Lebanon registers record COVID-19 cases in blast aftermath With social distancing relaxed and hospitals under strain, Lebanon reported a record 309 new cases and seven deaths from the virus Tuesday. By Al-Monitor Staff
Iraq's Kurdistan Region recording highest-ever daily COVID-19 cases The Kurdistan Region of Iraq has been hard hit by both the coronavirus and the economic impact of the lockdowns, as a top politician announces he has contracted the virus. By Al-Monitor Staff
Mossad chief reportedly in contact with Qatar over Gaza escalation According to Israel’s public broadcaster Kan, Mossad chief Yossi Cohen has been in contact with Qatari officials to renew financial aid to the Gaza Strip. By Rina Bassist In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs
Dubai welcomes Lebanese residents with flowers, message of hope Following last week’s deadly explosion in the Lebanese capital of Beirut, Dubai greeted its Lebanese residents at the airport with white roses. By Kim Kelaita
On the Middle East with Amberin Zaman CNBC’s Hadley Gamble talks about Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and women journalists covering the Middle East Andrew Parasiliti
Zarif says UN will vote down US proposal on Iran arms embargo Iran's top diplomat expressed doubt that the United States' last-minute efforts at the UN Security Council will succeed in extending an arms embargo against Iran. By Al-Monitor Staff
Hamas test-fires rockets escalating tensions with Israel Hamas test-fired missiles toward the sea in the Gaza Strip in a warning to Israel that the calm along the border might not last. By Ahmad Abu Amer
Can Malta’s diplomacy tip balance in Libya toward Turkey? The diplomatic track ongoing between Turkey, Malta and Libya’s Tripoli government has sparked questions whether Valletta’s diplomatic support can serve as a much needed jumping point for Ankara to break the Libya stalemate, but the European country’s only focus in the talks seem to be limited with prevention of illegal immigration. By Fehim Tastekin In Paris, reporting on Turkish politics
What are vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris' views on the Middle East? Joe Biden's running mate has views on Iran, Israel, Saudi Arabia and Syria that fall in line with the Democratic party establishment. By Al-Monitor Staff
Lebanon’s security forces shot at unarmed Beirut protesters: Amnesty International More than 200 protesters were injured as security forces fired tear gas, rubber bullets and pellets, Amnesty International said. By Al-Monitor Staff
State Department legally skirted Congress freeze on Saudi arms sales, inquiry finds An inspector general's report redacted by the State Department says that while the department found ways to legally bypass congressional restrictions on arms sales to Saudi Arabia, measures that Congress had called for were not taken. By Jared Szuba In Washington, DC, reporting on defense, national security, military
Turkey to issue new drilling licenses in eastern Mediterranean amid rising tensions Following escalations Aug. 10 between Turkey and Greece over contested areas of the eastern Mediterranean, Ankara officials said they would issue new exploration licenses in the region this month. By Diego Cupolo
Turkish drone strike kills two senior Iraqi officers, army says Officials say the Tuesday strike targeted a meeting between Iraqi border officials and Kurdish militants. By Al-Monitor Staff
Iran’s hard-line parliament set to impeach two Rouhani allies The impeachment bid is the latest in a series of measures the new hard-line parliament had promised to take against President Hassan Rouhani in the closing year of his term. By Al-Monitor Staff
What trump cards is Iraq pulling against Turkey to secure water quota? Turkey refuses to abide by the protocols and treaties signed with Iraq on the Tigris and Euphrates rivers acting as if they are local rivers. By Omar al-Jaffal
Netanyahu leverages international support against Hezbollah after Beirut blast Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called French President Emmanuel Macron to praise him for his leadership after the Beirut blast and to campaign against Hezbollah in Lebanon. By Rina Bassist In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs