Middle East

In order to attack Iran, the article says, Israel needs the approval and assistance of America, and under the current passive climate in the United States, the opportunity must not be lost to wipe out Israel before it attacks Iran.

Iran's Ayatollah Ali Khamenei calls for destruction of Israel, Jews

By Catholic Online (NEWS CONSORTIUM) • Catholic Online • 2/7/2012

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is calling for the death of all Jews and the destruction of Israel. On the Web site, called Alef, Khamenei says the opportunity must not be lost to remove "this corrupting material. It is a "'jurisprudential justification' to kill all the Jews and ...

Among the most harrowing scenes in Syria are the video images which appear to show people who have been shot and hit by shrapnel, including heavily injured young children.

Syria: 'It's a massive attack - a new massacre is happening here'

By Catholic Online (NEWS CONSORTIUM) • Catholic Online • 2/7/2012

China and Russia have steadfastly refused to join the United Nations in authorizing sanctions against the nation of Syria for its unbridled attacks on civilian populations during its 11-month uprising. As if in response, the Syrian army has stepped up its attacks on opposition fighters in ...

Two opposing forces appear to be at work in the conflict: a government bent on crushing the uprising by force and an opposition that, if not increasing in numbers, appeared to be growing even more determined.

Double veto from Russia, China sink Syrian sanctions

By Catholic Online (NEWS CONSORTIUM) • Catholic Online • 2/6/2012

An effort from the United nations Security Council to slap Syria with sanctions collapsed amidst bad feelings when both Russia and Chine rejected the proposals with a double veto. The breakdown in talks came as the Syrian military stepped up its brutal onslaught of the civilian population. Many ...

Boys hold toy weapons in protest against Syria's President Bashar al-Assad after Friday prayers in Hula near Homs

United Nations asks Syrian president to step down

By Catholic Online (NEWS CONSORTIUM) • Catholic Online • 2/1/2012

Western and Arab nations have gathered at the United Nations in New York City to push for a tough resolution on Syria, calling for President Bashar al-Assad to step down and hand power over to his deputy. LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - The resolution stresses that there will be no foreign ...

Armed forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad barraged residential buildings with machine-gun fire and killed at least 30 people in the besieged city of Homs.

Death toll rises in Syrian city of Homs

By Catholic Online (NEWS CONSORTIUM) • Catholic Online • 1/29/2012

Armed forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad barraged residential buildings with machine-gun fire and killed at least 30 people in the besieged city of Homs. Activists say that heavy gunfire erupted last week. Homs has seen some of the heaviest violence of the 10-month-old uprising ...

French and British warships had joined a U.S. carrier aircraft group over the weekend and passed through the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow passage between Iran and Oman. Iran has threatened to close the strait in retaliation to tightening sanctions, imperiling much of the world's oil supply.

European Union imposes tough new sanctions on Iran

By Catholic Online (NEWS CONSORTIUM) • Catholic Online • 1/24/2012

European Union Nations are enforcing an embargo against Iran as part of sanctions over its disputed nuclear program. The sanctions follow financial punishments signed into law by the U.S. on December 31 last year. The sanctions chiefly target the oil sector, which accounts for some 90 percent ...

The town of Radda was captured by Al Qaeda militants on Monday.

Al Qaeda captures Yemeni town

By Catholic Online (NEWS CONSORTIUM) • Catholic Online • 1/17/2012

Al Qaida militants have taken a town 100 miles south of Yemen's capital. The militants overran army positions to capture the town and stormed a prison freeing 150 inmates. SANAA, YEMEN (Catholic Online) - The town of Radda is being added to the territory controlled by Al Qaida in Yemen, which is ...

Salafis torch Christian homes in the village of Awlad Khalaf, Egypt this past summer on rumor of church construction. Photo courtesy of AINA

Coptic Christian Priest Prefers Martyrdom to Slave Tax in Egypt

By Michael Terheyden • Catholic Online • 1/17/2012

After the sweeping political victories Islamists made in the early round of elections in Egypt, the Deputy Patriarch of the Coptic Catholic Church Yohanna Qulta was interviewed on Arab television concerning the looming threat that Egypt's Christian communities will face in an Islamist society. The ...

Mustafa Roshan was most likely killed by Mossad in an effort to slow Iran's nuclear program.

Is the Mossad behind the death of Mustafa Roshan?

By Catholic Online (NEWS CONSORTIUM) • Catholic Online • 1/17/2012

Iran's nuclear scientists must not look forward to their commutes. Over the past two years, five scientists working on Iran's nuclear program have been attacked and four killed. Last Wednesday, nuclear scientist Mustafa Ahmadi Roshan, 32, became the latest victim. LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) ...

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, in an earlier televised address vowed to strike 'terrorists' with an iron fist and derided Arab League efforts to halt violence in a 10-month-old revolt against his rule.

U.N. official: Syria has killed 400 people since Arab League mission

By Catholic Online (NEWS CONSORTIUM) • Catholic Online • 1/11/2012

If one of the objectives of the Arab League visit to Syria has been to curtail the civilian fatalities that have erupted in light of the brutal governmental crackdown there, the mission has been an abject failure. According to a United Nations official, "in the days since the Arab League ...