US-Iran live: Critical talks begin in Oman after Trump threatens military action
The US president has repeatedly threatened to bomb Tehran if it does not scale back its nuclear programme
middle east
How a Jewish family’s Baghdad home became France’s rent-free embassy
A Paris court on Monday dismissed a lawsuit brought by the descendants of an Iraqi Jewish family seeking compensation for a Baghdad villa occupied rent-free by France’s diplomatic representation for decades. Forced to flee Iraq amid rising anti-Semiti…
Israel charges brother of Shin Bet’s chief for smuggling goods into Gaza
Israeli prosecutors on Thursday filed charges against Bezalel Zini, brother of the chief of Israel’s domestic intelligence agency Shin Bet, over the alleged smuggling of cigarettes into Gaza. Zini, a reservist in the Israeli military, is suspected of …
Fight against IS group is France’s ‘absolute priority’, FM Barrot says in Damascus
France’s “absolute priority” was the fight against the Islamic State (IS) group, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot told his Syrian counterpart during his visit to Damascus Thursday. The visit came weeks after Syrian government forces seized con…
Missiles, uranium, stockpiles: thorny issues on the Iran talks table
Uranium enrichment might be the main dispute at the US-Iran talks set for Friday in Oman but the key sticking point is Iran’s ballistic missiles programme, which the US wants to add to the table at the talks. Here are some of major issues at stake whe…
Sumud Flotilla to launch largest Gaza aid mission yet to break Israeli blockade ‘by land and sea’
Thousands have joined the movement to deliver humanitarian aid to Palestinians
Lockheed Martin to launch C2 software factory in Saudi Arabia
Experts told Breaking Defense that establishing the software factory is a qualitative shift in the relation between US and Saudi from a hardware-based cooperation to software.
US ‘ready’ to meet Iran, says Rubio, but talks must address ballistic missiles programme
Talks between Iran and the US must include Tehran’s ballistic missiles programme, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Wednesday, adding to the menu an issue that the Islamic Republic regards as an infringements of its sovereignty. The talks, planne…
Israel indicts 12 suspects, including IDF soldiers, for smuggling goods into Gaza
Israeli proscutors on Wednesday filed charges against 12 suspects for smuggling goods into besieged Gaza. The suspects included reservist soldiers and the brother of the chief of Israel’s domestic intelligence agency Shin Bet. The charge sheet for “as…
IDF strikes in Gaza kill at least 21 as Israel and Hamas trade ceasefire violation accusations
Israeli air strikes on Wednesday pounded Gaza, killing at least 21 people including children, according to medical officials. The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) said it retaliated after gunfire wounded an officer; Israel and Hamas accused each other of …