Middle Orient

Beirut and Baghdad are both watching how the other seeks to give the state a monopoly of weapons. In the aftermath of the recent conflict between Hezbollah and Israel, Lebanon’s ongoing push to impose a “state monopoly of arms” has ceased to be a purely Lebanese story. When, on the …

The United States and Iran are not on the brink of open war. There is no countdown, no formal ultimatum, no declared strike order — but Donald Trump’s latest warning has undeniably raised the temperature. The relationship is entering a phase where the margin for error is shrinking. Danger no …

Iran’s foreign minister warned Wednesday its forces would respond immediately and forcefully to any US military operation after President Donald Trump declared time was running out to avoid one, but did not rule out a new deal on Tehran’s nuclear program. The Islamic republic’s top diplomat Abbas Araghchi warned its …

A Bloomberg News investigation reveals that Mojtaba Khamenei, son of Iran’s Supreme Leader, controls a vast international network of luxury real estate and offshore companies, valued at hundreds of millions. On a quiet, tree-lined stretch of north London known as Billionaire’s Row, multimillion-pound mansions sit hidden behind high hedges, iron …

The Syrian president in the transitional period, Ahmed al-Sharaa, stressed the need to give priority to the language of dialogue in resolving regional conflicts, stressing that “active diplomacy” is the only way to overcome chronic crises in the region. This came during a phone call with his US counterpart, Donald …

The Syrian General Authority for Ports and Customs announced the temporary closure of the Ras al-Ain border crossing with Turkey, pending rehabilitation work and its service return. Mazen Alloush, the director of public relations at the authority, said in a recorded video on Sunday evening, 25 January, that the decision …

Toplines US President Donald Trump condemned on January 27 the Shia Coordination Framework’s nomination of State of Law Coalition head and former Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki as prime minister designate.[1] It is unclear if the framework will insist on Maliki’s nomination or bow to US pressure against Maliki. …

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Oil prices rose on Thursday, extending gains for a third consecutive day as concerns grew that the United States could take military action against Iran—a key Middle Eastern oil producer—potentially disrupting regional supplies. Brent crude futures rose by 94 cents, or 1.4 per cent, to $69.34 a barrel by 07:30 …

The city of Hasaka and its surroundings turned into a kind of “closed military zone”, where the SDF tightened its control over all entrances and exits, amid the almost complete absence of safe corridors for civilians wishing to flee the escalation. This field tightening comes in conjunction with a cautious …