All Middle East
- Al Qaeda's Zawahiri calls for war to oust Syria's Assad
In a video message, Al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri called for Muslims to rally for a war to oust Syria's Bashar al-Assad.
Syria: Why international action remains unlikely even as death toll risesThe Arab League asked the United Nations Security Council to send forces to Syria today to stop the bloodshed there. But international military action against Bashar al-Assad's regime remains unlikely.
Egyptian judges: NGO workers face up to five years in prisonEgypt is defying strong US warnings to back off on its case against 43 NGO workers, including at least 16 Americans, which has led to the worst diplomatic crisis in more than 30 years.
As Syria's Assad pummels Homs, West reluctantly weighs military optionAfter diplomatic efforts at the UN failed Saturday, there is a growing consensus that supporting the rebel Free Syrian Army may be the only way to break the stalemate between Assad and his opponents.
Who is Hamas? 5 questions about the Palestinian militant group. The Palestinian militant group Hamas has agreed to form a unity government led by Mahmoud Abbas, president of the Palestinian Authority and head of rival Palestinian faction Fatah. But who is Hamas? What is their relationship with Fatah, and what might Hamas gain from reconciling with them? Here are five key questions about Hamas.
Hamas and Fatah overcome key roadblock to reconciliationFatah leader Mahmoud Abbas and Hamas chief Khaled Meshal agreed in Qatar today that Mr. Abbas would lead an interim powersharing government.
Americans face prosecution as Egypt ignores Clinton, CongressEgypt is bringing criminal charges against at least 40 people, including some Americans, in a move that puts $1.3 billion in US military aid to Egypt at risk.
- Sunni and Shiite Islam: Do you know the difference? Take our quiz.
Most of the world's major religions are made up of multiple sects or denominations, and Islam is no different. Islam's two major sects are the Sunnis and the Shiites, and the division and interplay between the two is a major factor in the geopolitics of the Middle East. How well do you understand Sunni and Shiite Islam? Take our quiz and find out!
Syria next steps: With diplomacy stalled, escalation expectedVetoes by Russia and China at the United Nations Security Council leaves few diplomatic options available to stem the violence in Syria.
Iran's top ayatollah: We're trumping the West, but beware infighting at homeIn a State of the Union-like speech before March elections, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei vowed to press on with Iran nuclear program, but warned of internal divisions between conservatives.
Egypt soccer violence highlights instability under military ruleHundreds were injured and at least one reportedly killed in Cairo today in clashes with police. Protesters were upset that police did little to thwart Wednesday's soccer violence.
Egypt soccer riot: Have police lost control?At least 79 were killed in the Egypt soccer riot yesterday, the deadliest violence since Mubarak's ouster a year ago. Some blame the military regime for stirring up trouble to justify extended its rule.
5 ways Americans and Iranians are surprisingly similar Despite escalating US-Iran tensions, remarkable similarities between their peoples have prompted some to suggest that the US and Iran could one day be powerful ‘natural’ allies.
Religious trash talk goes mainstream in Israeli-Palestinian conflictReligious fundamentalists are gaining greater influence on both sides of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, complicating peace efforts.
Free Syrian Army: Better tool for toppling Syria's Assad than UN?As Arab and European nations push for a new resolution at the UN Security Council tomorrow, the Free Syrian Army is emerging as an increasingly influential player. But it needs weapons, money.
IAEA visit: It's showtime for Iran's nuclear denialsThe IAEA team's three-day visit marks the first opportunity for Tehran to rebut allegations of a covert Iranian nuclear weapons program that were made public in November.
- After Egypt, Tunisia, Libya overthrows, Arab upheaval begins to settle
Egypt quietly moves into another phase of voting, while the monarchs in Morocco and Jordan have stabilized their rule through reforms.
Syria uprising: Religion overshadowing the democratic pushThe fighting in Syria risks being defined less as a popular uprising against a secular democracy and more as an armed sectarian conflict.
As Israeli-Palestinian talks sink, fringe ideas gain tractionAs time passes and a two-state solution looks less feasible, Israelis and Palestinians are more seriously considering ideas like a binational state.
How Iran could beat up on America's superior militaryAmerica's defense budget is roughly 90 times bigger than Iran's. But Iran has a well-honed strategy of asymmetric warfare.
