Senior al-Qaida commander killed in an airstrike in Syria
By BASSEM MROUE An airstrike has killed a top al-Qaida commander and two other fighters in Syria, activists said Saturday, but it was not immediately clear whether it was carried…
Saudi Arabia
Syrian troops gain as Putin defends strikes
By SARAH EL DEEB and LYNN BERRY Syrian troops backed by Russian airstrikes advanced against insurgents in the center of the country as President Vladimir Putin defended Moscow’s intervention in…
US acts to open dialogue with Iran about Syria, Yemen crises
By MATTHEW LEE The U.S. took steps Saturday to open a dialogue with Iran and others about the crises in Syria and Yemen. Secretary of State John Kerry met with…
The Latest: Iran blames Saudi for pilgrimage disaster
The latest developments from a crush of Muslim pilgrims on the third day of the annual hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia that killed hundreds of people. ___ 4:00 p.m. The…
Islamic State group’s attacks in Saudi test security of hajj
By AYA BATRAWY The Islamic State group is extending its reach in Saudi Arabia, expanding the scope of its attacks and drawing in new recruits with its radical ideology. Its…
US promising help to keep Iran in check in Middle East
By KEVIN FREKING The Obama administration is greeting King Salman of Saudi Arabia with assurances that the Iran nuclear deal comes with the necessary resources to help check the Islamic…
Fire at Saudi oil company residential complex kills 7
By ADAM SCHRECK A large fire broke out Sunday in the basement of a sprawling residential complex in Saudi Arabia’s oil-rich east, killing at least seven people and injuring more…
UAE says army frees British hostage held in Yemen
The United Arab Emirates said Sunday that its military freed a British hostage held by al-Qaida in Yemen who had been kidnapped 18 months ago while working as a petroleum…