Family feud in Iraqi Kurdish party may undercut election chances A dispute between the son of the founder of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, the party's former leader, and his cousin might reduce the chances of victory in the upcoming parliamentary elections. Iraq
Israel treads cautiously as fire exchanged on border with Lebanon Israel’s border with Lebanon is increasingly volatile like the roiling Gaza front in the south. Israel
Domestic tourism thrives in Gaza Local travel companies, in cooperation with the Ministry of Tourism, are organizing trips for Gazans to discover the many hidden archaeological sites spread across the besieged enclave. Palestine
Israel’s Bennett strives for new center-right electorate As new prime minister in a government composed of the right, center and left, Naftali Bennett strives to create for himself a new political base. Israel
Egypt under fire for video of soldier shooting at sleeping target in Sinai International law has rules for how to respond to enemy forces who are not engaged in combat. News Brief
Intel: US family seeks Biden's help freeing detained Saudi aid worker The United States said it’s urging Saudi Arabia to resolve the case of Abdulrahman al-Sadhan, an aid worker sentenced to prison for allegedly running a Twitter account critical of the kingdom’s rulers. Saudi Arabia
US urges Iran to return to nuclear talks as Raisi sworn in Talks over reviving the nuclear deal remain on hold — a process the Biden administration warned "cannot go on indefinitely." Iran
Raisi reasserts Iran's regional policy in swearing-in ceremony The new head of state reiterated Iran's controversial regional policy, even as it has been at the very core of tensions between the Islamic Republic's hard-line establishment and the West. Iran
Gantz says Israel ready for military action against Iran, if necessary Defense Minister Benny Gantz and Foreign Minister Yair Lapid champion diplomatic efforts against what they consider Iranian terror acts at sea. Israel
UN calls meeting with Israeli, Lebanese officials amid border clashes Israel conducted airstrikes in Hezbollah-controlled southern Lebanon, including near a Palestinian refugee camp, following rockets being fired into Israel a day earlier. By Al-Monitor Staff
UK lifts travel ban on UAE, Bahrain, Oman Travelers from the UAE, Bahrain and Qatar can enter the United Kingdom again. By Al-Monitor Staff
Violence down in Syria’s al-Hol camp but conditions remain 'horrifying' The Islamic State has been smuggling boys out of displacement camps to train in the Syrian desert. Iraq
Feud between Iraqi Sunni leaders could undercut bloc ahead of elections Speaker of parliament and leader of the Advancement alliance Mohammed al-Halbusi has accused the leader of al-Azm alliance, Khamis al-Khanjar, of selling Sunni land. Iraq
Turkish prosecutor investigates tweets calling for help with wildfires Ankara claims that Twitter hashtags calling for international aid with the wildfires raging through the country were "organized abroad" with "ideological motivations" in what critics say is a panicked attempt to change the narrative of Turkish helplessness to contain the crisis. Turkey
Bennett styles himself as Israel’s new Mr. Security On the backdrop of the fatal drone attack against the oil tanker off Oman and of growing tensions on Israel’s northern border, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett is positioning himself as Israel’s new Mr. Security. Israel
Why a Turkish dictator let himself lose an election Turkey's second president Ismet Inonu surprised the world by stepping down in 1950. Could Erdogan do the same after the 2023 elections? Turkey
