Middle East

World News

France Monitors Accusations Involving Attack On Saudi Oil Facilities

7:30am September 19, 2019

France condemned the act. NPR's Steve Inskeep talks to Philippe Etienne, France's ambassador to the U.S., about France's role in de-escalating tensions between the U.S. and Iran following the attack.

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News Brief: Saudi Oil Attack, Trudeau's Brownface, Fed Lowers Rates

6:29am September 19, 2019

Evidence mounts that Iran was behind attacks on Saudi oil facilities. Canada's prime minister apologizes for a brownface costume at 2001 party. And, the Federal Reserve lowers interest rates.

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Saudi Arabia's military displays what it says is wreckage from drones and cruise missiles used to attack Saudi Aramco oil facilities. A Saudi spokesman says the weapons did not come from Yemen, as a rebel group has claimed, but from Iran.

World News

Saudi Arabia Says Iran 'Unquestionably Sponsored' Attack On Oil Facilities

7:22pm September 18, 2019

by Bill Chappell

"This attack did not originate from Yemen despite Iran's best efforts to appear so," said Saudi Col. Turki al-Malki. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called it an "act of war" against the kingdom.

Wreckage described by Saudi defense officials as coming from the airstrikes on the Abqaiq oil refinery.

Attacks On Saudi Oil Facilities Pose Quandary For Trump Administration

6:49pm September 18, 2019

by David Welna

Military and intelligence officials say it looks like Iran launched the airstrikes but the U.S. has been slow to respond.

Trump's Evolving Relationship With Saudi Arabia

3:49pm September 18, 2019

Before he was elected president, Donald Trump was a critic of Saudi Arabia. Now, he says the U.S. is "locked and loaded" to respond to an attack on their behalf.

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World News

Ahead Of Saudi Strike, Officials Say Satellites Show Iran Readying Weapons

11:15am September 18, 2019

NPR's Rachel Martin talks to NPR Pentagon correspondent Tom Bowman and Trita Parsi of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft about the weekend attack on oil facilities in Saudi Arabia.

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addresses his supporters at party headquarters after elections in Tel Aviv, Israel, on Wednesday.

World News

Elections Do Little To Point The Way Out Of Israel's Political Impasse

9:16am September 18, 2019

by Scott Neuman

The preliminary results show yet another near deadlock between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party and its main centrist rival.

World News

Israeli Election: Exit Polls Are Too Close To Call

6:18am September 18, 2019

by Daniel Estrin

National elections were held Tuesday in Israel, and the country's two main political parties are deadlocked. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's fate is in limbo.

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News Brief: Intelligence On Iran, Israeli Election, Emissions Standards

5:59am September 18, 2019

U.S. satellites said to have detected Iran readying drones before a Saudi oil facility was attacked. Israel's election is too close to call. California to lose waiver to set environmental standards.

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Afghan police inspect the site of a bombing in Parwan province, where Afghan President Ashraf Ghani was speaking at a campaign rally. The Taliban has claimed responsibility for the attack.

World News

Bombing At Afghan President's Campaign Rally Kills At Least 26

11:31pm September 17, 2019

by Bill Chappell

The attack, for which the Taliban claimed responsibility, occurred as President Ashraf Ghani was making a rare personal appearance. Due to security concerns, he gives many speeches through his laptop.