Middle East crises loom in background as NATO leaders gather in Washington While this year's summit is expected to focus largely on the ongoing war in Ukraine, Iran's military support for Russia and Turkey's strategic balancing act with Moscow are expected to weigh on NATO leaders gathered in Washington. Washington Pulse
US, Israel hold second virtual meeting on Rafah Biden administration officials have denied offering to green-light an Israeli invasion of Rafah if Israel holds off on retaliating against Iran. Washington Pulse
One year on Sudan’s war: 14,700 killed, 8.6M displaced, 4.9M face starvation As the war in Sudan enters its second year, the humanitarian situation is worsening by the day with no prospects of an imminent end of the hostilities. North Africa Pulse
State Department staffer resigns over Biden's handling of Gaza Annelle Sheline is the second State Department official to publicly resign since Oct. 7, citing the erosion of US credibility on human rights in the Middle East as a result of the war. Washington Pulse
Iranian actors call on Rouhani to allow cinema legend to come home Many of the Iranian actors who have supported President Hassan Rouhani are now calling in their favors by asking for veteran actor Behrouz Vossoughi's return to Iran after 40 years in the United States. Iran
Intel: Space Force tracked Iranian missile strikes Members of the Space Force helped track and detect the Iranian ballistic missiles that struck an Iraqi air base last month. Iraq
US envoy presses Russia to halt Syrian offensive on Idlib A top US envoy today pressed Russia to get the Syrian regime to halt a military offensive into the northwestern Syrian enclave of Idlib that has driven some half a million people to flee their homes since December. Syria
Intel: Trump touts eliminating Soleimani, Baghdadi at State of the Union President Donald Trump focused on his removal of Iran’s Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani and Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi from the Iraqi and Syrian battlefields during his State of the Union address on Tuesday. United States
High court rules Cairo University can restrict use of full veils An Egyptian court approved a decision to bar teachers from wearing the niqab in Cairo University lecture halls, raising mixed reactions. Egypt
Intel: Morocco played up Iran rhetoric as it eyed US-Israel deal on Western Sahara Israel, Morocco and the United States have been pursuing back channel negotiations on the disputed Western Sahara for more than a year. Israel
Egyptian readers mourn ALEF bookstores The ALEF bookstore chain, beloved for its wide selection of books and engaging salespeople, has closed its doors after accusations of links to the Muslim Brotherhood. Egypt
A united response to Trump’s Mideast deal in a divided Yemen Yemen’s Houthi rebels and the internationally recognized government have both rejected the US Middle East peace plan. Yemen
Intel: Erdogan accuses Russia of 'negligence' while signing military aid deal with Ukraine Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is in Ukraine today to sign a deal providing the Ukrainian army with assistance funding, amid mounting tensions in Turkish-Russian relations following the death of at least eight Turks in Idlib during an exchange of fire with Russian-backed Syrian regime forces. Syria
Intel: Jamal Khashoggi’s fiancee to attend Trump’s State of the Union address Jamal Khashoggi’s widow will be watching President Donald Trump as he discusses his record in the Middle East at his annual State of the Union address on Tuesday. United States
Syrian woman's Aleppo documentary takes top British award, up for Oscar "For Sama," a documentary depicting the struggle of a Aleppan mother and journalist, has won BAFTA's award for best documentary and is now in the running for an Oscar. Syria
Syrian mercenaries fight Turkey’s battles in Libya Though the Free Syrian Army denies it has sent fighters to Libya, hundreds of Syrian fighters are now in Libya after being lured by high salaries. Syria