/tags/middle-east Middle East en-US Copyright Mon, 04 Mar 2024 15:59:40 GMT /2024-03-04/cities-across-ohio-consider-cease-fire-resolutions Last month, Athens became the latest Ohio city to call for a cease-fire in Israel and Gaza. Elsewhere in the state, city councils have declined to introduce or pass similar resolutions. Mon, 04 Mar 2024 15:59:40 GMT /2024-03-04/cities-across-ohio-consider-cease-fire-resolutions Erin Gottsacker /news-partners/2021-03-21/u-s-defense-chief-austin-goes-to-afghanistan-amid-questions-over-withdrawal-date Lloyd Austin arrived in Kabul on his first visit as defense secretary as the Biden administration discusses when to pull U.S. forces out of Afghanistan. Sun, 21 Mar 2021 14:40:07 GMT /news-partners/2021-03-21/u-s-defense-chief-austin-goes-to-afghanistan-amid-questions-over-withdrawal-date Alex Leff /news-partners/2020-11-16/white-house-orders-thousands-of-u-s-troops-withdrawn-from-afghanistan-and-iraq The American troop presence will decline in Afghanistan from 4,500 to 2,500, and in Iraq from 3,000 to 2,500. Senior military leaders reportedly oppose the move. Mon, 16 Nov 2020 22:49:00 GMT /news-partners/2020-11-16/white-house-orders-thousands-of-u-s-troops-withdrawn-from-afghanistan-and-iraq Dustin Jones /news-partners/2020-09-15/israel-bahrain-and-uae-sign-deals-formalizing-ties-at-white-house The agreements bring "a pivot in history," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said before a signing ceremony at the White House. Tue, 15 Sep 2020 17:59:00 GMT /news-partners/2020-09-15/israel-bahrain-and-uae-sign-deals-formalizing-ties-at-white-house Bill Chappell /news-partners/2020-09-09/u-s-says-it-will-cut-number-of-troops-in-iraq-by-nearly-half-this-month Gen. Frank McKenzie, who is responsible for U.S. forces in the Middle East, says the U.S. presence will drop from 5,200 to 3,000 troops in a move he says shows confidence in Iraqi army. Wed, 09 Sep 2020 14:59:15 GMT /news-partners/2020-09-09/u-s-says-it-will-cut-number-of-troops-in-iraq-by-nearly-half-this-month Merrit Kennedy /news-partners/2020-08-13/uae-israel-move-to-normalize-relations-as-israel-halts-planned-west-bank-annexations President Trump brokers the historic agreement. The United Arab Emirates and Israel will move toward bilateral diplomatic relations, and Israel will suspend plans to annex portions of the West Bank. Thu, 13 Aug 2020 18:43:26 GMT /news-partners/2020-08-13/uae-israel-move-to-normalize-relations-as-israel-halts-planned-west-bank-annexations Camila Domonoske /news-partners/2020-08-04/enormous-explosion-rocks-beirut-killing-more-than-100-wounding-thousands The dramatic blast was caught on numerous videos by people who had been filming a fire that was burning at an industrial port in Lebanon's capital. Tue, 04 Aug 2020 16:54:41 GMT /news-partners/2020-08-04/enormous-explosion-rocks-beirut-killing-more-than-100-wounding-thousands Bill Chappell /news-partners/2020-07-07/u-s-killing-of-irans-gen-soleimani-was-unlawful-u-n-expert-says President Trump said the U.S. targeted Iran's Qassem Soleimani because of an imminent threat. A U.N. investigator says the U.S. has produced no evidence to back that up. Tue, 07 Jul 2020 18:08:00 GMT /news-partners/2020-07-07/u-s-killing-of-irans-gen-soleimani-was-unlawful-u-n-expert-says Bill Chappell /news-partners/2020-06-29/congress-unites-to-demand-answers-from-trump-on-russian-bounties-in-afghanistan Lawmakers in both parties demand to learn more from the Trump administration after press reports suggested that Russian operatives have paid Afghan insurgents to target U.S. forces. Mon, 29 Jun 2020 15:40:00 GMT /news-partners/2020-06-29/congress-unites-to-demand-answers-from-trump-on-russian-bounties-in-afghanistan Philip Ewing /news-partners/2020-03-11/in-reversal-afghan-leader-agrees-to-release-taliban-prisoners Afghan President Ashraf Ghani now says he will free 1,500 Taliban prisoners starting this week and 3,500 more during yet-to-start peace talks with the Taliban. Wed, 11 Mar 2020 21:31:59 GMT /news-partners/2020-03-11/in-reversal-afghan-leader-agrees-to-release-taliban-prisoners David Welna