Middle East

Kidnapped Israeli Russian researcher alive; Baghdad working on release

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed al-Sudani is working on Elizabeth Tsurkov's release, the Iraqi foreign minister says

Lebanese put hopes for recovery on their new leadership, and on Trump

After over two years of political paralysis, people in Lebanon are pinning their hopes on new President Joseph Aoun, who promises an end to instability. Many also have high hopes due to U.S. President Donald Trump, whose influence helped bring about a ceasefire with Israel. Jacob Russell reports.

Trump designates Yemen's Houthis as a 'foreign terrorist organization'

Houthis have carried out more than 100 attacks on Red Sea shipping

Israeli military says it killed 2 militants connected to West Bank bus attack

Rubio pledges US support for Israel in call with Netanyahu

Researchers: Houthis have advantages in protecting leaders from Israeli strikes

Israeli defense minister has made repeated threats in recent weeks to target Houthi leadership in retaliation for group firing hundreds of drones and missiles at Israel

Iraqi parliament passes controversial law package

Kurdish cities in Iran strike over death sentences for two Kurdish women

Syrian Kurds protest Turkish attacks on their areas

Released Israeli hostages face long physical, emotional recovery

Israeli hostages released from Gaza as part of a ceasefire deal face a long road to recovery. As Linda Gradstein reports from Jerusalem, experts say the physical and psychological trauma they and others endured will take time to heal. VOA footage by Ricki Rosen.

Austin Tice's mother travels to Syria to search for missing son

Hostage aid group searches Syrian prisons and other locations for the journalist and former US Marine, who has been missing since 2012

Reports conflict on death sentence of civil activist in Iran