Mena Today

Qatar's prime minister said on Wednesday that there had been no conversations or engagement with any parties for the last three to four weeks to secure a ceasefire in Gaza.

Israel has a right to target Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah even as it may be hiding in civilian buildings in Lebanon, but should do so in a way that protects civilians, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said on Wednesday.

Druze leader Walid Joumblatt issued a stark warning on Wednesday, following a meeting with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berry, stating that Israeli attacks could occur "anywhere" as violent clashes between Israel and Hezbollah have escalated over the past year. 

Any solution to the rapidly expanding regional conflict that has spread to Lebanon and beyond hinges on a resolution of the original crisis in Gaza, a senior Hamas official said on Wednesday.

Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi named Hassan Mahmoud Rashad as the new head of the powerful general intelligence agency on Wednesday, appointing the outgoing chief Abbas Kamel as an adviser to the presidency.

Israel's defence minister on Wednesday called French President Emmanuel Macron’s decision to ban Israeli firms from exhibiting at a naval arms show "a disgrace" and accused Paris of implementing a hostile policy towards the Jewish people.

A magnitude-5.9 earthquake struck eastern Turkey's Malatya province on Wednesday, causing damage to some buildings but no casualties, the country's disaster and emergency management authority (AFAD) said.

The 16 EU countries contributing to the U.N. peacekeeping mission in Lebanon believe its rules of engagement need to be more effective, the Italian defence ministry said on Wednesday.

France has banned Israeli firms from exhibiting in a naval arms trade show next month, the organisers said on Wednesday, the latest incident in a row fueled by the Macron government's unease over Israel's conduct in the wars in Gaza and Lebanon.

The European Union holds its first summit with the Gulf states on Wednesday, part of an EU diplomatic push for far-flung friends as it enlists international support to isolate Russia.

Iran's foreign ministry summoned Hungary's ambassador on Tuesday to protest against new European Union sanctions on Tehran, and denied Western allegations that it has transferred ballistic missiles to Russia, Iranian state media reported.  

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan's ruling AK Party has postponed discussions in parliament of a bill that includes changes to support investments and the country's defence industry fund following strong criticism, a senior AKP lawmaker said.