Greater Middle East

Two years later, Syrians recall chemical massacre

The Syrian diaspora around the world held protests and vigils marking the second anniversary of the chemical attack at Ghouta—as Assad continues his campaign of aerial terror.

Greater Middle East

Erdogan-ISIS pincer against Kurds

The Turkish army is shelling and burning Kurdish villages in the country's east, while just across the Syrian border ISIS continues to harass Kurdish towns with suicide attacks.

Greater Middle East

Egypt passes draconian anti-terror law

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi approved a counter-terrorism law assailed by rights groups as making permanent powers usually reserved for a state of emergency. 

Greater Middle East

Turkey slips toward internal war

As Turkey continues to bomb Kurdish anti-ISIS fighters in Iraq, violence is quickly spreading within Turkey itself—with bombings and armed clashes from Istanbul to the Kurdish east.

Greater Middle East

Suez Canal expansion amid regional war

Egypt formally opened an expansion to the Suez Canal amid pomp, spectacle—and a massive troop presence. The new trade hub opens as a jihadist insurgency mounts in the Sinai.

Greater Middle East

Pentagon claims kill of ‘Khorasan Group’ leader

The Pentagon announced that Muhsin al-Fadhli, a longtime al-Qaeda operative from Kuwait, was killed in an air-strike in Syria, where he was leading the so-called "Khorasan Group."

Greater Middle East

North Korean troops fight in Syria?

Pro-opposition sources in Syria say a force of North Korean soldiers has arrived in Damascus, and been mobilized to the rebel-controlled suburbs of Ghouta district.

Greater Middle East

Bahrain releases ailing rights advocate

Bahrain's king released the president of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights, Nabeel Rajab, citing health reasons. He is charged with insulting authorities on Twitter.