Category: Middle East

Taliban Seize Third-Largest City in Afgahnistan, Move Into Kandahar

The Taliban conquered Herat, one of the largest cities in Afghanistan, on Thursday and are now fighting to take the second-largest Afghan city of Kandahar, according to an aide to a regional warlord and other officials. “Unfortunately, the Taliban managed to get into [Herat] city with the help of their infiltrators,” Abdul Razaq Ahmadi, an…


Israel, Morocco to Upgrade Relations, Open Embassies, Israeli FM Says

RABAT—Israel and Morocco plan to upgrade their restored diplomatic relations and open embassies within two months, Israel’s foreign minister said during a visit to the North African kingdom on Thursday. Morocco was one of four Arab countries—along with the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Sudan—to move towards normalizing relations with Israel last year under U.S.-engineered…


Israel Tightens Coronavirus Restrictions as New Cases Surge

JERUSALEM—Israel’s government on Wednesday advanced a raft of new coronavirus restrictions, including sweeping implementation of a digital vaccine passport and tighter restrictions on mass gatherings, as the country struggles with skyrocketing new infections. The country that had appeared to put the coronavirus pandemic behind it a few months ago after one of the biggest vaccine…


Top Afghan Minister Resigns, Leaves Country Amid Taliban Advances

Afghanistan’s finance minister on Wednesday resigned from his post and left the beleaguered country as the Taliban terrorist group is making significant advances across the country in recent days. Khalid Payenda has “resigned and left the country because Afghanistan is grappling with declining revenues after the takeover of the custom posts,” Finance Ministry spokesman Mohammad Rafi…


Chinese Hackers Carried Out Coordinated Cyberattacks in Israel, Report Says

A group of Chinese hackers carried out coordinated cyberattacks on Israel that affected dozens of Israeli government and private organizations, according to a report from U.S. security company FireEye released Tuesday. Israeli government institutions, IT providers and telecommunications firms were targeted by the group in a widespread espionage campaign that began in January 2019, the…


Thousands of Russian, Other Troops Hold Drills Turning Back Enemy Offensive on Afghan Border

Large-scale wargames were held in Tajikistan, a Central Asian country located next to Afghanistan, as the United States continues to withdraw from the beleaguered country. Russian, Uzbek, and Tajik military forces took part in the joint exercises, located near the country’s border with Afghanistan, according to officials from the ex-Soviet countries. Tajik Defence Minister Sherali…


Biden: No Regrets on Withdrawing From Afghanistan as Taliban Advances

Despite the Taliban’s capturing more territory in Afghanistan this week, President Joe Biden does not regret withdrawing U.S. troops from the country. “I do not regret my decision,” Biden told reporters in Washington at an unrelated press conference. Former President Donald Trump triggered the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, where American forces have been stationed since…


CDC Urges Avoiding Travel to Israel, France, Thailand Over COVID-19

WASHINGTON—The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warned on Monday against travel to Israel, France, Thailand, Iceland, and several other countries because of a rising number of COVID-19 cases in those nations. The CDC has been adding to its highest “Level 4: Very High” COVID-19 level as cases spread around the globe. The United…


US Gives $165 Million in New Yemen Aid, Urges Others to Follow

DUBAI—The United States is providing $165 million in new humanitarian assistance for Yemen, the U.S. Special Envoy for Yemen said on Monday, adding he hoped it would encourage other donors to come forward with funds to address Yemen’s funding shortage. A serious gap in funding for the Yemen aid response appeared last year, but more…


Israeli Survey Finds 3rd Pfizer Vaccine Dose Has Similar Side Effects to 2nd

JERUSALEM—Most people who received a third dose of Pfizer Inc’s COVID-19 vaccine felt similar or fewer side effects than they did after receiving the second shot, according to an initial survey in Israel. Israel began offering the booster shots about 10 days ago to people over age 60 as part of efforts to slow the…