Middle East

One Killed as Russian Missile Strikes Hit Ukraine Capital
One Killed as Russian Missile Strikes Hit Ukraine Capital

One person was reported killed on Friday in a Russian missile strike on the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, where AFP staff saw smoke rise over parts of the city after a series of explosions. "According to preliminary reports, one person was killed," the head of the city's military administration, Sergiy Popko, said on Telegram. Popko said Russian forces ...

US Moves Closer to Budget Paralysis After New Bill Fails
US Moves Closer to Budget Paralysis After New Bill Fails

On Thursday, the US House of Representatives largely rejected a new Republican budget proposal aimed at avoiding a paralysis of the federal government, in a stinging defeat that increases the uncertainty before the fateful midnight hour on Friday. The Republicans, despite having a majority in the lower house, had put this new proposal to the vote ...

Yemen: the Houthis Claim Responsibility for Firing on Israel After Strikes Against Their Infrastructure
Yemen: the Houthis Claim Responsibility for Firing on Israel After Strikes Against Their Infrastructure

Yemen's Houthi rebels on Thursday claimed responsibility for firing two missiles and a drone at Israel after Israeli raids on Yemeni ports and energy infrastructure, which left nine people dead according to their leader. The Israeli army announced that it had struck ports and energy infrastructure belonging to the Houthis, more than 1,500 ...

The UN Asks The ICJ For Its Opinion On Israel's Obligations Towards The Palestinians
The UN Asks The ICJ For Its Opinion On Israel's Obligations Towards The Palestinians

On Thursday, the United Nations General Assembly approved a resolution asking the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to rule on Israel's humanitarian obligations towards the Palestinians, at a time when the Israeli government is accused of obstructing access to aid in Gaza. The resolution, submitted by Norway, was adopted by a large ...

Hundreds in Damascus Protest for Democracy, Women's Rights
Hundreds in Damascus Protest for Democracy, Women's Rights

In Damascus's Ummayad Square, hundreds gathered Thursday, demanding a democratic state that includes women in public life, marking the first such demonstration since Islamist-led rebels toppled longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad. Women and men, young and old, chanted slogans including "No to religious rule", "God is for religion ...

From Glorifying Assad to Praising al-Joulani: The Shifting Allegiances of Syrian Celebrities
From Glorifying Assad to Praising al-Joulani: The Shifting Allegiances of Syrian Celebrities

The term “mukawiin” (literally “those who took a turn” and figuratively “weather vanes”) has flooded Syrian socio-media landscape since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime on December 8. As the former president fled to Russia and rebels seized control of Damascus, a new label emerged to describe those who shifted allegiances with ...

UN Chief Sees 'Flame of Hope' in Syria, Calls for End to Israel Strikes
UN Chief Sees 'Flame of Hope' in Syria, Calls for End to Israel Strikes

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Thursday that there was a "flame of hope" in Syria following the fall of president Bashar al-Assad's regime but warned of significant challenges ahead. He also underlined that Israel's widespread strikes on Syrian military infrastructure were "violations" of the country's sovereignty and called for them ...

Thousands Protest in Northeast Syria in Support of Kurdish-Led Force
Thousands Protest in Northeast Syria in Support of Kurdish-Led Force

Thousands of people demonstrated Thursday in northeast Syria in support of a US-backed, Kurdish-led force that for weeks has been pushing back against Turkey-backed fighters, an AFP correspondent said. The show of support for the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) comes after Islamist-led rebels toppled Syria's longtime strongman Bashar al-Assad ...

Israel Accused of 'Acts of Genocide', 'Ethnic Cleansing' in Gaza
Israel Accused of 'Acts of Genocide', 'Ethnic Cleansing' in Gaza

Israel on Thursday faced accusations of "acts of genocide" in Gaza, while a medical charity said the devastation caused in the Palestinian territory showed "signs of ethnic cleansing". They are the latest in a series of similar accusations levelled against Israel during its 14-month war in the Gaza Strip. In a new report focused specifically on ...

Syria: Turkey Promises to Press On, Demands Kurdish Fighters Disarm
Syria: Turkey Promises to Press On, Demands Kurdish Fighters Disarm

Ankara will push ahead with its military preparations until Kurdish fighters "disarm", a defense ministry source said Thursday, stressing Turkey faces an ongoing threat along its border with northern Syria. The comments came as concerns grew over a possible Turkish assault on the Kurdish-held Syrian border town of Kobane, also known as Ain ...

Putin’s Open Invitation: “Ready to Meet Trump Anytime”
Putin’s Open Invitation: “Ready to Meet Trump Anytime”

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday that the fall of ex-Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad was not a "defeat" for Russia, claiming Moscow had achieved its goals in the country. Assad fled to Moscow earlier this month after a shock rebel advance ended half a century of rule by the Assad family, marked by repression and allegations of vast ...