Middle East

World News

A Closer Look At The 72 Hours After A Ukrainian Airliner Was Shot Down In Iran

4:11pm January 27, 2020

NPR's Mary Louise Kelly speaks with Farnaz Fassihi of The New York Times, who has pieced together an extensive chronology of the 72 hours after a Ukrainian airliner was shot down in Tehran.

Queue Listen Now

Afghan service members head toward the site of the plane crash Monday in the eastern Afghan province of Ghazni.

U.S. Plane Goes Down In Afghanistan, Prompting Wave Of Questions, Contradictions

2:05pm January 27, 2020

by Colin Dwyer

A U.S. official tells NPR that two people died when the aircraft crashed in Ghazni province. The official blamed mechanical problems — but the Taliban claim to have shot it down.

Mortars hit a restaurant in the U.S. Embassy compound in Baghdad's Green Zone on Sunday night, according to Iraqi officials. The embassy is seen here earlier this month.

Mortar Attack Damages Part of U.S. Embassy Compound In Baghdad

11:05am January 27, 2020

by Bill Chappell

"This is a fairly regular occurrence, small rocket attacks or mortars fired into the Green Zone, but they very rarely actually hit the embassy. This one did," NPR's Jane Arraf reports.

Queue Listen Now

World News

Several Mortars Hit The U.S. Embassy Compound In Baghdad

8:04am January 27, 2020

by Jane Arraf

The attack threatens to increase the already high tension between the U.S. and Iraq over Iranian-backed militias in the country. Iraq's prime minister condemned the attack.

Queue Listen Now

World News

Police Set Fire To Iraqi Protesters' Tents As Shiite Cleric Withdraws Support

7:56am January 26, 2020

by Jane Arraf

Iraqi security forces swept out anti-government protesters occupying public squares in Baghdad and set fire to encampments after a powerful Shiite cleric removed his support for the protesters.

Queue Listen Now

Volunteer medics clear the ruins of a medical tent near Tahrir Square in Baghdad on Saturday after security forces stormed the area. They said security forces set the tent on fire, burning everything in it, including medical supplies.

World News

Iraqi Security Forces Storm Tahrir Square, Clash With Protesters

4:51pm January 25, 2020

The security forces fired live bullets and tear gas and set ablaze tents where demonstrators have been living. At least one protester was killed and dozens wounded.

Damage at the al-Asad military base in Iraq, days after a missile attack by Iran. The barrage was in retaliation for the U.S. killing of a top Iranian general in a drone strike in Baghdad on Jan. 3.

Pentagon Says 34 U.S. Troops Suffered Brain Injuries From Iranian Missile Strike

5:28pm January 24, 2020

by David Welna

More than half the American troops diagnosed with concussions were transferred from the Iraqi base that was attacked to Germany or the U.S.

World News

Behind The Suspected Saudi Arabian Hacking Of Jeff Bezos' Phone

4:27pm January 24, 2020

NPR Ari Shapiro speaks with researcher and activist Iyad el-Baghdadi about his role in uncovering evidence that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman hacked the phone of Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos.

Queue Listen Now

World News

Iraqis Demonstrate Against U.S. Troop Presence In Iraq

10:24am January 24, 2020

Hundreds of thousands of Iraqis marched in Baghdad Friday calling for the departure of U.S. troops. The peaceful march was organized by the militia of Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr.

Queue Listen Now

A worker piles boxes of strawberries inside the Ground Berries Association in northern Gaza. An unwritten deal between Israel and Hamas gives Gaza residents more access to jobs, trade and travel.

World News

'Like A Prisoner Being Let Free': Israel-Hamas Truce Lends Hope To Gaza's Jobless

5:10pm January 23, 2020

by Daniel Estrin

Even before President Trump's peace deal comes to light, an informal arrangement between Israeli and Hamas leaders eased some restrictions on travel and trade out of Gaza.

Queue Listen Now