Middle East

World News

Success For U.S.-Backed Fighters In Syria Leads To Political Complications

2:57pm June 29, 2015

Along with U.S. airstrikes, Syrian Kurds pushed the Islamic State out of key turf on the Turkish border. The U.S. sees it as a model for fighting ISIS but Turkey worries the Kurds are going too far.

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People gather near flag-draped coffins of Kuwaiti Shiite victims from Friday's suicide bombing at a mosque in the capital.

World News

Kuwait Says Saudi Responsible For Mosque Suicide Bombing

3:13pm June 28, 2015

by Scott Neuman

Officials say that the Saudi national flew into the neighboring Gulf nation hours before launching the attack that killed 27 worshipers.

World News

In Viennese Media Center, Iranian Journalists Dance Delicately Around Pitfalls

9:40am June 28, 2015

by Peter Kenyon

Western reporters are working alongside Iranian media during numerous rounds of nuclear talks — the latest of which are taking place this week. What does their work tells us about Iran's culture?

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This image, which is taken from a website associated with the self-declared Islamic State, purports to show Tunisian gunman Seifeddine Rezgui.

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Tunisia IDs Beach Resort Assailant As 23-Year-Old Aviation Student

3:54pm June 27, 2015

by Scott Neuman

Prime Minister Habib Essid also said that most of the tourists killed at the Imperial Marhaba Hotel in Sousse were British tourists.

Turkish Kurds watch from the Turkish side of the border Friday as smoke rises in Kobani, Syria. Since last year, the town has seen control seesaw between Kurds and Islamic State militants.

World News

Kurds Reportedly Retake Kobani From ISIS Fighters

3:16pm June 27, 2015

by Scott Neuman

Mere days ago, militants with the self-declared Islamic State had captured the town for the second time this year.

Syrian Kurds from Kobani wait behind the border fences to cross into Turkey on Friday. An attack by Islamic State fighters on the Syrian town of Kobani and a nearby village has so far killed at least 146 civilians, the second-biggest massacre by the hardl

World News

Report: ISIS Goes Door-To-Door Killing Scores Of Civilians In Kobani

5:21pm June 26, 2015

by Scott Neuman

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights calls it a massacre and the worst such incident carried out by ISIS fighters since last year.

Kuwaiti Information Minister Sheikh Salman al-Humoud al-Sabah (center) consoles worshipers outside the Imam Sadiq Mosque after a suicide bomb attack following Friday prayers.

World News

ISIS Claims Responsibility For Suicide Attack At Kuwait Mosque

9:23am June 26, 2015

by Scott Neuman

More than 10 people are reported dead at the Shiite mosque in the capital after an attacker detonated an explosive belt after Friday prayers.

World News

Iran Nuclear Talks: Gap Remains Over Access To Iran's Military Sites

2:19pm June 25, 2015

by Peter Kenyon

Talks with Iran are entering a final push before a temporary deal expires. Negotiators are seeking extensive inspections and limits on Iran's nuclear program in exchange for eased economic sanctions.

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Civilians, reportedly wounded by fighting in Kobani, wait with their relatives to cross into Turkey at the Syrian-Turkish border crossing of Tel Abyad, Syria, on Thursday.

World News

ISIS Launches Push To Retake Border Town Of Kobani

1:16pm June 25, 2015

by Scott Neuman

The battle began with one or more car bombs set off inside the Syrian city. There are unconfirmed reports that Islamic State fighters hid themselves among refugees flooding into Kobani.

Mother Of Son Who Was Held Hostage: 'I Was Very Moved By The President'

8:01pm June 24, 2015

NPR's Audie Cornish talks with Nancy Curtis about the changes to U.S. policy on American hostages. Curtis' son, Theo Padnos, was held hostage in Syria for two years until he was released last August.

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