Greater Middle East

Egypt: escalating violence in Sinai Peninsula

Troops fired on protesters in the Sinai, and militants retaliated with armed attacks on police. A new Salafist network, Ansar al-Sharia in Egypt, pledges to resist the new regime.

Greater Middle East

Egypt: revolution redux or military rule?

A new dictatorship could position the Muslim Brotherhood to recoup its losses—allowing it to pose once again as champion of the oppressed rather than oppressor.

Greater Middle East

Egyptian anarchists say no to dictatorship

The Egyptian anarchist bloc is participating in the anti-Morsi protests—but with a dissident perspective that warns against either Islamist or military dictatorship.

Greater Middle East

Egypt military ousts Morsi, suspends constitution

The Egyptian military deposed President Mohamed Morsi, suspended the constitution, and installed an interim government headed by High Constitutional Court judge Adly Mansour.

Greater Middle East

Egypt: Tahrir Square occupied again

Street clashes between supporters and opponents of President Mohamed Morsi shook Egypt's cities in a day of rival protests nationwide that left two dead.

Palestine

Islamic Jihad severs ties with Hamas

The Islamic Jihad movement in Gaza announced that it is suspending ties with Hamas, accusing Gaza authorities of being responsible for the death of one of the group’s members. 

Greater Middle East

US arms reach Syrian rebels?

The Free Syrian Army boasts of receiving new weapons shipments that could “change” the course of the war—amid revelations that the US has been arming them secretly for a year.

Afghanistan

Will ‘peace’ mean betrayal of Afghan women?

The Taliban have opened a "political office" in Qatar preparatory to talks with Kabul and the US—after years of propaganda about the US defending women's rights in Afghanistan.

Greater Middle East

Egypt court convicts 43 in NGO crackdown

An Egyptian court convicted 43 foreign and domestic non-governmental organization employees of engaging political activity without proper documentation.

Greater Middle East

Lebanon’s hashish valley drawn into Syrian war

Lebanon’s hashish heartland of the Bekaa Valley is increasingly embroiled in the civil war raging across the border in Syria, with a wave of sectarian clashes and abductions.