All Middle East
In Taliban’s Afghanistan, opportunity for Al Qaeda, ISISAs it exited Afghanistan, the U.S. relied, in part, on Taliban pledges to curb terrorism. The Kabul attack underscores doubts about their abilities.
First LookAfter deadly blast, urgent evacuations from Kabul resumeThe death toll in Afghanistan after Thursday’s suicide attacks at the airport has climbed over 100. The White House said more than 100,000 people have been safely evacuated from Kabul but thousands more struggle to leave in one of history’s largest airlifts.
Afghan diplomacy? What terror attacks mean for West, Taliban.Before the terror attacks in Kabul, diplomatic engagement with the Taliban had its own logic. Now, terror concerns threaten to overshadow all else.
First LookIslamic State says it was behind suicide attacks at Kabul airportOn Thursday, two suicide bombers and gunmen attacked the throngs of people hoping to get on a flight out of Afghanistan. At least 22 people have been confirmed dead and dozens more injured in the attack, which is believed to have been carried out by ISIS-K.
At newest World Heritage Site, harmony and hospitality are in the stonesIn Salt, Jordan, the world’s newest UNESCO World Heritage Site, history and architecture have created a model of interfaith and communal harmony.
Afghanistan, in person: From tribal ties to pleas for helpIn Afghanistan, the author and her then-fiancé in the Special Forces experienced firsthand the country’s close-knit tribal fabric.
How the Taliban won: They leveraged Afghan history and cultureThe Taliban’s homegrown strategy took advantage of intimidation, official corruption, and extensive networking to roll up the Afghan countryside.
First LookAfghanistan's neighbor Uzbekistan not opening doors to refugeesAs the Taliban take control of Afghanistan, thousands of Afghans are hoping to flee the country to avoid what they fear will be a return of a ruthless fundamentalist rule. But neighboring countries such as Uzbekistan are hesitant about welcoming refugees.
First LookDespite criticism, Biden stands by US pullout from AfghanistanOn Monday, following “gut-wrenching” scenes at Kabul airport, U.S. President Joe Biden addressed the public. He expressed no second thoughts about sticking by the U.S. commitment to end America's longest war. Analysts, though, say it didn't need to end this way.
Cover StoryUnder Taliban rule, Afghans warn of going ‘back to the darkness’During peace talks, Taliban leaders promised a softening of their hard-line stances. Those who have been living under their rule have not seen it.
First LookWesterners, Afghans rush to get out after Taliban takeoverFollowing the Taliban's rapid takeover, foreigners and locals are rushing to leave Afghanistan amid turmoil at the Kabul airport. Those remaining, especially women, worry about deteriorating human rights. “It feels like our life and our future has ended,” says one.
Iran’s nuclear program – and averting a Middle East war nobody wantsIran’s breakout point to make a nuclear weapon is estimated to be 10 weeks away. But as tensions rise, so do efforts to avert a conflict no one wants.
First LookUS sends 3,000 troops to begin partial evacuation from AfghanistanAs security deteriorates in Afghanistan, the U.S. announced Thursday that it will send 3,000 troops to Kabul to aid in a partial evacuation of the U.S. embassy. Officials reject the idea that the move sends encouraging signals to an already emboldened Taliban.
First LookAfghans huddle in Kabul parks as Taliban take another capitalOver 17,000 Afghans have fled their provincial homes and are taking refuge in Kabul, Afghanistan’s capital, as the Taliban offensive expands. On Thursday, the Taliban took a tenth provincial capital weeks before the formal end of the U.S. military's mission in the country.
The ExplainerWhat a hard-line Iranian president means for his country, and regionWill the shift in Iran from a moderate to a hard-liner as president create tensions with the West? In nuclear talks, it may create an opening.
Profile in courage: He defied the advancing Taliban, and paid with his lifeAs Taliban insurgents sweep across Afghanistan, the assassination of a defiant district governor is a case study in loss, but also courage.
First LookTaliban captures much of Kunduz, official says, as surge intensifiesKunduz, a provincial capital, is a strategic crossroads with access to the north and Afghanistan's capital, Kabul. Several provincial capitals have been threatened as Taliban fighters sweep through the country while U.S. and NATO troops wrap up their withdrawal.
First LookTaliban enter Afghan provincial capital, lawmaker says, continuing sweepTaliban fighters have captured large swathes of Afghanistan as the last U.S. and NATO troops leave the country. In recent weeks they have laid siege to several provincial capitals.
First LookFighting for control: Taliban kill Afghanistan's media directorOn Friday, the Taliban assassinated the Afghan government’s press director, Dawa Khan Menapal, while he was riding in his car through the country’s capital. The move comes as the Taliban continues territorial expansion with rapid speed as the U.S. and NATO exit.
First LookContinuing hostility to West, Iran swears in hard-line presidentOn Thursday, Iran swore in a new president: Ebrahim Raisi, former judiciary chief and protégé of Iran’s supreme leader. In his speech, Mr. Raisi stressed his aim to lift U.S. sanctions, repair rifts with neighboring countries, and ease a mounting economic crisis.
