Feature A year since Assad’s fall, Aleppo trial tests Syria’s transitional justice Syria recently launched its first open trial on the deadly sectarian violence in March, but questions about judicial independence and political influence make the upcoming hearings a major test of accountability in post-Assad Syria as the first anniversary of Assad’s fall approaches. By Alessandra Bajec
Analysis Why Netanyahu seeks to remove Israel’s military chief Eyal Zamir Despite the army's achievements and the challenges it now faces, the Israeli prime minister is doing everything in his power to persuade military chief Eyal Zamir to quit. By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
Turkey sentences journalist over 4 years in jail for threatening Erdogan Prominent Turkish journalist Fatih Altayli was sentenced to over four years in prison in a trial government critics say aimed at silencing one of Turkey's most influential journalists and intended to intimidate journalists nationwide. Turkey
Analysis Lebanon's Jamaa Islamiya in spotlight as US moves to designate Muslim Brotherhood The Lebanese branch of the Muslim Brotherhood, al-Jamaa al-Islamiya, is a major Sunni political party in the country. But its armed wing has repeatedly attacked Israel during the war with Hezbollah, putting the group under US scrutiny. By Beatrice Farhat In Beirut, reporting on regional news, culture, conflict
Analysis After Trump’s pardon letter to Herzog, 4 scenarios emerge for Netanyahu’s trial By Rina Bassist In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs
Turkey blocks Instagram account of leading LGBTQ+ group Kaos GL The ban targeting the group, a leading LGBTQ+ organization, follows earlier bans affecting its website and X account. Turkey
Jordan to resume conscription in 2026, call up 6,000 men: What to know In 2026, 6,000 men born in 2007 will be drafted for a three-month training program. Jordan
UAE police arrest three suspects in attempted $25M diamond heist Three men were arrested after attempting to smuggle a 21.25-carat pink diamond from Dubai, now a major global diamond hub. United Arab Emirates
UN: Syria's March violence saw ‘likely’ war crimes by Damascus, Assad remnants The United Nations noted deliberate targeting of Alawite civilians in its report on the killings along the Syrian coast and called on the government to expand its efforts in taking steps toward accountability. Syria
Turkey detains 30 as government crackdown on opposition deepens: What to know Detainees include officials from Istanbul and Antalya municipalities and their family members as part of an ongoing corruption investigation into the Republican People’s Party (CHP) that critics say is politically motivated. Turkey
Egypt holds second Senate vote as pro-Sisi parties dominate: What to know The Senate elections, dominated by pro-Sisi government parties, feature fewer party list and individual candidates compared to elections held in 2020. Egypt
Jordan summons suspects accused of holding Muslim Brotherhood assets: What to know The Hashemite Kingdom has taken a number of legal actions against the Islamist organization since banning them in April. Jordan
Iran executions double to 625 as parliament mulls harsher espionage penalties The United Nations said executions so far this year stand at 625, at the least, more than double the number for the same period last year. Iran
UNIFIL patrol in southern Lebanon comes under attack: What to know A group of men blocked a UNIFIL patrol in southern Lebanon, citing the absence of a Lebanese army escort, leading to brief clashes in the latest incident involving local residents and the UN peacekeeping mission. Lebanon
US sanctions UN official overseeing Palestinian rights The sanctions come on the heels of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's meeting with President Donald Trump. United States
Jordan targets charities for alleged Muslim Brotherhood ties: What to know Jordan banned the Muslim Brotherhood in April and arrested some senior members of the related Islamic Action Front last month. Jordan
In first AI crackdown, Turkey blocks access to some Grok content The access ban marked the first AI content censorship in Turkey, stemming from offensive material targeting the Turkish president, religious values, and the country’s founder. Turkey
