Proxies, maritime pressure, power plays: Iran’s options if US strikes
A military strike risks entrenching hard-liners in Tehran if Washington fails to accomplish regime change driven by a clear endgame.
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UN probe condemns Iran protest deaths as regime provides conflicting casualty reports
A UN fact-finding mission says Iran's crackdown is the deadliest since 1979, with thousands killed and tens of thousands arrested. Iran's mission decried the rights council's 'politicized' resolution to probe the protests and rejected external interference
US military negotiated SDF withdrawal from Syria's Raqqa prison
Syrian government forces took full control of Raqqa after hundreds of SDF fighters were evacuated to Kobani under US-negotiated safe passage.
Dutch airline KLM cancels flights to Israel, Middle East amid tensions with Iran
The move follows similar decisions by the Lufthansa Group, which announced last week that it would reduce flights to Israel and operate them only during daytime hours
Prince Harry says sacrifices by NATO troops in Afghanistan deserve 'respect' after Trump comments
LONDON, Jan 23 (Reuters) - Britain's Prince Harry said in response to comments from U.S. President Donald Trump that NATO troops stayed off the front line in Afghanistan, that "sacrifices" made in the conflict by NATO forces "deserve to be spoken about truthfully and with
Across the globe, views vary about Trump's world vision
Donald Trump is shaping a new world order of empires and coercion, from Venezuela to Greenland and through his newly created "Board of Peace, shattering the post-war global consensus. As the old order crumbles, AFP sought the views of ministers, advisers, lawmakers and military
Turkey says Syria ceasefire should hold during Islamic State prisoner transfers to Iraq
ANKARA, Jan 23 (Reuters) - Turkey's foreign minister said the current ceasefire in Syria should remain in place while Islamic State prisoners are transferred to Iraq, saying this would limit security risks. Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said in a televised interview that the
Five takeaways from Davos 2026
DAVOS, Switzerland, Jan 23 (Reuters) - World leaders and business executives departed from Davos after an eventful World Economic Forum annual meeting which was dominated by U.S. President Donald Trump. Here's what we learned: GEOPOLITICS Europe learned the value of standing up
Iran's internet blackout enters third week as filtered access flickers back
The internet monitoring group NetBlocks reports that messaging apps and virtual private networks have become more widely available, but overall international connectivity remains extremely low and online propaganda is rising.
Turkish court rejects bid by Erdogan rival to overcome block to his presidential run
ISTANBUL, Jan 23 (Reuters) - A Turkish court rejected on Friday a lawsuit from jailed Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu challenging the cancellation of his university degree, his legal team said, in a further blow to his plans to run for the presidency in the next election.
EU concerned about Trump 'concentration of powers' over 'Board of Peace', document says
By Lili Bayer BRUSSELS, Jan 23 (Reuters) - The European Union’s foreign policy arm has raised questions about U.S. President Donald Trump’s broad powers over his new Board of Peace, according to an internal document seen by Reuters. Trump has urged world leaders to join
UN urges Iran to end 'brutal repression'
The United Nations called Friday on Iranian authorities to immediately end their "brutal repression", after a crackdown on nationwide protests left thousands dead, including children. Speaking at an urgent UN Human Rights Council meeting on the situation in Iran, UN rights
UN rights council decries 'unprecedented' crackdown in Iran, deepens scrutiny
The UN Human Rights Council decided Friday to deepen its scrutiny of Iran over its crackdown on protests that left thousands dead, including children, amid demands it end its "brutal repression". The 47-member body voiced alarm about "the unprecedented scale of the violent
US targets Iran's 'shadow fleet' over crackdown on protesters
WASHINGTON, Jan 23 (Reuters) - The United States on Friday imposed sanctions on nine vessels of what is known as the shadow fleet and eight related firms, the U.S. Treasury Department said in a statement, as Washington sought to escalate pressure on Iran over the recent killing
Merz says Berlin cannot accept Trump's Board of Peace plan in current form
ROME, Jan 23 (Reuters) - German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Friday he would be ready to join U.S. President Donald Trump's Board of Peace initiative for the sake of Gaza but could not accept the plan in its current form. "In the form in which the peace board is currently
Thousands rally for South Yemen independence amid Saudi diplomatic push
Large protests called for southern independence in Yemen on Friday, reflecting persistent support for the separatists despite the Saudi-backed government’s efforts to quash the separatist movement.
Syria forces push deeper into SDF territory, take over ISIS prison: What to know
The advances come as the government and Kurdish forces accuse each other of violating a ceasefire that entered into force this week in northeast Syria.
U.S., in control of oil dollars, heaps pressure on Iraq over Iranian influence
By Maha El Dahan, Timour Azhari and Humeyra Pamuk DUBAI/WASHINGTON, Jan 23 - Washington has threatened senior Iraqi politicians with sanctions targeting the Iraqi state — including potentially its critical supply of oil revenue sourced via the Federal Reserve Bank of New York —
Iranian cleric says Iran may target US investments in region if attacked
DUBAI, Jan 23 (Reuters) - An influential Iranian cleric warned on Friday that Iran may target U.S.-linked investments in the region in retaliation for any U.S. attack on the Islamic Republic, Iranian news agencies reported. President Donald Trump said on Thursday that the
Exclusive-Israel aims to ensure more Palestinians are let out of Gaza than back in
By Alexander Cornwell TEL AVIV, Jan 23 (Reuters) - Israel wants to restrict the number of Palestinians entering Gaza through the border crossing with Egypt to ensure that more are allowed out than in, three sources briefed on the matter said ahead of the border's expected
Volatile security blocks UN from Syria IS-linked camp
Poor security at a camp in Syria housing thousands of suspected relatives of Islamic State group jihadists has prevented UN agency staff from entering, days after Kurdish forces withdrew and the army deployed at the site. Two former employees at the Al-Hol desert camp told AFP
Europeans among 150 IS detainees transferred from Syria to Iraq
Europeans were among 150 senior Islamic State group detainees transferred this week by the US military from Kurdish custody in Syria to Iraq, whose premier urged EU countries to repatriate their nationals. They were among an estimated 7,000 jihadists due to be moved across the
West Bank education centre could close in days due to Israeli seizure threat, says UNRWA
By Olivia Le Poidevin GENEVA, Jan 23 (Reuters) - A training centre for hundreds of Palestinians in the occupied West Bank could be closed within days by Israeli authorities, jeopardising the education of students, the U.N. Palestinian refugee agency said on Friday. The Kalandia
Under fire at home over Board of Peace, Netanyahu hints Trump could OK Gaza war restart
According to diplomatic sources, Netanyahu believes that at some point Israel will receive a green light from the Trump administration to resume fighting in Gaza, though his coalition partners do not seem reassured.
Trump's NATO front line comments 'deeply disappointing', UK minister says
LONDON, Jan 23 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump's comments that NATO troops stayed off the front line in Afghanistan were "deeply disappointing", a British minister said on Friday, noting that many European soldiers had died supporting American-led operations.
Israeli Bedouin say hope for better life crushed after deadly crackdown
When the Israeli Bedouin village of Tarabin al-Sana backed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's party in the last elections, they expected their lives would improve. Three years later, the small community in the Negev has been left stunned after a two-week crackdown during which
Syrian government says it controls prison in Raqqa with Islamic State-linked detainees
Jan 23 (Reuters) - Syria's Interior Ministry said on Friday it had taken over al-Aktan prison in the city of Raqqa in northeastern Syria, a facility that was formerly under the control of Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). The prison has been holding detainees linked
Factbox-Who is leading Russia's delegation at the Ukraine talks in Abu Dhabi?
MOSCOW, Jan 23 (Reuters) - Russian Admiral Igor Kostyukov is set to head Moscow's team at trilateral security talks with the U.S. and Ukraine on Friday in Abu Dhabi, as part of efforts to reach a deal to end the war in Ukraine. What do we know about Kostyukov? CAREER IN
Zelenskiy says territorial issue to be discussed at trilateral talks in UAE
By Anna Pruchnicka KYIV, Jan 23 (Reuters) - President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Friday that the vital question of territory in Ukraine's war with Russia would be discussed at U.S.-brokered trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi on Friday and Saturday. Kyiv is under mounting U.S.
Iran lambasts Zelensky after Davos 'bully' warning
Iran's foreign minister on Friday launched a furious tirade against Volodymyr Zelensky after the Ukrainian president commented in Davos that the deadly crackdown on protests in the Islamic republic showed that if authorities "kill enough people" they stay in power. Zelensky,
UN rights body holds emergency session on Iran's protest crackdown
By Emma Farge and Olivia Le Poidevin GENEVA, Jan 23 (Reuters) - The U.N. Human Rights Council will hold an emergency session on Friday to discuss the "alarming violence" used in Iran against protesters, while a group of states will call on United Nations' investigators to
Iran: IAEA must clarify stance on June attacks before inspecting bombed sites
Jan 23 (Reuters) - The U.N. nuclear watchdog must clarify its stance on U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran's nuclear sites last June before inspectors are allowed to visit those facilities, Iranian media on Friday quoted the country's atomic chief as saying. Mohammad Eslami said
Spain will not join Trump's Board of Peace, PM says
MADRID, Jan 23 (Reuters) - Spain will not take part in the Board of Peace initiative launched by U.S. President Donald Trump to tackle global conflicts, saying the decision was consistent with its belief in multilateralism and the United Nations system. "We appreciate the
Trump says 'armada' heading toward Iran: 'maybe we won't have to use it'; Officials confirm warships en route to mideast
U.S. officials said an aircraft carrier and several destroyers will arrive in the Middle East in the coming days, with additional air-defense systems under consideration. Warships began moving from the Asia-Pacific after the Iranian regime's crackdown on protesters
Trump left the door open to talks with Iran – but Israel believes he will still attack
A possible American military strike against Tehran raises many questions. It's still not clear when or if it will happen, how it will affect Israel and whether it can end the ayatollahs' regime
Trump revokes Canada's invitation to join Board of Peace
By Jasper Ward and Ismail Shakil WASHINGTON/OTTAWA, Jan 22 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump withdrew on Thursday an invitation for Canada to join his Board of Peace initiative aimed at resolving global conflicts. Trump's aboutface follows Canadian Prime Minister Mark