Analysis Oman talks leave Israel unsure of Trump's endgame as missile threat persists Israel and the United States are tightly coordinated on intelligence, but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is apparently in the dark on President Donald Trump's intentions in Iran. By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
Analysis As US-Iran talks set to begin, Israel struggles to shape Trump's options With US-Iran scheduled for Friday in Oman, Israel finds itself faced with two opposing options: press Washington to strike Iranian targets, or urge it to insist on a comprehensive deal. By Rina Bassist In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs
Newsletter: Business & Tech What India-US trade deal means for Mideast Syria, Kuwait look offshore for energy growth; markets weigh geopolitical signals; and more. By Jack Dutton In Bristol, reporting on regional business, climate change, AI, tech
Washington Post cuts 30% of staff, guts foreign desk, Mideast team: What to know Foreign correspondents from the Post have extensively covered wars in Gaza, Ukraine and other global conflict zones. United States
Intel: Blinken urges allies to repatriate IS fighters from Syria The Syrian Democratic Forces are holding an estimated 10,000 suspected Islamic State fighters, a situation Secretary of State Antony Blinken said is "untenable." Syria
US airstrikes hit Iran-backed militia after drone attacks in Iraq CENTCOM is trying to deter militia attacks without starting a war. Iran
US-made drones downed over Yemen weren't military's, CENTCOM says The Houthis said they wrecked two US drones over Yemen's contested Marib province. Yemen
US hopeful but 'realistic' on departure of foreign forces from Libya Joey Hood, the acting assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern affairs, also said the United States expects the elections scheduled for December to take place. Libya
Congress discusses 'strategic opportunity' for US vaccines in MidEast The House Foreign Affairs Committee's hearing Wednesday focused in part on the reputation of American COVID-19 vaccines in the Middle East versus Russian and Chinese ones. News Brief
US lawmakers unveil American hostage task force Rep. Ted Deutch (D-Fla.) and Rep. French Hill (R-Ark.) announced the Congressional Task Force on American Hostages and Americans Wrongfully Detained Abroad, a bipartisan working group aimed at helping the families of detained US citizens. United States
Biden urged to secure release of Americans left behind in Iran Amid intensifying speculation over a prisoner exchange between the United States and Iran, the family of Siamak and Baquer Namazi is appealing to President Joe Biden to secure their release. Iran
Biden discusses imperiled Syrian aid at high-stakes Putin summit The two leaders met ahead of a looming UN Security Council deadline to renew a massive cross-border aid operation that Russia is intent on shutting down. Syria
House Republicans cite 2015 law mandating congressional review of any Iran nuclear deal Republicans say the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act requires the president submit any deal on Iran's nuclear program to Congress for review. This could complicate the Biden administration's efforts to revive the Iran nuclear deal. United States
Republican senators ask Biden's UN rep to highlight Houthi rights abuses Some Houthi officials in Yemen have already been sanctioned by the United States and the United Nations this year. United States
Erdogan’s meeting with Biden more spin than substance The two leaders' first meeting as heads of state led to detailed discussions, but there were no breakthroughs. Turkey