Category: 2. Middle East

A Tunisian terrorism court has sentenced three employees, including two former employees of the Tunisian consulate in Syria, to 72 years in prison for forging citizenship documents for “foreigners” involved in terror acts, local media reported yesterday.

Tunisian authorities began investigating the case following the closure of the Tunisian embassy in Syria during the outbreak of the civil war there. The investigation included former Justice Minister…

Former French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin called on Tuesday on Western powers to “isolate Israel economically and strategically” to confront its arrogance and prevent “ethnic cleansing” in the Gaza Strip.

“We are facing an Israeli plan … After the reoccupation of Gaza, the second step will be deportation. The political objective of [Israeli Prime Minister] Benjamin Netanyahu and his government is the deportation of the population of Gaza,…

The Egyptian Foreign Ministry has demanded “clarifications” from Israel after Israeli occupation forces shot at diplomatic missions – including Egyptians – touring the Palestinian city of Jenin in the northern occupied West Bank yesterday.

In a statement the Egyptian Foreign Ministry condemned “in the strongest terms” the Israeli army forces’ behaviour, explaining that the Egyptian ambassador to Ramallah was among the diplomatic delegation and…

WASHINGTON — The Trump administration is brushing off the Iraqi central government’s objections to new deals worth $110 billion that were signed earlier this week with American firms HKN Energy and WesternZagros to develop Iraqi Kurdistan’s oil and gas reserves.

US Energy Secretary Chris Wright signaled the administration would continue to pursue energy investments in the country’s northern autonomous region in order to help develop its untapped resources.

“We are very keen to work…

Israel is reportedly preparing to launch a military strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities, even as the US continues diplomatic efforts to revive a nuclear deal with Tehran, according to new intelligence obtained by Washington and cited by CNN.

Multiple US officials familiar with the latest intelligence assessments told the network that Israel’s preparations have raised alarm in Washington. “The chance of an Israeli strike on an Iranian nuclear facility has…

This year’s Eurovision Song Contest winner Austrian singer JJ called for Israel to be excluded from next year’s competition in an interview published Thursday.

He also expressed regret over Israel’s participation in this year’s competition despite the war in Gaza.

Eurovision has faced criticism for allowing Israel to participate in the contest despite the devastating Gaza war. This year, pro-Palestinian activists staged protests during the extravaganza in Switzerland over the weekend.

Russia…

Five fires have broken out in Syria’s western province of Hama since the beginning of the year, a local official has said.

Abdul Aziz Al-Qassem, director general of the General Authority for Forest Management and Development in Hama Governorate, said five fires broke out this year in the Ghab forest, covering a total area of approximately 578 dunams (143 acres).

Al-Qassem explained that 60 dunams (15 acres) were privately owned while the largest fire broke out…

The Arab League has called for international legal proceedings against Israel after Israeli occupation forces fired in the direction of a diplomatic convoy in Jenin in the occupied West Bank yesterday. The convoy, comprising diplomats from over 30 countries, was on an official visit to assess humanitarian conditions in the area.

Ambassador Majed Abdel Fattah, the Arab League’s permanent representative to the United Nations, described the incident as a…

Austrian singer JJ, who won this year’s Eurovision song contest, called for Israel to be excluded from the 2026 edition in Vienna due to its war on Gaza, Reuters reports.

Eurovision faced controversy again this year linked to the war. An Israeli military campaign has killed over 53,600 Palestinians in Gaza, the enclave’s health authorities say, since 7 October 2023.

Pro-Palestinian groups had urged the European Broadcasting Union to exclude Israel from the…