Middle East

UN Aviation Agency finds Russia Responsible for 2014 Downing of Airliner over Ukraine

This is Beirut 2025-05-13 09:25 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Ukraine United Nations USA Vladimir Putin

The UN aviation agency blamed Russia Monday for the downing of a Malaysian jetliner over Ukraine in 2014, leading to the deaths of 298 people. Australia and the Netherlands, the countries with most fatalities in the tragedy, quickly called for Russia to assume responsiblity for the downing and pay damages. The International Civil Aviation ...

SpotlightLebanon Border Deal Nears Under US, French and Saudi Mediation

Philippe Abi-Akl 2025-05-13 09:00 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Nawaf Salam Lebanon Syria Middle East Donald Trump France

The border demarcation issue between Lebanon and its neighbors—Syria to the north and Israel to the south—is progressing, with France, Saudi Arabia and the US playing key mediating roles. The situation is now more favorable, as long-standing internal and external obstacles have largely dissipated, creating a better climate for finalizing ...

First Group of White South Africans Arrive in US for Resettlement

This is Beirut 2025-05-13 05:25 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

United States South Africa Afrikaners

A group of around 50 white South Africans arrived on Monday for resettlement in the United States after President Donald Trump granted them refugee status as victims of what he called a "genocide." Trump essentially halted refugee arrivals after taking office, but is making an exception for the Afrikaners despite Pretoria's ...

Trump Heads for Saudi Arabia on Major Middle East Tour

This is Beirut 2025-05-12 22:41 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Donald Trump United States Turkey Ukraine Russia

US President Donald Trump left for Saudi Arabia on Monday, on what he called a "historic" tour of the Middle East that will mix urgent diplomacy on Gaza and Iran with huge business deals. Air Force One took off from Joint Base Andrews near Washington for a journey that will include visits to Qatar and the United Arab Emirates -- and ...

Israel's West Bank Land Registration Serves 'Annexation'

This is Beirut 2025-05-12 22:25 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Nawaf Salam West Bank

An Israeli rights group denounced Monday a government decision to launch extensive land registration for parts of the occupied West Bank, saying it could help advance annexation of the Palestinian territory. "It is a tool for annexation," said Yonatan Mizrachi of the Settlement Watch project at Israeli nongovernmental organization Peace Now. The ...

US, China Agree to Slash Tariffs in Trade War De-Escalation

This is Beirut 2025-05-12 21:34 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

USA Donald Trump United Nations United States US Treasury

The United States and China announced Monday an agreement to drastically reduce tit-for-tat tariffs for 90 days, an outcome President Donald Trump dubbed a "total reset," as he said that talks with counterpart Xi Jinping could soon follow. After the first meetings between Washington and Beijing since Trump ratcheted up his trade war, ...

Al Jazeera Says Allowed to Resume Work in Palestinian Territories

This is Beirut 2025-05-12 21:05 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Nawaf Salam Al Jazeera Qatar Gaza Mahmoud Abbas

Al Jazeera's Ramallah bureau chief said on Monday the news channel could resume working in the Palestinian territories after President Mahmud Abbas lifted a ban in place since January. "Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has decided to lift the ban on the Al Jazeera network and allow its crews to resume work in the Palestinian ...

ExplainerFrom Iran’s Nuclear Program to Gaza: The Gulf as the New Hub of Global Diplomacy (1/2)

Malo Pinatel 2025-05-12 21:00 - Reading : 7 minute(s)

Gulf United Arab Emirates Bahrain Hamas Qatar Oman

On December 8, 2024, the Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) stated that the member states of the GCC “are committed to strengthening dialogue and diplomacy, ensuring that the Gulf region remains a hub for peace and cooperation amid growing global competition.” This was said during a roundtable on the future of cooperative ...

Iraq: PKK Decision to Disband Boosts Regional Stability

This is Beirut 2025-05-12 20:50 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Kurdistan Workers' Party Iraq Turkey

Iraq welcomed Monday the Kurdistan Workers' Party's (PKK) decision to disband and end its armed struggle against Turkey, saying it would strengthen regional stability. The PKK decision is a "significant opportunity to promote peace efforts and end long-standing conflicts," a foreign ministry statement said. It would also "strengthen security and ...

Hamas Releases US-Israeli Hostage

This is Beirut 2025-05-12 20:46 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

Nawaf Salam Gaza Hamas

The armed wing of Palestinian militant group Hamas handed over a US-Israeli hostage held in Gaza since October 2023 on Monday, ahead of a regional visit by US President Donald Trump. "The (Ezzedine) Al-Qassam Brigades have just released the Zionist soldier and American citizen Edan Alexander, following contacts with the US administration, as ...

Op-edWhat Will Donald Trump Do While in the Middle East?

David Hale 2025-05-12 18:00 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

Nawaf Salam Donald Trump Saudi Arabia Gulf United States Normalization

It is no surprise that President Trump's first major foreign trip (not counting the late Pope's funeral) since returning to office will be to the Arabian Peninsula. Saudi Arabia was also his first stop in 2017. It is only natural: the center of power in the Arab world rests in Riyadh and Abu Dhabi. And the Saudis, Qataris, and Emiratis are his ...

Trump’s Middle East Tour: Diplomacy Under the Billion-Dollar Sign

Mario Chartouni 2025-05-12 17:55 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Donald Trump Middle East Gulf Saudi Arabia Qatar UAE

Donald Trump begins the first diplomatic tour of his second term with a strategic visit to Gulf monarchies. This tour — which includes Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates — aims to strengthen already solid economic ties with these hydrocarbon-rich states, with the hope of securing massive trade and investment deals. Riyadh has ...