Sunday, January 18, 2026

Middle East

Saudi Arabia says to slash oil output by 1 million barrels a day from July

Saudi Arabia announced the decision to expand voluntary cuts to its crude oil output from July in a bid to help efforts to reinforce global oil prices. The rest of the OPEC+ oil producers have already agreed to extend earlier cuts in supply through the end of 2024.

Saudi Arabia executes 3 men over terror charges

Saudi Arabia announced the execution of three men in the Shia-populated Eastern Region for “joining a terrorist cell, possessing weapons and armed assault on security centers and security men."

Egypt, Israel investigating deadly border shooting

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant spoke with his Egyptian counterpart, Mohamed Ahmed Zaki, over the phone, discussing the firefight at the border which claimed the lives of three Israeli soldiers and one Egyptian security officer.

Turkey’s Erdogan unveils new cabinet, replaces finance, foreign, defence ministers

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has unveiled his new cabinet, and announced new finance, foreign and defence ministers, less than a week after clinching victory in a runoff election.

Huge rallies held against Israeli PM’s “judicial coup” for 22nd week

Tens of thousands of Israeli demonstrators have rallied in Tel Aviv and other Israeli cities to protest judicial overhaul plans by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government. It comes despite prime minister’s announcement in March that the contentious legal proposals were being put on hold.

Erdogan sworn in as Turkey’s president after historic win

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan took oath as as head of state after winning a historic run-off election to extend his two-decade rule for another five years. He will name his cabinet later on Saturday, and is expected to signal a change in his approach to economic policies.

3 Israeli soldiers killed in shooting incident on Egypt border: Army

The Israeli military has confirmed three of its soldiers were killed and several others injured in “a security incident” at the southern border with Egypt earlier on Saturday.

Donor countries provide $107mn out of $300mn needed for Palestinians

The United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees has raised just $107mn in new funds for Palestinians, falling significantly short of the $300mn it needs to continue helping millions of people in Israeli-occupied territories and refugee camps in neighbouring countries. UNRWA provides services to nearly six million Palestinian refugees but is on the verge of financial collapse, the UN chief warns.

Iran’s 1st VP join’s Erdogan’s swearing-in ceremony in Ankara

Iran’s First Vice President Mohammad Mokhber joins the swearing-in of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan following his re-election for another term in office.

UN calls on UAE to ‘immediately’ release activists held past prison terms

The United Nations has urged the United Arab Emirates to immediately release 12 human rights activists, convicted in the country’s largest-ever mass trial, who have finished their prison terms.

Navy chief: Iran will soon form alliance with Saudi Arabia, other regional states

The Iranian Navy chief says the Islamic Republic will soon establish a maritime coalition with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and other states to help strengthen peace and stability in the neighborhood.

Top US diplomat Blinken due in Saudi Arabia within days

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will visit Saudi Arabia next week, his first trip to the kingdom since Tehran and Riyadh agreed to re-establish diplomatic relations.

Saudi foreign minister to visit Tehran soon

Faisal bin Farhan Al Saudj, the Foreign Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia says he will visit Tehran soon.

Envoy: Iran won’t be eliminated from reconstruction of post-crisis Syria

Tehran’s ambassador to Damascus rules out the speculation that Syria may eliminate Iran from the reconstruction of the Middle Eastern country in the post-crisis period, now that it is resuming relations with the Arab world.

WH says senior US, Israeli diplomats discussed Iran, Palestine

US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan has met with his Israeli counterpart to discuss matters concerning Iran, Palestine as well as the Russia-Ukraine war, the White House has announced.

Lebanon accuses five men of killing UN peacekeeper

A military tribunal in Lebanon has formally accused five men of killing an Irish UN peacekeeper in December. UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon shas stressed indictment is an "important step towards justice".

Young Saudi woman sentenced to more than 30 years in prison over tweets on human rights

A Saudi woman has been sentenced to more than three decades in prison for anonymously tweeting about political prisoners, women's rights and unemployment in the kingdom, the UK-based rights group Alqst has told Middle East Eye.

5 Palestinian fighters killed, several wounded in Lebanon blast blamed on Israel

The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine has blamed Israel for the killing of five of its members in a blast in eastern Lebanon, near the Syrian border.

UAE announces withdrawal from US-led maritime bloc

The United Arab Emirates pulled out from a US-led Middle East maritime security coalition two months ago after evaluating its security relationships, the Persian Gulf state announced on Wednesday.

Israel ‘in a fog’ over US-Saudi talks on normalisation

A top Israeli official played down prospects for a US-brokered diplomatic breakthrough with Saudi Arabia, describing the Israeli government as being "kept in a fog" on any progress in negotiations between Riyadh and Washington.

Israeli man shot dead in West Bank

An Israeli man has succumbed to his wounds after being shot near the entrance of an illegal settlement in the occupied West Bank, the Israeli Army has confirmed.

Iran’s Raisi calls for closer ties with Turkey during Erdogan’s new term

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi offers congratulations to his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, for his re-election, calling for the further expansion of relations between the two neighbors during Erdogan’s new term in office.

Official: Iran totally open to resumption of ties with Egypt

The spokesman of Iran’s administration says the Islamic Republic is fully open to a resumption of relations with Egypt, as Tehran pushes to boost relations with Persian Gulf Arab neighbors and other regional states.

Saudi Arabia executes two Bahrainis over terror charges

Saudi Arabia has executed  two Bahrainis convicted of "plotting terrorist operations", the Saudi Interior Ministry has announced, raising the number of similar executions to nine this month.

UN envoy urges parties to Yemen conflict to take ‘serious steps’ to end war

UN special envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg has called on both parties to the war in Yemen to take “serious steps” toward lasting peace amid intensified mediation efforts and end the eight-year conflict.

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