Tehran works to bring neighbors onboard against US maritime coalition Iran's president is intensely pursuing diplomacy with regional leaders to try to reverse US plans for an international maritime coalition in the Strait of Hormuz. By Al-Monitor Staff
What recent purges, promotions mean for Turkey's military This year's meeting of Turkey’s Higher Military Council to decide on promotions for generals and admirals provides some important clues about the direction of US-Turkish ties. By Metin Gurcan
US-Turkey joint operations center buys time for Syria safe zone talks Following an agreement to establish a "peace corridor" in northeast Syria, American and Turkish officials are creating a joint command center to work out details and oversight protocols. By Diego Cupolo
Netanyahu plays the 'peace plan' card Israeli voters who still hold out hope for a plan to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict should ask themselves whom they would like to see leading the negotiations. By Akiva Eldar
Pentagon sends team to scout Syria safe zone A US delegation is in Turkey to coordinate on a safe zone in Syria, but despite the seeming progress, there is no indication of agreement on its size and other details. By Jack Detsch
Hamas takes war game to West Bank Israel accuses Hamas of being behind the killing of an Israeli soldier in the West Bank after having thwarted an apparent Hamas attempt to carry out a bombing attack in Jerusalem. By Ahmad Abu Amer
West Bank attack deals heavy blow to Israel The stabbing of an off-duty Israeli soldier at a West Bank settlement stuns the nation; the Hebrew-language media points fingers at Hamas. By Ahmad Melhem In Ramallah, reporting on politics
Israel’s Liberman, Lapid battle over secular vote A court ruling banning separate seating for men and women at a concert for the ultra-Orthodox in Afula highlighted the differences between Yisrael Beitenu leader Avigdor Liberman and Blue and White senior Yair Lapid in their fight over the secular vote. By Danny Zaken In Ma'ale HaHamisha, reporting on Israel
What does US-Turkey military deal really entail? Turkish incursion into Syria thwarted: Washington said “no” and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan bowed. By Cengiz Candar
Likud supporters unlikely to back any other party Recent surveys show that whatever efforts made by the right-wing and left-wing parties, Israeli voters are expected to support their initial political bloc. By Mazal Mualem In Tel Aviv, reporting on politics
Rogue militants defy Hamas’ policy of restraint The thwarted terror attacks of recent days indicate that Hamas' leadership is losing control over some of its operatives. By Shlomi Eldar
Two more elected HDP officials suspended in Turkey Two elected officials were suspended over the weekend as pressure continues on the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party in Turkey. By Diego Cupolo
Intel: Why military confrontation between Turkey, Kurds in Syria might be good news for Russia Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s repeated threats to attack Kurdish forces in northeastern Syria depend on Ankara’s ability to meet certain conditions if they’re to become reality. By Ruslan Mamedov
Zarif says foreign ships making Gulf 'less safe' Iranian officials continue to push back against the naval presence of the United States and United Kingdom in the Persian Gulf. By Al-Monitor Staff
Why this traditional instrument is back on Tunisia's music charts A wave of nostalgia has hit Tunisian clubs after the success of a 1990s-themed Ramadan TV series inspired by traditional mezoued music. By Layli Foroudi
Riyadh faces new setback in south Yemen The loss of Aden is the latest in a long stream of strategic blunders in Yemen by the Saudi leadership. By Bruce Riedel