Latest Middle East News

Muslim pilgrims converge at Mount Arafat for daylong worship as Hajj reaches its peak

Jun. 15, 2024 13:06 PM EDT

MOUNT ARAFAT, Saudi Arabia (AP) — Following the footsteps of prophets beneath a burning sun, Muslims from around the world congregated Saturday at a sacred hill in Saudi Arabia for worship and reflection amid a sweltering heat. The ritual at Mount Arafat, known as the hill of...

Muslims start the Hajj against the backdrop of the devastating Israel-Hamas war

Jun. 14, 2024 14:44 PM EDT

MINA, Saudi Arabia (AP) — In sweltering temperatures, Muslim pilgrims in the Saudi city of Mecca converged on a vast desert tent camp Friday, officially starting the annual Hajj pilgrimage. Earlier, they circled the cube-shaped Kaaba in the Grand Mosque, Islam’s holiest site. ...

'I am not quite myself,' Danish PM in first TV interview since assault that gave her whiplash

Jun. 11, 2024 08:32 AM EDT

COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — In her first television interview since she was assaulted last week, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said Tuesday "I am not quite myself,” but will continue to work mostly from her office. Frederiksen, who suffered a minor whiplash after a man...

US envoy calls for Japan's help to quickly replenish US missile inventory, repair warships

Jun. 11, 2024 01:42 AM EDT

TOKYO (AP) — The United States needs Japan's help to quickly replenish missile inventory and repair warships as conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine continue and Washington seeks to keep its deterrence credible in the Indo-Pacific, the U.S. ambassador to Japan said. "It is...

Blinken pushes Israel on postwar Gaza plans as pressure mounts on Hamas to accept cease-fire plan

Jun. 10, 2024 18:12 PM EDT

TEL AVIV (AP) — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged top Israeli officials on Monday to accept and implement a plan for postwar Gaza as he pushed for more international pressure on Hamas to agree to a cease-fire proposal newly endorsed by the U.N. Security Council. On his...

Today in History: June 10, the Six-Day War ends in the Middle East

Jun. 10, 2024 01:02 AM EDT

Today in History Today is Monday, June 10, the 162nd day of 2024. There are 204 days left in the year. Today’s Highlight in History: On June 10, 1967, six days of war in the Mideast involving Israel, Syria, Egypt, Jordan and Iraq ended as Israel and...

Gaza's Health Ministry says 274 Palestinians were killed in Israeli raid that rescued 4 hostages

Jun. 09, 2024 20:44 PM EDT

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — At least 274 Palestinians, including dozens of children, were killed, and hundreds more were wounded, in the Israeli raid that rescued four hostages held by Hamas, Gaza's Health Ministry said Sunday. The Israeli military said its forces came under heavy fire and...

Today in History: June 8, the prophet Muhammad dies in Medina

Jun. 08, 2024 00:04 AM EDT

Today in History Today is Saturday, June 8, the 160th day of 2024. There are 206 days left in the year. Today’s Highlight in History: On June 8, in A.D. 632, the prophet Muhammad died in Medina. On this date: In 1864,...

The US is making its biggest push yet to get Israel and Hamas to halt fighting. Is it succeeding?

Jun. 07, 2024 18:43 PM EDT

WASHINGTON (AP) — In Middle East capitals, at the United Nations, from the White House and beyond, the Biden administration is making its most concentrated diplomatic push of the eight-month-old war in Gaza to persuade Israeli and Hamas leaders to take a proposed deal that would bring a...

Blinken to push cease-fire proposal in eighth urgent Mideast trip since war in Gaza erupted

Jun. 07, 2024 13:59 PM EDT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Secretary of State Antony Blinken will push for a breakthrough on President Joe Biden's cease-fire proposal when he returns to the Middle East next week on his eighth diplomatic mission to the region since the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza began in October, the State Department said...