Opinion

Putting Hezbollah's weapons out of action for good will require more than just statements, but if those involved in talks can get the formula right, there is every hope of turning a corner

When Israelis go to the polls in October, it is not just the direction of their country that they could determine. World leaders as far away as Washington will be watching

Grievances in Syria's far north-east threaten to tear the region apart and ignite a fire that could spread much further. The central government can still get on top of this, but it must act fast

Iran's militia in Yemen is trying to escape the blame for its internal crises by invoking a siege that simply does not exist, but by attacking Saudi interests, it is crossing a red line.

Political Islam is considered poisonous across much of the Middle East, yet its Jewish equivalent is in the ascendency in Israel, which goes to the polls in October.

When the head of the army and the young minister revolutionising Ukraine's warfighting fell out, the president sacked the latter. When it proved unpopular, he sacked his top general too. Will it work?

At the Al-Tanf crossing on Syria's border with Iraq, a smuggling operation was recently foiled, which drew the wrath of Tehran. In securing its sovereignty, Damascus has a fine line to tread

The final farewell to Iran's Supreme Leader from Iraq's sacred precincts carried an Iranian message drawn from a distant age

Damascus is having some success stopping weapons shipments from Iraq, but for reasons of geography, technology, history, money, and training, the authorities face an uphill battle

Through pipelines, investment, and connections, trade will open up the Middle East's borders. Tehran hopes it will prove unsuccessful

In recent weeks, both the Americans and the Iranians have proposed charging merchant vessels a 'toll' for passing through the vital maritime waterway. With missiles flying, neither is backing down

The religious expansionists in Israel hate Arabs on a biblical level, while the hardliners in Iran are so blinded by ignorance that they attack their neighbours for another state's actions