Congress eyes military aid boost for Jordan Key House members are seeking to expedite the delivery of precision weapons to fight the Islamic State. By Julian Pecquet
Bennett, Liberman battle for defense portfolio The next Israeli defense minister, be it Moshe Ya'alon, Avigdor Liberman or Naftali Bennett, will have to cope, together with new IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eizenkot, with a new reality in which Hezbollah targets Israel from the Syrian border. By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
Shiite faithful defy danger to visit shrines Shiites continue to risk their lives to visit their shrines, not only for religious purposes but also because they represent the sacrifices their ancestors endured under Sunni oppression. By Ali Mamouri
Spies' families marginalized in Gaza As the Palestinian resistance publicly executes Palestinians accused of collaborating with Israel, the families of the spies suffer marginalization and shame. By Rasha Abou Jalal In Gaza City, reporting on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict
Damascus faces continual power outages Power outages in Damascus are unbearable, yet the government just directs blame at the opposition, failing to provide solutions. By Mustafa al-Haj
Hamas, Dahlan share rivalry toward Abbas Although officials say relations between former Fatah leader Mohammed Dahlan and Hamas are limited to aid provided by Dahlan to the Palestinians in Gaza, the shared enmity toward President Mahmoud Abbas shows otherwise. By Hazem Balousha
Palestinians rush to condemn murder of Jordanian pilot Right after the gruesome killing of the Jordanian pilot, Jordan’s TV broadcast the Palestinian imam’s condemnation of the crime, which indicates a rapprochement between Palestinians and Jordanians. By Daoud Kuttab In Amman, reporting on Palestinian politics
Kurds reject proposed rival force in Kirkuk The law to establish the National Guard forces in Iraq raised the ire of Kurds in northern Iraq who would rather remain in full control of their areas. By Mohammed A. Salih
Arms shipment to Lebanon to arrive in April French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius has announced that the first arms shipment of the Saudi grant, which has been stalled for more than year, will arrive to Lebanon on April 1. By Jean Aziz (Lebanon Pulse)
Senate aims to set up vote on Iran deal by month's end The Foreign Relations panel expects to soon vote on legislation that would give Congress a say over a nuclear agreement. By Julian Pecquet
Russia and Egypt's 'new partnership' Russian President Vladimir Putin and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi's new relationship could shift the dynamics of the Middle East. By Vitaly Naumkin
Rouhani challenges Iran deal detractors Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said that "only the Zionists" are opposed to a nuclear deal, and those not supporting the negotiators are guilty of "betrayal." By Arash Karami
Syrian Turkmens are forgotten ally in war against Islamic State Syrian Turkmens say they can play key role in fighting IS in northern Syria. By Metin Gurcan
Egyptian army struggles to address terrorism in Sinai Despite the Egyptian army's claims to victory over terrorists in the Sinai Peninsula, terrorist attacks have increased, a trend many attribute to the failure of the army's strategy. By A correspondent in Sinai
Why did Velayati meet with Putin? Despite points of disagreement on specific issues, Iran and Russia seem to be working diligently to develop a deep and strategic friendship. By Rohollah Faghihi
Delay of French-Saudi military aid to Lebanon a mystery US military aid has filled a crucial gap in Lebanon as a Saudi-French aid package has been delayed for unknown reasons. By Jean Aziz (Lebanon Pulse)