On first visit to Paris, Lebanon's Salam secures $88M reconstruction pledge During discussions with Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, President Emmanuel Macron emphasized that Beirut must implement economic reforms before an aid conference can be organized to support Lebanon's reconstruction. Lebanon
2 Iranian border guards killed in Kurdistan province: What to know Iraq agreed to move Iranian Kurdish groups farther from the border in 2023, but some clashes have occurred since then. Iran
Turkey on edge as clashes continue in Syria's Suwayda, Kurds weigh next move Turkey fears a deepening ethnic fracture in Syria could redraw the regional map — and embolden its own Kurdish population. Turkey
Analysis Will Israel's airstrikes in Druze city derail Syria normalization talks? The violent clashes in Syria and subsequent Israeli attack have pushed a potential bilateral security agreement further off. By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
Analysis Despite top-level visits, lingering mistrust overshadows Pakistan-Iran ties By Rosaleen Carroll In Washington, DC, US, reporting on the Middle East
Iran, Turkey have own plans for Iraq's strategic Sinjar The Islamic State has been largely driven out of Iraq, but Turkey and Iran both remain intensely interested in certain areas. Iraq
Iraq’s intervention may change the equation in Syria's Kurdish regions The closure of the Fish Khabur and Rabia border crossings between Iraq and Syria may jeopardize the Kurdish federal project in northern Syria. Iraq
Syrian opposition 'interim government' takes control of Bab al-Salameh border crossing The Free Syrian Army has handed over the administration of the Bab al-Salameh border crossing with Turkey to the co-called Syrian Interim Government, in what could positively impact the opposition on many levels. Syria
Are Russia, Iran outflanking the US in Iraq? Russia deftly manages potentially choppy ties with Iran, while the United States claims Iran "subverting Iraq." Iraq
Senate challenges House on Western Sahara dispute Senate appropriators want to tighten restrictions on US aid to Morocco-occupied Western Sahara one year after the House first made assistance available. Algeria
Russia's balancing act in North Africa Despite Russia's very different relations with Algeria and Morocco, Moscow takes pains to treat them the same. Algeria
A unified Cyprus seems too much to ask Despite long and dogged efforts, hopes for a unified island of Cyprus diminish as too many factors seem to favor the status quo. Turkey
Putin boxed in by Iran, Turkey on Iraqi Kurdish referendum The Russian president could find himself at odds with Iran if he misplays a weak hand. Iraq
Why IDF chief commuted Hebron shooter's sentence IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eizenkot commuted the sentence of Hebron shooter Elor Azaria, not as a sign of pardon but for Israeli society to heal. Palestine
Russia keeps eye on Kurdish oil contracts, referendum Russia has been boosting its presence in Middle East oil via the Kurdish Regional Government, but is also waiting to see what the potential impacts might be of the KRG’s independence referendum. Iraq
Palestinian Authority looks to reinvent itself A member of Fatah’s Central Committee has taken to the media to declare a shift in focus for the Palestinian Authority toward more revolutionary politics. Palestine
Sanctions give Moscow, Tehran something to talk about US sanctions are indeed drawing Russia and Iran closer, but the question now becomes just how close. Russia
