Middle East News

SAN'A, Yemen - Nearly 87 civilians were killed in a strike by government warplanes that hit a camp of people fleeing fighting in northern Yemen, a tribal leader said Thursday. It was a sign of increasing bloodiness in a remote war against Shiite rebels in this turmoil-ridden Arab nation. Full Story »

JERUSALEM - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday rejected a new U.N. report alleging that Israel committed war crimes during its Gaza offensive, warning world leaders that they and their forces could be targets for similar charges. Full Story »

JERUSALEM - Israel's Netanyahu denounces UN Gaza report, calls on world to back right of self-defense. Full Story »

FALLUJAH, Iraq - American Marines shot and wounded an Iraqi man in the former flashpoint city of Fallujah believing he was throwing a grenade at them, the U.S. military said Thursday — but local police and witnesses said the object was only the man's slipper. Full Story »

BAGHDAD - Vice President Joe Biden pledged Thursday to follow Iraq's wishes should Baghdad decides to speed up the timetable for the withdrawal of American troops from the country. Full Story »

CAIRO - An Egyptian judge on Thursday convicted two American couples of human trafficking in an illegal adoptions case and sentenced them to two years in prison, in a trial that highlighted bureaucratic entanglements and murky legislation on adopting children in this predominantly Muslim country. Full Story »

TEHRAN, Iran - The Iranian regime's elite Revolutionary Guard is warning opposition protesters against holding a new anti-government demonstration. Full Story »

JERUSALEM - Israel's defense minister said in remarks published Thursday that the Middle East is too unruly for a region-wide nuclear arms ban, arguing that the Muslim world must first "behave like Western Europe." Full Story »

Yemen is beset by wars, unrest and piracy. Here are the main troubles it faces: Full Story »

CAMP BUCCA, Iraq - The U.S. military on Wednesday closed Camp Bucca, an isolated desert prison that was once its largest lockup in Iraq, as it moves to release thousands of detainees or transfer them to Iraqi custody before the end of the year. Full Story »

A look at U.S. military detention facilities in Iraq: Full Story »

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip - Gazans who lost loved ones during Israel's winter offensive against Hamas militants said Wednesday they're taking some solace from a U.N. report that accuses both sides of committing war crimes, but they're skeptical anyone will be brought to justice. Full Story »

SAN'A, Yemen - Yemeni warplanes on Wednesday hit a makeshift camp for civilians fleeing fighting between the government and Shiite rebels, killing dozens of people, witnesses said. Full Story »

ANKARA, Turkey - Turkey encouraged Syria on Wednesday to think of ways to revive the stalled peace talks with Israel, but the Syrian president said Israel does not appear to be a partner in the process. Full Story »

CAIRO - Egypt's top Islamic authority defended women's rights to wear trousers in public following a high profile court case in neighboring Sudan were women were flogged for dressing in pants, the local press reported Wednesday. Full Story »

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Talks between Iraq and Syria over Iraqi charges that Damascus is harboring militants involved in deadly bombings in Baghdad have failed and will not be repeated, the Iraqi government spokesman said on Wednesday. Full Story »

As of Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2009, at least 4,344 members of the U.S. military had died in the Iraq war since it began in March 2003, according to an Associated Press count. Full Story »

BAGHDAD - Insurgents fired four mortar shells at Baghdad's heavily fortified Green Zone on Tuesday, killing two civilians, on the same day Vice President Joe Biden arrived in the Iraqi capital on an unannounced visit to help resolve political differences among Iraqis. Full Story »