MECCA, SAUDI ARABIA — More than a million Muslims are gathering in Mecca for the hajj pilgrimage overshadowed by the Middle East war, as animosity smoulders across the region despite a fragile ceasefire. This year’s rites, drawing worshippers from across the Islamic world including Iran, follow waves of Iranian attacks on targets in Saudi Arabia […]
TEHRAN — Pakistan’s army chief was due in Iran Thursday, Iranian media reported, with Islamabad mediating as the Islamic republic examines a new US proposal to end the Middle East war. The expected visit by Field Marshal Asim Munir, a powerful figure with a growing role in Pakistan’s foreign relations, comes a day after US […]
DUBAI — Tehran’s latest peace proposal to the United States involves ending hostilities on all fronts including Lebanon, the exit of U.S. forces from areas close to Iran, and reparations for destruction caused by the U.S.-Israeli war, state media reported on Tuesday. In Tehran’s first comments on the proposal, Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said […]
BEIRUT — The death toll in the latest round of fighting between Israel and the Iranian-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon has surpassed 3,000, Lebanon’s health ministry said Monday. The ministry said the toll is now 3,020 in the fighting that has not stopped despite a fragile ceasefire, including 292 women and 211 children. Fighting began on […]
TEHRAN — President Donald Trump issued a fresh warning to Iran on Sunday, saying it had to move quickly towards a peace deal or “there won’t be anything left of them.” Washington, locked in conflict with Tehran since US and Israeli forces launched major strikes on the Islamic republic beginning February 28, has struggled to […]
CAIRO — Saudi Arabia on Sunday said it intercepted three drones after they entered its territory from Iraqi airspace. The kingdom’s defense ministry said it would take the necessary operational measures to respond to any attempt to violate its sovereignty and security. While hostilities during the Iran conflict have largely been scaled down since a […]
TEL AVIV — An Israeli airstrike in Gaza killed the leader of Hamas’ military wing, one of the last surviving architects of the Oct, 7, 2023, attacks that triggered the war in Gaza, the Israeli military said Saturday. Izz al-Din al-Haddad was killed on Friday, Israel’s army said, describing him as was one of the […]
BEIRUT — Israel carried out new strikes in southern Lebanon that it said targeted the militant group Hezbollah on Friday, hours before the two countries’ envoys were set to meet for a second day of peace talks in Washington. A truce in the war between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah has been in place since April […]
DUBAI — Iran’s foreign minister accused the United Arab Emirates of direct involvement in military operations against his country during a BRICS meeting in New Delhi on Thursday, Iranian state media reported. The spat comes a day after the UAE denied a statement by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that he visited the Gulf country […]
TEHRAN — Iranian media reported Thursday that naval forces had allowed a group of Chinese ships to pass through the strategic Strait of Hormuz since the night before. Iran has largely blocked shipping through the strait since the outbreak of war with the United States and Israel on February 28. In peacetime, the route accounts […]