Basra protests: Iraq government buildings torched in new unrest
Craig TaylorDemonstrators are angry over government corruption and a lack of basic public services. BBC News – Middle East
Middle East
Syria war: ‘Russian’ planes bomb targets in Idlib province
Reports of renewed action come amid expectations of a major assault on the last rebel-held province. BBC News – Middle East
Syria Idlib: Trump warns of ‘grave humanitarian mistake’
A “reckless” attack could mean the deaths of hundreds of thousands of civilians, the US leader says. BBC News – Middle East
Syria blasts at Mezzeh military airport ‘not Israeli strikes’
An electrical fault, not Israeli air strikes, is to blame for the explosions, state media say. BBC News – Middle East
US ends aid to Palestinian refugee agency Unrwa
The US State Department says Unrwa, which supports five million people, is “irredeemably flawed”. BBC News – Middle East
Yemen conflict: Coalition rejects UN human rights report
It says the report, which accuses all sides of possible war crimes, contains “false allegations”. BBC News – Middle East