Middle East

Syria

ISIL's Raqqa supply route severed - reports

US-backed militias operating in the country say they have cut the road between the jihadist-held city of Raqqa and militant strongholds in Deir al-Zoor province.

06/03/2017

Turkey

Erdogan compares German officials to Nazis over rally ban

Turkey’s president has accused Germany of “fascist actions” in a growing row between the two countries.

05/03/2017

Yemen

US targets Al-Qaeda in Yemen, as humanitarian situation worsens

This month marks two years since a Saudi-led coalition entered the conflict in support of Hadi's government. UN efforts to broker peace and seven ceasefire deals have failed to end the fighting.

05/03/2017

Syria

Fighter jet crashes near Turkey-Syria border

Rebel group claims it shot down the jet.

05/03/2017

Syria

Syria talks 'moving in the right direction', UN envoy

The UN's Syria envoy said the inconclusive talks ended on a more positive note than previous rounds.

04/03/2017

Turkey

Erdogan launches furious attack on Germany for 'aiding terrorism'

Turkey's president accused Berlin of backing terrorism over its support for a detained journalist and following the cancellation of political rallies.

04/03/2017

Syria

Little progress at Syria peace talks, but fresh negotiations planned

The UN outlines the agenda for the next round of Geneva peace talks on Syria after eight days of discussions produced little progress.

03/03/2017

Israel

Banksy's 'Walled Off Hotel' causes a stir in the West Bank

The Walled Off Hotel used to be a pottery workshop.

03/03/2017

Turkey

German and Turkish ministers agree to meet amid tensions

The row comes after at least three political rallies due to be held by Turkish ministers in Germany were cancelled

03/03/2017

Syria

Syria: Russia claims decisive role in recapture of Palmyra

Russia’s Defence Ministry claims its forces played a decisive role in the recapture of Palmyra.

03/03/2017

Egypt

Merkel offers Egypt help in stemming migration to Europe

Angela Merkel has sought to help Egypt in tackling migration to Europe as the German Chancellor visited the country ahead of a trip to Tunisia.

03/03/2017

Egypt

Egypt appeals court finds Mubarak not guilty over protester deaths

There was euphoria among a handful of Hosni Mubarak’s supporters in a Cairo court on Thursday, as Egypt’s former president was definitively cleared of involvement in the killing of protesters during t

03/03/2017

Syria

Syria: recapture of Palmyra risible, opposition suggests

Delegates for the Syrian opposition at UN-sponsored peace talks in Geneva have suggested the recapture of Palmyra is comical.

02/03/2017

Turkey

Turkey: opposition MPs lobby against constitutional changes

Turkey’s pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) has launched a campaign to urge people to vote ‘no’ in an upcoming referendum on changing the constitution.

02/03/2017

Turkey

Turkey summons German Ambassador after speech by Justice Minister to Turks in Germany is cancelled

Turkey has summoned the German Ambassador in Ankara after a speech by Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag to Turks living in Germany was cancelled.

02/03/2017

United Arab Emirates

Social media goes "Gigi" for Hadid cover on Vogue Arabia

American lifestyle and fashion magazine Vogue this week launched its first-ever Arabic issue and fashion supermodel Gigi Hadid features on its cover

02/03/2017

Turkey

Turkish-German journalist writes letter from jail

Turkish-German journalist Deniz Yücel thanks his supporters in a letter from prison

02/03/2017

Yemen

Yemen: UN says one child dies every ten minutes from a preventable disease

The time to act is now, according to campaign group Human Rights Watch. Activists say the international community must give its financial backing to humanitarian efforts in the country and is warning

01/03/2017

Syria

Aleppo battle: both sides accused of war crimes

War crimes were committed by both sides in the battle for Aleppo, according the United Nations

01/03/2017

Turkey

Istanbul shrouded in heavy fog

Officials say municipal ferry services have been affected, as well as flights at Sabiha Gokcen Airport.There was also poor visibility at Ataturk Airport but flights were not affected.

01/03/2017

Yemen

UN warns of looming famine in Yemen

A senior humanitarian official is urging both sides in Yemen's civil war to allow more access to the country's ports to let much-needed food, fuel and medicines in.

01/03/2017

Turkey

Press freedom fuels tensions between Berlin and Ankara

German – Turkish relations are becoming increasingly strained over the arrest of a Die Welt reporter in Istanbul, with Berlin summoning Ankara’s ambassador in…

01/03/2017

Israel

Israeli PM is slammed over conduct in 2014 Gaza war

"Israel needs to fix flaws" revealed in a scathing report on the conduct of the PM and that of former defence officials during the 2014 Gaza war

01/03/2017

West Bank

Police evacuate Israeli houses judged to be on Palestinian land

Nine houses in a Jewish town in the West Bank are evacuated after Israel's Supreme Court rules they were illegally built on Palestinian land.

28/02/2017

Economy

Saudi Arabia's oil price target revealed

Saudi Arabia reportedly wants crude oil to rise to around $60 a barrel this year to encourage new investment but not boost US shale oil output.

28/02/2017

Syria

Syria: at least 11 dead in suspected Idlib airstrike

At least 11 people have been killed by an airstrike in the Syrian rebel-held province of Idlib, activists say.

27/02/2017