Islam

Empty streets, economic turmoil as virus alters daily life

TOKYO (AP) — The coronavirus claimed its first victim in the U.S. Saturday as the number of cases shot up in Iran, Italy...
22:02 28 February 2022

Virus outbreak in Iran sickens hundreds, including leaders

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — After facing sanctions and the risk of war amid tensions with the United States, Iran...
13:31 28 February 2022

Amid virus, Saudis close Islam’s holiest sites to foreigners

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Saudi Arabia on Thursday closed off the holiest sites in Islam to foreign pilgrims ov...
18:21 27 February 2022

Q&A: Saudis halt Muslim pilgrimage over virus fears

CAIRO (AP) — Saudi Arabia’s unprecedented decision to halt the umrah pilgrimage amid the global outbreak of a new virus ...
15:56 27 February 2022

Virus response in Mideast tainted by political views of Iran

BEIRUT (AP) — In the Middle East, even virus outbreaks are political. The coronavirus has killed 26 people in Iran -- th...
15:24 27 February 2022

AP Interview: Al-Qaida, IS affiliates team up in West Africa

THIES, Senegal (AP) — The only place in the world where fighters linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State group are coop...
9:32 27 February 2022

US leads training exercises in Africa amid focus on Sahel

THIES, Senegal (AP) — Crouching in the sparse brush, maneuvering into formations through a divide, and then shooting at ...
7:43 22 February 2022

AP FACT CHECK: Trump’s wall claim is beyond ‘redemption’

WASHINGTON — On the eve of the New Hampshire primary, President Donald Trump told a rally that people who are in the United States illegally are payin...
13:34 15 February 2022

US military downgrades efforts against extremists in Sahel

JOHANNESBURG — The U.S. military has switched from trying to degrade Islamic extremist groups in West Africa’s sprawling Sahel region to merely trying...
9:34 12 February 2022

US to seek more help from NATO to counter Islamic State

BRUSSELS, Belgium — US Defense Secretary Mark Esper said Tuesday he is looking to NATO allies for more help countering the Islamic State extremist gro...
20:12 11 February 2022

Poll pitch for India’s capital plays up growing divisions

NEW DELHI — Campaigning for a crucial state election in India's capital has reached a fever pitch as members of the Hindu nationalist-led government c...
5:01 7 February 2022

Not a break, but fissures in US-Iraqi military alliance

BAGHDAD — A new watchtower rose over an American military base in northern Iraq, and cranes lifted hefty slabs of concrete to reinforce the barricades...
7:42 6 February 2022

Iraqi officials say Baghdad wants to minimize reliance on US

BAGHDAD — The Iraqi government has told its military not to seek assistance from the U.S.-led coalition in operations against the Islamic State group,...
18:41 5 February 2022

Turkey deploys extremists to Libya, local militias say

CAIRO — Syrian militants affiliated with groups such as al-Qaida and the Islamic State group are currently being sent by Turkey to fight on behalf of ...
6:11 5 February 2022

UK to end early release of terror convicts after stabbings

LONDON — The British government said Monday it will introduce emergency legislation to stop people convicted of terror crimes being released after ser...
17:54 3 February 2022

Pakistan delays decision on movie that offended Islamists

ISLAMABAD — Pakistan's government on Monday postponed its decision on whether to lift a ban on a movie that had offended hard-line Islamists in this M...
11:40 3 February 2022

Iraq says joint operations with US-led coalition resume

BAGHDAD — Joint military operations with the U.S.-led coalition to counter the Islamic State group have resumed after a nearly three-week pause, an Ir...
19:18 30 January 2022

US military chief in Africa argues for vital US presence

DAKAR, Senegal — The head of U.S. military forces in Africa argued Thursday against troop cuts on the vast and booming continent, saying strategic par...
18:19 30 January 2022

General: US committed to Syria fight; Missions up against IS

GREEN VILLAGE MILITARY OUTPOST — U.S. troops at military outposts ín eastern Syria asked variations of the same question to their top commander Saturd...
23:05 25 January 2022

Outgoing Iraq PM says US troop ouster up to next government

BAGHDAD — Iraq's outgoing prime minister said Wednesday it was up to the next government to see through parliament's decision to oust U.S. troops.
0:22 16 January 2022

Democrats differ on US-Mideast wars, with no clear exit plan

WASHINGTON — The Democratic presidential field is united in lambasting President Donald Trump’s handling of America’s military presence in the Middle ...
21:30 15 January 2022

Iran warning puts thousands of European troops in spotlight

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — A warning by Iran's president that European forces in the Middle East could be at risk if their nations join the U.S. pr...
14:08 15 January 2022

US troops in Iraq got warning hours before Iranian attack

AIN AL-ASAD AIR BASE, Iraq — American troops were informed of an impending missile barrage hours before their air base in Iraq was struck by Iran, U.S...
19:40 13 January 2022

AP FACT CHECK: Trump says Pelosi, Dems defended Iran general

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump's relentless attacks on the impeachment investigation and Democrats' stance on Iran strained the truth on various ...
5:46 13 January 2022

EU ministers support Iran deal, fear IS resurgence

BRUSSELS — European foreign affairs ministers reiterated their support for the nuclear deal brokered with Iran and expressed concerns Friday that the ...
16:55 10 January 2022

The Latest: Iran says it doesn’t want war, but will respond

TEHRAN, Iran — The latest on U.S.-Iran tensions after the U.S. airstrike that killed Iran's top general (all times local):
22:44 8 January 2022

In surprising request, Trump asks NATO to do more in Mideast

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said Wednesday that he would ask NATO to step up its involvement in the Middle East, an unexpected request from a ...
21:32 8 January 2022

AP FACT CHECK: Trump minimizes IS risk, distorts Iran payout

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump wrongly dismissed the continuing threat of the Islamic State group and spread a false tale of the U.S. paying out ...
18:22 8 January 2022