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Netanyahu orders army to step up West Bank offensive after bus bombs

Netanyahu orders army to step up West Bank offensive after bus bombs

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the army to step up its operations in the occupied West Bank on Friday as he paid a rare visit to...

yesterday 2

Al Monitor

Agence France-Presse

Hamas frees dazed hostages in staged Gaza ceremony

Hamas frees dazed hostages in staged Gaza ceremony

Hamas paraded five Israeli hostages, some looking dazed and others elated, before cheering crowds at two meticulously recorded ceremonies in the...

yesterday 2

Al Monitor

Agence France-Presse

Gaza militants release Israeli hostages, some dazed others elated

Gaza militants release Israeli hostages, some dazed others elated

Hamas paraded five Israeli hostages, some looking dazed and others elated, before cheering crowds at two meticulously recorded ceremonies in the...

yesterday 1

Al Monitor

Agence France-Presse

Why Iran's oil exports are surging to China despite Trump's 'maximum pressure'

Why Iran's oil exports are surging to China despite Trump's 'maximum pressure'

Data from shipping analytics firm Kpler suggests Iran is offloading more crude from its floating storage off the coast of Malaysia and Singapore.

previous day 30

Al Monitor

Jennifer Gnana

JPMorgan to reclassify Qatar, Kuwait as developed markets: What it means

JPMorgan to reclassify Qatar, Kuwait as developed markets: What it means

JPMorgan will reclassify Kuwait and Qatar as developed markets and will soon begin their phased removal from its Emerging Markets Bond Index, from...

previous day 4

Al Monitor

Jack Dutton

Argentina to observe two days national mourning for Bibas brothers

Argentina to observe two days national mourning for Bibas brothers

Argentina announced two days of national mourning on Thursday after the bodies of two Israeli Argentine children who had been taken hostage by...

previous day 3

Al Monitor

Agence France-Presse

Daughter of British IS victim reads last texts to him at France trial

Daughter of British IS victim reads last texts to him at France trial

The daughter of murdered British aid worker this week at the Paris trial of two of his presumed Islamic State group jailers recounted her anguish...

previous day 1

Al Monitor

Agence France-Presse

Arab leaders meet in Saudi Arabia to hash out Gaza plan

Arab leaders meet in Saudi Arabia to hash out Gaza plan

Arab leaders met in Riyadh on Friday to craft a plan for Gaza's post-war reconstruction to counter Donald Trump's proposal for the United States to...

previous day 5

Al Monitor

By Haitham El-Tabei

Syrian Jews hope for revival of ancient heritage

Syrian Jews hope for revival of ancient heritage

Syria's tiny Jewish community and Syrian Jews abroad are trying to build bridges after Bashar al-Assad's ouster in the hope of reviving their...

previous day 4

Al Monitor

By Khaled Soubeih And Maher Al-Mounes

Germany arrests Russian suspect over alleged plan to attack Israeli Embassy

Germany arrests Russian suspect over alleged plan to attack Israeli Embassy

German police announced on Friday that they arrested a Russian national suspected of planning a “politically motivated” attack in Berlin reportedly...

previous day 3

Al Monitor

Rosaleen Carroll

Bus blasts rock central Israel in 'suspected terror attack'

Bus blasts rock central Israel in 'suspected terror attack'

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday ordered an "intensive operation against centers of terrorism" in the occupied West Bank, his...

previous day 3

Al Monitor

By Ruth Eglash

Israel says hostage body returned by Hamas not Bibas mother

Israel says hostage body returned by Hamas not Bibas mother

Israel's prime minister accused Hamas on Friday of killing two Israeli children in Gaza and said the militants would pay for failing to return...

previous day 3

Al Monitor

By Jay Deshmukh With Afps Team In Gaza

Will US-Russia rapprochement increase odds of Israel striking Iran?

Will US-Russia rapprochement increase odds of Israel striking Iran?

Israeli leaders hope the thaw in relations will lead Moscow to stem strategic cooperation with Tehran, leaving Iran vulnerable to an attack on its...

previous day 5

Al Monitor

Ben Caspit

Netanyahu orders 'intensive' West Bank operations after Israel bus blasts

Netanyahu orders 'intensive' West Bank operations after Israel bus blasts

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday ordered an "intensive operation against centers of terrorism" in the occupied West Bank, his...

previous day 1

Al Monitor

By Ruth Eglash

One Turkish soldier, 17 PKK militants killed in northern Iraq clashes

One Turkish soldier, 17 PKK militants killed in northern Iraq clashes

The killing of the Turkish soldier comes ahead of militant leader Abdullah Ocalan’s expected call to disarm the Kurdistan Workers Party.

previous day 1

Al Monitor

Ezgi Akin

Covert with calculated risk: How Iran is shifting its Israel strategy

Covert with calculated risk: How Iran is shifting its Israel strategy

Tehran appears to be keeping pressure on Israel mainly through its network of proxies, resorting to calculated restraint and deniability to avoid...

previous day 10

Al Monitor

A Correspondent In Tehran

Why is Iran urging Qatar to release $6B in frozen oil payments?

Why is Iran urging Qatar to release $6B in frozen oil payments?

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has asked the Qatari emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, to release $6 billion in Iranian oil...

thursday 10

Al Monitor

Jack Dutton

Turkey slaps travel ban on 2 businessmen for criticizing dissident crackdown

Turkey slaps travel ban on 2 businessmen for criticizing dissident crackdown

ANKARA — An Istanbul court issued on Thursday an international travel ban for two leading Turkish businessmen over their remarks on a wave of...

thursday 2

Al Monitor

Ezgi Akin

Hezbollah readies massive funeral for slain leader Nasrallah

Lebanon's Hezbollah is preparing for a massive turnout for the funeral on Sunday of its slain leader Hassan Nasrallah, an opportunity for a show of...

thursday 7

Al Monitor

By Lisa Golden

Iraqi Kurds lend hand as PKK leader negotiates plan for peace with Turkey

Iraqi Kurds lend hand as PKK leader negotiates plan for peace with Turkey

Abdullah Ocalan is expected to urge his men to lay down their arms and end a more than 40-year insurgency against the Turkish state, capping talks...

thursday 10

Al Monitor

Amberin Zaman

Iran executed 975 people in 'horrifying' 2024 escalation: rights groups

Iran executed 975 people in 'horrifying' 2024 escalation: rights groups

Iran executed at least 975 people last year in a "horrifying escalation" of its use of capital punishment, two human rights groups said on...

thursday 3

Al Monitor

By Stuart Williams

Syria arrests Hezbollah-linked smugglers in Damascus: What to know

Syria arrests Hezbollah-linked smugglers in Damascus: What to know

A crackdown on smuggling operations between Lebanon and Syria has intensified since the fall of Bashar al-Assad.

thursday 2

Al Monitor

Beatrice Farhat

Seven civilians killed in Syria UXO blast: monitor

Seven civilians killed in Syria UXO blast: monitor

Eight civilians including three children were killed on Thursday when unexploded munitions ignited at a house in northwestern Syria, a war monitor...

thursday 4

Al Monitor

Agence France-Presse

Hamas hands over dead Israeli hostages in black coffins

Hamas hands over dead Israeli hostages in black coffins

Hundreds watched on Thursday as four black coffins, which Hamas said held the remains of Israel's Bibas family and an elderly hostage, were carried...

thursday 1

Al Monitor

Agence France-Presse

3 buses explode near Tel Aviv in suspected ‘terror attack’: What to know

3 buses explode near Tel Aviv in suspected ‘terror attack’: What to know

A branch of Hamas in the occupied West Bank purportedly claimed credit for a series of bus bombings near Tel Aviv on Thursday, marking an...

thursday 0

Al Monitor

Adam Lucente

After losses in Khartoum, Sudan’s RSF to sign parallel government charter

After losses in Khartoum, Sudan’s RSF to sign parallel government charter

Sudan has condemned Kenya for hosting a meeting led by the rebels, and the UN is warning the move could further divide the war-torn country.

thursday 0

Al Monitor

Adam Lucente

Iranian officials trade blame as energy crisis, outages worsen: What to know

Iranian officials trade blame as energy crisis, outages worsen: What to know

Unplanned power outages across Tehran in February have brought Iran’s energy crisis back into the spotlight, particularly as the country grapples...

thursday 1

Al Monitor

Rosaleen Carroll

Eight civilians killed in Syria UXO blast: monitor, civil defence

Eight civilians killed in Syria UXO blast: monitor, civil defence

Eight civilians including three children were killed on Thursday when unexploded munitions ignited at a house in northwestern Syria, a war monitor...

thursday 0

Al Monitor

Agence France-Presse

US launches second B-52 bomber flight over Middle East in 2 days

US launches second B-52 bomber flight over Middle East in 2 days

WASHINGTON — The Pentagon authorized a sortie of US Air Force B-52 strategic bombers over the Middle East for the second time in just two days,...

thursday 10

Al Monitor

Jared Szuba

World Bank puts Gaza reconstruction cost at $52B as Arab leaders mull plan

World Bank puts Gaza reconstruction cost at $52B as Arab leaders mull plan

Gaza’s reconstruction will cost an estimated $52 billion, according to an assessment by the World Bank, United Nations and the European Union...

19.02.2025 3

Al Monitor

Jack Dutton

Opponents of Syria’s new government meet in Geneva, criticize Sharaa: What we know

Opponents of Syria’s new government meet in Geneva, criticize Sharaa: What we know

The meeting was organized by longtime activist Haytham Manna and comes amid opposition to the interim government led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham.

19.02.2025 1

Al Monitor

Adam Lucente

Egypt, Spain reject US plan to displace Gazans

Egypt, Spain reject US plan to displace Gazans

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Wednesday rejected a controversial proposal by US President...

19.02.2025 1

Al Monitor

Agence France-Presse

Tunisia court orders release of top rights activist

Tunisia court orders release of top rights activist

Prominent Tunisian human rights activist Sihem Bensedrine was released from jail on Wednesday after an appeals court ruling, AFP journalists said,...

19.02.2025 1

Al Monitor

Agence France-Presse

Sabalenka thrashed in Dubai as Paolini's title defence ends

Sabalenka thrashed in Dubai as Paolini's title defence ends

World number one Aryna Sabalenka slumped to a 6-3, 6-2 loss against Denmark's Clara Tauson in the last 16 of the Dubai Championships on Wednesday,...

19.02.2025 1

Al Monitor

Agence France-Presse

Egypt unveils first ancient royal tomb since Tutankhamun

Egypt unveils first ancient royal tomb since Tutankhamun

Egypt's antiquities authority says it has found the ancient tomb of King Thutmose II, the first royal burial to be located since the famed...

19.02.2025 1

Al Monitor

Agence France-Presse

Hamas says ready to free all hostages at once in Gaza truce phase two

Hamas says ready to free all hostages at once in Gaza truce phase two

An Israeli group campaigning for the release of hostages described the deaths of three members of the Bibas family as "heart-shattering" Wednesday...

19.02.2025 2

Al Monitor

By Michael Blum

Anguish over Bibas family in Israel as Hamas says to release bodies

Anguish over Bibas family in Israel as Hamas says to release bodies

The haunting image of Shiri Bibas clutching her sons on October 7 was once again splashed across the front pages of Israeli newspapers Wednesday, as...

19.02.2025 2

Al Monitor

By Delphine Matthieussent

Egypt celebrates first royal tomb discovery since 1922: What we know

Egypt celebrates first royal tomb discovery since 1922: What we know

A joint Egyptian-British archaeological mission has uncovered the tomb of King Thutmose II, the first royal tomb discovered since that of King...

19.02.2025 3

Al Monitor

Rosaleen Carroll

UAE conveys frustrations to US' top diplomat Rubio over Gaza, Ukraine

UAE conveys frustrations to US' top diplomat Rubio over Gaza, Ukraine

Arab states have grown increasingly frustrated over the US administration's rhetoric about displacing 2.1 million Gazans from the enclave.

19.02.2025 3

Al Monitor

Jennifer Gnana

Syrian Jews say held first group prayer in decades in Damascus synagogue

Syrian Jews say held first group prayer in decades in Damascus synagogue

Syria's tiny Jewish community said they held their first group prayer in decades Wednesday, in a synagogue in Damascus's Old City, expressing joy...

19.02.2025 40

Al Monitor

Agence France-Presse

Rubio discusses Gaza deal with Saudi crown prince: US

Rubio discusses Gaza deal with Saudi crown prince: US

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Monday, during talks with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, that any deal on the future of...

18.02.2025 1

Al Monitor

Agence France-Presse

Deadline for Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon expires

Deadline for Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon expires

Lebanese leaders said they were in contact with the United States and France to press Israel to fully withdraw, branding its continued presence in...

18.02.2025 1

Al Monitor

Agence France-Presse

Israel pulls out of Lebanon villages, but holds five positions

Israel pulls out of Lebanon villages, but holds five positions

Lebanese leaders said they were in contact with the United States and France to press Israel to fully withdraw, branding its continued presence in...

18.02.2025 1

Al Monitor

Agence France-Presse

Iran's Khamenei: US plan to displace Gazans 'will go nowhere'

Iran's Khamenei: US plan to displace Gazans 'will go nowhere'

Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Tuesday dismissed a proposal by the United States to displace Palestinians from the war-devastated...

18.02.2025 1

Al Monitor

Agence France-Presse

Netanyahu taps confidant to lead Gaza negotiations, replacing Mossad chief: What we know

Netanyahu taps confidant to lead Gaza negotiations, replacing Mossad chief: What we know

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu removed Mossad chief David Barnea and Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar from the negotiating team, replacing them with...

18.02.2025 4

Al Monitor

Rina Bassist

Israeli military begins Lebanon withdrawal as deadline approaches

Israeli military begins Lebanon withdrawal as deadline approaches

A Lebanese official said Israeli troops had started withdrawing Monday from some border villages, after Israel's military said it would remain in...

18.02.2025 2

Al Monitor

By Aya Iskandarani

Iran mulls moving capital to 'lost paradise' on southern coast

Iran mulls moving capital to 'lost paradise' on southern coast

Faced with myriad problems including gridlocked traffic and a sinking earth surface in its current capital, Iran is considering a drastic solution...

18.02.2025 2

Al Monitor

By Menna Zaki And Ramin Khanizadeh

Syrians return to Homs, 'capital of the revolution'

Syrians return to Homs, 'capital of the revolution'

Once dubbed the capital of the revolution against Bashar al-Assad, Homs saw some of the fiercest fighting in Syria's civil war. Now, displaced...

18.02.2025 2

Al Monitor

By Khaled Soubeih

Why Trump turned to Saudi Arabia for US-Russia talks

Why Trump turned to Saudi Arabia for US-Russia talks

The high-level talks are an opportunity for Saudi Arabia to burnish its credentials as the Middle East's power broker.

18.02.2025 2

Al Monitor

Elizabeth Hagedorn

Iran's FM hosts Sudan counterpart, eyes larger influence: What we know

Iran's FM hosts Sudan counterpart, eyes larger influence: What we know

Iran signaled an increasing presence in Sudanese reconstruction projects, while reports have suggested Iranian drone shipments to the Sudanese...

18.02.2025 1

Al Monitor

A Correspondent In Tehran