Turkey builds more hospitals as coronavirus cases spike More than 30,000 people have been diagnosed with COVID-19 less than a month since it was confirmed to have reached Turkey as the government continues to resist imposing a full lockdown. Turkey
Many Iraqi politicians resent IRGC meddling in their affairs The new Quds Force commander visited Baghdad in an attempt to resume his predecessor's work, but he faced resistance from Iraqi politicians, who opposed his interference in domestic affairs. Iraq
20,000 Pakistanis in UAE stranded by coronavirus lockdown Travel restrictions aimed at stemming the spread of the novel coronavirus have left thousands of Pakistanis stranded in the United Arab Emirates. United Arab Emirates
Israel awaits its two prime ministers Having made the toughest decision of his life, Benny Gantz is about to enter a unity government under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Israel
Turkey's state religious body undermines anti-coronavirus efforts Turkey’s Religious Affairs Directorate is accused of badly mishandling its response to the coronavirus pandemic and its credibility is increasingly under question. Turkey
Battle for air supremacy heats up in Libya despite COVID-19 outbreak The warring parties in Libya are locked in a battle to gain the upper hand in the skies, the outcome of which will determine who grabs the strategic advantage in the conflict. Saudi Arabia
Several rockets land near site of US oil company Halliburton in Iraq Three rockets have landed near a residential and office complex operated by Halliburton in the southern province of Basra. No casualties have been reported. Iraq
Egypt, Jordan pay for luxury quarantine to rein in coronavirus Hotels and resorts in Egypt have welcomed people who have to be quarantined or who want to self-isolate; in Jordan, the government paid for Jordanians to be quarantined in Dead Sea resorts to stem the spread of the coronavirus. Egypt
Coronavirus leading Israel into a Passover like no other With Passover approaching, the Israeli government appears set to implement extraordinary measures to try to keep the novel coronavirus from spreading beyond control as families gather for the holiday. Israel
Will Egyptians get coronavirus app? Egyptian parliamentarians put forward a proposal to create an app to track confirmed and suspected cases of the coronavirus. Egypt
US, Iran-backed forces in Iraq may be edging toward showdown Iran's new Quds Force commander is trying to reunify Iraqi Shiite militias, and escalation against US forces seems to be his strategy. Iraq
Tel Aviv, the city that never stops, now paralyzed Although Tel Aviv is known as "the city that never stops," its entire entertainment and tourism scene — plays, other performances, bars, restaurants and hotels, the seashore — have come to a halt as a result of the coronavirus. Israel
Israeli Arabs left to rely on 'self-help' for coronavirus testing The discrepancy in the Israel government's approach to coronavirus testing in Jewish and Arab communities has put the burden on Arab Knesset members and local Arab authorities to organize to try to keep infections under control in Arab towns and villages. Israel
Netanyahu gets cold feet on unity government for Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has backed away from the unity government plan even after Blue and White leader Benny Gantz agreed to many of his conditions. Israel
Egypt's family planning policies tested by COVID-19 Egypt has struggled to lower divorce rates and to convince people to have no more than two kids, but the pandemic may challenge these polices, as more couples stay home during lockdown. Egypt
Jordanians cope with lockdown through humor, empathy and solidarity Despite economic hardships and the lockdown imposed to curtail the spread of the coronavirus, Jordanians are coming together to help the needy while also turning to jokes to cope with this exceptional situation. Jordan
