Sunday, December 21, 2025

Middle East

Lebanon President says Beirut waits for ‘right conditions’ to bring all weapons under state control

Beirut will place all weapons under state control, but will wait for the “right conditions” to determine how to execute it, President Joseph Aoun has stated.

Israel considers ‘limited’ air attack on Iran: Reuters

Israel is considering a “limited strike” on Iran’s nuclear facilities in the coming months, despite Washington’s refusal to support military action, Reuters has reported, citing sources familiar with the matter. The deliberations come as the second round of the US-Iran negotiations have concluded in Rome, with expert-level talks expected to continue within days in Oman.

Thousands rally in Tel Aviv to demand return of Hamas-held hostages

Thousands of Israelis demonstrated Saturday in central Tel Aviv to demand the return of hostages held in the Gaza Strip, even at the cost of ending the war in the besieged enclave.

Gaza doctor’s ‘inhumane conditions’ in Israeli detention worsening: Lawyer

Hussam Abu Safiya and other Palestinian prisoners in Israeli-run detention centres are facing increasingly "inhumane conditions" and torture, his lawyer announced.

British MPs confronted by Israeli settlers during visit to West Bank

Two British MPs were confronted by armed Israeli settlers when visiting the embattled West Bank village of Masafer Yatta, and also witnessed hundreds of settlers storm the revered Al-Aqsa Mosque complex during a six-day visit to the occupied Palestinian territories.

Around 200 students, journalists go on trial in Turkey over Istanbul protests

A trial of nearly 200 people, among them students and journalists, arrested over Turkey's biggest demonstrations in more than a decade opened in Istanbul.

US says to bring down forces in Syria to less than 1,000 within months

The Pentagon has announced that it is consolidating US troops in Syria under the Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve, reducing troop numbers to less than 1,000 in the coming months.

U.S. congressmen visit Syria in first trip since Assad’s fall

Two U.S. Congress members visited Damascus on Friday to meet Syrian officials, the first visit by American lawmakers to the war-ravaged country since Bashar al-Assad was ousted from power by in December.

Aid groups warn Gaza Children survive on ‘less than a meal a day’

Israel’s total siege and bombardment of the Gaza Strip have left Palestinian children surviving on less than one meal a day, according to a warning by the leaders of 12 major aid groups in the besieged enclave.

Saudi Defense Minister: Cooperation with Iran cornerstone of regional security

The Defense Minister of Saudi Arabia, Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, emphasized that engagement with Iran is the foundation of security cooperation in the region, which will lead to further prosperity for the regional countries.

Hamas says Israel is “weaponising” Gaza aid

Palestinian group Hamas says Israel is openly using starvation as a weapon of war with Palestinians, a day after Israel’s defence minister pledged to maintain a blockade on aid entering the Gaza Stip.

Gaza war would ‘end immediately’ if Israeli captives released: US envoy

Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip will end if Hamas releases all remaining captives, US President Donald Trump’s top hostage envoy said in an interview with Al Jazeera.

Israel says to continue blocking aid to Gaza and soldiers to remain ‘indefinitely’

Israel's Defence Minister, Israel Katz, has stated Tel Aviv will continue blocking lifesaving supplies, such as food, medicine, fuel, and cooking oil, from entering the war-battered Gaza Strip despite stark warnings from international medical charity groups.

Israel allows dozens of Jews to pray at Al-Aqsa Mosque for first time

Israel has allowed dozens of  Jewish worshippers to enter Al-Aqsa Mosque, the largest number ever permitted by the authorities.

Gaza has become ‘mass grave’ for Palestinians: MSF

As Israel resumes and expands its onslaught on Gaza by land, air, and sea, Doctors Without Borders (MSF) on Wednesday denounced the mounting toll on Palestinian civilians and aid workers, saying the enclave has become a "mass grave" for Palestinians.

Trump tariffs will mean world uses less oil in 2025: IEA

The world will use less crude oil than expected this year due the “substantial risks” posed by US President Donald Trump’s trade tariffs to the global economy, according to the global energy watchdog.

At least 1,400 medical personnel killed in Gaza war: Health Ministry

At least 1,400 medical personnel have been killed during Israel's onslaught on Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, the Ministry of Health in the besieged enclave has announced.

Israel has killed over 70 civilians in Lebanon since ceasefire: UN

The United Nations has announced at least 71 civilians have been killed by Israel in Lebanon since a ceasefire was struck at the end of last year.

Gaza death toll surges past 51,000 as Israel continues onslaught

Israeli air attacks on the Gaza Strip killed at least 17 more Palestinians in the last 24 hours, bringing the death toll from the war since October 2023 to 51,000, the Health Ministry announced on Tuesday.

US says approved sale of Eitan PowerPack engines to Israel

The US State Department approved the potential sale of Eitan Powerpack engines and related equipment to Israel, the Pentagon has announced.

Over 70% of Gaza schools directly hit by Israel: UN

More than 70% of schools in the Gaza Strip have been directly hit by Israel since October 2023, the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) has announced.

Thousands of Israeli academics, teachers, medics sign petitions to release hostages in Gaza

More than 9,500 Israeli academics, teachers, and medical professionals, as well as approximately 1,000 parents, signed petitions urging the government in Tel Aviv to secure the release of hostages held in the Gaza Strip, even if it meant ending the war in the besieged enclave.

Gaza facing ‘worst’ humanitarian crisis since Israel’s attacks began: UN

The United Nations has warned that the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip is now "likely to be the worst it has been" since Israel's relentless attacks began 18 months ago.

Hamas says studying Israeli ceasefire proposal

Negotiations for a renewed ceasefire and an end to the war in the Gaza Strip appear to be at an impasse after Israel issued new demands for Hamas to disarm in its latest proposal that offers only a temporary halt to attacks on the Palestinian enclave, where the death toll is quickly approaching at least 51,000.

US air attacks on Yemen killed 123 people since mid-March: Health authorities

The United States’ bombardment campaign in Yemen has killed at least 123 people – mostly civilians – since mid-March, health officials in the capital Sanaa have announced.

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