Mideast News
ליאור בן ארי פינת יא אללה דובאי חלל
Inside the Arab space race: how the UAE is outpacing rivals with advanced space tech and partnerships
Dubai Air Show was the Emirates' big moment, but neighboring Saudi Arabia is battling it out for space supremacy, and Oman, Egypt, Jordan and Morocco are also developing space programs; What to expect: astronautics, radars and observation satellites named after MBZ
Lior Ben Ari | 14:54 | 11.24.25
הפגנת חות'ים בתימן
Houthi court sentences 17 to death by firing squad for alleged spying
Specialized Criminal Court in Sanaa says the defendants were part of 'espionage cells within a spy network affiliated with American, Israeli and Saudi intelligence'
Associated Press | 10:21 | 11.23.25
Bin Salman against the backdrop of the vision of the city of Neom, and an F-35 aircraft
Saudi tech and nuclear gains: Mohammed bin Salman is recasting Saudi Arabia as a regional power
Mohammed bin Salman returned from meeting Trump with major deals, as attention to F-35s overshadowed significant advances in technology and civilian nuclear development; as Riyadh pushes toward its Vision 2030 goals and sheds its hardline image, it is also deepening its involvement in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict
Lior Ben Ari | 14:57 | 11.22.25
לבנון נוח זעיתר סוחר סמים מרכזי נעצר
Lebanon captures notorious drug kingpin tied to Hezbollah and Assad regime
Nouh Zaiter, long wanted for leading a cross-border Captagon smuggling empire, arrested in a military operation in the Beqaa Valley; his capture comes amid growing regional pressure on Lebanon to dismantle drug networks linked to Hezbollah
Lior Ben Ari | 18:22 | 11.20.25
נשיא ארה"ב דונלד טראמפ עם יורש העצר מוחמד בן סלמאן בסעודיה
Not just F-35s: Saudis set for major US defense ‘shopping spree’ during MBS visit
Trump hopes to cash in on a $600 billion Saudi investment pledge made during his visit to the kingdom in May; senior White House official said that US-Saudi deals on technology, manufacturing, defense and more are expected
Reuters | 11:07 | 11.18.25
מינוי מפקד צבא לבנון החדש רודולף היכל בארמון הנשיאותי בעבדא
Report: US cancels Lebanese army chief’s visit over frustration with Hezbollah disarmament
Rodolphe Haykal had been expected to meet senior US officials and discuss military issues, including aid programs for the Lebanese Armed Forces, as the army seeks additional international support to maintain basic operations
Lior Ben Ari | 09:14 | 11.18.25
ביבי טראמפ מוחמד בן סלמאן
Trump says US will sell F-35s to Saudi Arabia
Sale would mark a significant policy shift, potentially altering the military balance in the Middle East and testing Washington's definition of maintaining Israel's 'qualitative military edge'
Reuters, ynet | 22:06 | 11.17.25
א-שיבאני וא-שרע במטוס
Asaad al-Shaibani, from jihadist operative to Syria's global front man
Asaad al-Shaibani has rapidly become the chief emissary of Syria’s new leadership, evolving from a little-known operative to a globe-trotting foreign minister who sets the stage for President Ahmad al-Sharaa as the government seeks a national revival
Lior Ben Ari | 16:35 | 11.17.25
עננים
Iran says launched cloud seeding operations as severe drought bites
State media says Iran begins cloud-seeding over the Urmia Lake basin as rainfall drops 89% below average and reservoirs hit record lows; officials warn that without rain, severe water shortages could force evacuations in Tehran and other parts of the drought-stricken country
AFP | 14:02 | 11.16.25
עבד אל-מלכ בדר א-דין אל-חות'י , מנהיג החות'ים בתימן.
Iran is taking advantage of the Houthi crisis to establish itself in Yemen
The Houthis are in crisis, 'confused' and investing their efforts in preparing for a future confrontation with Israel; Allied Iran wants to strengthen its influence in Yemen, as compensation for losses in Lebanon and Syria, and is increasing its support for the Houthis  
Lior Ben Ari | 01:40 | 11.16.25
Iran seizes tanker
Iran confirms seizure of tanker off UAE coast, citing 'unauthorized cargo'
Revolutionary Guard captures Marshall Islands-flagged Talara near UAE, in first confirmed tanker seizure in months; incident comes amid renewed maritime tensions and Iran’s ongoing confrontation with Western and regional powers
Lior Ben Ari | 14:09 | 11.15.25
חצי חצי דגלי ישראל במחאות דרוזים ב סוריה והנשיא הסורי אחמד א-שרע
Druze continue to resist al-Sharaa’s push for integration into 'new Syria'
Months after massacre in Syria’s Sweida province, tensions persist as Druze leaders remain divided between supporting President al-Sharaa’s government and demanding self-determination, while sporadic violence continues despite a fragile ceasefire
Lior Ben Ari | 12:32 | 11.12.25
הפגנה נגד ישראל באיסטנבול
US-Turkey axis emerges: Ankara eyes Gaza deployment, deepens role in Syria deal
Washington hosts rare trilateral meeting with Syria and Turkey on integrating Kurdish forces and stabilizing Gaza; Erdoğan officials push for greater role in postwar Gaza amid resistance from Egypt and Israel as debate over multinational force intensifies
Lior Ben Ari | 21:44 | 11.11.25
סוריה המוזיאון הלאומי הסורי דמשק
Thieves steal ancient Roman-era statues from Syria's national museum
Six Roman-era marble statues stolen as officials warn of renewed looting risks amid post-Assad turmoil
Associated Press | 17:41 | 11.11.25
אבלים משתתפים באירוע לזכרו של נסראללה בביירות
US pushes Beirut to crack down on Hezbollah funding ahead of Lebanese elections
Undersecretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence John K. Hurley says the US believes the Lebanese terror group is attempting to bring $1 billion into the country by the end of the year
Associated Press | 19:41 | 11.10.25
מסעוד פזשכיאן בתדרוך עיתונאים בניו יורק
Pezeshkian: Iran will not be coerced into abandoning nuclear and missile programs
Iranian president says Tehran seeks peace but will not give up its nuclear or missile programs under pressure, rejecting US coercion and calls to limit its defense capabilities
Reuters | 14:35 | 11.07.25
הפגישה של נשיא ארה"ב דונלד טראמפ עם נשיא סוריה אחמד א-שרע ובן סלימאן
US to set up military presence at Damascus airbase to oversee Israel-Syria pact, sources say
Base lies near southern Syria, an area set to become a demilitarized zone under a proposed Israel-Syria non-aggression pact brokered by the Trump administration, aimed at easing regional tensions and preventing future cross-border clashes
Reuters | 12:38 | 11.06.25
תומכי חיזבאללה במהלך אירוע לציון יום השנה לחיסול מנהיג חיזבאללה, חסן נסראללה, בביירות
Hezbollah rejects political talks with Israel, vows to defend Lebanon despite ceasefire
Statement followed Israeli accusations that the group is rearming and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun’s renewed call for negotiations
AFP | 10:57 | 11.06.25
ראש סבא"א רפאל גרוסי עם שר החוץ של איראן עבאס עראקצ'י פגישה בטהרן ב-2024
IAEA chief urges Iran to 'seriously improve' cooperation to ease tensions with West
Grossi says that while the UN agency has conducted about a dozen inspections in Iran since hostilities with Israel began in June, inspectors have not been granted access to key nuclear sites such as Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan
Reuters | 10:25 | 11.05.25
מטוס F-35 של צבא ארה"ב
Report: Saudi request to purchase F-35 fighter jets advances after Pentagon review
Sale would mark a significant policy shift, potentially altering the military balance in the Middle East and testing Washington's definition of maintaining Israel's 'qualitative military edge'
Reuters | 07:49 | 11.05.25
עיראק מיליציה אל חשד א שעבי בגדד
Iraq can disarm factions only when the US withdraws, prime minister says
Mohammed Shia al-Sudani says full disarmament of militias hinges on US coalition exit by 2026; defends ties with Iran, courts US investment and touts record infrastructure push ahead of Nov. 11 election, vowing continued reforms
Reuters | 21:12 | 11.03.25
Rita Badran
Ya Allah: Young Christian tour guide redefines post-war Syria, one battlefield tour at a time
Rita Badran, a 21-year-old dental student from Damascus, is the only woman in Syria guiding tourists through former war zones, including Jewish visitors, aiming to show the world that her country and its women are ready to be seen again
Lior Ben Ari | 20:37 | 11.03.25
חנוכת המוזיאון המצרי הגדול
Tutankhamun, fireworks and LEGO: Egypt unveils $1B Grand Egyptian Museum
After more than two decades of planning and construction, Egypt unveiled the Grand Egyptian Museum near the Giza pyramids, featuring 100,000 artifacts including the full Tutankhamun collection, in a lavish ceremony attended by world leaders
Lior Ben Ari | 20:31 | 11.02.25
'Bodies lying in pools of blood': Some 2,000 massacred after Darfur city falls to RSF
New and harrowing reports have emerged from the city of El-Fasher in Sudan’s Darfur region, describing atrocities carried out by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) after they seized the city, the last stronghold of the Sudanese army in the region
Lior Ben Ari, News Agencies | 02:45 | 10.30.25
הקריקטורות של כמאל שרף תחת הכותרת הזהה "החרם נמשך"
Boycotts and arrests: Houthi rebels focus inward after halting attacks on Israel
Iran-backed rebels shift attention to arrests, propaganda and economic pressure amid Gaza ceasefire; UN staff among dozens detained as Houthis warn attacks could resume if fighting restarts
Lior Ben Ari | 23:04 | 10.28.25
נמנה מחמוד עיסא ועז א-דין אל-חממרה מחבל ששוחרר ע"י ישראל ושוהה ב מלון חמישה כוכבים יוקרתי במצריים
Report: Hamas terrorists expelled from Cairo five-star resort, relocated to another luxury site
After a Daily Mail exposé revealed that Hamas terrorists freed in a hostage deal were staying at a five-star Cairo hotel, management expelled them; they were later relocated to another luxury resort under tight Egyptian security
ynet | 14:46 | 10.28.25
כוחות צבא לבנון
Lebanon runs out of explosives as it rushes to disarm Hezbollah in the south
Lebanon’s unprecedented move to dismantle Hezbollah’s armed network marks a turning point in the nation’s postwar history, challenging the balance of power that has long defined its politics and security landscape
Reuters | 13:22 | 10.28.25
טראמפ וא-סיסי
Egypt asserts role in Gaza, pushing aside Qatar and Turkey to lead Palestinian future
Egypt’s decision to send a team into Gaza to search for hostage bodies underscores its growing influence in the ceasefire process and its determination to shape the postwar political and humanitarian landscape
Lior Ben Ari | 19:14 | 10.26.25
חוסיין א-שייח
Palestinian Authority President Abbas names ex-Israel liaison as successor amid calls for reform
Mahmoud Abbas named his longtime deputy, Hussein al-Sheikh — who once oversaw coordination with Israel — as his temporary successor in case of death or incapacity, replacing a previous appointee
Einav Halabi | 18:02 | 10.26.25
ארדואן
In Gaza, Erdogan finds next step for Turkey's 'neo-Ottoman' regional ambitions
Despite Turkey’s growing role in Gaza and President Erdogan’s ambitions for regional influence, Israel has held no formal discussions or formed a clear policy on Ankara’s involvement, leaving officials uneasy about what comes next
Guy Asif | 12:51 | 10.25.25
רנסנס קהיר מיראז' מלון חמישה כוכבים יוקרתי במצריים בו שוהים מחבלי חמאס ששוחררו בעסקה עם ישראל
Report: Hamas terrorists freed under Gaza ceasefire staying in five-star Cairo hotel
154 released terrorists are staying at Renaissance Cairo Mirage City Hotel, five-star Marriott resort with restaurants, a pool, spa and fitness center, according to the Daily Mail
ynet | 09:54 | 10.25.25
הפגנה בקזבלנקה שבמרוקו בדרישה לשירותים ציבוריים טובים יותר
Discord emerges as organizing tool for Arab Gen Z protesters
With over 210,000 members, Morocco’s Gen Z 212 group uses the app to demand reforms; platform draws praise from activists, concern from governments as political use spreads across the region
Lior Ben Ari | 08:39 | 10.24.25
פריז נשיא צרפת עמנואל מקרון עם נשיא סוריה אבו מוחמד אל-ג'ולאני
Syrian forces launch major raid on French Jihadist group near Turkish border
Operation said to target al-Ghurabaa, or 'the Strangers,' a French-led jihadist organization headed by Omar Omsen, a French national of Senegalese descent who is wanted in France
Lior Ben Ari | 12:50 | 10.22.25
Anwar Gargash, UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs
'Maximalist views' on Palestinian issue no longer valid, says top UAE adviser
UAE presidential adviser Anwar Gargash says hardline views on the Palestinian issue are outdated, urging security for Israel and a viable Palestinian state while warning that any annexation of Palestinian territories is a 'red line'
Reuters | 09:22 | 10.22.25
מוחמד על-עאטפי, שר ההגנה החות'י.
Report: Houthi defense minister wounded in Israeli strike is near death
Yemeni opposition media reports that condition Mohammed Nasser al-Atifi, who has been hospitialized since August 28, is rapidly deteriorating
Lior Ben Ari | 08:51 | 10.22.25
UK troops join US-led task force to support Gaza stabilization efforts
The US-backed stabilization force, called the Civil-Military Coordination Center, or CMCC, is designed to help maintain security in Gaza; details such as its composition, role, chain of command and legal status have not yet been finalized
Reuters | 21:07 | 10.21.25
ארדואן לצד טראמפ בפסגה
Erdogan turns Trump’s Gaza deal into power play for Turkey’s regional influence
By helping persuade Hamas terrorists to accept ceasefire plan, Erdogan has turned a diplomatic gamble into a strategic victory, boosting Turkey’s regional influence and strengthening his standing with Washington
Reuters | 19:31 | 10.21.25
זיינב עכלה א-סאעדי, יועצת במשרד החוץ העיראקי
Iraqi diplomat accused of stealing towels in Jordanian hotel sparks public outcry
Iraqi Foreign Ministry adviser is accused of stealing towels and other items from a hotel in Amman, triggering a diplomatic scandal, an internal probe, and a wave of online debate over the conduct and accountability of Iraq’s diplomats abroad
Lior Ben Ari | 16:38 | 10.21.25
מסלול ההמראה החדש שהוקם באי זוקאר
A mysterious airstrip built on a Yemeni island as Houthi rebels are increasingly squeezed
Satellite images reveal a nearly 2,000-meter runway taking shape on Zuqar Island in the Red Sea, part of a growing network of bases that could reshape surveillance and smuggling operations as the fight against Yemen’s Houthi rebels intensifies
Associated Press | 13:56 | 10.20.25
Tanker belonging to Iranian 'ghost fleet' hit by mystery blast off Yemen's coast
MV FALCON has previously been identified as part of Iran’s 'ghost fleet' — a network of tankers that transport oil and petroleum products in violation of international sanctions
ynet | 10:49 | 10.19.25
תומכי חיזבאללה במהלך אירוע לציון יום השנה לחיסול מנהיג חיזבאללה, חסן נסראללה, בביירות
Hezbollah is rebuilding following severe losses to Israel, report
Following the pager operation and assassination of Nasrallah, Hezbollah's chain of command has been restored and the military wing has been separated from the political one, the French newspaper Le Figaro reports; There is internal criticism of Nasrallah  and weapons caches north of the Litani River
Itamar Eichner | 02:34 | 10.19.25
דונלד טראמפ עם נסיך הכתר הסעודי, מוחמד בן־סלמאן
Report: Saudi Arabia in talks with US for mutual defense pact
Senior Trump administration official said there were 'discussions about signing something' when Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman visits Washington next month
Reuters | 10:36 | 10.17.25
מוחמד עבד אל-כרים אל-גמארי, הרמטכ"ל החות'י.
'Major blow': Israel praised for unprecedented success in decapitating Houthi command
Yemeni analyst tells Ynet killing of Houthi military chief Muhammad al-Ghamari 'shook' Iran-backed rebels, a blow neither US nor Saudi Arabia had achieved; IDF confirms he was killed alongside top government officials in August strike; his successor trained in Iran and Lebanon
Lior Ben Ari | 22:41 | 10.16.25
מוחמד עבד אל-כרים אל-גמארי, הרמטכ"ל החות'י.
Israel confirms it killed Houthi military chief of staff
Arab media has previously reported that Muhammad Abd al-Karim al-Ghamari was killed in an August 28 strike that also killed the Houthi prime minister and several ministers
Lior Ben Ari | 16:10 | 10.16.25
נשיא רוסיה ולדימיר פוטין נשיא סוריה אחמד א-שרע
Putin to meet Syria’s al-Sharaa, who reportedly plans to request Assad’s extradition
Syrian media says al-Sharaa plans to use his Moscow visit to formally request that Russia hand Assad over to Damascus for trial on charges of crimes against the Syrian people
Lior Ben Ari, News Agencies | 11:35 | 10.15.25
צילומי לוויין של קברי אחים בסוריה
‘Operation Move Earth’: Assad’s forces secretly moved mass grave to cover up killings in Syria
Investigation reveals that the Assad government secretly moved thousands of bodies from a mass grave near Damascus to a hidden desert site in a two-year operation aimed at concealing evidence of war crimes and restoring the regime’s image
Reuters | 08:04 | 10.15.25
טראמפ חותם על ההסכם בשארם א-שייח
Trump, Middle East leaders sign Gaza ceasefire deal at Sharm el-Sheikh summit
World leaders met in Egypt’s Sharm el-Sheikh to cement a Gaza ceasefire and launch reconstruction, as Hamas freed the last living Israeli hostages and Israel released thousands of Palestinian prisoners under a U.S.-brokered deal
Lior Ben Ari, Daniel Edelson, New York | 21:11 | 10.13.25
שעות אחרי שחרור החטופים: חמאס הוציא להורג ברחוב אנשי מיליציות
Hours after hostage release, Hamas terrorists publicly execute rival militia members in Gaza
Executions come shortly after Trump said during his flight to Israel on Air Force One that he had given Hamas approval to manage internal security in Gaza 'as it sees fit'
Einav Halabi | 21:00 | 10.13.25
רכב הדיפלומטים הקטארים ההפוך
3 Qatari diplomats killed in Egypt crash en route to Gaza ceasefire signing
Members of Doha's protocol team among victims in crash en route to Gaza ceasefire signing in Sharm el-Sheikh, set to be co-chaired by President el-Sissi and US President Trump, with leaders from over 20 nations expected to attend
Lior Ben Ari | 08:32 | 10.12.25
הפגנת חות'ים בתימן, הדחפורים שנשרפו בסדרת התקיפות בדרום לבנון
'Zionists want to return to their shelters': after Israel strikes in Lebanon, Houthis threaten retaliation
Israeli airstrikes overnight in southern Lebanon targeted bulldozers and other engineering equipment, killing one and wounding seven, prompting new threats from Yemen’s Houthis despite the Gaza ceasefire
Lior Ben Ari | 09:40 | 10.11.25
בשאר אל אסד
Inside Bashar Assad’s secret life in Russia — and exiled dictator’s new addiction
Former Syrian president is reportedly living in luxury exile in Moscow after fleeing a 2024 coup, where he and his family occupy 20 apartments in a high-rise, with Assad spending his days quietly — and gaming online
Ynet | 08:37 | 10.11.25
פגישה של נשיא סוריה אחמד א-שרע עם בראד קופר מפקד פיקוד מרכז האמריקני והשליח לסוריה תומאס ברק
Clashes erupt in Syria between Kurds and al-Sharaa forces; Israeli flag seen in anti-regime protests
Kurdish SDF fighters clash with Syrian regime forces in Aleppo, leaving soldier dead and 3 wounded; residents reportedly displaced; fragile US-brokered ceasefire reached amid ongoing tensions over Kurdish integration into Syria’s new government
Lior Ben Ari | 19:27 | 10.08.25
אל ג'ולני, נשיא סוריה, בעצרת הכללית של האו"ם בניו יורק
Syria in uproar after president al-Sharaa cancels Yom Kippur War anniversary
Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa has abolished the Yom Kippur War commemoration and several Assad-era holidays, adding new dates marking the 2011 uprising; move sparked controversy across the Arab world, especially in Egypt
Lior Ben Ari | 14:28 | 10.06.25
חגיגות 52 שנה במצרים לניצחון במלחמת "אוקטובר"
Egypt marks 52 years since 'October 6 Victory' over Israel amid Gaza ceasefire talks
Israeli and Hamas delegations meet in Sharm el-Sheikh for ceasefire talks mediated by Egypt and Qatar, with US envoys expected to join; social media users mock the timing as a symbolic jab at Israel
Lior Ben Ari | 10:50 | 10.06.25
סוריה בחירות ל פרלמנט
1st time in 5 decades: elections in post-Assad Syria - but Druze and Kurds won't be represented
After 53 years of "protocol elections" under Assad and the Baath Party, the al-Sharaa regime is holding a vote on a new parliament, but still without direct involvement of the people: 'public representatives' appointed without clear criteria will choose 2/3 of the seats - and the rest will be determined by the president; Druze and Kurdish strongholds will be left without representatives due to security tension
News Agencies | 13:13 | 10.05.25
נתניהו בדיונים בחדר הסגלגל, ארה"ב
Report: Netanyahu met at White House with Qatari power broker tied to Gaza 'cash suitcases' scheme
The official was identified as Ali Al Thawadi, a veteran Qatari diplomat who has long been associated with sensitive Qatari dealings, described as a 'man for dirty work,' citing his immunity and ministerial powers
Itamar Eichner | 23:50 | 10.02.25
שר החוץ המצרי באו"ם
Egypt presses Hamas to accept Trump’s peace plan, warns of escalation if it refuses
Egyptian foreign minister says it was clear that Hamas had to disarm, accuses Israel of committing 'ethnic cleansing' and 'genocide'
Reuters | 21:28 | 10.02.25
טראמפ, נתניהו , תקיפה ישראלית בדוחא, קטאר
Trump grants Qatar rare US security guarantee after Israeli strike in Doha
The order, issued Monday, declares that the United States will regard 'any armed attack on the territory, sovereignty or infrastructure of Qatar' as 'a threat to the peace and security of the United States'
Ynet Global | 16:05 | 10.01.25
עזה פלסטינים עוזבים מצפון הרצועה דרומה
‘We watched soccer instead’: Gazans skeptical about Trump-Netanyahu ceasefire plan
Gazans' reactions were mixed to the Trump-Netanyahu ceasefire plan: While some hope for relief, others ignored the announcement entirely, fearing they’ll pay the price if Hamas rejects the proposal
Einav Halabi | 13:22 | 09.30.25
יא אללה ליאור בן ארי הרוג תאונת מצנח רחיפה ב לבנון
Lebanon cracks down on paragliding after spate of deadly crashes— what does Hezbollah have to do with it?
Authorities ban acro paragliding and tighten oversight after multiple accidents, including the death of a top flier; the sport carries added weight in Lebanon, where Hamas and Hezbollah have both experimented with powered parachutes for cross-border attacks
Lior Ben Ari | 04:38 | 09.30.25
Mideast News
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