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The Washington Post provides the latest information and analysis of breaking Middle East news stories. Includes news coverage on Iraq, Israel, Lebanon, Iran, Kuwait, Syria, Saudi Arabia and Jordan.
Updated: 16 min 33 sec ago

Thousands of Syrians leave Jordan for the front lines

5 hours 32 min ago

MAFRAQ, Jordan — Encouraged by what they view as fatal setbacks to the Syrian regime, several thousand of an estimated 250,000 Syrian exiles in Jordan have left in recent weeks to join the rebellion in their homeland.

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Syrian airstrike kills dozens at bakery

Sun, 12/23/2012 - 14:13

ANTAKYA, Turkey — Syrian airstrikes on a rebel-held town hit a bakery Sunday, killing dozens — possibly hundreds — of people who were waiting to buy bread, according to reports from anti-government activists inside Syria.

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Egypt holds second round of voting on constitution; vice president resigns

Sun, 12/23/2012 - 02:28

CAIRO — Millions of Egyptians turned out to vote Saturday on the second and final day of a national referendum on a new constitution that would deepen the influence of Islamic law in their country.

Preliminary and unofficial results show the charter passing. The Muslim Brotherhood claimed Sunday that 64 percent of voters said “yes” to the constitution, though the results are not expected to be officially announced until Monday.

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West Bank barrier plan threatens ancient farming landscape

Sat, 12/22/2012 - 15:56

BATTIR, West Bank — The old stone-walled farming terraces of this scenic Palestinian village near Jerusalem stretch along the hillsides, fed by spring water flowing through a network of irrigation channels that dates to Roman times.

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For Syrian refugees, winter makes a harsh life rougher

Sat, 12/22/2012 - 07:54

YAYLADAGI, Turkey — Um Khalid is contemplating selling some of the bare-bones food ration given to Syrian refugees to buy winter clothes for her eight children.

“I was thinking I could buy something every month for one child that way,” she said, explaining her pained calculation as she served instant coffee heated on a hot plate in the tent that has sheltered the family since they fled Syria 18 months ago.

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Iraq confirms arrest of minister’s bodyguards

Fri, 12/21/2012 - 21:26

BAGHDAD — Iraqi authorities said Friday that they have arrested 10 bodyguards of the country’s Sunni finance minister in a terrorism-related sweep, the first official confirmation in a case that is inflaming the nation’s simmering political and sectarian tensions.

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Al-Azhar mosque at heart of concerns over Islamist turn in Egypt

Fri, 12/21/2012 - 19:45

The revolution that began here two years ago with calls for justice and freedom has become a rout by Islamist forces that have racked up victory upon victory at the polls.

But within Egypt and across the region, the real source of fears that the country is careening toward theocracy lies in an unlikely place: the ancient stone corridors of al-Azhar, a Cairo institution that has long been known as a respected beacon of moderation.

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Syrians turn to black humor amid misery

Fri, 12/21/2012 - 10:12

The letter from a Syrian child offers Santa Claus some advice for his visit this year. He should not come in his sleigh, because “not even a fly” can now survive the fight for the skies going on between President Bashar al-Assad’s government and rebel opponents. But most important of all, Santa must not wear his traditional outfit.

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