Middle East

Turkey MPs Back Moves to 'Reintegrate' Former PKK Fighters
Turkey MPs Back Moves to 'Reintegrate' Former PKK Fighters

Kurdish fighters who have laid down their arms should be reintegrated into society, Turkish lawmakers urged in a key report released Wednesday, while ruling out an "amnesty". The recommendations of the cross-party parliamentary commission are meant to prepare the legal groundwork for peace moves between Turkey and the outlawed Kurdistan ...

SDF Commander Says Integration With Syrian State Has Begun
SDF Commander Says Integration With Syrian State Has Begun

The commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), Mazloum Abdi, said Tuesday that the integration of the Kurdish-led Autonomous Administration and its security forces into Syria’s state institutions has formally begun, while cautioning that the process “may take some time” due to political and operational obstacles. Speaking ...

Undisclosed Lebanon–Israel Talks Under U.S. Sponsorship Advance: Report
Undisclosed Lebanon–Israel Talks Under U.S. Sponsorship Advance: Report

Undisclosed negotiations between Lebanon and Israel, sponsored by the United States, have reportedly made substantial progress, a well-informed source told Nidaa al-Watan. According to the source, the talks are being led by a senior Lebanese figure and are based on reciprocal trade-offs. Lebanon is pressing Israel to show flexibility regarding ...

U.S. Official Tells TIB that Iran Talks Still Possible After Geneva, but Major Gaps Remain
U.S. Official Tells TIB that Iran Talks Still Possible After Geneva, but Major Gaps Remain

In a statement to This is Beirut, a U.S. senior official stated that there is still a diplomatic path with Iran after Tuesday’s dialogue in Geneva, but many key points on the nuclear issue remain unresolved. The official stated that “today’s Geneva talks showed that a diplomatic path still exists, but it will move forward only ...

Israeli Defense Minister Says Israel Will Occupy South Lebanon Positions Until Hezbollah Disarms
Israeli Defense Minister Says Israel Will Occupy South Lebanon Positions Until Hezbollah Disarms

Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz said Tuesday that Israeli forces will remain stationed at five occupied positions in southern Lebanon as long as Hezbollah retains weapons. Katz commented that “our presence at five points in southern Lebanon is not part of the ceasefire agreement, but we imposed it, and the United States accepted ...

Iran Holds Memorial for Thousands Killed in Recent Protests
Iran Holds Memorial for Thousands Killed in Recent Protests

Iranian authorities on Tuesday held a commemoration ceremony in Tehran for thousands of people killed during the recent unrest that followed nationwide protests over the rising cost of living. The memorial, held at the Imam Khomeini Grand Mosalla mosque, marked the 40th day since the deaths, in line with Shiite mourning tradition. Crowds carried ...

Iran FM Says Second Round of Talks with U.S. 'Constructive'
Iran FM Says Second Round of Talks with U.S. 'Constructive'

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tuesday the latest talks with the United States saw them agree on "a set of guiding principles" that would pave the way for a deal. "Ultimately, we were able to reach broad agreement on a set of guiding principles, based on which we will move forward and begin working on the text of a ...

Syria Starts Evacuating IS-Linked Al-Hol Camp: Officials to AFP
Syria Starts Evacuating IS-Linked Al-Hol Camp: Officials to AFP

Syria began evacuating remaining residents of Al-Hol camp, which long housed relatives of suspected Islamic State group fighters, as it empties the formerly Kurdish-controlled facility, two officials told AFP. Al-Hol, located in a desert region of Hasakeh province, had been Syria's largest camp housing relatives of suspected IS ...

Iran's Khamenei Warns U.S. Warship in Gulf Can Be Sunk
Iran's Khamenei Warns U.S. Warship in Gulf Can Be Sunk

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned Tuesday that a U.S. warship deployed to the Gulf could be sunk, as renewed nuclear negotiations between Tehran and Washington got underway in Geneva. “We constantly hear that they have sent a warship toward Iran. A warship is certainly a dangerous weapon, but even more dangerous is ...