Iran arrests head of US-based 'terrorist group' over 2008 bomb attack

Jamshid Sharmahd has been arrested for his alleged involvement in the 2008 mosque attack in Shiraz that killed 14 people and wounded over 200 others.

Iraq's Premier announces early election for June 2021

Iraq's Prime Minister Mustafa al Kadhimi's move was praised by the United Nations. The country's parliament must still ratify the election date.

Ukraine welcomes 'constructive' first talks with Iran on downed airliner

All 176 people on board were killed when Iranian forces struck the Ukraine International Airlines Boeing 737 jet after takeoff in Tehran in January.

US expands scope of sanctions on Iran

Iran's supreme leader has responded by ruling out negotiations with the US over Tehran's ballistic missile and nuclear programmes and urging Iranians to resist pressure.

Yemen's Houthis free six Baha'i prisoners after years in jail

The Baha'i International Community group welcomed the releases. The Houthis said in late March that they would free all Baha'i prisoners.

Turkey to hold UAE accountable over Libya, Syria at right place, right time

Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar has warned the United Arab Emirates of committing acts of malice in the two war-torn countries, urging it to reconsider its agenda of spreading sedition.

Pilgrims pray on peak day of hajj in shadow of coronavirus

For the first time in modern history, the annual pilgrimage in Mecca in Saudi Arabia has dramatically reduced the number of pilgrims from 2.5 million to as few as 1,000 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Yazidis in Iraq protest over the kidnapping of children by the PKK

Yazidi families are calling on the UN and the central government in Baghdad to save children kidnapped by the terrorist organisation.

Yazidi children freed from Daesh grapple with mental trauma

Branding the Yazidis as heretics, Daesh slaughtered thousands of men, abducted women and girls and forced boys to fight on its behalf. A new report shows that nearly 2,000 Yazidi children are still without the care they need.

US slaps sanctions on Assad's son, Syria regime army unit

Washington says sanctions on Hafez al Assad, teenage son of regime leader Bashar al Assad, and 14 others are part of efforts to block funds for war-torn country's regime.

Jordan to hold parliamentary polls on November 10

King Abdullah issues a decree to hold parliamentary elections at a time of severe economic contraction due to Covid-19 and tensions with Israel.

Yemen's Southern Transitional Council abandons self-rule

Yemen's leading separatist group, the Southern Transitional Council, has abandoned its declaration of self-rule in the country's south and pledged to implement a stalled Saudi-brokered peace agreement with the government.