The Takeaway: Would Hamas complicate US plans for reset with Palestinians? Also: the back story on the spat between Israel and Jordan; Gulf post-COVID economic trends; Turkey’s Kurds; Egypt and Somalia; and more! Originals
Egypt sentences activist Sanaa Seif to 18 months in prison Seif, who had been in pretrial detention since June, was convicted Wednesday of spreading false news and misusing social media. Egypt
Ukraine rejects Iran's final report on downed passenger plane The Iranian government said last year's shooting down of Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 was the result of a human error. Iran
Palestinians receive first batch of vaccines through COVAX More than 60,000 doses of the AstraZeneca and Pfizer/BioNTech vaccines arrived in Ramallah on Wednesday. Palestine
YPG tightens noose around Raqqa The battle for Raqqa is near as arms from the United States are dispersed among the coalition’s Kurdish ally, the Syrian Kurdish People’s Protection Units. Syria
Turkey's Alevi community fears more than just IS With evidence indicating imminent IS attacks against them, Turkey's Alevi minorities wonder who they can trust after years of dangerous rhetoric and polices from the AKP government. Turkey
Iranian hard-liners launch wave of attacks on Rouhani administration Iranian hard-liners have launched a new wave of attacks against the administration of recently re-elected President Hassan Rouhani. Iran
Syrian women in Egypt work to build strength out of hardship Six years into the devastating war, Syrian women who sought refuge in Egypt have become stronger and acquired new survival skills. Egypt
The reason Trump’s regional visit raised Israeli concerns Contrary to public impression, Israeli political and security establishments were actually worried over US President Donald Trump’s regional visit, especially over his positive impressions of the Saudi leadership. Palestine
Tehran, Washington set for proxy clash on Syrian-Iraqi border Due to its strategic position and impact on the future of Syria, the Iraqi-Syrian border is likely to be the site of a new conflict between the allies of Washington and Tehran soon after the Mosul operation concludes. Iraq
Israelis join Palestinians in peaceful Hebron protest The Israeli army disrupted the peaceful protests held by Palestinian and Israeli activists in a village south of Hebron to help the local communities return to their land. Palestine
Egypt steps up strikes in Libya following Coptic bus attack The recent terrorist attack that killed 26 Copts in southern Egypt pushed the army to launch airstrikes against militant camps inside Libyan territory. Egypt
Interview Syrian rebel commander: 150 US troops at al-Tanf base In an interview with Al-Monitor, Lt. Col. Muhannad al-Talla, the commander of Maghawir al-Thawra, speaks of the role of the US-led coalition at al-Tanf military base, which is close to the border between Jordan, Syria and Iraq. Muhannad al-Talla Commander of Maghawir al-Thawra
Meet the Kurdish woman leading battle against IS in northern Syria In an interview with Al-Monitor, Kurdish commander Rojda Felat, one of the leaders in the battle to retake Raqqa, shares her experience as a female fighter against the Islamic State. Syria
Israel silent on massive US-Saudi arms deal Israel, which prides itself on being the world’s biggest enemy of terrorism, accepted with equanimity the massive US arms deal with Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia
Turkey wary of NATO's decision to join fight against IS Turkey didn't veto NATO’s decision to join the anti-Islamic State coalition in Syria and Iraq, but it does consider the move part of a plan to strengthen the Kurdish People’s Protection Units. Syria
