Middle East

Fidan to host R4 and E3 foreign ministers in Istanbul Friday

Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan will convene top diplomats from the R4 and E3 mechanisms in a combined format for the first time on Friday to discuss regional security, the Palestinian issue, and the Strait of Hormuz crisis, stressing Ankara's push for regional ownership of Middle East stability, according to Foreign Ministry sources.

Jordanian, Syrian FMs hold expanded talks in Aqaba

Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi and his Syrian counterpart Asaad al-Shaibani met in Aqaba on Thursday to discuss bilateral relations, regional developments and joint cooperation projects.

Gaza hospitals risk generator shutdown as oil runs out

Gaza's Health Ministry warned Thursday that hospital electricity generators are on the verge of permanent mechanical failure after stocks of operating oil were completely exhausted, saying that engineering teams are struggling to maintain power supplies to critical medical departments amid Israel's continued blockade of the enclave.

Opposition accuses Netanyahu of clinging to power at Israel’s expense

Yair Lapid and Gadi Eisenkot said Benjamin Netanyahu is prioritizing his political survival over national interests, accusing the prime minister of turning Israel’s security into a “farce” and criticizing Defense Minister Israel Katz for threatening to hold opposition figures responsible for future attacks ahead of Tuesday's elections.

Israel turned West Bank into 'prisons', 'battlefield': Barghouti

Mustafa Barghouti said Israeli forces have transformed the occupied West Bank into 'fragmented prisons' through a network of more than 1,300 military checkpoints, warning that ongoing occupier violence has turned the territory into a battlefield aimed at driving Palestinians from their land.

Istanbul to host ninth Mediation Conference

Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan will inaugurate the ninth Istanbul Mediation Conference on Oct. 23-24 with video messages from President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, bringing together ministerial-level representatives from the OSCE, OIC and GCC to discuss partnerships for peace.

Death toll rises to 2 in attack on Saudi Arabia’s Dammam airport

Saudi Arabia's civil aviation authority confirmed Thursday that an attack on King Fahd International Airport in Dammam killed two people and injured eight others from multiple nationalities, as operations resumed amid ongoing regional tensions with Yemen's Houthi group.

Trump denies US negotiating with Iran, warns of action 'fairly soon'

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday ruled out ongoing negotiations with Tehran over the war in Iran, telling reporters that "something one way or the other" would happen "fairly soon" while suggesting any major military move would likely be delayed until after the November midterm elections, according to press pool reports.

Syria launches operation against ISIS cell near Damascus

Syrian authorities announced on Thursday that they have launched a coordinated security operation targeting an ISIS terrorist cell in Rankous near the capital, as the interim government continues efforts to consolidate control following the fall of the Assad regime.

Yemen army says Houthis hit Al-Rayyan airport for 4th time

Yemen's military spokesman said early Thursday that Houthi fighters targeted Al-Rayyan International Airport in the eastern city of Mukalla for the fourth time within hours, stating that the group aims to impose a blockade on civilians by striking vital transport hubs.

Israeli incursion kills young disabled civilian in southern Syria

Syrian state media reported on Thursday that Israeli forces killed a young man with disabilities during a ground incursion into Jamlah village in western Daraa province, as Damascus warned that continued border violations undermine prospects for regional stability and obstruct reconstruction efforts.

Turkish foreign minister says Türkiye-Libya maritime deal 'entirely legitimate'

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said the 2019 maritime agreement with Libya is entirely legitimate under international law, describing the Libyan parliament's recent acceptance of the deal as a diplomatic achievement under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's leadership.

Malaysia bars civil servants from using Waze navigation app over Israel data fears

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced on Wednesday a prohibition on Waze navigation app use for civil servants, citing concerns that user data controlled by the Israeli-incorporated company threatens government information security and national sovereignty.

Explosions rock southern Iran near Strait of Hormuz: State media

Iran's official IRNA news agency reported late Wednesday that multiple explosions were heard near the Strait of Hormuz in the country's south, with local officials yet to confirm the cause or extent of any damage amid ongoing regional tensions and disruptions to maritime traffic through the vital waterway.

Hundreds back Sally Rooney as UK halts book sales over Palestine Action ties

Hundreds of writers, actors and musicians have signed an open letter supporting Irish author Sally Rooney and her publisher Faber, demanding that London amend anti-terror legislation that has forced the withdrawal of her books from UK shelves due to her support for Palestine Action.

US vice president declines to endorse Netanyahu ahead of Israeli elections

US Vice President JD Vance on Wednesday declined to endorse Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ahead of Israel's Oct. 27 elections, stressing his focus remains on the American midterm campaign while deferring to President Donald Trump's authority on matters of foreign political endorsements.

Egyptian president limits Egypt's Saudi role to defense, rules out Yemen strikes

President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said Wednesday that Egypt's military assistance to Saudi Arabia is strictly limited to territorial defense and excludes offensive operations in Yemen, stressing Cairo's commitment to collective Arab security amid rising Houthi tensions.

Yemen army reports 835 strikes on Houthis in 24 hours

Army spokesman Majed Abdullah al-Nuzayli said Yemeni government forces conducted 835 strikes against Houthi positions over the past 24 hours as part of Operation "Dawn of Yemen," claiming approximately 285 fighters were neutralized and nearly 190 military vehicles and drones were destroyed across multiple fronts.

Iran parliament speaker meets Supreme Leader Khamenei amid US-Israel war

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf held extensive talks with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei on Wednesday to discuss military developments and economic countermeasures against the US and Israel, while briefing him on parliamentary efforts to maintain national unity since the conflict began on Feb. 28, according to Fars News Agency.

Trump says US could exit Iran war but seeks lasting outcome

US President Donald Trump told supporters that Washington could end its military campaign against Iran immediately but prefers a durable settlement, as reports indicate fresh strike plans are being drafted.