CENTCOM commander acknowledges he did not try to stop Taliban from entering Kabul “If someone actually made a decision, that would’ve been me,” Gen. Kenneth 'Frank' McKenzie told House lawmakers during a hearing today. Congress
US House passes measure to end maintenance for Saudi aircraft targeting Yemen Progressives' bid to get Riyadh to stop bombing Yemen may test Biden's commitment to Gulf allies. Congress
House Democrats back away from delaying Israel arms sale amid Gaza conflict The Biden administration will brief lawmakers on the proposed $735 million sale of JDAM guidance conversion kits and other weapons equipment. Congress
Trump reluctantly certifies Iran’s compliance with nuclear deal The Trump administration told Congress on Monday that Iran was violating the "spirit" of the deal and made the case for a thorough renegotiation. Congress
Pentagon: Rebel forces taking heavy casualties in Raqqa fight The United States confirmed today that the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces are taking heavy casualties in an effort to push the Islamic State out of its stronghold in Raqqa. Syria
Israel frets over Congress push to slash Palestinian aid over terror payments US lawmakers' efforts to further condition assistance to the Palestinian Authority is complicated by Israel's reluctance to undermine a key security partner. Palestine
Pentagon wants to build new US facilities in Iraq, Syria The Trump administration has asked Congress for the authority to build new “small-scale,” “temporary facilities” to help defeat the Islamic State. Iraq
House rejects Trump’s Middle East aid cuts The House spending bill calls for far more assistance to North Africa. Egypt
Pentagon receptive to Tunisian lobbying against proposed Trump aid cut Tunisian Prime Minister Youssef Chahed visited the Pentagon to push back against proposed military aid cuts. Tunisia
Trump administration plans to slash US aid for Tunisia The Donald Trump administration’s proposed budget for Tunisia shrinks aid by 70%, representing a threat to Tunisia’s democratic gains. Tunisia
Corker hold puts Saudi arms deal at risk Congressional aides say the Senate Foreign Relations chairman’s threat to block arms sales to the Gulf until the Qatar crisis is resolved could have a wide-ranging impact. Saudi Arabia
Congress threatens to cut payments to Iraqi Kurds if they break with Baghdad The House defense bill makes continued peshmerga funding contingent on participation in a “unified Iraq.” Iraq
Senate tones down Iran sanctions bill after input from Obama team The Senate Foreign Relations Committee insists the bill it cleared May 25 doesn’t violate the nuclear deal. Congress
New voices join Washington clamor over beatdown by Erdogan guards More US lawmakers are calling for action against the Turkish president's security detail after it beat up protesters in Washington, while the Turkish Foreign Ministry complains of what it calls "aggressive" conduct by "US security personnel." Turkey
Congress OK with Saudi missile defense sale amid warming Israel-Gulf ties Israel seems fine with Saudi Arabia getting an anti-ballistic missile system, as does Capitol Hill. Saudi Arabia
