Can the US force Iran out of Syria? Not likely, former officials say The outgoing Trump administration appears to have made little if any progress in achieving its goal. Syria
Lebanon passes law criminalizing sexual harassment Lebanese lawmakers broadened what constitutes domestic violence but did not specifically outlaw marital rape. Lebanon
Germany and Finland repatriate children from Syria's al-Hol camp There have been several repatriations of people from the camp for Islamic State families this year. Syria
US brings new charges in Lockerbie bombing case A former Libyan intelligence officer was charged in relation to the airplane bombing after current Libyan officials provided information to the US Department of Justice. Libya
Saudi Arabia pauses international umrah, flights over new coronavirus strain The kingdom has also suspended entry through its land and seaports for one week. Saudi Arabia
El Al to make first flight from Israel to Morocco The Israeli airline will take a US-Israeli delegation from Tel Aviv to Rabat following Israel and Morocco agreeing to establish relations. Israel
Iran suspends flights from UK after new virus strain emerges Iranian officials have grown alarmed over the new strain of the coronavirus that appears much more contagious. Iran
Can 'experimental marriage' decrease divorce rate in Egypt? An Egyptian lawyer proposed an initiative for couples in Egypt to sign a contract with a set of rules to avoid quarrels that lead to divorce. Originals
Turkey sentences former opposition MP to 22 years in prison A Turkish court Monday sentenced Leyla Guven, a deputy with the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) who was stripped of her parliamentary seat and legal immunity in June, to more than 22 years in prison on terrorism-related charges. Turkey
Israel's Sephardic chief rabbi returns from Emirates Sephardic Chief Rabbi of Israel Yitzhak Yosef paid a historic visit this weekend to the United Arab Emirates, inviting several ministers to visit Jerusalem. United Arab Emirates
International aid arrangement targets vulnerable Palestinians A UN-backed humanitarian aid plan seeks to support 1.8 million Palestinians as a worsening coronavirus pandemic and settlement threat looms. Palestine
Al Jazeera journalists reportedly hacked with Israeli-made spyware Thirty-six Al Jazeera staff members were targeted in an attack that some have blamed on Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Qatar
Rockets target US Embassy in Baghdad ahead of anniversary of Soleimani killing At least one Iraqi civilian was injured in the strike, the US State Department said. Iraq
Turkey’s Kurdish party target of tug of war between Islamists, ultra-nationalists As Turkey's ruling party and its nationalist ally face a deeper legitimacy crisis, pressure on Kurdish politics is intensifying. Turkey
Pro-Iran militias in Syria soak merchants for cash at checkpoints The checkpoints of the Syrian regime and the pro-Iranian militias along the main road between Deir-ez-Zor and al-Bukamal are imposing royalties on merchants and local residents in their areas of control. Syria
Pro-settler Saar: the new hope of Israel's center-left Likud-rebel Gideon Saar is against a Palestinian state and is close to the ultra-Orthodox politicians, yet voters from the center-left camp support him in the polls. Israel