Taliban slams Iran after 1.8M Afghans deported in past 3 months: What to know Iran-Afghanistan relations have improved in some respects in recent years, though the increasing deportations of Afghans from the Islamic Republic is creating tensions. Iran
Analysis How Iran’s Afghan expulsions signal new era in national security policing Iran is deporting Afghan migrants at record speed in a crackdown driven by postwar security strategies, a move which risks diplomatic fallout with the Taliban, labor disruptions in Iran and a deepening humanitarian crisis across the border. By A correspondent in Tehran In Tehran, reporting on politics
Syria to reopen war-damaged border crossing with Lebanon: What we know The move comes as the new authorities in both Lebanon and Syria work to ensure border security and better relations. Syria
Israel expands Gaza buffer zone to 20% as humanitarian situation deteriorates Israel’s expanded buffer zone will cut off Gaza from Egypt and further partition the Strip, as the humanitarian crisis in the territory deepens. Palestine
Feature Fearing for safety, Syria's Alawites who fled to Lebanon have no plans to return By Katya Hovnanian-Alexanian
Analysis Could Israel's West Bank operation lead to annexation long sought by right? By Rina Bassist In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs
From Saudi Arabia to Australia and China, world leaders denounce Trump’s plan to 'take over' Gaza Palestine
Traffickers use refugees to smuggle drugs from Iran to Turkey There are growing claims and indications that refugees illegally crossing the Iranian-Turkish border, the route of an exodus from Afghanistan to the West, are forced to smuggle drugs by their traffickers. Turkey
Turkish women's rights activists decry racism in their name Dozens of Turkey’s grassroots women rights groups issued a statement against racism and anti-immigrant sentiment, only to face angry reaction from many parts of the political spectrum. Turkey
Teenage Syrian refugees in Lebanon find cricket a welcome distraction Cricket is emerging as a tool for social transformation and improving Syrian refugees’ education. Lebanon
Climate change makes life harder for displaced Syrians The extreme weather conditions caused by climate change have been particularly felt by the displaced living in camps across northwestern Syria, where NGOs are struggling to meet all of their needs. Syria
Debate in Israel continues over Ukrainian refugees The Tel Aviv District Court ordered yesterday the State to offer Ukrainian refugees working permits, so they can live in dignity. Israel
Erdogan unveils plans to send 1 million Syrians back as anti-refugee sentiment escalates As anti-refugee sentiment rises higher in Turkey during the Eid, Erdogan pledges a build-and-return project enabling more than a million Syrians to return “voluntarily” to northern Syria. Turkey
Is Israel ready to invade Jenin camp? Residents of the Jenin refugee camp in the northern West Bank fear yet another invasion by the Israeli army, 20 years after the Battle of Jenin. Palestine
Iran closes Afghanistan consulates after angry protests Furious Afghans threw rocks at the Iranian Embassy in Herat after videos went viral of Afghan refugees being mistreated in neighboring Iran. Iran
Interview Israel’s occupation has crossed the ‘red line of legality,’ says new UN rapporteur In an interview with Al-Monitor, the newly appointed UN special rapporteur for the Palestinians, Francesca Albanese, speaks about her plans to address human rights violations in the Palestinian territories, while fending off a smear campaign launched against her by Israel. Francesca Albanese UN Special Rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories
Young Egyptian rescues Arab families trapped in Ukraine Social media outlets were abuzz over the past few days with news about Islam al-Ashiri, an Egyptian man who rescued a number of families stuck in Kyiv following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Egypt
Turkey’s quota plan for refugees alarms rights activists Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu is advocating quotas for foreigners to prevent ghettos and clashes, but activists worry relocations would cut vulnerable refugees' access to work and services. Turkey
Afghan evacuees in UAE protest US resettlement delay From their shelter in Abu Dhabi, the protesters demanded they be resettled in the United States. United Arab Emirates
