Middle East

In recent days, the UAE-armed separatists have cast off an alliance with President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi's government and seized much of Aden, which had been his main base.

Iranian FM Zarif calls on Muslims to "end this tyranny" after clashes erupt between Israel Police and Muslim worshippers on the Temple Mount, Sunday. Jordan's foreign minister slams Israel's decision to allow Jews to visit the Temple Mount on Tisha B'Av, which this year coincided with the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha.

"This system has high capabilities and can detect all types of cruise and ballistic missiles and drones," commander of the regular army's air defense forces, says.

Calls for boycott of annual pilgrimage to Mecca grew over Riyadh's political record. Saudi Arabia urged Muslims to focus on worship. Hajj generates billions of dollars in revenue for the kingdom and is key to expanding its tourism industry, moving it away from an economic dependence on oil.

Bahrain’s National Security Agency, Interior Ministry, first deputy prime minister’s office and Electricity and Water Authority are reportedly hit by Iranian hackers. Experts believe cyberattack sought to demonstrate Iran’s ability to disrupt critical infrastructure in the tiny Gulf nation.

US military advises crews to decline Iranian forces permission to board, says vessels have reported interference with their GPS and "spoofed" communications from unknown entities falsely claiming to be US or other warships.

Syrian government blasts move, which appears to reduce chance of imminent Turkish military action against Kurdish militia, as "blatant attack" on country's sovereignty.

In televised speech following terrorist bombing in Cairo that killed at least 20, President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi says "we as a society have to make our sons understand … and protect them against this extremist ideology."

The jihadist group is also solidifying its insurgent capabilities in neighboring Iraq, says US Defense Department watchdog. ISIS has been able to "regroup and sustain operations" in the two countries partially because local forces "remain unable to sustain long-term operations, conduct multiple operations simultaneously, or hold territory that they have cleared," the report adds.

"A strait for a strait. It can't be that the Strait of Hormuz is free for you and the Strait of Gibraltar is not free for us," Iranian president says.