Israel
Trump gathers Cabinet as he looks to seal deal to end war that some backers worry will embolden Iran
WASHINGTON | President Donald Trump will meet with his Cabinet on Wednesday at a precarious moment for talks aimed at ending the war with Iran, just days after insisting that his administration and Tehran had “largely negotiated” a settlement but with the negotiations still in a state of flux. As he prepares to huddle with […]
US military says it carried out ‘self-defense’ strikes in Iran, including on missile launch sites
WASHINGTON | The U.S. military said Monday that it carried out “self-defense” strikes in southern Iran, including on missile launch sites and boats placing mines, even as President Donald Trump said on social media that negotiations with Tehran were “proceeding nicely.” The strikes were done “to protect our troops from threats posed by Iranian forces,” […]
FOCUS: Few details emerging about reported deal to end the Iran war
CAIRO | The United States and Iran appear to be closing in on a deal to end the war and open the Strait of Hormuz. U.S. President Donald Trump said Monday that negotiations are “proceeding nicely,” while reiterating his warning that fighting would resume if no deal is reached. It is not clear when or […]
Trump says a deal with Iran and opening of Strait of Hormuz are ‘largely negotiated’
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan | President Donald Trump said Saturday that a deal with Iran on the war, including opening the Strait of Hormuz, has been “largely negotiated” after calls with Israel and other allies in the region. “Final aspects and details of the Deal are currently being discussed, and will be announced shortly,” Trump said on […]
Israeli troops intercept flotilla boats trying to breach the blockade of Gaza
ANKARA, Turkey | Israel’s navy intercepted an activist flotilla in waters off of Cyprus on Monday, halting the group’s latest effort to challenge a blockade of Gaza. More than 50 vessels departed from the port in Marmaris, Turkey, last week in what the organizers of the Global Sumud Flotilla described as the final leg of […]
Drone attack on UAE nuclear facility sparks regional tensions
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates | A drone strike sparked a fire on the edge of the United Arab Emirates’ sole nuclear power plant on Sunday in what authorities called an “unprovoked terrorist attack.” No one was blamed, but it highlighted the risk of renewed war as the United States and Iran signaled they were ready […]
Iran’s top diplomat says a lack of trust is impeding talks to end war with the US
NEW DELHI | Iran ‘s foreign minister said a lack of trust is the biggest obstacle in negotiations to end the war with the U.S., saying Friday that Tehran would be open to diplomatic help, particularly from China, to help ease tensions. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said contradictory messages have “made us reluctant about […]
A Vienna cafe offers a welcome for Israel supporters as tensions brew at the Eurovision Song Contest
VIENNA | Vienna’s famed coffeehouses have embraced the Eurovision Song Contest. They have also been touched by tensions over Israel’s inclusion in the sequin-drenched pop music competition. When officials announced a list of “Eurofan Cafes” — Vienna coffee shops offering food and music from competing countries — Israel was initially left out. MQ Kantine, a […]
UAE denies Netanyahu secretly visited the country during the Iran war
JERUSALEM | Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu quietly visited the United Arab Emirates during the Israeli-U.S. war with Iran, his office said Wednesday. The UAE later denied any secret visit had occurred. Netanyahu met with UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in a gathering that “resulted in a historic breakthrough in relations between […]
Israeli drone strikes hit highway south of Beirut, killing 8, including 2 children
BEIRUT | Israeli drones struck three vehicles on the main highway south of Beirut Wednesday, killing eight people, including a woman and her two children, the Lebanese Health Ministry said. The Israeli military said it struck Hezbollah infrastructure in several areas in southern Lebanon, hours after telling residents of six southern villages to evacuate. Lebanon […]