Middle East

Protests Amid F1 Grand Prix Race In Bahrain
By Gabriela Ornelas
April 20, 2012 - 1:03pm
Tension continues to rise in Bahrain as the Grand Prix race approaches. Although protesters oppose holding the race while they say the country is still facing political turmoil, the Crown Prince insists on keeping the race as planned.

It has been a rough start to the Grand Prix Race in the capital city of Manama in Bahrain, and Formula 1 race teams might be in for more than they bargained for. As the teams landed in Bahrain's international airport, hundreds of protesters gathered to oppose the race since they say the country is still oppressing the people by withholding civil rights, according to Al Jazeera English.

Nations Demand Cease Fire in Syria
By Rachel Leuthauser
February 23, 2012 - 2:27pm
U.N. announces Syrian state-ordered human rights violations

The United States, Europe, and Arab nations created an ultimatum for Syrian President Bashar Assad that they will present to the international conference “Friends of Syria” on Friday.  The nations met on Thursday to plan the ultimatum that will demand Assad to ceasefire and allow humanitarian aid into Syrian areas suffering the most damage.

Nuclear Team Arrives in Iran to Meet with Officials
By Russ Reed
February 20, 2012 - 4:54pm
Inspectors return to Tehran amidst controversy surrounding Iran's nuclear program

A team of five inspectors representing the United Nations nuclear agency arrived in the Iranian capital of Tehran on Monday to meet with the country's leaders and discuss the intentions of its nuclear program.

Syrian Protestors Killed After Government Promises to Pull Troops
By Casey Kulik
November 4, 2011 - 10:27am
Deaths happened a day after Damascus said it would remove troops from protest centers

On Tuesday Damascus agreed to pull troops from protests centers to end violence in a deal with the Arab League, Al Arabiya TV reported.  On Wednesday, at least 20 civilians were killed by government troops in Homs, Hama and Idlib, according to CNN.  Gunfire could still be heard in neighborhoods in the capital at nightfall, the Syrian Observatory said.

Israel Releases Names of Palestinian Prisoners
By Lukas Favale
October 17, 2011 - 4:35pm
Group of 477 to be released on Tuesday in exchange for Israeli soldier

Israel has released the names of first group of Palestinian prisoners set to be released in exchange for a captured Israeli soldier.  The list of 477 names, released by Israel on Sunday, contains several high profile names.  Among the list of prisoners being released are founders of Hamas’s armed wing and militants who have killed Israeli soldiers and civilians.

United States Intercepts Alleged Terrorist Plot
By Matthew Hartley
October 13, 2011 - 12:04pm
The Iranian-based threat targeted a Saudi Arabian official and Israeli embassy buildings

An alleged Iranian terror attack targeting Washington, D.C. was disrupted by the United States on Tuesday. Officials say the Saudi Arabian and Israeli embassies were the primary points of attack. The alleged attacker, Manssor Arbabsiar, is a Iranian-American citizen who lives in South Texas. With the attack dismantled, both sides are now facing backlash.

Israel Standing Alone in the Middle East
By Lukas Favale
October 3, 2011 - 4:18pm
US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta warns the country of becoming too isolated

Israel is becoming increasingly isolated in the Middle East, United States Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said Sunday. 

He added that Israeli leaders need to restart negotiations with Palestinians while also restoring broken relations with both Egypt and Turkey.

Panetta’s statements came as he was traveling to Israel for the first time as the Defense Secretary.

Witnessing the Historic Egyptian Revolution
By Lenah Hassaballah
May 18, 2011 - 1:39pm
A Newhouse junior who has lived in Eqypt most of her life spent spring break filming protests in Cairo's Tahrir Square.

Note: Broadcast and digital journalism junior Lenah Hassballah returned to her home in Cairo, Egypt, for spring break and witnessed the protests in Tahrir Square on March 18. Hassaballah was born in the United States but has lived in Egypt for most of her life. She attended high school and part of college in Cairo before transferring to Syracuse University. For Hassaballah, the Egyptian Revolution was personal, and witnessing it from afar on the television was, in her words, "not enough."

March 18, 2011.

Protests continue in the Middle East.
By Bill Spaulding
February 21, 2011 - 11:30am
After Egypt's successful revolution, Libyans push for a change in leadership.

Protesters torched government buildings and vandalized state TV headquarters in Libya's capital city of Tripoli, CNN reports. Libyans are demanding a change in leadership. President Moammar Gadhafi could become the third Middle-Eastern president to be toppled by protesters. Gadhafi, 68, has been Libya's leader for 42 years.

'Refugees and Exile': Music of Afghanistan and the Middle East
By Leah Rankin
February 20, 2011 - 7:37pm
John Baily and Michael Frishkopf show a different side of the Middle East through music.

The sun has been beating against your skin for eternity as you curl your bare toes into the burning yellow sand. You inhale through parched lips to breathe in the heavy heat.  As you shade your eyes with tanned fingers you see that the fiery globe is finally nearing the horizon.  Across the snaking, dry desert dunes the coming night outlines a caravan of camels, silhouetted against the setting sun.