Lebanon’s plunge into political crisis raises specter of war with Israel

Lebanon’s plunge into political crisis raises specter of war with Israel

Even for a country often used as a battleground by regional powers and their proxies, the sudden resignation of Prime Minister Saad Hariri has opened a new period of political uncertainty and fear in Lebanon. The tiny nation has often been caught between the political agendas of more powerful countries. But it now appears more […]

Leaked documents reveal financial habits of Queen Elizabeth and Trump officials

Leaked documents reveal financial habits of Queen Elizabeth and Trump officials

A huge leak of financial documents revealed by a group of about 100 media organizations on Sunday provided deep insights into some of the mechanisms used by top politicians and celebrities to escape paying taxes. Offshore funds are often used to avoid paying high taxes, and their use is not necessarily illegal, though when they are being used by […]

Iranian officer dismisses Trump’s claim that Iran was responsible for ballistic missile attack

Iranian officer dismisses Trump’s claim that Iran was responsible for ballistic missile attack

A top Iranian military official dismissed President Donald Trump’s claim that Iran was behind a ballistic missile attack on Riyadh on Saturday, describing it as slander. Saudi air defenses intercepted the missile before it could strike its intended target, destroying the missile above Riyadh’s international airport and causing little to no damage. Yemen’s Houthi-controlled government […]

Saudi Crown Prince: Iran’s Actions are “An Act of War”

Saudi Crown Prince: Iran’s Actions are “An Act of War”

In a strongly worded statement, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz said on Tuesday that the Iranian government’s arming of Yemen’s rebels with missiles was a “direct military aggression by the Iranian regime,” and added comments to the British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson that Tehran’s actions “may be considered an act of war against the […]

Saudis accuse Iran of possible ‘act of war’ as regional tensions rise

Saudis accuse Iran of possible ‘act of war’ as regional tensions rise

Questions about the aims and temperament of Saudi Arabia’s powerful crown prince came to the fore Monday after his country issued a bellicose warning to Iran, accusing it of carrying out a missile strike on the Saudi capital that may have constituted an “act of war.” The missile was fired from neighboring Yemen on Saturday […]

Paradise Papers expose offshore tax secrecy of Middle East elite

Paradise Papers expose offshore tax secrecy of Middle East elite

Sons of the Turkish prime minister, a Jordanian dowager Queen and a Saudi prince who owns a superyacht longer than a football pitch, are just a few Middle Eastern figures whose offshore dealings have been laid bare by one of the largest ever data leaks. Published by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ), the […]

Saudi prince killed in helicopter crash near Yemen border: State TV

Saudi prince killed in helicopter crash near Yemen border: State TV

A Saudi prince was killed on Sunday when a helicopter with several officials on board crashed near the kingdom’s southern border with war-torn Yemen, state television said. The news channel Al-Ekhbariya announced the death of Prince Mansour bin Moqren, the deputy governor of Asir province and son of a former crown prince. It did not […]

Saudi Arabia arrests 11 princes, including Billionaire Alwaleed bin Talal

Saudi Arabia arrests 11 princes, including Billionaire Alwaleed bin Talal

Saudi Arabia announced the arrest on Saturday night of the prominent billionaire investor Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, plus at least 10 other princes, four ministers and tens of former ministers. The announcement of the arrests was made over Al Arabiya, the Saudi-owned satellite network whose broadcasts are officially approved. Prince Alwaleed’s arrest is sure to […]

Oil giant Total questions Saudi reform drive

Oil giant Total questions Saudi reform drive

Saudi Arabia’s push for reforms may face an internal backlash and there is no guarantee the drive by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman will succeed, one of the biggest oil investors in the Middle East, France’s Total, said on Thursday. “You don’t change into a secular regime just like that,” Total Chief Executive Patrick Pouyanne […]

U.S. approves possible $15 billion sale of THAAD missiles to Saudi Arabia

U.S. approves possible $15 billion sale of THAAD missiles to Saudi Arabia

The U.S. State Department has approved the possible sale of a THAAD anti-missile defense system to Saudi Arabia at an estimated cost of $15 billion, the Pentagon said on Friday, citing Iran among regional threats. The approval opens the way for Saudi Arabia to purchase 44 Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) launchers and 360 […]

Saudis say arrests target foreign-funded dissidents

Saudis say arrests target foreign-funded dissidents

A recent wave of arrests in Saudi Arabia targeted citizens who were working at the behest of foreign powers to undermine the monarchy, a Saudi government official said on Friday. Saudi Arabia has arrested at least 16 people, and perhaps more than 30, in recent days in a crackdown on people perceived to be critical of […]

Jared Kushner visited the Middle East this week to revive peace talks with Israeli and Palestinian leaders — here’s how it unfolded

Jared Kushner visited the Middle East this week to revive peace talks with Israeli and Palestinian leaders — here’s how it unfolded

Jared Kushner, a White House adviser and son-in-law of President Donald Trump, wrapped up his trip to the Middle East on Thursday, for which the top priority on the agenda was furthering peace talks between Israel and Palestine. The US described Kushner’s trip as “productive,” despite rumors of disquiet on the Palestinian side. Kushner was accompanied […]