Middle East News
Bashar al-Assad says Syrian government needs more time to win the battle against rebels
President Bashar al-Assad has said Syrian government needs more time to "win the battle" against rebel forces. In an interview with pro-government al-Dunya TV, Bashar...
Rachel Corrie’s death was accidental, Israeli court rules
A Haifa court has ruled that the state of Israel was not responsible for the death of US activist Rachel Corrie, who was killed in...
Syrian Army helicopter crashes in Damascus
Syrian opposition activists say they have shot down a military helicopter over the capital, Damascus. The Free Syrian Army said the aircraft had been firing...
Syrian opposition say scores of bodies have been found near Damascus
Syrian opposition activists say scores of bodies have been found in a town near the capital, Damascus, accusing government troops of a "massacre". Many of...
More than 200,000 Syrian refugees fled to neighboring countries
The United Nations refugee agency says that more than 200,000 Syrians have fled to neighboring countries as the conflict has intensified. The UNHCR said the...
UK joins US in warning Syria over chemical weapons use
The UK has decided to join the US in warning Syria that the use or threat of chemical weapons would force them "to revisit...
Russia warns against US unilateral action over Syrian crisis
Russia has warned against unilateral action in Syria after President Barack Obama said the US might intervene militarily if Damascus used chemical weapons on...
Barack Obama warns Syria’s chemical weapons use may spark US intervention
President Barack Obama has said the use of chemical weapons by Syria would be a "red line" that would change his thinking on intervention...
Bashar al-Assad in rare public appearance at al-Hamad mosque
Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad has made his first appearance in public since a bomb attack in Damascus last month killed several senior officials. State TV...
Al-Qaeda attacks Yemeni intelligence headquarters of Aden city
Suspected Al-Qaeda militants have attacked the intelligence headquarters of Yemen's southern city of Aden killing 14 people, officials say. The militants attacked the building from...
Lakhdar Brahimi confirmed as new UN Syria envoy
Algerian diplomat Lakhdar Brahimi has been appointed as the new UN-Arab League envoy for Syria, officials have confirmed. Lakhdar Brahimi, 78, will succeed Kofi Annan,...
UN ends observer mission in Syria
The United Nations has decided to end its military observer mission in Syria, days before its mandate expired. A small, civilian office will be set...
Four Arab states urge their citizens to leave Lebanon over Syria conflict
Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar and Kuwait have urged their citizens to leave Lebanon amid signs that the conflict in Syria...
Large explosion in central Damascus close to a military compound
A large explosion has rocked Syrian capital Damascus striking close to a military compound, near a hotel used by the UN's observer mission. Syrian state...
Iran trains Syrian pro-Assad forces, says General Martin Dempsey
US top military officer General Martin Dempsey has claimed that Iran is helping to build and train a militia in Syria to prop up...
Riad Hijab: “Bashar al-Assad regime is collapsing morally, financially and militarily”
Former Syrian PM Riad Hijab, who defected to Jordan last week, has claimed that President’s Bashar al-Assad regime is collapsing "morally, financially and militarily". Speaking...
Syrian rebels shoot down fighter jet near Iraqi border
Syrian rebels have produced footage of a man they claim is the captured pilot of a fighter jet that went down in the east...
Mohammed Mursi retires army chief Mohamad Hussein Tantawi
Egypt’s President Mohammed Mursi has ordered the retirement of the powerful head of the country's armed forces, Field Marshal Mohamad Hussein Tantawi, a presidential...
Arab League calls emergency talks over Syrian crisis
Foreign ministers from the Arab League are due to meet in the Saudi city of Jeddah for talks over Syrian crisis. The ministers are expected...
Iran earthquakes death toll rises to at least 250 as search goes on
Iranian rescue teams are searching through the rubble of collapsed buildings for survivors from two strong earthquakes which left at least 250 people dead. The...
Saudi Arabia plans women-only city building in a bid to allow more females to pursue a career
Saudi Arabia is planning to build a new city exclusively for women as it bids to combine strict Sharia law and career minded females,...
Iran earthquakes leave at least 87 people dead and more than 400 injured near Tabriz
Two strong earthquakes have hit north-western Iran, leaving at least 87 people dead and 400 more injured, according to state TV. The quakes struck near the...
Hillary Clinton arrives in Turkey for Syria talks
Hillary Clinton has arrived in Turkey for talks on the worsening crisis in neighboring Syria. The US Secretary of State will meet Turkish leaders as...
Egypt’s Bedouin tribal leaders back Sinai offensive
Egypt's Bedouin tribal leaders in Sinai peninsula have agreed to help restore security in the lawless border area with the Gaza Strip and Israel. In...
Lakhdar Bahrimi to be appointed as UN-Arab League envoy for Syria
Algerian diplomat Lakhdar Brahimi is expected to be appointed as the new UN-Arab League envoy for Syria, according to diplomats. If confirmed, Lakhdar Brahimi would...
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