Dawn of protest: Palestinians stand against 'deal of century' at prayers Palestinians flock to holy sites in the Great Fajr Campaign, to protest the "deal of the century" and its implications for Haram al-Sharif. Palestine
Iranian actors call on Rouhani to allow cinema legend to come home Many of the Iranian actors who have supported President Hassan Rouhani are now calling in their favors by asking for veteran actor Behrouz Vossoughi's return to Iran after 40 years in the United States. Iran
The Takeaway: February 5, 2020 Highlights: Falling-out between Putin, Erdogan creates opportunity for US; Iran says it remains committed to Damascus; Raspberries from Iran for Trump Mideast plan; and more! Originals
Intel: Space Force tracked Iranian missile strikes Members of the Space Force helped track and detect the Iranian ballistic missiles that struck an Iraqi air base last month. Iraq
How Iranian hard-liners helped Reformists ahead of elections Hard-liners are finding ways to ban Reformist candidates from elections, but this may play into the Reformists' hands. Iran
US envoy presses Russia to halt Syrian offensive on Idlib A top US envoy today pressed Russia to get the Syrian regime to halt a military offensive into the northwestern Syrian enclave of Idlib that has driven some half a million people to flee their homes since December. Syria
Iranian Kurdish rebels hire law firm to lobby Trump administration The Komala Party of Iranian Kurdistan now has lobbyists covering both the executive and legislative branches. United States
Intel: Trump touts eliminating Soleimani, Baghdadi at State of the Union President Donald Trump focused on his removal of Iran’s Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani and Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi from the Iraqi and Syrian battlefields during his State of the Union address on Tuesday. United States
Intel: Pentagon pauses program that helps Turkey target PKK The United States has suspended providing real-time intelligence to Ankara that helped it target militants of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party. Turkey
Iran’s Khamenei defends pre-election purge of Reformists Iran’s supreme leader called for high turnout in the country’s upcoming parliamentary vote despite wide public discontent with the candidate-vetting process. Iran
Has Netanyahu given up on annexation before the election? Right-wing parties and settlers are pressuring Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to defy the Trump administration and annex Israeli settlements on the West Bank now rather than after the March 2 elections. Palestine
Erdogan threatens Assad forces, seeks de-escalation in Idlib Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Ankara will retaliate if Syrian regime forces do not pull back from Turkish observation posts in Idlib by the end of the month. Syria
PMU factions reluctant to target US interests in Iraq directly Following the assassinations of Qasem Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, Shiite armed factions are reluctant to engage in direct war with the United States due to the lack of military balance between them and their fear of US reactions. Iraq
Turkey’s AKP stumbles in efforts to restore economic confidence Turkey’s economic confidence indicators show the government has a long way to go in overcoming the credibility erosion it has suffered over the past two years. Turkey
High court rules Cairo University can restrict use of full veils An Egyptian court approved a decision to bar teachers from wearing the niqab in Cairo University lecture halls, raising mixed reactions. Egypt
How local activists are reviving life in Raqqa Three years after Raqqa was liberated from the Islamic State, civil society organizations have launched a campaign to revive the city’s cultural and popular aspects. Syria
