Category: Middle East
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The European Union will provide around €620 million in funding to Syria over 2026 and 2027 to support post-war recovery, bilateral cooperation and humanitarian assistance, according to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Speaking during a visit to Damascus, von der Leyen said Syria’s reconstruction needs remain “immense” after more than a decade of…
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US President Donald Trump has urged major oil and gas companies to invest heavily in Venezuela, pitching the country as newly secure and commercially viable following recent political changes. Speaking at the White House after meeting senior energy executives, Trump said US firms could direct “at least $100bn” into rebuilding Venezuela’s oil sector, arguing this…
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Saudi-based figures within Yemen’s main southern separatist group have announced its dissolution, but the claim has been publicly rejected by the organisation’s leadership abroad — exposing a growing internal split. The Southern Transitional Council (STC) was reported disbanded following talks in Riyadh, though senior officials say no formal decision has been taken. Tensions between Saudi…
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Large-scale protests have spread across Iran, marking the most significant challenge to the clerical establishment since 2009. Footage verified by BBC Persian showed crowds in Tehran, Mashhad, Isfahan, and other cities chanting against Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and in support of exiled opposition figure Reza Pahlavi. Key developments: • Protests entered a 12th consecutive…
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The Saudi-led coalition said the United Arab Emirates (UAE) helped Aidarous al-Zubaidi, head of the Southern Transitional Council (STC), leave Yemen by boat, amid escalating tensions between Riyadh and Abu Dhabi over control of southern Yemen. Zubaidi failed to attend crisis talks in Saudi Arabia and was reportedly tracked travelling from Somaliland to Mogadishu, before…
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Iran’s military leadership has warned it may take pre-emptive action in response to what it calls escalating external threats, as nationwide protests over inflation and living costs continue into 2026. Major General Amir Hatami, Iran’s army commander-in-chief, said Tehran would not ignore “hostile rhetoric” — a reference widely understood to include warnings by US President…
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Fighting intensified on Wednesday (Jan. 7) in Aleppo, Syria’s second-largest city, after the army ordered civilians to evacuate two predominantly Kurdish neighbourhoods — Sheikh Maqsoud and Achrafieh — declaring them a closed military zone. More than 46,000 people have been displaced across Aleppo province, according to the local Directorate of Social Affairs and Labour. Clashes…
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Iran’s currency fell to a fresh record low this week, underscoring rising inflation and public frustration over living costs. Facing protests that began in late December 2025 sparked by the deepening economic crisis, Iran’s government has announced plans to provide most citizens with a monthly payment equivalent to about $7. Government spokeswoman Fatameh Mohajerani said…
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Israel and Syria have agreed during U.S.-mediated talks in Paris to set up a communication mechanism to coordinate on security, intelligence and commercial issues, according to a joint statement released by the U.S. State Department. However, a Syrian official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Reuters that Damascus will not engage on “strategic files” without…
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Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces have retaken the southern provinces of Hadramout and al-Mahra from the Southern Transitional Council (STC), marking a significant shift in Yemen’s fragmented conflict. The STC — which seeks to establish a separate state in southern Yemen and is backed by the United Arab Emirates — confirmed it withdrew after sustained Saudi…
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