Reduction in Iran's gasoline subsidy sparks anti-government protests President Hassan Rouhani’s announcement of a large reduction in the gasoline subsidy sparked protests across a number of cities, with deaths having been reported. Iran
Anti-Iran advocacy group FDD registers to lobby The hawkish Foundation for Defense of Democracies, an influential Washington think tank, has registered to lobby US lawmakers. Israel
Congress moves to sanction Russians for mercenary surge in Libya The US National Security Council has begun a review of US policy involving Libya as a congressional bill seeks to sanction Russian mercenaries who have undertaken operations in the war-torn North African country. Libya
Dubai's aviation boom in question as airshow kicks off The profitability of UAE airlines is on the decline as Dubai Airshow 2019 kicks off. United Arab Emirates
Against odds, Netanyahu revives his fortunes The Israeli prime minister takes out a terrorist foe, puts Iran’s Soleimani on notice and effectively sinks rival’s chances to form a new government — not a bad week. Palestine
Netanyahu’s 'divide and rule' policy against Palestinians Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu continues with the same approach of ignoring the Palestinian Authority and destabilizing it through contacts with Hamas. Palestine
Lebanese photographers put protests under camera lens An exhibition held at the center of the protests in Beirut has introduced photography to the streets and has challenged artists to adapt to the revolutionary moment. Lebanon
Turkey’s fight against IS riddled with black holes Ankara may boast about how many Islamic State members it has captured, but its handling of IS suspects on the ground, especially in deportation centers, speaks of a slipshod attitude to the problem. Syria
Gaza attacks widen gap between Israel's Arab parties, Gantz in coalition talks The Israeli assassination of an Islamic Jihad leader and the killing of 32 Palestinians, including women and children, has ended any possibility of engagement by the Arab Joint List with Blue and White party leader Benny Gantz. Palestine
Egypt conducts joint drills with Greece, Cyprus amid Turkey tensions The naval forces of Egypt, Greece and Cyprus conducted joint military exercises in the Mediterranean amid tensions with Turkey over its drilling activities in the area. Egypt
IS kills priests in Syria as Turkish-backed fighters express IS sympathies Two Armenian Catholic priests are killed by the Islamic State near Hasakah and pro-Turkish Syrian fighters are reported to have hoisted the Islamic State flag in Ras al-Ain. Syria
Did Turkey backstab Syrian opposition's National Army? Turkey's catch-and-release handling of 18 regime fighters captured by the Syrian opposition shocked many opposition forces. Syria
Probe claims State Department sidelined Iran expert in politicized smear campaign The State Department's Office of the Inspector General finds that “improper considerations played a role" in the removal of a career employee's assignment to the department's policy planning office. United States
Russia seems set to establish new military base in northeast Syria Russia has been fortifying its military presence in Qamishli and appears to be constructing a military base there, its third in Syria. Syria
Hamas arrests gunmen trying to cross into Sinai Hamas' security efforts are paying off, stopping suspected terrorists from crossing into Egypt on twice in one week. Palestine
Erdogan lauds Trump for 'sincere' efforts to fix ties with Turkey The Turkish president received a warm welcome in Washington despite launching a military operation in northeast Syria that has upended US regional policy and defying NATO to acquire Russian weapons. Turkey
