World / Middle East

Ramadan 2017: First day of fasting expected May 27 25 May 2017 - 07:25 pm

The Muslim holy month of Ramadan will begin on the eve of Friday, May 26 or Saturday, May 27 for Saudi Arabia, Qatar,...

Syrian army advances south towards Islamic State-held area 25 May 2017 - 03:47 pm

BEIRUT: The Syrian army said it had retaken a swathe of territory from Islamic State in southern Syria on Thursday in a rapid...

Two bombs explode in eastern Lebanon 25 May 2017 - 03:41 pm

Beirut: The Lebanese army announced that two explosive devices exploded in Ras Baalbek town, eastern Lebanon, without causing any injuries. Two small bombs...

Palestinian hunger strikers undergo health assessment 25 May 2017 - 12:04 pm

JERUSALEM: The Israeli prison authorities on Wednesday transferred scores of Palestinian hunger strikers, including jailed Palestinian leader Marwan Barghouti, to hospitals for "health...

Egypt leader denies Sudan claims of Darfur interference 25 May 2017 - 11:31 am

CAIRO: President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi on Wednesday denied recent allegations by his Sudanese counterpart that Egypt was supporting armed rebel groups in Sudan’s Darfur...

IS executes 13 Iraqi civilians in Mosul 25 May 2017 - 11:26 am

NINEVEH, Iraq: IS militants have executed 13 Iraqi civilians for trying to flee the northern city of Mosul, a local police officer said...

EU must decide on Turkey membership: Erdogan 25 May 2017 - 12:00 am

Ankara: President Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday said ahead of crunch talks with the EU's leadership it was up to Brussels to decide if...

Iraq probes human rights violations 25 May 2017 - 12:00 am

Baghdad: Iraq's Interior Ministry said it launched an investigation into allegations of human rights violations perpetrated by its forces fighting the Islamic State...

UNICEF: Lives of 26 million children threatened by conflict 24 May 2017 - 11:50 pm

BEIRUT: The United Nation's children agency says regional conflicts are threatening the lives of over 24 million children, most of them in Yemen,...

Israelis mark 50 years since capture of Jerusalem's Old City 24 May 2017 - 07:49 pm

Jerusalem: Thousands of Israelis marched through east Jerusalem's Old City on Wednesday to commemorate 50 years since the Jewish state seized control of...

16 civilians dead in coalition strikes near Raqa 24 May 2017 - 04:46 pm

Beirut: At least 16 civilians were killed in bombing raids early Wednesday by the US-led coalition near the Islamic State group's Syrian bastion...

Islamic State kills five in first suicide attack in Somalia 24 May 2017 - 02:20 pm

Mogadishu: The Islamic State group has claimed its first suicide attack in Somalia that left five dead as it steps up activities in...

Gaza ministry warns of disaster post medicines shortage 24 May 2017 - 01:39 pm

GAZA CITY, Palestine: A senior official of the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza warned on Tuesday of a “real disaster” due to...

13 pro-government fighters killed in Iraq's Mosul 24 May 2017 - 01:25 pm

NINEVEH, Iraq: At least 13 pro-government fighters were killed in the fight to capture the center of al-Qayrawan district in western Iraq's Mosul...

Syrian settlement requires Iran's participation: Russia 24 May 2017 - 01:03 pm

MOSCOW: The settlement of Syrian crisis requires the involvement of external powers, including Iran, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Tuesday. "We...

Turkey orders detention of Ankara municipality, ministries' staff - CNN Turk 24 May 2017 - 10:39 am

ISTANBUL: Turkish authorities ordered the arrest of 139 staff from the Ankara municipality and two ministries in an investigation targeting supporters of the...