Thursday, January 15, 2026

Middle East

Report: Saudi dissidents ‘sexually assaulted and murdered’ in prison

Prisoners held for opposing the government in Saudi Arabia are being murdered, sexually assaulted and inflicted with “sheer” brutality, according to a new report.

UN confirms Israeli troops fired shots that killed Al Jazeera correspondent in WB

The United Nations has announced that information it had gathered showed that the bullets that killed Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh in the West Bank on May 11 were fired by Israeli forces.

Report: US developing ‘normalization roadmap’ for Saudi Arabia, Israel

The White House has been working on a “road map for normalization” between Israel and Saudi Arabia ahead of US President Joe Biden’s visit to the Middle East next month, according to four US sources briefed on the issue.

Sadr: Iran never meddled in Iraqi politics or pressured Shia groups

Senior Iraqi Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr roundly dismisses claims of Iranian “meddling” in the affairs of his country, saying the neighboring state never exerted any pressure on any Shia group in Iraq.

MbS visits Turkey for first time since Khashoggi murder

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman arrived in Turkey on Wednesday for the first time in years for talks with President Tayyip Erdogan aimed at fully normalising ties that were ruptured after the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

Israeli Knesset votes to dissolve

Israel moved closer on Wednesday to a fifth election in less than four years after lawmakers gave an initial nod to dissolve the parliament.

Analyst: Biden using Saudi trip as platform to win 2nd term

US President Joe Biden, who as a presidential candidate had vowed to make Saudi Arabia a “pariah”, is pursuing a multi-pronged agenda by embarking on a controversial trip to the kingdom, an Iranian political analyst says.

Iran’s Tasnim reporter abducted, beaten in WB

A Palestinian reporter working for Iran’s Tasnim News Agency was abducted and beaten over the coverage of a demonstration in the occupied West Bank city of Nablus.

Israel coalition moves to dissolve parliament

Israeli legislators will vote to dissolve the parliament, opening the way for a fifth election in three years. It comes following weeks of pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett’s fragile governing coalition.

Iran FM: Presence of Zionists causing sabotage in region

The Iranian foreign minister has told his Emirati counterpart that the presence of the Zionist regime in the region is destabilizing and causes insecurity, terror and sabotage in the entire region.

‘Saudi-led forces violated Yemen truce 103 times in 24 hours’

The Saudi-led military coalition waging war on Yemen has reportedly violated a UN-mediated ceasefire 103 times over the past day by dispatching spy aircraft into the country’s airspace and conducting deadly artillery attacks there.

Iran FM calls for dialogue among regional countries

The Iranian foreign minister, in a phone conversation with his Omani opposite number, called for dialogue among regional countries aimed at establishing peace and security.

3 Palestinians killed by Israeli troops in WB

Israeli forces killed three young Palestinians and injured around a dozen more during a military raid on the Jenin refugee camp in the northern part of the West Bank on Friday morning.

US says Daesh leader captured in Syria raid

A top Daesh leader has been arrested in an American military ground raid in northwestern Syria, according to the US-led forces.

White House confirms Biden upcoming visit to Israel, Saudi Arabia

President Joe Biden will make his first trip to the Middle East next month with visits to Israel, the occupied West Bank and Saudi Arabia, the White House confirmed Tuesday. Talks over Iran will be among the topics to be discussed during Biden’s Middle East visit in mid-July.

Expert: US needs oil, Biden sinking

The high inflation and the soaring fuel prices in the US are gnawing away at President Joe Biden’s popularity, so he is going back on his election campaign promises to find new financial resources, a political expert says.

US says to help integrate Israel, Arab states’ air defenses

Bipartisan US lawmakers from both houses of the Congress on Thursday introduced legislation aimed at bolstering defense cooperation between Israel and several Arab states with the Pentagon's explicit involvement, in order to "thwart threats from Iran and its proxies."

“Efforts underway to arrange meeting between Iranian, Saudi FMs”

A Kuwaiti media outlet says efforts have begun to arrange a meeting between the foreign ministers of Iran and Saudi Arabia in Baghdad.

UN says Israel has “no intention of ending occupation”

An independent commission of inquiry set up by the UN Human Rights Council announced that Israel must do more to end the occupation of the territories Palestinian leaders want for a future state. The report cites evidence that Israel has “no intention of ending the occupation.”

Iraqi PM: ‘Remarkable progress’ in Iran-Saudi talks

The Iraqi prime minister says diplomatic discussions between Tehran and Riyadh to iron out differences have made ‘remarkable progress’, adding talks have reached ‘advanced stages’.

Saudi Arabia seizes Yemen-bound fuel ship in violation of truce

The Yemen Petroleum Company (YPC) announced the Saudi-led coalition has banned a Yemen-bound ship carrying tons of fuel from docking at Hudaydah Port in violation of a UN-brokered ceasefire agreement.

Families of 9/11 victims press Biden over Saudi meeting

A group representing the families and loved ones of the victims of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks wrote an open letter to President Joe Biden over his reported upcoming visit to Saudi Arabia.

Saudi FM: Our hands are extended toward Iran

Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan has said talks with Iran must be based on the shared stance of Persian Gulf countries, adding “Our hands are extended toward Iran”.

Israeli settlers, army troops storm al-Aqsa Mosque ahead of flag march

Dozens of Israeli settlers, escorted by military forces, stormed the al-Aqsa Mosque compound in the occupied Old City of al-Quds on Sunday morning.

Israeli forces kill Palestinian teen in WB

A Palestinian teenager has been killed by Israeli troops in the village of al-Khader, south of the occupied West Bank, local media reported, citing the Palestinian ministry of health.

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