Iran downplays impacts of new US sanctions on oil industry A set of new US sanctions targeting Iran’s oil sector was shrugged off by officials in Tehran, who have been scrambling to keep the lifeline industry up and running in the face of US pressure. United States
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict tests Turkey’s hard power without diplomacy Can Ankara’s “coercive diplomacy” in the south Caucasus yield tangible diplomatic benefits in the long run? Turkey
Child malnutrition soars in parts of Yemen Rampant food insecurity comes as UN-led efforts in Yemen face serious funding shortfalls. Yemen
Iraqi Baath Party announces death of top adviser to Saddam Hussein Izzat Ibrahim al-Douri escaped the 2003 US invasion and led the Naqshbandi Army's insurgency against Baghdad. Iraq
Egypt swoops in Saudi markets amid boycott of Turkish products Egypt is trying to substitute Turkish products with Egyptian products in Saudi Arabia, in an attempt to exploit the popular boycott campaign launched by the Saudis against Turkish products in light of the Turkish-Saudi tensions. Originals
Houthi minister shot dead in Yemeni capital The sports minister for the Iran-backed Houthi administration was assassinated while in his car as the war with the Saudi-backed government rages on. Yemen
Ex-Ninevah governor arrested as Iraqi government reins in corruption The arrest and forced removal of Iraqi government officials signals attempts to curb rampant corruption that has plagued the country. Iraq
No good news for Turkey from jihadi ranks in Syria Ahrar al-Sham, a prominent armed group that has often collaborated with Turkey in Syria, is hit by infighting that plays into the hands of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and dampens Turkish plans to remold rebel factions in Idlib. Turkey
Why Israelis flock to the Emirates The normalization agreement with the Emirates was signed just a few weeks ago, but Israeli businesspeople, athletes and tourists are already flocking there. United Arab Emirates
Israel showcases alignment with Greece, Cyprus Israeli, Greek and Cypriot foreign ministers met today in Athens, showcasing again the strong strategic alignment between the three countries. Israel
Sunni agreement to expel Popular Mobilization Units from liberated Iraqi cities Sunni political parties are using murders in Salahuddin province to demand an end to the presence of armed militias blamed for killings. Iraq
Israel-Emirates peace: An inside look Crisscrossing Dubai, journalist Ben Caspit says that his four-day visit to the emirate this week reveals the intense potential that lies in the recent outing of Israel’s covert relations with the United Arab Emirates. United Arab Emirates
Syrian opposition fears being left behind again after US election Many leaders of the Syrian opposition prefer Donald Trump, who used military force twice against the Syrian government, over Joe Biden, who served in an administration they believe turned a blind eye to the Iranian presence in Syria and allowed the regime to use chemical weapons. Syria
Yazidis react to Sinjar accord amid growing KRG-PKK tensions in Iraq A security agreement reached earlier this month between the Iraqi central government and the Kurdistan Region on the disputed territory of Sinjar has sparked both praise and criticism as tensions rise between the KRG and the PKK. Iraq
Ghana signs joint airline deal with Egypt, bypassing Ethiopia EgyptAir has signed an agreement with Ghana to create a national airline after a similar deal with Ethiopian Airlines fell through. Egypt
Palestinian president stacks Jerusalem branch with loyalists The selection of members loyal to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in the Fatah movement’s Jerusalem branch raised the ire of other Fatah leaders who called to review the selection process. Palestine
