Middle East & North Africa
US Airstrikes Target Iranian-Backed Groups in Syria
On Nov. 12, the United States carried out two airstrikes in Syria, targeting a training facility near the city of Albu Kamal and a safe house near the city of Mayadeen. The US military said that the strikes were in retaliation for a series of over 50 rocket and drone attacks that left at least 56 US personnel with a “combination of traumatic brain injury and minor injuries.”
Pro-Palestinian Protesters Clash with Police Outside US Military Base in Turkey
On Nov. 5, 2023, thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters gathered outside the Incirlik Air Base in the Adana province of southern Turkey to express disapproval of Israeli attacks harming Gazan civilians and US support for Israel.
Death of Migrant Worker Vergie Tamfungan Raised UAE Labor Law Concerns
The United Arab Emirates government has launched an investigation in response to a report by the Guardian on the suspicious death of Filipina migrant worker Vergie Tamfungan’s death.
Egypt’s Diplomatic Role in Addressing the Israel-Hamas Conflict
As the Israel-Hamas conflict continues, the spotlight has shifted towards Egypt, a country historically significant to the Gaza Strip. While Egypt has had a tumultuous relationship with both Israel and Hamas, it is a key player in addressing the ongoing conflict.
Sakharov Human Rights Prize Awarded to Jina Mahsa Amini
The European Parliament posthumously presented the Sakharov Human Rights Prize for Freedom of Thought to Jina Mahsa Amini. Her death stirred Iran into a new attempt at protesting the current repressive theocracy that enforced hijab wearing, among other restrictions for women.
International Court Addresses Syrian Torture Case
The International Court of Justice has addressed the 12-year legacy of torture and false imprisonment of the Syrian Assad Administration for the first time on Oct 11, 2023. The case, brought forward by Canada and the Netherlands, accused Assad of violating the UN’s Convention against Torture (CAT), which Syria has opted in to.
Egypt Caught in the Crossfire Amid Sudan Military Outbreak
As decades-old tensions erupted in Sudan over the weekend, several Egyptian officers became caught in the crossfire as Sudan’s rivaling military factions fight for military control, decimating local communities and sparking international outrage.
Saudi Arabia Leads Landmark Diplomatic Efforts Between Syria, Iran, and Arab States
Saudi Arabia has pushed forward several diplomatic initiatives in recent weeks, signaling a wider effort to bring stability to the region and restore cooperation between various Arab states.
United States Sends Armed Submarine to the Middle East as Tensions with Tehran Escalate
The United States Navy announced that it has deployed a guided missile submarine, the USS Florida, to the Red Sea.
Lebanon's Attempt to Change Time Zones Causes Chaos
Last week, Lebanon experienced life in two time zones – not for geographic reasons (Russia, after all, has 11), but political ones.
Israel Repeals Disengagement Law from West Bank Passed Nearly 20 Years Ago
Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, voted last week in favor of repealing the disengagement law that was passed in 2005 that resulted in the evacuation of settlements in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.
“We Are Not Going To Stop”: US and Iran Go Hit-for-Hit in Proxy Drone Strikes in Syria
The last week has seen a rapid escalation in foreign intervention in Syria as a stand-off between Iran and the United States of America comes to a head.
Mada Masr Journalists Referred to Trial in Egyptian Press Crackdown
Three journalists have been brought to trial on charges of insulting (pro-government) Egyptian members of parliament.
With Pressures Rising Two Months Before Elections, Turkey's Opposition Reshuffles
Despite last month’s earthquake, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan says that national elections will move forward as planned.
Iranian Protests Reignite as Hundreds of Schoolgirls are Hospitalized for Gas Poisoning
Tensions in Iran have skyrocketed after public outrage over the poisonings of several schoolgirls was revealed this weekend.
Judicial Reform in Israel Sparks Mass Anti-Government Protests
On Saturday night, over 150,000 people took to the streets of Tel Aviv in the largest anti-government protests yet in response to the current government’s proposed judicial overhauls.
Jordan Hosts Peace Talks with Israel and Palestine Amid Escalating Tensions
On Sunday, Feb. 26, Israeli and Palestinian delegations were hosted in Aqaba, Jordan in an attempt to curb an increase in violence in the West Bank. Representatives from Egypt and the United States were also in attendance to watch the talks.
UN Conference on Nuclear Proliferation, WMDs in the Middle East Meets in New York
From Nov. 14 to Nov. 18, representatives of 21 nations in the Middle East met at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City to discuss nuclear non-proliferation and efforts to improve compliance with bans on biological and chemical weapons.
FBI Investigating the Death of Palestinian Journalist Shireen Abu Akleh New Challenge to Israel Government
The US Justice Department has confirmed that the death of Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh in the occupied West Bank is under review by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
Iranian Military Targets Kurdistan Population with Recent Attack in Iraq
Several Kurdish political parties were targeted in Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdistan region when Tehran launched rocket and drone attacks in Sulaimaniya and the region’s capital, Erbil.