Trump says al-Qaeda received US weapons intended for Syrian rebels In a July 25 interview made public Tuesday, the president said he canceled a CIA program to train and equip moderate Syrian rebels after weapons ended up in the hands of Al-Qaeda. Syria
Rouhani under fire over likely new Cabinet appointments In Iran, President Hassan Rouhani comes under fire from Reformists who demand more seats in his second-term Cabinet. Meanwhile, reports indicate that his campaign pledge to appoint female ministers will not be realized. Iran
Turkey in uproar over McGurk The Turkish media's outlandish attacks on US envoy Brett McGurk hint at the anxiety in Ankara over US relations with Syrian Kurds. Syria
Germany's patience with Erdogan may be running out The latest moves by the German government against Turkey suggest Germany's patience with President Erdogan may have run its course. Turkey
Iran outflanking Saudi Arabia in Yemen Saudi Arabia's war on Yemen has allowed Iran more influence than ever in the region. Saudi Arabia
Trump’s options on the nuclear deal with Iran Before settling on an Iran policy, President Trump must take a holistic view of the US footprint in the region and move forward based on pragmatism. Russia
Egyptian band beats censorship via YouTube The band Cairokee has used YouTube as a platform to publish its new album after a state censor banned it, prompting critics to ask whether such censorship has any point in the age of the internet. Egypt
Clouds gather over Turkish-German economic ties Exasperated over Turkey’s disregard for the rule of law and its arrest of German nationals, Berlin has raised the specter of economic sanctions against Turkey. Turkey
Syrian regime says it's time for the displaced to return Hundreds of people displaced from al-Waer neighborhood in Homs, Syria, have now left the Zoghra camp outside of Aleppo and returned to the regime-controlled Homs. Syria
Netanyahu’s empathy for Hebron shooter reveals a lot about Israel The support by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his party members for the IDF soldier convicted of manslaughter in Hebron demonstrates the moral decline of the Likud. Israel
Egyptian restaurant captures customers with jail decor A new prison-themed restaurant in Cairo serves customers life and death sentences in sandwich form. Egypt
Rival Libyan leaders agree to elections, but challenges remain Although neither yet recognizes the other’s legitimacy, Libya’s military strongman Khalifa Hifter and Fayez al-Sarraj, the prime minister of the Tripoli-based government, agreed during a meeting in France to hold elections in a bid to end the country's conflict. Libya
Archives belie Israel's narrative of Palestinian conflict Early members of the Zionist movement and later Israelis have consistently attempted to control the narrative of the conflict with the Palestinians, including by seizing photographic evidence of Palestine and the Palestinians' history. Palestine
Feature film to mark new beginnings for Gaza cinema The Gaza Strip's closed movie theaters will reopen at the end of the summer for the first feature film made by a local company. Palestine
Despite probe, questions remain after Syrians die in Lebanese custody Four Syrians detained by the Lebanese army in a raid on Syrian refugee camps in Arsal died less than 48 hours into their detention, thus raising questions about the reason behind their deaths, as several photos showed signs of torture on their bodies. Lebanon
Netanyahu’s legacy: Dividing Jews and uniting Arabs Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's handling in the recent Temple Mount/Haram al-Sharif crisis threatens to turn the Israeli-Palestinian conflict from a nationalist struggle into a religious conflagration. Palestine