Middle East crises loom in background as NATO leaders gather in Washington While this year's summit is expected to focus largely on the ongoing war in Ukraine, Iran's military support for Russia and Turkey's strategic balancing act with Moscow are expected to weigh on NATO leaders gathered in Washington. Washington Pulse
US, Israel hold second virtual meeting on Rafah Biden administration officials have denied offering to green-light an Israeli invasion of Rafah if Israel holds off on retaliating against Iran. Washington Pulse
State Department staffer resigns over Biden's handling of Gaza Annelle Sheline is the second State Department official to publicly resign since Oct. 7, citing the erosion of US credibility on human rights in the Middle East as a result of the war. Washington Pulse
US Navy plans for smaller fleet amid spending caps despite Middle East crisis Facing budget caps and new procurement delays, the Navy is poised to reduce the overall size of its fleet even as attacks by Iran and its proxies in Yemen have led to unprecedented disruptions of commercial shipping in the Red Sea. Washington Pulse
Exclusive US government employees plan walkout over Biden’s Gaza policies By Joyce Karam , Elizabeth Hagedorn
US Senator grills State Department official on potential F-35 sale to UAE Senate Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Member Robert Menendez said the possible sale of the advanced fighter jet to the United Arab Emirates could undermine Israel's military superiority in the region. Originals
Intel: Russia to pursue military cooperation with Iran once arms embargo expires Iran's foreign minister, who mocked US efforts to renew the embargo, is headed to Moscow Thursday. Russia
Trump awards rare honor to emir of Kuwait At press briefing after meeting a Kuwaiti delegation, US President Donald Trump said that "seven or eight countries" may be in line for normalization with Israel. Originals
Wagner has already crashed two Russian fighter jets in Libya, AFRICOM says Russian regular forces are likely present in Libya, AFRICOM's intelligence director said Libya
Biden endorses lower troop levels in Iraq, fight against IS in interview Joe Biden told Stars and Stripes he wants to stop "forever wars" but keep some troops in Iraq and Syria. His opponent, Donald Trump, also pledges to withdraw more troops. United States
US B-52 bombers train with Morocco, Tunisia aircraft over Mediterranean The destroyer USS Roosevelt simulated a hostile ship in a US show of force alongside the North African countries. Morocco
US lawmakers grapple with Egypt policy as Sisi’s clampdown continues As President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi ratchets up the rights abuses, some in Congress say the Trump administration is giving the Egyptian strongman a pass. Egypt
More than 2,000 US troops to leave Iraq in September, CENTCOM says CENTCOM head formally announces long-awaited reduction of US forces in Iraq. Iraq
Trump nominated for Nobel Peace Prize following Israel-UAE deal A right-wing Norwegian politician made the nomination, but Trump is not necessarily likely to win it. Originals
Owners of Iranian fuel seized by US raise challenge in court The US Justice Department says the companies challenging the fuel seizure are fronts for Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Iran
US vetoes UN resolution on foreign terrorists, citing lack of repatriation language The United States said the Security Council resolution did not mention the need to send Islamic fighters to their home countries. US-backed forces detain thousands of them in Syria. Originals
Intel: US returns Baath Party archives to Iraq After 15 years in the United States, millions of government documents from the Saddam Hussein era have returned to Iraq. Iraq
