Middle East

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Israel, Iran Step Back From Brink, but Risk of War Rises

Experts say next phase means uncertainty, chance of miscalculations

(Newser) - Iran appears to have indicated Israel's strike on Friday won't lead to a major escalation, and both nations apparently want to return to the shadow war they've fought for years instead of launching more direct attacks. But analysts and government officials say that doesn't mean the...

Biden Issues Warning Over Iran Attack on Israel

The US and UK have now hit Iran with sanctions

(Newser) - The US and UK on Thursday imposed a new round of sanctions on Iran as concern grows that Tehran's unprecedented attack on Israel could fuel a wider war in the Middle East, per the AP . The US Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control targeted 16...

Iranian Attack on Israel Seen as Imminent

US restricts the travel of Americans in the country

(Newser) - Iran may launch a serious strike against Israel in retaliation for the April 1 strike on the Iranian embassy in Syria as soon as Friday, US officials tell CBS News . As Israel braces for the assault, the US imposed travel restrictions on Americans in the country, per the Washington Post ...

Yemen-Launched Missile Hits US-Owned Cargo Ship

Houthis are suspected as tensions escalate in the Red Sea

(Newser) - A missile fired from Yemen struck a US-owned ship just off the coast of Yemen in the Gulf of Aden, less than a day after Yemen's Houthi rebels fired an anti-ship cruise missile toward an American destroyer in the Red Sea, officials said. Suspicion immediately fell on the Iranian-backed...

Fears of Mideast War Grow as Israel Hits Hezbollah Again

In wake of commander Wissam al-Tawil's death in Lebanon, renewed worries about entire region

(Newser) - An Israeli airstrike killed an elite Hezbollah commander in southern Lebanon on Monday, the latest in an escalating exchange of strikes along the border that have raised fears of another Mideast war, even as the fighting in Gaza exacts a mounting toll on civilians. The strike on an SUV killed...

US, UK Shoot Down Dozen- Plus Drones Over Red Sea

Houthi rebels in Yemen attack vessels as Israel-Hamas war threatens to spread

(Newser) - Houthi rebels in Yemen have launched a series of attacks on vessels in the Red Sea, one of the world's busiest shipping routes, and have launched drones and missiles targeting Israel, as the Israel-Hamas war threatens to spread. US Central Command said that the destroyer USS Carney "successfully engaged...

Israel: Body of 2nd Hostage Found Near Gaza Hospital

Israeli authorities say body of 19-year-old Noa Marciano was discovered

(Newser) - Israel Defense Forces troops in Gaza say they've found the body of yet another hostage taken during the deadly Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel, reports the BBC . The Daily Beast identifies this hostage as 19-year-old Noa Marciano, whose body "was found and extracted by IDF troops adjacent...

Hashtag Pointing to bin Laden's 'Letter to America' Explodes

TikTok removes it after the topic goes viral

(Newser) - Against the backdrop of the Israel-Hamas war, Osama bin Laden's 2002 "Letter to America" is getting renewed attention—and causing massive controversy. As NBC News reports, TikTok removed the #lettertoamerica hashtag after posts on the social media platform referring to the letter started gaining attention on other social...

National Book Awards Disrupted by Defecting Sponsors

At least 2 won't attend Wednesday's NYC ceremony, amid rumors authors will call for Gaza ceasefire

(Newser) - The National Book Awards already made headlines earlier this year, when it dropped Drew Barrymore from hosting its annual ceremony due to her resuming her talk show amid the Hollywood strikes. Now, with the event set to take place Wednesday in New York, there's more disruption, this time tied...

Research Into Early Human Violence Offers 'Stark Warning'

Study, finding peak violence in Copper Age, suggests climate change plays a role

(Newser) - There are two prevailing theories about the early history of interpersonal violence: One claims violence erupted as humans transitioned from hunter-gathering to settled communities; the other claims violence was rampant in early communities before the transition to farming led to cooperation and greater peace, per Scientific American . Yet "a...

Highly Addictive Drug Used by Militants May Be Bound for US
'Poor Man's Cocaine'
May Be Headed for US
in case you missed it
Aug 20, 2023 12:55 PM CDT

'Poor Man's Cocaine' May Be Headed for US

Officials fear spread of highly-addictive captagon amid crackdowns in Middle East

(Newser) - US officials are increasingly concerned about the likelihood of an illegal, highly-addictive drug wreaking havoc in the US as its Middle East producers, hungry for cash, face roadblocks in trafficking the drug at home. Produced and distributed by groups tied to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and the allied Hezbollah in...

Algeria Is Latest Country to Ban Barbie

But movie has made it to cinemas in Saudi Arabia with surprisingly few changes

(Newser) - Algeria has banned the Barbie movie for supposedly "damaging morals," though plenty of Algerians have already had the opportunity to have their morals damaged: The film was released in the North African country more than three weeks ago and 24H Algerie reports that screenings have been selling out...

Middle East Cinemas Drop New Spider-Man Movie

One scene in 'Across the Spider-Verse' shows a 'Protect Trans Kids' poster

(Newser) - The new blockbuster movie Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse was abruptly removed from cinema listings in more than a dozen Muslim-majority countries without explanation, apparently over the inclusion of a blink-and-you-miss-it transgender poster in the background of one frame, the AP reports. No explicit bans of the film were announced, but...

There's a Whole Lot Riding on This Big Royal Wedding

Nuptials of Jordanian Crown Prince Hussein, Rajwa Alseif to deepen nation's ties to Saudi Arabia

(Newser) - The Middle Eastern country of Jordan is hosting its biggest royal wedding in years on Thursday as its young Crown Prince Hussein exchanges vows with Rajwa Alseif, daughter of one of Saudi Arabia's wealthiest and most influential families. With a VIP list that includes US first lady Jill Biden,...

China Pushes Past US to Broker Mideast Peace Deal
Mideast Deal Brokered
by China Leaves US Out
analysis
Mar 11, 2023 5:30 PM CST

Mideast Deal Brokered by China Leaves US Out

Saudi Arabia-Iran agreement indicates nations want to negotiate without American help

(Newser) - The agreement between Saudi Arabia and Iran to resume relations, a deal mediated by China, appears to be a watershed moment in the Middle East, realigning alliances that have dominated diplomacy for decades while—at least for now—leaving the US out. The pact indicates that nations in the region...

The Saudis Appear to Be Betting on Trump
The Saudis Appear
to Be Betting on Trump
THE RUNDOWN
Oct 13, 2022 5:25 PM CDT

The Saudis Appear to Be Betting on Trump

Move to cut oil supply could be taken as a 'humiliation' for Biden ahead of midterms

(Newser) - Saudi Arabia claims the decision by the Saudi-led alliance of oil-exporting countries to slash oil production , which means driving up prices and boosting Russia's coffers amid its war in Ukraine, is a purely economic move. But onlookers say there's an ulterior motive—specifically, a plan to get former...

Biden Wraps Up Mideast Trip With a Promise

'We will not walk away and leave a vacuum,' he told Arab leaders summit in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

(Newser) - President Biden, speaking at a summit of Arab leaders, said Saturday that the United States "will not walk away" from the Middle East as he tries to ensure stability in a volatile part of the world and boost the global flow of oil to reverse rising gas prices. His...

What You Should Know About Biden's Trip to the Middle East
Biden's Last Stop in the
Middle East Is His Big One
the rundown
Jul 13, 2022 10:20 AM CDT

Biden's Last Stop in the Middle East Is His Big One

That would be Saudi Arabia

(Newser) - President Biden landed in Israel on Wednesday for his first trip to the Middle East since taking office. It's a whirlwind four-day trip: Biden is spending two days in Jerusalem for talks with Israeli leaders before meeting Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Friday in the West Bank. He then...

Biden's First Middle East Trip Raises Some Eyebrows

President will meet with Crown Prince Mohammed in Saudi Arabia, which he once called a 'pariah'

(Newser) - President Biden will make his first trip to the Middle East next month with visits to Israel, the West Bank, and Saudi Arabia, the White House announced Tuesday. The decision to pay a call on Saudi leaders during the July 13-16 trip comes after Biden as a Democratic presidential candidate...

With Cease-Fire, Biden to Stick With 'Quiet Diplomacy'

Aides say administration officials have been on the phone to other leaders 80 times

(Newser) - President Biden has said little to the nation about the Israeli-Palestinian fighting, and he's heard about that, from people who wanted him to do or say more. With the cease-fire announced Thursday, Biden stepped to the White House microphone to praise everyone involved and to offer assurances that he'...

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