Middle East

Israel

Jerusalem council axes new building permits after Netanyahu intervention

Plans for hundreds of new homes for Jews in mainly Arab East Jerusalem have been dropped by the city council on the personal request of the Israeli prime minister.

28/12/2016

Syria

Turkey and Russia reportedly strike new Syria ceasefire plan

Reports say the plan aims to expand the ceasefire that was put in place in Aleppo to allow for civilian and rebel evacuations

28/12/2016

Turkey

USA calls 'ludicrous' Turkey's claim it backs terror groups in Syria

Turkish President Erdogan said on Tuesday he had evidence the U.S.-led coalition supports terrorists in Syria, including ISIL and the Kurdish militant groups YPG and PYD.

28/12/2016

Sport

Ronaldo scoops another individual award at Globe Soccer ceremony

Cristiano Ronaldo will have to make more room in his trophy cabinet after the Portugual international was named Globe Soccer player of the year.

27/12/2016

West Bank

Palestinian president hails historic UN condemnation of Israel

UN resolution was possible when the US broke with past practice and abstained during voting in the Security Council

27/12/2016

Syria

Russia says Syrian government and opposition in talks

The Syrian army has intensified its aerial bombing of rebel-held positions close to Damascus.

27/12/2016

Turkey

First trial related to Turkey's failed coup begins near Istanbul

Twenty nine police officers charged with disobeying orders have appeared in court

27/12/2016

Turkey

Turkey cafe boss arrested for 'cup of tea insult' against the president

The manager of a cafeteria at a Turkish opposition newspaper has reportedly been arrested after saying he would refuse to serve President Recep Tayyip Erdogan a cup of…

26/12/2016

Syria

Syria: dozens of civilians killed by ISIL attack in Al-Bab - Turkish army

At least 30 civilians were killed and many more wounded in the northern Syrian city of al-Bab in an attack by the Islamic State group (ISIL) on Sunday, the Turkish army has said in a…

26/12/2016

Syria

Aleppo celebrates Christmas as Assad visits Damascus convent

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his family visited a convent north of Damascus on Christmas day.

26/12/2016

Israel

Israel's Netanyahu summons diplomats over UN Resolution

Israel summoned diplomats of 10 of the 14 nations which voted for last week’s UN Resolution condemning Israeli settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

26/12/2016

Israel

Israeli PM Netanyahu to re-assess UN ties

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has reacted angrily to the US abstention on a UN resolution condeming settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

24/12/2016

Syria

With Aleppo battle won, Syria and Russia look to 'next stage'

The rubble of war is being cleared from the streets of eastern Aleppo, after the last groups of rebels were removed from the city this week.

24/12/2016

Syria

Putin announces Syria peace talks in Kazakh capital as residents return to Aleppo

Russia, Iran, Turkey and President Bashar al-Assad have all agreed to meet in Kazakhstan’s capital Astana to try to end the conflict in Syria, President Vladimir Putin has…

23/12/2016

Syria

Aleppo: then and now

Once Syria’s most populous city, years of bloody conflict have left Aleppo completely destroyed.

23/12/2016

Syria

'Dozens of civilians killed' by Turkish airstrikes in Syria

At least 88 civilians have died in Turkish airstrikes in Syria, a war monitor is reporting.

23/12/2016

Syria

Syrian army retakes full control of Aleppo

It's a crushing victory for President Bashar al-Assad - the biggest in the more than five-year civil war.

22/12/2016

Syria

Sixteen Turkish troops confirmed dead after fierce fighting with ISIL in Syria

The number of Turkish soldiers killed in Syria following fierce fighting with ISIL has risen from 14 to 16, Ankara has confirmed.

22/12/2016

Syria

Syria's tweeting girl, Bana Alabed, speaks about life in Aleppo

The Syrian girl who gained global attention via Twitter has spoken about life in Aleppo and what motivated her to tell the world her story.

22/12/2016

Turkey

Turkish security over Russian ambassador's murder called into question

Moscow has called Andrei Karlov's assassination 'a blow to Turkey's prestige' and has sent its own investigators to Ankara.

22/12/2016

Syria

After the battle, Aleppo shows its scars

Before the war, Aleppo’s ancient walled citadel drew in armies of visitors to one of the Middle East’s greatest treasures.

22/12/2016

Turkey

Gülen denies involvement in murder of Russian envoy to Turkey

Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan said there was "no doubt" the policeman who carried out the attack had ties to exiled cleric Fethullah Gülen, his archenemy.

22/12/2016

Syria

Aleppo evacuation 'to continue until Friday' - Red Cross

The ICRC says more than 4,000 fighters were moved out of the Syrian city overnight, as winter weather slows up the evacuation process.

22/12/2016

Syria

Bloody battle for Syria's al-Bab as Turkey tightens grip against ISIL

Fourteen Turkish soldiers and nearly 140 jihadist militants were killed on Tuesday as Turkey's 'Euphrates Shield' operation intensified.

22/12/2016

Syria

UN probe unable to apportion blame in Aleppo convoy bombing

A convoy that was bombed while trying to take aid into the besieged city of Aleppo last September was hit by an air strike but its not known who was responsible.

22/12/2016

Turkey

Funeral of Russia's murdered envoy takes place in Moscow today

Books of condolence have attracted queues of visiters at embassy facilities in Turkey as people pay tribute to the Russian envoy who was shot dead by a gunman in Ankara on…

21/12/2016