https://www.voanews.com/z/598 middle-east https://www.voanews.com/Content/responsive/VOA/en-US/img/logo.png https://www.voanews.com/z/598 en 2026 - VOA 60 Thu, 20 Aug 2026 07:56:07 -0400 Pangea CMS – VOA A Friday report by the United Nations says Iran is using advanced technology, including drones, facial recognition and a citizen-reporting app to crack down on violations of its mandatory hijab laws.A key element of the effort is the government-backed Nazer app, which enables the police and "vetted" members of the public to report alleged violations by women in vehicles, including those in ambulances, mass transit and taxis. The report describes the app as allowing users to upload... https://www.voanews.com/a/un-iran-using-drones-to-enforce-hijab-law/8011563.html https://www.voanews.com/a/un-iran-using-drones-to-enforce-hijab-law/8011563.html Sat, 15 Mar 2025 04:49:23 -0400 Iranwebdesk@voanews.com (VOA News) Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Sudani announced that Abu Khadija was killed in an operation by Iraqi intelligence with support from coalition forces. Abu Khadija was one of ISIS’s most active leaders, responsible for operations along the Kirkuk, Diyala, and Salahaddin borders. He was seen as the driving force behind ISIS attacks on Iraqi forces.Click here for the full story in Kurdish. https://www.voanews.com/a/voa-kurdish-senior-isis-leader-killed-in-iraqi-intelligence-operation/8011284.html https://www.voanews.com/a/voa-kurdish-senior-isis-leader-killed-in-iraqi-intelligence-operation/8011284.html Sat, 15 Mar 2025 01:15:23 -0400 Middle Eastwebdesk@voanews.com (Dilshad Anwar) The case of a man whose confession was made public by Irbil security forces last month has raised questions about how the security forces in the Kurdistan Region treat people they arrest. Human rights groups and lawyers say this is not the first time something like this has happened.Click here for the full story in Kurdish. https://www.voanews.com/a/voa-kurdish-release-of-man-s-confession-sparks-legal-concerns-/8011458.html https://www.voanews.com/a/voa-kurdish-release-of-man-s-confession-sparks-legal-concerns-/8011458.html Sat, 15 Mar 2025 01:14:11 -0400 Middle Eastwebdesk@voanews.com (Diyar Jamal) Despite widespread protests, Syria’s newly signed interim constitution is raising deeper concerns about the country’s future. Experts warn that its provisions could form the basis of Syria’s permanent constitution in five years. And many fear the constitution will lead to sectarian rule and threaten Syria’s stability. Click here for the full story in Kurdish. https://www.voanews.com/a/voa-kurdish-syria-s-interim-constitution-raises-fears-of-sectarian-division-/8011267.html https://www.voanews.com/a/voa-kurdish-syria-s-interim-constitution-raises-fears-of-sectarian-division-/8011267.html Sat, 15 Mar 2025 01:13:35 -0400 Middle Eastwebdesk@voanews.com (Balen Salih) Despite numerous threats from the security institutions of the Islamic Republic of Iran in recent days, Nowroz celebrations are taking place in many cities on Friday across Kurdish regions, two Kurdish human rights groups said.Click here for the full Web story in Kurdish. https://www.voanews.com/a/voa-kurdish-kurds-in-iran-celebrate-nowruz-despite-threats-from-iranian-guards-/8011468.html https://www.voanews.com/a/voa-kurdish-kurds-in-iran-celebrate-nowruz-despite-threats-from-iranian-guards-/8011468.html Sat, 15 Mar 2025 01:13:10 -0400 Middle Eastwebdesk@voanews.com (Ozlem Yasak) The Saudi crown prince plans to discuss reducing the hours of fasting for Muslims during Ramadan. However, the Kurdistan Regional Government Fatwa Committee says it is not right to follow political decisions on fasting. On the other hand, the former director of the Ministry of Religious Affairs told VOA that if Saudi Arabia makes such a decision, others should consider following it, because Saudi Arabia is still seen as the center of important religious decisions.Click here for the full... https://www.voanews.com/a/voa-kurdish-debate-grows-over-proposal-to-shorten-fasting-hours-during-ramadan-/8011485.html https://www.voanews.com/a/voa-kurdish-debate-grows-over-proposal-to-shorten-fasting-hours-during-ramadan-/8011485.html Sat, 15 Mar 2025 01:12:55 -0400 Middle Eastwebdesk@voanews.com (Snur Karim) Syria’s interim president, Ahmed al-Sharia, has signed a five-year constitution, raising concerns among Kurdish parties. Critics say it fails to represent Syria’s diverse communities.Click here for the full story in Kurdish. https://www.voanews.com/a/voa-kurdish-syria-s-interim-constitution-raises-concerns-among-kurds-observers-/8011492.html https://www.voanews.com/a/voa-kurdish-syria-s-interim-constitution-raises-concerns-among-kurds-observers-/8011492.html Sat, 15 Mar 2025 01:12:40 -0400 Middle Eastwebdesk@voanews.com (Bafraw Nuri) WASHINGTON — One of the Islamic State terror group's most senior leaders is dead, killed in what U.S. and Iraqi officials describe as a joint operation.Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani was first to share word of the successful counterterrorism strike, announcing on social media Friday that the country's intelligence service "successfully eliminated" IS deputy caliph Abdallah Makki Muslih al-Rufay'i.Sudani, posting on X, called the death a... https://www.voanews.com/a/iraq-says-key-islamic-state-leader-is-dead/8011115.html https://www.voanews.com/a/iraq-says-key-islamic-state-leader-is-dead/8011115.html Fri, 14 Mar 2025 16:30:26 -0400 Middle Eastwebdesk@voanews.com (Jeff Seldin) WASHINGTON — Syria’s newly adopted constitution is facing criticism from legal experts and political groups arguing that its loopholes could deepen division and instability in the conflict-ridden country.Three months after the fall of former President Bashar al-Assad’s government, interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa signed a constitutional declaration Thursday that will serve as Syria’s constitution during the five-year transitional period.Al-Sharaa — leader of the Islamist Hayat Tahrir... https://www.voanews.com/a/analysts-see-flaws-in-syria-s-temporary-constitution/8011117.html https://www.voanews.com/a/analysts-see-flaws-in-syria-s-temporary-constitution/8011117.html Fri, 14 Mar 2025 16:28:39 -0400 Middle Eastwebdesk@voanews.com (Sirwan Kajjo) U.S. special envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff said a Hamas statement issued Friday announcing it had agreed to release an American-Israeli soldier was, in reality, a condition of a "bridge" ceasefire proposal offered by U.S. officials earlier this week.Early Friday, the U.S.-designated terrorist group Hamas issued a statement saying it had agreed to release Edan Alexander, believed to be the last living American hostage held in Gaza, as well as the bodies of four other... https://www.voanews.com/a/us-envoy-says-hamas-misrepresented-release-of-hostage/8011067.html https://www.voanews.com/a/us-envoy-says-hamas-misrepresented-release-of-hostage/8011067.html Fri, 14 Mar 2025 15:35:19 -0400 USAwebdesk@voanews.com (VOA News) Former Kurdistan Region President Massoud Barzani spoke to Mazlum Abdi, commander-in-chief of the Syrian Democratic Forces, to discuss the recent agreement between SDF and the Syrian interim government. Barzani encouraged broader participation from other Syrian Kurdish parties, including the Kurdish National Council in Syria, to strengthen Kurdish representation beyond the SDF alone.Click here for the full story in Kurdish. https://www.voanews.com/a/voa-kurdish-barzani-urges-syrian-kurdish-unity-in-talks-with-sdf-commander/8010352.html https://www.voanews.com/a/voa-kurdish-barzani-urges-syrian-kurdish-unity-in-talks-with-sdf-commander/8010352.html Fri, 14 Mar 2025 14:53:14 -0400 Middle Eastwebdesk@voanews.com (Snur Karim) Three Kurdish and Lorestan prisoners have been told they may soon have four fingers cut off as punishment for theft. The Iranian court says they must get forgiveness from the people who accused them by next month, or the punishment will go forward. The men have spent nine years in prison. Human rights groups say this kind of punishment is like torture and goes against international laws.Click here for the full story in Kurdish. https://www.voanews.com/a/voa-kurdish-3-prisoners-face-risk-of-amputation-in-iran/8010118.html https://www.voanews.com/a/voa-kurdish-3-prisoners-face-risk-of-amputation-in-iran/8010118.html Fri, 14 Mar 2025 14:51:09 -0400 Iranwebdesk@voanews.com (Bafraw Nuri) The U.S. president sent a letter to Iran’s supreme leader to restart talks on Iran’s nuclear program, but Iran refused. Experts think Iran is preparing for war, as shown by its military drills. The U.S. has added new sanctions, and President Donald Trump says military action is still possible, although he hopes for a new deal.Click here for the full story in Kurdish. https://www.voanews.com/a/voa-kurdish-iran-rejects-us-talks-raising-fears-of-conflict-/8010113.html https://www.voanews.com/a/voa-kurdish-iran-rejects-us-talks-raising-fears-of-conflict-/8010113.html Fri, 14 Mar 2025 14:49:33 -0400 Iranwebdesk@voanews.com (Balen Saleh) The U.N. special envoy for Syria is calling for an end to violence and for the protection of civilians, as the country grapples with renewed violence three months after the fall of President Bashar al-Assad.Geir Pedersen issued his appeal Friday, which is the 14th anniversary of the start of pro-democracy protests of al-Assad that led to more than a decade of civil war.“What began as a plea for reform was met with staggering brutality, leading to one of the most harrowing conflicts of our... https://www.voanews.com/a/un-urges-end-to-violence-in-syria-14-years-after-arab-spring-protests-/8010694.html https://www.voanews.com/a/un-urges-end-to-violence-in-syria-14-years-after-arab-spring-protests-/8010694.html Fri, 14 Mar 2025 10:23:08 -0400 Middle Eastwebdesk@voanews.com (Aru Pande) WASHINGTON — A second Iranian ship that Western news reports have named as part of a scheme to import a missile propellant ingredient from China is heading to Iran with a major cargo load, an exclusive VOA analysis has found. Ship-tracking websites show the Iranian-flagged cargo ship Jairan departed China on Monday, a month later than the expected departure cited by one of the news reports.The Jairan was named in January and February articles by The Financial Times, The Wall Street Journal... https://www.voanews.com/a/exclusive-second-iranian-ship-suspected-of-carrying-missile-ingredient-leaves-china/8010476.html https://www.voanews.com/a/exclusive-second-iranian-ship-suspected-of-carrying-missile-ingredient-leaves-china/8010476.html Fri, 14 Mar 2025 01:05:35 -0400 Middle Eastwebdesk@voanews.com (Michael Lipin) Reza Valizadeh, a dual-citizen Iranian American journalist imprisoned in Iran, ended his hunger strike after six days on Thursday out of concern for his mother, who went on the hunger strike with him. Valizadeh said family members asked him to end the strike because his mother’s physical and mental condition had severely deteriorated, and he had developed motor impairment and a weakened physical condition.Click here for the full story in Persian. https://www.voanews.com/a/voa-persian-iranian-american-journalist-ends-hunger-strike-/8010387.html https://www.voanews.com/a/voa-persian-iranian-american-journalist-ends-hunger-strike-/8010387.html Thu, 13 Mar 2025 22:49:54 -0400 Middle Eastwebdesk@voanews.com (VOA Persian) Tensions are rising between Turkey and Iran, with Ankara warning Tehran not to undermine efforts to end its war with a Kurdish rebel group, the PKK. As Dorian Jones reports from Istanbul, a peace deal with the Kurdish rebels would be a boost for Turkey in its race to gain influence in Syria. https://www.voanews.com/a/turkey-warns-iran-against-hindering-peace-deal-with-kurdish-rebels/8010004.html https://www.voanews.com/a/turkey-warns-iran-against-hindering-peace-deal-with-kurdish-rebels/8010004.html Thu, 13 Mar 2025 17:32:21 -0400 Middle Eastwebdesk@voanews.com (Dorian Jones) DAMASCUS, SYRIA — Syria's interim president on Thursday signed a temporary constitution that leaves the country under Islamist rule for five years during a transitional phase.The country's interim rulers have struggled to exert their authority across much of the country since the Islamist former insurgent group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, or HTS, led a lightning insurgency that overthrew former leader Bashar al-Assad in December.Former HTS leader Ahmad al-Sharaa is now the... https://www.voanews.com/a/syrian-leader-signs-constitution-putting-islamist-group-in-charge-for-5-years/8009335.html https://www.voanews.com/a/syrian-leader-signs-constitution-putting-islamist-group-in-charge-for-5-years/8009335.html Thu, 13 Mar 2025 09:42:37 -0400 Middle Eastwebdesk@voanews.com (Associated Press) Iranian climber Elnaz Rekabi has left the country, her brother announced, expressing his sentiments with the message: “I wish Iran was a better place for you. ... Earth is your home. Go and shine!” he wrote, addressing Elnaz Rekabi as he shared news of her departure. Rekabi, Iran’s climbing champion, faced government restrictions upon returning to Iran after competing without the mandatory hijab at the Climbing World Championships event amid the 2022 nationwide protests in Iran.Click here... https://www.voanews.com/a/voa-persian-iranian-climber-elnaz-rekabi-leaves-homeland/8008743.html https://www.voanews.com/a/voa-persian-iranian-climber-elnaz-rekabi-leaves-homeland/8008743.html Thu, 13 Mar 2025 02:06:00 -0400 Middle Eastwebdesk@voanews.com (VOA Persian) VOA has learned that a prisoner with cancer who was denied medical care by the authorities of Ghezel Hesar Prison on the pretext of "lack of funds" has died after being transferred to the hospital late.Click here for the full story in Persian. https://www.voanews.com/a/voa-persian-prisoner-dies-in-prison-after-medical-care-denied-/8008754.html https://www.voanews.com/a/voa-persian-prisoner-dies-in-prison-after-medical-care-denied-/8008754.html Thu, 13 Mar 2025 02:05:46 -0400 Middle Eastwebdesk@voanews.com (VOA Persian)