Former minister Hassan Diab looks set to be named Lebanon’s new prime minister on Thursday with backing from the Iran-backed group Hezbollah and its allies, a move that could complicate Lebanon’s efforts to secure badly needed Western financial aid. Lebanon, wrestling with the worst...

The Iraqi protesters in Baghdad's Tahrir square threatened Thursday of more escalating steps in case the prime minister to be assigned comes against their conditions. According to a statement issued by the Tahrir Square-based activists, they warned the Iraqi parliament's political blocs of...

Outgoing Lebanese Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri arrived at the presidential palace on Thursday as formal consultations began to designate a new premier, live television footage showed. Senior political sources said former education minister Hassan Diab looks set to be designated to the...

As Israelis prepare to return to the polls for a third time in less than a year, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is trapped in a political impasse as he faces graft cases and an internal challenge to his leadership of the Likud Party. With no government formed after April or September...

Israeli warplanes attacked an arms plant in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip early Thursday, after Palestinian militants in the enclave fired a rocket at Israel,the army said. "Overnight, a rocket was launched from the Gaza Strip at Israeli territory," an English-language army statement...

The president of sanctions-hit Iran called Thursday for Muslim countries to cooperate in fighting US "economic terrorism" at the opening of a summit aimed at tackling the Islamic world's woes. Hundreds of delegates are attending the gathering in Malaysia -- including heads of state and...

Iran's top security official said Wednesday the Islamic Republic opposed US negotiations with Afghanistan's Taliban, as the talks excluded the Afghan people and government. "Any strategy, any decision or plan without the participation of the Afghan people is wrong and doomed to failure,"...

Lebanon's Saad Hariri said Wednesday he would not seek to stay on as prime minister, ahead of much-delayed consultations to give the protest-wracked country a new government. Fifty days after unprecedented nationwide demonstrations against Lebanon's reviled political elite forced him to...

Israel’s state-owned electric company on Wednesday said it was continuing power cuts to several cities in the occupied West Bank to press for payment of what it said was $519 million owed by a Palestinian electricity company. Israel Electric Corp (IEC) began daily, three-hour power cuts on...

Lebanon increased security around protest centres in central Beirut Wednesday, after several nights of violence disrupted two months of largely peaceful anti-government demonstrations. Barricades were erected overnight to block or control access to protest sites in the capital where...

Iraq's highest judicial authority has ordered the release of 2,700 people held in anti-government demonstrations. In a statement on Wednesday, the Supreme Judicial Authority said 107 protesters are still held pending investigation. The Iraqi government has pledged to release all...

Turkey will improve its cooperation with Libya and is ready to provide military support for the Tripoli-based governmment or back joint steps in the eastern Mediterranean, broadcaster NTV cited President Tayyip Erdogan as saying Wednesday. Last month, Turkey and Libya's internationally...

An Israeli aircraft hit Tuesday what the military said was an armed Palestinian seen approaching the Israeli border fence in Gaza. "A short while ago, troops spotted an armed terrorist approaching the security fence in the southern Gaza Strip," an army statement said. An Israeli...

Lebanon’s parliament speaker and caretaker prime minister warned against strife on Tuesday after clashes between supporters of Shi’ite groups and security forces overnight stirred fears of further political and economic turmoil. Lebanon has been gripped by protests since Oct. 17, leading to...

An Iraqi lawmaker was Tuesday sentenced to six years jail time for graft after being caught in a sting operation, in a rare trial in a country wracked by government corruption. Mahmud Mullah Talal was arrested in late November, just as he himself was trying to bring down the industry...

Israel has approved the export of gas from its offshore reserves to Egypt, a spokeswoman said Tuesday, with a major reservoir expected to begin operations imminently. The Monday approval by Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz was part of a long process under which Israel will transform from an...

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said Tuesday American sanctions against the Islamic Republic will not last for long. Speaking at a press conference before flying to Malaysia, Rouhani said world countries are seeking to establish friendly relations with Iran. "The American pressure...

Dozens of people were wounded in overnight clashes between security forces and supporters of Lebanon's two Shiite political parties, the civil defence said on Tuesday. Young supporters of Hezbollah and Amal tried to attack the main anti-government protest camp in central Beirut, an AFP...

 A mayor from Turkey's main opposition Republican People's Party was arrested over suspected links to the network that Ankara says orchestrated a failed coup in 2016, a party official said early Tuesday. Ankara has cracked down on suspected followers of Fethullah Gulen, a U.S.-based...

US Defense Secretary Mark Esper said Monday he wants an explanation from Ankara over threats to close two strategic military bases used by the United States in Turkey. Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday threatened to close the Incirlik and Kurecik bases while speaking to a...