Middle East news - breaking news, video, headlines and opinion | CNN

CNN values your feedback

1. How relevant is this ad to you?
2. Did you encounter any technical issues?
Thank You!
Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much appreciated.
Close
Ad Feedback
World
Africa
Americas
Asia
Australia
China
Europe
India
Middle East
United Kingdom
More
Africa Americas Asia Australia China Europe India Middle East United Kingdom
Watch Listen Live TV
My Account
  • Settings
  • Newsletters
  • Topics you follow
  • Sign out
Your CNN account Sign in to your CNN account
My Account
  • Settings
  • Newsletters
  • Topics you follow
  • Sign out
Your CNN account Sign in to your CNN account
Live TV Listen Watch
Edition
US
International
Arabic
Español
Edition
  • US
  • International
  • Arabic
  • Español
Africa
Americas
Asia
Australia
China
Europe
India
Middle East
United Kingdom
Follow CNN
  • World
    • Africa
    • Americas
    • Asia
    • Australia
    • China
    • Europe
    • India
    • Middle East
    • United Kingdom
  • US Politics
    • Trump
    • Facts First
    • CNN Polls
    • 2025 Elections
    • Redistricting Tracker
  • Business
    • Tech
    • Media
    • Calculators
    • Videos
  • Markets
    • Pre-markets
    • After-Hours
    • Fear & Greed
    • Investing
    • Markets Now
    • Nightcap
  • Health
    • Life, But Better
    • Fitness
    • Food
    • Sleep
    • Mindfulness
    • Relationships
  • Entertainment
    • Movies
    • Television
    • Celebrity
  • Tech
    • Innovate
    • Foreseeable Future
    • Mission: Ahead
    • Work Transformed
    • Innovative Cities
  • Style
    • Arts
    • Design
    • Fashion
    • Architecture
    • Luxury
    • Beauty
    • Video
  • Travel
    • Destinations
    • Food & Drink
    • Stay
    • News
    • Videos
  • Sports
    • Football
    • Tennis
    • Golf
    • Motorsport
    • US Sports
    • Olympics
    • Climbing
    • Esports
    • Hockey
  • Science
    • Space
    • Life
    • Unearthed
  • Climate
    • Solutions
    • Weather
  • Weather
    • Video
    • Climate
  • Ukraine-Russia War
  • Israel-Hamas War
  • Features
    • As Equals
    • Call to Earth
    • Freedom Project
    • Impact Your World
    • Inside Africa
    • CNN Heroes
  • Watch
    • Live TV
    • CNN Fast
    • Shows A-Z
    • CNN10
    • CNN Max
    • CNN TV Schedules
  • Listen
    • CNN 5 Things
    • Chasing Life with Dr. Sanjay Gupta
    • The Assignment with Audie Cornish
    • One Thing
    • Tug of War
    • CNN Political Briefing
    • The Axe Files
    • All There Is with Anderson Cooper
    • All CNN Audio podcasts
  • Games
    • Daily Crossword
    • Jumble Crossword
    • Photo Shuffle
    • Sudoblock
    • Sudoku
    • 5 Things Quiz
  • About CNN
    • Photos
    • Investigations
    • CNN Profiles
    • CNN Leadership
    • CNN Newsletters
    • Work for CNN

Middle East

  • Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, speaks during a meeting in Tehran on Saturday.
    Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader/Wana News Agency/Reuters
    Iran’s supreme leader acknowledges thousands were killed in protests
  • Syrian government forces launch a rocket towards Kurdish forces near Dibsi Faraj in the northern Syrian Tabqa area, Raqa province on January 17, 2026. Syria's army took control of swathes of northern Syria and threatened to bomb parts of Raqa province on January 17, after Kurdish forces pulled back from territory they had held for over a decade. The government appeared to be seeking to extend its grip on parts of the country under Kurdish control a day after President Ahmed al-Sharaa issued a decree declaring Kurdish a "national language" and granting the minority official recognition.
    Omar Haj Kadour/AFP/Getty Images
    Syria’s military has seized swathes of Kurdish-held territory. Here’s what we know
  • Iranian protester Erfan Soltani's feared execution was canceled earlier this week, his family said, with one family member saying the decision was influenced by US involvement.
    Whatsapp
    Detained Iranian protester in good physical health after execution fears, family and rights group say
  • The United Nations special envoy, Nickolay Mladenov, speaks during a press conference in Jerusalem on June 25, 2020. - The government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said it could begin the process to annex Jewish settlements in the West Bank as well as the strategic Jordan Valley from July 1. The plan -- endorsed by Washington -- would see the creation of a Palestinian state, but on reduced territory, and without Palestinians' core demand of a capital in east Jerusalem.
    Menahem Kahana/AFP/Getty Images
    Meet the trusted diplomat tasked with turning the US-backed ceasefire into peace for Gaza
  • Syrian army soldiers in their vehicles enter the Deir Hafer town on Saturday.
    Bakr ALkasem/AFP/Getty Images
    Kurdish forces retreat as government troops advance across northern Syria
  • Iranian protesters gather in the capital Tehran on January 9. The regime's subsequent crackdown may have produced one of the highest death tolls since Iran's 1979 revolution.
    MAHSA/Middle East Images/AFP/Getty Images
    Iran makes high-tech additions to its age-old playbook for crushing protests
  • Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a joint press conference alongside US President Donald Trump, at Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence in Palm Beach, Florida, on December 29, 2025.
    Jim Watson/AFP/Getty Images/File
    As Iran faces unrest, Israel waits quietly for Trump’s next move
  • <strong>Mehdi Zatparvar, Robina Aminian, Ebrahim Yousef</strong>
    Social Media
    A student, a bodybuilder and a father of three among those killed during protests in Iran
Ad Feedback
  • Reza Pahlavi is photographed for Paris Match on May 07, 2024 in Paris, France.
    Alvaro Canovas/Paris Match/Getty Images/File
    The son of Iran’s last shah is rallying protesters. But do Iranians really want another king?
  • Mandatory Credit: Photo by STRINGER/EPA/Shutterstock (16215932b) Iranian shopkeepers and traders protest against the economic conditions, as tear gas is fired by anti-riot police in Tehran, Iran, 29 December 2025. Iran is experiencing an economic crisis as the value of its currency declines as a result of tensions between Iran, Israel, and the USA as well as sanctions implemented by the US and EU against Iran. Iranian shopkeepers protest over economic crisis in Tehran, Iran Islamic Republic Of - 29 Dec 2025
    EPA/Shutterstock
    Iran faces a pivotal moment. Can a tired regime contain a fresh wave of protests?
  • iran thumb.jpg
    • Video 2:28
    Tiktok
    Video Anti-government protests spread in Iran as authorities cut communications 2:28
  • iran.jpg
    • Video 1:58
    IranWire
    Video Protesters march across Iran Thursday with large crowds in capital 1:58
  • TOPSHOT - This picture taken on January 8, 2026 shows columns of smoke rising from Aleppo's Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh neighborhoods amid intense clashes between government forces and the Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) forces. Syria's military warned civilians in two besieged Kurdish neighbourhoods in the city of Aleppo to leave on December 8, as it prepared to conduct a fresh wave of strikes targeting Kurdish positions. Thousands have already fled the area following clashes between the army and Kurdish-led forces that have killed more than a dozen people. (Photo by OMAR HAJ KADOUR / AFP via Getty Images)
    Omar Haj Kadour/AFP/Getty Images
    Syrian army launches new strikes in Aleppo as fighting with Kurdish-led SDF intensifies
  • Supporters of the UAE-backed separatist Southern Transitional Council (STC) wave flags of the United Arab Emirates and of the STC, during a rally in Aden, Yemen, December 30, 2025.
    Fawaz Salman/Reuters
    Saudi Arabia’s dispute with the UAE exposes a deeper regional power struggle
Ad Feedback
  • People walk past closed shops, following protests over a plunge in the currency's value, in the Tehran Grand Bazaar in Tehran, Iran, on December 30.
    Majid Asgaripour/Wana News Agency/Reuters
    Trump warns Iran after protests turn deadly across several provinces
  • Video Protesters take to the streets across Iran on Friday 0:56
  • Angelina Jolie visits Rafah Crossing as Gaza aid groups face Israeli suspension
  • Two of the Middle East’s most powerful countries are facing off in Yemen. Here’s what to know
  • TEHRAN, IRAN DECEMBER 11: (----EDITORIAL USE ONLY - MANDATORY CREDIT - 'IRANIAN LEADER PRESS OFFICE / HANDOUT' - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS----) Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei gives a speech during an event in Tehran, Iran on December 11, 2025. (Photo by Iranian Leader Press Office/Anadolu via Getty Images)
    Iranian Leader Press Office/Anadolu/Getty Images
    Iran’s ailing supreme leader resorts to his only playbook as crises mount and protests erupt
  • UAE says it will withdraw its remaining forces in Yemen after Saudi Arabia struck port city
  • Protests erupt in Iran over currency’s plunge to record low
  • After two years of war, some Israelis are moving to the Gaza border while others are refusing. Here’s why
Ad Feedback
Ad Feedback
My Account
  • Settings
  • Newsletters
  • Topics you follow
  • Sign out
Your CNN account Sign in to your CNN account
Live TV Listen Watch
  • World
    • Africa
    • Americas
    • Asia
    • Australia
    • China
    • Europe
    • India
    • Middle East
    • United Kingdom
  • US Politics
    • Trump
    • Facts First
    • CNN Polls
    • 2025 Elections
    • Redistricting Tracker
  • Business
    • Tech
    • Media
    • Calculators
    • Videos
  • Markets
    • Pre-markets
    • After-Hours
    • Fear & Greed
    • Investing
    • Markets Now
    • Nightcap
  • Health
    • Life, But Better
    • Fitness
    • Food
    • Sleep
    • Mindfulness
    • Relationships
  • Entertainment
    • Movies
    • Television
    • Celebrity
  • Tech
    • Innovate
    • Foreseeable Future
    • Mission: Ahead
    • Work Transformed
    • Innovative Cities
  • Style
    • Arts
    • Design
    • Fashion
    • Architecture
    • Luxury
    • Beauty
    • Video
  • Travel
    • Destinations
    • Food & Drink
    • Stay
    • News
    • Videos
  • Sports
    • Football
    • Tennis
    • Golf
    • Motorsport
    • US Sports
    • Olympics
    • Climbing
    • Esports
    • Hockey
  • Science
    • Space
    • Life
    • Unearthed
  • Climate
    • Solutions
    • Weather
  • Weather
    • Video
    • Climate
  • Ukraine-Russia War
  • Israel-Hamas War
  • Features
    • As Equals
    • Call to Earth
    • Freedom Project
    • Impact Your World
    • Inside Africa
    • CNN Heroes
  • Watch
    • Featured
    • Shows & Films
    • Network TV
    • Clips
    • CNN Headlines
    • CNN Shorts
    • TV Shows A-Z
    • CNN 10
    • CNN Max
    • TV Schedule
  • Listen
    • CNN 5 Things
    • Chasing Life with Dr. Sanjay Gupta
    • The Assignment with Audie Cornish
    • One Thing
    • Tug of War
    • CNN Political Briefing
    • The Axe Files
    • All There Is with Anderson Cooper
    • All CNN Audio podcasts
  • Games
    • Daily Crossword
    • Jumble Crossword
    • Photo Shuffle
    • Sudoblock
    • Sudoku
    • 5 Things Quiz
  • About CNN
    • Photos
    • Investigations
    • CNN Profiles
    • CNN Leadership
    • CNN Newsletters
    • Work for CNN
World
Watch Listen Live TV
My Account
  • Settings
  • Newsletters
  • Topics you follow
  • Sign out
Your CNN account Sign in to your CNN account
Follow CNN
Download the CNN app
Download the CNN app
Terms of Use Privacy Policy Ad Choices Accessibility & CC About Newsletters Transcripts

© 2026 Cable News Network. A Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All Rights Reserved.
CNN Sans ™ & © 2016 Cable News Network.

Download the CNN app

Scan the QR code to download the CNN app on Google Play.

Scan the QR code to download the CNN app from Google Play.

Download the CNN app

Scan the QR code to download the CNN app from the Apple Store.

Scan the QR code to download the CNN app from the Apple Store.