Russia’s Putin hosts Saddam Hifter amid instability in Libya: What to know

Moscow has built a strong relationship with Libya’s eastern camp, as Washington and Ankara pursue efforts to reunify the country’s political and military institutions.

Trump the builder carves his legacy in stone as pressures mount

WASHINGTON, Aug 19 (Reuters) - With Iran diplomacy stalled, financial markets uneasy and his approval rating at another low point, President Donald Trump reverted to familiar territory on Wednesday, leading reporters on a tour of White House construction projects he hopes will

As election looms, Netanyahu puts Turkey in Israel's crosshairs

After more than two years of ordering on Israel's enemies across the Middle East, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, facing a tough re-election fight, is zeroing in on another perceived villain -- Turkey. On Tuesday, Warplanes bombed a base in northern Syria a short drive from

Sources: Mossad chief, Syria's FM discussed Turkish troops before IDF strikes

Sources told Reuters the phone call was held days before the Israeli military reportedly struck a Syrian air base. Netanyahu: 'We conveyed a message ... apparently they didn't hear it well enough, so we made sure they understood it better'

US to provide $206 million for Gaza peacekeeping force, letters show

By Humeyra Pamuk WASHINGTON, Aug 19 (Reuters) - President Donald Trump's administration has told Congress it is sending more than $206 million for a proposed Gaza peacekeeping force, the first significant funding for the stalled U.S. plan to rebuild the devastated enclave.

UAE suspends trade with Iran after coming under renewed missile fire

The Emirati Foreign Ministry said it decided to impose the punitive measures on Iran after two ballistic missiles were fired at the country, while also saying it remained committed to 'dialogue, cooperation and regional integration'

Exclusive-Mossad director, Syria foreign minister discussed Turkish military deployments before strikes, sources say

Aug 19 (Reuters) - The head of Israel's Mossad spy agency, Roman Gofman, held a phone call with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani last week in which they discussed Turkey's military presence in Syria, three people familiar with the matter said. The call, which the

Exclusive-Mossad chief, Syrian foreign minister discussed Turkish military deployments before strikes, sources say

By Timour Azhari and Rami Ayyub

Reijnders leaves Man City for Saudi's Al Qadsiah

Dutch midfielder Tijjani Reijnders completed a move from Manchester City to Saudi Pro League side Al Qadsiah on Wednesday in a deal reportedly worth 61 million euros ($71 million). An AFP correspondent saw Reijnders arrive at the club's headquarters in Al Khobar on Tuesday

Iraq seeks special Hormuz access from Iran in scramble to keep oil flowing

As Iran's parliament speaker holds talks in Baghdad, Iraq has asked Tehran for special consideration for its oil exports.

Saudi Arabia wants Iran-backed militia 'heads to roll' in Iraq amid talks with Tehran

Riyadh is pressing Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi to act against the groups behind attacks on the kingdom as Baghdad struggles to balance ties with Tehran and Washington.

Iran’s Ghalibaf makes high-level visit to Iraq ahead of disarmament deadline

The Iraqi parliament speaker is calling on his Iranian counterpart to help Iraq export oil through Hormuz amid the regional conflict.

Visiting Iraq, Iran's parliament speaker hails 'new order' in the region

Iran's parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf on Wednesday stressed the importance of strengthening the "new order" in the region, on the first stop in a three-day visit to Iraq. Ghalibaf's trip comes at a time when Iraq is facing American pressure to disarm factions

Iran warns Gulf countries against helping US after UAE cuts trade ties

Iran's armed forces warned Gulf countries against assisting the US military on Wednesday, hours after the United Arab Emirates announced it was severing economic ties with Tehran following new attacks on shipping. The Gulf is dotted with US military installations, including in

Turkey looks to expand Syria energy footprint into oil, gas

Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar said state oil giant TPAO and private companies are ready to explore for oil and gas onshore and offshore in Syria.

With talks stalled, Iran ups threats against Gulf, Europe: What to know

The threats have raised concerns that the conflict between Iran and the United States could expand beyond the region.

France says West Bank violence justifies its sanctions against Israeli minister Ben-Gvir

PARIS, Aug 19 (Reuters) - French foreign minister Jean-Noel Barrot condemned on Wednesday violence in the West Bank by Israeli settlers against Palestinians, and added that this justified France's recent sanctions against Israel's far-right police minister Itamar Ben-Gvir. •

Israel army launches criminal probe into killing of five-year-old Hind Rajab

The Israeli military said Wednesday it had ordered a criminal investigation into the 2024 killing in Gaza of five-year-old Hind Rajab, whose death drew international outrage after a harrowing recording of her last words. Hind's body was recovered from a car riddled with

Israel army admits firing on car in death of five-year-old Hind Rajab

The Israeli military on Wednesday admitted its troops fired on a car carrying five-year-old Hind Rajab in Gaza in 2024, saying it had ordered a criminal investigation into the killing which drew international outrage. Hind Rajab's body was recovered from a car riddled with

Germany, France, UN condemn far-right Israeli minister's 'inhumane' Gaza remarks

Germany, France and the UN on Wednesday condemned remarks by Israel's far-right national security minister, who declared that Israel should kill "30 or 40" people every night in the Palestinian territory of Gaza. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz "strongly condemns the inhumane

Germany, France condemn far-right Israeli minister's 'inhumane' Gaza remarks

Germany and France on Wednesday condemned remarks by Israel's far-right national security minister, who declared that Israel should kill "30 or 40" people every night in the Palestinian territory of Gaza. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz "strongly condemns the inhumane appeals

As election nears, Israelis fear polarisation could spark violence

Warnings are multiplying that violence could break out between rival political camps ahead of Israel's October 27 election, with powerful figures including top government ministers accused of incitement against opponents. Israel was rocked in 2023 by mass protests against a

Report: Israeli strike in Syria risked direct military conflict with Turkey, U.S. envoy says

Tom Barrack told The Jerusalem Post that Turkish forces were not aware that Israeli aircraft were en route to the base or of their intended mission, and therefore could have been inclined to scramble their own jets

UAE's financial embargo on Iran after missile threat puts rivalry back in spotlight

DUBAI, Aug 19 - The United Arab Emirates' decision to suspend all financial and economic transactions with Iran until further notice, citing amilitary escalation by Tehran with a missile threat, has refocused the spotlight on fraught ties between the major Gulf Arab oil

Israel opens criminal probes over killings of Hind Rajab and Gaza rescue workers, military says

By Emily Rose and Nidal al-Mughrabi JERUSALEM/CAIRO, Aug 19 (Reuters) - Israel's military will open internal investigations over its troops' high-profile killings in Gaza of 5-year-old Palestinian girl Hind Rajab in January 2024 and 15 emergency and aid workers in March 2025,

UN laments 'unacceptable' toll of 350 aid workers killed in 2025

IDF refused for three days to say where a beaten, hospitalized Palestinian detainee was being held

Sultan Jabarin was arrested after Israelis invaded his village south of Bethlehem, and required medical treatment. Only after petitions to the High Court of Justice was his family told where he was, and the ban the Shin Bet had imposed on meeting his lawyer was lifted

Report: Iran partially loses control of Strait of Hormuz as traffic shifts to Omani route

According to Kpler, over 80 percent of traffic through the strait in the past two weeks has passed through Omani-controlled territory; Iran opposes the arrangement and has responded by targeting vessels on Oman's north coast

Turkey slams Israel's 'untenable' claims after strikes on Syrian base

ANKARA, Aug 19 (Reuters) - Turkey firmly rejected on Wednesday what it called "untenable allegations" by Israel regarding its military position in Syria, after Israel bombed a Syrian air base near the Turkish border and said Syria was on the verge of permitting Turkish troops

Report: Iran considers striking U.S. military targets in Europe should Trump escalate war

Among the assets Iran considered striking are bases hosting U.S. forces in Bulgaria and Cyprus, The Financial Times reported. Iranian forces also reportedly considered striking undersea fiber-optic cables in the Strait of Hormuz

South Korea minister says Trump appears to be pressuring Seoul over Iran, investment

SEOUL, Aug 19 (Reuters) - South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun said on Wednesday that U.S. President Donald Trump's order to curb joint military drills appeared aimed in part at pressuring Seoul to support U.S. efforts in the Iran war, alongside other unresolved issues such

Palestinian-American hoists US flag on home besieged by settlers

A Palestinian-America

Attacks on aid workers hit record high in 2025, UN says

By Emma Farge GENEVA, Aug 19 (Reuters) - A record number of humanitarian workers were attacked last year, driven partly by increased use of armed drones, the United Nations said on Wednesday, calling the trend "appalling". Some 907 aid workers were killed, injured or kidnapped

Hormuz traffic slows as uncertainty over waterway persists

SINGAPORE, Aug 19 (Reuters) - Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz slowed, data showed on Wednesday, as most shipowners avoided the key waterway because of a lack of clear signalling on its reopening from a blockade during the Iran war. Six commodity vessels crossed the strait

'American Doctor' shows brutality of conflict in Gaza

Mark Perlmutter has treated patients hit by natural disaster and conflicts across 30 countries, including in his native United States. Yet, nothing prepared him for the horrors he would witness under Israeli bombardment. "Just our first week in Gaza was worse than all of my

Trump administration antisemitism probes into universities lacked evidence, ex-DOJ attorney says

By Kanishka Singh WASHINGTON, Aug 18 (Reuters) - A former Department of Justice attorney has said the Trump administration's probes of U.S. universities over accusations of antisemitism lacked evidence and had predetermined outcomes.