Analysis Israel’s Lebanon endgame remains elusive despite ceasefire deal Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was compelled by President Donald Trump to accept a new ceasefire agreement with Hezbollah, but without a clear long-term strategy, he may be inclined to resume hostilities at the first opportunity. By Rina Bassist In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs
Iran unveils new missile-armed fast attack boat: What to know The boats are the latest addition to Iran’s "mosquito fleet," a fleet of high-speed attack craft operated by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Iran
US sanctions network smuggling Iranian LPG as talks falter The sanctions come as President Donald Trump has offered mixed signals on prospects for a deal. United States
Analysis Why Israel sees Lebanon’s 'pilot zones' as path to containing Hezbollah Israel views the proposed pilot security zones in southern Lebanon as a pragmatic way to gradually expand Lebanese state control, push Hezbollah away from the border and preserve a fragile ceasefire while the Trump administration pursues broader negotiations with Iran. By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
Newsletter: Daily Briefing Iran’s Araghchi says US bases in region legitimate targets By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
Newsletter: Daily Briefing Iran says no progress in US talks as Khamenei warns of foreign plots By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
US says nuclear talks to continue, despite alleged Iran kidnapping plot State Department spokesman Ned Price said Washington is "ready to go" ahead with talks, after Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said the task of renegotiating the deal had been handed over to the next administration. Iran
Republicans in Congress criticize Iran nuclear talks following alleged Iranian kidnap plot Texas Republican Rep. Michael McCaul says, “President Biden should not enter into any deals with Iran without an end to these assaults on our citizens.” United States
Biden's airstrikes fail to halt cycle of militia violence in Iraq The Pentagon says it is taking a recent spate of drone and rocket attacks "deadly seriously." Syria
Intel: Biden administration receives top Saudi official Biden administration officials meet with brother of Saudi Crown Prince, reaffirm US-Saudi partnership. United States
State Department official: There are ‘technical solutions’ to Nile River dam issue At a House hearing on Tuesday, a Republican congressman made an impassioned plea to consider Egypt’s water security regarding Ethiopia’s megadam on the Nile River. United States
Blinken calls Syrian humanitarian situation 'untenable' At a meeting of the members of the US D-ISIS coalition in Rome, the US secretary of state makes appeal for "stabilization." Syria
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