All Middle East
- Airstrike kills five in international mobile medical team in northern Syria
The Paris-based International Union of Medical Care and Relief Organizations (UOSSM) said the attack Tuesday night leveled a mobile medical unit near Aleppo. The attack follows a Monday night airstrike on a Syrian Arab Red Crescent aid convoy.
- Aid convoy attacked as Syria calls cease-fire finished
The U.N. and Red Crescent convoy was delivering assistance for 78,000 people in the town of Uram al-Kubra, west of Aleppo city.
- In a first for Middle East politics, Christians and Islamists stump together
A major Islamist party in Jordan is fielding four Christians among its list of candidates for Tuesday's parliamentary election. Muslim candidates – and voters – are coming out to support them.
- Persian Gulf incidents spike, sending message from Iran hardliners
Threatening encounters between the US and Iran have risen recently in the Persian Gulf, with at least 32 reported so far this year, compared with 23 in all of 2015.
- Moscow says strikes on Syria army threaten U.S.-Russia ceasefire plan
The U.S.-led coalition air strikes, killing more than 60 Syrian soldiers on Saturday, borders on "connivance with Islamic State terrorists," the Russian Foreign Ministry said. Violence has restricted the delivery of humanitarian aid throughout the ceasefire.
- Would decentralizing Syria offer a path to peace?
Handing off more power to localities is popular with many Syrians. But they also want a single, unified country, and they suspect that decentralization would end up splitting the country entirely.
- First LookSyria ceasefire: Will humanitarian aid reach people?
A number of physical, political, and bureaucratic roadblocks have prevented food, medical items, and other necessities from reaching civilians in besieged zones during the seven-day truce.
- Syrian cease-fire: US, Russian leverage with warring sides faces severe test
The US-Russian cease-fire deal is threatened by deep hostility and mistrust between Syrian rebels and the regime, as well as a perception that the deal is weighted in favor of Assad.
- Iranians mark Feast of Sacrifice as day of charity rooted in history
At a charity foundation south of Tehran, hundreds of donated sheep are slaughtered for Eid al-Adha, a feast that recalls God's test of Abraham's faith.
- Turkish air strikes kill three suspected PKK militants in southeast
The air strikes came a day after suspected PKK militants detonated a car bomb near local government offices.
- Syria ceasefire takes effect with Assad emboldened, opposition wary
Rebel groups fighting to topple President Bashar al-Assad issued a joint statement listing deep reservations with the agreement they described as unjust.
- First LookCeasefire in Syria? Rebels agree but not without reservations.
Free Syrian Army rebel groups have agreed to a ceasefire set to begin on Monday, but voiced concerns about details of the deal.
- Is Saudi Arabia doing enough to keep pilgrims safe? Iran says no.
Following last year’s deadly stampede, Iran banned pilgrimage to Mecca region, endorsing an alternate pilgrimage site in Iraq instead.
- US-Russia truce in Syria: What they agreed to do
Russia and the US agreed to work together to fight ISIS, Al Qaeda, and limit the expansion of President Assad's forces in Syria.
- First LookMecca takes on massive construction to accommodate pilgrims
The Muslim holy city's need for additional space became tragically clear to the world after hundreds of pilgrims were killed in a stampede last year.