Bahrain claims it foiled Iranian-backed terrorist attacks Bahrain has charged 18 people with allegedly plotting attacks in the country with support from Iran. By Al-Monitor Staff
Iraq's Baath Party archive location unknown The United States last month shipped a historic archive of Baath regime documents to Iraq, but the government is keeping mum about its location and fate, given the political sensitivity of the documents. By Omar al-Jaffal
Iraq cracks down on illegal arms flow to militias, armed groups Mustafa al-Kadhimi’s government has launched a campaign in southern provinces to get illegal arms out of the hands of militias and tribal groups. By Mustafa Saadoun
Al-Azhar keeps up campaign against Charlie Hebdo Al-Azhar has criticized French authorities' silence over the controversial cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad recently republished by satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo. By A correspondent in Egypt
Egypt reaches out to Greece amid tension with Turkey Egypt is making diplomatic moves to counter Turkey’s growing involvement in the Eastern Mediterranean region amid escalating tension. By Hagar Hosny
Israel installs more loudspeakers at Al-Aqsa Mosque Israel expands its surveillance of Al-Aqsa Mosque. This is in defiance of the Jerusalem Islamic Waqf, which claims the surveillance is a violation of sovereignty. By Ahmad Melhem In Ramallah, reporting on politics
Gaza factions respond with rockets to UAE, Bahrain normalization with Israel Israel retaliates with airstrikes as Palestinian armed groups in Gaza reject normalization and weigh their next moves. By Adnan Abu Amer
Is Egypt sidelining its Libyan ally? Egypt has for the first time hosted a delegation from western Libya, which may point to the possible marginalization of eastern military commander Khalifa Hifter in upcoming peace talks. By Mohammed Magdy In Berlin, reporting on Egyptian politics
Jordan clings to two-state solution in wake of normalization deals With normalization deals being signed and regional dynamics in flux, Jordan is trying to adapt to what it fears is faltering Arab support for the Palestinian issue and a two-state solution. By Osama Al Sharif
US deploys Bradley armored vehicles to Syria after dustups with Russia’s troops Four US service members were injured last month when a Russian troop carrier rammed a US military vehicle. By Jared Szuba In Washington, DC, reporting on defense, national security, military
US official alleges Hezbollah stashed ammonium nitrate throughout Europe The claim came amid a Trump administration push for the EU to fully designate Hezbollah's political wing a terrorist group. By Al-Monitor Staff
Trump awards rare honor to emir of Kuwait At press briefing after meeting a Kuwaiti delegation, US President Donald Trump said that "seven or eight countries" may be in line for normalization with Israel. By Adam Lucente In New York City, reporting on regional news, militancy, climate change
‘It just sounded very nice’: US indicts Chicago man who shouldered a rifle for IS Lirim Sylejmani claimed the caliphate was not what he expected By Jared Szuba In Washington, DC, reporting on defense, national security, military
Trump administration leveraged terror designation to push Sudan to recognize Israel Last minute White House gambit risked efforts to obtain compensation for families of victims of the 1998 embassy bombings, sources tell Al-Monitor. By Jared Szuba In Washington, DC, reporting on defense, national security, military
Israel’s Gulf diplomacy and its discontents As Israel and its new regional partners begin trade talks, Palestinians, Israeli Arabs and the Israeli left are on the sidelines. By Week in Review
The Netherlands takes first step in holding Syria’s torturers to account The Dutch Foreign Ministry says it will hold Syria responsible for "gross human rights violations" in a process that could make its way to the UN's International Court of Justice. By Elizabeth Hagedorn In Washington, reporting on diplomacy, regional politics, human rights