Mixed reactions from Congress to Jerusalem conflict Several Democrats in the House and Senate want the Biden administration to pressure Israel over the possible eviction of Palestinian families from their homes in Jerusalem, but other Democratic and Republican lawmakers expressed support for Israel after Hamas' rocket attacks. Washington Pulse
US appoints Ambassador Richard Norland as Libya special envoy Norland, who has served as chief of mission to Libya since August 2019, will lead US diplomatic efforts to promote a political solution to the conflict. Libya
Assassination of Iraqi activist sparks protests in Karbala The murder of a prominent activist in Karbala has triggered protests and calls for answers. Iraq
Jerusalem hit by Hamas rockets After demanding Israeli police withdraw from the Temple Mount compound, Hamas fired this evening several rockets at Jerusalem and at Israeli communities in the south. Israel
US Navy seizes massive shipment of weapons in Arabian Sea A video released by the Navy onboard the USS Monterey showed a massive cache of arms seized from a stateless vessel in the Arabian Sea. Gulf
Syrian state media: Israeli helicopter attacks near border One person was injured by the strike in southern Syria near the border with Israel. Syria also reported Israeli airstrikes last week. News Brief
Temple Mount violence bares fragility of Turkey’s attempts to fix relations with Israel Turkey's president and other officials have condemned Israel's crackdown on Palestinians in unrest at Al-Aqsa mosque, posing a serious threat to Ankara's efforts to mend ties with Israel. Turkey
US expresses 'serious concerns' to Israel over Jerusalem violence National security adviser Jake Sullivan said the United States had "serious concerns" over the Jerusalem clashes and the potential evictions of Palestinian families from the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood. Israel
Top Democrats urge Biden to lift sanctions on Tehran in good faith Prominent Democratic National Committee members urged President Joe Biden to relieve sanctions on Iran as the window closes for a return to the nuclear deal. Iran
Russian ship gets stuck near Caspian en route to Iran The cargo vessel got stuck in a canal north of the Caspian Sea while bringing goods to Iran. Russia and Iran have lobbied for an alternative to the Suez Canal through their countries recently. News Brief
Fire breaks out at Kuwait's largest oil field Two workers were injured at the Greater Burgan field in southeast Kuwait. News Brief
Iraqi armed factions using drones against US-led coalition Iraqi security and coalition forces are increasingly concerned about the use of drones by armed factions against military bases and airports. Iraq
Iran confirms talks with rival Saudi Arabia Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Saeed Khatibzadeh said the Iraq-mediated talks focused on bilateral and regional issues. Saudi Arabia
Libyan conflict stands out as key to Turkey-Egypt normalization Turkey appears reluctant to back down from its military posture in Libya, even as its normalization bid with Egypt depends greatly on whether the two sides find common ground in the Libyan conflict. Turkey
Iran's Zarif denies bid for presidency In a meeting with a powerful parliamentary commission on the recently leaked audiotape of himself, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said he would not run for president. Iran
Crypto fever grips Turkey despite risks, new regulations Turkish citizens are increasingly investing in cryptocurrencies to shelter savings from the volatile Turkish lira and possibly make profits on the side, a trend that has led to both increased risks and increased government regulations. Turkey