Middle East

Lapid: Netanyahu 'toxic' to US lawmakers who backed Israel

Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid said Wednesday that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has become "toxic" to American legislators who previously supported Israel, warning that support is growing in both chambers of Congress for restricting arms shipments to the country.

Syria, Saudi Arabia sign defense deal, $403M loan agreements

Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met in Riyadh on Wednesday to sign a defense cooperation agreement and six concessional loan packages worth over $403 million, covering electricity, healthcare and housing reconstruction in the war-torn country.

Pentagon delivers 'massive surge' of drones to US Middle East forces

The Pentagon announced Wednesday it has delivered over 25,000 unmanned systems and counter-drone capabilities to US Central Command following a $782 million investment, accelerating Washington's push to field affordable autonomous weapons and reduce reliance on costly traditional platforms while preparing for a new Autonomous Warfare Command by 2027.

Yemeni forces say 340 Houthi fighters neutralized in 1,322 operations

Yemen's armed forces announced Wednesday that they had conducted 1,322 military operations targeting Houthi positions, reporting approximately 340 rebel fighters and commanders killed or incapacitated as part of the ongoing "Dawn of Yemen" offensive aimed at reclaiming territory and state institutions.

Netanyahu says 'serious suspicions' of foreign meddling in Israel vote

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Wednesday that 'serious suspicions' exist of foreign states spending large sums to influence last week's parliamentary vote, hours after election officials certified the results, calling for the investigation to proceed without cover-up or delay as President Isaac Herzog opened coalition consultations.

Trump defends Iran war despite Republican midterm losses

President Donald Trump defended the military campaign against Iran on Wednesday, acknowledging its role in Republican midterm losses but insisting the action was necessary to prevent Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons.

Iran says it handed Trump 'strategic defeat' in war and Washington

Iran's Supreme National Security Council Secretary Mohsen Rezaei said Tehran handed Donald Trump a "strategic defeat" on the battlefield and in Washington, as Republicans lost control of Congress in midterm elections that Vice President JD Vance attributed to voter anger over the conflict.

Palestine Action challenges UK terror ban at Supreme Court

Counsel for banned Palestine Action co-founder Huda Ammori told the UK Supreme Court that the group's protest tactics were comparable to those used historically by movements including the suffragettes, challenging the government's decision to designate the organization a terrorist group.

Israeli opposition demands Netanyahu resign after US midterms

Yair Golan and Gilad Kariv said Wednesday that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu must step down following Democratic victories in the US midterm elections, warning that his continued rule alongside far-right ministers risks isolating Israel and triggering a clash with Washington.

Airstrikes target Houthi weapons depots in Yemen's Al-Bayda

Unidentified warplanes targeted weapons storage facilities and military vehicles at the Central Security Camp in Al-Bayda province, according to Al-Jumhuriya TV, as government forces press their 'Dawn of Yemen' campaign to retake the capital from the Iran-backed group.

Israeli election panel rejects fraud allegations after vote review

Israel's Central Elections Committee said on Wednesday that no evidence of vote tampering had emerged from its review of complaints, clearing the way for President Isaac Herzog to receive the official results later in the day.

Iran speaker says US voters rejected war

Iran's Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf said Wednesday that American voters had rejected war in this week's midterm elections, declaring that Tehran endorsed their message while warning that Washington would face a 'nightmare' if it betrayed popular will to serve foreign interests.

Trump announces US will end $4B annual aid to Israel by 2026

Israeli defense and finance officials expressed surprise Tuesday following US President Donald Trump's announcement that Washington will terminate approximately $4 billion in annual military assistance by the end of 2026, stating they had received no prior notification of the decision.

Israel-linked operation spent millions on anti-Muslim disinformation

A new report has found that Israel-linked entities spent over $8 million promoting anti-Muslim conspiracy theories across more than 30 countries, generating an estimated 800 million advertising exposures through AI-generated videos and social media campaigns.

Israel’s Democrats leader slams Netanyahu over US aid cutoff

Yair Golan accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of a diplomatic failure after US President Donald Trump announced Washington would end $3.8 billion in annual military assistance by year-end, warning that Israeli taxpayers will bear the full burden of depleted air defenses at a critical security moment.

Israeli attacks kill three Palestinians in Gaza amid truce violations

Medical officials told Anadolu that an Israeli drone strike killed a Palestinian girl in central Gaza City and artillery fire claimed the life of a security officer in Khan Yunis on Tuesday, as the Gaza Health Ministry reported that ceasefire violations have killed 1,599 Palestinians and wounded thousands since October.

Iran rejects US response as 'not convincing' on Hormuz demands

Supreme National Security Council Secretary Mohsen Rezaei dismissed Washington's reply to Tehran's demands as insufficient, insisting that the Strait of Hormuz would remain closed until the White House fully implements seven specific conditions including sanctions relief and regional ceasefire.

Israeli opposition favors ultra-Orthodox over Arab parties

Leaders of Israel's opposition bloc convened in Herzliya on Tuesday and agreed to seek a mandate from President Isaac Herzog for Gadi Eisenkot to form the next government, even as reports indicated the alliance favors partnerships with ultra-Orthodox parties over Arab factions to secure a parliamentary majority in the fractured 120-member Knesset.

Zelenskyy confirms Abu Dhabi talks aim for leaders' level meeting

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed Tuesday that trilateral Russia-US-Ukraine talks will convene Nov. 10-11 in the United Arab Emirates, stating that only a leaders' summit can secure lasting peace while his government coordinates with Berlin and other European capitals on energy and humanitarian priorities.

Türkiye intelligence chief visits UAE for security talks

Turkish National Intelligence Organization chief Ibrahim Kalin held high-level talks in Abu Dhabi on Monday with senior Emirati officials including the vice president, focusing on joint efforts to strengthen regional security and stability, according to Ankara's ambassador to the UAE.