Turkey brandishes Incirlik card to threaten US Turkish officials are hinting at denying US access to the Incirlik Air Base unless Washington halts its support for Syrian Kurds and begins to provide air support for Turkish troops in Syria. Iraq
Who benefits from police probe against Netanyahu? Likud seniors have not openly criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the criminal investigation against him, knowing full well that Likud members won’t accept a campaign against the incumbent premier. Israel
How Istanbul nightclub attack was linked to Turkey’s culture war Did the Islamic State target “the apostate Turkish government” or New Year's Eve? The answer is complex. Turkey
Why 2017 doesn’t bode well for Turkey's economy Official figures show the Turkish economy has plunged deeper into recession, as expected fourth-quarter economic numbers may not provide much hope. Turkey
Criticism of Istanbul terror victim exposes Arab-Israeli generation gap The killing of young Palestinian Lian Zaher Nasser in the Istanbul terror attack has exposed a growing rift within Arab-Israeli society between young people seeking a modern way of life and those adhering to a strict religious moral code. Israel
Israel divided over conviction of Hebron IDF shooter The conviction of IDF soldier Elor Azaria for shooting to death a wounded Palestinian assailant sends the message to the radicalizing Israeli society that the IDF will not accept such behavior amid its ranks. Israel
Why is Baghdad removing checkpoints during security crisis? While barriers and checkpoints deployed across Baghdad are being removed, a series of terrorist attacks occurring in the capital recently raises many concerns about the government's ability to prevent violence. Iraq
How Rouhani’s main asset became his biggest liability Seeing the nuclear deal — what was supposed to be his main asset — turn into his main liability, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani’s best bet is continued disunity among his conservative foes. Iran
Egyptian campaign utilizes children as first defense against abuse An Egyptian NGO has launched a campaign that helps children recognize abuse and feel comfortable reporting sexual assaults against them. Egypt
Three days in March: New details on how US, Iran opened direct talks Al-Monitor has learned that in the first few days of March, American officials secretly met with an Iranian delegation at a beach-side villa in Oman. Iran
Iran judiciary chief clashes with Rouhani once again The conservative head of Iran’s judiciary says the president has been accused of getting money from a jailed billionaire. Iran
Political Islamists brace for Trump era The president-elect and his advisers take a dim view of the Muslim Brotherhood and its cousins, but could shutting them out end up hurting America the most? Egypt
Turkish leaders cry conspiracy as hunt for Reina attacker continues In a now familiar pattern, the Turkish authorities are denying any responsibility for the intelligence lapses linked to the stream of terror attacks that have shaken the country and whipping up fury against their opponents to deflect attention from Turkey’s ballooning other problems. Turkey
Turkish-Iranian rivalry may derail Syrian peace efforts Despite the Moscow Declaration, in which Russia, Turkey and Iran pledged joint efforts to end the war in Syria, the ongoing regional rivalry between Ankara and Tehran could lead to snags in the settlement process. Syria
Why are Yazidis being uprooted again? The Yazidis of Iraq who escaped Islamic State assaults and took refuge at a camp in Turkey have been told to pack up and move to other camps. Iraq
How Iran sees Russian-Turkish deal on Syria Although it was left out of Russia and Turkey’s announcement of a cease-fire agreement in Syria, Iran is very much involved on the stage as the Moscow-Ankara accord builds on a trilateral understanding with Tehran. Syria
