Iranian peshmerga chief: Iran set ambushes for us Khalid Azizi, secretary-general of the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan (KDPI), said Iranian forces ambushed Iranian peshmerga fighters, sparking a skirmish in September that resulted in casualties on both sides. Iraq
Turkish image abroad slumps Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s international popularity is plummeting with incompetent public diplomacy. Turkey
Rebels in Aleppo stretched thin between regime, IS Rebel supply lines to the city of Aleppo are at risk of being cut as the rebels simultaneously fight government forces and the Islamic State in Aleppo’s northern countryside. Syria
Military candidates to dominate Egyptian parliament As Egypt gears up for parliamentary elections, many fear that former generals will be elected to consolidate President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi's power. Egypt
Netanyahu prefers right-wing electorate to new Middle East While preparing early primaries for the Likud Party, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu prefers strengthening his right-wing leader image to seizing a historic opportunity to promote a changed regional order in the Middle East. Palestine
What it's like to fight for Hamas Abu Abdel Rahman, a fighter with Hamas’ Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, still dreams of fighting against Israeli forces in the last Gaza war. Palestine
Judiciary warns Iran media over corruption coverage The Iranian judiciary has warned Iranian media outlets about their coverage of ongoing corruption cases, saying that prosecutors have been ordered to pursue media organizations that break the law. Iran
Iranians, Israelis could live with 'bad' nuclear deal Though both the Israeli and the Iranian people seem to favor de-escalation and could live with a compromise, their leaders hold the real power over negotiations. Israel
Hezbollah attack on Israeli patrol seen as border warning Hezbollah has taken responsibility for an Oct. 7 attack on an Israeli patrol in the Shebaa Farms region, vowing future retaliation against Israeli aggression. Israel
Erdogan's Syria policies spark riots in Kurdish cities Turkey’s Syria policies spark massive protests in Kurdish cities, with at least 30 protesters killed; no relief for Syrians in Homs and Aleppo; Jabhat al-Nusra attacks Hezbollah in Lebanon. Lebanon
Iran's new military policy could boost birthrates Iran is extending compulsory military service by three months, but has offered reductions in service time to those with children. Iran
Turkey lowers economic targets Following a decline in industrial output, Turkey cuts its growth forecast to 3.3% in 2014 and 4% in 2015, while raising the year-end inflation estimate from 5.3% to 9.4%. Turkey
Sudan restates claim to disputed territory with Egypt Sudan recently announced it was including the disputed Halayeb area as an electoral district for its elections in 2015, proving a setback to Egypt-Sudan relations that were gradually improving after Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s election as president. Egypt
Hamas, IS share neither goal nor methods Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insists that Hamas and the Islamic State are fruits of the same tree, but there are significant ideological and methodological differences between the two groups. Palestine
Iraqi book festival draws thousands People came from various Iraqi provinces to attend the "I’m Iraqi, I read books" festival in Baghdad, as Iraqis show determination to combat the forces of terror. Iraq
Iran restricts organ transplants With a large number of Iranians dying in need of organ transplants, the government has moved to restrict such procedures to its citizens only, and only in public and teaching hospitals. Iran
