MIDDLE EAST

Syrian rebel forces on Monday made several advances in northwest Syria, taking over several army checkpoints as they moved closer towards seizing two major bases. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the Al-Nusra Front and the rebels in the Idlib province took over “the Salam checkpoint west of the town of Khan Sheikhun after fierce battles against regime …

Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian on Sunday said that the leader of the Syrian opposition and President of the Syrian National Coalition Ahmad Jarba would be the “most inappropriate person” to lead the country while confirming that Iran would send its observers to the Presidential elections in Syria next month. “In our opinion, when it comes to politics, …

The Syrian branch of the al-Qaeda, the Al-Nusra Front, on Monday claimed responsibility for the two car bomb attacks in the city of Homs on Sunday. The Governor of Homs Talal al-Barazi said that the twin car bombs attacks claimed the lives of 12 people. According to the group’s Twitter account, “God generously made it possible for the jihadists of …

Domestic opposition in Syria has said that Presidential polls in the war-torn country scheduled to be held on June 3rd will only worsen the political divide in the country and boost the “arrogance” of the regime. President Bashar Assad is widely expected to win the poll, which the West and exiled rebels have called a “farce”. Opposition leader Louay Hussein …

Iran has reduced 80% of its nuclear stockpile, according to IAEA report The International Atomic Energy Agency on Friday said that Iran has gotten rid of 80% of its nuclear stockpile under an interim deal with world powers, and that it has begun engaging with Iran on a long-stalled investigation into suspected weapons research. In its quarterly report, the IAEA …

Violence in parts of North Iraq on Friday led to the deaths of at least 24 people, as several Shiite pilgrims visited the capital city for their annual commemoration rituals. The bombings came amid tight security in Baghdad, as Iraq struggles to deal with drawn-out bloodshed in the country that has seen over 3,700 people in the country die so …

The Syrian Army on Thursday brought to an end the siege of Aleppo central prison, which lasted for a year. According to reports, by doing so, the Syrian army has cut off a major supply route for the rebels, only two weeks before Presidential elections in the country, which President Bashar Assad is widely tipped to win. Armored vehicles and …

Pope Francis on Saturday will meet with Syrian refugees in Jordan and will first-hand hear horrific accounts from the Syrian civilian war. The Pope is set to make a stop at Jordan before his trip of the Holy Land. Jordan, which has a population of 7 million, has only 250,000 people who identify themselves as Christian. Pope Francis will meet …

On Wednesday, the Vatican’s Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin defended the right of Palestinians to a “sovereign and independent” homeland, saying that he hoped that the Pope’s upcoming visit will lead to a “courageous decision” for peace. Cardinal Parolin’s role in the Vatican is equivalent to that of a country’s Prime Minister. “We know that the pope is going …

Defense for Children Palestine (DCI-Palestine) this past week released a shocking video which clearly showed that two young Palestinian men were killed by IDF soldiers last Thursday while they were walking near the Nakba Day protest site outside Ofer Prison in West Bank. Previously, IDF officials maintained that the Palestinian teens had thrown firebombs and stones at the IDF soldiers, …