Results for "Middle East"

BEIRUT – CNN reported this morning on the growing and potentially crippling crisis in Lebanon. A crisis of which most of us have been unaware. The National Crisis “Lebanon [is] mired in its worst economic crisis since its 15-year civil war. The country is buckling under a severe liquidity crisis, with informal and irregular capital… Continue reading Crisis in Lebanon Impacting FBOs

NEW DELHI – On Monday, November 5th, the United States imposed economic sanctions on 50 Iranian banks, 65 Iranian aircraft, 200 individuals, and all shipping vessels used for the transportation of Iranian oil. The U.S. granted India and seven other nations waivers allowing them to continue importing Iranian oil on a declining basis for the… Continue reading U.S. Grants India Waivers on Iranian Oil Sanctions

BEIRUT – According to the Thomas Reuters Foundation, “A Syrian army offensive in the rebel-held enclave of Idlib would have a “catastrophic” humanitarian impact and cause levels of civilian suffering unprecedented in the seven-year war, aid agencies have warned.” Joelle Bassoul from Care International said that a large-scale military offensive in Idlib would be catastrophic,… Continue reading Syrian Humanitarian Crisis Continues to Deteriorate — Idlib in Imminent Danger

NEW YORK – The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) released its 2018 overview of the Aid Workers Security Report in time for the commemoration of World Humanitarian Aid Day. The observance is held annually on August 19th. The overview tells a story that we would rather not read. But it… Continue reading 313 Humanitarian Aid Workers Attacked in 2017 | World Humanitarian Day

Syrian Christians are part of one of the oldest churches in the world. They used to be one of the major political forces in Syria , until ISIS started coming after Christians because they believe in an all Islamic state, also known as a Caliphate. BBC explains, “The founder of the Baath Party, which has ruled… Continue reading Syrian Christians Displaced But Helping Others in Need

On Nov. 12, the deadliest earthquake of 2017, reaching a magnitude of 7.3, hit the border of Iran and Iraq. The death toll has topped 530, while 8,000 more people have been injured. “On Tuesday, Iranian officials called off rescue operations on the grounds there was little chance of finding more survivors from the quake,”… Continue reading The Deadliest Earthquake of 2017 Hits Iran, Iraq

Photo by aflaanta std In March, there was an attack on a boat holding Somali refugees. At least 46 people were killed and 39 were injured. CNN reported, “At least 42 people died and 39 were injured in the Friday incident, the United Nations’ refugee agency said. Some 160 people reportedly were on board, according… Continue reading Somali Refugee Boat Shot

Photo by Tasnim News In February, Iraqi troops were working to clean Mosul of ISIS so refugees could return home. Per CNN, “The commander of Iraq’s Federal Police has said ISIS militant in Western Mosul are looking to cut and run from their defense of the group’s last remaining stronghold in the country.” Their goal… Continue reading Iraqi Troops Fighting to Take Back Mosul

Photo by Yaroh Dauda In May, 82 of the Chibok girls that were kidnapped by Boko Haram were released by their kidnappers. Per CNN, “Eighty-two Chibok schoolgirls have been released after negotiations between the terrorist group Boko Haram and the Nigerian government, the President’s office said.” One father was skeptical of the news of their… Continue reading 82 Chibok Girls Released

Heretiq In early April, Syria dropped chemical weapons on its own people. Even though no one knew who did the attacks, the United States government and other world leaders blamed President Assad for the attack on civilians. Some leaders called it a war crime. Per CNN, “World leaders expressed shock and outrage Tuesday at reports… Continue reading Syria Does Chemical Attack on its Own People

Photo by Andrew A. Shenouda One man in one of two Coptic Church bombings on Palm Sunday turned himself in. Per Fox News, “A man suspected in one of the two Palm Sunday bombings of Coptic Christian churches in northern Egypt has turned himself in to authorities.” The police got a tip off of where Mahmoud… Continue reading Egyptian Church Bomber Turns Himself In

Photo by Public Domain In February, Israel passed a new law. This law was to create thousands of Israeli settlements in the West Bank. This is disputed territory between Israel and the Palestinians. Per CNN, “In the first two weeks of US President Donald Trump’s term, Netanyahu has announced plans for 5,500 housing units in… Continue reading Israeli New Settlement in the West Bank

Photo by someone10x On Palm Sunday, Islamic Extremists attacked to churches in two separate cities during services. At least 45 were found dead. Per CNN, “The Sunday strikes, which targeted Egypt’s persecuted and vulnerable Christian minority on the first day of the faith’s Holy Week leading up to Easter, left at least 45 dead, Egypt’s… Continue reading Egypt Church Bombings on Palm Sunday

Photo by Larisa sklar giller Last Friday, Israeli forces set up metal detectors at the entrance of the Dome of the Rock. Palestinians got upset about this and started to violently protest. Per Fox News, “The anger is over Israel’s decision to leave metal detectors at the entrances to the Temple Mount/Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in… Continue reading Palestinians Attack Temple Mount Over Security Measures

Photo by PH1 R. ORIEZ There has been a Civil War raging in Somalia between the Somali military and a terrorist group, known as Al-Shabaab. In June, Al-Shabaab attacked two restaurants in a car bombing and sniper attack. Per Fox News, “Al-Shabab, a Somalia-based extremist group that often targets popular areas in the country’s capital,… Continue reading Terrorist Group Attacks Restaurants

CC BY-SA 2.5 US backed rebels in Syria have captured a key city of ISIS in May. Per CNN, “US-backed rebels said they ‘liberated’ the strategic Syrian city of Tabqa and a nearby dam from ISIS.” The United States provided weapons for Syrian rebels. This was a controversial move. Turkey said the US was guilty… Continue reading Syria Army Provided with Weapons to Face ISIS from US

  Photo by OAR/ERL/National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL) In late April, a series of tornados hit Canton, TX and the surrounding area. Canton is a town 60 miles East of Dallas. WFAA 8 ABC reports, “As emergency crews continue rescue and recovery efforts, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott surveyed areas ravaged by a series of tornadoes,… Continue reading Canton Tornados

Photo by James (Jim) Gordon   At the end of last October, Iraqi forces were advancing to fight ISIS in an Iraqi village, known as Mosul. According to CNN, “Kurdish Peshmerga forces are within five miles (eight kilometers) of Mosul, commanders said Sunday, after days of fighting and sweeping territorial gains in the operation to free… Continue reading Iraqi Forces work to reclaim Christian village

Photo by Christiaan Briggs Iraqi refugees have returned to their homes in the Nineveh region. Yet, what they discovered deeply grieved them. According to Fox News, “There were gasps, followed by tears at a small church in northern Iraq as a group of Christians returned to their parish Sunday to find that everything had been… Continue reading Iraqi refugees return home

By Nadavspi In-between the beginning of 2016 and the end, a land a little smaller than the state of Florida was recaptured by Iraqi and Syrian forces. Per Newsweek, “This means ISIS lost control of almost 18,000 square kilometers (6,900 square miles) over the last 12 months, bringing the totality of the landmass it holds… Continue reading Islamic State Lost Almost a Quarter of its Territory in 2016

By Berthold Werner In early January, 4 Israeli soldiers were killed by a Palestinian, who took over a truck and attacked all those who were nearby. It is believed he supported the terrorist attacks of ISIS. CNN reports, “The driver who plowed a truck into a group of soldiers in Jerusalem, killing four people and… Continue reading 4 Israeli Soldiers die in Jerusalem truck attacks

  By Athanasius 77 In December, just a few weeks before Christmas, a Coptic Church in Cairo was bombed. At first, the authorities had no idea who was responsible for the attacks. According to Fox News, “The Islamic State [ISIS] claimed responsibility for the suicide bombing that killed 25 people. They also alleged that the… Continue reading St. Mark’s Coptic Church Bombed

On January 11, there was an abortion ban headed by the Russian Orthodox Church. According to LifeSite, “The Russian Orthodox Church diocese in the city of Yaroslavl declared 11 January a ‘day of silence without abortions’, and said it had the support of the region’s health department. Abortion is legal in Russia and the cost… Continue reading Russia’s abortion bans to remember Biblical ‘slaughter of the innocents’ for one day

A refugee boat was on its way to Italy, when it flipped. It was holding 450 refugees, way beyond its capacity of 150 people. According to CNN, “State media said the boat had a maximum capacity of 150 people, but 450 had been crammed aboard. Smugglers were charging 35,000 Egyptian pounds ($3,951) for an Egyptian… Continue reading Egyptian refugee boat sinks on way to Italy

ALEPPO, Syria – A weeklong ceasefire came to a violent end as government-directed airstrikes pummeled the city. The attacks targeted a United Nations humanitarian convoy in rebel-held neighborhoods, killing at least 12 workers, while continued strikes killed another 70 and destroyed the city’s water station. The violence in late September heightened tensions between the United… Continue reading Tensions increase as Syrian ceasefire ends in barrage of death and destruction

In the midst of a devastating civil war, Christian ministries continue to report thousands of Syrians are turning to faith in Christ. Numerous Christian groups and relief organizations are on the scene serving the Syrian war victims, and their work is having a dramatic impact. Indigenous missionaries are working up to 15 hours a day,… Continue reading Syrians turn to Christ in the midst of civil war