Mena Today

Russian and Syrian jets struck the rebel-held city of Idlib in northern Syria on Sunday, military sources said, as President Bashar al-Assad vowed to crush insurgents who had swept into the city of Aleppo.

Hamas leaders held talks with Egyptian security officials on Sunday in a fresh push for a ceasefire in the Gaza war, two Hamas sources said, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was set to convene his security cabinet on the matter, two Israeli officials said.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman flew to the United Arab Emirates, the Saudi state news agency said on Sunday, the first such visit in three years.

Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad has pledged to use force to defeat insurgents, following their sweeping advance into the northern city of Aleppo on Friday. 

Doubts rose on sealing a global treaty to curb plastic pollution on the last day of scheduled talks, as over 100 countries pushed to cap production while a handful of oil-producing countries wanted to focus only on plastic waste.

For a second year running, there is no Christmas cheer in Bethlehem, with tourists shunning the Palestinian city and many residents seeking a way out as the Gaza war grinds on.

The low-cost airline Wizz Air has announced the gradual resumption of operations in Israel, starting on December 20. The airline will initially restore service on the Tel Aviv-Larnaca route, with four flights per week. 

The Syrian army said on Saturday dozens of its soldiers had been killed in a major attack led by Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham rebels who swept into the city of Aleppo, forcing the army to redeploy in the biggest challenge to President Bashar al-Assad in years.

The Israeli military said on Sunday that a projectile launched from Yemen was intercepted before it crossed into Israeli territory.

European Council president Antonio Costa and Kaja Kallas, the EU's foreign policy chief, arrived in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv on Sunday, using the first day in their new roles to send a message of support for Ukraine in its war with Russia.

Turkish Airlines has officially announced the resumption of flights to and from Beirut’s Rafic Hariri International Airport (AIB) beginning December 3, 2024, according to an official statement released on Saturday.