Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhemi paid his respects on Wednesday to the family of slain scholar and government advisor Hisham al-Hashemi, pledging to "avenge" his death. Hashemi, 47, was a specialist in jihadist movements and had developed a vast network of top decision makers, armed...

 Iran reported a new single-day record death toll of 221 from the novel coronavirus on Thursday, after weeks of rising numbers in the Middle East's worst-hit country. "Unfortunately in the past 24 hours we have lost 221 of our compatriots to the COVID-19 disease," health ministry...

Two Palestinian mothers are being held in solitary confinement in Israel without access to medical care, according to their families and a human rights activist. After nearly four weeks in isolation, Muna Naddaf from the Addameer Prisoners Support and Human Rights Association managed to...

A powerful Iran-backed militia said Wednesday there would be "escalation" if Iraq's prime minister continues to clamp down on armed groups, as tensions spiked following the killing of a prominent analyst, pitting the state against rogue elements. Hostilities have flared as Iraq reels...