Friday, December 19, 2025

Middle East

Trump admin. to revoke visas for PLO and PA members ahead of UN General Assembly 2025

The United States could be complicating the planned recognition of a Palestinian state at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in September by denying and revoking existing visas to members of the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) and the Palestinian Authority (PA).

US federal judge refutes Saudi Arabia’s efforts to dismiss 9/11 lawsuit

The families of 9/11 attack victims will be allowed to sue Saudi Arabia, a US federal judge in New York has ruled, in a move that opens the kingdom up to a potentially embarrassing and costly civil court case.

Hamas accuses US diplomat of justifying Israeli genocide by blaming Palestinian group for failed ceasefire negotiations

Hamas accused US special envoy Steve Witkoff on Wednesday of providing political cover for Israel's genocide in the Gaza Strip by blaming the Palestinian group for failed ceasefire talks.

Israel launches new military operations in Syria after attack kills soldiers

Israel has conducted a series of strikes on a former army barracks in Kiswa, southwest of the Syrian capital of Damascus, according to Syria’s state-run al-Ekhbariya TV.

US ambassador cuts Lebanon trip short amid protests, outrage over press comments

US envoy Tom Barrack has cut his visit to Lebanon short, according to the Lebanese government’s official news agency.

All UN Security Council members, except for US, urge ceasefire and aid into Gaza

Fourteen of the 15 United Nations Security Council members - four permanent ones and 10 that rotate - demanded a ceasefire and that aid be let into the Gaza Strip, calling the situation a "famine".

Poll finds majority of Americans disapprove of US-Israel military alliance

Americans are less approving of U.S. support for Israel’s military campaign against Palestinians than at any point since the Gaza war began, a new survey released Wednesday shows.

US sets new timeframe for ending Ukraine war

US special presidential envoy Steve Witkoff has stated Washington hopes to see the Ukraine war resolved by the end of 2025, citing Moscow’s “peace proposal on the table” and ongoing meetings with Russian and Ukrainian representatives.

Turkey begins building bomb shelters across the country

Ankara has started building bomb shelters in all 81 Turkish provinces, a source familiar with the plans has told Middle East Eye.

Six Syrian soldiers killed in Israeli aerial attack near Damascus

Six Syrian army officers have been killed in Israeli drone attacks south of Damascus, Syria’s state-run El Ekhbariya TV reported, a day after Syria condemned a new Israeli “military incursion” outside the capital.

US soldiers begin withdrawal from key Iraqi bases

US soldiers have begun withdrawing from two key Iraqi bases, according to regional media reports, in a sign that the Donald Trump administration is following through with plans to end American military presence in the Arab country.

American diplomat prompts outrage in Lebanon after telling media to ‘act civilised’

A ranking US diplomat has triggered outrage and calls for an apology in Lebanon after telling a group of local journalists to “act civilised”.

Hundreds of former EU ambassadors, officials call for tougher stance on Israel

More than 200 former EU ambassadors and senior officials accused Brussels on Tuesday of failing to act on the Gaza Strip, signing a joint letter urging the bloc to ramp up pressure on Israel to end its “brutal war” and occupation.

Amnesty says Israel’s destruction in Lebanon could amount to war crimes

Amnesty International is leading calls for a probe into Israel’s widescale destruction of civilian property in southern Lebanon, stating those actions must be investigated as war crimes.

Syria condemns Israeli military incursion countryside of Damascus, demands UN action

Syria has strongly condemned an Israeli military incursion into the countryside of Damascus, asking the United Nations Security Council to take immediate steps to halt Tel Aviv’s actions.

Gaza war will have ‘conclusive’ ending in two to three weeks: Trump

US President Donald Trump has stated that Israel has to settle its war on the Gaza Strip “soon", even as he refused to criticise Washington's ally for its devastating genocide in the enclave.

Syria interim president to speak at UN General Assembly next month: Official

Syria's interim president Ahmed al-Sharaa will speak at the United Nations General Assembly next month, a foreign ministry official told AFP on Monday, the first Syrian leader to do so in decades.

Israeli military raids Syrian town in Damascus countryside, opens fire on civilians

The Israeli army moved into a town in the Damascus countryside in southern Syria, opening fire on civilians, local media reported on Monday.

World-famous singer Sami Yusuf donates part of Istanbul concert proceeds to Gaza

British singer and composer Sami Yusuf dedicated part of the proceeds from his latest concert in Istanbul to support humanitarian aid for people in Gaza.

Israel says ‘ready to support’ Lebanon’s endeavours to disarm Hezbollah

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday stated that Israel was ready to back Lebanon's endeavours to disarm Hezbollah and offered "reciprocal measures" if Beirut followed through with plans to seize the group's weapons.

Israeli attack on Gaza medical complex kills 20, including 5 journalists

Nineteen Palestinians, including five journalists and a firefighter, were killed and several others wounded Monday in an Israeli attack on the Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, health authorities and eyewitnesses have announced.

Israeli military says razing Gaza City could take over a year

The Israeli army has warned the government that implementing its demands to demolish all of Gaza City could take several months, potentially more than a year, Israeli daily Haaretz reported.

Israeli bombardment kills six, injures dozens in Yemen’s Sanaa

The Israeli military has bombed the Yemeni capital Sanaa, Israeli and Yemeni officials say, as tensions in West Asia continue to escalate amid Tel Aviv’s war on Gaza.

Erdogan’s wife urges Melania Trump to speak up for Gaza’s children

Turkey's First Lady has written to her US counterpart Melania Trump, asking her to show the same concern for Gaza's children as she has shown for those of Ukraine.

US warns of Daesh, al-Qaeda expansion, commends partners in Iraq, Syria, Somalia

The US Embassy in Baghdad has announced that Washington remains deeply concerned about the continued operations and territorial expansions of the Daesh and al-Qaeda terror groups, stressing that it will continue to prioritize partnerships with allies and regional actors to combat terrorism.

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