Turkish foreign minister announces plan for closer ties with Armenia Turkey and Armenia have announced they will both appoint special envoys to discuss normalizing their historically hostile ties. News Brief
Washington Post says Israeli air raids targeted Syrian chemical sites The newspaper reports that June 8 airstrikes in Damascus and Homs targeted military sites linked to Syria's former chemical weapons program. News Brief
Pentagon: Four Islamic State fighters killed in nighttime Syria raid Conflicting accounts of the raid emerged amid renewed scrutiny of the Pentagon's oversight of civilian casualties in Syria. Syria
Three killed at Hamas funeral in Lebanon The funeral was held for a victim who died in an explosion last week at a Hamas building in a Palestinian refugee camp. News Brief
Islamic State attacks government, Russian forces in Syrian desert Russia also carried out airstrikes in the eastern Deir ez-Zor province, where the Islamic State has been particularly active recently. News Brief
Turkey cracks down on independent journalists once again Hours after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called social media a threat to democracy, Antalya police raided local YouTubers and journalists. Turkey
UN envoy seeks new path forward on Syria in Damascus visit Envoy Geir Pedersen said there is "another possibility to start to explore possible avenues" to resolve Syria's conflict politically. News Brief
Saudi diplomat says Iran 'playing games' in regional talks Abdallah Al-Mouallimi's comments came as Jordanian state news outlets reported on a "security dialogue" between the two countries in Amman. Saudi Arabia
Iran negotiator 'optimistic' about nuclear talks Ali Bagheri Kani, Iran’s top nuclear negotiator, said that he was optimistic about the current round of talks in Vienna. Iran
Israel’s Bennett strives to increase Jewish population in Golan Heights Trying to appeal to his right-wing electoral base, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett advances plans for increased Jewish settlement in the Golan Heights. Israel
Israeli PM pays landmark visit to UAE On a first official visit to the Emirates, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett met with Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Israel
Israel's Yesh Atid party opens branches in Arab towns The major coalition party has opened a branch in the Arab town of Mi’ilya in the latest effort to build its presence among Arab-Israelis. Israel
Gaza wine: from international brand to punishable crime As the Christian holidays and New Year’s celebrations draw near and put some in the mood for a glass of wine, how are the preparations looking under Hamas in the Gaza Strip with both Muslims and Christians celebrating these holidays? Palestine
Turkey targets PKK-linked Yazidis inside Iraq A local Yazidi armed group linked to the Kurdistan Workers Party and affiliated with the government-incorporated Popular Mobilization Units has been targeted as part of stepped-up Turkish cross-border operations. Iraq
Russian movie praises Moscow's war efforts in Syria The Russian movie "Sky" tells the story of a pilot killed after a Turkish jet shot down his bomber over northern Syria. Syria
Al-Azhar rhetoric alarms LGBTQ community Al-Azhar has in recent days stepped up its anti-LGBTQ rhetoric, following anti-gay comments by a prominent retired soccer star. Egypt
