Sunday, January 18, 2026

Middle East

Sourse says no progress in Saudi-Israel détente

A foreign diplomatic source says that there has been no progress in the normalization of diplomatic relations between Riyadh and Tel Aviv, as Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) has rejected a request from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for a meeting.

Turkey says preparing plan for return of Syrian refugees home

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said Ankara is preparing a plan to make Syrian refugees return home. Around 3.5 million refugees from the Middle Eastern country reportedly live in Turkey.

Saudi Arabia executes 3 Shia youths

Saudi authorities have executed three young men from the Shia-populated Qatif region on charges of involvement in sabotage activities.

Hamas chief praises Iran’s support for Palestine

Ismail Haniyeh, head of the political bureau of the Palestinian movement of Hamas, has lauded Tehran's support for Palestinian cause, describing Iran as the main supporter of resistance groups against Israel.

Turkey’s election kingmaker throws support behind Erdogan in runoff

Sinan Ogan, who came third in the Turkish presidential election, has thrown his support behind incumbent President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in May 28 second round of voting.

Syria sets condition for Assad-Erdogan meeting

Syria’s foreign minister says President Bashar al-Assad of Syria would only meet his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan when Ankara was ready to completely withdraw its military forces from the northern part of the war-ravaged country.

Only Iran stood by Yemen in hard times: Envoy

Ye5men’s Ambassador to Iran has lauded Tehran’s unflinching support for the Arab country over the years of war. Ibrahim Mohammad al-Deilami has said it was only Iran that stood by the Yemeni people in tough times.

Turkish FM slams Erdogan rival over Russia meddling claims

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu has criticized opposition leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu for accusing Moscow of meddling in the presidential race, which will be decided in next Sunday's runoff.

Israeli soldiers kill 3 Palestinians in raid near Nablus

Three Palestinians have been killed in a raid by Israeli soldiers on the Balata refugee camp in the occupied West Bank, the Palestinian health ministry has confirmed.

Bahrain says to restore full diplomatic relations with Lebanon

Bahrain has announced it will restore full diplomatic relations with Lebanon following a row over the Saudi-led war against Yemen that saw the two countries break ties for a year and a half.

Israelis hold mass rallies against PM’s judicial reform for 20th week

Tens of thousands of Israelis joined demonstrations, now entering their 20th week, on Saturday against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's contested plans to tighten controls on the Supreme Court.

Arab League members deplore “foreign meddling” in their domestic affairs

The League of Arab States members have condemned “foreign interference in their internal affairs”, the final declaration of the LAS summit said.

Syria’s Assad gets warm welcome at Arab League summit

After more than a decade of isolation, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has been welcomed back into the Arab League. He attended the regional bloc summit in Saudi Arabia, the first since the break-out of war in Syria.

Ukraine, Syria leaders Zelensky and Assad attending Arab League meeting in Saudi Arabia

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad are attending the Arab League meeting in Saudi Arabia on Friday. 

US walks back claim Syria attack killed senior al-Qaeda leader

A man killed in a US strike in northwestern Syria earlier this month may not have been a senior Al-Qaeda leader as the Pentagon previously claimed, the Washington Post reported, citing US officials.

Israeli soldiers attack Palestinians protesting against ‘flag march’ in Gaza

Israeli soldiers have used live fire and tear gas against Palestinians who joined a demonstration along the Gaza-Israel border against the so-called "flag march", injuring several Palestinians. It comes as far-right Israelis held a so-called ‘flag march’ in occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City.

Sources say Ukraine’s Zelensky to attend Arab League meeting in Saudi Arabia

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is set to participate in the Arab League summit in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Friday, according to an informed source.

Turkey election: Erdogan rival pledges to send all migrants back home

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's challenger in Turkey's presidential race has sharpened his tone on migrants, vowing to send all asylum seekers back to their countries once elected in a May 28 runoff vote.

Syria’s president in Saudi Arabia in first visit since war

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has arrived in the Saudi port city of Jeddah, according to Al-Arabiya TV and Syrian state television. He will attend the Arab League summit on Friday after Syria was reinstated to the regional organisation this month, more than 11 years after its suspension.

Turkey vote: Kilicdaroglu accuses Erdogan of allowing unchecked migration

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's rival in Turkey's presidential race has accused the government of allowing 10 million "irregular" migrants to enter the country, marking a nationalist turn in his rhetoric ahead of a May 28 runoff vote.

UN chief holds phone talks with Iranian FM over JCPOA

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has held a telephone conversation with Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian to discuss the 2015 nuclear deal, as well as regional developments including those in Yemen and Afghanistan, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric says.

Turkey says to soon begin developing roadmap to normalize relations with Syria

Ankara will soon create a committee and start developing a roadmap for the normalization of ties with Damascus, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Thursday.

Post-9/11 wars contributed to 4.5 million deaths: Report

A new report has revealed that the wars initiated by the United States in the Middle East and North Africa following the September 11 attacks have directly or indirectly killed at least 4.5 million people and displaced millions of others worldwide.

Security beefed up in Jerusalem ahead of “flag day” march amid violence

Israeli authorities have beefed up security in Jerusalem ahead of the annual “flag day” march by Orthodox Jews and settlers amid an already tense situation in the occupied Palestinian territories.

US says working on normalization of relations between S. Arabia and Israel

The White House wants to make a diplomatic push for a Saudi-Israeli peace deal in the next six to seven months before the US presidential election campaign consumes President Joe Biden’s agenda, two US officials with knowledge of the issue told Axios.

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