The U.S. State Department ordered nonessential diplomats to leave Lebanon, as Trump's threat of a potentially imminent strike, aimed at exerting military pressure on Iran to concede to U.S. demands over its nuclear program, looms over the region
ISLAMABAD/ KABUL, Feb 23 (Reuters) - At least 13 civilians were killed and seven injured in Pakistani airstrikes in eastern Afghanistan, the United Nations said on Monday, as cross-border tensions escalated following a string of suicide bombings in Pakistan. The reported toll
The leading candidate to become Iraq's next prime minister, former premier Nouri al-Maliki, told AFP on Monday that he will not withdraw his nomination after pressure from the US, while also seeking to allay Washington's concerns. Since the US-led invasion that overthrew former
LISBON, Feb 23 (Reuters) - A surge in U.S. aircraft activity at the Lajes air base in the Azores is covered by a decades-old bilateral treaty and does not require authorisation from Lisbon, Portugal's foreign minister said on Monday. The country's left-wing opposition has
The US State Department has ordered most US government personnel and their family members to leave the embassy in Lebanon.
LONDON, Feb 23 (Reuters) - Britain's populist Reform UK party unveiled "radical" plans on Monday to stop what it called an immigration "invasion", promising to create an agency to deport thousands of illegal migrants and to leave human rights treaties if it wins power. With
Israeli settlers attempted to set fire to a mosque in the occupied West Bank village of Tell early Monday, the Palestinian Authority's ministry of religious affairs said. "The Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs condemned the attempt by a group of settlers to set fire
Feb 23 (Reuters) - Iraq's foreign minister said on Monday Turkey had agreed to take back Turkish citizens from among thousands of Islamic State detainees transferred to Iraq from Syria when camps and prisons there were shut in recent weeks. Iraq took in the detainees in an
By Feras Dalatey and Orhan Qereman DAMASCUS, Feb 23 (Reuters) - U.S. forces began pulling out of their largest base in northeastern Syria on Monday, two Syrian military and security sources said, part of a wider departure as the U.S.-allied government in Damascus consolidates
Iran said Monday that a US attack of any scale would spur the Islamic republic to respond "ferociously", after President Donald Trump said he was considering limited strikes against the country. The United States has built up forces in the Middle East to pile pressure on Iran
Iran warned the United States on Monday that any attack would be met "ferociously" in response to President Donald Trump's threat of limited strikes, while students staged new protests against the Islamic republic. Tehran and Washington's threats came as both sides worked to
By Olivia Le Poidevin GENEVA, Feb 23 (Reuters) - Human rights are under assault worldwide, the United Nations chief warned on Monday, citing widespread abuses of international law and devastating civilian suffering in conflicts in Sudan, Gaza, and Ukraine. "The rule of law is
President Donald Trump's threats to attack Iran provide little detail on what the long-term US goal would be in the event of a sustained or even brief conflict. Trump sent warships and dozens of fighter planes to the Middle East and has several options to choose from that could
CAIRO, Feb 22 (Reuters) - Oman's foreign minister confirmed U.S.-Iran talks are set to take place in Geneva on Thursday. Oman's foreign minister, whose country has mediated talks between the two sides, said the talks are set "with a positive push to go the extra mile towards
A senior Hamas official told AFP on Sunday that the Palestinian Islamist movement was in the final phase of selecting a new leader, with two prominent figures competing for the position. Hamas recently completed the formation of a new Shura Council of more than 80 members, a
Oman's foreign minister wrote he is 'pleased to confirm' the talks are set, 'with a positive push to go the extra mile towards finalizing the deal.' Iran's foreign minister said earlier Sunday that he believes there is 'still a good chance' of a diplomatic solution on Tehran's
DUBAI, Feb 22 (Reuters) - Students held protests which led to clashes at several Iranian universities for a second day on Sunday, according to local news agencies and social media posts, with Iran facing a U.S. military buildup as it seeks to reach a nuclear deal with
Syrian authorities have closed Al-Hol camp, which long housed relatives of suspected Islamic State group fighters, after emptying the formerly Kurdish-controlled facility, a camp official told AFP on Sunday. "All Syrian and non-Syrian families were relocated," Fadi al-Qassem,
Iranian students gathered for fresh pro- and anti-government rallies Sunday commemorating those killed in recent protests, as fears loomed of renewed conflict with the United States over the country's nuclear programme. The initial demonstrations were sparked in December by
Iranian officials held out hope for progress towards a deal to forestall fresh conflict when talks with US negotiators resume on Thursday, despite a huge build-up of American military might in the Middle East. Speaking to CBS News on Sunday, Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas
Iran's top diplomat said Sunday that his country would strike back at US interests in the Middle East in the event of an attack, though he still saw a chance for a diplomatic resolution. Speaking to US broadcaster CBS, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said he expected new talks