World
Middle East
World of photos, December 27, 2024
The best photos from the international wire agencies as chosen by our picture editors.
Latest
Suit, tie and a new name: Syria’s rebel chief turns statesman
The former Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, leader of the offensive that overthrew the Assad regime, is trying to build a new state.
- by Adam Rasgon
Israeli military says its actions ‘influenced’ Hamas’ killing of hostages
The recovery in September of the bodies of six Israeli hostages, including Hersh Goldberg-Polin, triggered deep shock in Israel.
- by Emily Rose
Russia denies reports Asma al-Assad is seeking a divorce and a return to London
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov also rejected media reports suggesting Bashar al-Assad had been confined to Moscow and had assets frozen.
- by Felix Light and Edith Lederer
‘Like The Truman Show’: Ex-Israeli spies reveal details of exploding pager plot against Hezbollah
The pagers had to be made slightly larger to accommodate the explosives hidden inside. They were tested on dummies multiple times to find the right amount of explosive.
- by Darlene Superville
Pope calls Gaza airstrikes ‘cruelty’ after Israeli minister’s criticism
Francis opened his annual Christmas address to the Catholic cardinals who lead the Vatican’s various departments with what appeared to be a reference to Israeli airstrikes.
- by Joshua McElwee
Israel accused of killing Palestinians by denying water, as Gaza bombing continues
Israeli airstrikes have killed dozens of people in Gaza overnight, as Human Rights Watch accuses Israel of genocide and MSF said signs of ethnic cleansing “were undeniable”.
- by Nidal al-Mughrabi
Mass graves expose Assad regime’s ‘machinery of death’
“We really haven’t seen anything quite like this since the Nazis,” says an international war crimes prosecutor who estimates 100,000 people were killed.
- by Timour Azhari and Anthony Deutsch
Opinion
Israeli-Palestinian conflict
Telling Israel the killing must stop in Gaza is not antisemitic
Israel had every right respond to Hamas, but some of its supporters ignore a critical constraint under international law.
- by Rodger Shanahan
CNN investigates claim man ‘rescued’ from Syrian jail was part of Assad’s forces
The man found under a blanket in a prison in Damascus had claimed he had been arrested three months ago and interrogated about his phone contacts.
- by Benedict Smith
‘Never considered stepping down’: Bashar al-Assad says Russia forced him to flee Syria
In his first statement since the fall of Damascus, the exiled former president said he wanted to continue fighting.
- by Daniel Hardaker
Original URL: https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/world/middle-east