Iraqi base attacks continue as Danes gear up for NATO training lead Attacks continue to target bases in Iraq hosting international coalition and Iraqi forces. The Danish parliament has, meanwhile, voted to take leadership of the NATO training mission beginning in December and send a frigate to the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway through which much Iraqi oil passes, beginning in late summer. Iraq
Egypt to gradually resume international flights Foreign tourists will also be allowed to travel to three coastal provinces as airports reopen to international travel beginning July 1. Egypt
Why is Ankara pouring Turkish liras into Syria? Taking advantage of Syria’s currency havoc, Ankara has funneled Turkish liras into “liberated” areas in northern Syria, but any plan to fully sideline the Syrian pound in those areas appears unrealistic. Syria
Israel OK's transfer of Qatari financial aid to Gaza Israel approved the transfer of $50 million to the Gaza Strip, apparently in exchange for Hamas keeping calm and refraining from resuming incendiary balloon terrorism. Qatar
Palestinian activists press solidarity between Palestinians, Black Lives Matter Palestinians raised photos of Iyad al-Hallaq, an autistic Palestinian shot by Israeli police, and George Floyd to make a comparison between racism against black people and Palestinians. Palestine
Egypt’s military companies seek private investments The Egyptian military seeks to expand investments in partnership with the private sector, thus crowding out civilian-run companies, amid the economic recession due to the coronavirus crisis. Egypt
New Houthi bylaw sparks controversy over classism, familial 'supremacy' in Yemen Yemen’s Houthi movement introduced a bylaw stipulating that citizens pay an obligatory tax to the purported descendants of the Prophet Muhammad, raising the ire of opponents who argue that such a move promotes racism and classism in Yemeni society. Yemen
Will Covid-19 put an end to hookah culture in Egypt? Once a symbol of Egypt’s cafes and mentioned through history, hookahs are slowly disappearing from society amid the closure of cafes across the country due to the coronavirus pandemic. Egypt
Tribes become more involved in anti-terrorism operations in Sinai Peninsula Reports have emerged about an agreement between tribal leaders and Egyptian security forces to hand over members of Islamic State in exchange for pardons. Egypt
Black Lives Matter protests in US spark mixed reactions in Egypt Protests in the United States have drawn mixed reactions in Egypt, with government supporters and the media portraying them as anarchy and pro-democracy activists eyeing them with nostalgia and a sense of deja vu. Egypt
Despite Abbas cutting ties, security lines remain open between Israel, PA Now that coordination with Israel has officially ended, the Palestinian security agencies are sharing indirect messages with their Israeli counterparts. Palestine
Israel’s government approves funding for Trump Heights settlement One year after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the establishment of Trump Heights settlement in the Golan Heights, the Cabinet approves an initial construction budget. Israel
Lebanon to reopen Beirut airport July 1 Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport, which grounded flights March 18, will reopen next month with reduced air traffic. Lebanon
Ethiopian military leader calls out Egypt over Nile dam dispute Ethiopia's deputy army chief said his country can "conduct war" as talks continue. Egypt
Lebanon’s central bank to inject dollars as currency crashes The Lebanese pound trades at roughly 6,000 to the US dollar on the black market; Lebanese officials take action to try to get the parallel market under 4,000 to the dollar. Lebanon
Ankara spouts fury as Twitter takes down pro-Erdogan trolls Twitter said the suspensions were part of a broader operation in which it had removed and suspended accounts linked to state-run propaganda and disinformation centers in China, Russia and Turkey. Turkey
