Archives for May, 2024

Mohammed Mustafa was on his first trip to Europe since being appointed by Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas in March

Italy to resume funding for UN agency for Palestinian refugees

Agence France-Presse

Palestinians react after an Israeli strike on Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza

Israel strikes Rafah after UN court orders halt to offensive

Agence France-Presse

Kurdish security forces in northeastern Syria guard the entrance of the Al-Hol camp during a release of relatives of suspected Islamic State group fighters last year

Four Britons repatriated from Syria camp, Kurds say

Agence France-Presse

An Iranian man reads a prayer over the coffins of late president Ebrahim Raisi (portrait top L) and late governor of Iran's East Azerbaijan Province Malik Rahmati (portrait top R) during a funeral ceremony at the Imam Reza shrine, in the city of Mashhad, on May 23, 2024.

Analysis

Trump looms over Iranian presidential election

Ali Hashem reports from Tehran that relations with the United States may be a defining issue for next Iranian president.

Week in Review

Andrew Parasiliti

Ali Hashem

By Week in Review , Andrew Parasiliti , Ali Hashem

A French Jewish pilgrim visits the historic Ghriba synagogue on the Tunisian island of Djerba

Tunisian Jewish pilgrimage sees low turnout amid security fears

Agence France-Presse

Office of the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran via Getty Images

Iran investigates Raisi helicopter crash: What we know

Some Iranian officials have blamed US sanctions for the helicopter crash that led to President Ebrahim Raisi’s death, while the first government report on the matter said nothing suspicious occurred.

Iraqis carry portraits of Iran's late president Ebrahim Raisi outside the Iranian embassy in Baghdad during a condolences service on May 20, 2024 for the president and his entourage, who were killed in a helicopter crash in Iran the previous day.

Iran pledges continued support for regional proxies despite Raisi's death

In a show of defiance to Western adversaries, Iran hosted senior leaders of several regional militant organizations to renew promises that they will continue to have Tehran's blessing despite President Ebrahim Raisi's death.

Pickup basketball on the deck of the Ocean Viking

Rebuilding hope for migrants aboard Med rescue ship

Agence France-Presse

Libya's interim Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah (R) welcomes Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni as she arrives for a meeting in Tripoli on May 7, 2024.

What's behind Italy's growing Libya engagement as Russia influence expands?

Italy is seeking stronger ties with Libya’s rival groups, though this mission may be hindered by several challenges.

A lioness rests in Khan Yunis, Gaza, after it was evacuated from Rafah by its owner to escape the Israeli offensive

Gaza zookeeper fears for his animals after fleeing Rafah

Agence France-Presse

Axel Baroux

Interview

Saudi Expo 2030 to offer major opportunities for French businesses, says official

In November, the Saudi capital won the right to host the Expo 2030 world trade fair that is expected to attract around 40 million visitors and billions of dollars of inward investment.

Axel Baroux

Axel Baroux

French Trade and Invest Commissioner for the UAE and Middle East

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (R) and Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi attend a joint press conference in Ankara, on Jan. 24, 2024.

How Raisi’s death will impact Turkey-Iran geopolitical rivalry

While leaders and some commentators in Turkey posthumously praised the late Iranian president and foreign minister, many geopolitical challenges await Ankara and Tehran once Iran elects a new president.

One of the Assyrian reliefs from the eighth century BC that were returned to Iraq by Switzerland on Friday

Swiss return three confiscated artefacts to Iraq

Agence France-Presse

Israeli activists have set up a protest camp near the Lebanese border to demand action to restore security so that the border area's 60,000 evacuees can return to their homes

Hezbollah barrages deal heavy damage in northern Israel

Agence France-Presse

UAE president

UAE president to finesse ties in upcoming Beijing visit amid US-China rivalry

The Emirati president's first trip to China in two years comes as ties to the People’s Republic are strengthening across a variety of sectors.

United Arab Emirates

ICJ

Analysis

Israel unlikely to heed ICJ on Rafah halt, prepares for diplomatic fallout

Israel is unlikely to withdraw its forces from Rafah despite concerns within the political and military establishment over the country's growing international isolation.

In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense