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Monday

What to expect next after the sudden death of Iran's president

Men prepare to hang a huge portrait of Ebrahim Raisi outside the Islamic republic's embassy in Baghdad during a condolences service on Monday. Ahmad Al-Rubaye/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Ahmad Al-Rubaye/AFP via Getty Images

Consider This from NPR

What to expect next after the sudden death of Iran's president

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has died in a helicopter crash, according to state media. Here's how his death might contribute to instability in Iran and the region.

What to expect next after the sudden death of Iran's president

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Monday

Iran's attack on Israel is a major escalation. What comes next for the region?

Israeli Iron Dome air defense system launches to intercept missiles fired from Iran, in central Israel this past weekend. Tomer Neuberg/AP hide caption

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Tomer Neuberg/AP

Consider This from NPR

Iran's attack on Israel is a major escalation. What comes next for the region?

Iran launched a barrage of more than 300 drones and missiles at Israel over the weekend, saying it was in response to an airstrike earlier this month that hit Iran's consulate in Syria and killed seven Iranian military officials, including two generals.

Iran's attack on Israel is a major escalation. What comes next for the region?

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Friday

Is Israel perpetuating a cycle of radicalization rather than ending it?

Palestinians walk through the destruction from the Israeli offensive in Jabaliya refugee camp in the Gaza Strip earlier this year. Mahmoud Essa/AP hide caption

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Mahmoud Essa/AP

Consider This from NPR

Is Israel perpetuating a cycle of radicalization rather than ending it?

For months, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been insisting that the goal of Israel's bombardment in Gaza is to "destroy Hamas."

Is Israel perpetuating a cycle of radicalization rather than ending it?

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Thursday

A Symphony of Resistance (Throwback)

An anti-government protester is carried on shoulders in Tahrir Square in the afternoon before a speech by Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in Tahrir Square February 10, 2011 in Cairo, Egypt. Chris Hondros/Getty Images hide caption

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Chris Hondros/Getty Images

Throughline

A Symphony of Resistance (Throwback)

In 2011, the world was shaken by the Arab Spring, a wave of "pro-democracy" protests that spread throughout the Middle East and North Africa. The effects of the uprisings reverberated around the world as regimes fell in some countries, and civil war began in others. This week, we revisit the years leading up to the Arab Spring and its lasting impact on three people who lived through it.

A Symphony of Resistance (Throwback)

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Friday

When celebrities show up to protest, the media follows — but so does the backlash

Alyssa Milano says that celebrity activism is at its best "when we are able to hand over the microphone" to the "incredible heroes" doing activism work day to day. She's pictured above in July 2018 at a protest following President Trump's meetings with Russia's Vladimir Putin. A longtime activist, Milano says it's impossible to avoid "the vitriol," especially when talking about the Middle East. Andrew Harnik/AP hide caption

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Andrew Harnik/AP

Culture

When celebrities show up to protest, the media follows — but so does the backlash

The Middle East crisis has sharply divided Hollywood. Celebrities who've spoken out have lost jobs and been harassed. But there's a long history of celebrities lending their voices to bigger causes.

When celebrities show up to protest, the media follows — but so does the backlash

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Thursday

Wednesday

The U.S. is demanding Iran rein in its proxy groups. Is that actually possible?

Houthi fighters stage a rally in support of the Palestinians in Gaza and against the U.S.-led airstrikes on Yemen, in Sanaa, Yemen, on Jan. 29. Osamah Abdulrahman/AP hide caption

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Osamah Abdulrahman/AP

Middle East crisis — explained

The U.S. is demanding Iran rein in its proxy groups. Is that actually possible?

When the U.S. launched airstrikes over the past week in Iraq, Syria and Yemen, the idea was to send a message to another country: Iran.

The U.S. is demanding Iran rein in its proxy groups. Is that actually possible?

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Saturday

The U.S. targets Iranian proxies for a second day in a row

U.S. Central Command released this undated photo as part of its announcement of renewed airstrikes against Houthi targets on Saturday. U.S. Central Command hide caption

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U.S. Central Command

Middle East crisis — explained

The U.S. targets Iranian proxies for a second day in a row

The new round of U.S. strikes is far more extensive and deadly than those that have been launched since October, when the Israel-Hamas war began and pro-Iranian groups began their attacks.

Friday

U.S. hits Iranian proxies in Iraq, Syria in retaliation for deadly strikes

President Biden and first lady Jill Biden attend the dignified transfer of the remains of three U.S. service members killed in a drone attack on a U.S. military outpost in Jordan, at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware on Friday. Roberto Schmidt/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Roberto Schmidt/AFP via Getty Images

Middle East crisis — explained

U.S. hits Iranian proxies in Iraq, Syria in retaliation for deadly strikes

The strikes are more extensive and deadly than those launched since last October, when the Israeli-Gaza war began and pro-Iranian groups started an uptick of attacks.

U.S. hits Iranian proxies in Iraq, Syria in retaliation for deadly strikes

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Wednesday

From the hospital to a tent in hours — what it's like giving birth in Gaza now

A woman dries a baby in a towel after giving the infant a bath inside a tent at a camp for displaced Palestinians in Rafah, in southern Gaza, on Jan. 18. AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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AFP via Getty Images

Middle East crisis — explained

From the hospital to a tent in hours — what it's like giving birth in Gaza now

UNICEF estimates about 20,000 babies have been born in Gaza since Israel began its offensive there in response to the Oct. 7 Hamas attack.

From the hospital to a tent in hours — what it's like giving birth in Gaza now

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Monday

The killing of U.S. troops in Jordan raises specter of a wider war in the Middle East

A satellite view of the U.S. military outpost known as Tower 22, in Rukban, Rwaished District, Jordan, in October last year. Planet Labs via Reuters hide caption

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Planet Labs via Reuters

Middle East crisis — explained

The killing of U.S. troops in Jordan raises specter of a wider war in the Middle East

An escalation of violence in the Middle East over the last 24 hours, including a drone attack that killed three U.S. service members, has raised concerns about the possibility of a regional war.

Friday

Friendly fire and accidents have killed a lot of Israeli soldiers in Gaza. Here's why

Israeli army troops drive through a dirt road along the border with Gaza in southern Israel on January 25. Jack Guez/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Jack Guez/AFP via Getty Images

Middle East crisis — explained

Friendly fire and accidents have killed a lot of Israeli soldiers in Gaza. Here's why

Nearly 1 in 5 Israeli casualties since the invasion of Gaza were caused by friendly fire or accidents. Experts say it's one of the highest such percentages in recent military history.

Friendly fire and accidents have killed a lot of Israeli soldiers in Gaza. Here's why

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Thursday

This American is one of the few allowed into Gaza. This is the horror she saw

Dr. Seema Jilani treats a baby at al-Aqsa hospital in Gaza. Tarneem Hammad/MAP hide caption

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Tarneem Hammad/MAP

Middle East crisis — explained

This American is one of the few allowed into Gaza. This is the horror she saw

Dr. Seema Jilani spent two weeks at al-Aqsa hospital, where she saw horrors that include "the most nightmarish thing I've ever seen."

This American is one of the few allowed into Gaza. This is the horror she saw

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Friday

Mourners gather in Israel to honor memory of longtime peace activist Vivian Silver

Hundreds of mourners gather for the funeral service of Canadian Israeli peace activist Vivian Silver on Thursday in Kibbutz Gezer, Israel. Maya Levin for NPR hide caption

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Maya Levin for NPR

The Picture Show

Mourners gather in Israel to honor memory of longtime peace activist Vivian Silver

Hundreds of mourners gathered at a funeral service for Canadian Israeli peace activist Vivian Silver. She was declared dead this week after her remains were found at her home in Israel.