Newsletter: Daily Briefing Syria, Israel hold US-mediated talks Pakistan’s Munir arrives in Tehran; major UAE economic delegation to visit Beirut; and more. By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
Newsletter: Daily Briefing Iran threatens ‘devastating’ response as US ramps up sanctions Syrian Kurds announce integration with Damascus; US Treasury issues Hezbollah Iran-linked sanctions; and more. By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
US Treasury issues Hezbollah sanctions, labels group Iran-linked The sanctions target couriers ferrying Hezbollah funds on commercial flights across the region. Lebanon
In first, Lebanon to hand over former Syrian general to Sharaa government The decision comes as Syria's new authorities move to prosecute former regime figures over alleged crimes committed during the country's civil war. Lebanon
Analysis Israel defies Trump on Lebanon as Netanyahu, Katz prioritize elections By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
Newsletter: Daily Briefing Lebanese PM urges Israeli withdrawal in meeting with US envoy By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
Newsletter: Daily Briefing Israel moves against West Bank settlers after Huckabee criticism By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
New March 14 Group to Launch In Lebanon Next Week Next week will see the birth of a new current that intends to recapture the spirit of the Lebanese March 14 Movement under the guidance of former MP Samir Franjieh, writes Elie al-Hajj. Lebanon
Lebanese Elections: Three Scenarios As Shiite, Sunni and Christian considerations threaten to disrupt and even cancel the Lebanese elections scheduled for this summer, Jean Aziz outlines the three potential paths developments could take in the near future. Lebanon
Lebanon Foreign Minister Creates Stir Over Syria Lebanon’s foreign minister, Adnan Mansour, draws criticism from both his own government and the Gulf states by calling for the reinstatement of Assad’s Syria in the Arab League, writes Elie Hajj. Lebanon
Netanyahu Sets Scene For Obama Visit Israel's prime minister has stepped up demands for US support while minimizing the visibility of the settlement issue in preparation for the US president's upcoming visit, writes Clovis Maksoud. Israel
Lebanese Maronites Hope Patriarch is Next Pope For the first time since Lebanese independence, many Lebanese Maronites think that there is a real chance that their patriarch becomes pope, writes Jean Aziz. Lebanon
Obama Should Re-Launch Peace Process Some are expecting US President Barack Obama to relaunch Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, but this should not mean negotiations just for the sake of negotiations that eventually go nowhere, writes Nassif Hitti. Palestine
Lebanon's Gathering Storm Over Syria As the Syrian conflict enters its second year, Lebanon's security situation is weakening as sectarian tendencies rise, signaling a coming crisis, writes Scarlett Haddad. Lebanon
Jabhat al-Nusra and Hezbollah In First Confrontation For the first time in the 23-month-old Syrian civil war, Jabhat al-Nusra and Hezbollah have been involved in direct confrontations, writes Jean Aziz. Lebanon
Lebanese Elections Likely to Face Postponement As the debate regarding the Orthodox Gathering law rages on, amid a complicated web of alliances between Lebanon’s sectarian contingents, elections are unlikely to take place according to schedule, writes Elie Hajj. Lebanon
Dissension Emerges Among Islamists In Egypt, Tunisia The divisions among Islamic parties have hampered stability and governance in Egypt and Tunisia, writes Nassif Hitti. Egypt
Fear of Islamic Extremism Brings Eastern Churches Closer There are growing links between the various churches of Eastern Christianity, driven by what they see as the threats to Christianity in the Middle East as a result of the Arab Spring, writes Nasser Chararah. Lebanon
Israeli Road Project Increases Tensions on Lebanon Border Israel plans to build a road near the Lebanese border and the Wazzani River, the site of many conflicts and confrontations in the past, reports Nasser Chararah. Lebanon