PENTAGON — U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel is wrapping up a trip to the Middle East – where he delivered a $10 billion weapons package to Israel and some of Washington’s Arab allies as a sign of U.S support in the face of Iranian [...]

KUWAIT — Kuwait should scrap plans for a “repressive” new media law, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said on Wednesday, saying the draft legislation would severely undermine press freedom. As the government of the Gulf [...]

Syria’s opposition is accusing the Lebanese Hezbollah movement of declaring war on the Syrian people amid reports the Shi’ite militia’s fighters have joined government forces in a battle against rebels in the central province [...]

BEIRUT, LEBANON — Syrian forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad seized a strategic town east of Damascus on Wednesday, breaking a critical weapons supply route for the rebels, activists and fighters said. Rebels have held several suburbs [...]

Syria’s opposition coalition named a veteran dissident Monday as its interim leader. George Sabra, who was jailed several times for opposing the regimes of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his father, will retain the caretaker position [...]

A Cairo court on Saturday ordered Egypt’s former president Hosni Mubarak released on charges of illicit gains, the second release order for him in a week, but he will remain in detention because he still faces other charges, security and [...]

ISTANBUL — The U.S. secretary of state, wrapping up his visit to Istanbul, says an important breakthrough has been achieved among countries supporting the Syrian opposition. Secretary of State John Kerry described the agreement by 11 countries [...]

Syrian opposition activists say pro-government forces have killed at least 80 people in five days of fighting to recapture a rebel suburb of Damascus. In statements to the media Sunday, the activists said the forces loyal to Syrian President [...]

ISTANBUL — U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry says Washington will double its aid to the Syrian opposition, providing $123 million in new funding.  He made the announcement after a meeting of nations that back the opposition to Syrian President [...]

UNITED NATIONS — The United Nations-Arab League envoy for Syria, Lakhdar Brahimi, says he thinks about quitting every day, but has no plans to do so.  He said Friday that the Syrians need to come up with a plan to end the more than two-year [...]