All Middle East
- Syria's President Assad says the Arab Spring is dead
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was sworn in today for his third, seven-year term in power. He vowed to crush his opponents and pronounced the 'death' of the Arab Spring.
- Two political casualties of Gaza conflict: Netanyahu and Abbas
The Israeli prime minister and Palestinian Authority president have both argued for restraint – and are paying the price.
- Why Hezbollah is playing a smaller role in this Iraqi conflict
The Lebanese militant organization is sending a small unit to assist Iran, its sponsor, in training Iraqi Shiite militia. Fighting in Syria and spillover onto Lebanese soil take priority for now.
- Is Israel's targeting of militant homes in Gaza legal?
The Israeli military says it goes above and beyond the requirements of international law to protect civilians. Israeli and international human rights groups disagree.
- Egyptian cease-fire plan for Israel-Hamas conflict quickly unravels
Hamas faced a choice between a cease-fire that met almost none of its conditions or rejection that gave Israel diplomatic cover for further escalation.
- What children talk about when they talk about the Israel-Hamas conflict
Israeli and Palestinian parents living under fire struggle to answer their children's questions about why the rockets and air strikes are back after a two-year hiatus.
- Sprung from Assad's gulag, Syrian detainee speaks
The thousands of Syrian detainees released from regime prisons after President Assad declared a general amnesty last month now fear re-arrest. One man shares his story.
- On Gaza's southern front, Egypt offers aid, not political leverage
Egypt brokered a successful 2012 ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. Its new rulers, who ousted an Islamist president last year, may be less keen on helping Hamas this time.
- As Iraq's politicians fumble, Iran fears its own quagmire
While volunteers have signed up to defend Shiite shrines in Iraq, Iran is leery of entanglement and suspicious of US motives. Iraq's parliament remains deadlocked on forming a new government.
- Watching the World Cup in Iran: Women on the sidelines
Women and men cheer on their teams while watching the World Cup on TV in Tehran. But if the games were hosted in Iran, women would be barred from attending.
- As Hamas takes on Israel, not all in Gaza are cheering
Hamas's popularity is soaring with every rocket launch, but some Palestinians say they are bringing destruction upon Gaza for their own political interests.
- As Kurds seize Iraq oil fields, independence push exposes divisions
Independence for Iraqi Kurdistan is looking inevitable, with Kurdish fighters seizing more territory from Iraq's central government today. But one key Kurdish faction is wary of going it alone.
- As East Jerusalem seethes, Palestinian elders go unheeded
Rioting erupted last week in East Jerusalem over the murder of a Palestinian teenager. Local leaders who used to discipline angry youth are struggling to be heard.
- Why rockets fired from Lebanon don't open a new front for Israel
Today's rockets launched from southern Lebanon were more likely a one-off, intended as a gesture of support for Palestinians, than a warning of a new campaign.
- In Arabic and Hebrew media, the 'other' is absent
A survey of Israeli and Palestinian media coverage of the ongoing conflict reveals a lack of acknowledgement of the other side's suffering.
- Israeli condolence visit to family of murdered Palestinian teen meets wall of distrust
The visit showcased shared humanity, but also the difficulties of reconciliation in the current environment.
- The mother of all quizzes: How much do you know about US-Iraq relations?
A diverse Muslim nation with populations of Shia, Sunni, and Kurds, Iraq has been in the cross hairs of international conflicts for nearly a century. And its complex and at times controversial economic and political relationship with the United States continues to evolve against a backdrop of turmoil both in Iraq and the Middle East.
- Mother, father, sister, brother: The roles of Syria's refugee women
The UN's refugee agency estimates that one in four Syrian refugee households in neighboring countries are headed by women, breaking with tradition in a patriarchal society.
- Hamas unveils bigger, better rocket arsenal against Israel
Hamas rockets have become more accurate and powerful, reaching well into Israel's economic and population centers. But Israel's Iron Dome defense system has so far been able to deflect them.
- Despite reservist call-up, Israel sees ground offensive as last resort
Israel launched airstrikes on militants' homes and called up 40,000 reservists amid a dramatic increase in rockets from Gaza, for which Hamas claimed responsibility.