Why US strikes on Iran rail bridge signal shift in Hormuz conflict A US missile strike on the railway bridge linking Iran to Central and East Asia suggests the White House is once again flirting with politically coercive tactics after the June agreement failed to halt Iran's attacks on Hormuz shipping. Iran
Newsletter: Daily Briefing Iran hits Gulf, warns Hormuz will reopen on its terms Lebanese president meets US envoy; Russia eyes Tartous logistics hub in Syria; and more. By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
Lebanon's Aoun to meet Trump in first presidential summit in US since 2009 The visit by the Lebanese head of state will coincide with ongoing US-sponsored Lebanon-Israel talks. Lebanon
Oil soars more than 6% as Trump rules out Iran deal, threatens more strikes Oil prices had been recovering following a memorandum of understanding signed last month to end the war, but they rose by more than 6% early on Wednesday. Iran
Newsletter: Daily Briefing Trump says Iran deal is ‘over’ By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
Analysis Trump's F-35 push for Turkey runs into CAATSA — and Israel By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
Sistani to Rouhani: Iraq's sovereignty must be respected Iraq's top Shiite cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, met with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani in the Iraqi city of Najaf, where Sistani stressed the necessity of respecting Iraq's sovereignty. Iraq
Senate seeks to tie Trump’s hands on war powers with vote to end military role in Yemen The vote to end US support for the Saudi coalition in Yemen deals another blow to Riyadh, but it’s also an effort by liberals to curtail the president’s war-making authority. Saudi Arabia
Turkey, US head to new crisis over Ankara’s S-400 purchase Washington’s threats of dire consequences for Turkey if it goes ahead with the Russian air-defense deal are being disregarded by Ankara. Turkey
GOP blocks Trump administration’s bid to save Palestinian aid The Donald Trump administration has pushed Congress to preserve Palestinian security aid only to find resistance from the president’s Republican allies. Palestine
Pentagon seeks $2 billion cut for Islamic State fight The new US defense budget would cut funding to defeat IS by 20% as President Trump targets a withdrawal from Syria by the end of April. Iraq
Rouhani in Baghdad seeks outlets against US sanctions Iranian president Hassan Rouhani is paying his first visit to Iraq with the hope of expanding economic relations to allow Iran to counter the tightening noose of US sanctions. Iraq
Netanyahu fears tackling Democrats Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has kept quiet so far on the matter involving US Rep. llhan Omar, D-Minn.; he knows his policies have been helping reduce Democratic support for Israel for years. Palestine
Trump budget nixes aid to opposition-held Syria The Donald Trump administration is doubling down on its decision to eliminate economic and stabilization aid for Syria amid its pending troop withdrawal. Syria
Russian forces will defend Manbij 'the minute Americans leave' The Manbij Military Council and Russian commanders have made a verbal agreement over who will defend Manbij when the United States leaves, and Turkey is not part of the equation. Syria
Parliament bill may not prevent US troops from staying in Iraq Iraq is smack in the middle of a tug of war between the United States and Iran for influence in the Mideast and faces some tough decisions. Iraq
Kushner's clues to peace deal raise more questions than answers White House senior adviser Jared Kushner recently talked about the administration's long-awaited Mideast peace plan, saying Gaza and the West Bank must be united under one leadership, which raised speculation and doubt in Palestinian circles. Palestine