Middle East

Netanyahu bloc leads with 54 seats as Israeli count reaches 84%

Netanyahu's bloc was projected to secure 54 Knesset seats, falling short of a majority as Israel's vote count surpassed 84 percent, leaving coalition prospects uncertain.

Iraqi PM arrives in Damascus on first visit since taking office

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi meets Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa in Damascus to discuss bilateral ties and border security during his first official visit since May.

Jordan, Iran discuss sustainable ceasefire to end US-Tehran war

Jordanian and Iranian foreign ministers discussed efforts to secure a sustainable ceasefire between Washington and Tehran during a phone call late Tuesday amid ongoing regional tensions.

Egypt, Gulf allies eye de-escalation via Türkiye-led quartet

Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty held talks with Saudi and Emirati counterparts on regional de-escalation efforts, emphasizing a four-way mechanism involving Türkiye and Pakistan.

US warns Gulf states of 'short, intense' Iran war after midterms

Report says US warns Gulf allies to prepare for intense military campaign against Iran after Nov. 3 midterms amid troop movements and carrier deployments.

Netanyahu claims mandate despite exit poll shortfall

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed a mandate to form a right-wing government despite exit polls showing his bloc short of a parliamentary majority.

Israeli opposition leader demands Netanyahu step down

Opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot urges Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to retire after exit polls show no clear majority in the Israeli election.

Yemen army says 1,382 strikes 'neutralized' 440 Houthi fighters

Yemen's armed forces said they carried out 1,382 strikes against Houthis, claiming to have "neutralized" approximately 440 fighters while securing new territorial gains in Taiz.

France says Israel vote will not alter two-state push

Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said Wednesday that France will continue advocating for a two-state solution regardless of which party wins Israel's election, insisting that Paris will not change course on its Middle East policy or its recognition of Palestinian statehood.

Serbian police kill attacker outside Israeli embassy

Outgoing Interior Minister Ivica Dacic said a police officer killed a knife-wielding attacker outside the Israeli embassy in Belgrade early Wednesday after being wounded in a suspected terrorist incident, prompting authorities to raise the terror threat level to its highest rating and increase security at sensitive sites.

Trump says endorsement boosted Netanyahu in vote

US President Donald Trump said early Wednesday that his public endorsement helped Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu perform better than expected in Israel's parliamentary election, as preliminary results showed the premier's bloc leading but six seats short of a governing majority with half the ballots still uncounted.

Netanyahu's Likud seeks voting hours extension as Israeli turnout surges

Likud requested voting hours extension beyond 10pm as Israeli election turnout reached 55.7% by 4pm, while opposition parties accused the move of undermining electoral integrity.

Turkish parliament panel approves Mecca defense pact with Riyadh, Islamabad

The Turkish parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee approved the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement, a trilateral pact with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan aimed at regional security and collective defense.

IAEA urges Iran to grant nuclear inspectors immediate access

UN nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi demanded Tehran provide immediate access to verify 440kg of enriched uranium, warning safeguards issues have persisted for over five years.

Jordan, Syria form joint committee to probe deadly airstrikes

Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi and his Syrian counterpart Asaad al-Shaibani agreed late Tuesday to establish a joint security committee to investigate Monday's deadly airstrikes in southern Syria, vowing to enhance coordination to protect civilians and combat cross-border smuggling while safeguarding Syrian sovereignty.

Israel may extend voting hours amid high election turnout

Israel's Central Elections Committee said Tuesday that polling stations may remain open beyond the scheduled 10 p.m. closing time if voters remain in line, as turnout reached 31.5% by noon in the first general election since the start of its genocidal war on the Gaza Strip.

Netanyahu warns of Arab voter surge, urges Likud turnout

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued an urgent appeal to his Likud party supporters to cast ballots in Tuesday's general elections, warning that high turnout in Arab communities threatened to produce a left-wing government dependent on parliamentary backing from Arab parties.

Amnesty UK decries Israeli polls as 'apartheid at the ballot box'

Amnesty International UK has denounced Israel's parliamentary elections as 'apartheid at the ballot box,' saying millions of Palestinians under occupation are denied voting rights while settlers on their land can participate, and urging London to impose an arms embargo regardless of the outcome.

Syria condemns Jordan strikes as 'unacceptable violation'

Syria's foreign ministry on Tuesday denounced Jordanian air strikes on the country's southern region as an unacceptable violation of sovereignty, rejecting Amman's justification that the operation targeted Islamic State militants responsible for a deadly church attack.

Houthi official: Egypt's Saudi support 'declaration of war'

Mohammed Ali al-Houthi said on Tuesday that Egypt's parliamentary authorization of military support for Saudi Arabia to defend against Houthi attacks amounts to a declaration of war on Yemen, warning that Cairo's alignment with Riyadh draws the region deeper into conflict.