US defence chief says discussed Syria with NATO head
US Secretary of Defense Mark Esper said Monday he has discussed the situation in Syria with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg amid increased hostilities in the country’s northwest. ...
Iraq confirms 5 new coronavirus cases
Iraq has detected five new cases of coronavirus, four in Baghdad and one in Babel province, the Health Ministry said on Saturday, taking the total number of cases in the country to 13, reported Reuters. ...
Iran's death toll from coronavirus jumps to 54, with 978 infected
Iran’s death toll from the new coronavirus has reached 54, Health Ministry spokesman Kianush Jahanpur told state TV, adding the number of those infected had reached 978, reports Reuters. ...
Syria war: Alarm after 33 Turkish soldiers killed in attack in Idlib
At least 33 Turkish soldiers have died in a Syrian government attack in opposition-held north-western Syria, in a major escalation of the conflict. ...
Iraq files complaint against PM-designate over bribery allegations
The Iraqi Parliament has filed an official complaint with the country’s public prosecutor against Prime Minister-designate Muhammad Tawfiq Allawi after he accused lawmakers of receiving bribes in order to “thwart his government”. ...
Iraq parliament postpones vote on new government
The Iraqi parliament has postponed by two days a vote scheduled yesterday to grant confidence to the new cabinet of Prime Minister-designate Mohammad Allawi. ...
Coronavirus: Iran's deputy health minister tests positive as outbreak worsens
Iran's deputy health minister and an MP have both tested positive for the new coronavirus disease, as it struggles to contain an outbreak that has killed 15. ...
50 dead as coronavirus hits Iran’s Qom
Fifty people have died in the Iranian city of Qom from the new strain of the coronavirus so far this month, Iran’s news agency ILNA reported today. ...
Lebanon reduces flights, blames Iran for coronavirus spread
Lebanon has officially reduced the number of flights to and from coronavirus infected countries, after some blamed Iran for its first case of the virus. ...
Sudan: Authorities launch investigation into Thursday’s clashes
The Sudanese Public Prosecution opened an investigation on Friday into the clashes that broke out between police forces and protesters on Thursday in the capital of Khartoum, after the police fired tear gas to disperse the demonstrators who demanded restructuring the armed forces and reintegrating the dismissed pro-revolution officers. The clashes resulted in the injuries of 53 demonstrators. ...
Iraq shuts border with Iran over coronavirus fears
Iraq’s south-eastern province of Maysan decided to close its border with Iran yesterday over fears of the coronavirus spreading into the country. ...
3 men confess to attacking Lebanon journalist
Three bodyguards of former minister Marwan Kheireddine yesterday confessed to the premeditated attack on financial journalist Mohammad Zbeeb. ...
Outgoing Iraqi PM warns he will walk away if successor’s government is not approved soon
Iraq’s outgoing prime minister urged political leaders on Wednesday to quickly approve his designated successor’s cabinet and warned he would walk away from his caretaker post if they do not do so by March 2, according to a report by Reuters. ...
Iran: 2 die after testing positive for coronavirus
Two Iranians have died in hospital after testing positive for the new coronavirus in the holy Shia city of Qom, the head of the city’s University of Medical Sciences told Mehr news agency on Wednesday. ...
UN envoy condemns use of birdshot against Iraqi protesters
The top United Nations envoy to Iraq condemned on Monday the use of hunting rifles loaded with birdshot against peaceful protesters in Baghdad and urged the government to ensure those demonstrating are not harmed, Reuters reports. ...
Hezbollah unveils statue of Soleimani at Israel-Lebanon border
The Iran-backed Lebanese Hezbollah has unveiled a giant statue of the late General Qassem Soleimani, the Iranian commander assassinated by the US in Baghdad last month. ...
Iran's beleaguered President Rouhani rules out resigning
Iran's President Hassan Rouhani on Sunday ruled out resigning and vowed to see out his term, even as he admitted he had offered to step aside twice since being elected. ...
Rocket hits Iraqi base hosting US forces
A rocket hit a base in northern Iraq that hosts US forces on Thursday but caused no casualties, Iraqi security sources said to Reuters. ...
Iraq: Army hands security duties over to police in Wasit
The Iraqi army handed security duties over to the Wasit Police Command, Thursday, 13 years after it took over security in the area. ...
UN: 800,000 displaced in Idlib offensive
Over 140,000 Syrians have been displaced in just three days under the government’s offensive against opposition-held areas in the north-west of the country. ...