Middle East

Syria

Syrian soldiers fight their way into strategic southern rebel-held town

For President Assad’s soldiers, Russian air power has made all the difference. Syria’s military say its troops have fought their way into the

30/12/2015

Syria

US and Russia get differing results in the air over Syria

The US is claiming its airstrikes in Syria and Iraq have killed 10 mid-level ISIL leaders in the past month, notably a French national implicated in

30/12/2015

Turkey

Turkey's Erdogan slams pro-Kurdish Demirtas for "provocation and treason"

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has accused one of the co-leaders of the pro-Kurdish HDP Party of “provocation and treason.” Selahattin

29/12/2015

Israel

Israel: former PM Ehud Olmert to serve prison time for corruption

Ehud Olmert becomes Israel's first former head of state to be sent to prison as the Supreme Court only partially accepts an appeal against a bribery conviction.

29/12/2015

Israel

Former Israeli PM Ehud Olmert has bribery conviction partly overturned

Israel’s Supreme Court has partly overturned the bribery conviction of former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, reducing his jail sentence from six years

29/12/2015

Turkey

Turkish exporters face bleak 2016 as Russian sanctions approach

With Russian sanctions against Turkey coming into force now just days away on January 1 in the bazaar the cost of a dispute with Moscow has been

28/12/2015

Syria

Rebels leave Zabadani under UN-backed deal

Dozens of injured fighters waited to board buses on Monday in the rebel-held Syrian town of Zabadani. After months under siege from government

28/12/2015

Turkey

Kurdish groups in southeastern Turkey call for self-rule

Kurdish groups in southeastern Turkey are calling for self-rule. It follows a summit of the Democratic People’s Congress (DTK), a coalition of

28/12/2015

Saudi Arabia

Millions of amphetamine pills seized in Saudi drugs bust

Authorities in Saudi Arabia have reportedly seized more than five million amphetamine pills. Eleven people have been arrested, nine of them are said

28/12/2015

Israel

Israel shoots dead Palestinian brothers, aged 17 and 23

Israeli forces have killed two Palestinian brothers near the West Bank city of Nablus. They were aged 17 and 23 according to the Palestinian health

27/12/2015

Syria

US-backed Arab rebel alliance captures Syrian dam from ISIL

In Syria, the US-backed Kurdish Arab rebel alliance has captured a dam on the River Euphrates from the group calling itself Islamic State, or

27/12/2015

Syria

Syrian rebel group names successor to slain leader

The powerful Syrian rebel group Jaysh al Islam has named the successor to its chief Zahran Alloush, killed in an air strike east of Damascus on Friday.

26/12/2015

Turkey

Ethnic Turks repatriated from eastern Ukraine

Hundreds of ethnic Turks living in conflict-ridden eastern Ukraine are being repatriated by the Turkish government.

26/12/2015

Syria

Top rebel commander killed in Syria strikes

The leader of powerful rebel group Jaysh al Islam has been killed in strikes in a suburb east of Damascus. The death of founder Zahroun Alloush and

26/12/2015

Turkey

Erdogan dissuades Bosphorus Bridge jumper

A dramatic scene on Istanbul’s Bosphorus Bridge on Friday as Turkish President Erdogan dissuaded a man from committing suicide. Erdogan motorcade

25/12/2015

West Bank

Bethlehem Christmas festivities 'subdued' amid ongoing violence

Christmas Day in the West Bank town of Bethlehem saw hundreds of Christians and tourists from around the world gather to celebrate mass at the

25/12/2015

Cyprus

Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders make historic joint appeal for reunification

For the first time ever the leaders of the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities have delivered a joint televised message for Christmas. They

25/12/2015

Syria

Rebels could leave Yarmouk under UN-backed deal

An agreement to give safe passage to militants and rebel fighters in southern Damascus could come into effect as soon as Friday, says the Syrian

25/12/2015

Syria

Syrian Christians celebrate in Damascus

Just a few kilometres away from the frontline, Christians in the Syrian capital Damascus gathered for a rare celebration on Thursday amidst the

25/12/2015

Turkey

Fighting intensifies in southeastern Turkey

Hundreds of mourners have marched through streets of the Turkish city of Diyarbakir to reach the city centre with the coffins of two PKK militants

25/12/2015

Egypt

Arab League demands Turkey withdraw troops from Iraq

Foreign ministers of the Arab League held an emergency meeting in Cairo on Thursday at the request of the Iraqi government. On the agenda: finding a

24/12/2015

Saudi Arabia

More than 20 dead in Saudi hospital fire

Blaze started in intensive care and maternity

24/12/2015

Turkey

Erdogan vows to continue fight against PKK

Fighting continued in the Turkish town of Cizre Wednesday, as government forces shelled buildings they say were being used by the outlawed Kurdistan

23/12/2015

Israel

Fatal attack in Jerusalem at the Jaffa Gate

There was a fatal attack in Jerusalem when two Palestinians went on a stabbing spree outside the Jaffa gate, one of the main entrances to the Old

23/12/2015

Syria

Russia rejects human rights report which accuses it of possible war crimes in Syria

Defence officials in Moscow are dismissing an Amnesty International report on Russian strikes in Syria – saying it’s based on unfounded allegations

23/12/2015

Syria

Amnesty International accuses Russia of Syrian war crimes

Amnesty International is accusing Russia of war crimes for its attacks in Syria. The NGO says airstrikes have cost hundreds of civilian lives and

23/12/2015