Latest Middle East News

Editorial Roundup: United States

Nov. 12, 2024 19:53 PM EST

Excerpts from recent editorials in the United States and abroad: ___ Nov. 8 The Washington Post says Democrats hurt themselves trying to protect Joe Biden Vice President Kamala Harris didn’t just call special counsel Robert K. Hur’s...

Trump builds out foreign policy team with picks of Hegseth for Pentagon, Ratcliffe for CIA

Nov. 12, 2024 19:48 PM EST

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump moved to build out his foreign policy team Tuesday, announcing he is nominating Fox News host and Army veteran Pete Hegseth to serve as his defense secretary and former Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe to lead the Central...

As the transition unfolds, Trump eyes one of his favorite targets: US intelligence

Nov. 12, 2024 19:28 PM EST

WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump has long viewed the nation's spy services with suspicion, accusing them of trying to undermine his first term and campaigns. Now that he's returning to the White House, Trump's promises to overhaul the U.S. intelligence agencies put him on a collision course with...

Middle East latest: US won't halt any weapons to Israel over Gaza humanitarian aid situation

Nov. 12, 2024 18:29 PM EST

Eight international aid groups said Tuesday that Israel has failed to meet U.S. demands for greater humanitarian access to the war-ravaged Gaza Strip, where hunger experts say the north may already be experiencing famine. However, the Biden administration said Tuesday it won't limit...

Head of UN nuclear watchdog: 'Dire straits dynamic' with Iran's nuclear program amid Mideast wars

Nov. 12, 2024 13:09 PM EST

BAKU, Azerbaijan (AP) — The head of the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog said Tuesday he's hopeful that meetings this week with Iranian officials, including the country's new president, can lead to a breakthrough in monitoring the country's nuclear program, a longstanding issue that has gained...

UN force says Israeli work on Syrian frontier saw 'severe violations' of cease-fire after AP report

Nov. 12, 2024 10:15 AM EST

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — United Nations peacekeepers warned Tuesday that the Israeli military has committed “severe violations” of a cease-fire deal with Syria as its military continues a major construction project along the so-called Alpha Line that separates the Israeli-occupied...

Middle East latest: Israeli minister reports some progress toward cease-fire but Hezbollah unaware

Nov. 11, 2024 20:00 PM EST

Israel’s new foreign minister said Monday that there has been “certain progress” in efforts to end the fighting with Lebanon’s Hezbollah. But a spokesman for the militant group said it had not received any official proposal and was prepared to wage a long war if needed. The...

Trump chooses New York Rep. Elise Stefanik as ambassador to the United Nations

Nov. 11, 2024 13:54 PM EST

NEW YORK (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump has chosen Rep. Elise Stefanik to serve as his ambassador to the United Nations, picking a loyal ally with little foreign policy experience to represent the U.S. at the international organization. “Elise is an incredibly strong, tough,...

Israel's military is building along UN-patrolled demilitarized zone in Syria, satellite images show

Nov. 11, 2024 11:41 AM EST

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Israel has begun a construction project along the so-called Alpha Line that separates the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights from Syria, apparently laying asphalt for a road right along the frontier, satellite photos analyzed by The Associated Press show. ...

Israeli strikes kill dozens in Lebanon and isolated northern Gaza while Netanyahu and Trump speak

Nov. 10, 2024 23:54 PM EST

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israeli strikes killed dozens of people including children on Sunday in Lebanon and isolated northern Gaza, as the world watched for signs of how the U.S. election might affect the wars between Israel and Iranian-backed militant groups Hamas and Hezbollah. ...