Israel Confirms Body Returned by Hamas Is That of Shiri Bibas
DNA testing had found that remains returned a day earlier purportedly of Ms. Bibas, a dead Israeli hostage, were in fact not hers, stirring outrage in Israel. A body that…
MIDDLE EAST
MIDDLE EAST NEWS
In Syria, Joy at al-Assad’s Demise Turns to Fear of Israeli Raids
Villagers say they worry that incursions into border areas of Syria by Israel’s military could turn into a prolonged occupation. Israel says the raids are needed to protect the border.…
Who Are the 6 Freed Israeli Hostages
Two of the captives had been in the hands of Hamas for about 10 years. The rest were taken during the attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. Hamas released…
Israel and Hamas Make 6th Exchange, Keeping Cease-Fire Intact for Now
Days after the fragile truce appeared to be teetering, Hamas freed three Israeli hostages as Israel released 369 Palestinian prisoners. But it is far from clear whether the deal will…
Rubio Visits Israel as Trump Pushes Plan to Expel Palestinians From Gaza
Scholars of international law say President Trump’s proposal for American control of a Gaza without Palestinians would be ethnic cleansing and a war crime. Secretary of State Marco Rubio was…
What Is Captagon, the Illegal Stimulant That Made al-Assad’s Syria a Narcostate?
The illegal amphetamine, used across the Middle East, became Syria’s biggest export during its 13-year civil war. Video Rebel fighters in Syria said on Friday that they had found vast…
Joy Buoys Syria’s First Friday Prayers Since Assad Ouster, but Hardships Loom
In an impoverished, war-ravaged country, the first prayers after the fall of a brutal regime drew jubilant crowds, even in areas seen as regime strongholds. Jubilant crowds gathered in cities…
Metula, Israeli Town on Lebanon Border, Worries for Its Future
Israel Dispatch Abandoned and off limits to civilians, Metula, a symbol of early pioneering Zionism, is left half-ruined by Hezbollah’s rockets and missiles. By Isabel Kershner Photographs by Sergey Ponomarev…
Luxury Fashion as Political Propaganda
Critic’s Notebook In fights to sway public sentiment, critics often point to costly clothes as evidence of moral corruption. On Oct. 19, three days after Israeli soldiers killed the Hamas…
Israel Bombs Lebanese City as Blinken Hints at New Ideas for Gaza Cease-Fire
The Israeli military struck targets in the port city of Tyre on Wednesday, the latest phase of a bombardment campaign against the militant group Hezbollah. Israel attacked the ancient port…