Antony Blinken, the top U.S. diplomat, is making his sixth trip to the Mideast since Oct. 7. The State Department said he would discuss freeing the hostages and increasing aid to Gaza.
Tag: Middle East
Giandomenico Picco, Diplomat Who Freed Hostages in Lebanon, Dies at 75
As the “chief troubleshooter” for the United Nations, he spent months shuttling around the Middle East to secure the release of 11 captives.
On the Tripwire of a ‘Red Line,’ It’s Often Presidents Who Trip
Barack Obama drew one for Syria. George W. Bush drew several, for North Korea and Iran. Now President Biden has drawn one for Israel. The hard part is figuring out what to do when they are crossed.
Female Genital Cutting Continues to Increase Worldwide
Campaigns in some countries have reduced the practice, but it remains widespread in those with high rates of population growth.
U.S. and British Warplanes Again Strike Houthi-Linked Targets in Yemen
The Iran-backed group, which has been targeting global shipping routes, has proved especially difficult for the United States and its allies to restrain.
U.S. Strike Killed Afghans Recruited to Fight for Iran
Refugees who joined the largely overlooked Fatemiyoun Brigade to battle for Shiite Islam and escape crushing poverty had become a force in Tehran’s proxy wars.
Locust Swarms Could Expand Their Range in a Hotter, Stormier World
The crop-devouring pests love arid conditions and the occasional downpour. Global warming is offering more of both.
A Blinken Visit Puts U.S.-Israeli Tensions on Full Display
During a round of diplomacy by Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seemed to be speaking to a domestic audience that does not want to let up pressure on Hamas.
Houthi Attacks and U.S.-Led Strikes Dash Hopes for Quick Yemen Peace Deal
A U.N.-backed process to end Yemen’s nine-year conflict appeared to be moving forward recently. But then the war in Gaza began and tensions spilled over.
UNRWA, Aid Agency in Gaza, Set to Lose $65 Million, Documents Show
The agency, which plays a key role in the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, has received an influx of private donations but not enough to make up for the loss of international funding.