Trending Middle East

Israel expands Gaza offensive, and Iran's nuclear capacity

Israel is expanding its operations in Gaza. Iran has warned that any attack by the US or its allies could push Tehran to pursue nuclear weapons. The US is sending more forces to the Middle East.

 

On today's episode of Trending Middle East:

 

Israeli defence minister warns 'large areas' will be seized as Gaza offensive expands

Iran talks nukes, but how close is it to building one?

US to send second aircraft carrier strike group to Middle East

Houthis claim US warship attacked in retaliation for strikes on Yemen that killed four

 

This episode features Foreign Editor Mohamad Ali Harisi.

Israel bombs Beirut, and Trump to visit Gulf countries

Israel said it bombed the southern suburbs of Beirut on Tuesday. US President Donald Trump expects the first overseas trip of his second term in office to include visits to Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar. The US says Syria’s new government is a step in the right direction, but it might not be enough for sanctions to be lifted.

 

This episode features senior US correspondents Jihan Abdalla and Willy Lowry, and Jamie Prentis, reporting from Beirut.

Iran responds to US threats and Israel orders evictions

Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has warned of “firm retaliation” for any agression from the US. After performing Eid prayer on Monday, thousands of Egyptians gathered outside major mosques and worship places to protest against the US plan to displace Gazans. The Israeli military issued eviction orders covering most of Rafah.

This episode features Aveen Karim, Assistant Foreign Editor.

Syria forms new government and Israel-Lebanon tensions flare

Syria has formed a new government. The US has launched a new offensive on the Houthi rebels in Yemen, but experts have told The National that it is not an effective strategy. And tensions have flared between Israel and Lebanon after Beirut was bombed at the weekend.

 

 

This episode features Nada Atallah, reporting from Damascus, and Mina Aldroubi, reporting from Abu Dhabi.

Several dead in US strikes on Yemen and submarine sinks off Egypt

US strikes on Yemeni capital Sanaa have killed two people and injured two others. A tourist submarine has sunk off the coast of Egypt Red Sea city of Hurghada. A notorious Kurdish gangster has fled Turkey to avoid extradition on drug-trafficking charges he’s facing in Sweden.

 

 

This episode features The National's Mina Aldroubi and Tariq Taher.

Sudan's army retakes Khartoum airport and Istanbul mayor replaced

Sudan's armed forces have regained control of Khartoum International Airport from the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. Istanbul’s city council has appointed Nuri Aslan as the temporary replacement for Ekrem Imamoglu, after Mr Imamoglu was officially suspended from his duties following his arrest on corruption charges. The UAE secured a dramatic late win over North Korea at the World Cup qualifiers in Riyadh.

 

This episode features Lizzie Porter in Istanbul, Kamal Tabikha in Cairo, and Paul Radley in Dubai.

A settler attack on Oscar-winning Palestinian film director and Iranian commander visits Iraq

Witnesses have spoken to The National about what they saw after Monday’s attack on Hamdan Ballal, the Palestinian co-director of the Oscar-winning documentary No Other Land. Iran’s top military commander Esmail Qaani visited Iraq last week to help maintain the unofficial truce between militant groups and the US after the collapse of the ceasefire in Gaza. Israeli shelling in southern Syria has killed at least four civilians, despite EU warnings.

 

This episode features Thomas Helm, Jerusalem Correspondent; Mohamad Ali Harisi, Foreign Editor; and Jamie Prentis, Beirut Correspondent.

Israel pressures Lebanon and Iran wants new version of nuclear deal

Israel is upping pressure on Lebanon through violations of its ceasefire agreement. Iran says the nuclear deal in its original state can’t be revived. The UAE has pledged $64.5 million to a long-standing hospital in East Jerusalem.

 

This episode features Arab Affairs Editor Vanessa Ghanem and Assistant Foreign Editor Aveen Karim.

Israel creates agency to oversee displacement of Gazans and Syria cracks down on Captagon

Israel has approved the establishment of an agency to enable the exit of Gazans who “voluntarily” want to leave the strip. Syria is cracking down on captagon smuggling. A Turkish court jailed the mayor of Istanbul pending trial as authorities arrested more than 300 protestors.

This episode features Thomas Helm and Sinan Mahmoud.

Gaza split in half and Germany reopens embassy in Syria

Palestinians in Gaza have been warned not to move between the north and south of the strip. US President Donald Trump has warned that Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels will be “completely annihilated”. Germany has reopened its embassy to Syria, 13 years after closing its doors.

This episode features Nagham Mohanna and Jamie Prentis.