At least 10 killed in Israeli strikes in Lebanon, Health Ministry says

Lebanon's Health Ministry reported six paramedics and a child among those killed, and many others were wounded, while the IDF separately reported killing seven Hezbollah members

Ankara court rejects Turkish main opposition's appeal against ruling to oust leader, media says

ANKARA, May 22 (Reuters) - An Ankara court on Friday rejected an appeal by Turkey's main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) against a ruling to oust its leader, the Cumhuriyet daily and other Turkish media said. The CHP has appealed also to a higher court, as well as

UAE's Gargash sees '50-50' odds of US-Iran deal, warns against renewed fighting

By Maha El Dahan and Jana Choukeir DUBAI, May 22 (Reuters) - There is a "50-50 chance" of a U.S.-Iran peace agreement, the United Arab Emirates' presidential advisor said on Friday, but stressed that any political settlement must address the root causes of instability in the

Report: Draft U.S. and Iran cease-fire deal excludes nuclear issue

According to the Saudi Al Arabiya news agency, the draft interim deal includes an immediate, comprehensive and unconditional cease-fire across all arenas, but doesn't address Iran's nuclear program. U.S. Secretary of State Rubio confirmed that 'slight progress' had been made

Turkey political crisis simmers as opposition vows to resist court ruling

By Ece Toksabay and Huseyin Hayatsever ANKARA, May 22 (Reuters) - Turkey's political opposition dug in on Friday to resist an unprecedented court ruling that ousted its leader and annulled its congress, inflaming a political crisis that critics say aims to further prolong

Middle East war casts shadow over million-strong hajj pilgrimage

More than a million Muslims are gathering in Mecca for the hajj pilgrimage overshadowed by the Middle East war, as animosity smoulders across the region despite a fragile ceasefire. This year's rites, drawing Muslim worshippers from across the world, including Iran, follow

'When you have rape survivors, you can't look away': NYT, Kristoff defend column on sexual assault of Palestinians

The response comes after Israel accused the NYT of spreading 'one of the worst blood libels' in modern media history and was part of an 'orchestrated anti-Israel campaign'

Pakistan seeks breakthrough in US-Iran peace talks

By Jacob Bogage and Parisa Hafezi WASHINGTON/DUBAI, May 22 (Reuters) - Iran's foreign minister met his Pakistani counterpart on Friday to discuss proposals to end the U.S.-Israeli war, Iranian media reported, with Tehran and Washington still at odds over Tehran's uranium

Taiwan says it has not been told by US of changes to military sales

TAIPEI, May 22 (Reuters) - Taiwan's presidential office said on Friday it had not received any information about the U.S. adjusting military sales, after a senior U.S. official suggested there was a pause due to the need to have enough arms for the war with Iran. Taiwan, which

Australian women linked to ISIS leave Syrian camp, ABC reports

SYDNEY, May 22 (Reuters) - A second group of Australian women and children linked to the Islamic State (ISIS) extremist group have departed a refugee camp in northeast Syria and may be returning to Australia, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported on Friday. The

Explosive drones from Lebanon strike in northern Israel, IDF says

Lebanese accuse Israel of wiping their towns off the map

Lebanese mother-of-two Hala Farah is collecting photos and videos to preserve the memory of her hometown which, like many others along the southern border, has been completely destroyed by Israeli forces. Testimony from residents and officials, as well as satellite images and

US hits nine Hezbollah-aligned individuals in Lebanon with sanctions

By Andrea Shalal WASHINGTON, May 21 (Reuters) - The United States on Thursday announced sanctions against nine individuals, including Iran's designated ambassador to Lebanon, for obstructing the peace process in the Middle Eastern country and impeding the disarmament of the

Morocco farmers saw hope in rain, but Mideast war inflates production costs

Like many Moroccan farmers, Mehdi el-Maazi was hopeful that rare heavy rains would yield an abundant harvest this year -- but those hopes were quickly shattered as the Middle East war sent fuel and fertiliser costs soaring. Morocco, where agriculture employs about a quarter of

US House Republicans cancel Iran war powers vote

By Patricia Zengerle WASHINGTON, May 21 (Reuters) - Republican leaders of the U.S. House of Representatives unexpectedly canceled a vote on Thursday on a resolution seeking to end the Iran war unless President Donald Trump obtains Congress' authorization, two days after a

Humanitarian situation in Gaza still catastrophic: NGOs

More than six months after the United Nations endorsed a peace plan in Gaza, the humanitarian situation there remains catastrophic, three global NGOs said Thursday, calling on Israel to respect its obligations. Major gaps remain between Israel's commitments and the reality

Rubio to tell NATO ministers Trump 'very disappointed' over Iran war stance

By Sabine Siebold, Stine Jacobsen and Michael Martina HELSINGBORG, Sweden May 22 (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will meet NATO allies on Friday for the first time since President Donald Trump called the alliance into question due to divisions over the Iran war

Ronaldo strikes twice to end long wait for Saudi title

Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice as Al Nassr clinched the Saudi Pro League title with a 4-1 win over Damac on Thursday, ending his long wait for domestic silverware. A trademark free-kick and a close-range finish, both in the final half-hour, sealed the win Al Nassr needed on the

In first, US sanctions Lebanon military, intel officials for aiding Hezbollah

New tranche of sanctions marks a warning shot from Washington as Senate Republicans threaten to freeze funding to the Lebanese Armed Forces if it does not move more aggressively to disarm Hezbollah.

US, Iran trade mixed signals on enriched uranium as Tehran weighs response

Speaking on Wednesday, President Donald Trump said he would be willing to wait "a couple of days" for Tehran's response to the latest US proposal to end the war.

US says removal of UN expert Albanese from sanctions list is not a policy change

May 21 (Reuters) - The U.S. decision to remove Francesca ​Albanese, a U.N. expert on the ‌Palestinian territories, from a list of sanctioned individuals is temporary and does not reflect a policy change, the State Department said on Thursday. The U.S. imposed sanctions on

Gaza flotilla activist blasts Israel: 'They treat their animals better'

Julien Cabral has just completed his first voyage with the "Flotilla for Gaza". One of his eyes is ringed with purple, he has a wound on his left temple and an injured shoulder blade. The 57-year-old Belgian originally from the port of Antwerp was on board a small boat that

Trump has to forget about Ahmadinejad and make Iran a real offer

Was Israel pushing regime change as long as two decades ago? Either way, the Ahmadinejad option is loony, and the Gulf states have explained to the U.S. president that time is on Tehran's side

First Gaza flotilla activists arrive in Turkey after Israel deportation

Israel said on Thursday it had deported all the foreign activists seized by its forces from a Gaza-bound flotilla, as the first group arrived in Turkey following global outcry over their treatment in custody. Hundreds of activists from countries around the world were placed in

Germany indicts suspects in Iran-linked plot to target Jewish leaders

One suspect is accused of working for Iran's Revolutionary Guards intelligence service and gathering information on leading German Jewish figures

As Gulf crisis reshapes energy markets, experts warn of new normal

With the US-Israel-Iran war producing a historic supply shock, Al-Monitor hosted a panel of experts to explore how the conflict has ushered in a new era for global energy markets.

Board of Peace envoy warns UN that Gaza division risks becoming permanent

By Emma Farge May 21 (Reuters) - The Board of Peace's lead envoy for Gaza warned the U.N. Security Council on Thursday that the enclave's current division could become permanent, leaving more than 2 million people crowded into less than half its territory, unless a ceasefire

Trump vows U.S. will retrieve uranium from Iran

WASHINGTON, May 21 (Reuters) - President Donald Trump vowed on Thursday that the United States will eventually recover Iran's stockpile of highly enriched uranium despite comments from Iran that it will not hand over the material. "We will get it. We don't need it, we don't

First Gaza flotilla activists arrive in Istanbul from Israel: AFP

The first of hundreds of Gaza flotilla activists began arriving at Istanbul airport Thursday after being arrested then deported from Israel, an AFP correspondent said. The 422 activists, among them 85 Turkish nationals, were flown from southern Israel on three planes chartered

Israel targets Turkey charity amid Gaza flotilla tensions

The request, published in Israeli media, marks a further escalation in tensions with Turkey amid disputes over Gaza aid operations.

Iran propaganda push seeks to project unity despite internal divisions

By Parisa Hafezi and Angus McDowall DUBAI, May 21 (Reuters) - Iran's leaders are splashing propaganda posters across Tehran boasting of national unity and victory over a global superpower, just months after crushing protests with mass killings and as war worsens economic pain

Egypt's Great Pyramid of Giza built with sophisticated quake resistance

By Will Dunham May 21 (Reuters) - If ever there were a structure built to stand the test of time, it surely would be the Great Pyramid of Giza, a transcendent monument to human imagination and ambition. Since being erected during the Old Kingdom period of ancient Egypt, it has

Chinese container ship among few vessels crossing Hormuz amid deadlock to open waterway

LONDON, May 21 (Reuters) - A Chinese-operated container ship was among the few to cross the Strait of Hormuz in the past 24 hours, data showed on Thursday, as uncertainty grows around reopening the critical waterway with talks over a deal between the U.S. and Iran deadlocked.

Ethiopia accuses Egypt of obstructing Red Sea access bid: What to know

The remark came days after a new maritime cooperation agreement between Cairo and Asmara.

Iran’s Hormuz authority declares control over ports in UAE, Oman: What to know

The Persian Gulf Strait Authority released a map showing its “areas of oversight” extending to the United Arab Emirates’ ports, eliciting a rebuke from a senior Emirati official.

Turkey court annuls main opposition party's 2023 congress in latest blow

ANKARA, May 21 (Reuters) - A Turkish court on Thursday annulled the 2023 congress of the main opposition Republican People's Party in which current chairman Ozgur Ozel was elected, dealing a potentially big blow to President Tayyip Erdogan's political challengers. The Ankara

Turkish court ousts CHP leadership amid opposition crackdown

The ruling marks a major escalation in the legal crackdown on the CHP, which has already been hit by the imprisonment of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, its presidential candidate.

Israel deports 37 French nationals on Gaza flotilla to Turkey, France says

PARIS, May 21 (Reuters) - Israeli authorities are currently deporting 37 French nationals who were part of the group of activists on board a Gaza-bound aid flotilla to Turkey, France's Foreign ministry spokesperson said on Thursday. Speaking to reporters in a weekly news

Italy and Spain urge EU sanctions on Israeli minister for activists' treatment

Italy and Spain have called on the EU to sanction Israel's far-right national security minister, who posted a video showing detained activists from a Gaza-bound flotilla forced to their knees with hands bound. A global outcry erupted after Israeli minister Itamar Ben Gvir

EU countries urge sanctions on Israeli minister for activists' treatment

Italy, Ireland and Spain have called on the EU to sanction Israel's far-right national security minister, who posted a video showing detained activists from a Gaza-bound flotilla forced to their knees with hands bound. A global outcry erupted after Israeli minister Itamar Ben