Iraq's Yazidis call for autonomy as conflict flares between army, PKK affiliates Ongoing tensions due to regional interference to settle scores among rivals threaten new acts of violence, menacing the Yazidi minority concentrated in the area. By Saman Dawod
Dubai’s DP World maritime services company reports large profit losses for 2020 The Dubai-based company, which is owned by the UAE government, was heavily affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, as were other sectors of the Emirati and Gulf economies.
Former US, Israeli officials voice support for Biden's Pentagon policy pick Former US ambassadors and retired Israeli generals are among those backing Colin Kahl for the Pentagon's top policy role. By Al-Monitor Staff
Swedish-Iranian doctor held in Iran near death after 'cruel mistreatment': UN experts By Al-Monitor Staff
What lies behind Erdogan’s Syria offer to the West? The Turkish president’s appeal to the West to back Turkey in Syria and make political gains “at minimum cost” comes as a sign he has little intention of giving up his ambitions in Syria. By Fehim Tastekin In Paris, reporting on Turkish politics
Rival of Israeli prime minister warns of US Capitol style riot after election Avigdor Liberman claimed without evidence that supporters of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are planning an event similar to the Jan. 6 storming of the US Capitol if Netanyahu loses next week’s election. By Al-Monitor Staff
Israel’s president campaigns in France against Hezbollah On his last European tour stop, Israeli President Reuven Rivlin met in Paris with French President Emmanuel Macron, campaigning against Hezbollah’s entrenchment in Lebanon and against the Iranian nuclear threat. By Rina Bassist In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs
Islamic Jihad still unsure on supporting Hamas in Palestinian elections Palestinian Islamic Jihad is considering supporting lists backed or formed by Hamas in the upcoming legislative elections. By Ahmad Abu Amer
Egyptian opposition groups urge tougher US action against Sisi government The Egyptian opposition abroad, including the Muslim Brotherhood, has launched a campaign to pressure the Egyptian government to improve human rights conditions, similar to what Washington is doing in Saudi Arabia. By Khalid Hassan
Rouhani says Iran 'awaiting action' on nuclear deal The standoff continues between the United States and Iran as each demand the other make the first move. By Al-Monitor Staff
The Takeaway: Would Hamas complicate US plans for reset with Palestinians? Also: the back story on the spat between Israel and Jordan; Gulf post-COVID economic trends; Turkey’s Kurds; Egypt and Somalia; and more! By Andrew Parasiliti In Washington, DC, reporting on diplomacy, regional politics, national security
Egypt sentences activist Sanaa Seif to 18 months in prison Seif, who had been in pretrial detention since June, was convicted Wednesday of spreading false news and misusing social media. By Al-Monitor Staff
Ukraine rejects Iran's final report on downed passenger plane The Iranian government said last year's shooting down of Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 was the result of a human error. By Al-Monitor Staff
Palestinians receive first batch of vaccines through COVAX More than 60,000 doses of the AstraZeneca and Pfizer/BioNTech vaccines arrived in Ramallah on Wednesday. By Al-Monitor Staff