Millions of Shiite Muslim pilgrims rally in Iraq

Illegal Israeli settlers shot and wounded 60-year-old Sheikh Saeed Amour in the al-Rakiz area of Yatta, Hebron governorate, while he was tending his land, according to activists from the Al-Baidar Organization for the Defense of Bedouin Rights. Amour, a prominent advocate for land rights who has faced previous settler attacks, sustained moderate injuries and was hospitalized, while Israeli forces at the scene did not intervene. Tensions remain high in the West Bank, where over 950...

Lina SinjabMiddle East CorrespondentBBCOn the morning of 8 December 2024, I waited anxiously at the Lebanese border, hoping to get into Syria as soon as the crossing opened, not knowing what to expect.Bashar al-Assad, the president of 24 years, was gone. Opposition fighters had advanced towards Damascus, taking major cities including Aleppo. I couldn't believe what I was seeing: Syria was free.Like many Syrians, I'd only ever known the country under the rule of Assad...

The leak and subsequent report by The New York Times is considered "one of the most dangerous leaks in Israel's history," according to an Israeli official. The report revealed that Israel contemplated attacking Iran's nuclear program with US support after Iran's missile attack on October 1, though officials were hesitant to proceed without US approval. Critics, including former defense minister Avigdor Lieberman, accused Prime Minister Netanyahu of leaking the story to deflect criticism for his...

SummaryThe UN Secretary-General’s special representative for Libya, Hannah Tetteh, emphasized the “volatile” security situation in Libya during a Security Council meeting, urging for a political will to resolve the ongoing crisis. She highlighted the necessity of a consensual roadmap that integrates elections into a broader political framework to promote state-building and strengthen institutions, attributing the political crises to competition for economic resources. Although the 2020 ceasefire agreement is largely holding, the security situation remains precarious...

SummaryHamas has rejected Israel's recent truce proposal, demanding a comprehensive agreement to end the ongoing war, amid Israeli airstrikes that have killed at least 40 people in Gaza. The proposal included a 45-day ceasefire, the release of hostages, and the disarming of Hamas, which the group refuses, seeking instead a full prisoner exchange and reconstruction efforts. As the humanitarian crisis worsens, with over half a million displaced and severe shortages of essentials, Hamas accused Israel...

Since March 18, nearly half a million Palestinians have been displaced in Gaza due to Israel's renewed bombing campaign, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). The ongoing conflict has worsened the humanitarian crisis, leading to severe shortages of essential supplies and acute malnutrition among children, while Israeli restrictions hindered humanitarian access. OCHA highlighted the dire situation, stating that the Israeli occupation's actions appear to aim at clearing Gaza of...