Explainer War, oil, AI: What US midterms could mean for Middle East economies Governments across the Middle East will be watching closely after the election amid fears the US-Israel-Iran war could spiral into a new cycle of violence. United States
Newsletter: Daily Briefing US strikes Iran's Qeshm Island The US military struck Iran’s Qeshm Island on Monday, just hours after President Donald Trump said he was not considering attacking Iran after the midterm elections. By Gabrielle Debinski In New York City, reporting on the Middle East
Newsletter: FutureVerse US elections spotlight Gulf tech risks A sweeping victory by Democrats could put the White House’s recent Gulf dealings under greater scrutiny. By Samuel Wendel In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech
Analysis 'All we can do is wait': Netanyahu's push for Iran strikes hangs on Trump’s post-midterm call Amid the political deadlock following Israel's elections, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's leverage on Washington to resume Iran strikes will depend on the US' own vote. By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
Analysis How Netanyahu is trying to discredit Arab parties in bid to block Eisenkot By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
Analysis Israel’s deadlock: Could Trump broker Netanyahu-Eisenkot deal? By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
Another push to make Qalandia Airport a Jewish settlement The Netanyahu caretaker government has announced its intentions to build 11,000 housing units at the site of the former Qalandia Airport in East Jerusalem. Palestine
Pompeo calls for Idlib cease-fire The US secretary of state calls for an Idlib cease-fire as the UN and aid groups warn the exodus marks the largest humanitarian crisis in the nine-year Syrian war. Syria
Qatar brings on Republican lawmakers for new GOP push Holland and Knight’s new contract says that Republicans on Capitol Hill will be the focus of the lobbying. Qatar
Intel: US leans on Turkey despite tensions The top US military commander in Europe told Congress today that Turkey remains a key ally despite the Donald Trump administration’s decision to boot the NATO partner from the F-35 program after it took delivery of the Russian S-400 air defense system last summer. Syria
Intel: Washington eyes Lebanon sanctions over jailed US citizen Lebanon is finding itself staring down the prospect of US sanctions after jailing an American citizen for six months. Lebanon
Can Ankara’s sudden change of heart on NATO save the day in Idlib? Ankara’s abrupt U-turn to reembrace NATO appears driven by conjunctural necessity to balance Russia in Idlib and Libya rather than a new realization of structural dependency between Turkey and NATO. Syria
Idlib exposes Erdogan's untenable policies Turkey’s predicament in Idlib has laid bare its weaknesses and the longstanding inconsistencies in its foreign and security policy as never before, boding adverse repercussions for the government, both at home and abroad. Syria
PA seeks Israeli left's support to challenge US peace plan Despite the public's ire, the Palestinian Authority has been meeting with members of the Israeli media and the sympathetic left to boost Israeli opposition to the US peace plan ahead of the March 2 Knesset elections. Palestine
Al-Azhar’s imam faces hostile media campaign Al-Azhar Grand Imam Sheikh Ahmed el-Tayeb is facing a campaign of persecution and media blockade in an attempt by the state to push him to renege on his positions. Egypt
The urgent conversation Trump, Putin need to have about Syria As Idlib refugee crisis grows, US risks superpower confrontation over missiles. Syria
How Turkey’s anti-Gulen lobbyist risks Washington’s ire with Venezuela contract Amsterdam and Partners has picked up the Maduro government account after Foley & Lardner dropped it amid political blowback. Turkey
Turkey asks US for missile defense amid Syria standoff Turkey has asked the United States to deploy Patriot batteries to its southern border, a US official told Al-Monitor. Syria