Saudi Arabia to take ‘necessary measures’ to protect oil after drone attack Riyadh wants international support to prevent future attacks, foreign minister says alongside Russian counterpart. Saudi Arabia
Algeria’s Islamist parties failing to inspire Moderate Islamist parties in Algeria, which have been weakened by factionalism and internal disagreements over the years, are unlikely to increase their base in the upcoming general and local elections. Algeria
The Takeaway: Sudan playing increasingly pivotal role in Middle East Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok is in Riyadh for talks with the Saudi crown prince on Red Sea Security; Yazidi slave trade suggests Islamic State presence in Turkey; Erdogan’s mission impossible in dealing with the S-400; more! Originals
Hamas' Gaza leader reelected in internal vote Yahya Sinwar has led the Palestinian group in Gaza since 2017. Palestine
Former employee of German government convicted of spying for Egypt The former worker in Germany's press office passed information to Egypt's General Intelligence Service in exchange for the service helping his family in Egypt. Egypt
Kurdish stamp commemorating pope's visit to Erbil fans Turkish conspiracy fears Ankara is furious over a commemorative stamp design featuring a map of Iraqi Kurdistan that includes chunks of Turkey’s Kurdish-dominated southeast provinces. Turkey
Knesset advances proposal on electronic bracelet for returning Israelis The Knesset approved a first reading of a bill requiring those returning to Israel to self-isolate at home and wear an electronic bracelet that shows where they are. Israel
Rights groups say Bahrain police beat, threatened children A report from the Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy and Human Rights Watch accused police in Bahrain of rounding up and mistreating children as young as 11. Bahrain
Saudi activist Loujain al-Hathloul's sentence upheld in Riyadh court The women's rights activist had appealed her probation, which reportedly includes a five-year travel ban. Saudi Arabia
Pandemic, domestic woes dim Istanbul’s economic luster Istanbul’s economy is estimated to have shrunk about 3% last year, even as Turkey’s gross domestic product grew 1.8%. Turkey
Netanyahu to visit Abu Dhabi, meet crown prince After the trip was delayed three times, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is reportedly set to spend a few hours in Abu Dhabi tomorrow. United Arab Emirates
Israeli Arab voters desperate over rising crime, police attitudes Can Arab politician Mansour Abbas harness public anger against crime to the extent that his Raam party can pass the Knesset threshold and win four seats? Israel
Why is Syrian military deploying in Kurdish-held areas? The Syrian government seeks to strengthen its military presence in Ain Issa and the area overlooking the M4 international highway, which are under control of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces. Syria
West Bank town renovates ancient palaces belonging to prominent family The municipality of the town of Arraba in the northern West Bank has been restoring the palaces of the Abd al-Hadi family, one of Palestine’s once most powerful and feudal families. Palestine
Palestinian Authority reimposes lockdowns amid lack of vaccines A year after the COVID-19 pandemic erupted in the Palestinian territories, the government reimposed total lockdown measures in several governorates in the West Bank amid the unprecedented rise in cases and deaths and the drained health care sector. Palestine
US hits Iranian officials with travel restriction over ‘gross human rights violations’ For the first time, the Biden administration targets alleged IRGC interrogators over inhumane detention of protesters. U.S.