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
Fate of Algeria’s missing migrants sparks international concern A group of 120 individuals from Syria, Yemen and Palestine disappeared last month in Algeria, and now rights groups are calling on the authorities to reveal their fate. Algeria
Bahraini opposition in Iraq stirs crisis between Baghdad, Manama The opening of an office of the Bahraini opposition in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad has caused a crisis between Iraq and Bahrain. United Arab Emirates
3D maps in Beirut tell story of Nakba “A National Monument” exhibition in Beirut presents the changing map of Palestine after the Nakba. Lebanon
Can part of Palmyra's lost heritage be saved? A number of different projects are underway to rectify the damage to Palmyra's heritage wrought by the Islamic State. Syria
Idlib heats up, may be key to Russian-Turkish deal in Syria As Idlib in western Syria falls to an extremist rebel faction, Moscow and Ankara consider their options there and in northern Syria. Syria
As US exits Syria, what will define Moscow's Mideast policy in 2019? The US exit from Syria means the set of challenges facing Moscow in the region is significantly changing. Syria
Rumi’s message of tolerance calls thousands to Konya centuries on More than seven centuries after his death, Mawlana Jalal-ud-din Rumi’s message draws visitors from different religions, nationalities and races to his shrine in central Anatolia. Turkey
Pompeo's Cairo speech panned as ‘tone-deaf,’ ‘hyper-partisan,’ ‘offensive’ Former diplomats and regional experts say Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s Cairo address fell short on substance and policy vision, while inappropriately taking domestic partisan arguments to foreign soil. Egypt