Saudi-led coalition bombs airport in Yemen's capital The Riyadh-led coalition said it acted in accordance with international law to attack "legitimate military targets." News Brief
Turkish telecommunications satellite launches into space Turkey's President thanked SpaceX founder Elon Musk, who launched the rocket, for not succumbing to “pressure of the anti-Turkey lobbies" News Brief
On the Middle East with Amberin Zaman Iran nuclear talks should be linked to Yemen peace process, says Sanam Vakil
Fears grow that omicron variant may soon engulf Iran A rapid outbreak of omicron, the most recent coronavirus variant, has health officials in Iran calling for severe restrictions once again. Iran
UN secretary-general says Lebanese politicians ‘paralyze' country, demands ‘truth' about Beirut blast United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres visited Lebanon to meet with the country’s leaders amid the economic crisis. News Brief
Turkey accused of blocking Kurdish film at Iraqi film festival Turkey is accused of pressuring film festival organizers in Iraqi Kurdistan to cancel an award-winning movie depicting PKK forces. Turkey
Egypt sentences blogger Alaa Abdel Fattah to five years in prison Lawyer Mohamed el-Baqer and blogger Mohamed “Oxygen” Ibrahim were also each sentenced to four years in the same case for spreading false news and undermining state security. News Brief
On Israel with Ben Caspit Israeli journalist Barak Ravid tells how the Abraham Accords came about Ben Caspit
Israel bans travel to US as omicron variant spreads Israeli citizens are barred from traveling to the United States and more than 50 other countries without explicit permission. News Brief
Iraqi Sunni parties compete for parliament speaker Two large Sunni coalitions, the Taqaddom alliance led by Muhammad al-Halbusi and the Azm alliance led by Khamis al-Khanjar, are competing for the position of parliament speaker. Iraq
Iraqi air force strikes Islamic State targets Iraq has bombed Islamic State targets in the eastern Diyala province for the second month in a row. News Brief
Drone sales could dampen Turkey’s African venture Turkey has made major economic and diplomatic strides in Africa since the early 2000s, but growing military sales to African countries raise the specter of a risky shift. Turkey
Saudi Arabia seeks consensus on Afghanistan at OIC summit in Pakistan In Pakistan, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, which is chaired by Saudi Arabia, laid out plans for relief efforts in Afghanistan. Gulf
Future uncertain for US Palestinian affairs consulate in Jerusalem Rumor has it that the United States has halted efforts to reopen a consulate for Palestinian affairs in Jerusalem. Israel
Israel’s security wall makes Gazans feel imprisoned For the 2 million Palestinians who have been living in a tight siege in Gaza since 2006, Israel's new high-tech separation wall has turned the enclave into the world’s largest open-air prison. Palestine
West Bank terror attacks challenge Bennett Recent terror attacks in the West Bank have put Prime Minister Naftali Bennett in a complicated spot with his right-wing base. Israel