Middle East

Iraq Welcomes the Appointment of Iran's New Supreme Leader
Iraq Welcomes the Appointment of Iran's New Supreme Leader

Iraq's Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani welcomed on Monday the appointment of Mojtaba Khamenei as Iran's new supreme leader after his predecessor and father was killed in US and Israeli strikes. "We express our confidence in the ability of the new leadership in the Islamic Republic of Iran to manage this critical stage," ...

Hezbollah Says No Choice But 'Resistance', Self-Defense
Hezbollah Says No Choice But 'Resistance', Self-Defense

The head of Hezbollah's parliamentary bloc Mohamed Raad vowed to continue fighting Israel "whatever the cost", on Monday, in remarks broadcast by Hezbollah's Al-Manar TV. Defending his party, and blasting the Lebanese government, Raad said the group's goal is to "to drive the enemy out of our occupied land... And quite plainly, we have no other ...

Hezbollah Says Targeted Israeli Base Near Tel Aviv with Missiles
Hezbollah Says Targeted Israeli Base Near Tel Aviv with Missiles

Hezbollah said on Monday that it had targeted the Israeli Home Front Command base in Ramla, near Tel Aviv, with "advanced missiles" as the war between the pro-Iranian group and Israel hit the one-week mark. In a statement, the group said it had targeted the base with a "salvo of advanced missiles" in response to "the ...

Lebanon Says 486 Killed by Israeli Strikes Since Last Monday
Lebanon Says 486 Killed by Israeli Strikes Since Last Monday

The toll from Israeli strikes on Lebanon rose to 486 people killed and 1,313 wounded since the start of fighting last week, the Lebanese health ministry said Monday. "The toll of the Israeli aggression from dawn on Monday, March 2, until Monday afternoon, March 9, has risen to 486 martyrs and 1,313 wounded," the ministry said in a ...

NATO Intercepts Second Iran Missile in Turkish Airspace
NATO Intercepts Second Iran Missile in Turkish Airspace

NATO said it shot down a second ballistic missile fired from Iran in Turkish airspace on Monday, prompting a stern warning from Turkey to Tehran not to take "provocative steps". It was the second such incident in the skies over NATO member Turkey in five days, leading the alliance to stress its readiness "to defend all allies ...

Israel’s Goals and Challenges in the New Hezbollah War
Op-edIsrael’s Goals and Challenges in the New Hezbollah War

Hezbollah’s opening of a front from Lebanon in support of Iran was not a surprise for Israel, which is again discussing the forcible dismantling of the organization. It remains unclear whether Lebanon is ready to disarm Hezbollah, and whether Israel will be able to do so itself. The new war is escalating, one that Israel and Hezbollah have ...

Strike Hits Former Paramilitary Base Near Iraq's Mosul: Officials
Strike Hits Former Paramilitary Base Near Iraq's Mosul: Officials

An airstrike on Monday hit a base belonging to the Hashed al-Shaabi coalition in northern Iraq, according to officials from the former paramilitary alliance, which includes pro-Iran factions. One of the officials blamed the strike on the United States, saying it hit a base in the Bartella area near the city of Mosul in Nineveh province. Another ...

Iran War Sends Oil Price Soaring
Iran War Sends Oil Price Soaring

Global energy markets surged Monday as the war involving Iran, the United States and Israel entered its tenth day, pushing oil prices above $100 per barrel and triggering sharp declines in global equity markets amid fears of supply disruptions across the Middle East. The spike in prices came as Iran marked the appointment of Ayatollah Mojtaba ...

Lebanon Calls for Renewed Negotiations as Israeli Strikes Escalate
Lebanon Calls for Renewed Negotiations as Israeli Strikes Escalate

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun on Monday urged major international powers to push for renewed negotiations aimed at halting Israel’s escalating military campaign in Lebanon, as cross-border fighting between Israeli forces and Hezbollah continues to intensify. Speaking during a meeting with the ambassadors of Denmark, Sweden, and Norway, ...

Kurdish Rebels Say Ready to Resist Iran, Await Uprising
Kurdish Rebels Say Ready to Resist Iran, Await Uprising

From their hideouts in the Iraqi mountains near Iran, leftist Kurdish rebels say they are ready to fight the Islamic republic but hope for an uprising before they intervene, with or without U.S. support. After saying that he would be "all for" a Kurdish offensive on Iran, U.S. President Donald Trump appeared to backtrack Saturday, saying he did ...

U.S. Urges Citizens to Leave Southeast Turkey, Orders Non-Essential Staff Out of Adana Consulate
U.S. Urges Citizens to Leave Southeast Turkey, Orders Non-Essential Staff Out of Adana Consulate

Washington has advised non-essential staff to depart its consulate near the southern Turkish city of Adana and suspended consular services, the U.S. embassy in Ankara said Monday. The statement also referenced an existing U.S. Travel Advisory saying "Americans in southeast Turkey are strongly encouraged to depart now." The area hosts a key NATO ...