Middle East News

Jerusalem, Dec 24: Israel's Defence Minister Israel Katz has admitted for the first time that the country assassinated Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Iran's capital Tehran.

Ramallah, Dec 24: Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris had a phone conversation to discuss the latest developments in the Palestinian territories, according to the Palestinian official news agency WAFA.

Jerusalem, Dec 24: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that "there has been progress" in efforts to secure a ceasefire-for-hostages deal with Hamas, but cautioned that the timeline for reaching an agreement remains unclear.

Dubai, December 23: The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation (MBRF) concluded the 12th edition of the 'Bil Arabi' initiative, which is one of MBRF's key knowledge initiatives for promoting the use of the Arabic language in daily life and across digital channels, especially among the youth.

Dubai, December 23: Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the UAE, and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, today approved the formation of the Board of Directors of the 'Young Arab Leaders' initiative, naming 11 leading and influential Arab figures from diverse fields to propel it forward.

Damascus, Dec 23: Hayat Tahrir al-Sham Commander Ahmed al-Sharaa and visiting Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan held talks during which both sides vowed to strengthen bilateral ties.

Jerusalem, Dec 23: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel would "act with force" against the Houthi group in Yemen, a day after the group launched a missile toward the Tel Aviv area.

Jerusalem, Dec 23: Israel's Defence Minister Israel Katz visited an Israeli army outpost in southern Lebanon, threatening decisive action against Hezbollah if the group fails to retreat behind the Litani River as required under the ongoing ceasefire agreement.

Abu Dhabi, December 23: The UAE is expected to experience unstable weather conditions in the coming days due to an extension of a surface low pressure system from the Southeast, according to the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM).

Kuwait City, Dec 22: In a special gesture, Kuwait's Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Al-Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah came to see off PM Modi at the airport Sunday evening as he wrapped up his historic two-day visit to the West Asian country and left for India.

Kuwait City, Dec 22: Kuwait on Sunday bestowed its highest honour 'The Order of Mubarak Al Kabeer' to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in appreciation of his distinguished achievements and the efforts made to strengthen the relations between the two countries.

Kuwait City, Dec 22: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Sunday, received a ceremonial Guard of Honour at Bayan Palace, Kuwait, in the presence of Kuwaiti Prime Minister Mohammed Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah.

Kuwait City, Dec 22: Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised Indian workers abroad during his visit to a labour camp in Mina Abdullah, Kuwait, marking the first official program of his historic visit to the West Asian nation.

New Delhi, Dec 22: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has attended the opening ceremony of the 26th Arabian Gulf Cup in Kuwait as the 'Guest of Honour,' following an invitation from Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the Amir of Kuwait.

Baghdad, Dec 22: Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani stressed the importance of concerted efforts to assist Syria in managing its affairs without interference that compromises its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Damascus, Dec 22: Qatar officially reopened its embassy in the Syrian capital Damascus, raising its national flag over the building for the first time in 13 years.

Abu Dhabi, December 22: Emirati women have played a vital role in the UAE's most significant achievements during 2024, a year marked by their growing presence and impact across various fields.

Kuwait City, Dec 21: India has been a natural trading partner of Kuwait and continues to be so in contemporary times and people-to-people linkages over centuries have fostered a special bond of friendship between the two countries, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday.

Kuwait City, Dec 21: Lauding the hard work, achievement and contribution of the Indian community to the development of Kuwait, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday extended an invitation to diaspora members to participate in Pravasi Bharatiya Divas and Maha Kumbh events to be held next month while spotlighting that India of the future will be the hub of global development and the growth engine of the world.

Kuwait City, Dec 21: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday interacted with a cross-section of Indian workers during his visit to a labour camp in Mina Abdullah area of Kuwait, his first official programme after arriving in the West Asian nation on a historic visit, earlier in the day.

Kuwait City, Dec 21: The Indian community gave a rousing reception to Prime Minister Narendra Modi as he arrived at his hotel in Kuwait City on Saturday afternoon, shortly after he touched down in the Gulf nation, kicking off his historic two-day visit, the first by an Indian PM to the country in 43 years.

Kuwait City, Dec 21: The Indian community gave a rousing reception to Prime Minister Narendra Modi as he arrived at his hotel in Kuwait City on Saturday afternoon, shortly after he touched down in the Gulf nation, kicking off his historic two-day visit, the first by an Indian PM to the country in 43 years.

Kuwait City, December 21: Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Kuwait to a warm welcome on Saturday. He is on a two-day visit to the Gulf nation.

Kuwait City, Dec 21: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday afternoon arrived in Kuwait, becoming the first Indian Prime Minister to visit the Gulf nation in 43 years.

Abu Dhabi, December 20: As part of its efforts to enhance Abu Dhabi's leadership in the field of sustainable pearl oyster farming, and within the framework of the Abu Dhabi Sustainable Aquaculture Policy, the Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi (EAD) has announced the execution of the region's first freshwater pearl oyster aquaculture project in Al Faya.

Dubai, December 20: The Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) has launched the National School Health Screening Guideline in partnership with health, education, and social authorities to identify health or developmental conditions among students from kindergarten to grade 12, enabling early intervention and support.

Abu Dhabi, December 20: The United Arab Emirates has reiterated its unwavering commitment to fostering international solidarity and humanitarian cooperation through various programmes and initiatives worldwide.

Abu Dhabi, December 20: After a dramatic Super Shootout loss in the opener, TSL Hawks bounced back in style as they delivered a clinical performance to defeat the HonorFX Eagles 21-14 in Match 3 of the World Tennis League Season 3, at the iconic Etihad Arena on Friday.

Ankara, Dec 20: "I have a homeland today to return to, I belong there." At 25, Islam Al-Masri's life has been marked by displacement during Syria's civil war. Now, after the fall of Bashar al-Assad's government, he has decided to end his exile and return.

Dubai, December 20: In his capacity as the Ruler of Dubai, Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister, has issued Law No. (28) of 2024 concerning the establishment of the Al Maktoum Archives.

Santiago, December 20: President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has conferred the Zayed the Second Medal on Professor Maisa Rojas, Minister of Environment of Chile, in recognition of her contributions to the success of the 28th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28), which was hosted in the UAE last year.

Cairo, Dec 20: Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi held several bilateral talks with the leaders of the Middle East countries on the sidelines of the 11th Summit of the Developing Eight Organization for Economic Cooperation held in Egypt's new administrative capital and reaffirmed the commitment to restore peace in the region.

Jerusalem, Dec 19: A missile launched by Yemen's Houthi forces struck a school in central Israel on Thursday, causing significant damage, according to Israeli official sources.

Sanaa, Dec 19: At least nine people were killed and several others wounded on early Thursday morning by Israeli airstrikes on Yemen's capital here and the Red Sea ports in the western province of Hodeidah, the Houthi-run al-Masirah TV reported.

Ankara, Dec 19: Turkey and Lebanon have agreed to work together on Syrian issues following the downfall of Bashar al-Assad, said Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Aden, Dec 19: Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council called for international support to address pressing economic and humanitarian challenges in the war-torn country.

Damascus, Dec 18: The United Nations special envoy to Syria, Geir Pedersen, said Wednesday that he sees hope for a "new Syria" developing in the aftermath of the country's recent political upheaval while acknowledging the formidable challenges that remain.

Jerusalem, Dec 18: The Israel National Cyber Directorate (INCD) announced on Wednesday that 517 cyberattacks have been carried out against universities and colleges in Israel since the outbreak of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in October last year.

Istanbul, Dec 18: Turkey has strengthened border infrastructure and measures to facilitate Syrians' return, the state-run Anadolu agency reported.

Jerusalem, Dec 18: Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said that Israeli forces would remain on the Syrian summit of Mount Hermon for "as long as necessary."

Damascus, Dec 18: The commander of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), Mazloum Abdi, has said that his forces are willing to propose a "demilitarised zone" in the border city of Kobani in the northern countryside of Aleppo.

Jerusalem, Dec 18: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed that he would not permit the establishment of a Palestinian state, rejecting reports that Israel had agreed to a "path toward Palestinian statehood" as part of efforts to normalise relations with Saudi Arabia.

Jerusalem, Dec 17: Forces in Yemen launched a missile toward central Israel, triggering sirens in Tel Aviv and other cities, Israel's military said.

Istanbul, Dec 16: Since the beginning of November, 37 people have died from poisoning due to consuming counterfeit alcohol in Turkey's Istanbul, the Istanbul Governor's Office said in a statement on Monday.

Damascus, Dec 16: Former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad released on Monday his first public statement since leaving Damascus on December 8, detailing the chaotic moments leading up to his departure for Russia.

Abu Dhabi, December 16: XRG and BP today announced they have reached financial close and completed the formation of their new joint venture (JV) and international natural gas platform - Arcius Energy. Announced in February 2024, the JV is 51 per cent owned by bp and 49 per cent by XRG, ADNOC's transformative energy investment company.

Damascus, Dec 16: Syria's Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) leader, Ahmad al-Shara, held a meeting with UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen in Damascus to discuss the political transition in the country, according to a statement released by local al-Watan Online news outlet.

Riyadh, Dec 16: Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Qatar condemned the Israeli government's approval of a plan to expand settlements in the occupied Golan Heights.

Doha, Dec 16: A Qatari diplomatic delegation has arrived in Damascus, the capital of Syria, to complete the procedures for reopening Qatar's embassy in Syria, Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed Al Ansari said.

Jerusalem, Dec 16: Israel has inaugurated its first power plant that generates electricity from sea waves, Israel's Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure said in a statement.

Tel Aviv, Dec 16: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke with US President-elect Donald Trump about Israel's determination to continue acting against Iran and its armed proxies whenever they try to harm the Jewish state, the premier said in a video statement.

Tel Aviv, Dec 16: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that he discussed with US President-elect Donald Trump ongoing efforts to bring back the hostages being held by Hamas in Gaza, as Israeli officials indicated that a deal could be reached in less than two weeks despite sticking points in negotiations.

Jerusalem, Dec 16: The Israeli government has approved a plan to expand settlements in the Golan Heights, a Syrian territory currently occupied by Israel, according to a statement by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office.

Jerusalem, Dec 15: The Israeli government approved a plan on Sunday to expand settlements in the Golan Heights, a Syrian territory currently occupied by Israel, according to a statement by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office.

Jerusalem, Dec 15: Israel announced Sunday that it will close its embassy in Ireland, attributing the decision to the Irish government's "extreme anti-Israel policies".

N: ew Delhi: The capture of Damascus by the radical Islamic forces resulting in the flight of Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad to Moscow for political asylum on December 8 was seemingly a sudden development but it marked the culmination of what had been happening in Syria and Iraq for years signifying impact of religion on the old superpower rivalry in the region that was somewhere also changing the geopolitics at the global level.

Damascus, Dec 15: Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem has confirmed that the Lebanese armed group has temporarily lost its weapons supply route through Syria following the recent fall of Bashar al-Assad's government.

Ankara, Dec 13: Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken held a meeting on Friday on combating terrorism and achieving stability in Syria, calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.

New Delhi, December 13: At the 15th India-UAE Joint Commission Meeting (JCM) in New Delhi on Friday an MoU was signed between the Emirates Polar Mission Steering Committee, UAE, and India's National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR) to enhance cooperation in polar and ocean regions' research, operations, academic collaboration, and capacity building.

Athens, December 13: Humaid Obaid Abushibs, Chairman of the UAE Accountability Authority (UAEAA), led an official working visit to the Hellenic Republic, aimed at enhancing cooperation in audit and anti-corruption between the two countries.