Wednesday, January 14, 2026

Middle East

UAE general accused of torture picked as Interpol chief

An Emirati general accused of torture has been elected as the president of Interpol, despite concerns of human rights organizations and members of the European parliament.

Hezbollah condemns Australia’s “terrorist” listing

Lebanon's Hezbollah movement has blasted Australia's decision to classify it as a terrorist organization, describing the move as "a blind bias" in the service of Israel’s interests.

Foreign combat troops to leave Iraq in two weeks

Foreign combat forces will leave Iraq in about two weeks, Baghdad has announced. Earlier, the Pentagon had confirmed the United States will end its military mission in Iraq before the end of this year.

Israel approves settlement expansion in WB, Palestinians decry

Palestinians have demanded US intervention after Israel gave the initial approval for the construction of thousands of illegal settler units in the occupied West Bank near Jerusalem.

Iran rejects Bahrain terror allegations against Tehran

Iran has categorically rejected as “unfounded” the allegations by Bahrain, after Manama claimed it has confiscated an arms and explosives cache, originating from Iran.

Iran’s deputy FM meets top UAE officials

Iran's top nuclear negotiator Ali Bagheri held talks with senior Emirati officials on Wednesday during a visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), state news agency WAM reported.

‘UK blacklisting of Hamas goes against international law’

The representative of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement in Tehran has called on the international community to take serious action to condemn Britain for blacklisting the Hamas resistance movement as a terrorist group.

Apple sues Israeli spyware company over iPhone hacking

Apple has filed a lawsuit against NSO Group, the Israeli spyware developer blacklisted by the United States, accusing the firm of targeting and surveilling Apple users.

UN: Yemen war deaths to reach 377k by year’s end

The death toll from Yemen’s war will reach 377,000 by the end of 2021, including those killed as a result of indirect and direct causes, a new United Nations report has projected. The report estimates some 1.3 million people will die by 2030 if the conflict drags on.

Turks call for govt. resignation over economic meltdown

Demonstrations were held in the Turkish cities of Istanbul and Ankara on Tuesday night following the lira's historic crash. People demanded the Turkish government's resignation in the face of the economic crisis.

2 civilians killed in Israeli attack on Syria

An Israeli air raid on a Syria's central region killed two civilians and injured several others, Syria’s official news agency SANA reported on Wednesday.

Putin: Russia stance on Palestinian unchanged

Moscow’s stance on the Palestinian issue remains the same, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated during a meeting with Palestinian Authority chief, Mahmoud Abbas, in Sochi on Tuesday.

Largest US base in Syria under rocket attacks

A multiple rocket attack took place on the largest American airbase in eastern Syria on Tuesday. Damascus views the US military presence on Syrian soil as an attack on the Arab country's sovereignty.

Ex-fighters say US-backed Kurds releasing prisoners for money

Former Daesh fighters say the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), backed by the US, are charging $8,000 per person to free militants from Syrian jails, according to a report.

Saudi-led coalition pounds Yemen’s Sanaa

Explosions have rocked the northern neighborhoods of Yemeni capital Sanaa following air raids by the Riyadh-led coalition.

Iraq launches nationwide military operation against Daesh

The Iraqi Army has begun a nationwide military campaign to hunt down Daesh militants across the country.

EU diplomats denounce Israeli settlement policy in WB

Heads of missions and representatives from the European Union (EU) and like-minded countries have affirmed strong opposition to Israeli settlement expansion in the West Bank.

Iraq rejects normalization with Israel

Baghdad doesn’t plan to normalize ties with Israel, Iraq’s Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein said. The top diplomat has also confirmed US combat forces will leave the country at the end of the year.

Yemen vows to proceed with more anti-Saudi strkes

A senior Yemeni official has warned Saudi Arabia of “more painful and crippling” counterattacks in case Riyadh presses ahead with its war and siege against its neighbor.

Abbas: US to fulfill commitments under Biden

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has called on the Biden administration to live up to its commitments regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflicts.

Israeli troops kill Palestinian in Jerusalem

Israeli forces have shot dead a Palestinian man in the Old City of al-Quds. It comes amid tensions over settlement expansion plans and forced expulsion of Palestinian families.

“Israel nabs over 1,100 Palestinian kids in 2021”

Israeli forces have detained more than 1,100 Palestinian children since the beginning of this year, according to a Palestinian rights group.  

Turkish jets launch missile strike in northern Iraq

Turkish warplanes have heavily bombed purported hideouts of the Kurdish fighters in northern Iraq.

“US military mission in Iraq to be completed in 2021”

The United States will end its military mission in Iraq before the end of this year, the Pentagon has confirmed.

“70% of Lebanese cannot afford medicine”

70 percent of the Lebanese cannot afford buying medicine following the lifting of subsidies and the sharp increase in prices, head of Lebanon’s parliamentary health committee Asem Araji has confirmed.

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