Syrian Kurds worry IS camp could riot as Turkey weaponizes water As Turkey and Russia reach an agreement to stop the fighting in Idlib, the Kurdish-run administration in northern Syria has said Ankara's restrictions on its water supply could pose a major threat to security. By Amberin Zaman In London, reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture
Have Iraqi religious centers contributed to the spread of coronavirus? With the increase in the number of coronavirus victims in Iraq, the role of religious centers in curbing the spread of COVID-19 has come under scrutiny. By Lujain Elbaldawi
Iran’s coronavirus has no politics and can’t be contained UAE, Gulf take proactive steps to get ahead of outbreak, but region is already paying a heavy price. By Karen Young In Washington, DC, reporting on regional energy
Iran presents national strategy to fight coronavirus Iran’s Health Ministry has initiated a nationwide program to fight the spread of the coronavirus. By Al-Monitor Staff
Iraq's Falcon Intelligence Cell wants to root out corruption The head of the Falcon Intelligence Cell, Abu Ali al-Basri, spoke to Al-Monitor about the lingering Islamic State presence in the country and discussed his idea of setting up a similar team to fight corruption. By Shelly Kittleson
Israel’s third election only intensified political chaos Four days after the elections in Israel, all the different sides are still squabbling among themselves as if the election isn’t over yet. By Mazal Mualem In Tel Aviv, reporting on politics
Egypt's Coptic philanthropist nominated for Nobel Prize Visits to the garbage slums of Cairo transformed Magda Gobran — a businesswoman and an academic with a comfortable life — to Mama Maggie of the poor. By Nada Shaker In Cairo, reporting on culture
Palestinians insist that there is no back channel with Washington Is there or isn’t there a back channel of talks between the Palestinians and the US administration? By Daoud Kuttab In Amman, reporting on Palestinian politics
LGBTQ association achieves major legal milestone in Tunisia A Tunisian court granted legal protection to Shams, a Tunisian association defending LGBTQ rights, setting a major precedence in the region. By Amel al-Hilali
Did Netanyahu celebrate his victory too early? Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu thought that he had won the elections, but now finds out that the road toward a majority government is long, if not impossible. By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
Can Israeli Arabs settle political score with Netanyahu? The Arab Joint List is ready to cooperate, even with Yisrael Beitenu’s Avigdor Liberman, to pass a law preventing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from forming a new government. By Shlomi Eldar
The Takeaway: March 4, 2020 Highlights: Pompeo offer on coronavirus creates opening for Iran; Economic costs of virus may outlast public health impact; Three things to watch in Putin-Erdogan summit tomorrow; ‘Heart’ of Lebanese protests; and more! By Andrew Parasiliti In Washington, DC, reporting on diplomacy, regional politics, national security
What the US-Afghan agreement means for Iran The US agreement with the Taliban could prove to be an added burden to Iran, which has serious concerns about the deal creating instability in neighboring Afghanistan. By Hamed A. Kermani
AIPAC gets Democrats to help Trump chip away at nuclear deal AIPAC is marshaling significant bipartisan backing for a bid to extend the Iran nuclear deal’s first sunset provision as hawks push for snapback sanctions at the United Nations. By Bryant Harris In Washington, reporting on Congress
Pentagon says Patriot sale to Turkey still on table The United States is reportedly still considering supplying Patriot missile systems to Turkey in what the administration may see as an opportunity to convince Ankara to walk back from the Russian system it acquired last year. By Jack Detsch
Turkey looks to Russia for 'quick cease-fire' in Syria President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will discuss a truce in Turkey's offensive against the Syrian army during talks in Moscow, seeking to avert a new refugee influx even as another humanitarian crisis deepens on Turkey's border with Greece. By Ayla Jean Yackley