Arab World

Saudi Arabia, Qatar Sign High-Speed Rail Deal to Link Kingdoms
Saudi Arabia, Qatar Sign High-Speed Rail Deal to Link Kingdoms

Saudi Arabia and Qatar on Monday signed a deal to construct a high-speed rail connecting the Gulf countries' capitals, marking the latest sign of improved ties between the two nations that were once deeply at odds. According to a statement in the official Saudi press, the "high-speed electric passenger railway" would connect Riyadh ...

Damascus Celebrates a New Era
VideosDamascus Celebrates a New Era

One year after the fall of Bashar al-Assad, thousands gather in Umayyad Square in Damascus to celebrate a new chapter for Syria, as President Ahmad al-Sharaa calls for national unity amid ongoing tensions and the vast task of rebuilding the country.

Syria's Sharaa Calls for United Efforts to Rebuild a Year After Assad's Ouster
Syria's Sharaa Calls for United Efforts to Rebuild a Year After Assad's Ouster

President Ahmed al-Sharaa on Monday urged Syrians to work together to rebuild their country, still marred by insecurity and divisions, as they marked a year since the ousting of longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad. The atmosphere in Damascus was jubilant as thousands of people took to the streets of the capital, AFP correspondents said, after mosques ...

Iran Says Dual National Arrested During 12-day War on Trial for Spying for Israel
Iran Says Dual National Arrested During 12-day War on Trial for Spying for Israel

Iran's judiciary said Monday that a dual national arrested during the recent 12-day war with Israel has been referred to trial on charges of spying for the enemy. The judiciary's Mizan Online news agency did not name the defendant, describing him only as a "dual national who lives in a European country" and was arrested in Iran during the June ...

From Jihadist to President: Who is Ahmad al-Sharaa?
VideosFrom Jihadist to President: Who is Ahmad al-Sharaa?

One year after the fall of Bashar al-Assad, Ahmad al-Sharaa has become the central figure guiding Syria’s transition. His swift ascent to power, the advance that reshaped the country, and the decisions made over the past year continue to define Syria’s uncertain path forward.

Israel, Qatar and US Hold Trilateral Meeting in New York
Israel, Qatar and US Hold Trilateral Meeting in New York

The United States, Israel, and Qatar held a trilateral meeting in New York Sunday, a senior White House official told AFP, months after Israeli jets conducted an airstrike in Doha, targeting Hamas leadership. The White House official confirmed that the meeting had taken place but did not provide any further details. Two sources told US news ...

Syria: One Year Without Assad
VideosSyria: One Year Without Assad

December 2024 marks a historic turning point for Syria. After more than fifty years under the Assad regime, the country enters its first political transition, with Bachar Assad fleeing and Ahmed al-Sharaa emerging as interim president. With international diplomatic meetings, the reopening of the U.S. Embassy, and initial agreements with the ...

Mediators Qatar and Egypt Call for Next Steps in Gaza Truce
Mediators Qatar and Egypt Call for Next Steps in Gaza Truce

Qatar and Egypt, guarantors of the Gaza ceasefire, called on Saturday for the withdrawal of Israeli troops and the deployment of an international stabilization force as the necessary next steps in fully implementing the fragile agreement. The measures were spelt out in the US- and UN-backed peace plan that has largely halted fighting, though the ...

Sharaa Says Israeli Push for Buffer Zone Would Endanger Syria
Sharaa Says Israeli Push for Buffer Zone Would Endanger Syria

President Ahmed al-Sharaa warned Saturday that Israel's demand for a demilitarized zone in southern Syria would endanger his country, as Israeli forces continue to operate in the area. Israel sent troops into a UN-patrolled buffer zone, which has separated Israeli and Syrian forces on the Golan Heights since 1974. Sharaa's Islamist forces ...

Syria Applauds Canada’s Decision to Remove Sanctions
Syria Applauds Canada’s Decision to Remove Sanctions

Syria on Friday welcomed the Canadian government’s decision to lift sanctions on Damascus, calling it a positive step that acknowledges the humanitarian and economic toll such measures have had on the Syrian population and key sectors of the country’s economy. In a statement, the Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates said the ...

Mediators Egypt, Qatar, Others 'Concerned' About Israel Opening One-Way Gaza Exit
Mediators Egypt, Qatar, Others 'Concerned' About Israel Opening One-Way Gaza Exit

Gaza mediators Egypt and Qatar and six other Muslim-majority countries said on Friday they were concerned about Israel stating it would open a one-way crossing for Palestinians to exit the Strip. The foreign ministers of Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates "expressed their deep concern ...