Analysis Why Syria and Iraq are taking different approaches to armed groups By Shelly Kittleson In Baghdad, reporting on Iraqi politics
Analysis Who are Yemen's Southern Giants Brigades leading the fight against the Houthis? The Giants Brigades have emerged as the Saudi-backed Yemeni government’s most formidable fighting force. By Giorgio Cafiero
Saudi envoy says allied Yemeni forces capture Bab el Mandeb strait from Houthis: What to know A Houthi spokesperson rejected claims that Saudi-backed forces had retaken territory along the Bab el Mandeb Strait, as fighting escalated with new attacks on the Riyadh airport. Yemen
Analysis US balances Houthi diplomacy with support for Saudi offensive By Elizabeth Hagedorn In Washington, DC, reporting on diplomacy, regional politics, human rights
Houthis broach talks after Saleh slain, but war continues Yemen's civil war demonstrates that despotism leads to more of the same, no matter who's in power. Saudi Arabia
Is Trump’s Jerusalem decision winner for Iran? Islamic Jihad gains momentum in the Gaza Strip, US-Jordan relations are shaken, US-Turkey relations worsen and Iran reaps the benefits without lifting a finger. Palestine
FSA opens new business crossing in northern Syria A Syrian rebel faction opened a business road crossing in the Aleppo countryside to collect funds for the local civilians and military. Syria
As calls for disbanding Iraq's PMU rise, its influence expands The voices of Iraq's Western allies are rising against the Popular Mobilization Units, demanding the dissolution of these forces, while the PMU is expanding its influence in the Iraqi state, making Prime Minister Haider al-Abbadi face tough choices. Iraq
Saudis fail at their own conspiracy The fiasco surrounding the death of former Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh shows how Washington needs to help Saudi Arabia end the war on its neighbor. Saudi Arabia
Saleh killed in Yemen following peace overture; UAE denies Houthi missile claim Iranian media report, but the UAE denies, that the Houthis fired a missile toward Abu Dhabi over the weekend in response to a Saudi-brokered deal to return former Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh to power; Saleh was killed Dec. 4. Yemen
Israel, Iran duel on Syrian soil The growing presence of Iran in Syria, combined with attacks against a missile plant and a base for Iranian forces, indicate that Israel and Iran are practically already at war. Israel
Israel 'will not blink' on Iranian missiles The Israel Defense Forces set new red lines for Iran; Erdogan still waiting for Russian dividend on Kurds; Russia expands use of private military companies in Syria; the Islamic State and al-Qaeda at war in the Sinai Peninsula. Egypt
The uncertain future of Palestinian security forces Egypt stands ready to unify Palestinian security forces through an organizational overhaul and training, but Hamas may not be accepting of the offer. Palestine
What next for PMU in Iraq's Anbar province? The flags of a powerful Shiite fighting force still fly from the main bridge into the Iraqi border town of Qaim weeks after it was retaken from the Islamic State. Iraq
Battle may be brewing in Sinai between al-Qaeda, IS groups As Egypt continues efforts to suppress violence in the Sinai Peninsula, a small band of al-Qaeda followers is looking to grow and challenge both Egypt's army and Islamic State loyalists. Egypt
Proposed US sanctions on PMU put Iraq in tough spot Proposed sanctions against factions of the Shiite-dominated Popular Mobilization Units would place the Iraqi government squarely in the middle of a tug of war between Iran and the United States. Iraq
