Middle East

AP Interview: Qatar says Gulf snub in Afghan signing unwise

DOHA, Qatar (AP) — The tiny nation of Qatar expressed disappointment Sunday that nearly all of its Gulf neighbors snubbe...
10:23 1 March 2022

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

Turkey, Russia talk tensions in Syria as migrants push west

REYHANLI, Turkey (AP) — The presidents of Turkey and Russia spoke by phone Friday to try to defuse tensions that rose si...
18:23 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

29 Turkish soldiers killed in northeast Syria air strike

BEIRUT (AP) — An air strike by Syrian government forces killed 29 Turkish soldiers in northeast Syria, a Turkish officia...
23:31 27 February 2022

In scramble to stop virus, testing raises tough questions

NEW YORK (AP) — Health officials confronted tough questions and doubts Thursday about testing to intercept the fast-spre...
22:21 27 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

Tunisia approves government after months of deadlock

TUNIS, Tunisia (AP) — Tunisia has a new government at last, after four months of arguing among rival parties in the youn...
9:05 27 February 2022

UN: Rival Libyan politicians meet for peace talks in Geneva

CAIRO (AP) — Rival Libyan politicians met on Wednesday for U.N.-sponsored political talks in Geneva aimed at ending the ...
2:35 27 February 2022

Greek islanders attack riot police in migrant camp protests

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Greece’s government hoped to defuse tensions after protests over plans for new migrant camps on tw...
22:42 26 February 2022

World battles virus epidemic as cases multiply outside China

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Crews scrubbed everything from money to buses, military bases were on high alert and quarantin...
21:01 26 February 2022

An increasingly isolated Iran tries to control virus crisis

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran girded Wednesday for a long battle against the coronavirus that is spreading rap...
17:37 26 February 2022

World powers: ‘serious concerns’ about Iran’s atom program

VIENNA (AP) — The world powers that remain party to the nuclear deal with Iran expressed “serious concerns” Wednesday ab...
15:28 26 February 2022

Israeli foreign minister slams Sanders ‘horrifying comment’

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel’s foreign minister denounced Democratic front-runner Bernie Sanders on Wednesday for what he cal...
9:47 26 February 2022

Michael Douglas, Zeta-Jones to co-host Jerusalem ceremony

JERUSALEM (AP) — Hollywood power couple Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones are set to return to Israel as co-hosts...
5:31 26 February 2022

Asian shares slide on fears virus will stunt global economy

TOKYO (AP) — Asian shares slid Wednesday following another sharp fall on Wall Street as fears spread that the growing vi...
3:54 26 February 2022

As world scrambles, experts warn virus spread in US certain

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. health officials warned Tuesday that the burgeoning coronavirus is certain to spread more widely in...
22:34 25 February 2022

Mubarak, Egypt’s autocrat ousted in uprising, dies at 91

CAIRO (AP) — Hosni Mubarak, the Egyptian leader who was the autocratic face of stability in the Middle East for nearly 3...
18:36 25 February 2022

Iran says official who played down virus fears is infected

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The head of an Iranian government task force on the coronavirus who had urged the pub...
17:24 25 February 2022

Iranian clerics keep shrines open, even as virus spreads

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Shiite shrines that attract tens of millions of visitors annually have come under foc...
16:41 25 February 2022

UN chief issues 7-point ‘call to action’ on human rights

GENEVA (AP) — The head of the United Nations issued a “call to action” on Monday to countries, businesses and all people...
9:19 24 February 2022

Netanyahu banks on Trump plan to drive up pro-settler votes

ATERET, West Bank (AP) — With Israel’s prime minister eager to court the votes of the country’s influential West Bank se...
6:36 24 February 2022

Virus pushes beyond Asia, taking aim at Europe, Mideast

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — The new virus took aim at a broadening swath of the globe Monday, with officials in Europe and...
1:32 24 February 2022

Israel strikes Gaza, Syria after Palestinian rockets attacks

JERUSALEM (AP) — The Israel military said early Monday that it struck Palestinian militants targets in Gaza and Syria in...
22:45 23 February 2022

Iran says voter turnout dips below 50% in a first since 1979

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran’s interior ministry said voter turnout in recent parliamentary elections stood at 42.57%, the f...
12:45 23 February 2022

Pope cautions against “unfair” Middle East peace plans

ROME (AP) — Pope Francis has cautioned against “unfair” solutions aimed at ending the conflict between Israelis and Pale...
12:00 23 February 2022

Nine dead in Turkey as 5.7 earthquake strikes western Iran

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Nine people were killed in Turkey in a magnitude 5.7 earthquake that struck western Iran early Sun...
11:55 23 February 2022

Israel’s Lieberman stills holds keys to future government

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel finds itself in a familiar place after a tumultuous election campaign — with maverick politician...
7:04 23 February 2022