Newsletter: Daily Briefing Israel orders strikes on Beirut's southern suburbs Netanyahu orders strikes on Hezbollah targets in Beirut after rockets and drones hit northern Israel. By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
Analysis Iran oil shock jolts Libya’s fortunes, but old fault lines complicate national recovery Soaring energy prices due to the Iran war are delivering a windfall to Libya just as the country's oil and gas sectors show signs of resurgence. By Samuel Wendel In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech
Analysis US, Turkey boost Libya coordination, but unity push faces political hurdles Washington and Ankara are stepping up coordination on efforts to unify Libya’s divided institutions, but analysts warn that major financial and political obstacles remain. By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
Newsletter: Daily Briefing Oil eases as Trump pauses Iran strikes After days of threats and brinkmanship, Washington and Tehran hint at diplomacy as Trump suspends planned military action. By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
Analysis Italy, Spain eye Algerian gas as Iran war slashes Gulf supplies By Samuel Wendel In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech
Analysis Libya’s oil revival powers on despite shaky investment thesis By Samuel Wendel In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech
Is France irked by Erdogan’s passion for Africa? Erdogan’s efforts to boost Turkey’s economic role in Africa have been marked by outbursts maligning France’s colonial past, but there is more to Turkey’s Africa opening that fuels the bilateral spats. Turkey
Escalation in Syria and Libya tests limits of Erdogan-Putin ties The recent escalation in Libya and Syria has put on display the limits of the relationship between the Turkish and Russian presidents. Syria
Will Tunisia have a seat in future Libyan dialogues? Tunisia appears to have lost an opportunity to garner international support to help it cope with the crisis in neighboring Libya when it rejected an invitation to the Berlin conference. Algeria
What brought Iranian forces to Idlib front? A number of developments, including Turkey's greater involvement in Syria and the US assassination of Iranian Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani, may be driving Iran's move to get more involved in Idlib battlefield operations. Syria
Algeria battles larger countries to vie for leading role in Libya peace process Algeria is seeking to recover its diplomatic role in the region, by pushing for a political solution in Libya and condemning foreign interference in its affairs. Egypt
Syrian mercenaries fight Turkey’s battles in Libya Though the Free Syrian Army denies it has sent fighters to Libya, hundreds of Syrian fighters are now in Libya after being lured by high salaries. Syria
Turkey expands gas exploration efforts to Libya’s offshore waters Turkey has moved to expand its gas exploration drive in the tension-ridden eastern Mediterranean since signing a maritime accord with Libya’s Tripoli-based government, but there are also signs that Ankara might seek to break its isolation in the region. Turkey
Pentagon: Turkey’s deployment to Libya threatens escalation The United States' top military officer in Africa has warned that Ankara's decision to send troops to Libya "risks a significant escalation." Turkey
Libyan divide deepens as eastern forces shut down oil ports As the Libyan National Army accused the Government of National Accord and Tripoli-based National Oil Corporation of spending its revenues on mercenaries to fight along their ranks, the tribes in eastern Libya shut down multiple oil ports and demanded a new distribution of oil revenues. Libya
Intel: Turkey downplays Erdogan’s phone call with Trump The White House disclosed Jan. 28 details of a call between President Donald Trump and his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Turkey
Egyptian army flexes muscle near border with Libya The latest military maneuvers held in Egypt come in light of Turkey’s decision to deploy troops to support Libya’s UN-backed government against the offensive led by Egyptian-backed military strongman Khalifa Hifter. Egypt
Interview SDF commander says Kurds ready for dialogue if Ankara is sincere In an exclusive interview with Al-Monitor in northeast Syria, Gen. Mazlum Kobane speaks on a range of issues including prospects for reviving dialogue with Turkey, US President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw US troops from Syria and the impact of Iranian Gen. Qasem Soleimani's killing in Iraq. Mazlum Kobane SDF commander in chief