Desertification in an Iraqi Bread Basket
Iraq's farmers pushed off land as drought and heat cripple crops
Syria using maze of shell companies to avoid sanctions on Assad regime’s elite
Two years after Beirut blast, lawsuits raise hopes for justice
Lebanon’s Reformers Trade the Street for the Ballot Box
Assad regime ‘siphons millions in aid’ by manipulating Syria’s currency
Syria’s presidential election is a giant disinformation smokescreen
How the Millions Raised to Rebuild Beirut Is Forcing Families From Their Homes
Erdogan's Border Stunt Won't Help Turkey or Syrian Refugees
‘They are barbaric': Turkey prepares to flood 12,000-year-old city to build dam
Syrians feel deserted as Turkey cracks down
Families in Turkey's southeast continue to suffer
Iraq government employees face prosecution for working under ISIL
'All the time you are ready to die': civilians continue to flee as regime breaks Idlib ceasefire
Meet the chefs reinventing Palestinian cuisine
Who Exactly Is Turkey Resettling in Syria?
Fired Kurdish workers retaliate against Turks and open small businesses
Palestinian domestic abuse victims 'have nowhere to turn'
Displaced Yazidis plant hope in revitalized farmlands in Iraq
Syrians fear knock-on effects of US ‘Caesar Act' sanctions
Australia crackdown on climate protesters grows amid fight against gas project
The Indigenous ancestral land of Murujuga in Western Australia is home to the world’s oldest and largest collection of petroglyphs, which would be partially destroyed by the country’s biggest fossil fuel project, the Burrup Hub, owned by Woodside Energy.
Why Australia’s answer to Greta Thunberg is facing years behind bars
At 19, this climate activist is now facing serious legal consequences over a foiled protest outside the home of the boss of an energy giant in Western Australia. Here's why she still believes she's on the right side of history.
What does land mean to Australia’s Indigenous groups fighting logging?
Gumbaynggirr protesters resisting logging plans say they believe every part of the world is in deep relationship with each other, including humans to nature and the land. Their cultural duty to protect totems, they say, pushes them to try to stop extractive industries.
Sheikh el mahshi: Aubergines filled with ground beef
Sheikh el mahshi is an alluring dish of fried aubergines stuffed with an aromatic filling of beef mince and pine nuts, then baked in a rich tomato sauce.
'The cancer could be quicker than saving the money'
In Lebanon, a son confronts the challenge of finding $7,000 every three weeks for his mother's cancer medication.
Syrian refugees in fear as Lebanon steps up deportations
An increase in raids by the Lebanese Armed Forces has left Syrian refugees in hiding, worried about being forced back.
Fatteh: a layered dish of bread and yoghurt
It's a great contrast of textures, with crispy toasted pita, smooth yoghurt, crunchy pine nuts, juicy chicken and chickpeas, and is the perfect dish for Ramadan and Eid.
Personal connection for Aussie in Turkey quake mission
A grim but crucial mission continues for Australian rescue crews working in earthquake-devastated Turkey, where the task has a particularly personal connection for one of the team.
Syrian quake victims being sent ‘home’ from Turkey for burial
More than 1,000 Syrians who died in Turkey have been sent back for burial, but those from al-Assad-controlled areas can’t return.
Aussie rescue team in Turkey no strangers to disaster
Darryl Dunbar is leading a 72-strong Australian search and rescue team in southern Turkey.
The Quake That Exposed Erdogan’s Fault Lines
Last week’s earthquake killed tens of thousands of people, made many more individuals homeless, and exposed the shoddy underpinnings of the AKP economic miracle.
Waiting into the night for a miracle rescue in Turkey’s Antakya
A week after earthquakes struck, Turkish rescue crews refuse to give up and find a teenage girl in the rubble.
The Slow UN Earthquake Response in Northwest Syria is Costing Lives
How bureaucracy and untethered political will are leaving victims to suffer in silence
Lebanon judge at the centre of Beirut blast inquiry showdown
Judge Tarek Bitar has faced intense opposition from Lebanon’s establishment since he resumed the investigation into the 2020 tragedy on Monday.
Zakhiku: The ancient city in Iraq revealed by severe drought
The ruins of a submerged city on the Tigris River that emerged this year belonged to a little-known empire.
Lebanon’s economic collapse prompts rise in gender-based violence
More women are seeking help, just as it becomes harder to get.
The Lebanese farm regenerating soil and promoting food security
Turba farm, based on respecting the ecosystem, is sheltered from the changing market amid global food insecurity.
‘No evidence’ of navy ramming in April Lebanon boat disaster
An investigation conducted by an Australian NGO says the boat is largely intact, but families dispute the findings.
Cautious optimism from families as UN proposes body to determine fate of Syria’s missing
More than 110,000 people are missing in the country
Emotions run high as migrants' bodies recovered
A humanitarian aid group made up of Australian volunteers is supporting the families of victims of a boat accident while migrants were attempting to flee Lebanon.
Why these Australians flew 14,000km to find a sunken migrant boat and its 40 dead
When 40 people lost their lives on a crowded people smuggling boat trying to flee Lebanon in April, three Australians began a mission to find the wreckage and honour the dead, with it now uncovering distressing results.
The Iraqi region is in critical condition as water resources dry up and sandstorms dominate the skyline
Families demand justice two years on from Beirut port blast
Thousands gather in Lebanon’s capital Beirut to commemorate two years since the 2020 deadly port explosion, calling for accountability.
Legal cases abroad are giving survivors hope for justice amid a stalled Lebanese investigation, but they say an independent UN probe remains essential.
Mosul schoolchildren still left behind, five years after ISIL
With overcrowded schools and underpaid teachers, Iraq has been unable to rebuild Mosul’s education system post-ISIL.
Rape used ‘systematically’ during Lebanon’s civil war, report finds
Levels of torture and sexual violence used by combatants against women and girls during the 15-year conflict shocked investigators
Reclaiming identity through hemp in the Lebanese valley of hashish
Across Lebanon, the infamous Lebanese region of Beqaa Valley is synonymous with hashish cultivation. Deprived of opportunity, and segregated from society, one Lebanese man has chosen to buck the stereotype and has since sparked a hemp revolution.
Maamoul: A sweet celebration for Christians and Muslims
Maamoul is made at the end of both Lent and Ramadan, leading up to Easter and Eid al Fitr. But this year, the biscuit is extra sweet as both religions enjoy it at the same time.
Climate change-related losses are squeezing Iraq's parched farmers - and driving growing migration
LGBTQ people in Iraq face violence by armed groups, police
LGBTQ people in Iraq live in constant fear amid rising violence against their community.
Lebanese spend morning waiting for money as banks reopen after two-day strike
Fears have spread that people may once again be locked out of bank accounts after recent strike
Exclusive: documents seen by the Guardian prove Assad minister’s boast that evading financial sanctions has ‘become a Syrian craft’
Beirut cafe celebrates World Down Syndrome Day against the odds
The Agonista cafe has given hope for employees with Down syndrome
Assad regime’s grip on aid agencies in Syria must be addressed, says report
Resurgent Syria government forces control distribution and one militia has contract to rebuild city it destroyed, claims thinktank
How Lebanon exploits migrant workers
The kafala system allows residents to bring workers into the Middle Eastern country, where they are often abused and overworked with no recourse to protection under labour law.
Syria prison attack shows ISIL ‘absolutely’ growing stronger
The armed group continues to gain strength in the war-torn country after its defeat in 2019, analysts say.
Lebanon’s Cabinet boycott ends but new challenges await amid economic ruin
The government is far from agreeing on a programme of reform
Teachers divided as strike leaves Lebanon’s classrooms empty
Unicef warns of 'dire' consequences if education is disrupted further
After 40 years of stasis, some new faces sense a glimmer of hope to change Lebanon’s poisoned politics.
Lebanese farmers plant heirloom seeds for food security [VIDEO]
In Lebanon's Beqaa Valley, the organic farm of Buzuruna Juzuruna encourages people to plant and save heirloom seeds to mitigate the country's food insecurity.
Government pockets half of donations as central bank forces UN agencies to use lower exchange rate
Mum seeks justice for toddler blast victim
Fifteen months on from one of the largest non-nuclear explosions in history, Australian mother Sarah Copland is still fighting for justice and answers.
Rights abuse allegations as displaced Syrians head to gov’t areas
Desperate people in Rukban camp ‘subjected to torture or other ill-treatment’ after returning to government-controlled Homs.
The woman saving Palestinian heirloom seeds
To seed librarian Vivien Sansour, seeds are living beings, and to see heirloom seeds disappearing is a human tragedy.
The quarry threatening Turkey’s pristine ‘Paradise Valley’
Construction in picturesque Ikizdere has angered villagers who allege it is illegal, and dangerous to their health and prosperity.
WHO decision to admit Syria to executive board shocks hospital attack survivors
Hundreds of health facilities have been targeted by the Syrian air force in the decade-long conflict
After a decade of grinding civil war, President Assad is attempting to use the ballot to show the world that Syria is a free and functioning democracy.
Protests in Lebanon continue in support of Palestine
Hezbollah called for a march through its stronghold of Dahieh in south Beirut on Monday, high turnout is expected.
Why Syrian refugees in Turkey urgently need a new EU migration deal
Five years after the EU-Turkey migration deal was reached, the agreement desperately needs to be reassessed for the sake of millions of Syrian refugees in Turkey.
SDF militia forcibly conscripting teachers in Syria: Report
The conscription of teachers is affecting the education of nearly half a million students in the governorates of Hasakah, Deir Az Zor and Raqqa.
Istanbul student protests are a new frontline for the LGBTQ community
Demands for academic freedom have grown into calls for solidarity with an increasingly embattled community
Turkish president likens LGBT protesters to 'terrorists' after hundreds arrested
Snipers seen on buildings as students accuse police of deploying 'an army' to suppress protests
NGOs are doing a great job helping rebuild Beirut after the horrifying blast, but the impromptu gentrification is encouraging some landlords to kick out families and raise rents
Civilians flee Ain Issa, northeast Syria as clashes escalate
Kurdish-led SDF says Turkish-backed Syrian National Army has been shelling the city on daily basis for the past week
Can Istanbul stand up to the next big earthquake?
Scientists warn unregulated and old buildings could mean mass casualties when - not if - a major tremor hits the city
Russia says it’s safe for refugees to return to Syria. They don’t believe a word of it
A recent conference in Damascus guaranteed the welfare of displaced people, but its real goal was the pursuit of reconstruction funding
Russia air strike in Idlib warning to Turkey on other international action, say experts
The two nations have found themselves at odds in a number of conflicts, including Libya, Nagorno-Karabakh and Syria
Syria's Forgotten Displaced Aren't Equipped to Fight the Pandemic
The regime has restricted aid to those who fled Afrin in 2018, leaving them without test kits, basic supplies, or access to specialist care.
Turkish women are staring down the patriarchy and Erdogan's conservative government to demand their rights
Even as femicide rates rise, conservatives in the ruling party want to roll back legislation designed to protect women.
Syria's coronavirus crisis becoming clear in Damascus
Accounts from residents and health officials indicate a much higher death toll than government admits
The Islamic State Isn't Behind Syria's Amphetamine Trade, But the Regime Could Be
After a record seizure, Italian police blamed the terror group. It's more likely the Syrian regime has a hand in production and trafficking.
The new sanctions, the heaviest to date, are going to hit Syrian workers hardest
Turkey's unregistered refugees: ‘coronavirus doesn't worry me, buying food does'
A recent report found that unemployment had jumped to 89 per cent due to the fallout from measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus
The hidden stories behind Istanbul's ancient neighbourhoods
Turkey's economic capital is a melting pot of cultures, but some of its oldest buildings can only be found off the beaten track
Turkey's 3D-printing movement shields coronavirus workers
Volunteer collective using a network of 3D printers to produce much-needed protective equipment during COVID-19 crisis.
In Turkey, Erdogan Is Playing Politics With Coronavirus Relief
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's battle with opposition local governments over who provides coronavirus relief is endangering the public.
Syria's isolated Kurds wait and worry as coronavirus threat grows
Autonomous north-east region has been cut off from foreign aid and receives no help from Damascus
In pictures: Thousands gather at Turkish-Greek border in hope of new life
Greece scrambles to shut borders as Ankara rips up deal with EU and gives green light for refugees to leave Turkey
Turkey's decision to allow migrants to cross into the European Union was intended to pressure EU leaders to come to Ankara's aid against Bashar al-Assad. It isn't working.
Syrian Kurds to begin trials for foreign ISIS fighters next month
Many countries have refused to repatriate fighters to face justice at home, leaving Kurdish authorities to find a solution
Erdoğan's ‘crazy project': new Istanbul canal to link Black and Marmara Seas
Proposed route slices through a major drinking water source and an important stop for migratory birds
Refugee camps continue to see an influx of internally displaced people amid regime bombings
Is Turkey Resettling Refugees in Syria—Or Engaging in Demographic Engineering?
Rights group: Iraq education system on brink of collapse
Uncertainty over jailed ISIL suspects' fate before looming push
Turkey military operation much larger than anticipated: Analysts
Syrian Kurds 'determined' to resist Turkish operation
'My best friend': Khashoggi fiance pays tribute year after murder
As 1,000 Syrians arrested in Turkey, crackdown fears intensify
Iraq gov't 'failures' could lead to more Basra water crises: HRW
After ISIL, children try to catch up with school in Mosul
Mosul's damaged bridges frustrate residents & efforts to rebuild
Explosive hazards in Mosul a major threat for years to come
Turkey's opposition sees turning point in Istanbul mayoral win
Turkey: Polls close in rerun of Istanbul mayoral election
Turkey's opposition set to win rerun of Istanbul's mayoral vote
Main officers in Turkey's failed coup handed life sentences
Turkey: Istanbul set for 'historic' rerun of mayoral vote
Istanbul mayor candidates hold first live debate in 17 years
CHP's Imamoglu vows to end 'system of extravagance' in Istanbul
Iraq's undocumented children: 45.000 IDPs denied basic rights
Syrians in Golan Heights remain unmoved after Trump 'sovereignty' tweet
Working towards food sovereignty in Palestine
'They came to kill': Funeral held for Palestinian shot dead by settler
For Palestinians, Israeli High Court is a legal fig leaf for home demolitions
Palestinians take on Israel over digital crackdown
