When will a U.S. attack on Iran happen? Amos Harel on Israel's war jitters

App founded by Palestinian entrepreneur enjoys uptick in users as TikTok frustration grows

UpScrolled surpassed 2.5 million users amid anger in the U.S. and the Arab world over TikTok's new ownership. The app says it moderates content but promises no censorship – and has been overflowing with posts supporting Hamas and other terrorist groups. It also doesn't include

Syrian security forces enter Hasakeh city under deal with Kurds

Syrian government security personnel on Monday entered Hasakeh city, a stronghold of Kurdish forces, under an integration deal agreed with the Kurds last week, an AFP team reported. The two sides reached a comprehensive agreement on Friday to gradually integrate the Kurds'

Zelenskiy says Russia largely observing energy ceasefire ahead of peace talks

KYIV, Feb 2 (Reuters) - Russia has largely observed a ceasefire on Ukraine's energy infrastructure, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Monday as Kyiv prepared for the next round of trilateral talks on how to end the war. Zelenskiy said that Russia has not carried out any

Exclusive-Iran fears US strike may reignite protests, imperil rule, sources say

By Parisa Hafezi DUBAI, Feb 2 (Reuters) - Iran’s leadership is increasingly worried a U.S. strike could break its grip on power by driving an already enraged public back onto the streets, following a bloody crackdown on anti-government protests, according to six current and

Halt to MSF work will be 'catastrophic' for people of Gaza: MSF chief

Israel's ban on Doctors Without Borders' humanitarian operation in Gaza spells deeper catastrophe for the Palestinian territory's people, the head of the medical charity told AFP on Monday. Israel announced on Sunday that it was terminating all the activities in Gaza and the

Iran's Araghchi to meet U.S. Envoy Witkoff in Turkey on Friday, source says

The talks come as a joint military exercise between a U.S. destroyer warship and Israeli Navy vessels took place on Sunday in the Israeli port city of Eilat, according to the Israeli military

Witkoff, Iran's Araqchi to discuss possible nuclear deal on Friday, US official says

WASHINGTON, Feb 2 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff andIranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi plan to meet on Friday in Istanbul to discuss a possible nuclear deal and other issues, a U.S. official said on Monday. "The president's been

Ukraine's Zelenskiy says dignified, lasting peace realistic, ahead of talks

KYIV, Feb 2 (Reuters) - President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Monday that it was realistic to achieve a dignified and lasting peace, ahead of the next round of peace talks with Russian and U.S. officials due this week in Abu Dhabi. Speaking after discussions with his

UAE’s MBZ reportedly cancels Japan visit amid US-Iran standoff: What to know

While tensions remain high between the US and Iran, both sides are reportedly moving toward renewed nuclear talks.

Meet Kuwait’s newest ministers in latest government shake-up

Kuwait’s latest cabinet reshuffle brings on several new ministers with professional experience in their respective fields.

Gulf markets recover after gold rout, buoyed by Iran de-escalation hopes

Saudi Arabia’s benchmark stock index, TASI, rose 1.4%, a day after falling the most in nearly 10 months amid a broad sell-off in the commodities market.

Iraq's Shiite bloc holds talks with Kurds as deadlock on president, PM persists

The Shiite-led Coordination Framework reiterated its support for former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki on Saturday, despite vocal criticism by US President Donald Trump of the former premier.

Turkey emerges as possible host for US-Iran talks: What to know

Turkey is moving to host potential US-Iran talks as Ankara intensifies mediation efforts amid mounting concerns over the fallout of a possible US strike on Iran.

Report: U.S.-Iran talks could begin soon; Witkoff to meet with Netanyahu

A source familiar with the matter told Iran's Tasnim news agency that a meeting is possible between Iran's foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, and U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, though no date or place has been set. Witkoff is expected to arrive in Israel on Tuesday

EU: rejects Iran's categorisation of EU armies as 'terrorist groups'

PARIS, Feb 2 (Reuters) - The European Union said it rejected Iran's decision to consider as "terrorist groups" the armies of EU countries after the EU listed the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps on the bloc's list of terrorist organisations. "We reject the announcement of the

On edge, Iranians in Turkey watch their homeland convulse

Mahsa, an Iranian exile, nervously twirled a strand of hair around her painted fingernails, chain smoking as she contemplated the chaos in her home country from across the border in Turkey. Three years ago, the 30-year-old Tehran native fled for Van, in eastern Turkey, fed up

US envoy Witkoff to visit Israel, meet Netanyahu, Israeli officials say

JERUSALEM, Feb 2 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump's senior envoy Steve Witkoff is expected to visit Israel for meetings with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israel's military chief, two senior Israeli officials said on Monday. The officials said Witkoff's visit to

Syrian government forces deploy towards Kurdish-run city after ceasefire deal

Feb 2 (Reuters) - A convoy of Syrian government security forces moved towards the Kurdish-controlled city of Hasakah in the northeast on Monday, Reuters witnesses said, deploying under a U.S.-backed ceasefire deal that foresees the Kurdish-run regions being merged with

Factbox-What to know about Gaza's Rafah border crossing

GAZA, Feb 2 (Reuters) - Gaza's Rafah border, the only crossing connecting the besieged Palestinian enclave with Egypt, reopened on Monday for a limited number of travellers on foot after being sealed shut by Israel for nearly a year. The crossing was seized by Israel in May

Iran president orders talks with US as Trump hopeful of deal

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has ordered the start of nuclear talks with the United States, local media said Monday, after US leader Donald Trump said he was hopeful of a deal to avert military action against the Islamic republic. Following the Iranian authorities'

Iranian police detain four unspecified foreigners over unrest

DUBAI, Feb 2 (Reuters) - Iranian police have arrested four foreigners over last month's unrest, Iranian state media reported on Monday, without specifying their nationality. State media quoted Iranian police as saying the four foreigners had been arrested "in a raid inside

Russia is trying to de-escalate Iran tensions, the Kremlin says

MOSCOW, Feb 2 (Reuters) - The Kremlin said on Monday that Russia was still trying to de-escalate tensions around Iran, and that it had long ago offered its services to process or store Iran's enriched uranium. Asked if Russia was discussing with Iran and the United States the

Gaza's Rafah crossing makes limited reopening after two-year war

Gaza's Rafah border crossing has reopened to Palestinians, an Israeli security official said, with 150 people due to leave the territory on Monday and 50 allowed to enter, according to Egyptian authorities. The resumption of operations comes after Gaza's civil defence reported

Gaza border reopening long awaited by stranded Palestinians

By Nidal al-Mughrabi and Mahmoud Issa CAIRO/GAZA, Feb 2 (Reuters) - Cut off from family or urgently requiring hospital care, Palestinians stranded on each side of Gaza's Rafah crossing waited with growing desperation for Monday's reopening of the border as a delayed part of

Iran examines diplomacy with US, hopes for results in coming days, official says

DUBAI, Feb 2 (Reuters) - Details of various diplomatic processes to manage tensions with the U.S. are being examined by Iran, Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said on Monday, adding that Tehran hoped for results in the coming days. Amid a military buildup

Explainer-What's next for Trump's Gaza plan after Rafah reopening?

Feb 2 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump's plan to end the Gaza war was given a boost on Monday with the reopening of the enclave's Rafah crossing with Egypt. But difficult questions remain unaddressed, including whether Hamas will disarm. Trump's plan, now in its second

Israel expected to reopen Gaza's Rafah border crossing to Egypt, with limits

By Haseeb Alwazeer GAZA, Feb 2 (Reuters) - Israel was expected to reopen the border between Gaza and Egypt on Monday for people on foot, a move that would allow Palestinians to leave the enclave and let back in those who want to return after fleeing Israel's war in the enclave.

Russia does not want a global conflict, Medvedev says

By Guy Faulconbridge MOSCOW, Feb 2 (Reuters) - Dmitry Medvedev, a senior Kremlin security official, said in remarks released for publication on Monday that the world was getting very dangerous, but that Russia did not want a global conflict. Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine

Trump 'hopeful' for Iran deal, but warns of 'very big, powerful ships heading that way'

'Hopefully we'll make a deal. If we don't make a deal, then we'll find whether or not he was right,' Trump added.. Behind the scenes, senior U.S. and Israeli military officials have held talks and regional mediators stepped up efforts to prevent the crisis from escalating into