West Asia

Subregion of the Asian continent

Follow West Asia on Notably News to receive short updates to your email — rarely!

We include updates on Israel, Soviet Union, Iran, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Roman Empire, State of Palestine, Lebanon, Cyprus, Egypt, Byzantine Empire, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Iraq, Qatar ... and more.

2025
Syria
International sanctions on Syria were gradually eased, following years of economic challenges caused by the civil war.
May 20 2025
Attacks on health facilities during the Gaza war
Israeli forces bombarded the Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani Hospital, causing material damage to the facility that provides rehabilitation and prosthetic services in Gaza.
2025
FIBA West Asia Super League
Iran's Tabiat finishes as runners-up in the West Asia Super League.
2025
FIBA West Asia Super League
Lebanon's Al Riyadi wins the West Asia Super League for the second time.
May 18 2025
Attacks on health facilities during the Gaza war
The Indonesian Hospital was attacked by Israeli drones.
May 18 2025
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia opens the world's first AI-powered doctor clinic in Al Ahsa, featuring 'Dr. Hua', an AI-driven virtual physician developed by Synyi AI and Almoosa Health Group.
May 13 2025
Attacks on health facilities during the Gaza war
Israeli airstrikes targeted a tunnel underneath the European Hospital, killing 28 people and injuring dozens. The IDF and Shin Bet claimed the attack targeted Hamas leader Mohammed Sinwar and alleged the hospital was being used as a 'Hamas command centre'.
May 13 2025
Attacks on health facilities during the Gaza war
Palestinian photojournalist Hassan Aslih was killed at the hospital by an Israeli airstrike while receiving treatment from a previous Israeli strike.
2025
Culture of Yemen
Target year for reducing national illiteracy to less than 10% as part of the government's long-term educational strategic vision initiated in 2000.
2025
Turkey
Turkey's first domestically manufactured communication satellite became operational.
May 7 2025 Media outlets reported that US President Donald Trump decided the US would refer to the Persian Gulf as the 'Arabian Gulf' or 'Gulf of Arabia', with plans to make it official during a planned visit to the region.
April 2025
GCC Games
GCC Games event taking place in the year 2025, with specific results and details to be determined.
2025
Lebanon
Storm Adam brought severe polar weather to Lebanon, with snow expected to fall at elevations as low as 300 meters above sea level.
April 13 2025
Attacks on health facilities during the Gaza war
Israel bombed a part of the hospital, destroying its emergency department.
April 12 2025
GCC Games
Oman emerges as the top performer in the medal table at the 3rd GCC Beach Games, with the UAE securing second place with 23 medals.
April 11 2025
GCC Games
Conclusion of the 3rd GCC Games in Oman
2025
Iraq
Iraq expressed willingness to act as a mediator between Ukraine and Russia.
2025
GCC Games
Sports disciplines include beach soccer, beach handball, beach volleyball, athletics, sailing, open water swimming, air sports (paragliding), and equestrian (tent-picking)
April 5 2025
GCC Games
Start of the 3rd GCC Games in Oman, a multi-sport event for Gulf Cooperation Council countries
April 2025
Israeli occupation of the Gaza Strip
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz announced a major expansion of security zones, seizing large swaths of land and ordering evacuation of Gaza's population, amidst ongoing airstrikes causing civilian casualties.
March 29 2025
Syria
The second Syrian transitional government is announced by President Ahmed al-Sharaa at a ceremony at the People's Palace in Damascus, with new ministers sworn in.
March 2025 Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov conducted an inspection of navy training in the Caspian Sea, which included live-fire exercises and underwater training. The Russian Ministry of Defence simultaneously announced the ongoing construction of new naval infrastructure, including over 2 kilometers of docking and servicing facilities for the Caspian Sea Flotilla, along with a new headquarters building.
March 23 2025
Attacks on health facilities during the Gaza war
An Israeli airstrike targeted the Nasser Medical Complex, killing five people, including Ismail Barhoum, a senior Hamas official undergoing treatment, and a 16-year-old boy.
2025
Iraq
Parliament speaker Mahmoud al-Mashhadani declared Iraq stable in terms of security and economy, emphasizing the country's non-aligned approach.
March 2025
Kuwait
By this date, Kuwait had revoked the citizenship of 42,000 people in six months, with Carnegie Endowment noting this as a tool for political control.
March 19 2025
Turkey
Nationwide protests began following detention of Istanbul mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu and over 100 opposition members
March 13 2025
Syria
Ahmed al-Sharaa signed an interim constitution covering a five-year transitional period.
March 13 2025
Attacks on health facilities during the Gaza war
UN investigation concluded that Israel has committed genocidal acts in Gaza by systematically destroying its reproductive healthcare facilities.
March 13 2025
Attacks on health facilities during the Gaza war
UN investigation concluded that Israeli forces intentionally attacked and destroyed Al-Basma IVF Centre, finding no evidence of military use of the building.
2025
Georgia
Georgia plans to host 11 million visitors with projected annual revenues of US$6.6 billion.
2025
Egypt
Government plans to establish local electric vehicle manufacturing and integrate EVs into public transportation.
March 11 2025
Balochistan
Jaffar Express passenger train hijacked by militants in the Bolan district of Balochistan province, with over 400 hostages taken and the driver injured.
2025
Jordan
Scheduled completion of Jordan's first commercial nuclear plant, a helium-cooled reactor, as discussed by the Atomic Energy Commission.
2025
Egypt
Horus-1, another high-resolution spy satellite, was launched by Egypt, further strengthening its reconnaissance capabilities.
March 8 2025
Syria
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported a massacre of over 700 Alawite civilians by Syrian security forces and pro-government fighters during clashes in western Syria.
2025
Turkey
PKK declared a ceasefire.
2025
Egypt
Egypt introduced a new Baccalaureate Certificate System, set to replace the Thanaweya Amma in 2026.
March 2025
Killing of health workers in the Gaza war
Israeli troops killed 15 Palestinian medics in southern Gaza, according to the United Nations. Their bodies were found in a mass grave with ambulances and a U.N. vehicle. One victim was found with hands tied. The IDF claimed to have killed a Hamas member, but this was disputed by the PRCS.
March 1 2025
Syria
Planned end of the initial transitional government period led by Mohammed al-Bashir.
February 2025
Israel
Israel mostly withdrew from Lebanon, but remained in five military outposts in Southern Lebanon's highlands, contrary to the ceasefire agreement.
February 2025 Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz stated that Israeli forces would remain in southern Syria 'for an indefinite period' to protect communities and thwart threats.

We are only showing the most recent entries for this topic.

This contents of the box above is based on material from the Wikipedia articles Caspian Sea, Jordan, History of Iran, FIBA West Asia Super League, United Nations Disengagement Observer Force, Israel, Lebanon, Kuwait, Egypt, GCC Games, Iraq, Persian Gulf, Turkey, Georgia (country), Syria, Balochistan, Attacks on health facilities during the Gaza war, Culture of Yemen, Israeli occupation of the Gaza Strip, South Yemen, History of Turkey, Killing of health workers in the Gaza war, Rashidun Caliphate & Saudi Arabia, which are released under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

See Also