Turkey on Wednesday said it had killed 20 members of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), as a new Turkish military operation in Syria appears to be drawing near. The Turkish defence ministry issued a statement saying 20 “terrorists” belongi…
Jordanian media denies ‘safe zone’ plans on Syrian border
A Jordanian official has denied that Jordan is planning to create a “safe zone” along its northern border with Syria, local media reported on Thursday. The denial comes after rumours circulated on social media platforms and among Syrian opposition circ…
Biden ‘to take Israeli official’ with him to Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia may invite Israeli officials to accompany US President Joe Biden when he visits the kingdom this month, Israeli media has reported. A political advisor to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was quoted by Israeli news outlet Ynetnews as…
‘Abused’ Muslim MP Apsana Begum faces Labour trigger ballot
British Muslim MP Apsana Begum will be subjected to a vote on whether she will be allowed to stand in the next election, despite having signed off sick from work due to misogynistic abuse. Begum, who represents the east London constituency of Poplar an…
US, Israel push Arab states for joint defence pact
The United States and Israel are seeking to lay the groundwork for a security alliance with Arab states that would connect air defence systems to combat Iranian drone and missile attacks in the Middle East, four sources familiar with the plan said. The…
Tunisia: Amnesty and LTDH condemn Saied’s draft constitution
Tunisia’s League of Human Rights (LTDH) and Amnesty International have condemned Tunisian president Kais Saied’s new draft constitution as a “dismantlement of democracy and human rights” in the North African country. “The constitution draft gives the p…
Meet the scientists calling for action to protect the Gulf
In the clear warm waters of the Gulf, scientists in 2017 confirmed for the first time that killer whales were present in waters off Iran. A year earlier, Iraq’s first coral reef was found and in 2018 scientists published a study confirming that dugongs…
Muslim pilgrims stream out of Mecca for hajj high point
Hundreds of thousands of hajj pilgrims began streaming out of Mecca Thursday ahead of the highlight of the annual rites, which have attracted huge crowds despite the continuing pandemic and unforgiving heat. Many worshippers made the journey on foot to…
Turkey, Israel to sign first aviation deal since 1951
Turkey and Israel will expand bilateral airline traffic for the first time since 1951 under a new aviation deal which will be signed on Thursday, Israel’s transportation ministry has announced. The deal will allow Israeli airlines to fly to more destin…
Iraqis mark 2nd anniversary of Hisham al-Hashimi’s killing
Iraqis on Wednesday marked the second anniversary of the assassination of Iraqi researcher Hisham al-Hashimi and criticised the judiciary for failing to bring the perpetrators to justice. Al-Hashimi, a security expert on both Sunni and Shia jihadist gr…