Syria says Iraqi oil shipments surge as Damascus courts foreign energy investment Speaking at the Atlantic Council Global Energy Forum in Washington on Tuesday, Syrian Petroleum Company CEO Yousef Qiblawy said Iraq's overland oil exports through Syria have expanded rapidly in recent months. Syria
Explainer Saudi Arabia, Turkey advance plans to revive historic Hejaz Railway Turkish and Saudi officials signed agreements as part of a Turkish push to revive the Hejaz Railway linking Turkey to the Gulf through Syria, Jordan and Saudi Arabia. Turkey
Analysis Turkey pushes Iraq, Syria trade routes as Hormuz crisis disrupts Gulf shipping Turkey is using the Hormuz crisis to promote Iraq- and Syria-based Gulf-Europe corridors, but experts say the routes remain too costly, underbuilt and politically fragile to rival maritime shipping. By Barin Kayaoglu In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security
UAE eyes first multifuel pipeline as Hormuz crisis drags on State-owned Abu Dhabi National Oil Company is considering building a refined oil products pipeline that bypasses the Strait of Hormuz. United Arab Emirates
Analysis Why Turkey sees opportunity in Hormuz crisis to boost Middle Corridor By Barin Kayaoglu In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security
Analysis Pushed out of Sahel, Macron turns to Egypt and Africa's anglophone countries By Rina Bassist , Rosaleen Carroll
Economic meltdown drives some Lebanese to collect recyclables for a living Lebanon’s increasing poverty and lack of jobs drive desperate people to live off of selling collected recycled materials in kilos to scrapyards, shops and manufacturers. Lebanon
US Treasury sanctions Hezbollah financial network in Lebanon A US Treasury official says the department is targeting Hezbollah's "misuse of the international financial system" to raise funds for terrorism. Lebanon
Putin, Raisi look to boost trade, regional cooperation in Moscow talks Ebrahim Raisi's trip to Moscow is unlikely to further elevate relations between the two countries. Russia
Crimean, Syrian ports sign cooperation agreements A Syrian government delegation visited the Russian-backed breakaway republic this week. News Brief
US sanctions Hezbollah's alleged financial facilitators in Lebanon The US Treasury Department designated Adel Diab, Ali Mohamad Daoun and Jihad Salem Alame as well as their travel company. Lebanon
US alleviates Lebanon's sanctions concerns over energy deal US Ambassador to Lebanon Dorothy Shea provided a Treasury Department letter that addressed concerns over the energy plan's potential to violate sanctions on Syria. Lebanon
Lebanese minister seeks economic boost with Iraq visit George Boushekian visited Baghdad this week to seek cooperation with his Iraqi counterparts and facilitate business deals between Iraqi and Lebanese entities amid Lebanon's economic crisis. News Brief
Qatar International Islamic Bank retains A credit rating from Moody's The leading Islamic bank’s head said the rating reflects its ability to withstand the COVID-19 pandemic. News Brief
The Takeaway: Iraq takes first steps toward new government: What comes next Updates from our regional correspondents on Turkey, Kazakhstan and Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Egypt; multimedia on Israel and Iran — all in about 1,000 words. Iraq
Israel pledges to keep US in loop on trade with China In the face of growing American concerns, Jerusalem has reportedly promised Washington it will keep it abreast of any major business deals with Beijing. Israel
As omicron spreads, Israelis turn against Bennett Many Israelis feel that the government and Prime Minister Naftali Bennett have lost control over battling the spread of the coronavirus omicron variant. Israel
Syria joins China’s Belt and Road Initiative The admission of Syria into the Chinese economic project is the latest sign of strengthening relations between Damascus and Beijing. News Brief
