Arrest of senior figures in corruption drive stuns kingdom and creates risks for prince

‘Tommy’ Toumeh, 91, faced down armed fighters who told him to leave his home in 2014

Couple’s English-language bookshop part of efforts to preserve Syria’s built heritage

Commercial and leisure activities return to Syrian city as half a million people drift back

Cruel ‘caliphate’ of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi on skids amid Syrian army and Kurdish squeeze

Syria’s rehabilitation is under way, but the pace varies greatly between city, town and village

Both Palestinian organisations pressured from all sides at a time of extreme weakness

In Iraq and Syria the terrorist group has lost most of its territory and, with it, its power

Rival Palestinian movements attempt to reconcile after 10 years of open hostility

King Salman embarks on three-day visit to Moscow as part of major policy shift

Second anniversary of Kremlin decision to back Assad with military might

The kingdom’s women look set to be kept away from the wheels of power

Baghdad believes talks would prompt Sunni areas to renew demand for autonomy

Baghdad issues threats and international powers condemn the ballot ahead of the vote

Crown prince Mohamed bin Salman highly sensitive to dissent as his policies are failing

Negotiators hope to extend ‘deconfliction’ zones during sixth conference in Kazakhstan

Bashar al-Assad praises troops amid continued push to drive Islamic State from the city

Confusion and uncertainty reign as political, ethnic and hidden agendas play out

World’s most multicultural religious event gets under way in Saudi Arabia

Some 86,000 Iranian pilgrims to attend annual Hajj for the first time in two years

Well-developed networks are targeting young Moroccans to join terrorist cells

‘Overdue’ move welcomed to scrap 1940s law allowing rapists avoid prosecution through marriage

US and Iran-backed Iraqi forces are on outskirts of Isis-held Tal Afar, west of Mosul

Fears for heritage of 400-year-old Shia town Awamiya after destruction and violence

Carla del Ponte blames lack of backing from Security Council to try perpetrators

Infection rate continues to rise as deliveries of medical supplies restricted

Transport of 8,000 refugees resumes after Jabhat Fatah al-Sham demands met by Hizbullah

Human Rights Watch urges authorities to explain Mohammed bin Nayef’s travel ban

Tahrir al-Sham advance may lead to re-establishment of al-Qaeda in Syria and Iraq

CIA programme to topple Syrian president Bashar al-Assad has been deemed a failure

Sunni council has always had divisions but numerous disputes could pull it apart

Population of 2 million ‘seeing faster and faster decline in their living conditions’

Defeat of Islamic State in Mosul must be followed by emergency relief, security and medical care

UN war crimes investigators accused the US and allied Kurdish-dominated DemocraticForces of being responsible for a 'staggering lo(...)

Move comes as the kingdom faces multiple challenges, including rift with Qatar

Ex-staff sergeant: ‘There is violence on both sides, but Palestinians always pay the price’

Recognition of Israel rubs against call for end to bulldozers clearing land for settlements

‘Tens of thousands come to pray in the lead-domed al-Aqsa mosque, the world’s third holiest Islamic site’

Consumerism is rampant, but economic gap between Palestinians and Israelis is widening

Despite 16 years of failed negotiations and lost opportunities, the creation of a Palestinian state alongside Israel still has wid(...)

Lives were changed forever on June 5th, 1967, as Israel’s air force won the war in hours

Isolating Iran empowers ultra-conservatives and confirm their view of US as ‘Great Satan’

As both sides aim to revive relations, serious differences remain on Iran and Islamic State

Contest between moderate incumbent Hassan Rouhani and hardliner Ebrahim Raisi

As latest round of talks opens in Geneva two presidents meet at the White House

Analysis: Stabilisation will allow Damascus to mount campaign against Islamic State

UN chief issues proposals to bridge gap between Greek and Turkish Cypriots

Next stage of ceasefire deal involves determining boundaries of the four zones controlled by insurgent forces

Russia urges halt to fighting, freezing of front lines at four locations in war-torn country

Turkish president dismantling country’s secularism, which will alienate liberal Turks

As the 50th anniversary of the Israeli occupation of Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem approaches, Fatah and Hamas are under (...)

Appointments and decrees include naming of king’s son Khaled as ambassador to US

The Girl From Aleppo review: Teenager Nujeen Mustafa finds her voice on a heroic journey

Ameen Mukdad was forced into hiding when Islamic State took control of his home city

Current effort to oust Assad follows many failed attempts to topple him

Global indifference making dire situation even worse, International Crisis Group says

Government-rebel agreement may involve transfer of 10,000 people from four towns

John Hourican became chief executive of the Bank of Cyprus following the country’s economic melt-down in 2013

Analysis: Attack risks collapse of state into entities run by al-Qaeda, Isis and other jihadis

Analysis: The horrific Khan Sheikhoun bombing is likely to harden attitudes on both sides

US moves in line with Moscow aim of defeating Isis, rather than removing president

Leaders stress need to find ‘peaceful solution’ to Syria and terminate activities of terrorists

Rise in ethnic tensions feared after Kurdish officials in Kirkuk raise flag over citadel

Former dictator (88) returns home from military hospital after court acquittal

Talks to cover governance, a new constitution, elections and ‘terrorism’

UN funding pulled from Syrian project to restore Old City and bring residents back

Experts say a third of ancient Syrian city destroyed, but much can be restored

International Women’s Day marks an opportunity to return to normal life

Some citizens return to city but major donations are needed to rebuild infrastructure

The people of Damascus try to find pleasure in the small things as war continues in Syria

US weapons supply worth $300m to Saudi Arabia to resume despite broad criticism

Ban confirms suspicions of many that US perceives Islam as inherently violent

Government and opposition groups to discuss formation of transitional government

Opposition group calls Iran a ‘rogue state’ but says Russia has taken a ‘neutral’ policy

‘You know there is no military solution, only a political solution,’ says Staffan de Mistura

Mediator says he expects to create ‘momentum in the political process’

Government in better position to strike deal but Turkey, Saudi Arabia want al-Assad out

Trump’s abandonment of policy could put weak pro-Western Arab regimes at risk

The political vacuum caused by the conflict in Yemen has facilitated the rise of Isis

Michael Flynn’s warning that Tehran is ‘on notice’ risks destabilising the nuclear deal

Migrant ban could endanger 5,000 US troops involved in Mosul drive against Islamic State

Sunni radicals claim US president’s ‘blessed ban’ will prompt US Muslims to join jihadis

Kerry says parties are reaching a state of near exhaustion and end may be in sight

Fundamentalist groups to join PLO and Palestine National Council

Mosul fears Iraq’s government while Raqqa dreads anarchy once Isis is defeated

Hopes are high of settlement plan as Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders meet in Geneva

Opposing sides blame each other for bombing of pumping facility near Syrian capital

The Istanbul nightclub shooting is Turkey’s 19th major terrorist attack since June 2015

Three powers, including Iran, prioritise end to hostilities and preserving Syria as a state

Attitudes to the government’s victory are very different in the city’s east and west

Buses bound for besieged villages torched by jihadis opposed to evacuation deal

Islamic State recapture of ancient city demonstrates that regime military is overstretched

Russia, Iran, Lebanon and Iraq help Syrian army resist attacks and reclaim lost territory

Civilians pay heavy cost to protect their homes, lands and businesses

Election of Trump and assault on Mosul have added urgency to bombing campaign

Analysis: Defeat of the terror group could lead to the return of al-Qaeda in Syria and Iraq

Unlike Palmyra, the heart of the Assyrian empire has been reduced to rubble

US president’s order to ‘track and slay’ jihadi group’s leaders signals turnabout in policy

Republican gets flurry of congratulatory calls, as some worry about his anti-Islam remarks

Warning Turkey could annex north if solution not found before end-of-year deadline