US brokers deal for limited Israeli withdrawal in south Lebanon The deal establishes a US-facilitated military coordination group to oversee the creation of two initial pilot zones in southern Lebanon. Lebanon
Explainer Gulf states push incentives for investors, expats after war dents image Several Gulf states are working to recover their images as global havens of stability in the wake of the Iran war. United Arab Emirates
Newsletter: Daily Briefing Iran insists on right to control shipping in Strait of Hormuz Supreme Court backs Trump move to end Syrians’ deportation protections; Lebanon cancels national high school exams; and more. By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
As US talks stall, Hezbollah chief defiant, says Israel to leave Lebanon ’humiliated' The speech comes as the Lebanese-Israeli talks appeared to reach a deadlock this week amid Israel’s refusal to withdraw from Lebanese territory as long as Hezbollah remains armed. Lebanon
Newsletter: Daily Briefing US-Iran technical talks set to resume next week By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
Analysis Pilot zones at center of Israel-Lebanon talks as Trump pressures Netanyahu By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
Lebanese Politics Affected By Syrian Battle for Qusair The fall of the Syrian town of Qusair to regime forces will likely have consequences for Lebanon. Lebanon
Hezbollah Campaigns For Preemptive War in Syria To preempt dissent among its base, Hezbollah is conducting a propaganda campaign to convince supporters that the sacrifices they are making in the battle for Qusair are worth it. Lebanon
As Assad’s Forces Take Control Of Qusair, What Comes Next? Now that the Syrian regime’s forces control half of the city of Qusair near Lebanon’s northern border, the balance seems to once again be shifting in the Syrian conflict. Israel
Uncertainty Over Electoral Law Prolongs Lebanon Political Crisis The Lebanese parliament remains incapable of putting forth legislation amid prevailing uncertainty about the electoral law and the standing Taif Agreement, which influence the representation of different sects in the government. Lebanon
Palestinian Refugees From Syria Especially Vulnerable Palestinian refugees from Syria often fall outside of the international safety net, which is already strained because of the war. Jordan
Geneva II Is Just a Start for Syria What are the conditions for the success of the Geneva II conference? Lebanon
Lebanon: An Intolerable Delay Lebanon must settle the dipute over its electoral law and form a new government. Lebanon
Jabhat Al-Nusra Shows Its Cracks What appears to be divisions among the leadership of terrorist allies Jabhat al-Nusra and al-Qaeda in Iraq may signal greater difficulties in controlling radical jihadists in Syria. Iraq
Lebanese Elections Will Not Happen in September While the debate continues over the so-called Orthodox Gathering law, along with other governmental roadblocks, it is unclear when parliamentary elections will be held in Lebanon. Lebanon
Does Lebanon’s Political System Need an Update? As Lebanon’s governmental crisis moves forward, traditional alliances may be shifting as inefficiencies in the old confessional system come to the surface. Lebanon
Why Did Iran's Foreign Minister Visit Jordan? Did Jordan's King Abdullah II charge Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi with sending a "friendly message" to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad? Jordan
Saudi-Qatar Honeymoon In Lebanon Is Over Seemingly eager to turn the regional unrest to their advantage, both Qatar and Saudi Arabia are carefully strategizing their diplomatic efforts in the Mideast. Saudi Arabia
