Middle-East
Yemen rebel drone attack targets remote Saudi oil field
Dubai, Aug 17 (AP/UNB) — Drones launched by Yemen's Houthi rebels attacked a massive oil and gas field deep inside of Saudi Arabia's sprawling desert on Saturday, causing what the kingdom described as a "limited fire" in the second-such recent attack on its crucial energy industry.
Tlaib declines to visit West Bank, citing Israeli conditions
Jerusalem, Aug 17 (AP/UNB) — Democratic Rep. Rashida Tlaib said Friday she would not visit her grandmother in the occupied West Bank, despite being granted an Israeli permit on humanitarian grounds, saying Israel's "oppressive" conditions aimed to humiliate her.
Israel bars US congresswomen - with a nudge from Trump
Jerusalem, Aug 16 (AP/UNB) — With a push from President Donald Trump, Israel on Thursday barred two Muslim-American congresswomen from entering the country for a visit, an extraordinary step bringing the longtime U.S. ally into Trump's domestic fight against political rivals at home.
US to revoke visas held by crew of Iranian ship
Madrid, Aug 16 (AP/UNB) — The State Department says it will revoke U.S. visas for crew members on an Iranian oil tanker that was seized by authorities in Gibraltar for sanctions violations but released Thursday.
Israel bans entry to outspoken US congresswomen
Jerusalem, Aug 15 (AP/UNB) — Israel said Thursday that it will bar two Democratic congresswomen from entering the country ahead of a planned visit over their support for a Palestinian-led boycott movement, a decision announced shortly after President Donald Trump tweeted that it would "show great weakness" to allow them in.
Thousands of Yemenis rally in support of separatists in Aden
Sanaa, Aug 15 (AP/UNB) — Thousands of Yemenis rallied Thursday in the port city of Aden in support of southern separatists who seized the city from the country's internationally recognized government amid diplomatic efforts aimed at reinstating forces loyal to the Saudi-backed president.
Gibraltar frees held Iran oil tanker that US sought to seize
Madrid, Aug 15 (AP/UNB) — Gibraltar on Thursday allowed a detained Iranian supertanker to leave the British overseas territory after a last-minute U.S. attempt to seize the vessel, potentially defusing tensions between London and Tehran as a British-flagged tanker remains held by the Islamic Republic.
Israeli army kills 4 militants trying to cross Gaza fence
Gaza Strip, Aug 11 (AP/UNB) — Israeli troops killed four Palestinian militants who attempted to cross through the perimeter fence from the Gaza Strip on Saturday, and in the West Bank arrested members of a Palestinian cell suspected in the killing of an off-duty soldier this week.
Over 2 million Muslims in Mecca for start of hajj pilgrimage
Mecca, Aug 10 (AP/UNB) — More than 2 million pilgrims were gathered in the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia on Friday to perform initial rites of the hajj, an Islamic pilgrimage that takes the faithful along a path traversed by the Prophet Muhammad some 1,400 years ago.
Clashes in southern Yemen; rebels leader's brother killed
Sanaa, Aug 10 (AP/UNB) — Fighting between Yemeni government forces and southern separatists entered a third day Friday, leaving more than 20 killed, including five civilians, officials said.