Iraq's Kurdistan region sticks with AstraZeneca vaccine, reports no issues Kurdish authorities say they will continue administering the vaccine following the European Union's conclusion that blood clots should be listed among "rare side effects" of the British-Swedish vaccine. Iraq
Report outlines how Iran smuggles arms to Hamas Israel reveals how weapons are being smuggled from Iran to Hamas in Gaza via Yemen and Sudan and then through Egypt. Palestine
Bloc for toppling Netanyahu now crumbling With Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid on vacation in the United States, and Yamina leader Naftali Bennett changing course, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has the upper hand against the "bloc for change." Israel
Political bickering stalls Tunisian national dialogue A number of political leaders are calling for the formation of a national salvation government in Tunisia after several successive governments have failed to solve the economic crisis. Tunisia
Israel adopts 'controlled escalation' policy for Iran Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu desperately sees how the tough stance of the Trump administration against the nuclear deal with Iran has now morphed and changed into the Americans feeling their way back to the deal. Israel
Egypt drops decade-old charges against NGOs An Egyptian investigative judge recently dropped charges against 20 NGOs involved in the 2011 foreign funding case that has raised global condemnation, in a move seen as a gesture of goodwill to the United States in order to unfreeze military aid. Egypt
Egypt-Sudan hold military exercise amid crisis with Ethiopia Egypt and Sudan hold military drills amid a deadlock in talks with Ethiopia to reach a binding agreement on filling and operation of Ethiopian dam project on the Nile. Egypt
Syria’s agonizing decade: Crisis and stalemate A US-Russia showdown over humanitarian border crossings stymies the UN peace process after 10 years of misery. By Week in Review
UAE sends medical and food aid to Syria The United Arab Emirates is calling on other countries in the region and around the world to repair ties and cooperate with the Syrian government amid the ongoing civil war. News Brief
Bitter blame game in Iran amid coronavirus ‘explosion’ Iranian authorities are pointing the finger of blame at one another over the chaotic management of the recent skyrocketing COVID-19 infection rates. Iran
Who benefits if Erdogan scraps key maritime treaty? A warning by more than 100 retired Turkish admirals against scrapping an 85-year-old maritime treaty restricting foreign military presence in the Black Sea coincides with rising tensions between Russia and Western-backed Ukraine in the region. Turkey
Turkey’s talk of pulling out of the Montreux Convention part diversion, part 'Ataturk envy' It's unclear if talk of Turkey pulling out the 1936 maritime treaty will be followed by any action, but the discussion should not be taken lightly. Turkey
Will Turkey’s third largest party survive closure case? The fate of Turkey’s main Kurdish political movement remains in limbo even though the Constitutional Court last week rejected an indictment seeking the closure of the party. Turkey
Houthi forces claim drone attack on Saudi airbase A Houthi military spokesperson said the attack on King Khalid Air Base was successful but the Saudi-led coalition said it intercepted the drones. News Brief
Four soldiers injured in suspected Israeli airstrikes on Syria Israeli missiles struck areas around Damascus, according to Syria's state media outlet. News Brief
Sudanese rivals sign agreement to separate state from religion The head of the Sudanese Sovereign Council, Lt. Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the leader of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North, Abdelaziz al-Hilu, signed the Declaration of Principles agreement, paving the way for peace in Sudan. Sudan
