Arab Desk

The Arab Desk leads The Eastern Herald's reporting on the Middle East and North Africa. The desk has covered the Gaza-Israel war since October 2023, the Iran-Israel war of 2025-2026, the fall of the Assad government in Syria, Hezbollah's political and military shifts in Lebanon, the war in Yemen, and the diplomatic realignment of the Gulf states under the Abraham Accords and the Saudi-Iranian rapprochement.

A woman walks past an anti-Israeli mural in Tehran, Iran, June 2026, during the ongoing Iran-Israel conflict

Iran Strikes Two Vessels in Strait of Hormuz as Doha Ceasefire Talks Collapse

Iran struck two commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday as a tanker caught fire off Oman, ending a lull since the ceasefire. The attacks followed US-Iran talks in Doha

July 7, 2026

by Arab Desk

Millions of mourners fill Tehran's Azadi Avenue during the state funeral procession for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on July 6, 2026

Millions March Through Tehran as Khamenei’s Coffin Passes and Mourners Hang Trump Effigy

Millions packed Tehran on Monday for Khamenei's funeral procession, where mourners hung a Trump effigy and carried '#Kill Trump' placards, as the flag-draped coffins of the slain supreme leader and four family members began a four-day journey ending in Mashhad.

July 7, 2026

by Arab Desk

Hamas spokesman Ismail al-Thawabta at podium announcing Emergency Committee dissolution in Gaza City

Hamas Dissolves Its Gaza Governing Body After 20 Years, Making Way for Civilian Committee

Hamas on July 6 dissolved its Emergency Committee after twenty years governing Gaza, with acting chairman

Qatar maritime navigation resumed for all vessels after six-day suspension July 2026

Qatar Resumes Maritime Navigation for All Vessels After Six-Day Safety Suspension

Qatar's transport ministry restored maritime navigation for all vessels Sunday, ending a six-day suspension imposed after

Battle of Bakhmut.. An image showing the extent of the destruction following the battles

The two images, which have been placed in a single image here, show the extent of the destruction caused to the city as a result of the ongoing battles between the two

May 19, 2023

News

Sevilla cruise past Juventus, meet Roma in Europa League final

The Spanish side are looking to improve on their record by winning the title for the seventh time when they face Roma in the final, to be held on the 31st of

May 19, 2023

News

Ford recalls 422,000 2020 and 2023 production cars due to software malfunction

The recall affects 2020-2023 Lincoln Explorer and Aviator models and 2020-2022 Lincoln Corsair models equipped with a 360-degree camera. The company had pulled cars from production for the same reason in 2021

May 19, 2023

News

Roma in the Europa League final at the expense of Leverkusen

Youngster Eduardo Bovi’s goal in the first leg decided Roma’s qualification as they won the Conference League title last season, while Roma limited Leverkusen’s attack for the second time this season, as

May 19, 2023

News

Queen Elizabeth’s funeral cost the UK Treasury $204 million

Following the death of Britain’s oldest queen at the age of 96 on September 8, the country entered a ten-day national mourning, which ended with her official funeral on September 19. During

May 19, 2023

News

Sudan.. The Animal Museum cries for war

And the clashes, which have not ceased since April 15, have made it impossible to access the museum site, which includes no less than 100 animals, which were placed in their cages

May 19, 2023

News

Newcastle crush Brighton and are set to end the season in the Golden Square

Deniz Ondav scored an own goal and Dan Burn added another with a header before the break as third-placed Newcastle took control of the game. But sixth-placed Brighton, who are looking to

May 19, 2023

News

UAE condemns storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque

In a statement, the UAE Foreign Ministry reaffirmed the firm position of the UAE on the need to provide full protection to Al-Aqsa Mosque and to end serious and provocative violations there.

October 2, 2025

News

After successive declines, Turkey’s dollar-denominated bonds stabilize

The cost of insuring Turkish debt against default fell slightly, but stock markets and bank stocks suffered further losses in Thursday afternoon trading. Erdogan faces his rival, Kemaloglu, in a second round

May 19, 2023

News

Russia could lose $700m in oil revenue in May

According to calculations, oil and gas revenues could amount to 593 billion rubles, compared to 648 billion in April and 886 billion in May 2022. Falling oil revenues – a major source

October 2, 2025

Conflicts, Military and War·News