Halted Support for US Iraq Strategy (January 22, 2007)
Even as US allies in West Asia expressed support for the US’s new Iraq strategy, Riyadh haltingly expressed support but also doubted the even-handedness of the government in Baghdad to deal with the Sunni population or its capacity to stop sectarian violence.<More>

Israel-China Sign New Treaties (January 11, 2007)
Visiting Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Chinese Premier Web Jiabao signed three agreements covering cultural exchange, export of Israeli citrus fruit, and sale of water purification technology to China.<More>

Olmert Seeks China’s Help on Iran (January 10, 2007)
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is visiting China and is expected to lobby Beijing to take a tougher stand against Tehran’s controversial nuclear program especially if the recent sanctions on Iran would not influence its behavior.<More>

Israel Proposes Prisoner Exchange (December 26, 2006)
In an act of good faith, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert suggested that his government would be willing to release Palestinian prisoners even though the captured Israeli soldiers remain in Gaza but also proposed a formal agreement with the Palestinian Authority.<More>

The Iran Problem for US (December 20, 2006)
As Tehran civic polls brought in moderate and reformist opponents of hard-line President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s to power, US policy makers are increasingly concerned about developments and statements from Iran and especially about their nuclear program.<More>

Elections in Palestine (December 19, 2006)
Within a year of elections that returned hard-line Hamas into power resulting in the abortion of the Israeli-Palestinian peace process and internal discord and civil-war conditions, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas announced plans that he is pushing ahead with early elections.<More>

Hamas Takes Over Gaza Border (December 15, 2006)
After weeks of politically motivated assassinations and murder of children, Hamas gunmen fought fiercely with Fatah-allied border guards to seize control of the Gaza Strip’s EU-monitored border crossing with Egypt.<More>

Hezbollah Show of Force (December 11, 2006)
Heightening the political deadlock, the pro-Syrian Hezbollah led massive demonstrations outside government offices demanding the government’s dissolution accusing it of “corrupt” leadership but Lebanon ’s west-backed cabinet vowed not to give in.”<More>

Israel’s Peace Plan (November 30, 2006)
Israel unveiled several steps that, if met, could lead to serious peace negotiation with Palestinians leading to prisoner exchange, withdrawal of Israeli forces from many parts of West Bank, ease of transit checkpoints, and lifting of financial sanctions.<More>

Iran Flexes Missile Muscle Again (November 17, 2006)
In a surprise and unscheduled military exercise displaying its conventional weapons strength and leaving Israel very worried, Iran fired a battery and range of land and ship-borne missiles and maneuvers along with anti-tank and anti-helicopter weapons.<More>

Lebanese Political Crisis and West Asia (November 14, 2006)
The resignation of 5 Shiite Ministers from the Lebanon Government increased regional tensions across sectarian and religious lines and the US Government (USG) applauded an Argentinean court branding the Hezbollah “global nexus of terrorism.”<More>

Honorable Citation for Army in Lebanon (October 31, 2006)
The 4 Sikh Regiment, that participated in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), received the Force Commander’s Unit Citation for commendable service during the war in South Lebanon.<More>

Hezbollah Refuses to Disarm (September 26, 2006)
In his first public appearance Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah vowed before a massive 500,000-rally that his cadre will not disarm and claimed a “divine, historic and strategic victory” even as Israeli troops withdrew and UN peacekeepers deployment was on track.<More>

Syria Promises Embargo on Hezbollah (September 08, 2006)
UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said that Syria has promised to adhere to the UNSC Resolution 1701 demanding an arms embargo on the Hezbollah but objected “to the presence of foreign forces along the Syrian-Lebanese border.”<More>

Israeli Drip Irrigation Technology (September, 05 2006)
Karnataka’s horticulture department is planning to adopt Israeli drip irrigation technology (DIS) to service 124 drought-prone areas in the state and is commissioning a pilot project in 10 taluks spanning 8 districts at a cost of Rs.5 crore (USD 1.08 million).<More>

Confusion on Iran as Deadline Passes (September, 05 2006)
EU Foreign Ministers have cautioned against hasty decisions, including sanctions, on Iran even as the US said military action against Tehran “is not off the table” and some say that India ’s relations with Iran may arrest the development of Indo-US relations.<More>

EU Not Considering Hamas Dialogue (September, 05 2006)
Backtracking from earlier reports that the EU may consider direct contact with Hamas, a Foreign Ministers’ meeting distanced the 25 nation body from Hamas and labeled it a terror organization removing all possibilities of interaction.<More>

Israel & Lebanon Welcome EU Plan (August 29, 2006)
Israel & Lebanon welcomed the EU plan to dispatch 7000 peacekeeping troops, to be led initially by France and later by Italy, in Southern Lebanon that is capable of maintaining a buffer between the two nations with stronger defensive capabilities.<More>

Iran Expands Heavy Water Project (August 29, 2006)
A defiant yet indulgent Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad inaugurated a new phase in the Arak heavy-water reactor project dismissing global concerns of its controversial program but asserting that “Iran is not a threat to anybody." <More>

Iran Test-Fires Short-Range Missiles (August 21, 2006)
A day after large-scale military exercises across the nation, an Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson confirmed that Iran has successfully test-fired 10 short-range surface-to-surface Saegheh missiles.<More>

Israeli Commando Operation Tests Ceasefire (August 21, 2006)
Even as thousands of Lebanese troops and French engineers started to occupy areas vacated by Israeli Army to strengthen the ceasefire that promises a stop to rocket attacks by Hezbollah, reports emerge of a clandestine Israeli action deep inside Lebanon.<More>

Hezbollah Asks Arabs to Vacate Haifa (August 10, 2006)
In a clear sign of major terrorist activities to come, Hezbollah leader Sheik Hassan Nasrallah warned Israeli Arabs to leave the port city of Haifa so the guerrilla organization could attack the city unimpeded so as not to “shed” their blood.<More>

After 48 hour Ceasefire, Air Strike Resumes (August 08, 2006)
After a 48 hour pause to allow civilians to evacuate, Israeli warplanes struck deeper in Northern-eastern Lebanon seen as a symbol of Hezbollah power while guerrillas fought pitched battles with Israeli ground forces near the border.<More>

Ordnance Board Collaborates with Israeli Company (August 07, 2006)
Government-owned Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) is entering into a joint venture with an Israeli company to manufacture “cargo ammunition” (known to maim but does not kill) but raising hackles of human rights organization seeking to stop these products.<More>

Vexed EU’s UNSC Resolution on Iran (July 26, 2006)
The EU-3, introduced a draft resolution in the UNSC calling on Iran to “suspend all enrichment-related activities, including research and development, to be verified by the IAEA, and suspend the construction of a reactor moderated by heavy water.”<More>

Israel Supports UN Peacekeepers Idea (July 26, 2006)
Incessant bombing of blocks of apartments and mass migration of people following radio announcements and pamphlets thrown down from planes is best described by a visiting UN official as a “horrific” and “violation of humanitarian law.” < More >

Civilian Crisis in Lebanon (July 22, 2006)
Of the 4 Indian Navy ships re-routed to Lebanon in a bid to evacuate 12,000 Indians living in that country, diplomatic negotiating secured a berth one ship to evacuate 700 odd people to Larnaca, Cyprus where Air India jets will fly them out. Sri Lanka and Nepal have appealed to India for help with their citizens too which the Navy will undertake on a best effort basis.<More>

Israeli Incursions in Lebanon (July 13, 2006)
In a serious escalation of violence in West Asia, Hezbollah terrorists abducted two Israeli soldiers and demanded the release of Palestinian women and children allegedly held prisoners Israel responded swiftly launching large-scale incursions into Lebanon.<More>

Gaza Strikes Continue, Israel Invades Lebanon (July 12, 2006)
Israeli jets targeted militants transporting and setting up rockets killing a militant and injuring several gunmen and civilians in Gaza and its army invaded Lebanon to rescue two Israeli soldiers by Hezbollah based out of Lebanon.<More>

Hamas Calls for Prisoner Swap (July 11, 2006)
In his first public appearance since the capture of an Israeli soldier, Hamas leader-in-exile Khaled Mashaal claimed in Damascus that Israel’s military campaign in the Gaza Strip was futile and the only way out is through a prisoner exchange deal.<More>