US approves $230M for Lebanon’s push to disarm Hezbollah New US funds for Beirut signal rare bipartisan approval for progress by Lebanon's security forces as they dismantle Hezbollah weapons caches, but significant risks remain as the militant faction resists full disarmament. United States
In first visit in 25 years, Syrian FM pushes sanctions relief in Washington Asaad al-Shibani’s visit to Washington comes as Syria seeks sanctions relief and engages in US-mediated talks with Israel on a security agreement. Syria
Turkey’s spy chief in Damascus as Israel, Syria weigh new security map Ibrahim Kalin’s visit comes as Israel presses Syria on a buffer zone plan and Turkey frets over Kurdish autonomy. Turkey
Armenia's Pashinyan drops Mount Ararat from border stamps in 'concession' to Turkey Armenia’s government will stop using Mount Ararat on border stamps starting in November, a move that has stirred outrage at home and fueled debate over Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s outreach to Turkey. Turkey
Pro-government media deny Rouhani 'sold out' Iranian Caspian Sea claims Iranian social media has been inundated with claims that the government has given away much of the nation's share of the Caspian Sea, while pro-Rouhani newspapers reject such talk as baseless. Russia
Why US recognition of Golan Heights annexation would hurt Israel The US-backed campaign for recognizing Israel’s sovereignty over the Golan Heights could become a real obstacle on the way to peace with Syria. Palestine
Israel pushes US to recognize Golan Heights sovereignty Some Israeli senior officials believe the Trump administration might agree to recognize Israel’s sovereignty over the Golan Heights. Israel
Morocco-Algeria tensions flare over claims of Hezbollah support to Polisario Morocco’s accusation that Hezbollah and Iran are plotting against it with the Polisario Front has escalated tension with Algeria. Lebanon
Trump administration sides with Morocco in Western Sahara dispute The Donald Trump administration pushed a UN resolution that is tough on the Algeria-backed Polisario Front. Morocco
Nationalistic fervor rising in Greece, Turkey It is increasingly difficult to distinguish between rhetoric and reality in the deteriorating relationship between Greece and Turkey. Turkey
Is Greece Turkey’s new site of confrontation with the West? Turkey may escalate the tension with its NATO neighbor in a move to display its displeasure over NATO's — namely Washington's — stance on Syrian Kurdish groups. Turkey
Israel builds new wall at Lebanon’s southern border Tension is rising on the Lebanese southern border, where Israel has started building a wall, despite UNIFIL’s reassurances that the situation there is under control. Israel
US hits deadlock in Lebanon-Israel border mediation Renewed tension over the demarcation of the maritime border between Israel and Lebanon has the United States engaged in shuttle diplomacy between the countries. Israel
Turkish-Egyptian war of words in eastern Mediterranean heats up In an official statement, Egypt warned of any violation of its rights in the eastern Mediterranean region in response to the official Turkish position, which refused to recognize the legality of the agreement between Egypt and Cyprus on the exploitation of natural resources of the two countries’ exclusive economic zones. Egypt
International pressure on Israeli settlements renews push for US anti-boycott laws Pro-Israel advocates trying to fight boycotts of Israel's settlements face a new urgency as the UN turns its spotlight on the West Bank, but legal challenges to federal and state laws are creating significant hurdles. Palestine
