Oman’s humanitarian aid to Yemen also pragmatic Providing assistance to Yemenis requires Oman to maintain a low profile and strike a political balance with its giant neighbor to the northwest, Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia
Dubai ports giant hires ex-Israeli intelligence official to land US support for Sudan bid DP World has hired controversial lobbyist Ari Ben-Menashe to get a US grant to develop Sudan’s most important cargo terminal. United Arab Emirates
Deadly stampede kills scores at burial of Iran's Soleimani Scores of mourners died in a stampede that marred and briefly delayed a massive burial for the Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani assassinated in a US airstrike last week. United States
US withdrawal from Iraq is Israel’s worst-case scenario The leaked letter published this week about the United States considering withdrawing from Iraq and Syria generated great concern within the Israeli security establishment. Iraq
TurkStream gas pipeline will bring Moscow, Ankara closer than ever Turkey and Russia are set to inaugurate the TurkStream gas pipeline, which promises to increase Russian leverage in regional energy markets. Turkey
Intel: US uses Uighur crisis to sideline China in MidEast The United States is highlighting China’s mass detention of some one million Muslim Uighurs in concentration camps as part of a bid to reduce Beijing’s diplomatic clout in the Middle East. Bahrain
How Moscow is positioning itself as broker amid Mideast tensions Russian President Vladimir Putin's shuttle diplomacy in the Middle East seeks to gain Russia more power and higher status. Syria
US-Iran tensions shift Iraq from brink of reform to brink of war After its assassination of a major player in Iraq, the United States must now engage with the anti-government, pro-reform nationalist protesters in Iraq in order to push against Iranian influence in the country. Iraq
Region watches for sparks as Palestinian factions mourn Soleimani The assassination of Iran's Qasem Soleimani has prompted many sad reactions among the various Palestinian factions, but so far all are resisting the urge to avenge him. Palestine
How Israel is feeding fire of US-Iran escalation Instead of stoking the fire and congratulating US President Donald Trump over the killing of Iran’s Qasem Soleimani, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should look at the larger picture. Palestine
Palestinian Fatah camps jockeying for post-Abbas leadership With Palestinian elections supposedly in the works, the leadership struggle within Fatah is intensifying in the quest to lead the movement in the post-Abbas era. Palestine
National campaign to support domestic goods on rise in Iraq Iraqi protesters launched campaigns to support the national goods and boycott foreign and Iranian goods in particular. Originals
Is high-profile Meshaal setting stage to lead Hamas again? The growing political activity of former Hamas politburo chief Khaled Meshaal has prompted some to believe he is either planning to return to Hamas leadership or enter the expected presidential election in the Palestinian territories. Palestine
How Soleimani’s assassination could affect Iran’s Syria strategy Iran could use its position in Syria to strike against the United States and Israel as part of Tehran's retaliation for last week's killing of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani. Iraq
Anti-war groups gain new traction with Democratic leaders after Soleimani strike House Democrats are considering a three-pronged offensive to limit President Donald Trump’s ability to wage war with Iran after abandoning the effort last year. Congress
US set to reposition forces in Iraq after strike on Soleimani The US-led coalition fighting the Islamic State in Iraq is set to reposition forces throughout the country after the Iraqi parliament urged international troops to leave over the weekend. Iraq
