'Let Syria take care of Hezbollah': Trump criticizes Israel, leans on Sharaa to help in Lebanon President Donald Trump insisted he has a great relationship with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu but criticized the scale of Israel’s strikes in Lebanon. Syria
Newsletter: Daily Briefing Iran says US deal requires Israeli forces to leave Lebanon Tehran says the US-Iran agreement must include Israel's withdrawal from Lebanon, while Gulf states cautiously back the framework to end months of war and disruption. By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
Analysis 'He knew it was over': Inside Netanyahu’s response to Trump’s Iran deal as Israel recalibrates Despite all his efforts, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu realized there is nothing he could do to prevent President Donald Trump from signing a deal with Iran. By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
Newsletter: Daily Briefing Region welcomes US-Iran deal Gulf states, Turkey and Lebanon cautiously praise the framework while urging full implementation and protection of maritime trade routes. By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
Analysis Squeezed by Trump and Iran war, how vulnerable is Netanyahu in polls? By Mazal Mualem In Tel Aviv, reporting on politics
Analysis 'A complete disaster': Israel scrambles for clarity as Trump touts emerging Iran deal By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
US threatens to stop Yemen aid if Houthis don’t cooperate USAID has informed Houthis rebels in Yemen that it will halt humanitarian aid deliveries to areas the rebels control if they continue to interfere in the distribution of assistance. Yemen
US blacklists new leader of Iran-backed Iraqi militia The successor of Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis as leader of the Iran-backed Iraqi militia Kataib Hezbollah has been designated as a global terrorist by the United States. Iraq
Russia explores way to draw UAE, Saudi Arabia to its Syria policies As relations with Turkey stall, Moscow seeks ways to engage with the Saudis and Emiratis to have them back in the Syrian game. Saudi Arabia
Pentagon dismisses Syria re-engagement amid Idlib showdown The US administration shot down the idea that it will send troops back into Syria amid assurances from the secretary of state that the United States is "working" with Turkey on the "complicated" situation. Syria
Idlib and the collapse of Erdogan’s foreign policy Gambling on Russia to secure results in Syria turns out to be Ankara’s biggest miscalculation Syria
Why Iraq may opt to avoid lawsuit over Soleimani killing Iraqi political parties have abstained from involving Iraq in the preparation of a judicial file involving the assassination of Iranian Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani in Baghdad. Iraq
Another push to make Qalandia Airport a Jewish settlement The Netanyahu caretaker government has announced its intentions to build 11,000 housing units at the site of the former Qalandia Airport in East Jerusalem. Palestine
Pompeo calls for Idlib cease-fire The US secretary of state calls for an Idlib cease-fire as the UN and aid groups warn the exodus marks the largest humanitarian crisis in the nine-year Syrian war. Syria
Qatar brings on Republican lawmakers for new GOP push Holland and Knight’s new contract says that Republicans on Capitol Hill will be the focus of the lobbying. Qatar
Intel: US leans on Turkey despite tensions The top US military commander in Europe told Congress today that Turkey remains a key ally despite the Donald Trump administration’s decision to boot the NATO partner from the F-35 program after it took delivery of the Russian S-400 air defense system last summer. Syria
Intel: Washington eyes Lebanon sanctions over jailed US citizen Lebanon is finding itself staring down the prospect of US sanctions after jailing an American citizen for six months. Lebanon
Can Ankara’s sudden change of heart on NATO save the day in Idlib? Ankara’s abrupt U-turn to reembrace NATO appears driven by conjunctural necessity to balance Russia in Idlib and Libya rather than a new realization of structural dependency between Turkey and NATO. Syria