Greater Middle East

US warns Lebanon over Iranian military aid

As Hezbollah claimed responsibility for a border attack that wounded two Israeli soldiers, the US threatened to cut off military aid to Lebanon if it accepts arms from Iran.

Greater Middle East

Bahrain activist charged over insulting tweets

Rights activist Nabeel Rajab faces criminal charges over his tweets that claimed Bahrain's security institutions were the first incubators for extremist ideology.

Greater Middle East

Syria: first Alawite protest against regime

Members of Syria's Alawite sect took to the streets of Homs to protest a deadly car bomb attack on an elementary school, for the first time taking up anti-regime slogans.

Greater Middle East

Egypt: rights lawyer joins detainee hunger strike

Rights lawyer and former presidential candidate Khaled Ali joined a hunger strike by dozens of Egyptians to demand the release of activists detained under the new anti-protest law.

Greater Middle East

ISIS eyes Mecca, pledges to destroy Kaaba

Saudi Arabia carried out a sweep of suspected terrorists as ISIS threatened to take Mecca and destroy the Kaaba, Islam's holiest site, calling it a bastion of idolatry.

Greater Middle East

Lebanon: punishment for burning ISIS flag?

Lebanon's Minister of Justice called for the "sternest punishments" for protesters in Beirut who burned the flag of the militant groups ISIS and the Nusra Front.