https://editorials.voa.gov/z/3241 Editorials on Voice of America expressing U.S. policy on the Middle East https://editorials.voa.gov/Content/responsive/VOA/en-US-POLICY/img/logo.png https://editorials.voa.gov/z/3241 en 2026 - VOA 60 Fri, 10 Apr 2026 18:42:48 -0400 Pangea CMS – VOA The success of the U.S. military created the leverage necessary for President Trump and his team to engage in tough negotiations that have now created an opening for long-term peace in the Middle East.  https://editorials.voa.gov/a/u-s-and-iran-announce-a-two-week-ceasefire/8135709.html https://editorials.voa.gov/a/u-s-and-iran-announce-a-two-week-ceasefire/8135709.html Wed, 08 Apr 2026 10:01:00 -0400 DefenseMiddle East A heroic mission was carried out over Easter weekend to rescue two American F-15 fighter pilots whose jet went down deep inside enemy territory in Iran while participating in Operation Epic Fury. Both members of the crew ejected from the aircraft and landed alive on Iranian soil. President Donald Trump made the decision to order U.S. armed forces to do whatever was necessary to bring America’s brave warriors back home. It was a risky decision, he said. “But in the United States military, we... https://editorials.voa.gov/a/8135398.html https://editorials.voa.gov/a/8135398.html Tue, 07 Apr 2026 09:08:00 -0400 DefenseMiddle East “The League of Arab States can and should play an important role in addressing conflicts that afflict its member states and their regional neighbors,” said Tammy Bruce, U.S. Deputy Representative of the United States to the United Nations. Consider Gaza, she said. President Donald Trump’s Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict which the Security Council endorsed in Resolution 2803, has demonstrated the way forward to a stable, safe, and prosperous Middle East. Many members of the... https://editorials.voa.gov/a/8134908.html https://editorials.voa.gov/a/8134908.html Mon, 06 Apr 2026 12:46:23 -0400 DefenseMiddle East "The Iranian regime sought to rebuild their nuclear program at a totally different location, making clear they had no intention of abandoning their pursuit of nuclear weapons.” https://editorials.voa.gov/a/8133736.html https://editorials.voa.gov/a/8133736.html Thu, 02 Apr 2026 13:03:31 -0400 DefenseMiddle East As part of its war on terrorism, the United States is targeting key operatives of al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, or AQAP, a Yemen-based affiliate of the core al-Qaida terrorist organization and its most active ally. https://editorials.voa.gov/a/8133694.html https://editorials.voa.gov/a/8133694.html Thu, 02 Apr 2026 10:09:15 -0400 Rewards for FugitivesMiddle East "This is an individual who organized group protests that not only disrupted college campus classes and harassed Jewish American students and made them feel unsafe," said White House Press Secretary Leavitt. https://editorials.voa.gov/a/arrest-of-former-student-for-hamas-aligned-activities/8011017.html https://editorials.voa.gov/a/arrest-of-former-student-for-hamas-aligned-activities/8011017.html Fri, 14 Mar 2025 14:37:22 -0400 Middle EastAmericasSecurityGovernance “The United States remains committed to defending women, children, and families from ideological extremism,” said Acting U.S. Representative to the Economic and Social Council at UN Shrier. https://editorials.voa.gov/a/protecting-women-from-gender-ideology/8010962.html https://editorials.voa.gov/a/protecting-women-from-gender-ideology/8010962.html Fri, 14 Mar 2025 13:58:33 -0400 AmericasAfricaAsiaEuropeHuman RightsMiddle EastGovernance “Iran’s brazen use of transnational criminal organizations and narcotics traffickers underscores the regime’s attempt to achieve its aims through any means,” said Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. https://editorials.voa.gov/a/disrupting-the-iranian-regime-s-malevolent-activities/8010823.html https://editorials.voa.gov/a/disrupting-the-iranian-regime-s-malevolent-activities/8010823.html Fri, 14 Mar 2025 12:13:26 -0400 Middle East The fate of those who instigated the Anfal campaign and killed thousands of innocents in Halabja, should serve as a warning to others who follow in their murderous footsteps. https://editorials.voa.gov/a/on-halabja-37-years-later/8009489.html https://editorials.voa.gov/a/on-halabja-37-years-later/8009489.html Thu, 13 Mar 2025 11:14:09 -0400 Middle EastHuman RightsGovernance "The Taliban’s repressive policies and Afghanistan’s struggling economy are drivers of human displacement, which strains the region’s limited resources and contributes to further destabilization," said Ambassador Shea. https://editorials.voa.gov/a/pressure-must-be-kept-on-the-taliban/8008122.html https://editorials.voa.gov/a/pressure-must-be-kept-on-the-taliban/8008122.html Wed, 12 Mar 2025 11:09:49 -0400 Middle EastEconomyHuman RightsGovernance “The United States condemns the radical Islamist terrorists, including foreign jihadis, that murdered people in western Syria in recent days,” said Secretary of State Rubio. https://editorials.voa.gov/a/horror-in-syria/8006762.html https://editorials.voa.gov/a/horror-in-syria/8006762.html Tue, 11 Mar 2025 11:08:15 -0400 Middle EastHuman RightsSecurityGovernance “[T]his Department of Justice will ensure that terrorists like Mohammad Sharifullah have no safe haven, no second chances, and no worse enemy than the United States of America,” said U.S. Attorney General Bondi. https://editorials.voa.gov/a/isis-k-terrorist-mohammed-sharifullah-to-face-justice/8005532.html https://editorials.voa.gov/a/isis-k-terrorist-mohammed-sharifullah-to-face-justice/8005532.html Mon, 10 Mar 2025 13:35:41 -0400 Middle EastHuman RightsSecurityGovernance “We have a historic opportunity to close this dark chapter in history and to start a new one - creating a Syria that is safer for its people and more secure for the region and the world,” said Ambassador Shea. https://editorials.voa.gov/a/an-historic-opportunity-to-secure-and-destroy-syria-s-chemical-weapons/8005508.html https://editorials.voa.gov/a/an-historic-opportunity-to-secure-and-destroy-syria-s-chemical-weapons/8005508.html Mon, 10 Mar 2025 13:21:23 -0400 Middle EastHealthSecurityGovernance "We encourage dialogue between the Yemen and Al-Shabaab sanctions Panels ... to shed light on and ultimately sever the ties between the Houthis and Al-Shabaab," said Ambassador Kelley. https://editorials.voa.gov/a/al-shabaab-still-a-threat-in-somalia/8005499.html https://editorials.voa.gov/a/al-shabaab-still-a-threat-in-somalia/8005499.html Mon, 10 Mar 2025 13:15:32 -0400 AfricaEconomyHuman RightsMiddle EastSecurityGovernance "So, it’s starting a new era ... where we’re saying that it is not acceptable in any case to hold American citizens abroad wrongfully,” said U.S. Senior Advisor Adam Boehler. https://editorials.voa.gov/a/a-new-era-for-americans-taken-hostage/8002786.html https://editorials.voa.gov/a/a-new-era-for-americans-taken-hostage/8002786.html Fri, 07 Mar 2025 14:09:06 -0500 EuropeAmericasHuman RightsMiddle EastGovernance Hamas, another Iran-enabled terrorist group, is advising the Houthis to “keep their hand on the trigger for renewed attacks on regional states and international commerce,” warned Ambassador Shea. https://editorials.voa.gov/a/responding-to-the-ongoing-houthi-threat/8002774.html https://editorials.voa.gov/a/responding-to-the-ongoing-houthi-threat/8002774.html Fri, 07 Mar 2025 14:05:25 -0500 Middle EastEconomySecurity Khan, who was openly involved in political activities opposing terrorist organizations in Pakistan, was murdered execution-style in New York. https://editorials.voa.gov/a/reward-offer-for-information-on-shakeel-khan-s-murder/7039150.html https://editorials.voa.gov/a/reward-offer-for-information-on-shakeel-khan-s-murder/7039150.html Thu, 06 Mar 2025 16:07:54 -0500 Rewards for FugitivesAmericasEconomyHuman RightsMiddle East The U.S. Department of State announced a reward of up to $10 million for information on Hamas financial facilitators. https://editorials.voa.gov/a/big-rewards-for-hamas-financiers/7450134.html https://editorials.voa.gov/a/big-rewards-for-hamas-financiers/7450134.html Tue, 04 Mar 2025 11:10:40 -0500 Rewards for FugitivesMiddle East “As long as Hamas stands as a force that can govern, or as a force that can administer, or as a force that can threaten by use of violence, peace becomes impossible,” said Ambassador Shea. https://editorials.voa.gov/a/hamas-and-iran-destructive-to-mideast-peace/7990194.html https://editorials.voa.gov/a/hamas-and-iran-destructive-to-mideast-peace/7990194.html Thu, 27 Feb 2025 10:29:25 -0500 Middle EastEconomyHuman RightsSecurity The CyberAv3ngers hacking group, which is unit of the IRGC-CEC, has hacked into Israeli-made industrial control systems used by U.S. water and wastewater facilities and other U.S. critical infrastructure sectors. https://editorials.voa.gov/a/reward-money-for-information-on-iranian-government-hackers/7751425.html https://editorials.voa.gov/a/reward-money-for-information-on-iranian-government-hackers/7751425.html Thu, 27 Feb 2025 10:12:13 -0500 Rewards for FugitivesMiddle EastSecurity