Middle East

World News

Apparent New Twist To Syria's Civil War Has Implications For The U.S.

11:35am February 21, 2018

by Ruth Sherlock

It appears the Kurds of northwestern Iraq, who get backing from the U.S., are making a deal with the Syrian regime. They want regime forces to protect them from a Turkish invasion.

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Palestinian Authority President No Longer Wants U.S. To Lead Peace Efforts

9:05pm February 20, 2018

by Michele Kelemen

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, angry over the Trump administration's recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital, wants other countries to lead peace efforts now. He is making his case to the U.N. Security Council.

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A Syrian man carries a child injured in the government bombing of eastern Ghouta, on the outskirts of Damascus on Monday.

World News

'No Words Will Do Justice': Onslaught On Syrian Suburb Kills Some 200 Civilians

2:54pm February 20, 2018

by Colin Dwyer

The rebel-held enclave outside Damascus, one of the few left in Syria, has been bombarded by pro-regime forces recently — and UNICEF and other aid groups have struggled to describe the carnage.

World News

Violence In Syria Escalates

1:45pm February 20, 2018

Some Damascus suburbs have seen rebel fighting and government bombs for years. Now a suburb called Eastern Ghouta is the scene of a massive bombardment by government forces and their allies.

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Young men outside Raqqa, Syria, training to find and destroy hidden explosive devices left by retreating ISIS forces.

ISIS' Parting Gift To Its Former Capital: Thousands Of Explosive Booby Traps

8:18am February 19, 2018

by Tom Bowman

Raqqa may be cleared of ISIS fighters, but hidden throughout the city are thousands of hidden bombs. U.S. special forces and Syrians are training young men to disarm them.

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Relatives of passengers on board a plane that crashed into a mountain Sunday, mourn at Mehrabad International Airport in Tehran on Sunday. All 65 people aboard were feared dead.

World News

All 65 People Aboard Plane Feared Dead After Crash Into Iranian Mountain

11:42am February 18, 2018

by Amy Held

An Aseman Airlines spokesman first said everyone was killed, but then the airline said it could not reach the crash site and could not "accurately and definitely confirm" everyone died.

Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, right, shakes hands with U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, left, after a joint news conference following their meeting Friday in Ankara, Turkey.

Tillerson Tries To Ease Tension With Turkey

10:02am February 16, 2018

by Merrit Kennedy

The U.S. and Turkey differ over Syria. The U.S. supports and arms Kurdish fighters in northern Syria, seeing them as key allies against ISIS. Turkey considers them terrorists.

For His Book 'Directorate S,' Journalist Steve Coll Dives Into Pakistan's Spy Agency

11:58pm February 15, 2018

by Mary Louise Kelly

NPR's Mary Louise Kelly speaks with Steve Coll, dean of the Columbia School of Journalism, about his new book, Directorate S: The C.I.A and America's Secret Wars in Afghanistan and Pakistan, 2001-2016. The book picks up the narrative of the CIA from where Coll's previous book Ghost Wars left off.

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Some of the devastation caused by the fight to remove ISIS from Raqqa, Syria.

U.S. Military Mission In Syria Endures As ISIS Nears Defeat

6:26pm February 15, 2018

by Tom Bowman

Up to 2,000 U.S. troops are in Syria defending Kurdish allies. The threats come from regime forces, Iran, Turkey and even Russia.

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Movie producer Arnon Milchan accepts the Legacy of Citizens Lifetime Achievement award at an event celebrating the 60th anniversary of the state of Israel in Los Angeles on Sept. 18, 2008.

World News

Netanyahu Lobbied The U.S. For 'Fight Club' Producer Milchan But Denies Bribes

5:43pm February 15, 2018

by Daniel Estrin

Israeli police recommended the prime minister be charged for allegedly accepting expensive gifts for favors from billionaires including Hollywood producer Arnon Milchan.