Middle East News
Bishop Tawadros chosen as the new pope of Egypt’s Coptic Christians
Bishop Tawadros has been chosen as the new pope of Egypt's Coptic Christians, becoming leader of the largest Christian minority in the Middle East. His...
Syrian opposition groups to meet in Doha
Syrian opposition groups are preparing for a crucial meeting on Sunday in the Qatari capital, Doha, to discuss how to form a more united...
Syrian rebels capture Taftanaz airbase
Syrian rebels say they have launched a major offensive to capture key airbase at Taftanaz, in the north of the country. Video posted on the...
Syrian rebels may have committed war crimes, says UN
The United Nations Organization says a video that appears to show Syrian rebels killing soldiers or pro-government militiamen could be evidence of a war...
Abdullah Mahmoud al-Khalidi, Syrian air force general, killed by rebels in Damascus
Abdullah Mahmoud al-Khalidi, a senior Syrian air force general, has been killed in a Damascus suburb, state television reports. Abdullah Mahmoud al-Khalidi was shot dead...
Israel-Gaza fighting calmed after reaching unofficial truce
Fighting between Israel and Palestinian militants in Gaza appears to have calmed after an unofficial truce was reached following days of violence. Israel said a...
Bashar al-Assad agrees to Eid al-Adha ceasefire
Lakhdar Brahimi, the UN's envoy to Syria, says President Bashar al-Assad's government has agreed to abide by a ceasefire during the Islamic holiday of...
Emir of Qatar Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani begins landmark visit to Gaza Strip
Qatari Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani has arrived in the Gaza Strip - the first head of state to visit since the...
Wissam al-Hassan funeral followed by violent clashes in Beirut
Clashes have erupted outside Lebanese government offices in Beirut after thousands attended the funeral of security chief Wissam al-Hassan who was killed by a...
Lakhdar Brahimi meets Bashar al-Assad in Damascus
International peace envoy Lakhdar Brahimi has met Syria's president Bashar al-Assad in Damascus. Lakhdar Brahimi, who represents the UN and the Arab League, is in...
Gaza-bound boat Estelle intercepted by Israeli navy
Israel has intercepted Estelle boat belonging to pro-Palestinian activists trying to break the blockade of the Gaza Strip. The Finnish-flagged Estelle left Naples on 7...
Syria accused of being behind Beirut car bomb attack that killed Wissam al-Hassan
Anti-Syrian politicians in Lebanon have accused Damascus of being behind a car bomb attack that killed the head of Lebanon's internal intelligence in Beirut. Opposition...
Beirut: at least two people killed in Sassine Square explosion
A car bomb blast has killed at least two people in the centre of Beirut, Lebanese security sources say. About 15 people are also reported...
Saudi Arabia’s religious police to employ women
The head of Saudi Arabia's religious police has said there is a pressing need to employ more women in the force. Speaking to the official...
EU announces new package of sanctions against Iran
EU member states have announced a new package of sanctions against Iran over its controversial nuclear programme. Foreign ministers meeting in Luxembourg "significantly broadened EU...
Syria bans Turkish civil flights over its territory
Turkish civilian planes are no longer allowed to fly over Syria, Damascus has said, amid growing tensions between the two neighboring countries. The ban took...
Lakhdar Brahimi has crisis talks in Turkey
The UN-Arab League envoy for Syria, Lakhdar Brahimi, has had talks in Turkey amid rising tensions between Ankara and Damascus. Lakhdar Brahimi met Foreign Minister...
Egypt: violent clashes between rival groups in Tahrir Square
Fresh clashes have broken out in the Egyptian capital Cairo in the worst violence since President Mohammed Mursi took office at the end of...
Turkey intercepts Syrian plane suspected of carrying weapons
Turkish fighter jets have forced a Syrian passenger plane suspected of carrying weapons to land in Ankara. Military communications devices were confiscated, and the Airbus...
Turkey in new Syria retaliation
Turkish military has returned fire across the border after a Syrian mortar round again landed on Turkey soil, television channels say. The incident happened in...
Israel downs small unmanned aircraft in Negev desert
Israel Air Force has shot down a small unmanned aircraft after it entered the south of the country, the military has said. Troops are searching...
Turkey fires into Syria for a fourth day after a mortar landed near Akcakale
Turkey has fired into Syria for a fourth day after a Syrian mortar landed near Turkish village Akcakale, reports say. Turkish troops responded immediately after...
Saudi anger at poultry price hike
People in Saudi Arabia are using social media websites to protest against a sudden increase in the cost of chicken. A Twitter campaign entitled Let...
Turkey approves military action in Syria
Turkish parliament has authorized troops to launch cross-border action against Syria, following the deadly shelling of the town of Akcakale. The bill, passed by 320...
Turkey: Syrian shells kill five people in Akcakale
Turkey has contacted the UN and NATO after Syrian shells killed five people in Turkish town Akcakale near the border between the two countries. The...
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