Latest Middle East News
The Latest: France looks to lift some pandemic restrictions
PARIS — France's prime minister is offering some good news to a nation living under numerous pandemic restrictions, saying the country's third wave appears to have crested and outdoor café terraces, some shops and sporting and cultural activities may be able to open around mid-May. ...
General: Afghan military will collapse without some US help
WASHINGTON (AP) — Afghanistan’s military “will certainly collapse” without some continued American support once all U.S. troops are withdrawn, the top U.S. general for the Middle East told Congress Thursday. Gen. Frank McKenzie also said he was very concerned about the Afghan...
Israel says Syrian missile was not aimed at nuclear reactor
JERUSALEM (AP) — The Israeli military said Thursday that a Syrian missile that reached deep into Israeli territory and set off air raid sirens near the country's top-secret nuclear reactor was the result of a misfire and not a deliberate attack. The missile landed in...
Gunmen kill two Guard members in Iran’s Kurdish area
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Unknown gunmen suspected of terrorism killed two members of Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, the official IRNA news agency reported on Thursday. The Guard members also killed two gunmen and wounded several of their accomplices in the...
UK apologizes for racism in memorials to WWI dead
LONDON (AP) — British authorities apologized Thursday after an investigation found that at least 161,000 mostly African and Indian military service personnel who died during World War I weren’t properly honored due to “pervasive racism.” It said that number could possibly range up to...
UN concerned over halt of oil production in eastern Libya
CAIRO (AP) — The United Nations voiced concern Thursday over the recent halt of oil production at a Libyan eastern terminal and more imminent shutdowns of oil facilities prompted by a budget dispute. On Monday, Libya's National Oil Corporation said it had interrupted...
Jordan releases alleged plotters following king's appeal
AMMAN, Jordan (AP) — Jordan released 16 people detained earlier this month over an alleged foreign-backed conspiracy linked to a former crown prince after King Abdullah II requested they be let go in honor of the holy month of Ramadan. The 16, including tribal leaders...
Turkey probes cryptocurrency exchange for possible $2B fraud
ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkish prosecutors launched an investigation into a cryptocurrency exchange Thursday over allegations it may have defrauded some 390,000 investors of an estimated $2 billion. The office of Istanbul's chief prosecutor said it was probing the...
Syria receives batch of UN vaccines to speed up virus fight
DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — The Syrian government received a batch of 203,000 COVID-19 vaccines Thursday, the health minister said, part of a push to speed up a sluggish inoculation process in the war-torn country. The arrival of the United Nations-secured jabs came as a new...
Pope meets with Lebanon's PM-designate, urges end of crises
VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis met with Lebanese Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri on Thursday and urged all Lebanese political leaders to “urgently commit themselves to the benefit of the nation," as the country endures a series of crises and disagreements that have prevented the...
