Tunisian president meets new Libyan unity government Tunisia and Libya were major trade partners before the political transitions in both countries during the Arab Spring. Tunisia was neutral during the Libyan civil war that ended in December. By Al-Monitor Staff
Iran operating new advanced centrifuges, nuclear watchdog finds According to an International Atomic Energy Agency report, Iran is now using IR-4 centrifuges to enrich uranium in violation of the nuclear accord. By Al-Monitor Staff
Lawsuit filed to close pro-Kurdish party after lawmaker stripped of parliamentary seat Omer Faruk Gergerlioglu, a pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party deputy known to focus on human rights abuses, was stripped of his parliament seat and a lawsuit was filed to close the party March 17. By Diego Cupolo
Israeli and Emirati rugby teams to play each other for first time The rugby sevens match in Dubai is the latest example of the strengthening of relations between Israel and the UAE and shows a shift in Israel's sports relations with other regional states. By Adam Lucente In New York City, reporting on regional news, militancy, climate change
UN says Libya arms embargo 'totally ineffective' A United Nations panel of experts accused several member states, including Turkey and Russia, of fueling the Libyan conflict. By Al-Monitor Staff
Syria reports new Israeli airstrikes near Damascus The missile strike follows Israel reportedly hitting Iranian targets in Syria earlier this month following an explosion on an Israeli ship in the gulf. By Al-Monitor Staff
Israel's foreign minister continues anti-ICC campaign in Russia In his meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi presented his stand against the International Criminal Court probe, a renewed Iran deal and the Iranian presence in Syria. By Rina Bassist In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs
Netanyahu courts Arab voters as 'Abu Yair' Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has adopted a new strategy for the Arab public: cynically rebranding himself as "Abu Yair." By Afif Abu Much In Baqa al-Gharbiyye, reporting on business and tech
Top general threatens Iran could ‘blow up’ Israel as rhetoric escalate In a new cycle of escalating rhetoric between Tehran and Tel Aviv, Iran’s top general said his country already has what it takes to destroy Israel. By Al-Monitor Staff
Intel: Saudi Arabia seeks Turkey’s drones, Erdogan says Riyadh's request could provide an opening for Ankara, which is also seeking to repair ties with Egypt. By Al-Monitor Staff
On the Middle East with Amberin Zaman Healing child soldiers of the Islamic State remains huge challenge for Iraq, says Sherri Kraham Talabany
Iran’s supreme leader authorized infowar campaign during US election Hezbollah and Russia also spread disinformation to try to influence the 2020 presidential election, a newly released US intelligence report says. By Al-Monitor Staff
Protesters in southern Yemen storm government building The protesters in Aden want public salaries to be paid. The area is controlled by the separatist Southern Transitional Council. By Al-Monitor Staff
Turkey lifts veil on unemployment data, revealing bigger army of jobless A new, broader set of labor statistics has exposed a big gap between Turkey’s official unemployment rate and the actual joblessness in the crisis-hit country. By Mustafa Sonmez In Istanbul, reporting on economics
Turkey pursues normalization drive as COVID-19 case counts rise Turkish officials to maintain lighter COVID-19 restrictions through much of the country, as new infection numbers rise and vaccination campaigns continue. By Diego Cupolo
Israel’s president in Europe, campaigns against Iranian threat, ICC probe President Reuven Rivlin arrived today in Germany, his first stop on a three-day European tour focused on the Iranian threat and the ICC probe of Israel. By Rina Bassist In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs