters) - The top U.S. commander for the Middle East has warned troops that cellphone videos shared online can help Iran target American bases, and sources told Reuters some deployed personnel could soon be ordered to surrender their phones. Any

US, Saudi strike Iraq alliance in expanding war

US and Saudi forces said they struck an Iraqi militant alliance on Wednesday, as the Middle East war expands beyond its main focus in Iran to involve the Islamic republic's proxies. The strikes follow a short lull in direct US attacks on targets in Iran, with Tehran's allies

Iran publicly executes two men accused of killing police during January protests

Rights groups said the execution was carried out at dawn in Alikhani Square in the central city of Isfahan, the place where the police were killed. They were among 14 people accused of killing the police, all of them sentenced to death

Guterres plans Cyprus meeting to define way forward

NICOSIA, July 29 (Reuters) - United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Wednesday he planned to convene a multi-party meeting on the division of Cyprus to define the way forward on resolving a conflict which has lasted more than half a century. "I decided that I

Explainer-Who are Iraq's Iranian-backed armed groups?

By Michael Georgy DUBAI, July 29 - The U.S. and Saudi Arabia have struck Iran-backed Shi'ite armed groups in Iraq, which the allies said were responsible for drone attacks on Saudi oil facilities. The attacks have put the spotlight on the militias that wield enormous political

U.S., Saudi Arabia strike pro-Iran militias in Iraq; Iran fires missiles at U.S. base

Iran's Revolutionary Guards said they fired several ballistic missiles at ⁠U.S. facilities in Jordan. It is the first Iranian strike on a U.S. base since Friday, when Trump abruptly called off a 13-day bombing campaign and Iran appeared to follow suit

Russia charges Telegram founder Durov with facilitating terrorism

MOSCOW, July 29 (Reuters) - Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) said on Wednesday that it had charged Telegram founder Pavel Durov with facilitating terrorist activities and had issued an international warrant for his arrest. The FSB said that the charges related to

Russia charges Telegram founder Durov with aiding terrorism, he gives Moscow the finger

MOSCOW, July 29 (Reuters) - Russia said on Wednesday it had charged Telegram founder Pavel Durov with facilitating terrorist activity, alleging that his hugely popular messaging app was being used by Ukrainian spies to organise attacks inside Russia. In response, Telegram's

Israeli elections: how they work and who is in the race

By Maayan Lubell JERUSALEM, July 29 (Reuters) - Israelis are due to hold a national election on October 27. It will be the first since the deadly October 7, 2023 Hamas attack that shook the country and plunged the Middle East into turmoil as Israel went to war in Gaza, Lebanon

Iran to get Chinese shoulder-launched missile systems in weeks, sources say

The reported $60–70 million agreement would provide Tehran with hundreds of portable air-defense systems as it seeks to rebuild capabilities after months of fighting with Washington and Jerusalem. China rejected the report, saying the claims were 'completely groundless,' while

Turkey detains another opposition district mayor, others as crackdown expands

ISTANBUL, July 29 (Reuters) - Turkish authorities detained an opposition Istanbul district mayor and five others on Wednesday over alleged irregularities in building and occupancy permits, broadcaster NTV reported. • Latest step in unprecedented legal crackdown on

Israel's decades-old US support risks losing Democrats

By Richard Cowan, Patricia Zengerle and Matt Spetalnick WASHINGTON, July 29 (Reuters) - For generations, support for Israel united Washington. Now Israel's attacks on Gaza, the Iran war and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's close ties to U.S. Republicans are eroding

Exclusive-Boeings identified in Reuters report carried weapons for Sudanese paramilitary, UN experts find

By David Lewis, Reade Levinson and Alexander Dziadosz LONDON/CAIRO, July 29 (Reuters) - United Nations experts have found that Boeing 727s linked by Reuters to a U.S. military contractor's business network transported mercenaries, weapons and drones for Sudan's Rapid Support

US, Saudi forces strike Iran-backed groups in Iraq

US and Saudi Arabian forces said they struck Iran-backed militants in Iraq on Wednesday in retaliation for recent attacks, following a short pause in Iran war hostilities. The combined air operation came as President Donald Trump met with his Israeli counterpart Benjamin

US, Saudis attack Iran-backed groups in Iraq, threatening to intensify conflict

By Timour Azhari, Parisa Hafezi and Ahmed Tolba DUBAI/CAIRO, July 29 (Reuters) - The U.S. and Saudi Arabia launched strikes on Iran-backed groups in Iraq on Wednesday, saying they were responsible for drone attacks on Saudi oil facilities, prompting Iran to warn that blaming it

Trump says meetings with Zelenskiy and Netanyahu were positive

By Kanishka Singh WASHINGTON, July 28 (Reuters) - President Donald Trump said late on Tuesday his meetings with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu were positive. Here are details and quotes: • Netanyahu and Zelenskiy were in

Major Gulf fighting resumes as US and Saudi strike Iran's allies in Iraq

By Parisa Hafezi, Ahmed Tolba and Ahmed Elimam DUBAI/CAIRO, July 29 (Reuters) - The United States and Saudi Arabia jointly struck Iran-backed armed groups in Iraq on Wednesday, the first U.S. airstrikes in the Middle East since President Donald Trump suspended the U.S. bombing

Major Gulf fighting restarts as US and Saudi strike Iran's allies in Iraq

By Parisa Hafezi, Ahmed Tolba and Ahmed Elimam DUBAI/CAIRO, July 29 (Reuters) - The United States launched on Wednesday its first airstrikes in the Middle East since suspending its bombing campaign last week, hitting Iran-backed armed groups in Iraq jointly with Saudi Arabia,

Iran rules out Omani proposal to manage Strait of Hormuz

By Parisa Hafezi, Timour Azhari and Ahmed Tolba DUBAI/CAIRO, July 29 (Reuters) - Tehran has ruled out Oman's proposal for regional joint management of the Strait of Hormuz, a senior Iranian official told Reuters on Wednesday, scuppering hopes for a resolution to the impasse

Fear of war's spread as US, Saudi hit Iran-backed fighters in Iraq

By Parisa Hafezi, Jana Choukeir and Ahmed Tolba DUBAI/CAIRO, July 29 (Reuters) - The United States and Saudi Arabia jointly struck Iran-backed armed groups in Iraq on Wednesday, the first U.S. airstrikes in the Middle East since President Donald Trump suspended the U.S. bombing

Exclusive-Iran to get Chinese shoulder-launched missile systems in weeks, sources say

By John Irish and Jonathan Saul July 29 (Reuters) - Iran is expected to receive within weeks a first shipment out of up to 400 Chinese-made shoulder-fired air-defence missile launchers, three sources familiar with the deal told Reuters, as it rebuilds its defences amid war with

The key issues that will shape Israel's elections

When Israel goes to the polls this year, voters will weigh in on conscription, the economy and how the state should investigate its inability to prevent Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack. AFP looks at the key issues shaping the campaign as Israel gears up for elections on October

US, Saudi Arabia strike Iran-aligned militias in Iraq as IRGC targets US forces in Jordan

The IRGC’s attempt to redraw the status quo amid an uneasy stalemate comes as White House hedges its military options and Omani officials seek to bring the two enemies back to the negotiating table.

Why Ukraine's strike on Iranian ship marks dangerous new phase in ties

Tehran has warned Kyiv of consequences, as pent-up tensions couple with what Iran believes is Ukrainian alignment with the US and Israel in the recent war.

In devastated south Lebanon village, residents count on army deployment

Ukrainian foreign minister says he warned Iranian counterpart against escalation, support for Russia

July 28 (Reuters) - Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said on Tuesday he called his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araqchi, following Iran's denunciation of a Ukrainian drone attack on one of its ships, warned him against escalation and told him to end all support for

US Senate to vote on Russia sanctions bill in tribute to Graham

By Patricia Zengerle and Timothy Gardner WASHINGTON, July 28 (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate will begin voting on sweeping Russian energy sanctions legislation on Tuesday as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy visits the Capitol, seeing the vote as a tribute to the bill's

Russia sanctions championed by Graham clear first Senate hurdle as Zelenskiy visits

By Patricia Zengerle, Richard Cowan and Timothy Gardner WASHINGTON, July 28 (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate advanced sweeping Russian energy sanctions legislation on Tuesday as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy visited the Capitol, seeing the vote as a tribute to the bill's

Iran proposes temporary Hormuz plan giving itself greater control over transit lines

DUBAI, July 28 (Reuters) - Iran has proposed to Oman a temporary arrangement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz under which one direction of traffic would pass through Iranian waters and part of the opposite route would also be in Iranian waters, Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem

Erdogan hosts Zaidi, touts ‘historic step’ in Turkey-Iraq energy ties

The Turkish president outlined Ankara’s priorities with the new Iraqi government during the Iraqi leader’s first visit to Turkey: security, energy cooperation and the Development Road.

Netanyahu lauds 'excellent' Trump meeting as Israel pushes harder Iran line

Hours before the meeting, President Donald Trump signaled impatience with the Israeli leader.

China in touch with Yemen's Houthis to allow ships to sail through Red Sea, sources say

By Jonathan Saul, Parisa Hafezi, Timour Azhari and Chen Aizhu LONDON/DUBAI, July 28 (Reuters) - China has held direct talks with Yemen's Houthi movement to enable its tankers to sail through the southern Red Sea without being attacked after the Iran-aligned militia pledged to

Tankers keep sailing Red Sea despite Houthi threats as Saudi oil lifeline faces strains

Roughly a dozen oil tankers were sailing in the vicinity of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait as of Tuesday evening, following an uptick in traffic the day before as shippers bet on new US-Iran diplomacy.

Will Syria become the next arena for Israel and Trump's clashing visions?

Al-Sharaa wants to make a still-fragile Syria a key strategic partner in the post-Iran Middle East. Israel must decide whether to accommodate the regional order Trump is shaping or try to stand in its way

Three Russian Black Sea terminals restrict grain intake by truck amid shipping risks, sources say

July 28 (Reuters) - Three major Russian Black Sea grain export terminals have restricted grain deliveries by truck amid rising shipping risks in the Black Sea and increased flows following restrictions in the Sea of Azov, five industry sources told Reuters. Russia, the world's

Gulf states back plan to let Iran collect voluntary fees to use Hormuz

Iran wants to manage the strait alongside Oman, which controls the opposite shore, while Washington ‌wants to return to the status quo before the war, when ships were able to pass freely with no payments, claiming that charging mandatory fees would be illegal

Trump, Zelenskiy discussed Patriot deal before funeral of Ukraine ally

By Gram Slattery and David Brunnstrom WASHINGTON, July 28 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Tuesday discussed efforts to revive peace talks with Russia and a deal to allow Ukraine to make Patriot missile interceptors, ahead of

Trump, Zelenskiy discussed Patriot deal and reviving talks with Russia

By Gram Slattery and David Brunnstrom WASHINGTON, July 28 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Tuesday discussed efforts to revive peace talks with Russia and a deal to allow Ukraine to make Patriot missile interceptors, ahead of

Trump welcomes Zelenskiy ahead of funeral of Senate ally who championed Ukraine

By Gram Slattery and David Brunnstrom WASHINGTON, July 28 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump welcomed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to the White House on Tuesday ahead of the funeral of U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham, who forcefully lobbied Washington to back Kyiv

Germany deports Afghan without criminal record for first time since Taliban takeover

BERLIN, July 28 (Reuters) - Germany has deported an Afghan national without a criminal record for the first time since the Taliban returned to power, Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said on Tuesday. • According to Dobrindt, the man had become liable for deportation after

Netanyahu meets with Trump at closed-door meeting at White House

Netanyahu met Trump at the White House in talks closed to the press, following a secretive departure from Israel that journalists were barred from covering. The White House described the meeting as 'productive and positive' despite growing tensions between the two leaders over

Aramco turns to Egypt as Houthis disrupt Saudi oil exports: What to know

Riyadh is now looking to use the Mediterranean route more extensively after the Houthis on July 20 threatened to target oil exports passing through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.