Middle East
TOPIC
 / location

Middle East

Middle East
Middle East
The latest news, analysis and opinion on Middle East. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.
last updated:
28 August, 2024
The flag of Turkey hangs from a pole at the Embassy of Turkey in the capital Damascus. Turkey has expressed concern about Kurdish militants based in a post-Assad Syria. File photo: AFP
War and conflict

Turkey says it will take action on Kurdish militias if Syria doesn’t

Turkey’s stance may put it at loggerheads with the United States, which has relied on the Kurds in its fight against ISIS.

China-Middle East relations

Opinion | Fall of Syria’s Assad narrows China’s diplomatic space in the Middle East

videocam
Israel-Gaza war

Hamas, 2 other Palestinian groups say Gaza ceasefire deal ‘closer than ever’

Israel-Gaza war

Israel-Gaza war: rocket from Yemen strikes Tel Aviv, injures 16

The strike comes days after Israeli air strikes hit Houthi rebels launched missiles in solidarity with Palestinians.

Residents stand near the scene of a missile attack in Tel Aviv, after a missile fired from Yemen hit a playground in Tel Aviv. Photo: EPA-EFE
War and conflict

Israel and Turkey seize the chance to shape Syria’s future post-Assad

While Turkey backs the HTS regime, Israel is destroying its military capacity and claiming territory – fuelling fears of fragmentation.

9
Syria

US scraps US$10 million bounty on Syria’s new leader Ahmed al-Sharaa

Top US diplomat for the Middle East Barbara Leaf welcomed ‘positive messages’ from their talks, including a promise to fight terrorism.

6
Advertisement
Advertisement
European Union

8 dead off Greek island of Rhodes as speedboat carrying migrants capsizes

The boat was carrying out ‘dangerous manoeuvres’ to try to evade a patrol vessel, the coastguard said.

Coastguard officers cover bodies after a speedboat carrying migrants capsized near the island of Rhodes, Greece, on Friday. Photo: AP
Syria

US diplomats visit Syria to meet new rulers, still deemed a terrorist group

Diplomats from the United States have not been to Damascus on a formal mission since the early days of the civil war, which began in 2011.

videocam
Gold in Hong Kong

Local bullion bourse restructures to become Hong Kong Gold Exchange

Friday vote will turn Chinese Gold & Silver Exchange Society into a corporation called Hong Kong Gold Exchange.

War and conflict

US says it doubled number of its troops in Syria before Assad’s fall

Washington has for years said it has some 900 military personnel in Syria as part of international efforts against Isis.

videocam
US soldiers and US Bradley Fighting Vehicles in northeastern Syria in 2012. File photo: AFP
Vladimir Putin

Putin says Russia is ready to compromise with Trump on Ukraine war

Putin also said he was ready to organise another missile launch at Ukraine and see if Western air defence systems could shoot it down.

23
Russian President Vladimir Putin answers questions during his annual live broadcast press conference with Russian federal, regional, and foreign media at the Gostiny Dvor forum hall in Moscow. Photo: EPA-EFE
Israel

Israeli strikes hit Yemen’s capital and port city after Houthi missile intercepted

Strikes targeted power stations and an oil terminal in Yemen after a Houthi missile was launched at Israel.

videocam
War and conflict

CNN’s gripping Syria report unravels: freed prisoner was really an intelligence officer

CNN reporter says ‘very difficult to verify information in real time’ after prisoner turned out to be an ex-intelligence officer, not a civilian.

Diplomacy

Opinion | China should seize the moment to promote peace on Korean peninsula

The weakening of the Russia-North Korea alliance, political change in South Korea and Trump’s return create a conducive environment for denuclearisation talks.

videocam
4
Illustration: Craig Stephens
China-Middle East relations

China warns leaders in Syria not to threaten security elsewhere

Chinese envoy addresses UN briefing days after Turkestan Islamic Party publishes video encouraging Xinjiang Muslims to wage jihad.

videocam
4
A Chinese envoy to the UN says China respects choices made by the Syrian people and does not seek to interfere in internal Syrian affairs. Photo: Reuters
India

Priyanka Gandhi’s Palestinian bag sparks political firestorm in India

Her gesture has ignited a debate about India’s stance on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, drawing criticism from the ruling BJP for allegedly appeasing Muslims.

videocam
War and conflict

Mass graves in Syria reveal horrifying state-run ‘machinery of death’

After Assad’s fall, the task of unearthing the dead from Syria’s mass graves is just beginning.

videocam
6
Advertisement
Advertisement
War and conflict

Israel plans an extended occupation of Syrian buffer zone

Benjamin Netanyahu entered the buffer zone on Tuesday, making him the first sitting Israeli leader to set foot this far into Syria.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz with members of the Israeli army at Mount Hermon in the annexed Golan Heights. Photo: GPG via AFP
Israel-Gaza war

Israel optimistic on Gaza ceasefire, while Hamas says deal is possible

The Palestinian militant group says a long--awaited agreement to free all hostage could be reached if Israel stops adding new conditions.

4
United States

Opinion | Why a Trump economic boom is much less likely this time around

Trump is once again inheriting a strong US economy but the world is more volatile, and US debt and interest rates are much higher.

videocam
Syria

The groups vying for control in Syria

The most powerful group in Syria that spearheaded the rebels' advance is the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham  

08:01
Banking & finance

Hong Kong set to host global heavyweights at Asian Financial Forum

The event on January 13 and 14 will bring together 100 global policymakers, business leaders, investors and experts.

Paul Chan Mo-po, Hong Kong’s financial secretary, welcomes attendees to the 17th Asian Financial Forum 2024 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai on January 24, 2024. Photo: May Tse
War and conflict

Syria’s Golani says rebel factions will be ‘disbanded’, fighters to join army

HTS leader Abu Mohammed al-Golani says ‘Syria must remain united’ following Assad’s ouster.

videocam
War and conflict

At least 100,000 bodies in Syria mass grave, US advocacy group says

Victims were people tortured and killed by the now-overthrown Assad government.

videocam
Banking & finance

Exclusive | China-UAE ties evolve as Gulf nation acts as global ‘superconnector’

China’s growing heft in innovative industries is driving partnerships with the UAE, HSBC’s country head says.

Chinese firms are involved in a number of significant infrastructure projects in the UAE, said Mohamed Al Marzooqi, CEO of HSBC UAE. Photo: Handout
Israel-Gaza war

Israeli team in Qatar for talks on potential Gaza ceasefire deal, official says

Israel’s defence minister says have ‘not been this close to a deal’ on hostages in Gaza.

The silhouettes of a military vehicle and a soldier are seen near the Gaza border. Photo: Reuters
Syria

No US government group in Syria to search for journalist Austin Tice

US not ruling out sending people to Damascus to find the missing journalist, who was captured in 2012.

videocam
Syria

Syria’s ousted leader Assad says he wanted to keep fighting but Russians evacuated him

Syria’s Bashar al-Assad issued his first statement since being toppled from power.

videocam
Advertisement
Advertisement
Help preserve 120 years of quality journalism.
SUPPORT NOW
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement