Latest Middle East News
IS bomb attacks on Taliban raise specter of wider conflict
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The extremist Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for a series of deadly roadside bombs targeting Taliban fighters in eastern Afghanistan, raising the specter of wider conflict between the country’s new Taliban rulers and their long-time...
Dutch court: Syrian brothers guilty of Jabhat al-Nusra roles
THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — A Dutch court on Monday convicted two Syrian brothers of holding senior roles in the Jabhat al-Nusra extremist group in their home country between 2011 and 2014, the first time Dutch judges have convicted a suspect of leadership in a Syrian extremist...
After delay, Lebanese lawmakers convene to approve Cabinet
BEIRUT (AP) — Lebanese lawmakers convened Monday to confirm the country’s new government following a power outage and a broken generator that briefly delayed the start of the parliament session. It took some 40 minutes before electricity came back on. The incident,...
Top Israeli, Swedish diplomat chat in effort to mend ties
JERUSALEM (AP) — The foreign ministers of Israel and Sweden held their first phone call in seven years on Monday, a move hailed by the top Israeli diplomat as the “relaunching of relations" after protracted tensions between the two countries. Foreign Minister Yair...
4 men charged for shouting antisemitic abuse in London
LONDON (AP) — Four men were charged Monday for allegedly shouting antisemitic abuse while driving around in a convoy in north London. The suspects, all in their 20s and from the northwest English town of Blackburn, are accused of using threatening, abusive or insulting...
AP PHOTOS: Jews redeem firstborn son in ancient ceremony
BEIT SHEMESH, Israel (AP) — Shortly after sundown, Yaakov Tabersky presented his firstborn son on a silver platter to a Jewish priest in a ceremony harking back to the biblical exodus from Egypt. The ceremony, known as “pidyon ha-ben,” or redemption of the...
UN, US, UK condemn Houthis’ execution of 9 Yemenis
SANAA, Yemen (AP) — The United Nations, the United States and the United Kingdom on Sunday condemned the executions of nine Yemenis by the country’s Houthi rebels over allegations that they were involved in the killing of a senior Houthi official in an airstrike by the Saudi-led coalition...
East Libya forces say 2 helicopters crashed, killing 2
CAIRO (AP) — Forces loyal to a powerful Libyan commander said two military planes crashed on Sunday over a village in eastern Libya, killing at least two officers. The self-styled Libyan Arab Armed Forces, led by Gen. Khalifa Hifter, said the helicopters collided in the...
Syrian, Jordanian defense officials discuss border security
AMMAN (AP) — Syria’s defense minister met on Sunday with Jordan's army chief in Amman, the Jordanian capital, after Syrian troops captured several rebel-held areas near Jordan’s border, state media reported. The Hala Akhbar news site, which is linked to Jordan’s...
Things to watch at the UN General Assembly meeting this week
UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Things to watch beyond the main speeches from leaders at this week's high-level meeting of the U.N. General Assembly in New York: — A MEETING at U.N. headquarters on Wednesday to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the U.N. conference on racism...
