Mideast News from WN Network

Pentagon developing plans to withdraw US troops from Syria: Report 2025-02-05
Anadolu Agency

The US Department of Defense is drafting plans to withdraw all US troops from Syria within 30, 60, or 90 days, two US defense officials told NBC News on Tuesday. According to the officials, President Donald Trump and officials close to him recently showed interest in withdrawing troops from...

photo: AP / Photo, File

UNRWA delivers bulk of aid in Gaza, as destruction mounts in West Bank 2025-02-04
United Nations

Some 30,000 residents from Jenin refugee...

photo: AP / Jehad Alshrafi

Trump-Netanyahu meeting is a consequential moment for both leaders – and the Middle East 2025-02-04
CNN

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s arrival as the first foreign leader to pay President Donald Trump a visit since he returned to the White House comes at a consequential moment. There is little question the Israeli leader will receive a warm welcome; his visit will last several hours and include a...

photo: White House / Shealah Craighead

Israeli army withdraws from Syrian town in occupied Golan Heights leaving trail of destruction 2025-02-03
Anadolu Agency

Anadolu filmed massive destruction left by the Israeli army after it withdrew from Madinat al-Baath, now renamed Madinat al-Salam (Peace City) in Syria's Quneitra province in the occupied Golan Heights. Footage showed damaged government and courthouse buildings, roads flattened by...

photo: Creative Commons / Israel Defense Forces

Pakistan threatens to deport Afghans in resettlement programs if cases are not swiftly processed 2025-02-03
The Seattle Times

Officials say Pakistan has threatened to deport Afghan refugees awaiting relocation to a third country unless their cases are swiftly processed by the host governments. ......

photo: AP / Fareed Khan

Will multinational companies flock to Syria? Maybe, if foreign aid arrives first 2025-02-03
The Conversation

Syria’s new foreign minister, Asaad al-Shaibani, recently appeared at the World Economic Forum’s annual conference in the Swiss resort of Davos. He announced that his country is open for business and seeking foreign investment. After more than 13 years of civil war and decades of dictatorship that...

photo: AP / Photo/Omar Sanadiki

Syria’s interim president heads to Saudi Arabia on first trip abroad, likely a signal to Iran 2025-02-02
The Associated Press

Syria’s interim president has made his first trip abroad, traveling to Saudi Arabia in a move likely...

photo: AP / Amr Nabil

One-day strike by Kurds in Iran demands end to death penalty 2025-02-01
The Militant

A one-day strike shut down businesses and schools all across the Kurdish region of Iran Jan. 22, demanding the revocation of death sentences for Pakhshan Azizi and Warisheh Moradi. These two Kurdish women are accused by Tehran of belonging to the Free Life Party of Kurdistan, one of several groups...

photo: Creative Commons / Unknown https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q4233718

Saudi NEOM's The Line project 'won't be finished for 100 years' 2025-02-01
The New Arab

Saudi mega project NEOM and its controversial "The Line" smart city is now projected to be completed in 100 years, much longer than previously announced, comments from officials involved in the project suggest. During a talk with Deputy NEOM CEO Rayan Fayez at the World Economic Forum in Davos on 22...

photo: Creative Commons / photo by NEOM on Unsplash

Israeli military analyst: ‘Hamas has complete control over Gaza’ 2025-02-01
Middle East Monitor

Israeli military analyst Yossi Yehoshua asserted on Friday that Israel has no power over the Hamas movement in...

photo: WN / Ahmed Deeb