Middle East

Ex official: Trump admin sought to mitigate US casualties in Iran missile attack

The Trump administration asked the Pentagon to delay and downplay reports of US troops' injuries in the Iranian missile attack on a military base in northern Iraq in early 2020, former defense spokeswoman Alyssa Farah revealed. The strike was carried out by Tehran in retaliation for Washington assassination of Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani.

US sets up Persian Gulf drone task force amid tensions with Iran

The US Navy announced Thursday it has launched a new task force in the Persian Gulf incorporating drones and artificial intelligence, adding the force will rely on regional and coalition partnerships.

UN: 18k Yemeni civilians killed or injured in Saudi-led war

A United Nations panel reported Wednesday that at least 18,000 Yemeni civilians have been killed or wounded in Saudi-led airstrikes since the kingdom launched the war on its southern neighbor six years ago.

Negotiator: US support for Saudi Arabia prolongs Yemen war

A senior Yemeni official believes the Riyadh-led war on his country would have ended years ago if there had not been political and military support from Washington for the kingdom.

Islamic Jihad warns Israel not to enter refugee camp, vows repel

The Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement promised they will repel Israeli troops if they enter the Jenin refugee camp in search of the six Palestinian prisoners who escaped from an Israeli high-security prison.

‘French Cement giant Lafarge financed Daesh, intelligence in the know’

French cement giant Lafarge financed Daesh and constantly informed the French intelligence services about its relationship with the terrorist organization, according to documents obtained by Anadolu news agency.

Blinken invites Israel’s Lapid to US to discuss Iran

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has invited Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid to visit Washington soon to discuss mutual relations and issues related to Iran.

Saudi security chief fired over embezzlement

Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud dismissed Public Security Director Khalid bin Qaraar Al-Harbi on Tuesday, referring him to investigation on charges of embezzlement of the public funds.

Turkey: US should accept acquisition of Russia’s S-400 completed matter

The United States must accept the fact that Ankara’s purchase of S-400 anti-aircraft missile systems from Russia is a completed matter, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu stated in an interview with NTV.

Yemen: US, UK major Saudi arms supplier

Yemeni Minister of Foreign Affairs Hisham Sharaf slammed the pro-Saudi statements by the US and the UK, stressing that their approach is meant to keep up arms sales to Riyadh.

Hundreds of militants lay down arms in Syria’s Dara’a

Hundreds of militants have laid down their arms in the Syrian province of Dara'a after agreeing to a truce with the government forces, a source in the Syrian security forces told Sputnik.

Hezbollah praises Palestinians prison break as ‘strong slap in face’ of Israel

The Hezbollah resistance movement has lauded the heroic escape of Palestinian prisoners from an Israeli maximum security jail as a "strong slap in the face" of the Tel Aviv regime.

Israeli fighter jets bomb Gaza Strip in nighttime raid

The night sky of the Palestinian enclave of Gaza was set alight as the Israeli warplanes pounded the densely populated strip.

Riyadh executes young Shia man over ‘terror charges’, opposition denies allegations

Saudi authorities carried out the death sentence handed down to a young man from the Shia-majority Qatif region over terrorist charges. This as a crackdown led by Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman (MbS) against pro-democracy campaigners continues in the country with a long history of executions.

Iraqi resistance: Saudi Arabia, UAE run Daesh militants

A senior leader of the Iraqi Kata'ib Hezbollah resistance movement says the Saudi and Emirati spy agencies are directly running elements of the Daesh, after the terror group killed several policemen on a checkpoint outside the northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk.

Yemen calls strike on Saudi Arabia ‘natural reaction’ as US, UK blast move

Member of Yeme’s Ansarallah group's political bureau Mohammed Bakhiti termed the Sunday’s attack against Riyadh a “natural reaction” to actions of the aggressors, as Washington and London hit out at the missile and drone operation.

Assad: Syria to continue Lebanon support

Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad promised Damascus will continue to support crisis-hit Lebanon and stand with its people at all levels.

Iran Quds Force chief in Iraq

Iran’s Quds Force Commander Brigadier General Esmaeil Qaani has arrived in the Iraqi city of Najaf to offer condolences to top Shia Muslim authorities in Iraq over the passing of Ayatollah Seyyed Mohamma Saeed Hakim.

Yemeni forces hit Saudi soil facilities, with 16 ballistic missiles, drones

Yemeni army forces say they have carried out drone and ballistic missile attacks inside Saudi Arabia in retaliation for the Riyadh ongoing assault against the war-torn country, hitting facilities of the kingdom's oil giant Aramco.

Yemen Ansarullah says attacked Saudi Aramco with ballistic missile

Yemen's Ansarullah group says it has attacked oil facilities belonging to Saudi Aramco in Ras Tanura, in the east of the kingdom with ballistic missiles and drones, the movement’s spokesman said.

Several Iraqi police forces killed in Daesh Attack in Kirkuk

Several police officers were killed in an attack carried out by Daesh (also known as ISIS or ISIL) militants in Iraq’s Northern Kirkuk Governorate on Sunday.

Assad: Syrians to overcome economic woes imposed by enemy

President Bashar Al-Assad of Syria says the aggression forces have imposed an economic blockade on Syria after their failure in the militarily and security arenas, emphasizing that Syrians will be able to overcome this stage and achieve the final victory.

MP: US siege on Lebanon to break, thanks to Iran fuel tanker

A member of the Lebanese parliament says Washington's financial, economic and political blockade has started to lift with the forthcoming arrival of the Iranian ship loaded with fuel to Lebanon.

Raisi: Iraq permission must for attending Arbaeen

Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi says Participation of Iranian pilgrims in this year’s Arbaeen ceremony is contingent upon the Iraqi government’s agreement.

Report: US Leaves Syria Bases

The US has reportedly vacated three bases in Syria.

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