Syria’s Ras al-Ain to open trade crossing with Turkey Turkey is constructing a border crossing linking the opposition-held city of Ras al-Ain in northeastern Syria with Turkish territory. Syria
Yemen’s Houthis seek regional role as part of Axis of Resistance Iran-backed Ansar Allah may have ambitions well beyond Yemen. Saudi Arabia
Intel: US plans anti-ship missile sale for Morocco Congress was notified today of US plans for a $62 million sale of anti-ship missiles for Morocco that would be launched from F-16 aircraft. Morocco
Intel: Turkey says S-400 stance unchanged despite US pressure Turkey’s stance on its S-400s hasn’t changed, even as the United States appeared to dangle support in Syria in exchange for Ankara abandoning the controversial Russian missile defense systems, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Tuesday. Syria
Amid pandemic, medical groups question Turkey’s weekend curfew approach Health workers’ advocates say precautions in Turkey may not be sufficient to contain the coronavirus and safeguard workers as the country grapples with the fast-spreading pandemic. Turkey
Gazan medical masks make a statement Gazan artists use masks, sand sculptures and performance art to create awareness on social isolation and protection during the coronavirus pandemic. Palestine
Intel: Trump tasks Pompeo with determining whether to lift Cyprus arms embargo Donald Trump tapped Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to determine whether to lift the decades-old US arms embargo on the disputed island of Cyprus, something Turkey has sought to forestall. Turkey
Dubai to reopen some food stores to pre-Ramadan shoppers UAE grocers will be allowed to briefly reopen ahead of Ramadan, with stores subject to social distancing and sanitation inspection. United Arab Emirates
Coronavirus resurging in Iran hotspots amid partial reopening At least three Iranian provinces are experiencing a resurgence of the coronavirus after the government partially relaxed lockdown measures. Iran
Turkey to release thousands of prisoners as coronavirus sweeps through jails As COVID-19 ravages Turkish prisons, Ankara is pushing forward a law that will reduce the prison population by a third. Turkey
Cloud of doubt surrounds coronavirus figures reported by Iraqi government There is great skepticism in Iraqi society and in the media about the government’s statistics of how many people have been infected by and died from the coronavirus. Iraq
Israeli annexation talks threaten ties with Arab world The Israeli annexation discourse bolsters radical elements in the Arab world and undermines the moderates, thus threatening Israeli aspirations for diplomatic relations and commercial ties. Palestine
Extended lockdown brings more burdens for Syrian Kurds Residents in the Kurdish-controlled areas in Syria are criticizing the autonomous administration’s lockdown measures to contain the spread of the coronavirus, in the absence of alternative sources of income. Syria
Will coronavirus crisis spur Hamas-Israel swap deal? Hamas has recently announced its readiness to make concessions in the prisoner swap deal with Israel, pushing mediators to communicate and reactivate the dossier that has been on hold for the past five years. Palestine
Is coronavirus good for health of Turkish-US relations? The coronavirus could offer Recep Tayyip Erdogan an opportunity to defer a fresh crisis with Washington over the Russian S-400 air defense systems, which he had pledged to activate in April but whose cost has now grown on multiple fronts. Turkey
Stigma spreads alongside COVID-19 in Egypt Fear of the novel coronavirus pandemic has led to discrimination and even bullying in Egypt. Egypt
