Archives for April, 2021

Jordanian Prince Hamzah Bin al-Hussein attends the SOFEX Jordan (Special Operations Forces Exhibition and Conference) on May 11, 2010, in Amman, Jordan.

Jordan prince declares loyalty to king following rift

The United States refers to Jordan's King Abdullah II as an “invaluable and indispensable strategic partner.”

Syrians drive in the town of Saraqeb along the main Damascus-Aleppo (M5) highway in Syria's northwestern Idlib province on March 7, 2020, following a Russian-Turkish cease-fire deal.

War over economic routes heats up in Syria

Syria’s economic collapse is stoking the struggle over commercial routes between government-held areas and US- and Turkish-backed enclaves, fueling also disagreements on humanitarian aid.

A handout picture provided by the Iranian presidency on July 7, 2019, shows (L to R) Iran's government spokesman Ali Rabiei and Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi speaking to each other during a joint press conference at the presidential headquarters in the capital, Tehran, on July 7, 2019. Iran will begin enriching uranium beyond a 3.67% cap set by a landmark nuclear deal "in a few hours," the Islamic Republic's Atomic Energy Organization spokesman Behrouz Kamalvandi said on July 7, 2019.

Iran: no direct or indirect talks with US officials in Vienna

Heading into talks in Vienna on the JCPOA, Tehran maintains its position that Washington must remove sanctions first.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh gestures during a press conference in Tehran on Feb. 22, 2021. Iran hailed as a "significant achievement" a temporary agreement Tehran reached with the head of the UN nuclear watchdog on site inspections. That deal effectively bought time as the United States, European powers and Tehran try to salvage the 2015 nuclear agreement that has been on the brink of collapse since Donald Trump withdrew from it.

Iran talks tough ahead of indirect nuclear negotiations with US

Iranian and US officials will not meet directly in Vienna tomorrow amid the first negotiations aimed at a return to the 2015 nuclear deal, officials have said.

Israeli businessman Shaul Elovitz arrives to attend the hearing for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's trial for corruption

First witness testifies in Netanyahu trial

On a doubly dramatic day in Israel, the first witness testified in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s corruption trail and President Reuven Rivlin began consultations on who will be tasked to form the next government.

US soldiers load cargo into planes during a logistical operation to clear equipment and heavy machinery from the Balad military base, north of Baghdad, on Aug. 27, 2010 a week before the US military is due to end its combat mission in the country.

Rockets land near Iraqi air base ahead of strategic dialogue with US

No one was hurt in the latest barrage, an Iraqi military official said

KHALIL MAZRAAWI / AFP

Jordan rocked by allegations against former crown prince

Hamzah Bin Al Hussein, former Crown Prince and half-brother to King Abdullah, says he is not going to obey restrictions.

children, us soldier in Hasakah province

Tribes in east Syria resort to their own judiciary over lack of trust in official courts

Tribes in the northeastern Syrian province of Hasakah agreed to set up a tribal judiciary system as an alternative to the official judiciary affiliated with the Kurdish-led authorities running the area.

A picture taken from the Mount of Olives on Jan. 20, 2018, shows a Muslim tourist viewing Jerusalem's Old City and the Dome of the Rock.

Israel prepares for wave of Muslim tourists

With the signing of the Abraham Accords and the opening of Emirati, Bahraini and Moroccan diplomatic missions, Israel is now preparing for an unprecedented wave of Muslim tourists.

Egyptian Red Crescent members gather at the scene of a building collapse along Kasr el-Nile street in downtown district in Cairo, Egypt, Aug. 15, 2020.

Cairo building collapse highlights lax government oversight

In a continuation of the real estate collapse incidents in Egypt, a 10-story property collapsed March 27 in Cairo, resulting in five deaths and injuring many.

Amir Levy/Getty Images

Arab legislator's speech marks historic moment in Israeli politics

In his prime-time speech, Arab Knesset member Mansour Abbas cleverly laid the groundwork for an Arab party to join it.

The carriages carrying 22 ancient Egyptian royal mummies depart from the Egyptian Museum in Cairo's Tahrir Square on April 3, 2021, during a parade on their way to their new resting place at the new National Museum of Egyptian Civilisation in Old Cairo.

Curse or no curse, Cairo's mummy parade goes smoothly

Cairo's procession of royal mummies roused national pride among Egyptians, though observers warned that disturbing the dead may have unleashed the "curse of the pharaohs."

Iran's President Hassan Rouhani (C) arrives to address parliament in the capital, Tehran, on Sept. 3, 2019. In the address, he ruled out holding any bilateral talks with the United States, saying the Islamic Republic is opposed to such negotiations in principle. He also said Iran was ready to further reduce its commitments to a landmark 2015 nuclear deal "in the coming days" if current negotiations yield no results by Sept. 5.

Will Iran’s supreme leader allow Rouhani’s last wish to come true?

As Washington and Tehran make small progress on resolving their dispute over the 2015 nuclear deal, it remains unclear whether Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei will support President Hassan Rouhani's efforts to negotiate.

KHALED DESOUKI/AFP via Getty Images

Cairo debuts revamped Tahrir Square

Tahrir Square has reopened after major renovations, but not everyone's a fan.

Putin and Aoun

What’s Moscow's game plan for Lebanon?

With the worsening of the Lebanese crisis, Russia will have to take a closer look at Lebanese affairs to protect its assets in Syria.

A Palestinian artist adds the final touches to a mural painting calling on people to vote during the upcoming elections (legislative in May and presidential in July) in a street in Gaza City, on March 24, 2021.

Israel tight-lipped on Palestinian elections

Official Israel is mindful not to make public statements on the upcoming Palestinian elections, yet some reports suggest it is working behind the scenes to encourage their postponement or cancellation.