Jane Arraf

The U.N. pulled foreign staff from Hodeidah amid efforts to avert an attack by pro-government forces backed by the United Arab Emirates. A shutdown of the port could put hundreds of thousands at risk.

The United Nations has withdrawn its international aid workers from Hodeidah amid intense negotiations to avert a devastating attack by Emirati-backed pro-government forces.

More than 500 foreign women are accused of being married to ISIS fighters and are standing trial in Iraq. The women have more than 1,100 young children. All face a perilous future.

King Abdullah appointed economist Omar Razzaz as his new prime minister. It will be up to Razzaz to defuse a crisis over a plan that would levy income tax even on those earning $11,000 a year.

Protesters were out in cities across Jordan demonstrating against IMF-backed austerity measures that include a new income tax. In the capital Amman, protesters are demanding a new government.

Tax and price hikes in Jordan are shaking the Middle East kingdom and increasing tensions in the country that's a key ally for the U.S.

Ahmed Alaa describes hoisting a rainbow flag at a concert in Cairo as the "best five minutes of his life." Now he faces years in prison and says his family and his life have been destroyed.

Two weeks after parliamentary elections delivered a surprise win for allies of Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, Iraq's divided political leaders are scrambling to put together a coalition government.

Former U.S. foe Muqtada al-Sadr appears to be the new face of reform in Iraq. The Shia cleric's bloc won the most votes in this month's parliamentary election.

Iraqis voted in their first election since the military defeat of ISIS over the weekend. While final results have not been issued, one near-certain result is the political rise of Iraq's Shiite militias.

The major winner could be an alliance linked to Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, known for leading attacks on U.S. troops after the invasion of Iraq, while Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi loses support.

Election officials Sunday night released results for 10 of Iraq's 19 provinces, accounting for more than half the vote. Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr is making a strong showing.

In the country's first election since driving out ISIS, partial results show an alliance backed by Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr has made strong gains at the expense of Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi.

Iraqis went to the polls on Saturday for the first parliamentary election since ISIS was pushed out of the country.

In the country's first election since declaring victory over ISIS, 24 million Iraqis are eligible to vote. But at one polling center in Baghdad, journalists far outnumbered voters.

Parliamentary elections this weekend will be the most complicated in Iraq's post-war history. Many people say they won't vote. "I voted three times, but nothing changed," says an unemployed man.

Iraqis fought hard for the right to vote and millions will do so in a parliamentary election this weekend. But their faith in democracy is being tested by political corruption and mismanagement.

Iraqis vote Saturday in the first national elections since ISIS was forced from the country. The prime minister is running for re-election largely on the success against the militants.

The U.S. ground forces commander in Iraq told NPR what it means now that major ground combat against ISIS has been declared over and the focus of the 5,000 troops there moves to training.

Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein responded to Republican critics Tuesday, saying the Department of Justice will not be "extorted." Also, the U.S. military has closed an Iraq command center.