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
Fear of Extremism Grows in Maghreb Nassif Hitti comments on regional concerns about the rise of extremism following developments in Mali. Lebanon
Hezbollah Faces PressureAfter Bulgaria Indictment Ali Hashem examines responses in Lebanon and abroad to Bulgaria's accusations against Hezbollah for the Burgas bombing. Lebanon
Hezbollah: Israeli Strike On Syria Was Also a Strike at Iran Tensions in Lebanon and the region are high amid fears that the Syrian crisis will spread, writes Nasser Chararah. Israel
Morsi and Ahmadinejad Can Relate at OIC Summit Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi will compare notes at the summit of Organization of Islamic Countries in Cairo. Lebanon
Each Side of Syrian Conflict Claims Israeli Strike in Its Favor Following the Israeli aerial attacks on Syria, each side of the Syrian crisis questions the intentions behind the seemingly spontaneous offensive by their southern neighbor, writes Jean Aziz. Israel
Lebanon’s Sunnis Feel Threatened Following Arsal Ambush Following the conflict in the town of Arsal, the doubt and distrust between Sunni and Shiite political groups in Lebanon have spread to the military, writes Elie Hajj. Lebanon
Lebanese Army Considers the Brink Ali Hashem presents a Lebanese Army officer's insights into the prospect of growing domestic instability and the Syrian conflict's spillover into Lebanon. Lebanon
UN Panel Condemns Israeli Settlements Clovis Maksoud argues that Israel must be recognized as an occupying power in the West Bank and Gaza as a prelude to meaningful negotiations. Palestine
Syrian Jihadist Groups Take Conflict To Lebanon Friday’s deadly clash in Arsal, Lebanon, signals a dangerous escalation in confrontations between the Lebanese Army and Sunni Jihadist groups connected to those fighting in Syria, writes Jean Aziz from Beirut. Lebanon
Economy Trumps Palestinian Issue In Israel Nassif Hitti writes that addressing the Palestinian question would help tackle the economic concerns that dominated Israel's elections. Israel
Divisions Increase Among Palestinian Factions in Syria Rifts in Fatah al-Intifada have emerged as support for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime ebbs and flows throughout various Palestinian refugee groups in Syria and Lebanon, writes Mohammad Harfoush. Palestine
