Qatar condemns Israeli strike on Damascus as ‘blatant violation’ of Syrian sovereignty – Middle East Monitor

Former Tunisian Prime Minister Ali Laarayedh, also the deputy head of the Ennahda Movement, was sentenced to 34 years in prison on terrorism-related charges, according to media reports. He and eight other defendants faced accusations of aiding the formation of a terror organization, joining such a group in Tunisia, and facilitating the travel of Tunisian youth to join terror groups, as part of the “human trafficking trial.” Sentences for all defendants ranged from 18 to...

SummaryUS President Donald Trump plans to hold a summit with Gulf leaders during his visit to Saudi Arabia on May 13-14, marking his first official foreign trip since taking office. The summit, hosted by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, will focus on economic ties, arms deals, and cooperation in emerging technologies, with no new diplomatic initiatives anticipated, and a scheduled meeting with Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani afterward. Trump is not...

In late January, Um Hassan's family, part of Syria's Alawite minority, was violently evicted from their home in Damascus by masked men linked to the new regime under President Ahmed al-Sharaa, who has targeted Alawites as revenge for past affiliations with the Assad government. Since Sharaa's takeover, reports indicate that hundreds, if not thousands, of Alawites have faced similar evictions, with officials suggesting these actions are part of a systematic sectarian purge. Human rights...

In the Syrian town of Ashrafieh Sahnaya, government forces regained control after two days of sectarian violence that left over 100 dead, prompting officials to promise peace. During a meeting with Druse leaders, who had previously resisted integration into the national military, concessions were made, including an agreement for some militia fighters to join government forces in exchange for security assurances. Despite the conciliatory approach, skepticism remains among the townspeople, as many question the reliability...

SummaryIsrael has conducted two recent airstrikes in Syria, targeting military sites and missile infrastructure amid rising tensions between the Syrian government and the Druze community, whom Israel has previously vowed to support. The strikes reflect a continuation of Israel's policy to use airstrikes as a means of deterrence, despite the lack of clear military objectives, and occur against a backdrop of complex Druze aspirations for autonomy following the Assad regime's fall. Tensions escalated due to...

Last week, a chemical fire in a shipping container at the Shahid Rajaee port in Bandar Abbas, Iran, led to an explosion that killed at least 70 people and injured over 1,000. Surveillance footage showed the fire starting after a forklift moved into a container, with experts confirming the presence of hazardous chemicals like sodium or ammonium perchlorate. Following the incident, authorities cited safety lapses, initiated DNA tests for victims, and faced criticism for improperly...