U.S. believes Hamas disarmament comes with some sort of amnesty, says U.S. official

London-based Persian TV aims to air 'truth' about Iran protests

Journalists at the Persian-language TV station Iran International in London have been working flat out, vowing to "show the truth" about the protests in Iran, despite threats against them and their families. The private broadcaster, housed in a heavily-secured building in west

US Official says Washington is open for business if Iran wishes to contact them

WASHINGTON, Jan 26 (Reuters) - The United States is "open for business" if Iran wishes to contact Washington, a U.S. official said on Monday, as the United States seeks to pressure Tehran over a government crackdown on protesters. "I think they know the terms," the official

US believes Hamas disarmament comes along with some sort of amnesty, US official says

WASHINGTON, Jan 26 (Reuters) - The United States believes disarmament by Hamas militants in Gaza comes along with some sort of amnesty for the Palestinian group, a U.S. official said on Monday. The official, speaking to reporters on condition of anonymity, spoke to mark the

Trump says Iran seeks deal as US aircraft carrier arrives in Middle East

Iranian officials have signaled they are open to nuclear talks but unwilling to compromise on enrichment.

Syria's Sharaa to meet Putin in Moscow on Wednesday, Syria TV says

Jan 26 (Reuters) - Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa will meet Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Wednesday in Moscow, pro-government Syria TV reported on Monday. (Reporting by Kinda Makieh; Writing by Menna Alaa El-Din)

Tel Aviv bars Jaffa cafe from selling items with 'political' watermelon illustrations

After a right-wing activist with ties to National Security Minister Ben-Gvir posted a message highlighting a Jaffa cafe's merchandise, which included watermelon drawings and the Arabic word for 'my land,' the Tel Aviv Municipality barred their sale, saying that it does not

ISIS brides face uncertain future as Damascus clashes with Syria’s Kurds

With Syrian government forces taking over nearby al-Hol and security breaking down, families of ISIS fighters at Roj Camp live in fear and uncertainty.

Iran seizes on killing of Alex Pretti, accuses US of hypocrisy

AI-generated photos showing Americans asking Iran's supreme leader for help and a wave of Arabic-language commentary are circulating on social following the killing of a protester by US federal agents over the weekend.

US aircraft carrier enters Middle East region, officials say

WASHINGTON, Jan 26 (Reuters) - A U.S. aircraft carrier and supporting warships have arrived in the Middle East, two U.S. officials told Reuters on Monday, expanding President Donald Trump's capabilities to defend U.S. forces, or potentially take military action against Iran.

Iran detaining protesters being treated in hospitals as part of crackdown, says UN expert

By Olivia Le Poidevin and Parisa Hafezi GENEVA/DUBAI, Jan 26 (Reuters) - A U.N. expert on Iran said on Monday she had received reports of protesters linked to nationwide demonstrations being removed from hospitals and detained by Iranian security forces - a major violation of

Qatar announces $430 mn in support for Lebanon

A visiting Qatari official on Monday announced a multi-million dollar aid package for Lebanon, primarily to support the country's crumbling electricity sector. In a separate statement, the Qatar Development Fund said the package was valued at about $430 million, the majority of

UAE firm’s $1.7B legal threat spotlights Gulf split on Lebanon as Qatar invests

Lebanon’s bid to lure Gulf investment into its crisis-stricken economy is facing turbulence as Dubai's Al Habtoor Group threatens legal action over more than $1.7 billion in losses, while Qatar is making an investment push.

Lebanon's Hezbollah chief says group concerned with confronting US threat against Iran

BEIRUT, Jan 26 (Reuters) - The leader of Lebanon's Iran-aligned Hezbollah movement, Naim Qassem, said on Monday that his group was concerned about confronting Washington's threat against Iran, particularly any threat against Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Tensions

Israel returns remains of last Gaza hostage Ran Gvili

Israeli forces brought home on Monday the remains of the last hostage held in Gaza, Ran Gvili, finally closing the chapter on a painful saga that has haunted Israeli society since Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack. Militants took 251 hostages to Gaza that day, and the process of

Israel military says remains of last Gaza hostage Ran Gvili returned

The Israeli military said on Monday that the remains of the last hostage held in Gaza, Ran Gvili, had been identified and were being repatriated to Israel for burial. The announcement put an end to a lengthy process to locate and return the last of the 251 hostages taken by

Iran broadcasting forced 'confessions' to deter dissent: activists

The man faces the camera with his face blurred as dramatic music pounds in the background. "I made a mistake," he says, his voice trembling as an unseen interrogator presses him about the deaths of members of Iran's security forces. "If I'd known, I would not have done it."

Italy pushes for EU clampdown on Iran's Revolutionary Guard over 'heinous acts’

ROME, Jan 26 (Reuters) - Italy will ask European Union partners this week to place Iran's Revolutionary Guard (IRGC) on the EU's terrorist register, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said on Monday, signalling a shift in Rome's position. Until now, Rome had been among the

Yemen’s Houthis hint at Red Sea attacks as US-Iran tensions rise: What to know

The Houthi warnings come as a US aircraft carrier accompanied by several guided missile destroyers entered Gulf waters amid tensions with Iran.

Russia withdrawing troops from airport in northeast Syria, sources say

(Refiles to insert dropped words in paragraph 5) QAMISHLI, Syria, Jan 26 (Reuters) - Russia is withdrawing forces from an airport in northeastern Syria, movingto end its military presence in a corner of the country wherethe Damascus government is trying to seize control from

Israel retrieves last hostage body from Gaza in boost for Trump plan

By Alexander Cornwell JERUSALEM, Jan 26 (Reuters) - Israel has retrieved the remains of the last remaining hostage held in Gaza, the military said on Monday, fulfilling a key condition of the initial phase of U.S. President Donald Trump's plan to end the Gaza war. The remains

Israel recovers final Gaza hostage, Rafah crossing set to reopen: What to know

The Rafah crossing is expected to allow Palestinians to exit and reenter the Gaza Strip, primarily for those seeking medical treatment.

Syria leans on Jordan, regional gas deals to rebuild energy sector

The deal was signed at the Syrian Ministry of Energy between Syrian Petroleum Company and Jordan’s National Electric Power Company, SANA reported.

Turkey detains nurse over hair-braiding video in support of SDF

Authorities say the nurse’s social media post amounted to terror propaganda, while critics argue that her symbolic protest falls under freedom of expression as tensions over Syria spill into Turkey’s fragile peace process.

USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group reaches Middle Eastern waters

The carrier's presence gives the White House greater options to authorize strikes deep within Iranian territory while reducing the potential risk of regional blowback.

Kibbutz defender Ran Gvili is Israel's last hostage killed on Oct 7

Ran Gvili, a young Israeli police officer, was on medical leave when Hamas launched its deadly attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. Instead of staying home, the 24-year-old grabbed his personal gun and raced toward the area of the attack in southern Israel, where he fought

'Iran's Babi Yar': An Israeli-Iranian expert says 'Iranians are being massacred in historic numbers'

US deploys aircraft carrier as Iran warns against attack

A US naval strike group led by an aircraft carrier has deployed to Middle Eastern waters, the United States said Monday, as Tehran warned it was ready to hit back at any American attack launched in response to a crackdown on anti-government protests. A US-based rights group

Rights group says Iran protest toll nears 6,000 dead

A US-based rights group said on Monday it had confirmed the deaths of nearly 6,000 people during a wave of protests in Iran suppressed by security forces, as Tehran warned Washington against intervening. The protests started in late December, driven by economic grievances, but

Appeal trial over 2020 teacher's beheading opens in France

An appeal trial opened in Paris on Monday for four men convicted over the 2020 jihadist beheading of schoolteacher Samuel Paty, a killing that horrified France. Paty, 47, was murdered in October 2020 by an 18-year-old Islamist radical of Chechen origin after showing cartoons of

German defence minister urges Trump to apologise for Afghanistan remarks

BERLIN, Jan 26 (Reuters) - German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius has called on U.S. President Donald Trump to apologise for remarks suggesting that America's NATO allies in Afghanistan avoided frontline service, joining a chorus of criticism from European politicians and army

Rights group says confirmed Iran protest toll nears 6,000

A US-based rights group said Monday it had confirmed the deaths of 5,848 people in a wave of protests in Iran suppressed by security forces, warning that it was still investigating thousands more potential fatalities. The protests started in late December sparked by economic

Iran unveils mural warning of retaliation if U.S. conducts a military strike

The mural in central Tehran warns: 'If you sow the wind, you will reap the whirlwind.' Revolutionary Guard officials say they are 'more ready than ever, finger on the trigger' and 'ready for all-out war'

Kremlin sticks to demand that Ukraine cede all of Donbas in talks, TASS reports

MOSCOW, Jan 26 (Reuters) - The Kremlin said on Monday that the issue of territory remained fundamental to Russia when it came to getting a deal to end the fighting in Ukraine, the state TASS news agency reported after trilateral weekend talks in Abu Dhabi. President Vladimir

Top Chinese officials hold talks with OIC secretary general

BEIJING, Jan 26 (Reuters) - China's vice president and foreign minister held talks with the secretary-general of the 57-nation Organization of Islamic Cooperation on Monday, according to a ministry statement and the official news agency, Xinhua. The talks in the Chinese capital

Philippines lodges 'firm representations' to Chinese embassy over 'escalating' war of words on South China Sea

MANILA, Jan 26 (Reuters) - The Philippine foreign ministry said on Monday it had made "firm representations" to China's embassy and its ambassador in Manila over what it described as an "escalation of public exchanges" between them and Philippine officials over disputes in the