Pentagon inks 7-year missile-production deal amid Iran war shortage The Defense Department has been hammering out new agreements with top defense manufacturers as the Iran war has rapidly depleted Washington's interceptor stockpiles. United States
Analysis Israel’s Lebanon dilemma: Confront Hezbollah without angering Trump, triggering Iran Israeli sources point out that the pilot project for Israel's withdrawal and the Lebanese military taking control over the area is not working because of the government's reluctance to search for Hezbollah's weapons in private homes. By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
Analysis How Iran is readying for economic protests as Trump escalates pressure Iranian authorities are bracing for unrest as US pressure collides with a battered economy, fuel price indecision and fresh memories of bloodshed. By A correspondent in Tehran In Tehran, reporting on politics
Trump says Hormuz mine-free as Iran, Oman agree to clear them The US president again says Hormuz is clear of mines as Iran and Oman announce their plan to clear the strait. United States
Newsletter: FutureVerse Economic D-day’s tech risks By Samuel Wendel In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech
Exclusive Israel recalibrates Syria policy, explores path to security deal By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
Tillerson says US troops to stay in Syria; US huddles with allies over Sochi Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said the US military will stay in Syria to prevent the return of the Islamic State, deter Iran and bolster post-war diplomatic efforts. Syria
Will Erdogan defy Russia, US over Afrin? Turkey’s plan to launch an operation to take Syria's Afrin faces major difficulties, yet if Erdogan succeeds even partially it will boost his image at home. Syria
Defiant Palestinians boycott US projects, products US President Donald Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel has prompted various Palestinian boycotts of US-funded projects and programs. Palestine
Iraq backs off plans to double number of US-trained counterterrorism forces With all of Iraq now liberated from the Islamic State, the elite Iraqi Counter Terrorism Service is shifting its focus away from large-scale battles. Iraq
Why protests won’t change Iran’s foreign policy The recent wave of unrest in Iran is unlikely to change the calculations that underpin the Islamic Republic’s foreign policy. Russia
Netanyahu’s shortsighted Mideast policy Israel prefers to ignore the changes surrounding it, such as threats by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to cancel the Oslo Accord and Iran’s change of stance on the Arab Peace Initiative. Palestine
Jordan tones down rhetoric in response to US move against UNRWA Amid US threats to cut funding for UNRWA, Jordan appears to have opted for quiet diplomatic engagement with the United States rather than a confrontational approach. Palestine
Russia, Iran in sync on preserving nuclear deal Russia's UN ambassador says the United States has "an irrational allergy" to Iran and should stop trying to constrain Tehran's influence in the Middle East by undermining the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. Russia
US touts military build-up against Iran in Syria The Donald Trump administration’s stated goal of using US troops in Syria to contain Iran, while failing to offer a formal Syria policy, is irritating lawmakers. Syria
Trump stays in Iran nuclear deal for now, targets rights abusers US President Donald Trump once again waived Iran nuclear sanctions to stay in the deal, but he warned it will be for the last time if he does not get a legislative fix that meets his demands. United States
US caught in crossfire amid flaring Jordan-Saudi tensions US Vice President Mike Pence will face flaring tensions between Saudi Arabia and Jordan over Amman’s alleged ouster of royals close to Riyadh during his upcoming trip to the region. Saudi Arabia
Erdogan: No extradition to US until Turkey gets Gulen Turkey has announced it will suspend extraditions to the United States until Washington produces Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen as US-Turkish relations continue to circle the drain. Turkey