World
Middle East
Updated
Syrian conflict
Countries close borders after rebels’ stunning advance against Assad
A collection of rebel groups aiming to depose the Assad regime are advancing towards the capital, Damascus, making Iran and others nervous.
- by Raja Abdulrahim, Farnaz Fassihi and Thomas Fuller
Latest
‘It must stop now’: Amnesty accuses Israel of genocide in Gaza
Amnesty said the United States and other allies of Israel could be complicit in genocide, and called on them to halt arms shipments.
- by Samy Magdy
Rekindled border dispute blamed for deadly Israeli strikes in Lebanon
Israel has unleashed its largest wave of airstrikes across Lebanon since agreeing to a ceasefire with Hezbollah last week, killing at least 11 people overnight.
- by Natalie Meltzer and Sally About Aljoud
Updated
Israeli-Palestinian conflict
Trump demands release of October 7 hostages, warning of ‘hell to pay’
The president-elect’s threat came hours after the Israeli government confirmed the death of Omer Neutra, a dual US-Israeli citizen, whose body is still believed to be held by Hamas in Gaza.
- by Jill Colvin
Updated
Syrian conflict
What’s behind the Syrian offensive?
The surge in fighting has raised the prospect of another violent front reopening in the Middle East.
- by Ellen Knickmeyer
Opinion
Middle East at war
I was detained by Assad’s secret police, but I have no time for Syria’s rebels
Successive US governments have studiously avoided meaningful engagement in Syria. Under Donald Trump, that paralysis may be thrown to the wind.
- by David Livingstone
Updated
Syrian conflict
Pro-Iranian militias enter Syria from Iraq to aid beleaguered Syrian army
Iranian-backed militias have entered Syria to beef up beleaguered Syrian army forces battling insurgents.
- by Kareem Chehayeb
Psychedelic traces found on mug from ancient Egypt
Egyptians may have used hallucinogenic substances as part of a fertility rite, researchers say.
- by Alexander Nazaryan
Israel says charity worker killed in Gaza airstrike was an October 7 attacker
World Central Kitchen charity workers were among five people killed in an Israeli airstrike on a car in the Gaza Strip. The family of a victim has rejected allegations he took part in last year’s attack on Israel.
- by Wafaa Shurafa, Tia Goldenberg and Bassem Mroue
Analysis
Syrian conflict
Assad’s old allies can’t rescue him this time
The challenges facing Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his backers in Russia and Iran are unprecedented.
- by Hassan Hassan
Updated
Syrian conflict
Syrian rebels sweep into Aleppo, Russia conducts strikes in support of Assad
The Syrian army says dozens of its soldiers were killed in a major attack led by Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham rebels who swept into the city of Aleppo.