New deal reduces Russia’s military presence in Syria: What to know

Under a deal announced by Syria, Russia’s military facilities would be turned into joint training centers.

Oman says grounded tanker oil spill covers 400 square km

CAIRO, Aug 10 (Reuters) - Leaking crude oil from a tanker grounded off a nature reserve in Oman has created a slick covering almost 400 square kilometres, the country's government said on Monday. The Caroline Bezengi is loaded with close to one million barrels of Russian oil

Oil spill off Oman from tanker under sanctions against Russia spreads over huge area

CAIRO, Aug 10 (Reuters) - An oil slick is covering an areaof around 390 square kilometres (150 square miles) off the coast of Oman, the country's government said on Monday, after a vessel under sanctions and carrying Russian crude sustained damage. The Caroline Bezengi's crew

Lebanon indicts ex-central bank governor Salameh over new alleged financial crimes

BEIRUT, Aug 10 (Reuters) - A Lebanese judge on Monday indicted former central bank governor Riad Salameh and a former commercial banker, accusing them of financial crimes including embezzlement and illicit enrichment, a senior Lebanese judicial source told Reuters. Salameh, who

German foreign ministry says Gaza plan could lead towards disarmament of Hamas

FRANKFURT, Aug 10 (Reuters) - The German government regards U.S. President Donald Trump's latest Gaza plan as an opportunity to make progress towards the disarmament of Hamas, a German foreign ministry spokesperson said on Monday. Asked in a regular news conference about

Factbox-Who is Iran's Mohsen Rezaei, the hardliner appointed to key security role?

Aug 10 (Reuters) - Iran has appointed Mohsen Rezaei as secretary of its Supreme National Security Council, promoting a prominent hardliner and close ally of Supreme Leader Ayatollah MojtabaKhamenei to the role more than five months into the conflict with the United States.

Explainer-Trump's Gaza plan hinges on Hamas disarmament, Israeli withdrawals

JERUSALEM, Aug 10 (Reuters) - Donald Trump's latest plan to end the Gaza war calls on Hamas to lay down its arms as Israel withdraws from the territory, terms endorsed by the militants but rejected by Israel, which says it will not pull back until the group's disarmament is

Mohsen Rezaei appointed as secretary of Iran's top security body

DUBAI, Aug 10 (Reuters) - Iran has changed its secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, appointing former Revolutionary Guards commander Mohsen Rezaei as second-in-command on the body that coordinates the country's security and foreign policy. Rezaei is more of an

Iran says no reason to fear Pakistan-Turkey-Saudi security pact

DUBAI, Aug 10 (Reuters) - Iran sees no reason to be concerned that a new security pact between Pakistan, Turkey and Saudi Arabia is directed against Tehran, Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said on Monday. Baghaei said the pact showed a shift in regional countries'

Lebanon and Israel unlikely to resume talks in coming month, source says

Houthis launch drones at Yemen port held by Saudi-backed government

Syria says reached deal with Moscow on fate of Russian bases

Syria said on Sunday that it reached a deal with Russia on the fate of its two bases in the country, which Moscow once used to provide military support to ousted leader Bashar al-Assad during the Syrian civil war. Russia was a key Assad ally during the 13-year conflict,

Iran ties Hormuz reopening to US concessions on several demands

By Nayera Abdallah, Steve Holland and Enas Alashray DUBAI/WASHINGTON/CAIRO, Aug 10 (Reuters) - Iran said it was nearing a final pact with Oman defining new shipping lanes between them through the Strait of Hormuz but repeated that the U.S. must meet other conditions, including

Yemeni military says Houthi attack on Mocha kills 7, wounds 30

Aug 10 (Reuters) - The Yemeni military said seven people including military personnel and civilians were killed and 30 others wounded in a Houthi attack on the Red Sea port city of Mocha, civilian infrastructure and armed forces. "Four members of the armed forces and three

Israeli military closes Palestinian Christian village Taybeh, citing settler attacks

JERUSALEM, Aug 9 (Reuters) - Israel's military on Sunday closed the West Bank village of Taybeh to non-residents, saying it aimed to prevent growing attacks on Palestinians by Israeli settlers across the West Bank. The order, the military said, only applies to Israelis and not

Israel military closes Palestinian Christian village Taybeh to halt settler attacks

JERUSALEM, Aug 9 (Reuters) - Israel's military on Sunday closed the West Bank village of Taybeh to nonresidents, saying it aimed to prevent growing attacks on Palestinians by Israeli settlers across the West Bank. The order, the military said, only applies to Israelis and not

Houthis resume attacks on Yemen's Mocha port city, Yemeni military spokesperson says

Aug 9 (Reuters) - Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis have resumed attacks on the Red Sea port city of Mocha, a Yemeni military spokesperson said. Footage shown by Houthi-affiliated Al Masirah TV showed the launch of several ballistic missiles and drones, which Houthi military

Alleged Irish crime boss Kinahan charged with directing criminal organisation

By Padraic Halpin and Nayera Abdallah DUBLIN, Aug 9 (Reuters) - Alleged Irish crime gang boss Daniel Kinahan was charged with directing a criminal organisation by prosecutors in Dublin on Sunday amid tight security at a special court sitting following his extradition from the

Trump reportedly prepared to declare victory on Iran if Hormuz reopened

The Wall Street Journal reported Trump was willing to forgo signing a nuclear deal, instead relying on U.S. military readiness to respond should Iran violate the cease-fire

Trump says U.S. is 'low-keying it' with Iran, stresses economic pain, according to Axios interview

WASHINGTON, Aug 9 (Reuters) - After months of U.S. military strikes on Iran, sanctions and a blockade, President Donald Trump said on Sunday that his administration is watching economic pressure mount on Iran, according to an interview with Axios. "We are low keying it," Trump