"The Zionist regime's greatest fear is the proximity of Muslim fighters near its border," said Brig.-Gen. Masoud Jazayeri. "It has come to pass."

A series of bombings in Kabul has killed dozens of people in recent months and shown no sign of easing during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

The dismissal of Mulki was demanded in a series of protests that have shaken the kingdom.

For Yazidis, stability appears far off.

Two unidentified men harassed a group of tourists entering the holy site.

A German Green Party politician questioned the statement on Twitter.

Jordanians began protesting on Wednesday evening in response to a call by unions for demonstrations against the tax rises demanded by the International Monetary Fund.

The southwest, near the borders with Jordan and Israel, remains one of the big chunks of Syria still outside Assad's control, which has recovered swathes of the country with the help of Russia.

Once thought a failed state, Iraq has emerged from the chaos of ISIS to hold successful elections.

Sisi overthrew Islamist Mohamed Mursi, Egypt's first freely-elected president, after protests against Mursi's rule in 2013.

A selection of media reports from the Arab press relating to Israel and the Middle East.

While Iranian-backed forces will be banned from operating near the border, Tehran will still have a free hand to build-up military infrastructure outside the "buffer zone."

This year's World Cup comes amid heightened global tensions, especially in the MENA region, where political, security and economic instability are par for the course.

On Thursday, Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman made a lightning quick trip to Russia to discuss an expanded deal for the ouster of Iran from southern Syria.

As Assad threatens the US, and Russia and Israel discuss Iran, the country’s smoldering conflicts are the calmest in seven years.

The defense minister's meeting was followed by a telephone conversation between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“We do not have Iranian troops. We never had,” Assad told Russia Today in a half-an-hour interview on wide array of issues involving his country posted on its web site.

Prior to Liberman’s visit, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov called on non-Syrian forces to withdraw the country’s southern border as soon as possible.

"The stay of Syrians in Lebanon will not go on for a long time. There is intensive work by the political authority."

The report comes after Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov announced Monday that the Syrian army should be the only force on the southern border of the country.