Middle East

The first group of Australians have been able to leave Iran amid threats of further Israeli missile strikes, but thousands more are still awaiting assistance.

The US is lifting sanctions on Syria, while maintaining sanctions on former president Bashar al-Assad, with the move expected to boost foreign investment.

The Israeli army says incidents in which Gaza Strip civilians have been harmed while seeking handouts of aid are under review.

The decision to postpone Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s corruption trial came shortly after US President Donald Trump lashed out on social media, calling for the case to be dropped.

US President Donald Trump has called for a ceasefire deal to be made between Israel and Gaza, as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meets with his security cabinet.

After 12 days of direct conflict between Iran and Israel, that war has come to a temporary halt. At least, the war with Iran.

As Australians return home from the Middle East, a family stranded in Iran says it has no way to flee after receiving advice to cross international borders.

BEN HARVEY: I don’t often agree 100 per cent with what Donald Trump says but most of humanity would surely think he was on point when he dropped that F-bomb this week.

The Pentagon has released dramatic test footage that shows how bunker-buster bombs work, like the ones used against Iran’s nuclear facilities.

Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu says there is an opportunity for a ‘dramatic widening of peace agreements’ in Gaza after claiming victory over the war in Iran.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has claimed victory over Israel and says his country ‘delivered a hand slap to America's face.’

A group of Australians have landed in Sydney, and more are on the way, after being repatriated from Tel Aviv as a ceasefire between Israel and Iran holds.

The bold call comes after the US President unleashed on US media outlets for reporting on an early intelligence assessment suggesting that Iran’s nuclear program had only been set back by months.

Anthony Albanese says Donald Trump’s ‘f…’ bomb - cursed in frustration over a breached Israel-Iran ceasefire - was ‘consistent’ with Australia’s desire for de-escalation in the region. 

ELLEN RANSLEY: The ceasefire deal between Israel and Iran brokered by Donald Trump appears to have held, but it’s almost inevitable the enduring conflict will flare again.